Photo : Valentyn Ogirenko, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Valentyn Ogirenko, Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin A and Ryan Marcus
South Africa: President Ramaphosa and Putin discuss peace mission bid
On 8 June, BBC reported that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the forthcoming peace mission by six African leaders regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. The leaders of Comoros, Egypt, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia are involved in the peace bid. The leaders discussed ways of bringing an end to the conflict and agreed to engage with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a ceasefire. A separate Russia-Africa summit has been scheduled for the end of July 2023 in St. Petersburg. ("Putin welcomes African peace mission bid- SA leader," BBC, 8 June 2023)
Ethiopia: The US stops the food aid
On 8 June, BBC reported that the US suspended food aid to Ethiopia citing a diversion of funds. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) stated: “We made the difficult but necessary decision that we cannot move forward with distribution of food assistance until reforms are in place.” The USAID stated that some officials have diverted the aid using military units across the country. Meanwhile, more than 20 million people need food aid due to the drought and the recent northern Tigray war. (“US suspends food aid to Ethiopia over fraud fears,” BBC, 8 June 2023)
Sudan: Attack on Saudi Arabia embassy
On 8 June, BBC reported that the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the armed groups for invading and vandalising its embassy in Khartoum. Saudi Arabia and the US have been involved in peace talks with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the clashes erupted in mid-April 2023. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the kingdom rejects all forms of violence and vandalism against diplomatic mission representations. Saudi Arabia and the US have been involved in peace talks with the Sudanese Armed Forces(SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the clashes erupted in mid-April 2023. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, visited Sudi Arabia on 7 June where two countries pledged to continue efforts to end the fighting in Sudan. (“Saudi Arabia condemns attack on its embassy in Sudan,” BBC, 8 June 2023)
Sudan: The area near the arms factory in Khartoum has been set ablaze
On 8 June, BBC reported that clashes between Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army had caused a widespread fire near an arms factory in the Yarmouk area of Khartoum. Images from NASA indicate heat signatures from several locations in the area. The RSF had taken control of the area and blamed the army for causing the inferno. The Sudanese armed forces (SAF) have not officially commented on the incident. ("Huge blazes seen in Sudan's capital near arms factory," BBC, 8 June 2023)