Photo : Stefan Heunis, AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Stefan Heunis, AFP
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin A and Ryan Marcus
Benin: Recruits additional soldiers to combat jihadists
On 13 June, BBC reported that the Government of Benin has recruited more than 5000 soldiers owing to the rise in militant attacks on its northern border with Burkina Faso. The jihadists were present in Park W, a protected forest area across the borders of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The recruits are required to know at least one regional language and will undergo training for six months. Islamist extremists have caused millions of people to flee their homes across the Sahel region of West Africa, and their attacks have killed thousands of people. ("Benin recruits more soldiers to fight jihadists," BBC, 13 June)
Eritrea: Resumes its activity in East Africa bloc after 16 years
On 13 June, the Eritrea Information Minister, Yemane Meskel, stated that Asmara has resumed its activity in the East African Bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development(IGAD). Additionally, Meskel stated that the country was ready to function toward peace, stability, and regional integration. Eritrea quit the regional bloc in 2007 to express its objections to Ethiopian forces being sent to Somalia to drive out al-Shabab extremists. The country participated in the 14th Ordinary Summit organised by the seven-nation bloc in Djibouti on 12 June. (“Eritrea rejoins east Africa trade and security bloc IGAD after 16 years,” Africanews, 13 June 2023)
Mozambique: Offers to supply electricity to SA amid crisis
On 13 June, BBC reported that Mozambique has offered to provide 100 MW of electricity to South Africa to overcome its supply deficit and regular blackouts. Mozambique’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias, stated that the commercial agreement detailing the price along with the process and schedule of the distribution of electricity to Pretoria would conclude shortly. Additionally, Zacarias stated that within six months it would make available additional energy of 600 MW. The South African Minister of Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgoba, stated that he was happy with the prompt response of the Government of Mozambique. (“Mozambique boosts SA power supply amid crisis,” BBC, 13 June 2023)
South Africa: US lawmakers demand to transfer US-Africa trade summit from the country
On 13 June, Al Jazeera reported that US congressmen have demanded that the US-Africa trade meeting scheduled for later this year should take place elsewhere due to South Africa's deepening military relationship with Russia. The US congressmen stated: “We are seriously concerned that hosting the 2023 AGOA Forum in South Africa would serve as an implicit endorsement of South Africa’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” South Africa will be hosting the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) summit in Johannesburg, which would put together African leaders and US officials to discuss the long run of the initiative, which ends in 2025. South Africa under AGOA made shipments of nearly USD one billion to the US, making it the second-largest beneficiary of the policy after Nigeria. (“US lawmaker group wants S Africa punished over Russia ties,” Al Jazeera, 13 June 2023)