Photo : MINUSMA, Sylvain Liechti via Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : MINUSMA, Sylvain Liechti via Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin A and Ryan Marcus
Mali: Foreign Minister calls for withdrawal of UN peacekeeping mission
On 16 June, Al Jazeera reported that Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop stated that the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), a peacekeeping force should be withdrawn from Mali since the violence and insecurity has surged since their deployment. Diop made the statement while addressing a UN Security Council meeting. MINUSMA head El Ghassim Wane affirmed that conducting UN peacekeeping operations without the country's consent is nearly impossible. Mali's military rulers have imposed operational restrictions on peacekeepers and more than 300 peacekeepers have been killed since the start of the mission in 2013. Additionally, Diop stated that the Mali government is willing to cooperate with the United Nations on the issue. ("Mali asks UN to withdraw its peacekeeping mission 'without delay'," Al Jazeera, 16 June 2023)
Chad: Medical care overwhelmed with casualties from Sudan
On 16 June, BBC reported that more than 300 casualties were reached at a hospital in Chad following brutal fighting in Sudan's Darfur region. More than 130 needed surgical care and were referred to hospitals in Abéché. Additional staff from the Chadian Ministry of Health and off-duty staff were called to volunteer. Most casualties were received from El Geneina, West Darfur's capital, where more than 1,100 civilians have been killed since mid-April. Human rights groups have reported ethnic-based killings in the West Darfur region by Arab militias and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UN Children's Agency (Unicef) reported that more than 250,000 children have been displaced in Darfur. ("Chad hospital overwhelmed with wounded from Sudan," BBC, 16 June 2023)
Africa: African leaders visit Kyiv amid missile attack
On 16 June, BBC reported that a delegation of African leaders visited Kyiv amidst missile attacks to mediate the Russo-Ukrainian war. The Ukrainian Air Force has shot down a dozen of Russian projectiles, six of which were hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that the Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace. The delegation, which includes the Presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, and Comoros, has been expected to stress the importance of unrestricted exports of grain from Ukraine and fertilizer from Russia. ("Kyiv under missile attack as African leaders visit," BBC, 16 June 2023)
Africa: Zelenskyy urges African delegation to negotiate with Russia for prisoner release
On 16 June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the delegation of African leaders to push Russian President Vladimir Putin to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond. The delegation included the Presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, the Egyptian Prime Minister, and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the conflict is affecting Africa negatively. Comoros President Azali Assoumani proposed a road to peace to which President Zelenskyy responded he did want any surprises from their visit to Russia on 24 June. ("Zelenskyy asks African to push Russia on prisoner release," Al Jazeera, 16 June 2023)
Mali: Foreign Minister calls for withdrawal of UN peacekeeping mission
On 16 June, Al Jazeera reported that Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop addressed a UN Security Council meeting stating that MINUSMA, a peacekeeping force should be withdrawn from Mali since the violence and insecurity has surged since their deployment. MINUSMA head El Ghassim Wane affirmed that conducting UN peacekeeping operations without the country's consent is nearly impossible. Mali's military rulers have imposed operational restrictions on peacekeepers and more than 300 peacekeepers have been killed since the start of the mission in 2013. Additionally, Diop stated that the Mali government is willing to cooperate with the United Nations on the issue. ("Mali asks UN to withdraw its peacekeeping mission 'without delay'," Al Jazeera, 16 June 2023)
Chad: Medical care overwhelmed with casualties from Sudan
On 16 June, BBC reported that more than 300 casualties were received at a hospital in Chad following a brutal fighting in Sudan's Darfur region. More than 130 needed surgical care and were referred to hospitals in Abéché. Additional staff from the Chadian Ministry of Health and off-duty staff were called to volunteer. Most casualties were received from El Geneina, West Darfur's capital, where more than 1,100 civilians have been killed since mid-April. Human rights groups have reported ethnic-based killings in the West Darfur region by Arab militias and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UN Children's agency (Unicef) reported that more than 250,000 children have been displaced in Darfur. ("Chad hospital overwhelmed with wounded from Sudan," BBC, 16 June 2023)
African leaders visit Kyiv under missile attack
On 16 June, BBC reported that a delegation of African leaders visited Kyiv amidst missile attacks to mediate the Russo-Ukrainian war. The delegation, which includes the Presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Zambia and the Comoros, is expected to stress on the importance of unrestricted exports of grain from Ukraine and fertiliser from Russia. The Ukrainian Air Force has shot down a dozen of Russian projectiles, six of which were hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba stated that the Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace. ("Kyiv under missile attack as African leaders visit," BBC, 16 June 2023)
Africa: Zelenskyy urges African delegation to negotiate with Russia for prisoner release
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged a delegation of African leaders to push Russian President Vladimir Putin to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond. The delegation included the Presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, Egyptian Prime Minister and top envoys from Republic of Congo and Uganda. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the conflict is affecting Africa negatively. Comoros President Azali Assoumani proposed a road to peace to which President Zelenskyy responded he did want any surprises from their visit to Russia on 24 June. ("Zelenskyy asks African to push Russia on prisoner release," Al Jazeera, 16 June 2023)