Photo : AP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AP
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin, Ryan Marcus, Sneha Surendran, Nithyashree RB and Prearana P
Niger: Nigeria to cut electricity supply to Niger
On 2 August, Africanews reported that Nigeria had cut its electricity supply to Niger following the sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS. Additionally, ECOWAS has stated that it would freeze energy transactions until the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. On 30 July, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu stated that sanctions will be imposed on members who usurped President-elect Mohamed Bazoum. ("Nigeria cuts electricity to Niger after coup," Africanews, 2 August 2023)
Niger: Niamey opens borders
On 1 August, the spokesperson of Niger’s military government stated: “The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya and Chad are reopened from 01 August 2023.” The borders were closed on 26 July 2023 following the coup. At present, only the borders in the desert areas are open. ECOWAS’s sanctions bar the country to open its borders for trade and commerce. (“Niger reopens borders with five neighbours a week after coup,” Al Jazeera, 2 August 2023)
Senegal: Protests continue after the arrest of Ousmane Sonko
On 2 August, BBC reported that following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, and the dissolution of his party, protests continued in various parts of Senegal. The interior ministry said that they are trying to restore order. Sonko’s party, Pastef, responded to the dissolution by stating: “Senegal's stability is now compromised because the people will never accept this ultimate forfeiture of power against 'the favourite.” Meanwhile, Sonko has maintained that his arrest was made on false charges. (Nicolas Negoce, “Protests persist in Senegal after Sonko crackdown,” BBC, 2 August 2023)