Photo : Alima Boureima, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Alima Boureima, Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin, Ryan Marcus, Sneha Surendran, Nithyashree RB and Prearana P
Niger: General Salifou Mody meets the leader of Mali
On 3 August, one of the officers involved in the coup General Salifou Mody on his visit to Mali met with leader Colonel Assimi Goita. The meeting was held following Mali and Burkina Faso’s condemnation of ECOWAS’ announcement of possible military intervention in Niger by calling it a “declaration of war.” (“Niger Coup Leader Visits Mali,” Africanews, 3 August 2023)
Sudan: Amnesty International raises war crime concerns
On 3 August, BBC reported on Amnesty International appealing against the war crimes committed during the conflict in Sudan. It found that members from both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias were behind the crimes, which also included widespread sexual assaults on women and young girls. Furthermore, UN groups have raised alerts regarding the acute food shortage in Sudan, which is estimated to impact over 20 million people. (Will Ross, “War crimes committed by both sides in Sudan - Amnesty,” BBC, 3 August 2023)
Niger: Pro-coup protests and Biden's support for Bazoum
On 3 August, supporters of the Niger coup gathered in the capital, Niamey. Several demonstrators waved Russian flags; one of them said: “Only security that interests us, irrespective of whether it came from Russia, China, Turkey if they want to help us.” They also expressed anti-French sentiments stating that France, its former colonizer, had only looted them. The same day, US President Joe Biden stated: “The United States stands with the people of Niger” and called for democracy to be restored along with the release of Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. (“Pro-coup protests continue in Niger as Biden urges Bazoum release,” Al Jazeera, 3 August 2023)