Photo : Ralph Tedy Erol, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Ralph Tedy Erol, Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin, Ryan Marcus, Sneha Surendran, Nithyashree RB and Prearana P
Kenya: Nairobi will lead the “assessment mission” says Haiti’s Prime Minister
On 4 August, Al Jazeera reported on the Haitians’ reaction to Kenya’s willingness to lead a multinational force to respond to the gang violence in the country. As a result of the persisting violence, Haiti is facing an increase in sexual abuse and cholera outbreak. In October 2022, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry called on the international community to form a “specialised armed force” to counter the rising violence. The Haitian civil society groups resented Henry’s call stating the consequences of past foreign interventions. On 29 July, Kenya’s Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua offered to deploy 1000 police officers and to lead the multinational force on an “assessment mission.” Mutua tweeted: An assessment Mission by a Task Team of the Kenya Police is scheduled within the next few weeks. This assessment will inform and guide the mandate and operational requirements of the Mission.” While the UN and the US welcomed Nairobi’s decision, there are concerns that the Kenyan police would be in charge given their deteriorating human rights record. On 1 August, Henry assured that Kenya would be leading the potential mission. (Scepticism, uncertainty, hope: Haitians react to possible Kenya-led mission, Al Jazeera, 4 August 2023)
Uganda: UN Human rights office closes down
On 5 August, following the end of its mandate by the Ugandan government, the UN’s human rights mission was closed after 18 years of operating in Kampala. Human rights offices in northern Uganda have been closed too. On 4 August, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted that most of the 54 NGOs closed in 2021 are still closed and the amended computer misuse law can curb freedom of expression. Türk added that human rights defenders, civil society actors and journalists are working in a “hostile environment” ahead of the 2026 elections. He urged the Ugandan government to let the national human rights body function efficiently. (UN human rights office shuts in Uganda,” BBC News, 4 August 2023)