Photo : SHUTTERSTOCK
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : SHUTTERSTOCK
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin, Ryan Marcus, Sneha Surendran, Nithyashree RB and Prerana P
Tanzania: High Court dismisses petition to suspend UAE’s DP World to run ports
On 11 August, a petition to suspend a deal between UAE and Tanzania under which DP World, a UAE-based logistics company, was to run several Tanzania ports was dismissed by the high court. Following the approval of the deal on 10 June 2023, according to the BBC, 18 critics of the deal from Dar es Salaam were arrested on 19 June 2023. HRW’s Tanzania researcher, Oryem Nyeko stated: “Instead of clamping down on critics, the government should respect the right to freedom of expression and assembly, and listen to them.” DP World has already taken over the management of ports in Egypt, Somaliland, Puntland and the Democratic Republic of Congo and is interested in taking over ports in Kenya. (Gloria Aradi, Court allows UAE deal to run Tanzania ports,” BBC News, 11 August)
Niger: Standby forces readied by ECOWAS after meeting
On 10 August, at an ECOWAS meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, leaders conceded to an armed intervention in Niger to overthrow the military leadership. They consented to have a ‘stand-by’ military force ready for action. However, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinube, who is also the current chair of the bloc, said that the use of force would be “a last resort.” A spokesperson reported that while the contribution of troops from each member is currently unknown, the larger goal is “to bring General Abdourahmane Tchiani to the dialogue table.” (“Niger coup: Ecowas to deploy standby force,” BBC, 11 August 2023)
Niger: US joins ECOWAS in call for peaceful restoration of order
On 11 August, BBC reported that the US has hailed ECOWAS’s decision to try all possible options to restore Niger’s deposed president before using force. This comes after the regional block agreed on having a “stand-by'' force ready for action. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined ECOWAS’s demand for constitutional order in Niger and informed that the US places the responsibility for the safety of Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on the military leaders. (“US backs peaceful resolution of Niger coup,” BBC, 11 August 2023)