Photo : Luc Gnago, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Luc Gnago, Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Mali: Junta signs mutual defence pact with Niger and Burkina Faso
On 16 September, Al Jazeera reported on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signing a mutual defence pact with an objective to help each other against the threats from armed rebellion and external aggression. They signed the charter, Alliance of Sahel States, that binds the signatories to assist militarily during an attack on any of them. It read: “Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties.” Mali military leader Assimi Goita stated: “I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework.” The groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have been carrying out frequent attacks in the region. Three countries have undergone coups since 2020; most recently Niger in July. Since then, relations with the West, specifically France, and regional bloc ECOWAS had deteriorated. France has been forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso. However, the latest development is a response to ECOWAS threatening military intervention in Niger where Mali and Burkina Faso responded to a “declaration of war” against it. (“Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso establish Sahel security alliance,” Al Jazeera, 17 September 2023)
Eritrea: 200 anti-government eritreans arrested in Germany over clashes
On 17 September, more than 200 opponents of the Eritrean government were arrested after clashes with the police in the city of Stuttgart in Germany. The clashes erupted during an Eritrean cultural festival marking 30 years of independence which was organised by the supporters loyal to the Eritrean regime. Police reported that they were sent to contain “massive violence” between the opposing groups. Previously this month, a similar violence occurred in the city of Tel Aviv in Israel, after which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to deport Eritrean asylum seekers in the country. (“Hundreds of Eritrean opposition supporters arrested in Stuttgart,” BBC, 17 September 2023)