Photo : Sang Tan, AP Photo
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Sang Tan, AP Photo
IN BRIEF
By Narmatha S
Somalia: Joins as eighth member of East African Community trade bloc
On 24 November, Reuters reported that the East African Community trade bloc welcomed Somalia as its eighth member to boost the country’s economy and stability to expand free trade across the region. The EAC common market was set up in 2010 and has around 300 million people from the countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Somalia’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Daud Aweis, stated: “Somalia officially joins the East African Community, reinforcing ties and opening new doors for progress and partnership.” With Somalia being the new member, the bloc’s coastline has stretched over 3000 kilometres holding high potential for offshore resources including oil and gas. Before, only Kenya and Tanzania of EAC had coastlines. The Bloc may witness jitters due to the presence of conflict-prone zones in Somalia caused by the Islamist militants. (“Boost for Somalia as it joins East African trade bloc,” BBC, 24 November 2023)
Ethiopia: Nearly 50 people died out of hunger
On 23 November BBC reported that more than fifty people died out of hunger in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray and Amhara. Thousands of people fled their homes because of drought. Since 2019, due to climate change, the region has witnessed five failed rainy seasons in the Horn of Africa region. Over 4000 cattle died of severe drought. The El Nino effect has worsened in northern Ethiopia, battling drought while the southern and eastern regions battling flash floods. The UN has stopped its humanitarian aid due to allegations of food theft that made the situation worse. (“Hunger kills 50 people in Ethiopia amid drought,” BBC, 23 November