Photo : Saidu Bah, AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Saidu Bah, AFP
IN BRIEF
By Narmatha S
Sierra Leone: Nationwide curfew after attacks on military barracks
On 26 November, a nationwide curfew was announced by President Julius Maada Bio after unknown gunmen fired at the military barracks and detention centres in the capital city of Freetown. Bio stated that “calm has been restored” after they were driven away by the security forces. The political situation in the country has been tense since Bio was re-elected in a disputed election in June. The detention centres and the Pademba Road prison that held more than 2000 prisoners were attacked. Minister of Information, Chernor Bah stated: “The prisoners were overrun and some prisoners were abducted by the assailants while many others were released.” (“Sierra Leone lifts indefinite curfew,” BBC, 26 November 2023)
Egypt: Collaboration with Canadian company on mineral resource
On 26 November, Arab News reported that a contract was signed between Egypt’s mineral resource authority and Canada’s Lotus Gold Corporation in Marsa Alam on a USD 2.5 million gold exploration project. The deal with the Lotus Gold Corporation, a major player in the global mining industry, is part of the second round of Egypt’s global gold bid giving the firm three sectors covering 525 square meters. This is seen as Egypt’s effort to increase foreign investments and modernise the mining sector. The signing of the contract was overseen by Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Molla and Canadian Ambassador, Louis Dumas. (“Egypt boosts gold sector with $2.5m exploration deal with Lotus Gold Corp,” Arab News, 26 November 2023)
Nigeria: 100 people abducted in Zamfara
On 26 November, BBC Africa reported that at least 100 people were abducted by bandits in the state of Zamfara in northwest Nigeria. Gunmen who came on motorcycles stormed the village. A witness told BBC that the residents were kidnapped after they failed to pay the tax imposed by the gunmen. One of the villagers told BBC that the leader of the armed gang, Damana, controls the majority of the region in the absence of state security forces. Currently, Nigeria faces multifaceted security issues including the jihadist insurgency in the north, farmer-herder clashes and separatist insurgency in the southeast and bandits in the Niger Delta. (“Dozens kidnapped by motorcycle 'bandits' in north Nigeria,” BBC, 26 November 2023)