Photo : Hussein Malla, AP Photo
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Hussein Malla, AP Photo
IN BRIEF
By Anu Maria Joseph
Sudan: RSF seizes military base in Gezira and the city of Wad Madani
On 20 December, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), claimed that they had seized a military base in the state of Gezira. The RSF stated that it “liberated the second infantry division” of SAF in the town of al-Hasaheisa. The development comes days after the group claimed seizing of the city of Wad Madani, the capital of the state of Gezira. According to the Preliminary Committee of Sudan Doctors’ Union, at least 300 people were killed during the clashes in Wad Madani. The UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) stated that more than 300,000 people have fled the city following the clashes. (“RSF says it has seized another key town in central Sudan,” BBC, 20 December 2023)
The Democratic Republic of Congo: UN peacekeeping forces’ withdrawal in three phases
On 20 December, the UN Security Council voted on the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping forces from the conflict-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The council extended the mandate of the mission, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), for a year and a three-phase withdrawal consequently. The mission which began in 2010 aimed to restore security in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; however, failed to achieve the objectives with the challenge of fighting more than 200 rebel groups. The UNSC stated: "The drawdown will start by the end of 2023 amid the election cycle. The force will be withdrawn from South Kivu by the end of April 2024 and the mandate’s implementation will be limited to provinces from May 2024.” (“UN council votes for gradual exit of DR Congo force,” BBC, 20 December 2023)