Photo : Feisal Omar, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Feisal Omar, Reuters
IN BRIEF
By Narmatha S
Somaliland: Somalia redirects Ethiopian fight headed to Somaliland
On 17 January, BBC reported that Somalia asked to return an Ethiopian flight that was carrying officials to Somaliland. Ethiopian officials were bound to reach Somaliland to discuss the controversial port deal that Somalia termed as an aggressive move threatening its sovereignty. Somalia denied permission to use its airspace as it considers the self-declared republic of Somaliland as an integral part of the country. The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) stated that flight ET8273 broke international law by failing to obtain clearance from the countries they passed through. The flight attempted to reach Somaliland's Hargeisa Airport. However, the regular flights are functioning as usual between Ethiopia and Somalia. (“Somalia turns back Ethiopian plane headed for Somaliland,” BBC, 17 January, 2024)
Nigeria: Massive blast in the Oyo state
On 17 January Africanews reported that a massive blast rocked the Bodija area of Ibadan in the southwestern state of Oyo, creating a panic among the residents. At least three people were killed and 77 were injured. Destruction of infrastructure and vehicles was reported by the residents. Following the investigations, it was confirmed that the blast was caused by explosives stored for use in illegal mining operations. Illegal mining has become a common event in Nigeria as the country is rich in mineral resources. however, safety precautions are poor. (“3 killed and 77 injured in a massive blast in southern Nigeria,” BBC, 17 January, 2024)