Photo : Djaffar Sabiti, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Djaffar Sabiti, Reuters
IN BRIEF
By Narmatha S and Vetriselvi Baskaran
Democratic Republic of Congo: M23 advances in Goma
On 10 February, BBC reported on the M23 advancing towards Goma, the capital of the North Kivu state. The logistics and supplies have ceased, making people suffer without necessities. Nearly seven million people are forced to leave their homes. The M23 insurgency, led by the Tutsi community, began in 2012 to protect their community in the eastern DRC. The group is accused of being backed by the Rwandan government. Recently, re-elected Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi stated that “Congolese need to learn to trust us, Goma will never fall.” Goma stands as an important economic hub. Congolese Minister of Communications, Patrick Muyaya, told the BBC: “We all know that the reason for this war is economic. Rwanda is continuing... for the past 25 years… looting our mineral resources.” (“DR Congo violence: Panic in Goma as M23 rebels advance,” BBC, 10 February 2024)
Senegal: A student died in protest
On 10 February, the Ministry of Interior and Public Security stated that a student was killed in the city of Saint-Louis during the protests. The country has been clenched with clashes between the security forces and protesters over election postponement. The postponement came less than three weeks before the elections scheduled for 25 February. ("Student killed in Senegal protests over election delay, Al Jazeera, 10 February 2024)
Somalia: Al Shabab holds accountable for the UAE military base attack
On 10 February, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that Al Shabab, an Al Qaeda-backed armed group, is accountable for the attack on its military base in Somalia. Al Shabab stated that the attack was to showcase that the UAE is an "enemy" of the Islamic law for backing Somalia. The attack on 10 February killed five people including four Emirati troops and a Bahraini military officer. ("Al-Shabab claims attack on UAE military in Somalia," Al Jazeera, 10 February 2024)