Photo : Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, AP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, AP
IN BRIEF
Narmatha S and Vetriselvi Baskaran
Democratic Republic of Congo: UN report alleges Rwanda of using advanced military
On 17 February, a UN report alleged the Rwandan military using advanced weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, to support the M23 rebel group in the eastern DRC. The report claimed that a Rwandan missile was fired at a UN drone. This incident has heightened tensions in the region with the UN Security Council expressing concern and condemning the M23 offensive. Fighting between the rebels and government forces reportedly resulted in dozens of casualties. ("DR Congo accuses Rwanda of airport ‘drone attack’ in restive east," Al Jazeera, 17 February 2024)
Somalia: President accuses Ethiopia of trying to annex its port
On 17 February, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused Ethiopia of attempting to annex its port through a deal with Somaliland. He stated that the port deal “is nothing more than annexing part of Somalia to Ethiopia, and changing the borders of Somalia,” and Somalia "categorically objects to that.” Tensions increased between Somalia and Ethiopia following the deal with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia. Somalia opposed the deal and described it as a violation of its sovereignty. While Ethiopia denied ill intentions, the dispute remains unresolved and raises concerns about regional stability. ("Somalia president accuses Ethiopia of trying to annex part of its territory," Al Jazeera, 17 February 2024)