Photo : Issouf Sanogo, AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Issouf Sanogo, AFP
IN BRIEF
Narmatha S and Vetriselvi Baskaran
Ivory Coast: President pardons jailed prisoners
On 23 February, the President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara announced the pardoning of 51 prisoners who were arrested in the post-2010 election on the grounds of crime against state security. The country was flared up by disputes when the incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo declined to give power to the then-poll winner President Ouattara. This move lasted from November 2010 to April 2011 and killed and sexually abused many people. Reports say that this move is part of the President's commitment to work resolutely to consolidate peace." ("Ivory Coast president pardons prisoners jailed for poll violence," BBC, 23 February 2024)
Zambia: Massive cholera outbreak
On 23 February, the BBC reported on the biggest-ever cholera outbreak in the country. The Cholera has killed almost 700 people, says the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Analysis reports that this is the biggest ever Cholera outbreak that the country has witnessed. The country's capital Lusaka was the main point from where it got to spread to other provinces infecting more than 19,000 people. The disease is mostly caused by contaminated water and unhygienic situations. (“Zambia's biggest-ever cholera outbreak kills almost 700,” BBC, 23 February 2024)
Sudan: UN exposes Human Rights violations
On 23 February, the UN's Human Rights Office released the report, “Sudan: Horrific violations and abuses as fighting spreads.” This report highlights the human rights crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during the past eight months. The report states that thousands of people were killed in ethnically motivated attacks in the Darfur region. It alleges that hundreds of women and children were raped and sexually assaulted and several students were publicly beheaded by both forces. Besides, the report cited satellite images revealing the use of heavy explosives in densely populated areas. (“Child rape and ethnic killings exposed in Sudan - UN,” BBC, 23 February 2024)