Photo : Kola Sulaimon, AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Kola Sulaimon, AFP
IN BRIEF
Narmatha S and Vetriselvi Baskaran
Nigeria: Government warns schools of high abduction in 14 states
On 11 March, BBC reported that the government of Nigeria had declared schools in 14 states as targets for assaults, following the renewed wave of kidnappings. The National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya, stated that the agency is ready to guide intervention measures with the collected information. (“Nigeria warns schools in 14 states at risk of kidnappings,” BBC, 11 March 2024)
Libya: Rival parties agree on unified government
On 11 March, BBC reported that the President of the Libyan Presidential Council and the leader of the Benghazi-based administration had agreed to form a new unified government to supervise the long-delayed elections and “unify sovereign positions.” The talks between these rival governments were held under the leadership of the Secretary of the Arab League, General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in Cairo. Libya was engulfed by a civil war in 2014 after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The civil war split the country between the internationally recognised government in the west, led by interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, and the administration in the east backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi. (“Rival Libyan leaders agree to form unified government,” BBC, 11 March 2024)
Sudan: US special envoy kicked off his diplomatic tour
On 11 March, BBC reported that the newly appointed US special envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, began his diplomatic tour to East Africa and the Gulf. He would visit Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The development came ahead of the one-year completion of the civil war in Sudan and the UN’s proposal for a ceasefire during Ramadan. (“US Sudan envoy to meet alleged RSF backers,” BBC, 11 March 2024)
Ethiopia: Discussion over ending Tigray conflict’s peace agreement delayed
On 11 March, the federal government and the Tigrayan regional state initiated talks to end the Pretoria peace agreement which was brokered in November 2022. The delay in implementation escalated further tensions in the country. The agreement tries to look at power-sharing, regional autonomy and resource control. (“Talks open between Ethiopia and Tigray authorities,” BBC, 11 March 2024)
Somalia: US’s action to destroy Somali Islamists
On 11 March, the US Department of the Treasury announced that it would support Somalia in its "campaign to degrade this deadly terrorist group,” referring to Al Shabab. The department added that the Al Shabab militant group, which controls vast regions of Somalia, has been renamed as a "transnational money-laundering network.” The move is to reduce attention given to the group as an Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militant group. (“US hits Somali Islamist network with sanctions,” BBC, 11 March 2024)