Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
IN BRIEF
By Ayan Datta
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Armed Forces tribunal sentences 25 soldiers to death
On 4 July, according to Reuters, an Armed Forces tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sentenced 25 soldiers to death for leaving their positions while fighting Rwanda-backed armed group M23 and stealing goods from a nearby village. The DRC’s Armed Forces set up a tribunal to try the men in North Kivu province’s Alimbongo province. The military tribunal sentenced 25 of the soldiers to death, awarded one a 10-years in prison and acquitted another. In May, the Armed Forces lifted its moratorium on the death penalty (instituted in 2000) to tackle rising cases of treason and espionage during the conflict. The army has been fighting the M23 since 2022. (“DR Congo soldiers sentenced to death for fleeing battle,” Reuters, 4 July 2024)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: US mediates humanitarian truce in eastern DRC
On 4 July, according to The White House, US National Security Council (NSC) Spokesperson Adrienne Watson announced a two-week-long “humanitarian truce” between the DRC’s Armed Forces, M23 in eastern DRC, mediated by US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. The truce resulted from Haines’ visits to Rwanda in November and talks with DRC’s President Felix Tshikedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame. The White House stated that the truce would “ease the suffering of vulnerable populations,” including over 100,000 displaced people. It added that the US Government would “continue to use its intelligence and diplomatic resources to monitor activities by armed forces and non-state armed groups” during the truce. (“Statement from NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson Welcoming the Humanitarian Truce in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo,” The White House, 4 July 2024)
Sudan: 136,000 people displaced in a week
On 4 July, Reuters reported that over 136,000 people fled southeastern Sudan’s Sennar state between 24 June and 4 July because of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks in the region. This was the latest wave of displacement caused by the 15-month-long civil war between the Sudan Army and the RSF. The displaced people waded across the Blue Nile towards neighbouring states. Before the attacks, the state contained 285,000 people, mostly displaced from Sudan’s Khartoum and al-Gezira states. (“More than 136,000 displaced by spread of war in southeast Sudan, UN says,” Reuters, 4 July 2024)
Nigeria: Nigeria wins bid to headquarters African Energy Bank
On 4 July, Reuters reported that Nigeria won the bid to be the headquarters of the newly formed Africa Energy bank. The country’s Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, stated that the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) decided following a meeting of their Council of Ministers. The African Energy Bank was a partnership between Afrexim Bank and APPO and would fund energy projects in Africa to invest in oil and gas projects in Africa. (“Nigeria beats rivals for bid to host new Africa Energy Bank,” Reuters, 4 July 2024)