Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
IN BRIEF
By Ayan Datta
Ethiopia: US Ambassador says 100 people kidnapped in a week
On 8 July, according to Reuters, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga said that around 100 people were kidnapped last week in the country. Massinga stated, “Recent and frequent kidnappings in Oromia and Amhara regions show how prolonged conflict emboldens criminals and weakens (the) rule of law.” According to the United Nations, in 2023, 1300 people were killed in kidnappings across the country. (“Over 100 people kidnapped for ransom in Ethiopia last week, US envoy says,” Reuters, 8 July 2024)
Somalia: Ugandan peacekeeper killed
On 8 July, according to Reuters, Uganda’s military stated that Major Patrick Opio Awany was killed by a roadside bomb while commanding a convoy. He was part of the 5000 Ugandan peacekeepers serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The Ugandan military’s spokesperson stated that armed group Al Shabaab was behind the attack. He added, “This attack won't deter us, it will instead stiffen our resolve to continue supporting peace efforts in Somalia.” (“Ugandan officer killed by roadside bomb in Somalia,” Reuters, 8 July 2024)