Photo : Al Jazeera
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Al Jazeera
IN BRIEF
By Ayan Datta
Somalia: Five killed in Al Shabab bomb blast in Mogadishu
On 15 July, according to Reuters, a car bomb exploded near the Presidential Palace in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, killing five and injuring 20 people. The armed group Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. Despite losing territory to government forces, the group attacked Mogadishu to reassert its presence. (“Car bomb kills five, injures 20 outside restaurant in Somalia's capital,” Reuters, 15 July 2024)
South Africa: Ramaphosa advocates green energy to avoid international carbon taxes
On 15 July, according to Reuters, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said that carbon taxes proposed by developed countries would damage developing economies and urged the latter to transition to green energy. Ramaphosa stated: “Instruments like the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism ... (have) the potential to cause great damage to developing economies.” He added that “For decades our reliance on coal ... allowed us to produce electricity cheaply. But the world has changed and this dependency has come to pose significant risks.” (“South Africa's Ramaphosa urges green energy to avoid carbon border tax,” Reuters, 15 July 2024)
Rwanda: Kagame set to win presidential elections with over 99 per cent votes
On 15 July, Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission reported the partial results of the presidential elections held the same day. With 78.94 per cent of the votes counted, incumbent President Paul Kagame was set to win the elections, securing 99.15 per cent of the votes. Opposition leaders Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Independent candidate Phillipe Mpayimana won less than one per cent each. The NEC will announce the final results by 27 July. (“PARTIAL RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS,” National Electoral Commission of Rwanda, 15 July 2024)
Nigeria: UAE reverses visa ban on Nigerians
On 15 July, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation stated that the United Arab Emirates would lift its visa ban on Nigerians after “mutually beneficial negotiations.” According to the “updated controls and conditions,” Nigerian visitors could apply for a visa after showing multiple documents, including identity proof and travel history. The UAE imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians in 2022 because of multiple factors, including improper conduct by Nigerian visitors, attempts by such visitors to circumvent visa rules, and the Nigerian government’s decision to reduce UAE-based Emirates Airlines’ flights to Nigeria. (“UAE lifts 2022 visa ban on Nigerians,” Africanews, 15 July 2024)