Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
IN BRIEF
By Ayan Datta
Kenya: Anti-Ruto protests resume
On 17 July, according to BBC, anti-government protests resumed in Nairobi and other parts of the country, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nyeri. One protestor was shot dead in a clash with security forces. The protests began in June against a finance bill introduced by President William Ruto, but the protesters' demands grew to demanding Ruto’s resignation. (“Protester killed as crowds call for Kenya leader to go,” BBC, 17 July 2024)
Guinea: Bar Association calls strike to protest military government’s undemocratic actions
On 17 July, according to BBC, the Equatorial Guinea Bar Association organised a lawyers’ strike against the military government’s “arbitrary arrests” and “secret detentions.” The Association’s spokesperson, Gabriel Kamano, stated that the “courts are not closed, but their activity is rather paralysed.” The Association said that the ban would last until 31 July, when the courts would deliver a verdict on former military ruler Dadis Camara, who was charged with crimes against humanity for ordering the shooting of protesters. The strike followed the arrests of government critics Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Bah. (“Guinea lawyers on strike over military crackdown,” BBC, 17 July 2024)
Libya: Mass grave found in former IS-controlled city
On 17 July, according to Africanews, Libya’s National Authority for Searching and Identifying Missing People stated that it found a mass grave with 24 bodies in the city of Sirte, which used to be controlled by the Islamic State (IS). The armed group controlled the city between 2011-2016 before US-backed troops expelled them. Multiple mass graves were discovered across Libya in recent years because of political turmoil and mass migration under dangerous conditions. (“Libyan authorities discover unidentified bodies in a former stronghold of the IS group,” Africanews, 17 July 2024)
South Africa: Zuma to face ANC disciplinary hearing
On 17 July, Africanews reported that South Africa’s former President and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party leader, Jacob Zuma, would face a disciplinary hearing before the African National Congress (ANC) for campaigning against the party. The hearing would be held in the ANC’s Johannesburg headquarters. Although Zuma formed and campaigned for the MK party in the 2024 elections, he did not give up his ANC membership. (“Former South African President Zuma faces expulsion from ANC after joining a rival party,” Africanews, 17 July 2024)