Photo : Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Reuters
IN BRIEF
By Samriddi Pathak
Mali: Cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine
On 5 August, Mali cut off its diplomatic ties with Ukraine after it suffered a defeat fighting Tuareg rebels in July. The fight resulted in the death of 84 Wagner troops and 47 Malian soldiers. The development came after on 29 July the spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR), Andriy Yusov, said that the rebels received “all the information they needed, which allowed [them] to carry out their operation against the Russian war criminals.” Malian military officials responded that Yusov had “admitted Ukraine’s involvement in a cowardly, treacherous and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups that resulted in the death of members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces.” Soon after, it broke off relations with Ukraine. (“Mali cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine over Wagner attack controversy,” Al Jazeera, 5 August 2024)
Somali: Police seize veils amidst security threats
On 5 August, Somali police confiscated hundreds of women’s veils, known as niqab, after receiving information that terrorists might be hiding to carry out attacks. Niqab is considered sacred in Islam, a religion that 99 per cent of the Somalian population follows. However, the majority of women wear a hijab and not a niqab. The awareness and activity by police comes after an attack at a beach area that killed 37 people. Somalia imposed a niqab ban in 2013 but seldom followed. (“Somali police seize hundreds of veils amid security fears,” BBC, 5 August 2024)