Photo : Anadolu Agency
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Anadolu Agency
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Burkina Faso: 50 terrorists killed in two operations, says military
On 10 May, BBC reported a military statement which said at least 50 terrorists had been killed in two operations on 9 May. The statement said the military conducted the operations against an ambush in the northwest near the border with Mali. The statement said a commando unit had launched an attack in the southwest near the border with Ivory Coast. (Will Ross, “At least 50 jihadists killed in Burkina Faso - army,” BBC, 10 May 2022)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: 14 including children killed in suspected militia attack
On 10 May, an army spokesperson said at least 14 people had been killed in a militia attack on a camp for displaced persons in eastern Ituri. The Kivu Security Tracker confirmed the attack and the president of a civil society groups’ association said most victims were children. Blaming the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) militia for the attack, the association president said: “It’s shocking to see children chopped up by machetes.” The latest attack comes less than a week after over 30 were killed in a similar attack - suspected to be by the CODECO militia - on a mining encampment on 8 May in Ituri. (“DR Congo: Rebels carry out deadly attack on refugee camp in Ituri,” Al Jazeera, 10 May 2022)
Zimbabwe: Human-elephant conflict claims 60 lives
On 10 May, a government spokesperson tweeted that the human-elephant conflict had claimed 60 lives and injured 50 people, until May 2022. In 2021, 72 people had lost their lives. The news report quoted wildlife expert Tinashe Farawo who maintained that the conflict is likely to increase as the herds will begin to move searching for food and water in the dry season. ("Elephants killed 60 Zimbabweans this year - official," BBC, 10 May 2022)