Photo : AP Photo/Ben Curtis
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AP Photo/Ben Curtis
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
US to provide emergency assistance of USD 215 million to Africa for food security
On 19 May, BBC reported that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had announced that the US would provide USD 215 million in emergency aid to ten African countries to tackle food insecurity. The beneficiary countries are Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Mauritania. Blinken announced the aid when he met several African foreign ministers in New York during a global food security meet. (Emmanuel Iguanza, “US injects $215m into Africa food security,” BBC, 19 May 2022)
Legal challenges have not affected asylum plans, says UK; Rwanda expects migrants by end of May
On 19 May, Rwanda’s deputy government spokesperson said the first batch of migrants to be relocated from the UK are scheduled to arrive by the end of May. However, the spokesperson said only the British government knows how many migrants will be relocated and when. Meanwhile, the UK Home Office spokesperson said: “The first flights are expected to take place in the coming months, legal action has not yet had any impact on this.” (“Rwanda to get first batch of asylum seekers from UK this May,” Al Jazeera, 20 May 2022; “Rwanda asylum plan 'not delayed by legal challenges',” BBC, 20 May 2022)
Burkina Faso: 11 soldiers killed in attack on an army base
On 19 May, the armed forces communications unit said 11 soldiers were killed and 20 injured in an attack on a base in Madjoari in the east. The unit’s statement said shrapnel and projectiles were used in the attack; further, the statement said 15 militants attempting to escape were killed by the military air support and called on all units to be combat-ready to tackle enemies. (Lalla Sy, “Burkina Faso loses 11 soldiers in army base attack,” BBC, 20 May 2022)
TPLF to release prisoners on amnesty
On 20 May, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front said 4,208 prisoners, including 401 women, would be released on amnesty. The prisoners centre’s coordinator said most prisoners had previously been captured outside Tigray “and others joined the fight in a forced conscription.” The coordinator said priority would be given to prisoners with illnesses, disabilities and women who delivered babies in detention. The development came after military commanders from the federal government and Tigray held talks. (“Ethiopia’s Tigray forces announce release of thousands of POWs,” Al Jazeera, 20 May 2022)