Photo : ZOUBEIR SOUISSI/Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : ZOUBEIR SOUISSI/Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Tunisa: Tunis witnesses protests against constitutional reforms
On 19 June, hundreds of Tunisians protested in the capital city Tunis against Saeid’s proposed constitutional referendum scheduled for July. The protests were led by the coalition, Salvation Front. The development came after a similar demonstration was held the Free Constitutional Party on 18 June against the proposed economic reforms after the head of the constitution committee said the new draft of a “democratic” constitution will be submitted to Saied on 20 June. On the same day, judges extended their strike against the president’s decision to sack 57 judges, for the third week. (“Hundreds protest in Tunis against Saied's constitutional referendum plan,” France24, 19 June 2022)
Ethiopia: Over 200 Amhara-origin people killed in the Oromo region
On 19 June, The Guardian quoted witnesses in the Oromia region who said over 200 people of Amhara ethnicity had been killed on 18 June. The witnesses and the Oromia regional government accused the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) rebels of carrying out the attack, alleging that the rebel group failed to resist security forces’ operations. However, the OLA spokesperson dismissed these claims and accused the Ethiopian military and local militia of the offensive. On 20 June, prime minister Abiy Ahmed condemned the ethnic killings across Ethiopia, saying his government was committed to peace and security. (“Ethiopia: more than 200 Amhara people killed in attack blamed on rebels,” The Guardian, 19 June 2022; Kalkidan Yibeltal, “Ethiopia PM denounces 'horrific' ethnic killings,” BBC, 20 June 2022)
Mali: UN peacekeeper killed in attack on a convoy
On 19 June, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned an IED attack in northern Mali wherein a UN peacekeeper was killed. The attack took place during a UN convoy’s mine detection operation in Kidal city. Guterres said targeting UN peacekeepers could amount to war crimes and called on Mali to “spare no efforts” to bring the attackers to justice. Similarly, the UN Special Representative for Mali, who is also the head of the UN’s Mali mission, said the development “illustrates, once again, the complexity of the environment in which the Mission operates and of the security challenges it faces on a daily basis.” (“Mali: Latest attack against UN peacekeepers leaves Guinean 'blue helmet' dead,” UN News, 19 June 2022)