Photo : ZOUBEIR SOUISSI/Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : ZOUBEIR SOUISSI/Reuters
IN BRIEF
Apoorva Sudhakar
Tunisia: Trade union head rejects IMF conditions
On 23 June, the head of the UGTT rejected the IMF's conditions to issue a loan to bailout Tunisia from its economic crisis. On 22 June, the IMF's regional director said the fund was ready to commence formal talks. The regional director said Tunisia would need to contain its civil service wage bill and replace generalized subsidies with transfers to the poor to address its fiscal imbalance. The UGTT head said though the union supports reforms, it does not support the vision of the current government, citing Tunisia's "low salaries, lack of means, rising poverty and unemployment." (“Tunisia trade unions chief rejects IMF reforms,” France24, 23 June 2022)
Sudan: Fear of new displacement crisis looms amid violence
On 23 June, Reuters referred to a UN report which said violence in western Sudan in June had left over 84,000 people displaced. In June, the violence stemmed from the attack by Arab militias on the Gimir tribe; 125 people died and 50,000 were displaced in the Kulbus area. Several aid workers raised alarms that the displacement crisis could be similar to the one in the 2000s when the Darfur conflict erupted. The news report quoted an official from the Norwegian Refugee Council who said that no facilities are in place to prevent a new large-scale displacement emergency, adding, “Before we finish responding to one emergency or major attack, another two have already happened.” (“Attacks in Sudan's Darfur bring new surge in people fleeing their homes,” Reuters, 23 June 2022)
Nigeria: Trans-Sahara gas pipeline talks resume
On 22 June, Niger oil ministry said talks between Niger, Nigeria and Algeria on a gas pipeline, proposed in 2009, across the Sahara resumed. The three countries have set up a task force and commissioned a feasibility study. The cost of the pipeline is estimated at USD 13 billion and is proposed to extend from Warri in Nigeria to Hassi R’Mel Algeria. The ministry statement said the pipeline could be an alternative to Europe which is looking to diversify its natural gas sources and will “also allow several African states to access this high-value energy source.” (“Algeria, Niger, Nigeria resume talks on Trans-Sahara gas pipeline,” Al Jazeera, 23 June 2022)