Photo : UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
DRC: AU condemns attacks on UN peacekeepers
On 29 July, BBC reported the African Union’s condemnation of the attacks against the UN peacekeeping forces in the east. The comes after a UN base in Beni was petrol-bombed on 28 July, with protesters accusing the UN of failing to ensure protection to all citizens from attacks by rebel groups. On the same day, the US urged the national government and local governments to protect the UN forces. (“AU condemns attacks on UN bases in DR Congo,” BBC, 29 July 2022; “U.S. calls on Congo authorities to ensure protection of U.N. personnel,” Reuters, 29 July 2022)
Guinea: One dead during anti-military protests, says opposition
On 28 July, the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) said one person had been killed during protests against the military government in the capital city Conakry. The FNDC claimed that a bullet had hit the deceased. The development comes days after the FNDC called for resistance against the military’s alleged “unilateral management” of restoration of civilian rule. Meanwhile, on 28 July, the public prosecutor called for legal action against the protest organisers. (“Protests against military administration paralyse Guinea capital,” Al Jazeera, 29 July 2022)
Kenya: NCIC threatens to suspend Facebook
On 29 July, BBC reported that the National Integration and Cohesion Commission (NCIC) had written to Meta asking for a response on allegations that Facebook had weak controls on moderating the content online. The NCIC warned Facebook to suspension if the latter failed to comply with the NCIC requirement within seven days. The development came after two advocacy groups released a report that said Facebook had not identified advertisements with inflammatory content in English and Swahili. (Richard Kagoe, “Kenya threatens Facebook suspension over hate speech,” BBC, 29 July 2022)