Photo : DW/JohanWessels/AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : DW/JohanWessels/AFP
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Senegal: Ruling coalition, opposition fail to secure majority
On 4 August, the provisional results revealed that President Macky Sall’s ruling coalition had failed to secure the majority in the parliamentary elections by one vote. The coalition has won 82 of the 165 seats. Meanwhile, the opposition too failed to secure the majority with 80 seats. The remaining three seats, won by small parties will decide the final results. This is the first time a National Assembly will be formed in Senegal without a clear majority; this development also indicates a fall in Macky’s popularity. (“Senegal: Governing coalition loses legislative majority,” Al Jazeera, 4 August 2022)
South Africa: Migrants attacked by mob for alleged criminal acitvities
On 4 August, local residents of the Krugersdorp township attacked migrants accusing them of criminal activities in the area. The development comes after 130 people were arrested on charges of eight women near a mining dump on 28 July. The residents attacked the migrants with machetes, and hammers; they also stripped and whipped the migrants before setting the migrant camps on fire. A person present at the demonstration against the migrants said: “We want support from the police because the illegal miners are terrorising us. We cannot simply walk around the neighbourhood at night because they rape us.” Krugersdrop houses several criminal gangs attempting to exploit the abandoned mines in search of any leftover gold. Several immigrants from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe live in the area. (“Mob attacks illegal miners after rapes shock South Africa,” Reuters, 4 August 2022)
South Sudan: Unity government leaders extend transitional period
On 4 August, President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar signed a deal to extend the transitional period to 2024. This move was criticised by foreign observers as the deal signed by the unity government formed in February 2020 provided for general elections to be held in February 2023. The minister for cabinet affairs said the decision aimed “to address the challenges that impede the implementation of the peace agreement.” The US, UK and Norway boycotted the decision expressing “profound concern that fully inclusive consultations must take place with civil society, faith-based groups, business, women's groups, youth representatives, eminent persons and international partners before the (peace deal) is amended.” (“South Sudan extends transitional government by two years,” News24, 4 August 2022)