Photo : Ludovic Marin, AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Ludovic Marin, AFP
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Algeria: Macron announces ‘renewed partnership’ during his visit
On 26 August, France 24 reported, the French presidency said that President Macron will head back to Algeria capital Algiers “to sign a joint declaration for a renewed concrete and ambitious partnership.” The three-day trip to the country comes after months of tensions between France and its former colony. The same day, along with French military officials Macron laid a wreath at a monument to those who “did for France”, in the mixed Christian-Jewish Saint Eugene cemetery, a burial ground during colonial times. Macron is also set to meet young Algerian entrepreneurs to discuss the French -Algerian incubator for digital start-ups which his office says aims to “rebuild and develop” relations with a view to the future. In a joint press conference, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune praised “promising prospects for improving the special partnership” between the two countries. President Macron said: “We must look at it and recognize it, but we have a responsibility to build our future for ourselves and our youth.” (“Macron announces 'renewed partnership' during Algeria visit,” France24, 26 August 2022)
Ethiopia: The Tigray forces says civilians killed in airstrikes
On 26 August, BBC reported, Tigrayan forces in northern Ethiopia said that the federal government conducted fresh airstrikes in Mekelle. Tigrai Television run by Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) released images of destroyed buildings and said civilians were killed in the strikes. However, the reports of casualties are not verified. Meanwhile, a government statement said, people in Tigray should stay away from the areas where the TPLF’s military equipment and training facilities are located. The attacks and subsequent allegations would further escalate the renewed fighting that resumed after five months of a ceasefire. (Kalkidan Yibeltal, “Civilians killed by Ethiopian air strikes - Tigray,” BBC, 26 August 2022)
High chance of persistence of worst drought in the Horn of Africa, says WMO
On 26 August, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that the October-December forecasts show a high chance of persistence of the ongoing worst drought in more than 40 years. Guleid Artan, director of the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC), WMO’S regional climate center for East Africa said: “Sadly, our models show with a high degree of confidence that we are entering the fifth consecutive failed rainy season in the Horn of Africa.” He added: “In Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, we are on the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.” Nearly 10 million children are suffering under failed consecutive rainy seasons- killing wide livestock, crops and drying water sources. More than 1.8 million children in East Africa are in need of urgent treatment for life threatening acute malnutrition. More than one million people left their homes in search of food and water. In June, the World Bank estimated 66.4 million people in the Horn of Africa experiencing food crisis and emergency. Besides, the global rise in food and fuel prices after the Ukraine war has exacerbated the condition. (“Horn of Africa drought could go on for 5th season: UN weather body,” Al Jazeera, 26 August 2022)