Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Mali: Dozens killed in jihadist attack
On 9 September, Africanews reported, the local officials said that dozens of civilians were killed the previous week in Talataye, a town in north-eastern Mali. The attack was reportedly carried out by EIGS fighters who have ties with the Islamic State organization. A local official said that 45 civilians were killed, while an Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) fighter said the death toll is 30. The exact casualties remain unknown. Since 6 September, militants from the EIGS group, the al-Qaeda-affiliated group JNIM/GSIM and armed organizations including the Tuareg dominated MSA have been allegedly fighting in the region. It is the first time Talataye town has suffered a large-scale attack by Islamic State. (“Dozens of civilians killed in eastern Mali,” Africanews, 9 September 2022)
Mozambique: EU to provide military aid
On 9 September, the head of European diplomacy announced military aid to Mozambique aiming to help the country face “terrorism”. During his two-day visit to Mozambique, in the capital Maputo, he met with President Filipe Nyusi and Foreign Minister Veronic Macamo, held a press conference to “express the commitment and solidarity of the EU with Mozambique in its fight against terrorism.” He said that the EU has approved an additional EUR 15 million in military aid to support the fight against jihadist instabilities in province of Cabo Delgado. Nyusi welcomed the EU’s support and Macamo described the Euro-Mozambican relationship as “excellent”. Since 2017, the jihadist attacks has intensified in the country killing nearly 4,000 people and caused 820,000 people to flee. ("EU boosts military aid to Mozambique after jihadist attacks," Africanews, 9 September 2022)