Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Mali: France suspends aid over ties with Russia
On 18 November, a French foreign ministry source told AFP news agency that France suspended development assistance to Mali following the announcement of the end of Operation Barkhane. The French foreign affairs ministry quoted that it suspended aid over "the attitude of the Malian junta allied to the Russian Wagner mercenaries." Several French NGOs denounced the decision in a letter to President Emmanuel Macron. It called on the government to review the decision saying that the suspension of aid jeopardises dozens of development projects that are under way or planned in the country over the coming years. (“France halts aid to Mali over Russia ties - reports,” BBC, 18 November 2022)
Uganda sends troops to DR Congo
On 18 November, the Ugandan army said that it will send nearly 1,000 troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri region to fight the ongoing insurgency. Ugandan forces are already engaged with DRC forces fighting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the region. The new troops are deployed as part of the East African force fighting nearly 100 other rebel groups. The announcement came a day after Kenya sent a second batch of its troops to the North Kivu region. (“Uganda to send more troops to DR Congo,” BBC, 18 November 2022)
West African countries meet in Ghana, discusses spiraling Islamist insurgency
On 18 November, officials of several West African countries met at Ghanaian capital, Accra, to discuss the worsening Islamist insurgency in the region. Ghana's National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah said that cooperation is needed as "terrorist" activities are crossing borders. The meeting comes amid several countries announcing withdrawal of their troops fighting along with an international peacekeeping mission in the region. Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast are at risk of being affected by Islamist militants pushing southwards from Sahel countries. ("West African neighbours debate Islamist spill-over," BBC, 18 November 2022)