Photo : Daniel Getachew/UN ECA/Addis Standard
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Daniel Getachew/UN ECA/Addis Standard
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia: In forum for internet governance, minister says no timelines for restoring services in Tigray
On 29 November, the minister for innovation and technology said there was no timeline to restore internet access to Tigray. The minister made the remark at the annual UN Annual Internet Governance Forum in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, with the theme “universal, affordable and meaningful connectivity.” However, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed justified the shutdown and said the internet services in Tigray had fuelled the conflict through disinformation. The shutdown in Tigray is the longest uninterrupted one since it was imposed in November 2020. (“‘No timeline’ for restoring internet to Tigray: Ethiopia minister,” Al Jazeera, 30 November 2022)
The Netherlands releases Russian fertiliser shipment bound for Africa
On 29 November, the first shipment of Russian fertiliser with 20,000 tonnes of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium left for Africa from the Netherlands after ensuring that Western sanctions do not block it. A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said the shipment is part of a series of exports to Africa “to alleviate the humanitarian needs and prevent catastrophic crop loss on the African continent, where it is currently planting season.” The shipment was previously blocked by the Netherlands claiming that an individual in the Russian fertiliser company had been under sanctions. The Dutch approved the export after the UN assured them that the ship would be sent to Malawi and that the individual and the company would not acquire any benefit. (“First shipment of Russian fertiliser en route to Africa,” Al Jazeera, 30 November 2022)