Photo : REUTERS/Rodger Bosch/Pool via REUTERS
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : REUTERS/Rodger Bosch/Pool via REUTERS
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
South Africa: Panel submits report to Speaker on Ramaphosa’s farm scandal
On 30 November, an independent panel investigating a crime cover-up at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s private game farm submitted its findings to the National Assembly speaker. The panel, constituted in September, investigated the theft of USD four million at the game farm in 2020 and its cover-up; the findings place Ramaphosa at the risk of an impeachment. Ramaphosa acknowledged the theft but denied any role in covering it up. The panel’s finding said Ramaphosa violated his oath of office; however, he said: “I categorically deny that I have violated this oath in any way, and I similarly deny that I am guilty of any of the allegations made against me.” (“South Africa panel files report on Ramaphosa farm scandal,” Al Jazeera, 30 November 2022; Wendell Roelf and Bhargav Acharya, “Report finds South Africa's Ramaphosa violated oath of office,” Reuters, 1 December 2022)
Somalia: 40 al Shabaab members killed, says government
On 1 December, the government said 40 al Shabaab terrorists had been killed by security forces in the Middle Shabelle region.The information ministry said this was part of a planned operation in the region. However, al Shabaab dismissed this and said the fighting ensued from an attack by its fighters. The development comes after al Shabaab took a hotel under siege on 27 November in Mogadishu. (“Somalia says around 40 al Shabaab fighters killed in clashes,” Reuters, 1 December 2022)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: 50 civilians killed by M23, says army
On 1 December, the army released a statement accusing the M23 rebels of killing 50 civilians in North Kivu province’s Kishishe town and violating a ceasefire signed the previous week. An army official termed the attack a massacre. Further, the statement said the army had maintained the ceasefire despite attacks on government positions. (“DR Congo army accuses M23 rebels of killing 50 civilians,” Al Jazeera, 1 December 2022)
South Korea to export first batch of mpox vaccines to Africa
On 29 November, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) released a press statement announcing that South Korea would donate a first batch of mpox vaccines to Africa. The donation would take place under the MoU signed in April 2022 between the Africa CDC and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on public health activities and expansion of global health security to enhance disease prevention in Africa. On 1 December, Al Jazeera reported that 50,000 doses of the mpox vaccine will be delivered under the scheme. On 28 November, the World Health Organization announced that the disease, previously called monkeypox, will henceforth be called mpox to avoid racist and stigmatised notions. (“The Republic of Korea to Donate First Batch of Mpox Vaccine to Africa,” Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 November 2022; "Africa to receive first batch of 50,000 mpox vaccines," Al Jazeera, 1 December 2022)