Photo : Zohra Bensemra/Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Zohra Bensemra/Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
The Gambia: Navy officer arrested for alleged role in coup attempt
On 22 December, BBC reported a government statement accusing navy officer Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera of attempting a coup on 21 December. The statement outlined that the loyalist troops were still looking for two suspected accomplices. In a related development, the police detained the main opposition party, the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) campaign manager for a TikTok video wherein he said President Adama Barrow would be overthrown before the 2023 local government elections. The UDP called for the immediate release of the party official claiming that the video was edited, and also condemned the coup attempt. (“Gambia navy officer behind failed coup bid - government,” BBC, 22 December 2022)
The Gambia: Committee calls for prosecution of Indian firm linked to death of children
On 21 December, a parliamentary committee recommended prosecuting Maiden Pharmaceuticals, an Indian manufacturer of the cough syrups reportedly linked to the death of at least Gambian children. The committee held that the manufacturer should be held accountable for exporting the contaminated medicine and also ban all products from Maiden Pharmaceuticals. (“Maiden Pharmaceuticals: Gambia panel says India firm culpable for cough syrup deaths,” BBC, 21 December 2022)
Mali: Armed group coalition withdraws from 2015 agreement
On 22 December, a coalition of armed groups, the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD), announced its withdrawal from the 2015 agreement which was signed to restore peace in northern Mali where rebels wanted to breakaway region. The agreement was signed between the former civilian government and the rebels. However, the CSP-PSD believes that there is an “absence of political will of the transitional authorities to implement [the peace accord]” and said it would return to negotiations only if a neutral country mediates. The agreement aimed at the decentralisation of Mali, integration of former rebels into the armed forces, and boosting the economy in the north. (“Armed groups in northern Mali pull out of Algiers peace talks,” Al Jazeera, 22 December 2022)
Kenya: Police officer and civilian killed in al Shabaab attack
On 21 December, two police officers and a civilian were killed in an attack by the al Shabaab while the police truck was travelling to Garissa town which is 120km from the border with Somalia. The truck hit an explosive and the al Shabaab fired rocket propelled grenades and opened fire at the vehicle. The al Shabaab radio said that apart from the casualties several others were injured in the fight. (“Al-Shabab kills two policemen, one civilian in eastern Kenya,” Al Jazeera, 22 December 2022)
Horn of Africa: Drought places over 20 million children at the risk of hunger
On 21 December, UNICEF said 20.2 million children across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia are at the risk of severe hunger, thirst and disease, indicating a doubling from the 10 million in July. Of this, two million children need immediate help to address severe acute malnutrition. The development comes as the region is suffering a deadly drought, which has resulted in water insecurity among 27 million people, displaced two million and has had 2.7 million children drop out of school. The situation is resulting in child labour, child marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence and sexual abuse. (“Horn of Africa faces most severe drought in more than two generations – UNICEF,” UN News, 22 December 2022)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: UN report reveals Rwandan involvement in the east
On 21 December, a group of independent UN experts said there was substantial evidence of Rwanda’s involvement in military operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s east. The experts’ report said the Rwandan army had directly intervened and also supported the rebels in the DRC’s east, by supplying weapons, ammunition and uniforms. The report said Rwanda reinforced M23 rebels “for specific operations, in particular when these were aimed at seizing strategic towns and areas.” (“Rwandan army conducted military operations in DR Congo, UN says,” France24, 22 December 2022)