Photo : Ben Curtis | AP Photo
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Ben Curtis | AP Photo
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia: TPLF hands over heavy weapons
On 11 January, a Tigray People’s Liberation Front spokesperson said that they have handed over their heavy weapons in line with the ceasefire agreement signed in November. He added that the African Union monitoring and verification team has confirmed the reports. The move comes following the reports of Eritrean troops' withdrawal from major towns in Tigray. The African Union described the decision as “a step in the right direction” to end the conflict. (“Ethiopian Tigray rebels hand over heavy weapons, BBC, 11 January 2023)
South Sudan: The UN condemns the death of aid workers
On 11 January, the United Nations condemned the reports of the death of three aid workers in two attacks in South Sudan. The acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan said that the killings are “completely unacceptable and must stop.” Two among the aid workers in Abyei village were killed in an attack by gunmen while on duty. South SUdan is regarded as one of the dangerous countries for aid workers. According to Ocha, in 2022 alone, nine aid workers were killed. Since 2013, nearly 141 aid workers have been killed. (“UN condemns killing of South Sudan aid workers, BBC, 11 January 2023)
Somalia: Puntland semi-autonomous state dissociates itself from Mogadishu
On 9 January, Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland announced that it is “now acting as an independent government.” The announcement comes amid tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni, who was defeated during the previous presidential elections. The announcement emphasised on its commitment to Somalia, signing a three page justification as the “Puntland Government of Somalia,” and “its efforts over the past 18 years to “lay foundation for building the federal system.” (“Somalia: Puntland state dissociates itself from Mogadishu,” Africanews, 11 January 2023)