Photo : Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
IN BRIEF
By Apoorva Sudhakar and Anu Maria Joseph
Somalia: Senior IS militant killed by US special forces
On 27 January, the US said that its special forces killed senior Islamic State militant Bilal al-Sudani in Somalia along with his ten associates; al-Sudani was a key figure in the funding and expansion of the group across Africa. The US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin described the development as “a successful counterterrorism operation.” Prior to joining the IS, al-Sudani worked for al-Shabab, and later split from the group to form an IS-affiliated group. (“US raid in Somalia kills top Islamic State leader,” BBC, 27 January 2023)
Zimbabwe: 26 opposition party members released
On 27 January, 26 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members were granted bail after they had been arrested for allegedly holding an unlawful gathering. The CCC is an opposition party; a CCC spokesperson said: “This confirms that the arrest was an abuse of process in the first place.” Previously, on 14 Jnaury, police used tear gas at a CCC gathering in Harare; prosecutors held that the members had not received permission for a meeting. (“Zimbabwe court grants bail to 26 opposition party members,” News24, 27 January 2023)
Madagascar: Tropical storm claims 16 lives
On 26 January, the Office for Risk and Disaster Management said at least 16 people had been killed and 17 were missing after tropical storm Cheneso made a landfall on 19 January. Of the casualties, three died in the storm and 13 in the heavy rains that followed. On 26 January, the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations said that so far, 60,000 people have been displaced and 13,000 homes damaged. (“Tropical Storm Cheneso, ensuing rain kill 16 in Madagascar,” News24, 27 January 2023)