Photo : French Army via AP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : French Army via AP
IN BRIEF
By Apoorva Sudhakar
Mali: Rights experts urge independent probe into Wagner Group operations
On 31 January, independent rights experts appointed by the UN and the UN Working Group on Mercenaries called on Mali to begin an immediate probe into the mass killings in Moura village in 2022. The UN News quoted the experts: “We are particularly worried by credible reports that over the course of several days in late March 2022, Malian armed forces accompanied by military personnel believed to belong to the Wagner Group, executed several hundred people, who had been rounded up in Moura, a village in central Mali.” The experts said they had also received reports of the Wagner Group’s human rights and sexual abuses in the Central African Republic; they said they were apprehensive of the “increased outsourcing of traditional military functions” to the Wagner Group. (“Mali: Independent rights experts call for probe into Wagner Group’s alleged crimes,” UN News, 31 January 2023)
Eswatini: Political tensions on the rise, says SADC
On 31 January, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said political tensions over the killing of Thulani Maseko on 21 January were increasing in Eswatini. The murder took place hours after King Mswati III warned activists against defying him and of “mercenaries killing them.” The Namibian President Hage Geingob, who is also the chair of SADC, said sporadic instances of violence indicate “an escalation of the tensions.” (“Tensions brewing in Eswatini after the killing of activist Thulani Maseko, SADC says,” News24, 31 January 2023)
Somalia: East African leaders meets to discuss operations against al-Shabab
On 31 January, BBC reported that security chiefs from east Africa are meeting in Mogadishu to discuss joint military operations against the al-Shabab militant group. The meeting comes following the significant gains by Somali forces along with the US, African troops and local militia against the group. On 30 January, the Somali government said that it killed more than 130 al-Shabab militants including top commanders. The summit of the regional leaders are also expected to discuss the phased withdrawal of the African Union troops in Somalia since 2007. (“East African top brass to discuss al-Shabab plan,” BBC, 31 January 2023)