Photo : Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Nigeria: Ruling party wins the election, Bola Tinubu announced as new President
On 2 March, ruling party All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, won Nigeria’s presidential elections by securing 37 per cent of votes. After being announced the winner, he said in a televised speech: “I take this opportunity to appeal to my fellow contestants to let us team up together. It is the only nation we have. It is one country and we must build it together.” Meanwhile, Peter Obi, opposition candidate belonging to the Labour party criticised the election results claiming that voters were robbed at the polling station and pledged to legally challenge the results. He said at a news conference: “We won the election and we will prove it to Nigerians.” The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Fakki congratulated Tinubu urging all parties to "uphold peace and the rule of law." Further he added: "any post-election dispute or grievance (should) be pursued through the judicial system, as provided for by the law." Following the announcement of the results, the US State Department stated: “This competitive election represents a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy.” The UK Prime Minister congratulated the new President Bola Tinubu saying: “I look forward to working together to grow our security and trade ties, opening up opportunities for businesses and creating prosperity in both our countries.” (“Rishi Sunak congratulates Tinubu on election win,” BBC, 2 March 2023; “US congratulates Nigeria president-elect, urges calm,” BBC, 2 March 2023; “Bola Tinubu wins Nigeria's presidential election against Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi,” BBC, 2 March 2023)
South Africa: The US downplays joint military exercise with Russia and China
On 2 March, the US commander in Africa, General Michael Langley downplayed the recent joint military exercise by South Africa along with Russia and China in the Indian Ocean. He said that the US offered better security partnerships to African countries however, would not force them to pick partners to cooperate militarily with. He described the joint naval exercise as power projection by Russia and China. Additionally, he warned of the growing presence of the Russian Wagner Group in west African countries, saying that they are destabilising entities. (“US downplays SA-China-Russia military exercise,” BBC, 2 March 2023)
Uganda: President defends decision to terminate UN’s OHCHR operations
On 2 March, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni defended his government’s decision to terminate the operations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the country. Responding to a journalist who questioned the decision, he said: “This is because we have Ugandan Human Rights Commission which is mandated by the constitution. So having others which are not part of our constitution system is first of all unnecessary, but also diversionary.” He added: “They [OCHR] don't have the powers of enforcement.'' This comes after the Ugandan government announced that it would not renew the mandate of the OHCHR on 3 February. (“Ugandan leader defends move to shut UN rights office,” BBC, 2 March 2023)