Photo : Hassene Dridi | AP Photo
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Hassene Dridi | AP Photo
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Tunisia: President dismisses accusations of racism
On 5 March, President Kais Saied, while denying allegations of racism, warned perpetrators of racial attacks of legal actions. Saied claimed that those carrying out the racism campaign are known sources. Reiterating that Tunisia was an African country, Saied said: “Africans are our brothers.” The development comes after Saied accused African migrants of attempting to alter Tunisia’s demography. (“Tunisia leader warns against racial attacks amid row,” BBC, 6 March 2023)
Sudan: SPLM-IO calls for reinstatement of defence minister
On 6 March, BBC reported Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) was calling on President Salva Kiir to reinstate Defense Minister Angelina Teny after she was removed from her post on 3 March, along with the Interior Minister. The SPLM-IO termed the removal of Teny a violation of the peace agreement. The presidential decree provided no explanation behind the move. Kiir also moved the Defence Ministry to his party Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Interior Ministry to the SPLM-IO. The SPLM-IO said that swapping the ministries was also a violation of the agreement. (Nichola Mandil, “South Sudan opposition wants sacked minister reinstated,” BBC, 6 March 2023)
Central African Republic: West has kept the country unstable, claims president
On 5 March, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, while addressing the UN Least Developed Countries (LDCs) conference, accused the West of keeping the Central African Republic politically unstable. Touadéra said that since independence, CAR has been witnessing “systematic looting facilitated by the political instability maintained by certain Western countries or their companies which finance armed terrorist groups whose main leaders are foreign mercenaries.” Touadéra termed CAR a “victim of geostrategic aims linked to its natural resources” and said “foreign interference” had fuelled “dependence, insecurity and instability” in CAR and several other countries. (“The West keeps Central African Republic unstable - president,” BBC, 6 March 2023)
Burkina Faso: North and Centre east placed under curfew to fight terrorism
On 5 March, AFP reported that the North and Centre East parts had been placed under curfew until 31 March to fight jihadists. The news report quoted a note from the secretary general of the governorate for the North: “In the framework of the fight against terrorism, a curfew is established from 22:00 to 05:00 across all the regional territory from Friday March 3 to Friday 31 March. According to the official, the curfew would be useful to the army deployed near the border with Mali. Previously, the Koulpelogo province was also placed under curfew, keeping in line with an administrative communiqué from the high commission in Ghana and Togo. (“Burkina Faso imposes curfews to help 'fight against terrorism',” News24, 6 March 2023)