Photo : Siphiwe Sibeko, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Siphiwe Sibeko, Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia: EU call for a successful implementation of ceasefire in Tigray to normalise ties
On 4 April, the European Union said that the Ethiopian government will have to carry out successful efforts for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed in Tigray to normalise its relations with the country. The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel said that the progress in Tigray is a rare example of good news in the world today. The EU had suspended budgetary support to Ethiopia citing human rights abuses after the conflict broke out in November 2020. Earlier this year, EU officials demanded accountability for the widespread abuses committed by the warring parties during the conflict. (“Tigray success vital to restore Ethiopia-Europe ties - EU,” BBC, 4 April 2023)
Democratic Republic of Congo: Need for urgent humanitarian assistance in North Kivu, says Doctors without borders
On 4 April, the Doctors Without Borders stated that urgent humanitarian assistance is needed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It said that about a million people had been forced to flee their homes in North Kivu province the previous year following the M23 rebel violence. It added that the majority of the people are living in dire conditions and the aid workers are overwhelmed with increasing cases of measles and cholera. (“More aid urgently needed in eastern DR Congo - MSF,” BBC, 4 April 2023)
Kenya: Aiming to launch its first earth observation satellite
On 4 April, BBC reported on Kenya preparing to launch its first earth observation satellite, which it described as a landmark achievement in the country’s space sector. Nation-1 or Taifa-1 in Swahili, is scheduled to be launched next week from the Vandenberg Space Force in California. The Kenyan Space Agency and the Defence Ministry in a joint statement said that the satellite is designed to provide data for use in agriculture, food security and environmental management. The statement added that it was “fully designed and developed” by Kenyan engineers in partnership with a Bulgarian aerospace manufacturer. (“Kenya to launch its first earth observation satellite,” BBC, 4 April 2023)