Photo : Moses Sawasawa, AP Photo
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Moses Sawasawa, AP Photo
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Democratic Republic of Congo: Rebels refuses to disarm
On 14 April, M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo said that they will not disarm or demobilise until a direct political dialogue with the government. A spokesperson from the rebel group, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated that the Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi refused to hold negotiations with the rebels. Previously, Tshisekedi said that under an agreement negotiated by regional states, the M23 rebels are expected to demobilise. (“Rebels refuse to disarm in DR Congo conflict,” BBC, 14 April 2023)
Burkina Faso: Government’s mobilisation to fight insurgency
On 14 April, Burkina Faso’s military government set a target of regaining 40 per cent of its territory which were captured by militant groups previously. It announced a “general mobilisation” to give them “all necessary means” to follow the same. The decision comes after at least 44 people were killed following an attack on the village of Kaourakou and Tondobi in the north-east of the country. Defence Minister Col Maj Kassoum Coulibaly stated that the new measures would give “a legal framework to all the actions to be implemented to deal with the situation that Burkina Faso is experiencing.” (“Burkina Faso 'mobilisation' ramps up terror response,” BBC, 14 April 2023)