Photo : AP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AP
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin
Sudan: The US accuses Wagner Group of missiles supply
On 25 May, Al Jazeera reported that the United States accused Russia’s Wagner Group of prolonging the conflict by providing surface-to-air missiles to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces(RSF) in Sudan. The US Treasury Department stated that the surface-to-air missiles contributed to a prolonged armed conflict that only resulted in further chaos in the region. The US stated that ongoing conflict would lead to a severe humanitarian crisis and it focuses to reduce the violence and turn the country to civilian rule. (“US accuses Wagner Group of supplying missiles to Sudan’s RSF,” Al Jazeera, 25 May 2023)
Sudan: The warring sides blame each other for violating the truce
On 25 May, Al Jazeera reported that clashes between conflicting factions broke out as residents in the cities of Omdurman and Khartoum reported that they heard overnight gunfires and reconnaissance planes. The breaches of the week-long ceasefire agreement have been continuing since its commencement on 22 May which is meant to allow humanitarian aid to reach North African countries. The RSF leader, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, blamed the army led by Sudan’s de facto leader Abel Fattah al-Burhan for ceasefire breaches stating the army launched a series of unwarranted attacks and the assaults were decisively repelled. The army reported that it resisted an attack on armoured vehicles by RSF in a clear violation of the truce. The spokesperson of the US Department of State, Matthew Miller, stated: “We have continued to see violations of the ceasefire. We retain our sanctions authority and if appropriate we will not hesitate to use that authority.” (“Sudan’s warring sides accuse each other of violating ceasefire,” Al Jazeera, 25 May 2023)
South Africa: Refusal to release cargo documents raise scrutiny
On 25 May, Africanews reported that the South African government faced pressure when a DA lawmaker asked Defense Minister Thandi Modise to release the cargo documents related to the Russian ship but the government refused. African National Congress Secretary General Fikile Mbalula stated: "If it was according to the ANC, we would want President Putin to be here, even tomorrow, to come to our country." The statement added more scrutiny to the allegations of shipping ammunition to Russia. South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, challenged the government to prove against the accusations and release the cargo manifest. (“South Africa under more scrutiny over Russian ship as ruling ANC says it would 'welcome' Putin,” Africanews, 25 May 2023)
Sierra Leone: Heavy downpour makes a centuries-old national treasure fall
On 25 May, Al Jazeera reported that torrential rains and storms on 24 May caused the falling of a nearly 400 years old cotton tree that served as a national symbol for decades. The tree was founded by enslaved Africans who returned from the United States. The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio, stated: “It was regarded as a symbol of liberty and freedom by early settlers.” Queen Elizabeth II visited it when she came to the country marking its independence from British colonial rule in 1961. The tree even appeared on the country’s banknotes. (“Storm fells symbolic 400-year-old cotton tree in Sierra Leone,” Al Jazeera, 25 May 2023)