They Fled From Extremists. Now the Government in Burkina Faso Tries to Hide Their Existence
Their loved ones were slaughtered by Islamist extremists or government-affiliated fighters. Their villages were attacked, their homes destroyed. Exhausted and traumatized, they fled in search of safety, food and shelter. This is the reality for over 2.5 million displaced people across the West African nation of Burkina Faso, torn apart by years of extreme violence. But unlike others displaced in the region, they are seen as a challenge to Burkina Faso’s military junta that took power two years ago on the pledge of bringing stability. Their existence contradicts its official narrative: that security is improving and people are safely returning home. Those who fled to Ouagadougou, the capital, which has been shielded from violence, find fear instead of respite. They are made into shadows, with many resorting to begging. Most of them are not entitled to support from authorities, and international aid organizations are not authorized to work with them. … As much as 80% of Burkina Faso’s territory is controlled by extremist groups and more civilians died from violence last year than in the years before… The military leadership has installed a system of de facto censorship, rights groups said, and those daring to speak up can be openly abducted, imprisoned or forcefully drafted into the army. AP
Post-Election Chaos in Mozambique Sparks Mass Exodus to Malawi
… Esther is one of the 2,500 families – approximately 13,000 people, including children – who are being housed in various camps in the Nsanje district of southern Malawi as of 26 December, according to the district council’s figures. This follows the tension that escalated into violent protests and clashes after the 11 October elections. Daniel Chapo, the candidate for the ruling party, the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), was declared the winner against the opposition’s Venâncio Mondlane of the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique. Mondlane was backed by another opposition party. A recent decision by Mozambique’s Constitutional Council to uphold the earlier ruling, following an appeal from Mondlane, has sparked fresh protests. RFI
Exiled Mozambique Opposition Leader to Return on January 9th
The Mozambique opposition leader who has been heading more than two months of deadly protests against disputed election results from outside the country announced that he would return this week ahead of the inauguration of the new president. In a Facebook Live, Venancio Mondlane announced that he would be coming back on the 9th of January. Mondlane left Mozambique around October 21, saying he feared for his life as he challenged the results of the October 9 presidential election which placed him as runner-up to the candidate of the ruling Frelimo party. President-elect Daniel Chapo is due to be sworn in on January 15. AfricaNews and AP
M23 Rebels Take Key Town of Masisi as They Advance in Eastern DRC
M23 rebel fighters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have taken control of a strategic town in the east of the Central African country, local politicians say, adding to the armed group’s recent gains in the region. The group took control of Masisi, a town and local administrative centre about 80km (50 miles) from the major city of Goma, on Saturday, provincial parliament member Alexis Bahunga told the Reuters news agency on Sunday. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the antigovernment Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes the March 23 Movement (M23), said rebel forces had reached the centre of Masisi by mid-afternoon on Saturday. Local sources reported that thousands have been displaced as a result of the fighting and are now seeking shelter in neighbouring areas including Goma, which already hosts four million displaced people, Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani said. Al Jazeera
Chinese Nationals Arrested With Gold Bars and $800,000 Cash in DR Congo
Three Chinese nationals have been arrested with 12 gold bars and $800,000 (£650,000) in cash in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials say. The gold and money was hidden under the seats of the vehicle they were travelling in, according to Jean Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province. … Eastern DR Congo has abundant reserves of gold, diamonds and the minerals used to make batteries for mobile phones and electric vehicles. … Militia groups control many of the mines in eastern DR Congo and their leaders become wealthy by selling it to middle-men. Purusi said some of these dealers in precious metals enjoyed good relations with influential people in the capital, Kinshasa, and this was why the mission to carry out these latest arrests had to be kept quiet. … Last month, the governor told reporters he was shocked to hear that 17 Chinese nationals, who had been arrested on allegations they had been running an illegal gold mine, had been freed and allowed to return to China. BBC
Chinese FM to Strengthen Ties During Africa Visit
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has embarked on a visit to four African nations – Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Chad – marking the 35th consecutive year that the Chinese foreign minister has chosen Africa as the destination for his first overseas trip of the year. … This year’s trip is expected to encompass discussions on major economic partnerships in the four African countries. … Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad and Nigeria are all friendly cooperation partners of China. Mao Ning, spokeswoman of the Chinese foreign ministry, said that Wang’s visit aims to promote implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and promote sustained and in-depth development of China-Africa relationship. AfricaNews and AP
Mali Rebels: Army, Russian Fighters Killed 9 Civilians in Car Attack
Nine civilians including women and children were killed in an attack on a vehicle in Mali’s Segou region last week, a civil society group and a rebel coalition said late Saturday, accusing the army and Russian mercenaries of being responsible. The vehicle was traveling from the town of Niono to a refugee camp in Mauritania on Thursday when it came under fire, said Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesperson for the coalition of Tuareg groups that are fighting for an independent homeland in northern Mali. He and local civil society association Kal Akal said Malian armed forces and allied fighters from Russia’s Wagner private military contractor group had carried out the attack. Reuters
Cameroonian Truck Drivers Take Measures Against Russian Mercenaries
The brutal killing of a Cameroonian truck driver has called for measures against patrolling Russian mercenaries along the Cameroon border with the Central African Republic (CAR). Protesting the murder of the colleague, the truck drivers ceased operations, resuming after a dialogue with the authorities of the two neighbouring countries. … To protect their lives, the truck drivers have installed what they called a sophisticated alert system on the Beloko-Bangui highway. Through WhatsApp groups and by telephone, they are now able to inform their colleagues of any suspicious movements on the highway by the Wagner security operatives. In the past week, the alert system proved its efficiency when a truck driver on his way to Bossembele spotted Russian mercenaries in two locations around the Yaloke area and near Bossembele in Cameroon. He immediately alerted his colleagues, warning that everybody had to “sleep in Yaloke. HumAngle
Sudan Displaced Denounce El Burhan’s Famine Denial
Following Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan’s denial of famine, spokesperson for the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees Adam Rijal stressed that famine in Zamzam Camp, located in North Darfur capital El Fasher, has been a reality since its declaration on August 1, 2023. He pointed out that the crisis extends beyond Zamzam, affecting 71 camps across Darfur. In an interview with Radio Dabanga yesterday, Rijal described harrowing conditions, with residents in the camp resorting to eating animal feed and tree leaves due to a lack of food. He criticised El Burhan’s comments, who dismissed reports of famine in Darfur as “pure fabrication” during his televised address on Sudan’s Independence Day. El Burhan’s denial contradicts recent findings on famine conditions in North Darfur and South Kordofan, classified as Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 5, the highest level of acute food insecurity, first reported in July and again in December. Radio Dabanga
Nigeria: Communities Demand Action as Lakurawa Teams Up With Bandits
Communities in the North-West have called for urgent action against the Lakurawa terrorist group following reports that the sect have aligned with bandits in the region. Worried by the development, the communities admonished the Federal Government and security agents to eliminate the Lakurawa group and other criminals. Last Friday, the group killed two policemen and rustled over 200 cattle in Kebbi State. This happened despite the claim by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, that the group had been dislodged from the country. The Lakurawa group, affiliated with terrorists in the Sahel, particularly from Mali and Niger Republic, had earlier launched an attack on the Mera community in Kebbi State last November in which 17 persons were killed and scores of cattle stolen. Punch
Uganda’s Military Leader Says He Wants to Behead Opposition Leader
The head of Uganda’s military, who is also the son of longstanding President Yoweri Museveni, said he wanted to behead the country’s most prominent opposition leader. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is widely believed to be the heir apparent to his father, who has governed Uganda since 1986. Kainerugaba routinely makes inflammatory posts on social media, including a threat in 2022 to invade neighboring Kenya. … In a post on X on Sunday evening, Kainerugaba said his father, whom he referred to by the honorific Mzee, was the only person protecting opposition leader Bobi Wine from him. … Bobi Wine, whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi and who finished second to Museveni in the 2021 presidential election, responded on X that he did not take the threat lightly, saying there had been several previous attempts on his life. … Human rights activists have also accused Museveni’s government of widespread human rights abuses, including torture and arbitrary detention. Reuters
Who Were the Winners and Losers of African Democracy in 2024?
In a historic year for democracy – with elections taking place in more than 50 countries around the world in 2024, bringing more than 1.5 billion people to the polls – the African continent was no exception … including Senegal’s in March, South Africa’s in May, Algeria’s and Tunisia’s in September and October respectively, and Ghana’s in December, some regions, particularly in West Africa, saw significant progress through democracy, while others still face significant challenges. Political scientist Mathias Hounkpe is the co-author of a comparative analysis of electoral commissions in West Africa, which saw elections in Senegal and Ghana this year. According to Hounkpe, both set examples of well-run and effective polls. “In Senegal, the results reflect the ability of the institutions in the countries concerned to perform their roles properly, as well as the citizens’ ability to organise themselves to protect democracy and safeguard the elections,” he told RFI. … Malians were due to vote in February 2024, in an election that had been postponed from July 2022, but the country’s military junta, which seized power in a coup in 2021, postponed the vote again… AP