Summary of the week’s African news: Tshisekedi, Kagame, Haftar and the situation in Sudan and Benin
This week, the news in Africa has been full of significant events. Here’s a recap of some of the topics that made headlines:
Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), pleaded before the United Nations General Assembly for an accelerated withdrawal of peacekeepers from his country from the end of 2023. He expressed regret over the inability peacekeepers to face the armed groups present in the DRC.
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, has announced his candidacy for a fourth term in presidential elections scheduled for next year. Kagame has been considered the country’s de facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide.
In Libya, recent flooding caused by Storm Daniel caused the displacement of more than 43,000 people and widespread destruction. The town of Derna was particularly hard hit, but communications were restored after a 24-hour outage.
In Ethiopia, reports warn of an upsurge in violence. Several NGOs have called for the renewal of the mandate of UN investigators responsible for documenting war crimes in the country, seen as the last independent mechanism in place.
In Libya, the rise to power of Saddam Haftar, son of Khalifa Haftar, worries many Libyans. Saddam Haftar now holds a key position in managing the Derna flood relief and is seen as his father’s potential successor.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the violent repression of an attempted demonstration in Goma caused the death of nearly 60 civilians. The victims’ families are demanding justice and want to know what really happened.
In Sudan, obtaining a passport has become an ordeal for those who want to escape war, receive medical care or continue their studies. Hundreds of Sudanese sometimes wait for days in front of passport offices.
Finally, Benin was named world champion of school canteens. The country has a program in place to encourage girls and boys to stay in school by providing meals. The coverage rate of school canteens has increased from 30% to 75% in six years.
These notable events of the week reflect the diversity and complexity of African news, highlighting the challenges facing countries and the efforts being made to address them. Stay tuned for further updates in the coming weeks.