16 July 2021
Algeria: Ouargla province is home of 71% of the country’s oil reserves. Its inhabitants, feeling cheated where their share of the riches is concerned, have blocked roads and burnt tyres in the province’s capital with the same name.
BBC Africa Live 16 July 2021. 17:21
Eswatini: Anti-monarchy protests in Manzini, the largest city, “held in defiance of an open forum between King Mswati III and his subjects”, were dispersed by police – let us hope they only used tear gas and not live bullets.
BBC Africa Live 16 July 2021. 13:09
South Africa: 212 dead and counting. With more than 800 retail shops looted in KwaZulu-Natal, worth of stolen stock is estimated at USD1bn. Transportation of oxygen, medicines and other key goods are now being escorted by police. According to the country’s President, the riots had been instigated, instigators had been identified and were being pursued.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57863558
15 July 2021
South Africa: Zuma riots: 117 dead, 2,000 arrests and counting.
BBC Africa Live 15 July 2021. 15:51
Ethiopia: Troops are being mobilised in Oromia, Sidama, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' (SNNP) regions for fighting in Tigray. Authorities in Amhara region have yesterday Wednesday announced an offensive and called up retired soldiers and local militias.
BBC Africa Live 15 July 2021. 11:05
And also: BBC Africa Live 15 July 2021. 4:36
Sierra Leone/Gender-based violence: A project in the north of the country, in Bombali District, set out to use comedy, theatre and dance as tools for understanding and for creating spaces for discussion for victims of sexual and gender-based violence – topics women do not talk about easily. And it worked very well. The authors of the article conclude: “The most common and pervasive forms of pain in the everyday lives of Sierra Leone women require attention from local officials and policymakers. The insidious nature and general ‘acceptability’ of these acts is precisely what makes them so scary, and in need of being addressed.”
https://theconversation.com/we-used-performing-arts-to-map-out-gender-violence-in-sierra-leone-what-we-found-164167
Eswatini: After the protests that left at least 50 dead, the king has finally reacted and invited everybody to discussions tomorrow Friday at his Ludzidzini royal palace. But “activists are not planning to attend the open forum and have planned a march on the same day”.
BBC Africa Live 15 July 2021. 8:50
Algeria: Ahead of Eid ul-Adha, the President has pardoned 101 jailed for political protests.
BBC Africa Live 15 July 2021. 15:08
Lake Chad Basin/Terrorism: Abubakar Shekau’s death, which has given has given ISWAP access to more territory, fighters and weapons “could allow Islamic State (IS) to consolidate its position in the region through its local affiliate, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).” It will set up four caliphates. Some former Boko Haram fighters who had left for Libya are reported to be returning to the Lake Chad Basin to rejoin ISWAP. IS pushes for reforms within ISWAP. To secure fighters’ loyalty, they need to be treated fairly by commanders and their economic incentives must be increased. Concerning civilians, their livelihoods need to be protected and supported in areas IS controls. To counter terrorism, states must have a new look at their “contracts with the people”, “there must be credible and better alternatives to what the (terrorist) group is offering to win the hearts and minds of civilians.”
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/islamic-state-fortifies-its-position-in-the-lake-chad-basin
Nigeria: More than 1,000 who had been suspected of being Boko Haram members and who have undergone a rigorous profiling process clearing them of having links with Boko Haram have been “handed over to the civilian authorities for release. It is not clear how long they had spent in military detention.”
BBC Africa Live 15 July 2021. 18:14