Africa

Tensions Mount in North Africa After Dam Talks End in Failure

Northeast Africa is edging toward a dangerous new reality, after the past week’s talks in Kinshasa between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan, which the sides called the last chance to resolve their Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute, petered out with no agreed-upon settlement. Khartoum and Cairo, who fear mass droughts, floods and famine once upstream Ethiopia begins filling its massive Blue Nile reservoir, both accused Addis Ababa of negotiating in bad faith and sabotaging the meetings. Sudan on Tuesday warned it would now “consider all possible options to protect its citizens,” while last week Egyptian President Abdel Fatah a-Sisi threatened that Ethiopia’s conduct would lead to “regional instability.” The mammoth construction, already finished and operational, has been the center of controversy for nearly a decade, as Ethiopia’s neighbors have demanded a contract brokered by the US, UN and EU that would regulate and oversee the dam’s activity. Ethiopia has explained that the GERD will finally provide electricity to its still mostly off-the-grid population.

Ecologistes et islamistes: l’alliance verte

Lorsque l’on s’inquiète du péril de l’islamo-gauchisme, on aurait grand tort de ne regarder que du côté de la France Insoumise.

Ils partagent une couleur : le vert. Mais pas seulement. Ils partagent aussi une approche totalitaire de la société.

Les uns veulent nous soumettre à la Nature. Les autres veulent nous soumettre à Allah et aux préceptes du Coran.

What is behind the sharp drop in deaths in Burkina Faso’s war?

The decline in conflict-related fatalities raises many questions, especially since the number of attacks against civilians, battles between armed actors and other acts of violence has remained the same.

For months, Belko Dialo’s* hometown of Djibo in the restive north of Burkina Faso was blockaded by armed groups that largely cut off its connection with the capital, Ouagadougou.

Mozambique to probe human rights violations in war on terror

Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi said Wednesday that alleged human rights violations by members of the Security and Defence Forces (FDS) in the fight against terrorism will not be tolerated.

“Human rights violations will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate measures will be taken,” he said.

Holdout rebels, sidelined victims, and other hurdles to peace in Darfur

A peace agreement last year between armed groups and Sudan’s transitional government was heralded as a landmark moment, coming as the country charts a new course following the ouster amid mass protests of long-serving ruler Omar al-Bashir.

But in the western region of Darfur – one of several areas covered by the deal – resistance is coming from a major rebel group that refused to sign, as well as conflict-affected communities whose members complain that their voices have not been heard.

Senegal to open consulate in Morocco-controlled Western Sahara

Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco’s claim to the disputed territory, two official sources said.

The consulate will be opened by the Moroccan and Senegalese foreign ministers in the Atlantic city of Dakhla, making Senegal the 22nd nation to establish a diplomatic mission in the territory, the sources said.

European leader urges foreign fighters to leave Libya

The European Union on Sunday called for the departure of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, describing it as a “precondition” for a return to stability in the war-torn country.

At a news conference in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, EU Council President Charles Michel described the appointment of a transitional government earlier this year as a “historic moment.” The government is meant to shepherd the country through until general elections on Dec. 24.

France’s Total pulls all staff from Mozambique gas site amid clashes – sources

French energy major Total has withdrawn all its staff from its Afungi natural gas site in northern Mozambique, two sources said on Friday, as clashes between Islamic State-linked fighters and the military rage nearby.

The company, which last week called off the planned resumption of construction at the $20 billion development due to the violence, declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.