Africa

Africa’s Ukraine Dilemma

Why the Continent Is Caught Between Russia and the West

As Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine enters its seventh month, many African countries have yet to show strong support for Kyiv, to the chagrin of Western leaders. In the early days of the conflict, after 17 African countries declined to back a UN resolution condemning Russia, several European diplomats assigned to African capitals made a grand show of browbeating African leaders for not taking a stand against the invasion. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in particular, was the target of some strikingly undiplomatic tweets, with Riina Kionka, at the time the EU’s ambassador to Pretoria, writing that “we were puzzled because [South Africa] sees itself and is seen by the world as a country championing human rights.”

Deteriorated Situations

Libya

Worst fighting in years broke out in capital Tripoli between forces loyal to rival govts, raising prospect of a return to full-blown war. Fighting 26-27 Aug raged across Tripoli as forces aligned with Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR)-appointed PM Bashagha failed to take control of capital and oust Tripoli-based govt of PM Dabaiba; 32 people reportedly killed and 159 injured. Flare-up followed days of escalating tensions between rival factions.

Tigray: After The Calm, A Possible Storm

On August 26, 2022, there was the bombing by Ethiopian federal troops of a primary school in Mekelle—the capital city of the Tigray province, which had a population of about 500,000 before the fighting began. It is not clear if the attack brings to an end some five months of relative calm in the war-torn Tigray or not.

Russia To Offer Africa More Military Equipment And Support

Russia’s Army Games factsheet, publicly distributed at the centrally coordinated information bureau, documented an increase in the annual purchases of military equipment by foreign clients including African countries. Our monitoring and research show that Russia has traditionally maintained good relations with north African countries especially Algeria and Egypt.

« Manipulation », « passé colonial » : nouvelle passe d’armes entre Paris et Ankara

Dans un communiqué du 27 août, le ministère des Affaires étrangères turc a vivement réagi aux propos tenus la veille par Emmanuel Macron sur l’influence de la Turquie en Afrique, lors du second jour de sa visite officielle en Algérie.

« Extrêmement regrettable ». C’est l’expression utilisée par le porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères, Tanju Bilgiç, en réponse aux propos tenus par Emmanuel Macron lors du deuxième jour de son séjour officiel en Algérie.

‘Peace process’ is dead, as is fragile ceasefire in Ethiopia

PM Abiy has used starvation as a weapon, while negotiations have sputtered due to mistrust and weak international oversight.

The long-anticipated renewed round of war between the Federal Government of Ethiopia against the Tigrayans began at dawn on August 24. The first shots were fired on the southern borders of Tigray near the town of Alamata. Each side blames the other for firing them.

Maroc-France : le Conseil d’État valide l’expulsion de l’imam Hassan Iquioussen

Le Conseil d’État a validé, ce mardi 30 août, l’expulsion vers le Maroc de l’imam Hassan Iquioussen. Cette mesure ayant un effet exécutoire, le prédicateur devra quitter rapidement le territoire français.

Très attendue, la décision du Conseil d’État est finalement tombée, mardi 30 août, aux alentours de 15h00 : Hassan Iquioussen, un imam de 58 ans originaire du Nord de la France, et accusé par les autorités nationales de tenir depuis plusieurs années des propos antisémites, sexistes et homophobes, devra finalement quitter le territoire français.

Renforcer la stratégie sahélienne de contre-insurrection

L’adaptation des structures des forces sahéliennes à des unités plus légères, plus mobiles et plus intégrées permettra de mieux soutenir les pratiques de contre-insurrection centrées sur la population, nécessaires pour inverser la trajectoire croissante des attaques extrémistes violentes.