A court in Guinea this week sentenced former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity, following his forces’ deadly suppression of a 2009 opposition rally in Conakry that resulted in 156 deaths and 109 rapes. The verdict, delivered after a two-year trial, also saw seven other military commanders sentenced and four defendants acquitted. Compensation for victims ranges from $23,000 to $174,000. While some victims’ families praised the decision, others felt the penalties were insufficient. This historic conviction marks the first time a former Guinean head of state and senior military officers have been held accountable for such crimes.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma was expelled from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Monday after supporting the rival uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party in May’s parliamentary election, leading to the ANC losing its majority. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula stated that Zuma’s actions undermined the party’s integrity and violated its constitution. Zuma, suspended in January, led MK to win 15 percent of the vote, contributing to the ANC’s first coalition government since 1994. MK criticized the ANC’s expulsion process and announced that Zuma would consult his legal team for further action. Zuma has 21 days to appeal the decision. His presidency from 2009 to 2018 was marred by corruption scandals and economic challenges, and he has clashed with ANC leadership, particularly his successor President Cyril Ramaphosa, since his forced resignation in 2018.
Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets on the 1st of August in various cities to protest against the high cost of living, driven by severe inflation and a devalued currency. Police dispersed crowds with tear gas in Abuja and Kano, where demonstrators attempted to set bonfires outside government buildings. In Lagos, protesters marched toward government buildings, chanting and carrying placards denouncing corruption. Many attribute the crisis to President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, including the removal of a fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira. Despite a recent law doubling the minimum wage to 70,000 naira (about $43), the protests persisted, fueled by economic hardships and systemic issues like corruption and press freedom.
Mali’s northern Tuareg rebels on Thursday reported killing at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers in fierce fighting in late July, marking Wagner’s heaviest defeat since joining Mali’s military efforts two years ago. The Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP) claimed the deaths occurred around Tinzaouaten, with an al Qaeda affiliate also reporting the deaths of 50 Wagner fighters in the area. Despite the significant losses, Russia remains committed to supporting Mali’s junta, as confirmed by a statement from Russia’s foreign ministry. The recent battles have not deterred the ongoing cooperation between Russia and Mali, which began after Mali’s army seized power in 2020 and 2021 coups, expelling French and U.N. troops and replacing them with Wagner forces. While Malian authorities accuse Tuareg and jihadist groups of collusion, the CSP insists it fought alone in the recent clashes, capturing seven prisoners and seizing significant military equipment.
Kenya’s Court of Appeal declared the 2023 finance law unconstitutional on Wednesday, dealing a blow to President William Ruto’s government. This ruling comes after deadly protests led to the withdrawal of this year’s finance bill. The 2023 finance law, which included measures like doubling the value-added tax on fuel and introducing a housing tax, faced legal challenges and political opposition due to its heavy tax hikes. The court’s three-judge bench ruled that the government’s failure to comply with constitutional requirements rendered the entire Finance Act, 2023 unconstitutional. This verdict overturned a previous High Court ruling that had only struck down the housing levy. The government, which has been relying on the 2023 law for tax collection since withdrawing this year’s bill, did not immediately comment and may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. President Ruto has justified higher taxes as essential for funding development programs and addressing Kenya’s significant public debt. The government has submitted a new economic plan to the International Monetary Fund, with a review expected at the end of August.
Sudan’s military leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, survived a drone attack on Wednesday during an army graduation ceremony in Gebeit, eastern Sudan, killing five people. The attack occurred after the ceremony, and Burhan was unharmed. Videos showed people fleeing and looking to the sky during the attack, while another video showed Burhan smiling and surrounded by cheering supporters post-attack. The conflict between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been ongoing for over a year. The RSF has not commented on the assassination attempt, which comes as its leader, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, plans to attend ceasefire talks in Switzerland next month. These talks, brokered by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, aim to address humanitarian aid, ceasefires, and a permanent cessation of hostilities. The Sudanese government, controlled by the military, has expressed willingness to participate in the talks but insists on adherence to the Jeddah Declaration.
The U.N. Security Council ended an arms embargo on the Central African Republic (CAR) on Tuesday, a move praised by the CAR government as a milestone in its efforts to end over a decade of conflict. The unanimous vote, which reaffirmed a previous resolution allowing arms supplies to government forces but not to other fighters, was seen as recognition of the CAR’s progress toward peace. The embargo’s removal was celebrated as a “diplomatic victory” by Foreign Minister Sylvie Baïpo-Temon. Despite the presence of Russian mercenaries and a U.N. peacekeeping mission, violence persists in the CAR, exacerbated by the conflict in neighboring Sudan.
Algeria has withdrawn its ambassador from France in response to Paris recognizing Morocco’s controversial plan for limited autonomy in Western Sahara. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan, marking a shift from France’s previous stance. Morocco, which has controlled most of Western Sahara since 1975, views this endorsement as a significant victory. Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front’s push for Sahrawi independence, condemned France’s decision as a denial of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. France’s new position aligns it with countries like Spain and the U.S. that have supported Morocco’s claims, further isolating the Polisario Front.
In a developing story, King Mohammed VI has invited French President Emmanuel Macron for an official visit following Paris’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. The invitation came in a letter from the king, who praised France’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan as the “only basis” for resolving the long-standing dispute with the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. Macron’s letter recognized the plan as a framework for a political solution while upholding Moroccan sovereignty. The king emphasized that the two nations would collaborate within the UN framework and strengthen their partnership in key areas.
Angola announced a ceasefire agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda on Tuesday, following a meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries hosted by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. The ceasefire, set to begin at midnight on August 4, comes after long-standing DRC accusations that Rwanda supports M23 rebels, a charge Rwanda denies despite a UN report suggesting significant Rwandan involvement with the M23. The region, plagued by conflict for about 30 years, has seen over 1.7 million people displaced recently, contributing to a total of more than 7 million displaced by various conflicts in the country. The specifics of which parties have agreed to the ceasefire remain unclear.
Writer and researcher at Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy.