Editorial
We keep an eye on all the big events and major changes on the continent.
In the north, Egypt is getting ready for elections in December. They're facing some tough times with their economy and things are a bit uncertain politically. This will be the third time President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is running for president. He first ran in 2014.
Over in Tunisia, things are still uncertain. The president, Kais Saied, did a "constitutional coup," which has caused a lot of confusion. The country is also going through a major economic decline.
Concerning West Africa. In Mali, there's some trouble with the military junta. They decided to postpone the elections that were supposed to happen in February. They haven't said when they'll happen now. In Burkina Faso, a group of security and intelligence officers tried to take over the government, but their attempt was stopped.
Heading over to East Africa, things are tense in Ethiopia. There's still a lot of tension in the Amhara and Oromo regions. The US Secretary of State wants everyone to find peaceful solutions and talk things out. In Sudan, the United States put sanctions on a former Sudanese Foreign Minister and two companies. And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they're getting ready for elections in December.
Egypt
Egypt Sets a Date for Presidential Elections
Egypt just announced that they will be having presidential elections in December. The current president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, is expected to stay in power until 2030. The elections will take place on December 10 and 12, with a runoff on January 8 and 10 if needed. Egyptian expatriates will also get a chance to vote from December 1 to 3. Some people have announced that they will run for president, but it looks like no one poses a serious challenge to al-Sisi. He has been in power since 2014 and has faced criticism from the West for his human rights record. Many government critics have been silenced or put in prison, including those who were part of the 2011 uprising that removed the previous dictator, Hosni Mubarak.
Tunisia
Tunisian Opposition Leader Goes on Hunger Strike
The leader of the opposition, Rashid Ghannouchi, has started a three-day hunger strike in prison. He's doing this to support other opposition figures who are also in jail. Ghannouchi, who is 82 years old, was sentenced to one year in prison in May for some serious charges. More than 20 other opposition figures have been arrested this year. They believe that the president, Qais, is acting like a dictator and that his actions are like a coup. Qais denies this and says he is doing what's best for Tunisia. Another opposition figure, Johar Ben Mubarak, has also started a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment, which he believes is politically motivated.
West Africa
Mali Postpones Presidential Vote
There's some political drama going on in Mali. The military junta, which is like a group of military leaders, has decided to postpone the presidential elections. They were supposed to happen in February, but now they don't have a new date yet. The junta says they need more time because they want to make some changes to the constitution and review the electoral lists. They also have a problem with a French company called Idemia. The opposition and other political groups are not happy about this. They think the junta should stick to their original plan and respect their commitments. This is causing some tension in the West African bloc called ECOWAS.
Burkina Faso
Failed Coup Attempt Thwarted in Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, the military junta there just stopped a coup attempt by some officers and intelligence services. Four officers have been arrested for being involved in a "conspiracy against state security." The current leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, came to power in a coup almost a year ago. The junta said that the coup attempt happened on September 26 and that the goal was to attack the country's institutions and cause chaos. Thankfully, the intelligence and security services were able to prevent it.
East of Africa
Sanctions, Security Concerns, and Diplomatic Talks
Sudan
The United States has acted against a former Sudanese government minister and two companies that support paramilitary forces in Sudan. These forces have been involved in months of fighting with the Sudanese army. The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions that will block all properties and entities owned by the former minister, Ali Karti, as well as the Sudan-based information company GSK Advance Company Ltd and the Russia-based military company Aviatrade LLC. The Treasury Department stated that these two companies have been supporting the Rapid Support Forces in their conflict against the army. They have been working together to purchase supplies, train unmanned aerial vehicles, and provide surveillance equipment for the paramilitary forces. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also expressed concerns about Karti's efforts to undermine the previous civilian-led transitional government and obstruct the transition to democracy after the ouster of former President Bashir.
Ethiopia
Secretary of State Antony Blinken had another conversation with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding the ongoing security crisis in the Amhara and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. This is the second time the United States has expressed concerns about the situation in the Amhara region, where there have been reports of violence against civilians and serious human rights violations. Blinken emphasized the need for a peaceful solution through political dialogue and the protection of human rights. He has previously raised concerns about the conflict in the Oromia region and called for a solution through dialogue. During his visit to Ethiopia, Blinken discussed these concerns with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
South Sudan
South Sudan President Salva Kiir is currently in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This visit comes at a time when Russia and Western powers are seeking support from African countries following the invasion of Ukraine. The meeting between Kiir and Putin will focus on developing bilateral relations, regional and international issues, trade, investment opportunities, and security. They will also discuss lifting the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on individuals in South Sudan. In May, Russia abstained from a vote in the UN Security Council regarding the renewal of sanctions on South Sudan.
Regional Affairs
Tragic Loss of Lives in the Mediterranean
More than 2,500 people have lost their lives or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea this year. They were trying to cross to Europe, but unfortunately, they didn't make it. This is a big increase compared to last year when 1,680 people faced the same fate. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees shared this sad news in New York. The director of the UNHCR office there said that migrants and refugees face a lot of dangers and human rights violations during their journey. It's really important for us to understand and help these people.
On the same day, the interior ministers of the European Union met in Brussels to talk about how to handle the situation of people migrating to Europe by sea. Italy and Germany, two member states of the EU, are especially worried about this issue. They have been trying to make changes to the asylum system in Europe, but it's been a tough process. So far, around 186,000 people have arrived in Europe through the Mediterranean this year. That's a lot of people in need of help! (DW)
International Affairs
The United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, just finished his first tour in Africa! He visited different countries on the continent to learn more about their needs and challenges. Austin started his tour in Djibouti, where the main US military base in Africa is located. He met with leaders from Djibouti and also the president of Somalia. Austin was impressed by the progress Somalia made in fighting against a terrorist group called Al-Shabaab. Then, he went to Kenya, where he visited a military base near the Somali border. In 2020, there was a terrorist attack there that killed three Americans. Austin wants to make sure that the US continues to fight against terrorism. He also became the first US Secretary of Defense to visit Angola on the west coast of Africa. Both Angola and the US hope to strengthen their relationship and work together. Austin gave a powerful speech about the importance of democracy and the role of armies in serving their citizens. (VOA)
There's also some exciting news about the United States connecting with Africa! The White House has formed an advisory board made up of prominent African Americans. This board aims to create a dialogue between US officials and the African diaspora, which means people of African descent living outside of Africa. President Joe Biden wants to focus on building a strong partnership with Africa. Over the past twenty years, many people have migrated from Africa to the US, and this will have a big impact on the population in the coming years. The advisory board has twelve members who were chosen from a large group of extraordinary individuals. They will advise the White House and the State Department on different areas like business, finance, sports, and more. It's important to pay attention to the concerns of the diaspora community. (VOA)
Amid Reports of Repression
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). There will be general elections there on December 20, and international election observers are heading to the country. The Carter Center, a group that monitors elections around the world, has sent a team to the DRC. Their goal is to provide an independent and fair assessment of the electoral process. The team is made up of experts from different countries, and they will be joined by more observers in October. The Carter Center wants to make sure that the elections are conducted properly and that everyone's voice is heard. However, there have been reports of intimidation against opposition candidates even before the official campaign period begins. It's important for everyone to have a fair chance in the elections. (News24)
