During the last week in Africa, Libya experienced a re-escalation of violence, amid a breakdown in ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, Somalia was hit by violence between Somaliland and Puntland forces, as state military forces clashed with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa, onetime allies in the fight against Al Shabaab.
In Libya, there was a substantial re-escalation in ongoing fighting between Libyan National Army (LNA) and Government of National Accord (GNA) forces. Heavy shelling was reported in the capital Tripoli, as United Nations-sponsored peace talks failed to reach any lasting agreement (Al Jazeera, 28 February 2020). Multiple civilian fatalities were reported during the shelling, with the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces launched a massive barrage targeting Mitiga Airport and residential areas nearby. Clashes between LNA and GNA forces in the Tripoli and Al Jfara districts also left more than a dozen dead.
In Somalia, multiple fatalities were reported when tensions between the two autonomous states of Somaliland and Puntland spilled into active violence in the Sool and Sanaag regions. Fatalities were also reported when military forces clashed with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa (ASWJ) forces in Dhuusamareeb city, capital of the autonomous Galmudug state. ASWJ leaders surrendered to state forces following the violence, which is believed to have arisen over rival claims to the presidency of Galmudug state (VOA, 29 February 2020). ASWJ and Somali state forces have previously fought together against Al Shabaab and had largely refrained from fighting each other since the signing of a peace accord in 2017.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cooperative for Development of Congo (CODECO) militants raided villages and clashed with DRC military forces (FARDC) in Ituri’s Djugu territory. In a single attack on the village of Digeni, CODECO militants killed dozens of civilians. Meanwhile, Allied Defence Forces (ADF) attacks were reported in both Mambasa territory in Ituri and Beni territory in North Kivu, resulting in the deaths of at least seven civilians.
In Cameroon, the military’s campaign of violence against civilian populations continued in the Anglophone region. Civilian deaths were reported during attacks in the Northwest’s Mezam, Menchum, Bui and Boyo departments. Further fatalities were reported in clashes between Ambazonian separatists and state forces. Meanwhile, the separatist Southern Cameroon Restoration Forces kidnapped the newly-elected mayor of Mbengwi town in Momo department. The kidnapping was the latest in a sustained campaign targeting political parties and politicians operating in the Anglophone regions.
Finally, in Mali, suspected Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and Katiba Macina militants actively targeted civilian populations in the Mopti and Tombouctou regions. Presumed JNIM militants also launched an assault on the Malian army base at Bambara-Maoudé in the Tombouctou region, capturing vehicles and equipment. In response to the attack, the Malian air force carried out airstrikes on militant targets, killing an unspecified number of militants.
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