Last week in Africa, significant outbreaks of intercommunal violence were reported in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya; Cabindan separatists clashed with state forces in Angola; and the governor of Borno came under heavy fire amid numerous attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighboring countries.
In Sudan, armed Fallata pastoralists clashed with ethnic Taaisha militiamen in disputed territory between the Dimsu and Um Dafug localities in South Darfur state. Significant numbers of fatalities and injuries were reported in the violence. Clashes were also reported between members of the Zaghawa and Nubian communities in Kassala state.
In South Sudan, dozens of civilians were killed when Murle militiamen raided the presumedly Bor Dinka village of Makol Cuei in Jonglei’s Bor South county. The region has been the site of ongoing outbreaks of communal violence involving armed members of the Nuer, Murle and Dinka ethnic communities.
Ethnic-based violence also continued to erupt in Ethiopia. More than a dozen ethnic Amhara civilians were killed during attacks by armed groups in the Guba Woreda of Benishangul region. Thousands of Amhara farmers were also displaced by the violence.
In Kenya, intercommunal clashes were reported in the neighboring Narok and Nakuru counties, leaving several people dead. Multiple days of clashes were reported, prompted by a cattle raid near Olpusimoru in Narok North. In response to the violence, the governor of Nakuru implemented a curfew in affected areas of the county (Capital FM, 31 July 2020).
In Nigeria, the convoy of Borno state governor Babagana Zulum came under fire in Baga town. While early reports implicated Boko Haram, Zulum later disputed this account, instead accusing members of the military of being responsible for the attack. Zulum also accused elements within the military of deliberately undermining the fight against Boko Haram (BBC, 2 August 2020). Meanwhile, Boko Haram launched a mortar attack on Maiduguri, resulting in multiple civilian fatalities. The Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) faction also claimed numerous deadly attacks on military targets. Armed clashes were reported in Bama, Kukawa, Magumeri local government areas.
Elsewhere, Boko Haram targeted civilian populations in neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The Far-North of Cameroon was the hardest hit, with more than a dozen civilians killed during a raid on the village of Nguetchewe in Mayo-Tsanaga department. Further attacks were reported in Mayo-Sava department.
In Angola, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda-Armed Forces of Cabinda (FLEC-FAC) launched an attack on state forces in Cabinda province. Multiple fatalities were reported in the clash. Significantly, this was the third clash between FAC-FLEC and Angolan military forces in the past two months, pointing to a worsening conflict dynamic in the region. Direct clashes between state forces and Cabindan separatists have been rare in recent years.
A separate, weekly discussion of the ongoing conflict in Mozambique can be found in the Cabo Ligado project.
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