In Africa last week, concern over the spread of the coronavirus prompted mob violence and demonstration activity across a number of countries. Several major armed clashes involving Islamist militants were reported in Mali, while the Libyan conflict continued to worsen. With the majority of African countries now reporting cases of coronavirus (WHO, 19 March 2020),…
Key developments in Africa during the week of September 16th include violence in Ethiopia, renewed fighting in Libya’s Tripoli, the death of a Mayi Mayi faction leader in DRC and key incidents involving international actors in Niger and Nigeria. In Ethiopia, at least two large attacks were carried out on September 16th by emboldened Oromo…
Key developments in Africa during the week of September 9th include continued high levels of insurgent activity in Somalia and Cameroon; heavy military activity against Boko Haram in Nigeria; continued ethnic unrest in south-west Kenya; political unrest in Ethiopia and a large-scale bombing in Libya. In Somalia, al Shabaab has continued a number of low-level…
Key developments in Africa during the week of September 2nd include the high insurgent activity in Somalia, Cameroon and Burkina Faso; the persistence of multiple fronts of violence in Nigeria; the escalation of violence in Bria in the Central African Republic; and the protests in Kenya and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Insurgents have…
There was an overall downward trend in the levels of organised violence and protests on the African continent during the month of August 2018 compared to the rest of the year. There are fewer reported events than is typical for August based on previous years, but this pattern may still be reversed due to reporting…
The most notable trend in Africa on the week of July 22nd was the rise in violence involving Islamist militants across a number of countries. In Somalia, Al Shabaab carried out multiple operations across southern regions. The group claimed responsibility for several IED and grenade explosions targeting government officials and troops in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Belet…
Key developments in Africa in the week of July 15th include increased attacks by Boko Haram in several states surrounding Nigeria, and targeted political violence in Zimbabwe and Burundi. Regular fighting also occurred in Somalia, Mali, CAR and DRC, while riots and protests dominated the political landscapes in Ghana, Kenya and North Africa. In Chad,…
Key political violence highlights from the first week of July 2018 in Africa include the cross-border incidents between Uganda and the DRC, Ethiopia and Sudan, and Burundi and Rwanda; the targeting of French officials and troops in Cameroon and Mali; and the signs of political tensions in Algeria and Ivory Coast. There were notable episodes…
Important developments in Africa in the week of June 24th included the Fulani violence in Nigeria and Benin; the high militant activity in Cameroon, Egypt and Mali; the tensions in CAR’s Nana-Gribizi prefecture; and the continued violence in South Sudan tainting the progress made simultaneously at the negotiations’ table. Relevant protests and riots also occurred…
There were several critical developments in Africa in the week of June 17th. Key among them were the two small bomb attacks on the leaders of Ethiopia and Zimbabwe on June 23rd at political rallies in Addis Ababa and Bulawayo, respectively. The explosions left two people killed in both Ethiopia and in Zimbabwe. Several key…