Monthly regional updates
Update
Regional Overview: Africa | November 2023
Violence and conflicts escalate in regions across Africa including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Morocco, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
Burkina Faso: Scaled-up military operations threaten civilians
Violence escalated in Burkina Faso in November, with the number of reported fatalities reaching the highest levels since June 2023. The state-backed Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) militias conducted military operations against the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in several regions, including Boucle du Mouhoun, Center-East, Center-North, East, and Sahel. At least 70 civilians, mainly children, elders, and women, reportedly died in an attack perpetrated by soldiers in the village of Zaongo, Center-North region.1 This attack by suspected military forces took place amid widespread violence targeting civilians suspected of collaborating with JNIM fighters. In response to the military campaign, JNIM reportedly mobilized over 3,000 fighters to attack the town of Djibo, Sahel region.2 The resulting clashes and drone strikes by military forces against JNIM claimed dozens of casualties among soldiers and militants, with some sources claiming that hundreds may have died.3
Cameroon: Fighting between state forces and Islamist insurgents escalates in Extreme North region
Islamist insurgent operations in Cameroon’s Extreme-North region resulted in a significant conflict escalation in November, with battle events rising over 80% compared to the previous month. Boko Haram (JAS) and the Lake Chad faction of the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) engaged in heavy fighting with Cameroonian troops, Multinational Joint Task Forces, and local militias. The increase comes against the backdrop of heightened militant mobilization in the Extreme-North region. Some observers point to the failure of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs after many former Islamist fighters returned to combat earlier in 2023.4 Competition amongst insurgent groups may also contribute to rising violence in northern Cameroon and across the Lake Chad region. Clashes between ISWAP and Boko Haram, or amongst fighters of the same group, have become more common since late 2022 but have been part of an ongoing trend since early 2021 following the death of Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau.5 In November, ACLED records six incidents of insurgent infighting in the Extreme-North region and Nigeria’s bordering Borno state.
Mali: State forces and the Wagner Group capture Kidal town
In the far north of Mali, the Malian armed forces (FAMa) and Wagner Group captured the rebel stronghold of Kidal, which has been out of state control for over a decade. The takeover of Kidal is the culmination of a three-month joint offensive by the FAMa and Wagner, which began in the Tombouctou region and steadily extended into Gao and Kidal regions. Following a spike in violence in the Kidal region in October, political violence events again rose by nearly 40% in November compared to the previous month. The battle for Kidal saw confrontations between FAMa and the Wagner Group against the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP) rebel coalition. Following intense drone strikes, the CSP withdrew, and Kidal town fell under the control of FAMa and Wagner. Wagner mercenaries were seen as the first to enter the town and soon after raised their flag on the fortress of Kidal,6 a strategic victory for the mercenary group. Meanwhile, JNIM did not engage in the battle despite calling on residents to leave the town days before.7 Ultimately, FAMa and Wagner overtook a depopulated town8 and engaged in ransacking, arrests, and the killing of several remaining inhabitants.9
Morocco: Demonstrations against Israel and supporting Palestine persist
After a spike in demonstrations related to the Israel-Gaza conflict across North Africa in October, demonstration events returned to the monthly average levels in November. In Morocco, however, demonstrations related to the Israel-Gaza conflict increased by 12% compared to the month prior. Morocco, unlike other countries in northern Africa, normalized diplomatic relations with Israel, fueling the ongoing demonstrations by Moroccan opposition groups to demand an end to this diplomatic posture.10 Political opposition groups used Friday prayers at mosques as opportunities to continue the protest efforts, predominantly organized by al-Adl wal-Ihsane, a member of the Moroccan Commission for the Support of Islamic Causes, and the pro-Palestinian group, the Moroccan Front for the Support of Palestine and Against Normalisations. Despite over 350 protests in November, there were no cases of reported violence used by demonstrators.
Somalia: Clashes resume in Somaliland
After a two-month lull, renewed clashes between the Somaliland forces and Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) militias escalated in Somaliland last month. Over 70% of the fighting was concentrated in Buq-Dharkayn and Yeyle villages in Togdheer, Cayn region. Notably, fighting in November increasingly involved sub-clans of the Isaaq, with various Somaliland politicians trying to mobilize the Habar Jeclo sub-clan of the Isaaq to fight SSC militias as the Habar Jeclo reside around the disputed territories of the SSC.11 The conflict between Somaliland forces and SSC militias began after security forces killed over a dozen demonstrators who were protesting against the assassination of a Waddani party member in December 2022. SSC leaders denounced Somaliland independence and declared their intention to be part of Federal Somalia as the SSC-Khaatumo region.12
South Sudan and Sudan: Cross-border violence rises in Abyei and Warrap
In November, cross-border violence broke out in the disputed area of Abyei and neighboring Warrap state after clashes between ethnic Dinka factions. Armed Twic Dinka from neighboring Twic county in South Sudan attacked Ngok Dinka in six villages of Abyei in November, reportedly killing at least 29 people. Local authorities from Abyei accused South Sudan’s People’s Defense Forces of also being involved in these attacks.13 In addition, cross-border offensives into South Sudan by suspected Ngok Dinka against military barracks in Twic country, Warrap state, left at least 23 reported fatalities throughout the first half of November. Collectively, political violence events left at least 60 people reportedly dead in Warrap and Abyei in November. In March, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) condemned the presence of armed Sudanese forces in Abyei – an area with a demilitarized and weapons-free status – which may have instigated the recent escalation of violence.14 Due to this escalation in November, the UN Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of UNISFA.15
Footnotes
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‘Au Burkina Faso, près d’une centaine de civils tués à Zaongo,’ Jeune Afrique, 9 November 2023
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International Crisis Group, ‘Fighting among Boko Haram Splinters Rages On,’ 30 May 2023
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Audio received by ACLED researcher, WhatsApp, 10 November 2023
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‘Mali: Kidal, une petite ville et un immense symbole,’ RFI, 14 November 2023
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Radio Tamazuj, ‘UN urges government to probe killing of 75 civilians in Abyei,’ 23 november 2023
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