Africa

International NewsAfrica

Sudan’s Military Arrests Prime Minister and Seizes Power

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and governmental officials were arrested in the capital city of Khartoum, halting the military and civilian power-sharing government that the country has utilized since late 2019 after President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown. As of Monday, October 25, 2021, Sudan is in a state of emergency, as thousands of pro-democracy protestors gather in the streets to oppose the military coup and the prime minister’s arrest, according to The New York Times.

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October 2021International NewsAfrica

ICJ Rules in Favor of Somalia in Maritime Dispute

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favor of Somalia in a maritime time dispute case instituted against Kenya over the delimitation of maritime spaces claimed by both states in the Indian Ocean. The judgement, which is binding and without appeal, was unanimous in its finding that there is no agreed maritime boundary between the two states, according to an ICJ press release.

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October 2021International NewsAfrica

Tigray Conflict Escalates Amid New Offensive and Famine Warnings

Ethiopian troops have launched a new offensive to regain control of the restive Tigray region from ethnic separatists. According to The New York Times, the October offensive comes as a result of months of planning and has seen the use of airstrikes and foreign-made drones made in China, Iran, and Turkey. Government forces are also enlisting the help of anti-Tigrayan militias, although troops from neighboring Eritrea are currently uninvolved. 

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International NewsAfrica

Protests Erupt After Tunisia’s President Suspends Constitution

On September 22, Tunisian President Kais Saied announced that he would suspend parts of the country’s constitution and rule by executive decree, according to The Guardian. Tunisian news site Nawaat reports that days after the President announced the suspension, thousands of Tunisians protested in downtown Tunis, calling his actions a coup and unconstitutional.

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International NewsAfrica

Humanitarian Aid Blockades in Tigray Worsen Fragile Conditions

Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis has wreaked havoc on the nation, and new reports suggest that the conflict will only continue to get worse in the coming months. BBC News says that fighting between government and Tigray forces has led to roadblocks on key transport routes, resulting in a humanitarian aid blockade and rendering aid distribution to the region nearly impossible.

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2021May 2021International NewsAfrica

Chad President Idriss Déby Killed by Rebel Group

The newly re-elected president of Chad, Idriss Déby, was pronounced dead on Tuesday, April 20, after being attacked by Front for Change and Concord rebels (otherwise known as FACT). Déby, who was 68 years old, was visiting the front lines when he was shot. The details of the events leading up to Déby’s death are uncertain, with the Chadian Military and FACT stating different timelines leading up to the incident. CNN reports that FACT troops had overrun a military garrison, and Déby was shot while fleeing. The Chadian government has denied these claims.

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Campus Spotlight2021April 2021AmericasAfricaSchool of Diplomacy News

National Security Fellows from the School of Diplomacy Brief the National Security Council

A group of 11 graduate students recently presented their research findings to the National Security Council under the guidance and advisement of Professor Mohamad Mirghahari, a Tom and Ruth Sharkey Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the School of Diplomacy. Professor Mirghahari is a former Presidential Appointee under the Obama Administration who served as a senior advisor to the chief of staff for the Transportation Security Administration. Prior to that, he spent 14 years working at the Department of Defense and is a recipient of the Secretary of Homeland Security’s Award for Excellence.

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2021April 2021FocusSeparatist MovementsAfrica

FOCUS on Separatist Movements: Western Sahara

Following its establishment in 1945, the United Nations adopted a central commitment to the right to self-determination and decolonization of all non-self-governing territories. General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), adopted in 1960, called for the “respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of all peoples” and declared that “all people have the right to self-determination by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” It is on this basis that Western Saharans continue to push for their right to self-determination and independence from Morocco. 

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