๐บ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฑ UN faces "difficult" next phase of MINUSMA pullout from Mali
The second phase of the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Mali will be very challenging due to a tight calendar and dangerous security conditions, the UN special representative to the country said on Monday.
The UN peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSMA, has to exit Mali until December 31.
Withdrawal operations were targeted, Special Representative of the Secretary-General told the UN Security Council Monday. He said the size of the convoys, involving hundreds of lorries, and the long distances they travel over inhospitable terrain leave them vulnerable.
By September 30, about one-third of Minusma's civilian staff will have been pulled out, he said.
The second phase, through December 15, will involve abandoning six bases in northern, northeastern and central Mali.
"This phase will be incredibly difficult indeed, the terrain is difficult and insecurity is an ever present threat," he said.
#UN #Mali
@africaintel
The second phase of the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Mali will be very challenging due to a tight calendar and dangerous security conditions, the UN special representative to the country said on Monday.
The UN peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSMA, has to exit Mali until December 31.
Withdrawal operations were targeted, Special Representative of the Secretary-General told the UN Security Council Monday. He said the size of the convoys, involving hundreds of lorries, and the long distances they travel over inhospitable terrain leave them vulnerable.
By September 30, about one-third of Minusma's civilian staff will have been pulled out, he said.
The second phase, through December 15, will involve abandoning six bases in northern, northeastern and central Mali.
"This phase will be incredibly difficult indeed, the terrain is difficult and insecurity is an ever present threat," he said.
#UN #Mali
@africaintel
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๐บ๐ฌ๐ช๐ท๐ฐ๐ช Ugandan police detain 20 Eritreans near Kenyan border
Ugandan police have detained 20 Eritreans for entering Uganda illegally.
Ugandan police announced on Monday that they had arrested the Eritrean nationals on 25 August in the eastern Uganda town of Jinja, about 140km from the border with Kenya.
The individuals include 12 males, two females and six children. Ugandaโs newspaper reports that the Eritreans were smuggled through Ethiopia and Kenya before entering Uganda via the Kenya-Uganda border.
Local media also say that authorities believe that the Eritreans were travelling to the suburb of Kabalagala in Uganda's capital of Kampala, which has a large Eritrean and Ethiopian population.
#Uganda #Eritrea #Kenya
@africaintel
Ugandan police have detained 20 Eritreans for entering Uganda illegally.
Ugandan police announced on Monday that they had arrested the Eritrean nationals on 25 August in the eastern Uganda town of Jinja, about 140km from the border with Kenya.
The individuals include 12 males, two females and six children. Ugandaโs newspaper reports that the Eritreans were smuggled through Ethiopia and Kenya before entering Uganda via the Kenya-Uganda border.
Local media also say that authorities believe that the Eritreans were travelling to the suburb of Kabalagala in Uganda's capital of Kampala, which has a large Eritrean and Ethiopian population.
#Uganda #Eritrea #Kenya
@africaintel
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๐ฟ๐ผ Zimbabwe opposition calls for re-run of elections and African mediation
Zimbabwe's main opposition party on Tuesday called for last week's elections to be re-run, saying the polls were riddled with flaws and calling on other African countries to help mediate in its "impasse" with the ruling party.
But the Citizens' Coalition for Change party did not say how it would seek to force the re-run and whether it would file a court case to try to overturn the disputed result.
"The only resolution and way forward is that Zimbabwe needs a fresh and proper election to end the current crisis," CCC deputy spokesperson said. "We have made it very clear that the entire election in this country was flawed," he added.
He said the opposition's best bet might be for it to get Southern African regional bloc SADC to push for the elections to be re-run under international supervision.
#Zimbabwe
@africaintel
Zimbabwe's main opposition party on Tuesday called for last week's elections to be re-run, saying the polls were riddled with flaws and calling on other African countries to help mediate in its "impasse" with the ruling party.
But the Citizens' Coalition for Change party did not say how it would seek to force the re-run and whether it would file a court case to try to overturn the disputed result.
"The only resolution and way forward is that Zimbabwe needs a fresh and proper election to end the current crisis," CCC deputy spokesperson said. "We have made it very clear that the entire election in this country was flawed," he added.
He said the opposition's best bet might be for it to get Southern African regional bloc SADC to push for the elections to be re-run under international supervision.
#Zimbabwe
@africaintel
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Africa Intel
๐ช๐น Ten killed in renewed Amhara violence in Ethiopia Fighting has flared up again in some areas in Ethiopiaโs restive Amhara region after a week of relative calm, with at least 10 civilian deaths reported. Residents in the Amhara city of Debre Tabor haveโฆ
๐ช๐น๐บ๐ณ Fighting in Ethiopia's Amhara kills at least 183, UN says
Fighting between Ethiopia's military and militiamen in the Amhara region has killed at least 183 people, the UN human rights office said on Tuesday.
More than 1,000 people have been arrested nationwide, many of them reported to be young people of ethnic Amhara origin, under a state of emergency the government decreed to respond to the violence, the UN added in a statement.
#Ethiopia #UN
@africaintel
Fighting between Ethiopia's military and militiamen in the Amhara region has killed at least 183 people, the UN human rights office said on Tuesday.
More than 1,000 people have been arrested nationwide, many of them reported to be young people of ethnic Amhara origin, under a state of emergency the government decreed to respond to the violence, the UN added in a statement.
#Ethiopia #UN
@africaintel
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๐จ๐ฉ At least 15 dead in a new militia attack in Ituri, DR Congo
At least fifteen people have been killed in an attack attributed to the Codeco community militia in Ituri, in the north-east of the DR Congo.
Codeco militiamen carried out an attack on a fishermen's camp in Gobu, a landlocked area, a president of civil society in Bahema Nord, a chiefdom in Ituri province, told.
The attack lasted "just over two hours and left at least fifteen people dead", he said, calling on the DRC's armed forces to be more responsive.
Nine civilians, one soldier and four Codeco militiamen were killed", said chief of the Bahema Nord chiefdom. "Our forces retaliated to this attack, and the militiamen are being pursued", he added.
#DRC
@africaintel
At least fifteen people have been killed in an attack attributed to the Codeco community militia in Ituri, in the north-east of the DR Congo.
Codeco militiamen carried out an attack on a fishermen's camp in Gobu, a landlocked area, a president of civil society in Bahema Nord, a chiefdom in Ituri province, told.
The attack lasted "just over two hours and left at least fifteen people dead", he said, calling on the DRC's armed forces to be more responsive.
Nine civilians, one soldier and four Codeco militiamen were killed", said chief of the Bahema Nord chiefdom. "Our forces retaliated to this attack, and the militiamen are being pursued", he added.
#DRC
@africaintel
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๐ฒ๐ฑ Mali president signs new mining code in bid to raise government stake
Mali's interim President Assimi Goita has signed into law a new mining code which will allow the military-led government to increase its ownership of gold concessions and recoup what it says is a major shortfall in production revenues.
The new code will allow the state and local investors to take stakes as high as 35% in mining projects compared with 20% now, and could more than double the sector's contribution to gross domestic product to around 20%, the government has said.
Mali is one of Africa's top gold producers and is home to mining companies including Barrick Gold, Resolute Mining and Hummingbird Resources.
Mali's Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou said on Monday that an audit of the mining sector had shown that the state was missing $497 million to $995 million which it intended to recover.
#Mali
@africaintel
Mali's interim President Assimi Goita has signed into law a new mining code which will allow the military-led government to increase its ownership of gold concessions and recoup what it says is a major shortfall in production revenues.
The new code will allow the state and local investors to take stakes as high as 35% in mining projects compared with 20% now, and could more than double the sector's contribution to gross domestic product to around 20%, the government has said.
Mali is one of Africa's top gold producers and is home to mining companies including Barrick Gold, Resolute Mining and Hummingbird Resources.
Mali's Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou said on Monday that an audit of the mining sector had shown that the state was missing $497 million to $995 million which it intended to recover.
#Mali
@africaintel
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โก๏ธ๐ฌ๐ฆ The coup d'etat in Gabon
A group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on television channel Gabon 24 in the early hours of Wednesday and said they had taken power, after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo had won a third term.
Twelve soldiers appeared on television announcing they were cancelling the results of the election and dissolving "all the institutions of the republic". "We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime."
This, they added, was down to "irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos".
The officers in charge of the coup stated that they represent all the security officials of the country, and that there's no inner fighting between them.
Witnesses have heard heavy automatic weapons fire in Libreville, Gabon's capital.
#Gabon
@africaintel
A group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on television channel Gabon 24 in the early hours of Wednesday and said they had taken power, after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo had won a third term.
Twelve soldiers appeared on television announcing they were cancelling the results of the election and dissolving "all the institutions of the republic". "We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime."
This, they added, was down to "irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos".
The officers in charge of the coup stated that they represent all the security officials of the country, and that there's no inner fighting between them.
Witnesses have heard heavy automatic weapons fire in Libreville, Gabon's capital.
#Gabon
@africaintel
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๐ฉ๐ฟ๐จ๐ณ๐ค Algeria partners with China for construction of 6,000km railway lines
Algeria partnered with China to construct an expansive 6,000 kilometers of railway lines within Algeria, a move lauded by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune as pivotal in advancing his country's socio-economic progress.
Earlier this month, Tebboune said that strengthening the railway sector is the "best guarantee of development", stressing that "our Chinese friends have agreed to this project, which will cover a distance of around 6,000 km." The aim is to facilitate the exploitation of mines, promote trade and create economic vitality in Algeria.
A member of the Algerian parliament said the project will connect all cities and regions in Algeria, and also pave the way for economic development in several African countries.
#Algeria #China
@africaintel
Algeria partnered with China to construct an expansive 6,000 kilometers of railway lines within Algeria, a move lauded by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune as pivotal in advancing his country's socio-economic progress.
Earlier this month, Tebboune said that strengthening the railway sector is the "best guarantee of development", stressing that "our Chinese friends have agreed to this project, which will cover a distance of around 6,000 km." The aim is to facilitate the exploitation of mines, promote trade and create economic vitality in Algeria.
A member of the Algerian parliament said the project will connect all cities and regions in Algeria, and also pave the way for economic development in several African countries.
#Algeria #China
@africaintel
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๐ซ๐ท๐ฌ๐ฆ French miner Eramet says halted all operations in Gabon
French miner Eramet, which owns the Comilog manganese minit unit in Gabon, said on Wednesday it had halted all operations in the country following overnight events.
โFrom this morning all Comilog and Setrag operations have been halted and train transport suspended,โ an Eramet spokesperson toldั
#France #Gabon
@africaintel
French miner Eramet, which owns the Comilog manganese minit unit in Gabon, said on Wednesday it had halted all operations in the country following overnight events.
โFrom this morning all Comilog and Setrag operations have been halted and train transport suspended,โ an Eramet spokesperson toldั
#France #Gabon
@africaintel
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๐ฌ๐ฆ Pro-coup manifestations in Gabon
Gabon24, the national television station, continuously plays an address by the military. Officer declared that they will "put an end to the current regime".
"All institutions of the republic have been dissolved - the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, the Economic Council, the Electoral Commission. We call on the population, the communities of sister countries living in Gabon, as well as the Gabonese diaspora, to calm down," they added.
Meanwhile, videos and photos of people that are happy with the coup started to surface on the internet.
Africa Intel wants to remind everyone that Gabon is not a member of ECOWAS. That is why threats similar to Niger ones will not be possible. Still, Gabon is a member of Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). But the only member country with capable army is Chad (France hoped to use Chad as part of their "ECOWAS" invasion plan). If we ignore Chad's neutrality and imagine invasion into Niger scenario, there are not enough power for TWO invasions (if the same threats are going to be addressed to military in Gabon).
The situation gets more and more interesting.
#Gabon
@africaintel
Gabon24, the national television station, continuously plays an address by the military. Officer declared that they will "put an end to the current regime".
"All institutions of the republic have been dissolved - the government, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, the Economic Council, the Electoral Commission. We call on the population, the communities of sister countries living in Gabon, as well as the Gabonese diaspora, to calm down," they added.
Meanwhile, videos and photos of people that are happy with the coup started to surface on the internet.
Africa Intel wants to remind everyone that Gabon is not a member of ECOWAS. That is why threats similar to Niger ones will not be possible. Still, Gabon is a member of Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). But the only member country with capable army is Chad (France hoped to use Chad as part of their "ECOWAS" invasion plan). If we ignore Chad's neutrality and imagine invasion into Niger scenario, there are not enough power for TWO invasions (if the same threats are going to be addressed to military in Gabon).
The situation gets more and more interesting.
#Gabon
@africaintel
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๐ช๐บ๐ฌ๐ฆ EU to discuss Gabon after takeover announcement
European Union defence ministers are to discuss the situation in Gabon, EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said.
"If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region," Borrell said speaking to a meeting of EU defence ministers in Toledo, Spain.
"The whole area, starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, it's in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy in respect with these countries," he said.
#EU #Gabon
@africaintel
European Union defence ministers are to discuss the situation in Gabon, EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said.
"If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region," Borrell said speaking to a meeting of EU defence ministers in Toledo, Spain.
"The whole area, starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, it's in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy in respect with these countries," he said.
#EU #Gabon
@africaintel
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๐ฌ๐ฆ The internet has been restored in Gabon
Reports emerge that internet has been restored. It had been shut down countrywide after polls closed to prevent the spread of โfalse newsโ and possible violence.
Meanwhile more and more videos and photos of residents applauding members of the security forces surface on the internet.
#Gabon
@africaintel
Reports emerge that internet has been restored. It had been shut down countrywide after polls closed to prevent the spread of โfalse newsโ and possible violence.
Meanwhile more and more videos and photos of residents applauding members of the security forces surface on the internet.
#Gabon
@africaintel
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๐ฌ๐ฆ Gabon's President Bongo under house arrest and his son under arrest
Gabon's deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba is under house arrest, the AFP news agency is quoting military officers as saying.
"President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors," the military said.
One of the president's sons had been arrested for "treason", the statement added.
Meanwhile, pro-coup manifestations continue in Gabon.
#Gabon
@africaintel
Gabon's deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba is under house arrest, the AFP news agency is quoting military officers as saying.
"President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors," the military said.
One of the president's sons had been arrested for "treason", the statement added.
Meanwhile, pro-coup manifestations continue in Gabon.
#Gabon
@africaintel
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Africa Intel
๐ฌ๐ฆ Gabon's President Bongo under house arrest and his son under arrest Gabon's deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba is under house arrest, the AFP news agency is quoting military officers as saying. "President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded byโฆ
๐ฌ๐ฆ Soldiers in Gabon tell celebrating crowds to go home
Shortly after army officers appeared on national television to say they had taken power, large crowds of people went on to the Boulevard Triomphal Omar Bongo, the main street of Gabon's capital, Libreville.
Although they were initially mingling with soldiers and thanking them, the military then asked them to return home and move away from strategic areas.
#Gabon
@africaintel
Shortly after army officers appeared on national television to say they had taken power, large crowds of people went on to the Boulevard Triomphal Omar Bongo, the main street of Gabon's capital, Libreville.
Although they were initially mingling with soldiers and thanking them, the military then asked them to return home and move away from strategic areas.
#Gabon
@africaintel
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