#Ethiopia
's
#Amhara
leader has repeated a call for residents to take up arms against
#TPLF
rebels after its spokesperson threatened more attacks. Agegnehu termed the rebels "enemies" echoing PM Abiy's latest statement in Tigrinya saying TPLF is the "enemy of the people of Tigray"
#Ethiopia
is closing schools so students can harvest crops for those in the warfront. Some 1.2 million children stopped learning since the war erupted and allegations emerged of child fighters. Spoke to
@bbcworldservice
#GlobalNewsPod
on these developments
*Checks mic*
Really thrilled that I'll be presenting
@bbcworldservice
's Newsday programme for a couple of weeks from 18 July.
Tune in, send messages and keep us company as we take you round the world from Nairobi and London. And glad
@lauriekalus
will help to steer this ship!
Very excited to be in Nairobi with
@BeverlyOchieng
as Newsday prepares to broadcast a series of programmes from Kenya throughout the next month...
You can hear her on
@bbcworldservice
from Tuesday morning!
Presidential elections in Chad and Panama; floods in Brazil, Tanzania and Kenya; austerity measures in Argentina; talks between China and France - these are some of the stories
@robyounguk
and I will be covering on Newsday this morning on
@bbcworldservice
. Do tune in!
Wagner mercenaries claim to have mediated the reopening of the Chad-Central African Republic border and are seen here with the troops from the two countries.
The border has remained porous despite an over decade-long closure, with rebel violence and unrest always spilling over.
Niger TV going strong on anti-Ecowas music, debates this morning as that deadline to reverse the military coup lapses later today.
This reggae song criticises the bloc over third term bids by Côte d'Ivoire's Alassane Ouattara and Guinea's (deposed leader) Alpha Condé.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have withdrawn from Ecowas after consolidating their security and political interests in the largely untested Alliance of Sahel States, further frustrating demands by West African leaders to hand over power to civilians in polls expected this year.
A coup is reportedly underway in
#Sudan
after days of protests largely urging the gov't to resign and military rule to be imposed.
Other reports say PM Hamdok is under house arrest and several government officials have been arrested. The army was to hand over to civilians in Nov
⚠️ Confirmed: Internet disrupted in
#Sudan
amid reports of military coup and detention of Prime Minister; real-time network data show national connectivity at 34% of ordinary levels; incident ongoing 📉
📰 Live Report:
Burkina Faso's defence minister reiterates on Russia's RIA Novosti that they're ready to defend Niger in the event of any aggression after Ecowas settled on a date to carry out a military intervention in response to last month's coup.
In that last Telegram post, the Wagner Group front in the Central African Republic is running a poll asking "should we support Niger in its fight for freedom?" as an Ecowas deadline to reverse a military coup lapses on Sunday and some West African armies prepare to intervene.
Rebels linked to
#TPLF
have claimed control of strategic
#Amhara
towns hours after federal forces fired fresh air strikes in
#Mekelle
.
On
@bbcswahili
's Dira programme, I talk about the reasons for the latest attacks and media sources covering the conflict
A UN aid convoy has arrived in
#Ethiopia
's Tigray region for the first time in over a month.
On
#AfricaDaily
pod,
@kasujja
and I discuss how political tensions between PM Abiy and
#TPLF
have culminated in a frontline showdown a year into the conflict:
East African leaders will deploy a regional force to support the newest
@jumuiya
member DR Congo fight against myriads of rebel groups in the eastern regions. Spoke to Dira Ya Dunia on
@bbcswahili
on the persistent violence and current security measures
#Tchad
's new leader Mahamat Idriss Deby has named 15 generals to the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that will govern the country for the next 18 months.
Over the past year, colleagues at
@BBCMonitoring
and I have tracked Wagner disinformation and influence campaigns in the Sahel that heightened with the (alleged) deployment of mercenaries in Mali. Read my analysis, & subscribe to our newsletter and content
#Niger
is building an air base in Tahoua after acquiring drones from
#Turkey
, which is increasing defence cooperation in Africa. For
#AfricaDaily
today,
@kasujja
and I discuss the Bayraktar drone and how Niamey is positioning itself as Sahel's security hub
Burkina Faso's Capt Ibrahim Traoré will remain in power for five more years and is eligible for future elections as two days of talks on the country's political future end today.
Mali also extended military rule, Guinea has ruled out elections and talks in Niger are pending.
Niger's petroleum minister has blocked - literally with a padlock and chain - further oil exports to neighbouring Benin as the diplomatic standoff between them derails the operation of Africa's longest pipeline, funded and operated by China that has so far been unable to mediate.
TikTok says it plans to curb disinformation ahead of
#Kenya
's elections in Aug. I look at how supporters from rival factions have used the platform to fuel fake news and entrench political animosity, with insights from research by
@Odangaring
:
Russian military instructors have finally entered Niger less than a year after the army overthrew the western-backed president, Bazoum. The Kremlin has now consolidated the Sahel where the jihadist insurgency continues to surge and military rule is increasingly mainstream.
The Central African Republic says there'll be adequate security for the 30 July constitutional referendum amid conflicting reports of mass departures of Russian mercenaries.
Campaigns begin today.
Here are some recent images shared on Telegram of Wagner personnel there:
A nationwide curfew imposed in Sierra Leone after a break in at the armoury of the main military barracks in Freetown.
Between July and August several senior military and police officers were arrested or extradited over a plot against President Bio who was re-elected in June.
Niger heightens pressure on the US to withdraw its troops in an unusual English-language message on state TV, seemingly delivered by an automated voice. It accuses the Americans of not paying "a single kopeck" for the Agadez and Dirkou bases and failing to share intelligence.
Mass protests have begun against the coup in
#Sudan
.
Internet restrictions persist but several groups are still actively posting online to draw attention to the crisis and possible violence as security forces crack down on demos, while ground mobilisation is keeping up momentum
⚠️ Update:
#Sudan
's internet remains largely disrupted as of Saturday leaving citizens cut off from each other and the rest of the world.
The disruption is likely to limit the free flow of information during today's planned anti-coup protests.
📰 Report:
The aftermath of
#Ethiopia
's conflict where fears of continued mobilisation and renewed fighting persist, the
#Somalia
political impasse over delayed elections and the dramatic intrigues of
#Kenya
's upcoming polls are some key news stories to look out for in East Africa this year
TW⚠️ Interesting twist to the Wagner propaganda videos where the Sahel junta chiefs find themselves overwhelmed by jihadists and being exiled in Russia
Incidentally, JNIM just claimed one of its biggest attacks against the Mali army since its blockade in Timbuktu began in August
On
#Newsday
today,
@robyounguk
and I talk about the anti-Ecowas statement by Niger's military rulers, the "unprecedented" trial against the former US president, Senegal's ban on TikTok and more.
Tune in on the
@bbcworldservice
.
#Niger
's junta wants to charge detained and deposed president Mohamed Bazoum with "high treason" following his appeals to the regional and international community to intervene against the coup.
The statement came after the military rulers said they're open to talks with Ecowas.
🚨Happening Monday, Aug. 14🚨
This show will seek to separate myth from reality, bringing together top journalists, activists, and researchers to discuss where Russia and Wagner are significant actors in Africa (and where they are not).
Please RSVP here:
Internet outage in
#Congo
. Very reminiscent of the 2016 communication shutdown during that presidential election. President Sassou-Nguesso is seeking a fourth term in today's polls after having been in power for a total of 36 years.
⚠️ Confirmed: Internet has been shut down in the Republic of the
#Congo
on the day of presidential elections.
Network data show a near-total collapse of national connectivity from midnight local time. The incident is ongoing as polls are due to open 📉
📰
Some sights and sounds from Niger state TV's rolling pro-military music (cc. Sudan TV that has had more than three months of army propaganda, music and statements).
Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso had regular programmes to at least instil a sense of normalcy through uncertainty?
Social media and civil society activists sympathetic to Wagner Group and behind influence campaigns mainly targeting Francophone Africa were largely silent amid Prigozhin's failed mutiny. But they have played a key role in Russia's rising presence since the 2014 Crimea annexation
#Mali
recalls its ambassadors and closers borders with
#Ecowas
states after the bloc heightened sanctions over its failure to hold election by Feb.
Mali also threatens to leave Ecowas, augmenting its political and economic isolation.
(Basically, you can't fire me, I quit.)
Last month, 14 African countries hosted top officials from the US, China, Russia and Turkey - with more visits expected through 2023 - to cement pledges from the US-Africa summit, invite leaders for the Russia-Africa summit and expand cooperation.
It's been a year of fighting in
#Ethiopia
- initially in
#Tigray
, now moving south close to Addis Ababa where residents are being asked to register weapons to support efforts against
#TPLF
fighters. Air strikes continue in
#Mekelle
and a nationwide state of emergency is in place.
The conflict in Ethiopia is serious and escalating. Two rebels groups have moved closer to the capital. The Prime Minister is promising to ‘bury’ the rebels. If you’ve not followed the story, here’s 6 minutes to update you. Produced by Briony Sowden.
Pro-Wagner and linked Telegram outlets are sharing rare images of mercenaries said to be in Mali. One allegedly poses with Dogon militia in the central region and another is purportedly with Malian forces in the north in Ber where Minusma's departure set off tensions with the CMA
Prigozhin's death, if confirmed, will test the resilience of operations by thousands of Wagner mercenaries in Mali, the Central African Republic and Libya. Wagner has a decentralised command and is instrumental in spreading Russian influence.
My analysis:
Journalists in
#Somalia
say their union head was arrested after criticising a ban by the government against the media reporting on al-Shabab activities.
The state and insurgent groups continue to pose a threat to press freedoms, leading to low rankings:
Happy Crown Birthday to
@notmutant
!!! Thank you for humour, good literary banter both on and off
@2girlsandapod
and friendship. Pod and I are very lucky to have you 💕❤💜
(Photos by
@otieno_owino
and
@mawazo_mengi
in the *coughs* studio)
"Burkina Faso's military takeover is unsettling but not unexpected. The ousting of President Roch Kaboré is the fourth coup in West Africa in the last 17 months."
My thoughts on growing military and public discontent in the Sahel over the insurgency:
Gabon's coup leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema is set to be sworn in as transitional leader on Monday after rejecting the election which Ali Bongo - a former funk musician whose family has been at the helm of the country for over half a century - won a third term.
I explain more:
I will miss hearing
@bbcBola
. Among early people to really give words of encouragement and to dare me to take a chance where possible - and always reminded me every so often we spoke 😊 and it was great company with
@JamesCopnall
and the crew.
You can’t get any better trio talking about
#Sudan
than the formidable
@bbcBola
@BeverlyOchieng
&
@JamesCopnall
and James, on Bola’s last day, could you just tie her to the chair so she can’t leave pls…
Tanzania warns its nationals against fighting for foreign armies after the death of a student last October who had been recruited from a prison in Moscow by the Wagner Group to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Join
@JamesCopnall
and I on Newsday this morning on
@bbcworldservice
where we'll talk about the US veto on the latest UN resolution on a Gaza ceasefire, the release of hundreds of protesters in Senegal, the indictment of Haiti's ex-first lady over the president's murder and more.
Today's Wagner watch: the mercenaries claim in a video to have mounted their flag in Kidal after aiding the Mali army push out ex-separatists and a mercenary captioned as fighting extremists in (this vast place called) Africa.
Protests underway in
#Sudan
after coup leader Burhan went on to hand himself power in the new council still dominated by the military and the internet remains disrupted for the 20th day ...
⚠️ Update: Internet remains largely disrupted in
#Sudan
for a 20th day, targeting the basic rights of free assembly and expression as pro-democracy campaigners lead protests against the military council installed after last month's coup
#Nov13March
📰
East African leaders announce plans to immediately deploy a regional force to fight against rebels in eastern DR Congo.
A joint training exercise by
@jumuiya
troops is coming to a close and regional army chiefs have been meeting to discuss a framework for regional deployment.
Was there a mutiny in Chad? What next as MPs in Ghana pass a tough anti-LGBTQ+ bill? What happens after the resignation of the Palestinian PM?
Listen to Newsday with
@JamesCopnall
and I on
@bbcworldservice
to find out more. (And so wonderful to have
@iAmDanielDadzie
producing)
Senegal restricts internet again after banning today's mass protests being organised by more than 100 civil society organisations to denounce the delayed election, while ex-leaders - including Karim Wade's father - have endorsed Macky Sall's talks on the constitutional crisis.
As a coup is underway in
#Guin
ée, state TV plays gospel music.
Elite forces have reportedly detained President
#AlphaConde
whose third term bid - precipitated by controversial constitutional amendments in 2020 - provoked nationwide protests and an opposition crackdown.
We're in the last of hour of
#Newsday
on
@bbcworldservice
with
@robyounguk
and I.
Protests are expected in Kenya with more from
@TonyIrungu5
, climate and extreme weather, Thailand suspends the prime minister frontrunner and fears of further instability from the war in Sudan:
Days after deploying to
#Mozambique
,
#Rwanda
's army reported big victories against militants who've besieged Cabo Delgado since 2017. Rwanda is a key peacekeeping contributor but its intervention here is different.
@kasujja
& I discuss this on
#AfricaDaily
#Ecowas
says it stands by
#BurkinaFaso
's Kabore and demands for the military to stand down in favour of dialogue. No reaction to reported restrictions on internet or the authorities putting down/banning protests.
Meanwhile, a nationwide curfew has been imposed after the mutiny.
Russia is disarming Wagner forces amid a failed rebellion by its exiled leader.
@Nader_SM
& I wrote about the uncertain future for African governments heavily dependent on Wagner mercenaries despite assurances that operations in Mali and CAR will continue
A lot is coming out of
#Tanzania
on Covid-19, including plans not to get vaccines and the promotion of herbal remedies.
Listen to
@kasujja
speak to (one of my favourite people in the world)
@OdhiamboRhoda
about this in today's
#AfricaDaily
episode:
Today is the start of
@MacondoLitFest
, which is among events reopening the literary scene in Nairobi.
As I take a short break from the news this coming week, I'll be buried in books bought from some of the events featured in something I wrote here:
The teaser for
@BBCMonitoring
's Global Jigsaw podcast is here: subscribe to get essential media insight on stories and people making the news, geopolitical intersections and all round intelligent conversations with a team that's such a delight to work with
#Zambia
has made good its threat to shut the internet on election day.
In March, President Lungu - who is seeking re-election - assented a cyber crime bill that targets "abuse of cyberspace". Opposition candidate Hichelima pledged to prioritise repealing the law if elected.
⚠️ Update: Real-time network data confirm that social media and messaging platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger are now restricted in
#Zambia
on election day in addition to the earlier WhatsApp restriction
#ZambiaDecides2021
📰
It's 100 days since the war broke out in
#Sudan
.
State TV continues broadcasting pro-military messages with the hashtag "one army, one people", regular coverage elsewhere, and some pan-Arab TVs bleak about prospects of clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces ending
Gunfire in
#BurkinaFaso
's capital early today, heavy deployment, state TV off but JA sources say Damiba is OK
Yesterday, there were protests in Bobo Dioulasso demanding his resignation for failing to quell the insurgency eight months since siezing power
#Kenya
's Supreme Court will hear petitions by Odinga and others challenging Ruto's victory in the 9 Aug presidential poll
We discuss the "mathematical absurdity" in the results partly underpinning the cases and how our democracy is constantly being tested
Residents in Kaya
#BurkinaFaso
had blocked the French convoy since Friday. (Someone is even said to have brought down a French drone with a slingshot.) Some injuries were reported.
#Barkhane
is drawing down from neighbouring
#Mali
where there's also been protests against France.
⚠️ Confirmed: Mobile internet has been disrupted in Burkina Faso since Saturday night.
The incident comes amid unrest after the shooting of protesters attempting to block a French military convoy transiting the country 📵
📰 Report:
Je vais bien Alhamdoulillah. La situation est sous contrôle gouvernemental. Je remercie la population de Guinée Bissau et toutes les personnes au delà de notre pays qui se sont inquiétées pour mon gouvernement et moi. Vive la République et que Dieu veille sur la Guinée-Bissau.
Senegal's Constitutional Council has said the postponement of this month's presidential election is illegal, as Macky Sall reportedly holds backdoor talks with rivals - including Ousmane Sonko - to restart the process for a more favourable political outcome. More from me below:
Thanks to
@CSIS
and
@BBCMonitoring
's
@BeverlyOchieng
for joining
@McFarlandKellyM
for this episode of Diplomatic Immunity! Beverly takes us through a riveting discussion on the unfolding crisis in Senegal and its implications for West Africa. Listen now!
Special forces from Amhara, Somali, Oromia and Sidama states are already fighting alongside federal troops in Tigray and parts of Afar and Amhara where the conflict has spilled into.
Rallies have been held in several towns in different regions in support of the federal army.
The US has sanctioned the head of Russia's Wagner Group in Mali and two soldiers for the Moura massacre. On
@BBCMonitoring
's
#TheGlobalJigsaw
pod this week we discuss one of my specialities - media and public influence campaigns for the mercenaries in Mali
First reads of 2022 (one in progress from last year - thank you
@ansheemungai
).
Thank you work bae
@OdhiamboRhoda
for alerting
@otieno_owino
and I to Born in Blackness from
@NuriaBooks
who delivered very fast.
Gonna squeeze these in before work (which pays for them) resumes 🙃
In
#Ethiopia
, a unilateral ceasefire is quickly coming undone as
#Oromia
and
#Sidama
special forces mobilise after a call by the
#Amhara
region for an all-out offensive against the
#TPLF
that seized occupied parts of southern
#Tigray
:
Update. It's confirmed that
#Oromia
&
#Sidama
states' security forces are joining the national army & security forces from
#Amhara
state in a fresh offensive against
#Tigrayan
forces. It comes after Tigray Defense Forces recaptured more areas within Tigray
Chad's military government - which has faced some backlash for prolonging its transition - has closed its borders with Sudan where rival armed clashes are ongoing, and urged the international community to enable the neighbouring country to "complete its ongoing transition".
#BokoHaram
has said it is holding more than 500 students hostage after claiming an attack on a school in the north-west
#Katsina
State. I talked to
#OSTV
last night about the message this attack sends as
#Nigeria
struggles to contain rising insecurity in Buhari's tenure:
#Kenya
has condemned Russia's military intervention in two breakaway regions in Ukraine and the media have highlighted possible increases in wheat, fuel prices if a conflict breaks out.
My snapshot of African diplomatic and media reactions for
@BBCAfrica
The rhetoric being used in mobilisation calls is easily conflating actions against rebel
#TPLF
forces and aggressions towards residents in the
#Tigray
region. So the toll of the conflict continues to rise, humanitarian intervention remains fraught and ethnic animocity deepens.
On the Africa Today podcast we highlight the leadership wrangles in South Africa's ANC, Tunisia's upcoming election and a Ghanaian athlete's top performance in winter sports.
(Featuring
@BBC_AudreyB
, Priyanka Sippy, me and all the Focus on Africa crew)
#Zambia
's electricity provider is also experiencing a "system failure" leading to a nationwide power outage. All this as it prepares for elections on 12 Aug.
Last week Lusaka Times reported plans to shut down the internet on election day but there'd been no official reaction.
⚠️ Confirmed: Nation-scale power outage registered in
#Zambia
impacting telecommunications networks from ~2:30 pm local time; real-time network data show national connectivity at 70% of ordinary levels; incident ongoing 🔌
Nigeria, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire are among West African nations lining up forces to counter Niger's military coup that has worsened regional tensions. For
@CBCRadioCanada
, I discuss the impact of the coup, anti-French sentiment and pro-Wagner Group disinfo
Limbe to Lagos to Nairobi from
@ajayidami
,
@Dmacviban
and Emmanuel Iduma. Pod and I can hardly wait to read this. Great job guys! Also, happy 10th to
@Sarabamag
. Keep telling our stories.
On
#AfricaDaily
, the incredibly knowledgeable
@AbdirahimS
talks to
@kasujja
about increased violence by Islamic State group against Christians in areas the group's fighters are entrenched in DR Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria and the Sahel in 2022:
Burkina Faso press as Russia's Lavrov was in Ouagadougou for talks on more "military instructors", support with nuclear energy as the Kremlin reportedly eyes neighbouring Niger's uranium and a pledge that ties "will never be colonial".
Military cooperation was discussed in Chad
This year's
@Writivism
festival was quite a lot of fun for us
@2girlsandapod
. Met some incredible writers, academics and artists, had insightful conversations and left with memories to keep us high enough until next year 😊
The
#AfricaDaily
podcast is live 🚨 and in this first episode I talk to
@kasujja
about Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy after the AU announced it has secured 270m doses outside Covax, and how community health response systems will be instrumental in delivery:
For
@BBCMonitoring
, I talk briefly about the impact of stigma in fighting Covid-19. Did something on
#Newsday
a week ago and it was an interesting discussion with
@kasujja
Joint forces from
#Uganda
and
#RDC
recently captured a key
#ADF
commander shortly after starting operations in eastern DR Congo.
On
#AfricaDaily
,
@kasujja
and
@qataharraymond
discuss the ensuing military and political burden of UPDF's (re)entry to DRC:
As
#Somalia
's general election stalemate persists, the semi-autonomous north-eastern
#Puntland
state demonstrates the viability of one-person one-vote.
People wait in line to attend a voter registration exercise in
#Qardo
after the exercise started there on Sunday.
#Puntland
's first one-person one-vote municipal elections will be conducted in the districts of Qardo, Eyl and Ufeyn in June 2021, according to the TPEC plan.
Senegal will hold elections before Macky Sall's tenure ends. But the president will leave with a damaged reputation and a trail of destruction that has shaken one of the region's most stable democracies.
Here's my piece for From our Own Correspondent
#Mali
's arrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers is further driving a wedge between itself and Cote d'Ivoire, which has strongly opposed the junta, as well as with the UN mission.
Incidentally, Yerewolo just started an anti-MINUSMA campaign after the mandate was renewed for a year.