Africa Update
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ML Strategies Update ML Strategies, LLC 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. David Leiter, [email protected] Washington, DC 20004 USA Georgette Spanjich, [email protected] 202 434 7300 202 434 7400 fax FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @MLStrategies www.mlstrategies.com AUGUST 6, 2015 Africa Update Leading the News Egypt On July 30th-31st, the U.S. Embassy in Egypt announced plans to deliver eight F-16 fighter jets to Egypt approved as part of a military package that was unfrozen earlier this year. Delivered to Cairo West Air Base, the jets were flown directly from the U.S. and immediately integrated into the Egyptian Air Force. Four more F-16s will be delivered to Egypt this fall and the U.S. will continue to provide follow-on support, maintenance, and training for Egyptian Air Force pilots and ground crews. Details are available here. On August 1st-3rd, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Tom Malinowski was on travel to Cairo, Egypt, to join Secretary of State John Kerry for the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue. In addition to participating in meetings led by Secretary Kerry, Assistant Secretary Malinowski also met with members of Egyptian civil society and political parties. His meetings were noted here. On August 2nd, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Cairo for the first U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue since 2009. Secretary Kerry was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Tom Countryman, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin, Senior Advisor to the Secretary Ambassador David Thorne, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Scott Nathan, Special Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region Robert Malley, Spokesperson John Kirby, Deputy Chief of Staff Tom Sullivan, and Vice Admiral Kurt Tidd of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Secretary Kerry also met with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Secretary Kerry’s visit to Egypt was outlined here. Secretary Kerry’s remarks at the U.S.- Egypt Strategic Dialogue were transcribed here. A joint statement on the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue was published here. Secretary Kerry’s press availability with Minister Shoukry was highlighted here. Burundi On August 2nd, gunmen wearing military uniforms shot and killed General Adolphe Nshimirimana, a former Burundian security chief and close ally of President Pierre Nkurunziza. General Nshimirimana was in charge of President Nkurunziza’s personal security at the time of his death. Three bodyguards traveling with General Nshimirimana were also killed when the car they were traveling in came under fire in the Kamenge district of Bujumbura. Despite President Nkurunziza’s call for calm, sporadic gunfire was reported throughout the day across the capital. An article on the attack can be read here. On August 2nd, the U.S. Department of State condemned the murder of General Adolphe Nshimirimana in Bujumbura, Burundi and urged calm and restraint in the aftermath of the attack. The State Department called on all sides to renounce violence and redouble their efforts to engage in a transparent, inclusive, and comprehensive political dialogue. Additionally, the State Department reiterated the path forward must address foundational issues, including respect for human rights, freedom of the press and other fundamental freedoms, and respect for the Arusha Agreement and its power-sharing provisions. A statement was issued here. On August 3rd, United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern over the situation in Burundi, where security continues to worsen following the recent elections, and condemned the assassination of General Adolphe Nshimirimana. Secretary-General Ban welcomed President Pierre Nkurunziza’s message to the nation to remain calm and to the competent authorities to expeditiously investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. He also renewed his appeal to all Burundians to resume an inclusive dialogue without delay and peacefully settle their differences under the facilitation of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as mandated by the East African Community (EAC). Secretary-General Ban’s response was captured here. On August 4th, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the assassination attempt on Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a leading Burundian human rights defender who was shot and wounded by unknown assailants in Bujumbura. Acknowledging the killing of General Adolphe Nshimirimana earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban said this assassination attempt is part of a growing pattern of politically-motivated violence in Burundi that must be broken before it escalates beyond control. Feedback from the U.N. was posted here. On August 4th, official data showed that Burundi’s tax revenues fell 36.4 percent below target in June. The country’s revenue authority said it collected just $27 million last month. The decline is largely attributed to the political turbulence in the country stemming from President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term. The tax revenue data was analyzed here. On August 5th, U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner condemned the brutal attack on prominent Burundian human rights activist Pierre Claver Mbonimpa and called for those responsible to be brought to justice immediately. He said the attack reinforces the urgent need for the government and the peaceful opposition to work together in pursuit of consensus and to find a peaceful path forward for the people of Burundi. Further, Deputy Spokesperson Toner urged the Government of Burundi to ensure Mbonimpa’s safety. His comments were transcribed here. On August 5th, Come Harerimana, president of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) chapter in the Kanyosha district of Bujumbura, Burundi, was attacked by a crowd throwing stones as he was heading to his office on the back of a motor bike. Harerimana was pulled from the motorcycle and shot dead, marking the third high profile attack in Burundi in three days. The incident was described here. Nigeria On August 2nd, Nigerian troops rescued 178 people from Boko Haram in attacks that destroyed several camps in Borno state, Nigeria. According to an army spokesman, 101 of those freed are children, along with 67 women and ten men. The Nigerian Air Force reported killing a large number of militants in repelling an attack on Bitta village. The freeing of the Boko Haram hostages was reported here. On August 4th, at least eight people were killed and about 100 others kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram gunmen in an overnight raid on the Cameroonian border village of Tchakarmari. A military officer responding to the attack said the death toll could rise. After a spate of Boko Haram suicide bombings in Cameroon in July, the government announced plans to send an additional 2,000 troops to boost security in the northern part of the country. The attack was detailed here. On August 5th, as part of a two-day visit to Niamey, Niger, Guinean President Alpha Conde said Guinea is ready to help in the regional fight against Nigerian Boko Haram militants. President Conde praised Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to fight Boko Haram and said Guinea is ready to provide whatever assistance is requested by regional partners. President Conde’s comments were recorded here. On August 5th, Chadian forces killed seven Boko Haram fighters in Lake Chad on the island of Tchoukou Dallah. Clashes occurred when Boko Haram militants in boats opened fire on Chadian forces. Thousands of Chadian troops have been deployed to the Lake Chad region as part of an effort to secure islands from being used as Boko Haram hideouts and bases to launch attacks. An update on the situation in Lake Chad was provided here. On August 6th, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency announced 12,000 Nigerians would be repatriated over the next three to four days after seeking refuge in Cameroon from attacks by Boko Haram. Cameroonian authorities expelled about 2,800 Nigerians over the weekend following a series of suicide bomb attacks in July. The returning Nigerians will be accommodated mainly in the town of Mubi, close to the border. Details were shared here. Sudan On August 4th, Sudanese Deputy U.N. Ambassador Hassan Hamid Hassan indicated that Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes and genocide charges, is planning to travel to New York to attend the U.N. Generally Assembly meeting scheduled to begin on September 28th. President Bashir wanted to speak at the U.N. General Assembly in 2013, but Sudanese officials said his visa application was left pending, preventing him from traveling. Details can be viewed here. On August 5th, U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner declined to comment on reports that Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is planning to attend the U.N. General Assembly in September. Deputy Spokesperson Toner said it is State Department policy not to disclose details of any individual visa cases. While he acknowledged the U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, Deputy Spokesperson Toner said the U.S. strongly supports the ICC’s efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. His comments were captured here. Zimbabwe On July 31st, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act to curb the sport killing of species that are proposed to be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.