Mozambique: The electoral body on December 30th confirmed the ruling Frelimo partys
candidate Filipe Nyusi had won Octobers
presidential election, as the opposition still
refused to accept defeat.
In addition to the presidency, Frelimo also
took the majority of seats in the 250-member
parliament, winning 144 to Renamos 89. The
Mozambique
Democratic
Movement
(MDM), a newcomer to the political scene,
won 17 seats. ( AFP 30/12 2014)
Burundi
Truth and Reconciliation
Commission
National Security
ALGERIA
CAMEROON
Air Strikes
Yaounde intensifies military action in
its proxy war against Nigerias Boko
Haram.
Cameroon on December 28th sent warplanes into action against Nigerian Boko
Haram fighters for the first time, after a
large force of jihadists crossed the border and seized a military camp, the
government said.
President Paul Biya personally ordered
the air strike, which forced the insurgents to flee the camp at Assighasia,
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National Security
Terrorism Law: The new law on terrorism, passed by parliament without difficulty and which gives the death sentence
to anybody who is found guilty of
terrorist offences, immediately drew criticism mainly from the political opposition and civil society organisations. The
criticisms centre on the definition of
terrorism offences which even include
public demonstrations. Maurci Kamto
from the opposition Movement for the
Rebirth
of
Cameroon
(MRC)
denounced the law, which criminalises
public meetings and demonstrations,
while the Movement of Dynamic Citizens called on President Biya to suspend
promulgation. (RFI 12/12) Boko Haram
threat spreads p. 20342
CENTRAL AFRICAN
REPUBLIC
Clashes Follow Reconciliation
Ceremony
Fresh attacks in the centre and south
kill dozens.
At least 28 people died and dozens were
injured in December 16th clashes
between rival militias in the centre of
Mbres, about 300km from the capital
Bangui, police said on the 18th.
The fighting pitted the so-called antibalaka militia formed by the Christian
majority against mainly Muslim Seleka
rebels who led a March 2013 coup, a
police official said, adding that the death
toll had been given by the local Red
Cross.
Both sides blamed each other for causing
the violence. A Red Cross official said 70
homes were also burned.
The unrest came less than a week after a
reconciliation ceremony between exSeleka fighters and anti-balaka forces
was held in Mbres. The official said the
fighting sent hundreds of residents fleeing in to the bush on December 17th. On
the 18th, the former Seleka rebels were
in control of the centre of the town and
imposing their will. Anti-balaka forces
were holed up around the edges of the
town and in surrounding caves.
In a separate incident, at least 20 people
were killed and dozens injured on
December 19th in tit-for-tat attacks in
the central region of Bambari between
anti-balaka on one side and ex-Seleka
B
TE DIVOIRE
CO
Former Rebels Wreak Havoc
Acts of insubordination and impunity
severely dent the countrys vaunted
image of calm and order.
Former rebels whose support helped bring
Alassane Ouattara to power are increasingly wreaking havoc, with the government seemingly unable to rein them in.
Numerous incidents involving ex-rebels
in November and December including
a strike by soldiers which brought the
country to a halt culminated on
December 21st with shots being fired in
the economic capital Abidjan after an
ex-militia leader was arrested.
Despite the escalating defiance, Ouattara
appears unwilling or unable to confront
the same forces that aided his ascent to
the presidency following his 2010 election victory. These outbreaks of anger
happen, but each time they do, order is
restored, government spokesman Bruno
Kone said.
Nevertheless, the image of a calm and
orderly C^
ote dIvoire vaunted by the
government has crumbled with every act
of insubordination says AFP (21/12).
In mid-November, a strike by former
rebels who have since joined the army,
ground the country to a standstill
after spreading to Abidjan from C^
ote
dIvoire s second city Bouake. The
nearly 9,000 strikers, who joined the
army between 2009 and 2011, were
demanding full payment of backpay
and promotions. Two days after inviting
their leaders to meet him, Ouattara
agreed to their demands.
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