Three quick items related to stories I follow here:
- Japan and the Islamic Development Bank have offered millions in aid to Niger. Given the food crisis there, Japan and the IDB will make a huge difference and save many lives. But on a political level, they are potentially undercutting American, European and ECOWAS attempts to isolate Niger politically and economically. I take no position – it’s hard to argue with giving food to hungry people – but I wonder what the long-term repercussions will be.
- I am probably naive about the Niger Delta. I hope for peace there – but even though MEND still has not officially carried out an attack since the end of the ceasefire recently, this attack on a pipeline by another group, the Joint Revolutionary Council, does not bode well for peace.
- Muslim-Christian clashes in eastern Guinea, near the home territory of recently removed leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, may be an ominous sign for that country’s stability.
Feel free to treat this post as an open thread for Africa-related news.
Sahel Blog 