As the world grapples with a range of issues from climate change to political transitions, three significant events have occurred on the African continent: Burkina Faso has implemented a widespread clampdown on media and civil society, Sudan has reached a landmark power-sharing agreement between its military and civilian leaders, and a Dutch court has ruled in favor of climate justice, ordering the government to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s a cheat sheet detailing what you need to know about each of these developments.
The New Humanitarian’s weekly editorial gives an insight into the current issues and trends in the humanitarian sector across the world.
Burkina Faso: Civil Society and Journalists Face Clampdown
The military junta in Burkina Faso has been clamping down on civil society and journalists, with Boukaré Ouédraogo’s case offering an insight into the current situation. Following his questioning of the security situation in Kaya, he was arrested by the Burkinabé soldiers and forced into a civilian volunteer militia that supports the army in its fight against jihadists. Abuses during counter-jihadist operations are also continuing, as demonstrated by a chilling investigation by Libération into the execution of children at a military camp in the north. Meanwhile, the junta suspended France 24 for airing a short interview clip with the leader of al-Qaeda’s Sahel-focused branch.
Afghanistan: Education Rights Activist Detained
Matiullah Wesa, the founder of Penpath, an organization seeking to bring education opportunities to Afghans in remote areas, was arrested at a Kabul mosque on unknown charges. He had been an outspoken critic of Taliban policies that shut down high schools for adolescent girls and banned women from universities. Wesa’s supporters argue that claims of foreign influence are meant to discredit him, and the UN estimates that 28.3 million Afghans will require humanitarian assistance in 2023.
Mexico: Fire at Immigration Detention Centre
A fire at an immigration detention centre in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, killed 38 people, putting the spotlight on the plight of tens of thousands of asylum seekers and migrants in northern Mexico’s border cities. Policies introduced since 2018 have made it difficult for people to seek protection at the US southern border, leaving people stuck in often dangerous Mexican border cities and in precarious living situations for months or even years. Many humanitarian agencies and NGOs are calling for a shift in migration policies and for policies to strengthen the rights of asylum seekers.
Sudan: Military Tensions Threaten Transition Deal
Sudan’s military and civilian factions have agreed to form a new transitional government in April, ending the deadlock that followed the October 2021 military coup. However, consultations are proving thorny, especially on the sensitive subject of security sector reform. Pro-democracy groups want the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to integrate into the Sudanese army, and for all troops to be placed under civilian authority. The two forces are also at odds with each other, with talks breaking down over a proposed timeline for integration. Humanitarian needs are at a record level across the country, with some 15.8 million people, a third of the population, requiring relief this year.
The US-Mexico Border: Race to Lead the IOM
The race is on between the US candidates, António Vitorino, and his challenger and current deputy, Amy Pope, for the top job at the IOM. The US seems intent on re-exerting its sway at the migration agency, where leadership has usually gone to Americans under oft-criticized conventions that see Western powers dominate key UN roles. Although the fundamental differences between Vitorino’s and Pope’s policies remain unclear, it is an unusually public race between candidates who are technically still co-workers.
Updates From Around the World
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution, spearheaded by Vanuatu, to bring the climate emergency to the UN’s top court.
The World Food Program (WFP) country director for Haiti has urged donors to step up as nearly half of the population suffers from acute hunger.
Almost 200 Rohingya asylum seekers landed in Aceh on 27 March, with dangerous boat journeys showing little sign of stopping.
A new report by a UN-appointed fact-finding mission has charged that European Union states were complicit in crimes against humanity by Libyan forces targeting migrants trying to reach Europe since 2016.
Health officials in Mozambique are beginning a massive cholera vaccination campaign in Quelimane, a seaport city hit hard by Cyclone Freddy.
In conclusion, the New Humanitarian’s report gives insight into a range of humanitarian issues and trends across the world, emphasizing the critical need for policies and reforms that prioritize the rights and well-being of those in need.
