Bulletin From The Borderlands Weekly Round Up
Bulletin From The Borderlands Weekly Round Up
Africa
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Regional Wrap-up: Africa 2/28-3/6
Desk Chief: Expeditionary Intelligence Group
Regional Flashpoints
On February 28, 2024, two executives from the well-known crypto currency exchange Binance were arrested, detained, and their international passports seized. The arrest comes after a recent initiative by Nigerian President Tinubu to implement regulation and crackdowns on cryptocurrency. The recent crackdown was sparked after it was discovered that dollar-naira trading was destabilizing exchange rates normally set by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Tinubu has stated that this unregulated foreign exchange trade has the potential to “destroy the Nigerian economy.”
On February 29, 2024, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema declared a national emergency due to worsening drought conditions. Currently, 84 out of the total 116 districts within Zambia have been affected and fears of hunger, famine, and lack of essential services are growing. Currently the largest dam in Zambia is currently at 11.5 percent of stored usable water left, rains have been a record low, and most of the energy produced in the country is powered by water.
On March 2, 2024, hundreds gathered in Senegal in protest against current president Macky Sall calling him a dictator, and advocating to him to ensure a free and fair election is conducted before April 2, 2024, as well as transferring power to his successor peacefully.
On March 5, 2024, a South-Sudanese academic and activist living in exile in the United States, was formally charged with conspiracy to purchase and export millions of dollars’ worth of equipment to aid in overthrowing the government in power in South Sudan.
Notable Regional Updates
On February 28, 2024, delegation from the United States Navy in Africa welcomed a Nigerian Navy delegation where the Nigerian and U.S. delegations discussed capacity building, maritime domain awareness, and bilateral maritime integration, among other focused topics. They also presented corresponding briefs on command priorities and capabilities, outlooks for 2024, and opportunities for future collaboration.
On March 5, 2024, US President Joe Biden removed Bush-era sanctions off of the country of Zimbabwe in exchange for a new series of sanctions specifically targeted at Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his inner circle. The new sanctions were announced as part of a series of executive orders.
On March 5, 2024, the UN OCHA announced significant developments in the delivery of essential humanitarian aid in Sudan. Clementine Nkwita Salami confirmed that following discussions with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government agreed to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery via three key entry points. “We were informed that the Sudanese government will work to allow aid entry from Chad through the Al-Tina border crossing into Darfur, and from South Sudan via Renk’s border crossing to Kosti of the White Nile State,” stated Salami. Additionally, humanitarian flights to El Fasher, Kadugli, and El Obeid airports will be permitted.
Looking Forward/Implications
Looking forward, there are multiple flashpoints to keep an eye on. Beyond its usual complications we are seeing Nigeria face a new threat to its economy. Over recent weeks Nigeria has been facing devaluation of the naira as well as black market exchange rates for US dollars surging in the country due to person-to-person crypto currency transactions and unregulated foreign exchange trading. What started as a small issue limited to a select few cities has now evolved into a nationwide issue prompting Nigerian President Tinubu to block the main avenue for these transactions, the popular cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Additionally, earlier this week two Binance executives were detained and their passports were seized after traveling to Nigeria in an attempt to clarify the issues and remove the block from their services. At the time of writing, it is still unknown as to why the executives were detained or what will happen moving forward.
Another flashpoint that should be watched closely is the upcoming transfer of power in Senegal following current president Macky Sall postponed the presidential elections in what’s been dubbed as a “constitutional” coup d’etat.” Following the postponement of the elections, protests have erupted across the nation calling for the elections to be held before April 2, adding that the transfer of power should be swift and peaceful to ensure the new president can “get back to rebuilding Senegal.” This is of major significance because as of recent history, Senegal has been hailed as one of the most politically stable countries in West Africa considering the slew of coups and political violence that has struck the region.
Lastly, US President Joe Biden removed all of the Bush-era sanctions on Zimbabwe in exchange for a slew of new sanctions more specifically targeted at the nation’s President as well as his inner circle. Biden announced the new policy with an executive order on Monday, saying it was “part of an ongoing effort to ensure we are promoting accountability for serious human rights abuse and corruption in a targeted and strategic manner”. Biden’s order ended the sanctions which President George Bush had imposed in March 2003 on the then president, Robert Mugabe, and members of his government for undermining Zimbabwean democracy and which were expanded in November 2005 and July 2008. The removal of old sanctions in exchange for new ones has left many in Zimbabwe confused, unsure if this will actually help Zimbabwe or make things even more difficult.
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Somebody needs to be tracking the situation in Haiti where Kenya is reportedly ready to deploy 1,000 police officers to help restore and maintain order, while Haitian gangs have forced the government to declare a curfew and a state of emergency after the gangs broke over 4000 inmates out from the prisons there.