CAPE TOWN, South Africa– 60,000 protesters marched in anti-Zuma protests on Friday April 7th after Zuma reshuffled his cabinet positions leading to yet another crisis during his presidency.  Protests took place across the country, but many were held in the country’s capitals Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town.

Protesters outside union building in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo Courtesy of ABC News)

The protests were triggered when President Zuma fired Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Thursday.  This has not only caused distress among the public but also in the African National Congress party (ANC).  The ANC is calling on Zuma to step down as his leadership is continuing to affect the nation.  The firing of Finance Minister Gordhan caused S&P Global Rankings to downgrade South Africa to “junk”.  Other reasons were cited for the downgrade as well.

Although President Zuma is not set to leave office until 2019 protesters are still persistent.  Ailing anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu even made an appearance at protests, his foundations twitter posted “We will pray for the downfall of a government that misrepresents us.”  Protests across the country carried on relatively peacefully on Friday, with a few clashes between police and protesters in Johannesburg.  Citizens continue to be frustrated with the Zuma administration and the civil disobedience will most likely throughout Zuma’s tenure as president.

For more information, please see: 

ABC News – South Africans protest Zuma as country downgraded to junk – 7 April 2017

BBC News – Anti-Zuma protests take place across South Africa – 7 April 2017

The Globe and the Mail – Thousands of anti-Zuma protesters march across South Africa – 7 April 2017

Reuters – Skirmishes in Johannesburg as South Africans protest against Zuma – 7 April 2017

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo– Violence has increased in the Kasai region of the Congo as more than 40 police officers were decapitated.  The police officers are said to have been fighting with regional militia known as Kamuina Nsapu.  The Kamuina Nsapu are also said to be responsible for the recent deaths of an American and Swedish aid worker.

The situation in the Congo has worsened since the beginning of the year with violence escalating to include the death of two humanitarian aid workers: American Michael Sharp and Swede Zaida Catalan.  Secretary General Antonio Guterres spoke after the two aids workers death “Michael and Zaida lost their lives seeking to understand the causes of conflict and insecurity in the DRC in order to help bring peace to the country and its people. We will honor their memory by continuing to support the invaluable work of the Group of Experts and the whole UN family in the DRC.”

The United Nations has continued its work in the country despite the increase in violence and has helped to uncover ten mass graves and seven other mass burial sites.  Since last October over 400 have been killed in the country and over 200,000 displaced.  This has only contributed to the many other humanitarian crisis’ that the United Nations is dealing with in Africa and around the world.  The United Nations has said that as of this year they are dealing with the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II.

For more information, please see: 

ABC News – Congolese militia decapitates more than 40 police: Officials- 25 March 2017

BBC Africa – Militia fighters decapitate 40 police officers in DR Congo – 25 March 2017

New York Times – Congolese Militia Beheads Dozens of Police Officers – 25 March 2017

Washington Post – Congolese rebels behead 42 police officers in dramatic escalation of conflict – 26 March 2017 

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter 

YAOUNDE, Cameroon– Word is spreading that Cameroon is returning refugees to Nigeria despite the fact the country is still facing conflict with Boko Haram.  UNHCR and other international organizations that work to protect refugees are deeply concerned by Cameroon’s actions.  According to reports 2600 refugees have been forcefully returned to Nigeria from Cameroon.

Refugees at a camp in Cameroon. (Photo Courtesy of UNHCR)

UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch detailed a specific situation where Cameroon soliders forced refugees out of the country.  “UNHCR teams have heard and documented accounts about Cameroonian troops returning refugees against their will – without allowing them time to collect their belongings. In one incident on March 4, some 26 men, and 27 women and children, were sent back from the Cameroonian border town of Amtide, in Kolofata district, where they had sought refuge, according to UNHCR monitoring teams in the border regions.”  UNHCR has acknowledged Cameroon’s generosity in accepting 85,000 refugees but is calling upon Cameroon to be responsible for its obligations under international law.

Boko Haram has killed 15,000 and displaced 2 million in Nigeria.  While a regional coalition has been able to push back Boko Haram they have been successful in being more active in the the Lake Chad area.  Boko Haram is also not only an issue for Nigeria, but Cameroon.  200,000 Cameroonian’s have left their homes because they fear Boko Haram’s violence may spread.

For more information, please see: 

BBC Africa – Boko Haram crisis: Cameroon ‘forcing Nigeria refugees home’ – 21 March 2017

news 24 – Cameroon expelled 2 600 Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram: UN – 21 March 2017

Thomson Reuters Foundation – Cameroon forcing thousands of refugees to return to Boko Haram-hit Nigeria – UN – 21 March 2017

UNHCR – UNHCR concerned about return of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon – 21 March 2017

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter 

LAGOS, Nigeria– A fishing community was demolished on March 17th, despite a court order not to do so. Residents of the Nigerian town of  Otodo-Gbame are in turmoil after a settlement was destroyed despite a court order that halted eviction of the settlement.  300,000 people are facing eviction across Nigeria in order to pave the way for development projects.

Residents after the demolition of the settlement. (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Residents are in shock after the demolition, claiming that they received no notice from the government about the demolition of the settlement.  Amnesty International has condemned the forced evictions that are happening in order to clear the settlement.  In a statement Amnesty International said residents “are being forcibly evicted and their homes destroyed by bulldozers as security services used tear gas and live bullets to clear the area.”  Amnesty International is also calling on the state to provide emergency services to the residents that have been displaced by the demolition.  “The Lagos State Government should ensure that the families who have been rendered homeless this morning are given emergency relief including adequate shelter, water, food and any medical care they may require,” Amnesty International Nigerian Researcher Morayo Adebayo said.

30,000 people were already evicted by last November as Nigeria began to make way for development projects. Nigeria’s High Court in January ruled that the demolition of the settlement should be stopped so many residents remained in the area and also decided to rebuild their homes if they had already been demolished.  Many human rights advocates are calling for the evictions and demolitions to be stopped.  Advocates are saying that the destruction of property without the consent of the residents is a gross human rights violation.

For more information, please see: 

Al Jazeera – Police displace thousands in Nigeria’s Otodo-Gbame slum – 17 March 2017

BBC Africa – Lagos Settlement Demolished Despite Court Order – 17 March 2017

Channels Television – Residents Cry Out Over Demolition of Settlement in Lagos – 18 March 2017

Premium Times – Lagos govt ignores court order, commences fresh demolition of Otodo-Gbame, residents say – 17 March 2017