GLIC Report Series 2.18 

Public Health: Nigeria

Air pollution and cardiovascular disease in Nigeria

Each year, air pollution is estimated to lead to more than eight million premature deaths globally. This is mainly through cardiovascular diseases, to which more than a million lives are lost each year in Africa alone. According to recent studies, air pollution is Nigeria’s fourth biggest killer. So severe is the issue that, without decisive action, CVDs could well pass infectious diseases as Africa’s leading cause of mortality. The 2024 World Heart Report by the World Heart Federation found that only 24 of 54 countries in Africa are currently set up to measure air quality. The World Heart Report suggested the problem could be getting worse. The report found that 60% of countries in Africa showed an increase in pollution levels of fine particles in the air.

Punch News: Air pollution and cardiovascular disease in Nigeria December 17, 2024.

Politics: Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso frees four French spies

Four French nationals held in Burkina Faso for a year have been released following mediation from Morocco, France and Morocco said on Thursday, resolving a diplomatic row over their detention. The head of France’s foreign intelligence agency, the DGSE, has previously said that they were spies. A spokesperson for the French military, which oversees the DGSE, and the DGSE did not respond to a request for comment. They had been held in Ouagadougou since December 2023. The French presidency said in statement that President Emmanuel Macron had on Wednesday thanked Morocco’s King Mohammed for his mediation “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year”.

 

TRT Afrika: Burkina Faso frees four French spies December 19, 2024.

 

International Security: Horn of Africa           

Ethiopia and Somalia agree to end bitter Somaliland port feud      

Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa’s plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey. The two neighbours have been at loggerheads since January when Ethiopia signed a maritime deal with Somaliland – which Somalia considers as part of its territory. It prompted fears of a wider regional conflict as Egypt has been backing Somalia – largely due to its anger with Ethiopia for building a dam on the River Nile. Turkey has in recent years become an important geopolitical player in the Horn of Africa as it has close economic ties with Addis Ababa and security deals with Mogadishu.

BBC NEWS: Ethiopia and Somalia agree to end bitter Somaliland port feud December 19, 2024.

 

International Security: Somaliland     

Somaliland could host US military base in exchange for recognition        

“Somaliland is ready to host a US military base in the port of Berbera in exchange for recognition of its sovereignty, Bashir Goth, the breakaway territory’s representative in Washington. When asked a question about Somaliland’s willingness to host an American army camp if its independence from Somalia is acknowledged, the envoy stated that “Somaliland will be ready to host a US military base in Berbera if it serves the common interests of our two countries”. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, following a decade-long civil war. While not internationally recognized as a country, the territory has since established its own government, security structures, and currency.”

Russia Today: Somaliland could host US military base in exchange for recognition December 19, 2024.

National Security: Niger        

Niger’s military rulers suspend BBC broadcasts      

Niger’s military government has suspended the BBC for three months, accusing it of spreading fake news that could destabilise social peace and demoralise troops fighting jihadists. Niger’s Minister of Communication Raliou Sidi Mohamed announced that the decision would take effect immediately. BBC programmes, including in Hausa, the most spoken language in Niger, and French, are broadcast in the country through local radio partners, reaching 2.4 million people in the country this year – about 17% of the adult population. Although BBC radio programmes have been suspended, the website is not blocked and the radio can still be accessed on shortwave.

BBC NEWS: Niger’s military rulers suspend BBC broadcasts December 19, 2024.

 

Public Health: South Africa

Mixed reactions trail South Africa spaza registration extension

Mixed reactions trailed the announcement by the South African government to extend the registration of spaza shops in the country in response to the deadly food poisoning incidents that claimed the lives of dozens of children. On Wednesday, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa announced the registration, which should have expired on Tuesday, December 17, had been extended to February 28, 2025, following registration delays.

 

TRT Afrika: Mixed reactions trail South Africa spaza registration extension December 19, 2024.

Politics: Liberal

Liberia’s parliament building catches fire amid protests

The parliament building in Liberia caught fire Wednesday and the country’s president condemned the “wanton destruction,” even as no link was immediately confirmed to anti-government protests in the capital. The protests in the West African nation began with anger on Tuesday over the decision to remove the parliament speaker. The demonstrators also call for President Joseph Boakai to step down. Liberia’s parliament is beset by a power struggle among lawmakers over efforts to replace speaker Konati Koffa. Authorities did not immediately confirm the cause of the fire in the capital, Monrovia. Police chief Gragray Coleman did not rule out arson.

TRT Afrika: Liberia’s parliament building catches fire amid protests December 19, 2024.

International Security  : Russia

Putin challenges West to ‘technological duel’ involving Oreshnik  

Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the West to put their modern air defense systems up against Moscow’s new hypersonic Oreshnik missile in what would be a “technological duel.” During his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin was asked to comment on opinions expressed by some foreign military experts suggesting that the Oreshnik can easily be shot down by Western missile defense systems.

Russia Today: Putin challenges West to ‘technological duel’ involving Oreshnik December 19, 2024.

 

International Security: Syria              

Syria Still Has Chemical Weapons   

During the course of Syria’s brutal civil war, Bashar Al Assad used chemical weapons more than 300 times against his own citizens, causing thousands of casualties. Although Assad is gone, the specter of chemical weapons still hangs over Syria. Before 2013, Western intelligence services estimated that Syria had one of the largest chemical arsenals in the world, including sulfur mustard, VX, and sarin. Although Syria destroyed its declared stockpile, it failed to account for tons of nerve agent precursors, hundreds of tons of sulfur mustard, and thousands of chemical munitions that it had produced before 2013. There are worrying signs that the regime reconstituted its chemical weapons program by importing nerve agent precursors and rebuilding production facilities.

Foreign Affairs: Syria Still Has Chemical Weapons   December 19, 2024.

 

International Security: Taiwan           

Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Taiwan Targeted, Scenarios Swirling       

As China deploys the most warships around Taiwan in its largest maritime operation in three decades, scrutiny of the potential military operations Xi Jinping envisions is long overdue. Beijing is now contemplating one of history’s most ambitious amphibious operations, including the largest-ever civilian ship mobilization – greatly exceeding the Dunkirk evacuation in ship numbers and the Falklands War in tonnage.

The Diplomat: Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Taiwan Targeted, Scenarios Swirling            December 19, 2024.