Sudan anti-coup protest
Anti-coup protests in Sudan have once again turned deadly after security forces violently clashed with demonstrators. Medics say at least two protesters were killed and several others injured. Police used live rounds and tear gas to disperse the protesters in the capital Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman. People hit the streets to condemn a new ruling council by the military that lacks civilian leaders. Coup leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced the formation of the council on Thursday and named himself as its head. The military seized power late last month, arresting dozens of government officials including, the prime minister. At least 16 people have been killed during protests since the coup.
Sahel humanitarian crisis
The UN says many lives are lost every day in Africa’s Sahel region because of terrorist attacks there. The warning was made by the UN peacekeeping chief at a Security Council meeting. Jean-Pierre Lacroix says insecurity is hampering children’s education, making primary healthcare inaccessible for many. He says millions of people have also been displaced at a time when covid is raging in the African region. The UN official said the joint force, formed by Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania, continues its operations in Sahel. However, it faces major challenges and now risks losing all gains it has made. Sahel is among the most volatile regions in Africa, hit by Daesh and al-Qaeda terrorists.
Afghanistan bomb blast
A blast hits a Shia-populated neighborhood in the Afghan capital Kabul leaving an unknown number of casualties. An unnamed Taliban official claimed six people were killed and 7 others injured after a magnetic bomb attached to a minivan detonated in Western Kabul. Taliban’s spokesman however gave a different narrative of the incident. Zabihullah Mujahid said the explosion was caused after a vehicle caught fire, leaving one civilian dead and several other injured. The area is heavily populated by Shia Hazaras, a community regularly targeted by Daesh terrorists. The country has witnessed a series of explosions since the Taliban takeover in Mid-August. More than 120 people were killed in Daesh-claimed blasts targeting two Shia mosques in October.