Economic Crisis Leaves Abidjan in a State of Chaos [Analysis Post]
Rural areas of the ivory coast are no strangers to poverty. In the city of Abidjan, Cote d’lvoire, some youth groups have taken drastic measures to find ways to feed their families. Kids as young as ten went on a rampage wielding weapons such as machetes and knives. A youth group member states “My parents had money problems, and at the time, the Ivory Coast was in a crisis.” The question lies on whether or not the actions of these youth groups can be justified. Recently, a member of the authorities was mutilated by a group of these kids leaving his family devastated. The authorities of Abidjan for the most part have chosen not to get involved in the issue; the citizens decided to take matters into their own hands and have begun lynching members of the youth groups.
Healing PTSD of Child Soldiers [Analysis Post]
The use of child soldiers by smaller militant organizations is still a massive epidemic. One of these organizations: the FDLR resides in Congo and was a leftover from the Rwandan genocide. Recently, a group of child soldiers fighting for the FDLR was captured by the Congolese Armed Forces. Some of these kids had been fighting for years already, and had terrible trauma from the things they’ve seen. When they’re captured, these kids are sent to a shelter run by the Support Program for Poverty Reduction (PAMI).There, kids with similar traumas get to interact and progress through their recovery. One of the more popular activities is called Capoeira; a Brazilian martial art. The kids feel mesmerized by the arts chants, acrobatic moves, and the beating sounds of the drums.
Tensions in DR of Congo Rise with Burundi Refugee Massacre [Analysis Post]
In April of 2015, president Pierre Nkurunziza claimed that he would run for a third term in office. This statement caused the state to spiral out of control as it’s citizens called this move an unconstitutional act. Violence ensued, and more than 400,000 refugees fled the country to the neighboring country, DR of Congo. When the refugees got word of plans of them getting sent home, they made an uproar. The Congolese forces made an attempt to subdue the mob by firing a few warning shots into the air, but the protesters responded by pelting the soldiers with rocks. The “overwhelmed” soldiers retaliated by opening fire into the crowd. An activist reported that there are at least 32 bodies, and more than 100 wounded.
Delay of Election Likely to Escalate Civil War in South Sudan [Analysis Post]
The civil war that began in South Sudan in late 2013 has been devastating to the country. Tens of thousands of people have already been killed, and the war doesn’t seem likely to come to a conclusion anytime soon. Though the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, seeks to hold the first vote on his presidency since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, the presidential election was supposed to start in 2015, but has been delayed until July of 2018. The president claimed to have made this decision to somehow minimize the losses of the civil war. However, The United Nations believes this decision, will only escalate the tragedies of the war rather than minimize losses.