Ongoing protests in Nigeria
The nationwide demonstrations against the high cost of living and poor governance in Nigeria continued this week. Although the protests subsided due to the crackdown by the security forces and the all-day curfews imposed in some parts of the country, hundreds of people have once again taken to the streets since Monday, particularly in the north. It was only on Sunday that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (All Progressives Congress party, APC) addressed the demonstrators in an official speech and called for an end to the protests. He emphasised that he had heard the voices of the young population and wanted to enter into a joint dialogue. At the same time, he instructed the security forces to continue to ensure peace, law and order in compliance with human rights conventions.
Since last Thursday, young people in particular have been demonstrating in the West African state under the slogan “End Bad Governance in Nigeria” and calling on President Tinubu’s government to withdraw economic reforms, such as the suspension of fuel and electricity subsidies. While the protests in the south were largely peaceful, demonstrators in the north of the country set some government buildings on fire and destroyed public infrastructure. The security forces cracked down on protesters and journalists in many places. In addition to tear gas, live ammunition was also used. According to official figures, seven people were killed during the protests. Amnesty International, however, reported at least 21 deaths. The national police chief Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun rejected accusations that the security forces had deliberately attacked the demonstrators. He announced on Saturday that more than 700 people had been arrested within two days for robbery, arson and destruction of property. In addition, more than 90 protesters carrying Russian flags were arrested, police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi announced on Tuesday. The Nigerian authorities, who fear an increasing influence of Russia as in the neighbouring military-led Sahel states of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where Russian flags have also been repeatedly spotted at rallies, described this as an attack on the country’s sovereignty. The Russian embassy in Abuja distanced itself from the actions and assured Moscow’s support for democracy in Nigeria.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is in the midst of a severe economic crisis. After taking office in May 2023, 72-year-old Tinubu pushed through comprehensive reforms in the country to prevent the economy from collapsing. These included the partial abolition of fuel and electricity subsidies and the devaluation of the national currency, the naira, which led to the cost of living skyrocketing. Food inflation rose by over 40% and petrol prices tripled. Although the government has introduced a number of support measures, including a new youth investment fund totalling USD 70 million and an increase in the minimum wage from around USD 20 to USD 44 per month in July of this year, wages are still unable to keep pace with the price increases for basic foodstuffs such as rice. The government has now announced deliveries of agricultural goods from the US, Brazil and Belarus as well as the sale of rice sacks to civil servants at half price in order to prevent further protests. While the population considers Tinubu’s economic reforms, which have doubled state revenue to around USD 5.55 billion and reduced debt repayment from 97% to 68%, to have been implemented too quickly and with too little social support, foreign investors in particular welcome the reforms. The World Bank also approved a loan of USD 2.25 billion to support Tinubu’s budget plan as recently as June of this year.
The protests are expected to continue until at least Saturday.
Tunisia’s president replaces prime minister
Late on Wednesday evening, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied appointed the former Minister of Social Affairs, Kamel Maddouri, as the country’s new Prime Minister. Prior to this, the presidential office had surprisingly announced the dismissal of the previous head of government, Ahmed Hachani. No reason was given for the sudden dismissal. Hachani had only taken over from his predecessor Najla Bouden, who herself had also been dismissed without an official explanation, in August last year. The sudden change at the top of the government comes just two months before the presidential elections on 6 October.
On Monday, the 66-year-old Saied, who has no political party affiliation, officially announced his candidacy for a further term in office. Also on Monday, a court in the capital Tunis sentenced four of Saied’s potential challengers to eight months in prison for vote-buying and banned them from running for office. The judgement was handed down against the leading politician of the opposition Ennahda party, which is considered moderate Islamist, Abdel Latif Mekki, the anti-government activist Nizar Chaari, the lawyer Mourad Massoudi and Adel Dou. Other leading opposition figures had previously been arrested. Among them is the prominent leader of the Parti destourien libre (PDL) Abir Moussi. A court had sentenced Saied’s vocal critic to two years in prison for insulting the electoral commission. Nevertheless, the 49-year-old, who had already submitted her candidature, is still planning to run in the presidential election, as her lawyers have confirmed. Observers, the opposition and local and international human rights groups have expressed concern about the latest developments and the president’s continued crackdown on government critics, media professionals and trade union representatives. They accuse the authorities of arbitrary restrictions and intimidation in order to pave the way for a second term in office for the incumbent. Saied, however, denies taking illegitimate action against potential rivals.
Elected to his first term in office in 2019, Saied ousted the government in 2021 in the wake of ongoing political crises, dissolved parliament and then began to rule by decree; a development that the opposition labelled a coup d’état (Press Review CW30/2021). With the help of a controversial referendum, Saied had the country’s constitution amended in 2022. The office of the president was given additional powers, while the role of the prime minister and parliament was largely restricted (Press Review CW11/2023). Despite a low voter turnout of just over 30%, the new constitution was declared adopted with an approval rate of over 90%, as no minimum turnout was required for the referendum to be valid. In addition, dissatisfaction is growing among the Tunisian population due to persistent failures in the electricity and water supply. Last year, the authorities were forced to introduce a rationing system for drinking water in order to cope with the crisis. In addition, the country has been in a deep economic crisis for some time now and is struggling with high unemployment and persistently high inflation. Despite ongoing protests from large sections of the population, Saied is likely to serve another term in office.
In Other News
The Africa United Youth Orchestra (AUYO) thrilled the audience at a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on Sunday. The concert took place as part of World Orchestra Week (WOW), at which six other international youth ensembles performed alongside the AUYO. The orchestra, which is conducted by the American conductor William Eddins and is made up of young African musicians from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, only made its debut in Pretoria, South Africa, in July of this year. The AUYO impressed the audience with works by African composers such as Michael Mosoeu Moerane and Mzilikazi Khumalo as well as works by classical composers such as Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”. The AUYO, which is under the auspices of South Africa’s Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, is the first of its kind in Africa and, according to Bongani Tembe, the ensemble’s founder, symbolises the spirit of collaboration and exceptional talent that make up the continent’s musical heritage.