Attachments
SECURITY AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
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In North East Nigeria, the second aid worker of the ICRC held hostage since March 2018 by Boko Haram was reportedly murdered in October, a month after the murder of a co-worker in September. ICRC and the humanitarian community strongly condemns her murder. Click here to read ICRC statement. Late Wednesday 31 October, 15 people were killed after a band of marauding Boko Haram insurgents’ unleashed mayhem on four villages in the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State, burning houses and shooting people. A number of attacks on the military in Borno North were recorded. The UN Safety and Security Department (UNDSS) issued advisories to humanitarian staff to exercise caution in high-risk areas.
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Secretary-General António Guterres has called upon all parties to the North East Nigeria conflict to protect aid workers who provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to persons in need. The SG made the statement following the murder of the ICRC aid worker held hostage since March 2018. While strongly condemning the murder, the UN Chief expressed his deepest condolences to her family, colleagues and friends, and expressed his solidarity with the ICRC President and staff.
Click here to read his full statement. -
Characterised by tension, the presidential elections in early October were marked by organised boycotts and violence in Cameroon. Already in power for nearly four decades, 85-year Paul Biya was re-elected president for the seventh time, making him one of the longest serving heads of state on the continent.
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Boko Haram continued to wreak havoc in the Far North of Cameroon. Incursions and pillage of villages, and food stocks have been reported, including cattle rustling, the economic mainstay of most families. Their targeted attacks along the Nigerian border resulted in a dozen civilian deaths and extensive damage to social service infrastructure, property and homes an. Military presence along the Nigeria-Cameroon border remained highly visible, indicative of unrelenting insecurity.
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In Chad, reports say 18 national soldiers and 48 Boko Haram fighters were reportedly killed following an attack at a Chadian military base on October 10. Accompanied by the military personnel, Chad president visited the base and immediately deployed soldiers from Baga Sola to beef up security presence in Kaïga Kindjiria, located about 165 km northeast of N’Djamena. A week after the attack on the military base (on 17 October) a fire gutted 93 shops and 181 civilian homes. Terrorism is suspected. In Fodio village, located in Dandala, about 143 km south-west of N’Djamena, the population fled to Goubra village due to security concerns after the presence of Boko Haram was reported in the area.
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In Niger, kidnapping, banditry and violent acts by Boko Haram elements, armed men and suspected jihadists, persisted during October. During the night of 20 October, in Kabléwa, located 90 km east of Diffa, suspected jihadist insurgents ransacked stores and made away with loot of money and possessions from the local population.