ConflictBarometer_2015

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
both sides continued last year's policy of trading accusations
concerning the respective support of each other's armed opposition
groups, including arms deliveries [→ South Sudan
(SPLM/A-in-Opposition)]. South Sudan also accused Sudan
of conducting airstrikes on June 14 to 16 in Maban County,
close to the oil-rich Upper Nile border area. The airstrikes
killed one soldier and five civilians, and wounded several
others. After the South Sudanese government and SPLM/A-IO
had signed an internationally-backed peace agreement in
late August, President Salva Kiir reached out to Khartoum for
support in implementing the deal. The two countries held
several meetings over the peace agreement and the status
of the border region. On October 14, the defense ministers
from both countries agreed to operationalize the Safe Demilitarized
Border Zone (SDBZ) and the Joint Border Verification
and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), as foreseen in a 2012
agreement between the conflict parties. Even though both
sides stressed that their relations had improved, Sudan stationed
new troops along the border in late November in order
to prevent border crossings of armed opposition groups. On
November 26, a UNISFA soldier in Abyei was killed in clashes
between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya. In reaction, the UN called
for an investigation by both governments and renewed its
demand for no other forces to be deployed in Abyei except
for UNISFA and the Abyei Police Service. loc
TANZANIA (CUF, CHADEMA CCM)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1993
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Chadema, CUF vs. goverment
system/ideology, national power
The violent crisis over the structure of the political system and
national power between the opposition parties Civic United
Front (CUF) and Party for Democracy and Progress (Chadema),
on the one hand, and the ruling Party of the Revolution (CCM),
on the other, continued.
Together with other opposition parties, CUF and Chadema
organized in the so-called Coalition of Defenders of the People's
Constitution (Ukawa). The main controversial issues the
three parties faced were the general election on October
25 and the referendum on the new constitution that was
scheduled for April 30, but later postponed to an undefined
date. While the new constitution proposed the continuation
of a two-government system for Tanzania, favored by
most members of CCM, CUF and Chadema members backed
a three-government structure in which Zanzibar would gain a
more autonomous status.
In the first half of the year, CCM passed laws limiting the
freedom of the media, such as banning various newspapers.
Several CCM members switched to Chadema, among them
former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, who was then declared
Ukawa's joint presidential candidate on August 4. In
response, two leading figures of the opposition parties resigned
from their positions. On October 25, general elections
were held in Tanzania and Zanzibar. John Magufuli contested
for CCM in Tanzania and was declared winner on October 29.
In contrast, the Zanzibari Electoral Commission declared the
election in Zanzibar as invalid as CUF's presidential candidate
claimed to have won the presidency before the results had
been officially published. New elections were announced,
but opposed by the CUF. Furthermore, Ukawa refused to collaborate
with the new government, demanding the conflict
over the elections to be resolved first.
The conflict turned violent several times throughout the year.
On January 6, clashes broke out between supporters of the
opposition and of the government in Dar es Salaam due to
the unclear status of the December 2014 municipal election
votes in the capital's Kinondoni municipality. During the
clashes, local party members were injured. The police used
tear gas to disperse the crowd. On January 27, CUF chairman
Ibrahim Lipumba and about 30 supporters were arrested for
holding an unapproved political rally at Temeke municipality,
Dar es Salaam. On September 10, a confrontation between
supporters of CCM and of Chadema left one dead and five
injured. CUF reported on October 26 the use of tear gas
and pepper spray by the police to stop a celebration of the
claimed victory of the party on Zanzibar. Two days later, the
annulment of Zanzibar's presidential election by the Election
Commission sparked youth protests. jsp
ZIMBABWE (OPPOSITION)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2000
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
MDC-T, MDC-R, NAVUZ, People First,
OAUS et al. vs. government
system/ideology, national power
The violent crisis between opposition groups and the government
of President Robert Mugabe over national power and
political, economic, and social matters continued. Throughout
the year, supporters of the ruling party Zimbabwe African
National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and supporters
of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change
Tsvangirai (MDC-T) clashed frequently, mostly in the capital
Harare. For instance, in mid-January, ZANU-PF and MDC-T
members clashed in Harare's suburb Budiriro following a rally
by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Several people were injured.
The first two weeks of November saw multiple violent
clashes between MDC-T and ZANU-PF supporters in Harare's
suburb Hopley. On November 1, several people were injured
when ZANU-PF supporters attempted to prevent an MDC-T
rally. Furthermore, MDC-T youths clashed with the police
during a protest in Harare on November 12, the police arresting
at least 25 people. Violence between supporters of the
opposing parties also ensued in localities all over the country
when opposition supporters were denied food donations.
Since July, the police and street vendors clashed frequently
as the former enforced a relocation policy enacted by the
government. Vendors were prohibited to sell their goods in
the inner parts of cities like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and
Masvingo. The National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ)
and MDC-T opposed the new policy and called on vendors to
resist police instructions. Violence mainly occurred in Harare.
On July 9, vendors clashed with the police, leaving some
people injured and the police arresting 26 vendors. Five
days later, NAVUZ leader Sten Zvorwadza and vendors were
beaten and arrested by the police. On October 12, vendors
threw stones at police officers, injuring at least four. The
police arrested 13 people.
After Itai Dzamara, leader of the opposition movement Occupy
Africa Unity Square, had been abducted by unknown
men in Harare on March 9, MDC-T accused the government
of being responsible for the abduction. The police violently
broke up prayer meetings expressing hope for the return of
Dzamara, for instance in Harare's suburb Highfield on June
14. MDC-T was among the organizers of the gathering.
After 21 members of parliament aligned with the MDC-
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