ConflictBarometer_2016

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
between March 25 and 27, leaving at least one dead.
In Mandera county at least 14 people have been killed in renewed
clashes between local communities on June 18, when
heavily armed assailants raided a village.
Overall reported inter-communal fatalities counted up to at
least 48. sdi
KENYA (OPPOSITION)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1999
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
JP vs. ODM
national power
The conflict over national power between the Orange Democratic
Movement (ODM) and government escalated to a violent
crisis. Ahead of next year's general elections, President
Uhuru Kenyatta and his ruling coalition, Jubilee Alliance,
formed the umbrella party Jubilee Party (JP) on September 8,
incorporating a total of twelve parties including The National
Alliance (TNA) and Deputy President William Ruto's United
Republican Party.
Small protests erupted due to allegations of intimidating and
bribing voters from both government and opposition during
the by-elections in Malindi, Kilifi county, and Kericho, Kericho
county, on March 7, and in the counties of Kisii, Tana River,
Turkana, and Kajiado, on October 26. Subsequently, ODM
defeated its competitor JP in four of six counties.
In March, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
(IEBC) rejected the opposition's demand for a referendum
named Okoa Kenya due to a lack of signatures. Its
aim was to reform the Constitution regarding electoral and
institutional issues before the upcoming general elections.
Hence, in May and June, ODM supporters accused the IEBC of
being biased towards the government. Calls for a reformation
of the IEBC increased and provoked nationwide protests, later
known as ''Tear Gas Mondays.” On May 16, May 23, and June
6, police forces used live ammunition, tear gas, and batons
against protesters, killing at least five in Kisumu town, Kisumu
county, and injuring at least 44. The police violence led to an
international outcry.
On August 3, due to public pressure, officers of the IEBC secretariat
agreed to resign. On November 10, experts of the UN
Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan condemned
the police's excessive use of force against protesters and
journalists. On April 5, following the acquittal of Kenyatta in
2014, the International Criminal Court abandoned the trial
against Ruto due to lack of evidence. He had been charged
with mass murder and crimes against humanity that occurred
in the aftermath of the general elections in 2007. anf
MALI (CMA ET AL. / AZAWAD)
Intensity: 2 | Change: | Start: 1989
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
CMA et al. vs. government
autonomy
The conflict over autonomy between the Coordination of
Movements of Azawad (CMA), on the one hand, and the government,
on the other, de-escalated to a non-violent crisis.
The CMA, comprising the two Tuareg groups Movement for
the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and High Council for the
Unity of Azawad (HCUA) as well as other groups demanded
a far-reaching autonomy of the northern regions Kidal, Timbuktu,
and Gao, which they called Azawad. The Platform, another
major coalition of armed groups, consisting among others
of the Self Defense Group of Imrad Tuareg and Allies (GA-
TIA) and Ganda Izo, also called for enhanced autonomy rights
but considered itself pro-governmental [→Mali (inter-militant
rivalry)]. In June 2015, CMA, Platform, and the government
signed a peace agreement after three years of negotiations.
While numerous clashes between CMA fighters and military
personnel had been reported until May 2015, no violent confrontations
could be confirmed this year.
The CMA accused the government of having conducted an attack
against a Tuareg camp situated between Timbuktu and
Gao in the eponymous regions on January 15, in revenge for
an attack against a Malian military convoy launched by unknown
gunmen the same day, which had resulted in two dead
soldiers. The army denied the accusations, stating that it had
only launched an investigation at the Tuareg camp.
Until the end of October, efforts to resolve the conflict continued.
Between March and October, six meetings of the followup
committee (CSA) were held, discussing the disarmament
and reintegration of militants in the regular army, joint patrols,
as well as the installment of interim authorities in the
northern regions. Nevertheless, the implementation of the
peace agreement advanced slowly due to inter-militant rivalries
in the north, especially in Kidal, eponymous region,
where troops of GATIA and the CMA reportedly clashed several
times this year. On September 17, Bilal Ag Acherif, Secretary
General of CMA, accused GATIA and the government of
putting the advancements of the peace process at stake by
continuing the fights against CMA in Kidal region. However,
in the twelfth meeting of the CSA on October 23, the parties
agreed to implement interim authorities by the beginning of
November. On October 28, soldiers of the French ''Operation
Barkhane”, CMA members, and Malian military personnel conducted
a joint patrol in Kidal.
Tensions rose again in the run-up to the communal elections
on November 20. After the installation of the interim authorities
had been postponed indefinitely, the CMA boycotted
the elections and reportedly prevented others from casting
their votes in Kidal region. According to the CMA, the noninstallation
of the interim authorities at the time of the election
was a violation of the peace agreement. In response, the
government accused the CMA of endangering the state's legitimacy.
However, peace talks continued on November 28
with the 13th round of the CSA. lgu
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