Gaza, Western Sahara, Djibouti
Today's three stories you should know
Gaza
Israel bombed Gaza on 36 of the 40 days that the world’s eyes were on the war against Iran, according to an Al Jazeera tally. Today marked six months since Israel agreed to an ostensible ceasefire with Hamas, but it has killed at least 738 people and wounded more than 2,000 in that time, rendering the truce all but meaningless. In the 40 days before a ceasefire was reached with Tehran, the Israeli army killed 107 people in the Palestinian enclave. Earlier this week, on the same day it launched 100 strikes on Lebanon in 10 minutes, Israel killed Al Jazeera correspondent Mohamad Wishah in a targeted drone strike.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Western Sahara
Mali has become the latest African country to back a Moroccan plan to give the Western Sahara region, where a war for independence has persisted for 50 years, a measure of autonomy. Under the proposal, a local legislative and executive, as well as a judiciary, would be elected by residents, but Rabat would have jurisdiction over defence, foreign affairs and religious matters. The Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which has fought the war in order to establish an independent state named the Sahrawi Republic, wants a referendum on independence. Mali joins Kenya and Ghana in recently siding with Morocco.
More from Reuters here.
Djibouti
Voters in Djibouti go to the polls today for an election in which President Omar Guelleh is expected to extend his 27 years in power after age limits were removed, enabling him to run again. Djibouti, a country of less than one million people, has been relatively stable compared to neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa since gaining independence from France in 1977. Guelleh, 78, was hand-picked to succeed his uncle Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who was the country’s first president. Under his rule, there has been significant investment in port infrastructure, turning Djibouti into a strategically important nation with its perch on the Red Sea. Rights groups have accused the government of suppressing dissent and two of the main opposition parties are boycotting the vote.
More from Africa News here.