Africa in the News: Top Nigerian Military Chiefs Sacked, Madagascar Election Results Revealed, and Uganda Assists South Sudan Government

Nigerian Military Leadership Undergoes a Reshuffle

The Nigerian political establishment has undergone significant changes in recent days.  The chiefs of the defense department, the army, navy and air force have been fired by the country’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, and will be replaced by new individuals, pending approval by the Nigerian National Assembly.   According to the Nigerian newspaper, Leadership, tensions had run high between these officers, and their inability to cooperate had negatively impacted the country’s fight against Boko Haram. 

Madagascar Elects Hery Rajaonarimampianina

Former Minister of Finance Hery Rajaonarimampianina has been elected president of Madagascar in the country’s first election since the 2009 coup.  According to an electoral court, Rajaonarimampianina won 53 percent of the votes in a run-off election held in December against Robinson Jean Louis, a former minister of health.  Louis had alleged that the contest was rigged and had called for a recount of the votes.  An assistant to Louis has pledged to argue that the election was flawed before the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU).  

Uganda Increases Involvement in South Sudan

Yesterday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni confirmed that his country’s troops were assisting the South Sudanese Army in their fight against rebel soldiers.  Previously, Ugandan officials had denied such allegations.  According to Al-Jazeera, Ugandan soldiers have fought in the city of Bor, the home to some of the most violence clashes in the country since the conflict began roughly a month ago.  Ugandan troops have also been stationed at the airport and a number of government buildings in Juba, freeing up South Sudanese troops to be relocated to places like Malakal, where the rebel presence is strong.