February 2021
Criminal groups abducted hundreds in north west, while ethnic and regional tensions ran high in south amid farmer-herder conflict; meanwhile, tensions rose in south east between govt and Biafra secessionists. Criminal groups in Feb reportedly killed at least 112 and kidnapped over 450 people, mostly in Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states (north west), but also in Niger state (Middle Belt). Notably, armed group 17 Feb abducted 42 students and school personnel in Niger state, released them 27 Feb; 26 Feb kidnapped 279 girls in Zamfara state. Meanwhile, Auwalun Daudawa, who masterminded Dec 2020 abduction of 344 students in Katsina state, 8 Feb laid down arms along with five of his troops. Amid rise in herder-farmer and intercommunal violence in south since Jan, clashes between ethnic Hausa and Fulani on one hand, and ethnic Yoruba on the other, early Feb killed two dozen people in Oyo state capital Ibadan (south west). Nobel laureate in literature Wole Soyinka 6 F
Two years and a little less than a month after the election of Nayib Bukele as president,
next Sunday, February 28, Salvadorans go to the polls again to elect deputies and municipal offices in a day that will also serve to assess the first 21 months of government of the president.
The elections will be held amid the tense political climate that on February 9 left the record in the Legislative Assembly of a controversial proposal. Protected by article 131 of the Constitution, which gives said chamber the power to declare the physical or mental incapacity of the President of the Republic, Deputy Ricardo Velásquez,
El Salvador, still raw from a civil war that ended three decades ago, united to preserve peace in its upcoming elections after a deadly attack during the campaign.
Sunday, two supporters of the opposition political party, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), died after a bullet attack against their vehicle.
“Faced with this crime that causes the entire country to mourn without distinction of political colors, the only worthy position is the defense of peace,” the Central American University (UCA) stated in a statement.
A security agent, a driver and a private guard, all employees of the Ministry of Health, were arrested and charged with the crime.