Thank you for your patience while Proximities took a few days off.
Good to be back,
Barry.
Burkina Faso
Police in Burkina Faso today fired teargas at protesters angry over surging violence linked to the al-Qaeda and ISIS groups. More than one million people have been forced from their homes in recent years as the government battles escalating violence from the militants. The opposition demonstrators, from a group calling itself the November 27 Coalition, are demanding the resignation of President Roch Kabore.
More from AP here.
Ethiopia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has again called for urgent negotiations to end the escalating conflict in Ethiopia. The statement came a day after Ethiopian state media released footage of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the frontlines, saying he had gone there to personally lead the fight against Tigrayan rebels. Ethiopia’s year-long war has killed tens of thousands and forced millions from their homes. The UN says more than 9 million people in the north of the country need immediate food aid.
More from Al Jazeera here.
South Africa
South Africa has complained it is being unjustly punished for discovering the Omicron variant of COVID-19. "Excellent science should be applauded and not punished," the foreign ministry said. Several Western nations slapped travel bans on South Africa and other African nations after the new strain was discovered. But South Africa’s foreign ministry said the West was to blame for the emergence of Omicron because rich countries hoarded vaccine doses while other countries went without.
More from BBC here.