CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
ARMED GROUPS AGREE TO DISARMAMENT DEAL
On 10 May, armed groups signed an agreement to end hostilities and begin a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process. The accord was signed between 10 armed groups and the defence ministry during a national reconciliation forum in the capital Bangui that sought ways to end the country’s protracted conflict since the 2013 ouster of president François Bozizé. Meanwhile, the armed groups have also agreed to free up to 10,000 children in their ranks, according to UNICEF which facilitated the deal to release the minors.
GUINEA
1 OPPOSITION PROTESTER KILLED IN DEMO
A protester was killed and 15 others wounded during the latest opposition demonstration on 7 May. The opposition is demanding a change of the electoral calendar which they say favours the ruling party. Fresh protests set for 11 May were cancelled to give a chance for dialogue with the government.
LIBERIA
EBOLA OUTBREAK DECLARED OVER
On 9 May, WHO declared the end of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Liberia. The announcement came after the country had gone for 42 consecutive days - two maximum incubation periods for the virus - with no new confirmed cases. The last case reported in greater Monrovia on 20 March died on 27 March. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and WHO called for continued vigilance, noting that the most difficult task had just begun.
NIGERIA/NIGER
11,000 ARRIVE IN NIGERIA FROM LAKE CHAD ISLANDS
According to Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), as of 11 May, at least 11,000 Nigerians had arrived from Lake Chad islands, where Nigerien authorities have urged people to evacuate due to an impending military operation against Boko Haram. NEMA is relocating those who have returned to their areas of origin. By 7 May, a total of 25,700 people had left the islands for the south-eastern Niger towns of Nguigmi and Bosso.
SIERRA LEONE
0 EVD CASES IN FIVE STRAIGHT DAYS
As of 10 May, there had been no reported Ebola cases for five consecutive days (6 - 10 May) according to the National Ebola Response Centre. A total of nine confirmed cases were reported in the week to 3 May, two less than the week before. Two districts reported cases, compared with three in the previous week. The last time only two Sierra Leonean districts reported a confirmed case was in May 2014.
REGIONAL / EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE
18 CASES REPORTED, LOWEST IN 2015
A total of 18 cases were reported in Guinea and Sierra Leone in the seven days to 3 May. These were the lowest figures yet this year. Infections in both countries are now geographically limited, with only one prefecture in Guinea and two areas in Sierra Leone reporting cases. In all, 26,593 confirmed, probable and suspected cases, including 11,005 deaths have been recorded so far in the three worst affected countries.
