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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Africa: President Ruto Urges African Leaders to Accelerate Realisation of Continental Free Agreement
[Capital FM] President William Ruto has called on African leaders to accelerate the realisation of the Continental Free (AfCFTA) agreement.
The President said AfCFTA will increase intra-Africa trade thereby creating jobs and wealth for the people.
President Ruto noted that Visa restrictions between African countries and tariffs are unnecessary hindrances to trade.
"It is time we realise the importance of trading amongst ourselves and allowing goods, services, people and ideas to move freely across the continent," he
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Somalia: Somali President Tasks Ex-Governor to Lead Anti-Al-Shabaab Operations
[Shabelle] The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh has appointed Ali Jeyte Osman as the president's office for the coordination of community fighters [Ma'wisley].
The appointment was announced in a brief statement broadcasted by the state media. This coincides with the government's plans to launch the second phase of the anti-Al-Shabaab offensive.
Ali Jeyte, a self-appointed Hiiraan State president remained silent on the appointment of the new position, which if he accepts will remove the existence of his
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South Africa: Government Congratulates Rugby World Cup Champions
[Govt of SA] Government joins millions of South Africans, Africans and Springbok fans from across the globe in congratulating the World Rugby 2023 champions. In this record breaking victory, the Springboks showed determination, creativity and strength against New Zealand's All Blacks.
Our unwavering confidence in the Springboks was symbolised by the presence of President Cyril Ramaphosa in France to help our champions to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.
South Africa' national rugby side is the first team in a Rugby World
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Africa: Kenya to Lift Visa Requirements for All Africans - President Ruto
[Independent (Kampala)] Kenyan President William Ruto said on Saturday that Kenya will lift visa requirements for all Africans by the end of 2023 with the aim of boosting trade with African countries.
"By the end of this year, no African will need a visa to enter Kenya. The time has come to understand the importance of doing trade between us," said Ruto, while speaking at the summit of the world's three major forest basins, namely the Amazon, Congo, and Borneo-Mekong Forest Basins, in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of
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Somalia: Somali Army Kills Four Al-Shabaab Commanders, Wounds 9 Militants
[Shabelle] Somali government forces have carried out a planned operation to kill leaders of the Al-Shabaab group in the last few hours, 15 km away from Tiyegloow district in the Bakool region.
It was pointed out to the army that they carried out the operation in a meeting place where there was a meeting of members of the Al-Shabaab group, including leaders and militias.
The Commander of the 51st Brigade of the 9th Brigade of the 60th Division of the Somali National Army, Two Hidigle Deerow Macalin Abdi, who spoke to
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South Africa: President Lauds Springboks' Historic Rugby World Cup Victory
[Govt of SA] On behalf the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa commends the Springboks on their Rugby World Cup 2023 victory over New Zealand which makes South Africa the first country to win this championship four times.
The President offers his congratulations to the team who performed at the Stade de France this evening, Saturday, 28 October 2023, as well as coaching team, the broader squad and the team management and technical and support staff.
The President said: "Stronger Together is a belief that came to life for
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Niger: U.S. Senate Refuses to Withdraw American Troops From Niger
[allAfrica] The U.S. Senate decisively rejected a bill on Thursday, October 26, 2023, that would have forced President Joe Biden to withdraw American troops from Niger, a West African country where the military seized power in July.
Earlier in October, the U.S. formally recognized the military coup in Niger, leading to the official suspension of aid. However, according to U.S. officials, there were no plans to reduce the number of American troops stationed in the nation. Niger has been a U.S. partner in the
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Madagascar's Age-Old Foes Scuffle More On Streets Than in Hustings
[ISS] President Rajoelina, who first took power in a coup, is bashing aside opposition protesters in search of another term.
The Malagasy people will, on 16 November, go to elections amid growing demonstrations by the opposition that are putting the country on a knife edge. President Andry Rajoelina is seeking a third term, though political upheavals over the past 14 years - which restarted the constitutional clock - would make this his second consecutive term.
Rajoelina came to power in a military coup that
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Mozambique: Riots and Two Deaths in Nampula and Nacala
[Mozambique News Reports And Clippings] Nampula and Nacala-Porto are experiencing riots and the police are responding with rubber bullets and gunfire with real bullets. There are arrests, injuries and deaths in both cities. The demonstrators, including Renamo supporters, are putting up barricades and destroying private property in both towns.
In Nampula a 10-year-old child was shot as he left school during the demonstrations and another person was shot in Namicopo neighbourhood. Later a police officer was allegedly attacked by the population in
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Kenya: Win for Coffee Farmers as DP Gachagua Secures Direct Sales to Java House
[Capital FM] Local coffee farmers will start selling their produce directly to one of the world's largest coffee firms, The Java Coffee Company, following an agreement signed yesterday by the firm and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Rotselaar, Belgium.
According to the Joint Commitment deal, the Java Coffee Company, pledged to purchase Kenyan coffee directly from the local farmers starting with 700 tonnes; a move that will soon help small-scale farmers increase their incomes.
The global company, renowned for its
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South Africa: Landmark Decision for Housing in Cape Town
[GroundUp] City Council releases land in Salt River for social housing
For years housing activists have been calling for social housing for low-income families near Cape Town's city centre. A major step towards this took place on Thursday when the Cape Town City Council approved the release of land in Salt River for the Pickwick Road social housing project. "I am truly excited at the prospect of all these parcels of land being turned into beautiful and affordable homes for thousands of Cape Town families," Mayor
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South Africa: Ahead of Crucial Agoa Forum, Pretoria Again Treads Fine Line With Stance On Israel, Palestine, Gaza
[Daily Maverick] After engaging in energetic diplomacy with the US over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, South Africa is once again walking a tightrope, this time on the Israel-Palestine-Gaza crisis.
Pretoria is once again treading a fine line on a hot foreign policy issue, forced to navigate between its long-standing Palestine sympathies and its important Western economic ties, in a diplomatic tightrope walk that partly echoes its earlier acrobatics on Russia's war against Ukraine.
The government's initial failure to condemn
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Central African Republic: International Support Critical to Forge Lasting Peace, Security Council Hears
[UN News] Progress has been made in advancing a 2019 peace agreement in the Central African Republic (CAR) but the support of the international community is still vital, the UN Special Representative Valentine Rugwabiza told the Security Council on Thursday.
Ms. Rugwabiza, who also heads the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA, presented its latest report covering developments in the wake of the 31 July constitutional referendum.
She said MINUSCA continues to support Government efforts to "decentralize" the peace
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South Africa: Any Parent Is Entitled to Four Months Parental Leave, Rules High Court
[GroundUp] Sections of the Basic Conditions of Employment and the Unemployment Insurance Fund acts declared unconstitutional
The Johannesburg High Court has given Parliament two years to "cure the defects" in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Unemployment Insurance Fund Act. The court declared sections of these acts unconstitutional for unfairly discriminating against mothers and fathers, surrogate and adopting parents when it comes to "maternity leave". In the meantime, all parents are entitled to four
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Tunisia: African Migrants Intercepted at Sea, Expelled
[HRW] The Tunisian National Guard collectively expelled over 100 migrants from multiple African countries to the border with Algeria on September 18 and 20, 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. Those expelled, which included children and possibly asylum seekers, had been intercepted at sea and returned to Tunisia by the Coast Guard, part of the National Guard.
These operations may signal a dangerous shift in Tunisian policy, as authorities had previously usually released intercepted migrants in Tunisia after
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Ethiopia: Nation to Cultivate Wheat On 3 Million Hectares in Summer
[ENA] The target for this Ethiopian year summer wheat cultivation would be three million hectares, which is 1.7 million more than last year's, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said today.
During his visit to development sites and launching of wheat cultivation in the Afar region, the premier noted the land cultivated last Ethiopian year was 1.3 million hectares.
According to him, the nation's wheat growth trend and expansion of the summer wheat program is very exciting.
"Leaving aside previous years, when we compare
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Nigeria: Police, Army Rescue Four Kidnap Victims in Katsina State
[Vanguard] Police in Katsina State rescued four kidnap victims in Dandume Local Government Area on Saturday in collaboration with the military.
Police spokesman in the state, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, stated in Katsina on Saturday that the rescue was achieved during a routine patrol around Dankolo village.
"In a bid to ensure the safety of lives and property police, in collaboration with troops, rescued four persons kidnapped at different locations in the state.
"The relentless efforts and dedication of our security
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Rwanda: Steel Manufacturing Firm Donates Sewing Machines to Genocide Widows in Rwamagana
[New Times] Steel Rwa, a steel manufacturing firm located in Rwamagana District, on October 27, donated six electric sewing machines to members of the Association of Widows of the Genocide, AVEGA-Agahozo, residing in the same district.
The benevolent act is part of the company's Social Corporate responsibility, aiming at giving back to the community.
The assortment of sewing machines handed over includes those utilised for clothes sewing, refining, and weaving sweaters. The equipment was presented to a group of 21
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Nigeria: High Cost of Seed Worries Katsina Irish Potatoes Farmers
[Daily Trust] Irrigation farmers in Katsina State have decried the high cost of Irish Potato seeds, a development that altered the budget of farmers aiming to plant early.
Early planters, according to the farmers, have the advantage of their crop passing through the cold season of November, December and January for a better yield.
Malam Umar Kanawa, a farmer, said there was a plan by most of the irrigation farmers to take off early this year but the surging cost of seed has slowed them down.
"Lack of capital is our
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Africa: Immediate Ceasefire Is Needed in Gaza to Stop the Bloodshed
[MSF] Médecins Sans Frontières calls for an immediate ceasefire to prevent more deaths in Gaza and allow desperately needed humanitarian supplies in. Since Friday 27 October, the bombing by the Israeli forces has intensified to a degree not seen until now: northern Gaza is being razed to the ground, while the whole Strip is being hit and civilians have no place to take shelter.
The actions of world leaders are too weak, too slow, as a non-binding UN resolution for a ceasefire has done nothing to
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Ghana: Limited Gas Supply Causes National Blackout in Ghana
[allAfrica] Most of Ghana is dark due to a scarcity of gas to operate the machinery required to generate energy in the country, BBC reports.
According to Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), the scenario generated "a supply gap of 550MW at peak time" at the Tema power plant, which is located near the capital, Accra.
Ghana is presently experiencing the greatest economic downturn in a long time. Although power outages occur frequently in Ghana, this one is the worst to hit the country in the past two years.
According to
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African Court Judge Criticises Member States Over Human Rights Verdicts
[allAfrica] The judge president of the African Court of Human and People's Rights and the ECOWAS Court of Justice criticized government commitments to safeguarding human rights across the continent, highlighting a troubling pattern of member states showing poor adherence to court rulings on human rights issues, reports The East African.
Less than 10% of hundreds of decisions handed down by the African Court during its 17 years of operation have so far been implemented by respondent states, according to the African
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Kenya: The Story Behind British Soldiers Decapitating Chief Samoei and New Demands for Skull's Return
[allAfrica] As the world anticipates King Charles III's historic visit to Kenya on October 31, the Nandi community's quest for justice and reparation is reignited. They are demanding the return of the skull of Koitalel arap Samoei, a revered chief, spiritual guide, and warrior who resisted British colonial forces in 1905.
The Nandi elders are calling for the repatriation of their cultural artifacts and compensation for the grievous atrocities suffered during the colonial era.
According to Shujaa Stories, in
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South Africa: AGOA 2023 - Searching for Improvement in 25-Year Programme for Africa
[allAfrica] The U.S. is looking at ways of making more of an impact on the continent via the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), its legislation boost economic engagement with African countries. The growing influence of China and Russia in Africa is seen as a major factor in the U.S. push for better relations with African countries. But with AGOA coming to an end in 2025, there are increasing questions around what it will be replaced with, and the impact it will have on Africa's trade relations
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Africa: Three Basins Summit in Brazzaville Can Open Doors for An Alternative Future
[The Greenpeace] Primary forest protection and the restoration of degraded natural forests must be priorities for the landmark Three Basins Summit in the Republic of the Congo, which marks an unprecedented initiative aimed at creating a global alliance committed to revitalising 250 million hectares of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. To achieve this, a rights-based approach that acknowledges the paramount significance of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and other rights-holding groups in safeguarding and restoring
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Africa: Two Tanzanians and One South African Held Hostage By Hamas, Says Israel
[allAfrica] In the aftermath of the October 7 bombings in Israel, Hamas has reportedly taken 224 hostages, including two Tanzanians and a South African, according to the Israeli authorities, BBC reports.
The ambassador of Tanzania to Israel acknowledged the hostage-taking of two of its nationals.
All three had not been named until, in an interview with the BBC, the father of a 21-year-old Tanzanian publicly identified his son, Joshua Mollel, who has been missing since Hamas militants attacked the
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South Africa: Authorities Urged to Protect Persons With Albinism
[AI London] Ahead of the court appearance tomorrow of South African traditional healer Bongolethu "Dr Khehlelezi" Mzozo, over a video shared on YouTube in April 2023 spreading misinformation about persons with albinism, Amnesty International and the National Albinism Task Force are calling on the South African government to protect persons with albinism in the country against discrimination, hostility and violence.
Following the release of the video, in line with Section 20 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention
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Sudan: Army, Rapid Support Forces to Resume U.S.-Saudi Peace Talks
[Dabanga] Delegations from both the SAF and RSF arrived in Saudi Arabia's city of Jeddah today, in preparation for the resumption of negotiations. This development received a warm welcome across various political and civil sectors and stakeholders.
The General Command of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) announced its agreement to reinitiate the negotiating process with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in response to a "generous invitation" from the two mediating countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the
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Liberians in High Gear to Vote ...Avoid Violent Elections
[New Republic] Earlier this morning, thousands of Liberians turned out at various polling centers across the country to cast their votes in Liberia's Presidential and Legislative Elections.
Voting began earlier this morning at 8:00 AM in Monrovia and other parts of the country. So far, there has been no report of violence across the country. Our correspondents say the process started on time while people with disabilities, pregnant women and the elderly people were given preference as they were queued in special lines to
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Rwanda: New HRW Report Seeks to Distort UK-Rwanda Migration Deal
[New Times] In its latest report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) seeks to undermine the UK government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. HRW's latest report has been described as yet 'another deceitful' attempt to distort the country's image.
By accusing Rwanda of human rights violations and violence, the organisation, whose reports over the last decades have maintained its anti-Rwanda stance, urges the UK to abandon the migration partnership.
Though HRW claims the deal damages UK reputation, lawyers representing the
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