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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Africa: Cervical Cancer Survivors Demand Equity and Unity
[allAfrica] When Karen Nakawala-Mayond experienced a nagging backache she put it down to her love for high heels. And then when she started bleeding in between her monthly periods, she thought it was the onset of menopause. That was until her gynaecologist insisted that she be screened for cervical cancer.
After her results came back positive, thoughts of dying and leaving her children and loved ones behind consumed her, but with the support of family and close friends, Nakawala-Mayond was able to start treatment
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Sudan: Khartoum Shelling Continues, Nyala Faces Exodus, Lagawa Attacked By Rebels
[Dabanga] The fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and its paramilitary counterpart, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continued in the Sudanese capital this weekend. The South Darfur capital of Nyala witnessed a cautious calm since Saturday after the RSF took control of the city. In West Kordofan, the army is preparing to secure the eastern part of the state after an attack by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North under the leadership of Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu) on Lagawa town.
The Sudanese
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Sudan: Saudi-U.S.-Led Ceasefire Discussions Under Way, Troika Welcomes Intra-Sudanese Talks in Ethiopia
[Dabanga] Negotiations between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since Thursday. Topics under discussion include a potential ceasefire as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid. Intra-Sudanese talks are also taking place in Ethiopia, which have been met with praise by the Troika representatives of Norway, UK, and USA in a statement released on Friday.
Discussions are continuing in Jeddah between the two warring parties. The Jeddah
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East Africa: Kenya's Cargo Battle Plan - Keeping Tanzania at Bay
[allAfrica] Kenya initiated a series of measures to revitalize its cargo business at its ports, challenged by competition from the port of Dar es Salaam, reports The East African.
Cargo owned by governments in the region will be handled by the Government Clearing Agency (GCA) while other policies include reduction of port fees and an extension of the storage duration for transit cargo.
Kenya is reportedly scrapping destination charges, offering importers from the landlocked East African Community partners who
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Tanzania: Dar es Salaam, Berlin to Boost Ties
[Daily News] The future prospects of economic and trade relation between Tanzania and Germany are set to hit new heights, with the visit into the country by the latter's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier starting today.
In the course, Germany's top leaders will visit four African countries this week, including Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who departed Berlin for Nigeria yesterday, on what is his third trip to Africa since taking office almost two years ago. He will also visit Ghana.
Germany President Frank-Walter
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Tanzania: Urgent Calls for Safe Return of Tanzanians Allegedly Held by Hamas
[allAfrica] The Israeli government officially identified two Tanzanians, Joshua Loitu Mollel and Clemence Felix Mtenga, as being held captive by Hamas since the attack that occurred on October 7 near the Gaza border, reports BBC.
Mollel and Mtenga were participating in an agricultural internship program in Israel when they were kidnapped by Hamas militants.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a plea for their safe and prompt return, along with photos of the two individuals, and asked for prayers for
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Nigeria: Boat Carrying Over 100 Passengers Capsizes in Taraba - Report
[Premium Times] The passengers were not wearing life jackets saving.
A passenger boat carrying over 100 people, including women and children capsized in Benue River Saturday afternoon.
A Daily Trust report revealed that the passengers were mostly local traders who were returning to Binnari, a community in Karim - Lamido Local Government from Mayorenero fish market in Ardo - Kola Local Government, all in Taraba State, North-central Nigeria.
Taraba has major rivers that form part of the tributaries of the Benue River.
The
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South Africa: Matric Exams Begin - As Load Shedding Resumes
[Scrolla] Thousands of matric learners are starting their final exams on Monday as load shedding resumes across the country.
At least 717,377 matriculants in 6,898 centres will sit for their exams as the 2023 National Senior Certificate examinations begin.
Eskom resumed Stage 2 load shedding on Sunday night and said it would escalate the nationwide black-outs to Stage 3 on Monday.
For the past three years, the government has been promising back-up power for state schools during load shedding but this has not
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Nigeria: Germany's Scholz Looking to Nigeria for Natural Gas - Report
[DW] The German chancellor told a Nigerian newspaper there was potential for "much more cooperation and investment" with Abuja.
Germany is eyeing the possibility of importing natural gas from Nigeria, according to comments Chancellor Olaf Scholz made in an interview with Nigerian daily newspaper The Punch.
Scholz is set to arrive in the West African state on Sunday for a trip aimed at strengthening bilateral relations with Africa's largest economy, his office said in a statement.
It is the German leader's first
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Africa: AGOA Trade Deal Talks - South Africa Will Need to Carefully Manage Relations With U.S., China
[The Conversation Africa] South Africa must tread carefully in its economic relationships to avoid being caught in the escalating tension between east and west, and more specifically China and the US. The country's hosting, and the outcome, of the 2023 Agoa Summit should strengthen its role in diplomatic relations and contribute towards safeguarding the country's economic interests.
From 2-4 November 2023, the US and 35 sub-Saharan African countries will meet in Johannesburg for the 20th Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum
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Mauritius Begins to Correct a Historic Wrong Towards LGBTQI+ People
[IPS] In response to lawsuits brought by LGBTQI+ activists, the Mauritius Supreme Court has issued two landmark judgments striking down the criminalisation of consensual sex between adult men as unconstitutional. Its reasoning turned upside down the argument used by anti-rights forces to attack LGBTQI+ activists in many African countries: it acknowledged that criminalisation is the foreign import rather than gay sex, and a relic of colonialism it's high time to shake off.
A damning colonial legacy
As in so many
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South Africa Win World Cup - 'I Can't Believe What We Did'
[DW] South Africa has become the first men's side to win the rugby World Cup four times. In doing so, they have shown the nation what it can do, according to captain Siya Kolisi, whose team won praise from all quarters.
The captains' fates told the story -- while New Zealand skipper Sam Cane watched on, having been sent off in the first half, Siya Kolisi kissed his right sweatband and roared in to the Parisian sky. His South Africa side had just won a third straight game by a single point to retain the World
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Namibia to End Raw Materials Export - Driver of Economic Growth and Job Creation
[Namibian] President Hage Geingob has declared that the era of exporting raw materials from Namibia is over.
Geingob made the remarks during his address at the EU-Namibia Business Forum in Brussels, Belgium, that started on Tuesday.
READ: Statement by His Excellency President Hage G. Geingob on The Occasion of the EU-Namibia Business Forum
Article 100 of Namibia's Constitution notes that: "Land, water and natural resources below and above the surface of the land and in the continental shelf and within the
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Nigeria: Labour Party Chairman Sacks Aides After Supreme Court Loss
[Daily Trust] National Chairman of Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, has approved the termination of appointments of some of his aides.
In a termination letter signed by the National Secretary of the party, Malam Umar Farouk, Abure said all appointments related to elections and campaigns had been formally dissolved.
"The effected appointees include: Mr. Mandela Ukegbu, Chairman, Labour Party Presidential Campaign Committee on Special Duties; Engineer Balami Isaac David, Senior Special Assistant on Presidential
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Kenya: President Ruto Defends Foreign Trips, Says Part of Mandate
[Capital FM] President William Ruto has scoffed at the critics of his foreign trips saying they are a necessary part of his delivery as the Head of State.
President Ruto who jetted the country yesterday night from his 39th trip defended his overseas trips saying they are a necessary part of his delivery as the Head of State.
The Head of State is said to have visited 45 cities in 38 countries over the course of 83 days compared to Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is said to have visited 53 countries during his two
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Niger Faces Multiple Crises Three Months After Military Coup
[RFI] Three months after a military junta seized power in Niger, overthrowing democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum, the country remains increasingly isolated. Rights groups warn Niger's population of 27 million now face a multitude of crises including insecurity, poverty and loss of personal freedoms.
When General Abdourahmane Tiani and his allies in the army seized power on on 26 July, they formed the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil National pour la
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Africa: Cameroon Asks Chad to Withdraw Border Troops From Island in Lake Chad
[VOA] Cameroon is asking Chad to withdraw its troops from a fishing and agriculture island in the volatile region of Lake Chad.
Cameroon says it wants its own troops to take total control of Birnigoni. Chad's military began occupying the island in 2014 to fight Boko Haram militants and protect civilians.
The central African state's military says peace is gradually returning to a majority of the 2,000-square-kilometer (770-square-mile) lake and its islands, including Birnigoni.
Even so, top Cameroonian military
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Liberia: 1,333 Campaign Violations Recorded
[New Dawn] Integrity Watch Liberia through its Strengthening Political Accountability Project (SPAP) has cataloged 1,333 campaign violations by political parties in the just-ended presidential and legislative elections.
On Friday, 27 October 2023, Integrity Watch Liberia in partnership with the National Elections Commission (EC) presented its findings on political parties' campaign finance regulations.
The Strengthening Political Accountability Project brought together stakeholders from the diplomatic Corps, Civil
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South Africa: Life-Saving TB Drug Is Now Cheaper - But Not As Cheap As It Could Be
[GroundUp] Johnson & Johnson has agreed to drop the price of bedaquiline to the South African government by more than 40%
The South African government and pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) have agreed to a lower price for bedaquiline, a medicine used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in South Africa.
This comes off the back of mounting pressure from activists and amid an ongoing investigation by the Competition Commission, looking into J&J's pricing of the drug.
An estimated
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Ghana: End Chaining for Mental Health Conditions
[HRW] Support Monitoring, Housing, Independent Living, Job Training
Ghana's 2017 ban on shackling people with psychosocial disabilities - or mental health conditions - has not halted the practice, Human Rights Watch said today. The government has not adequately resourced the enforcement mechanisms to monitor compliance by faith-based centers where people are being held in chains and assist those currently being unlawfully detained.
Human Rights Watch visited two spiritual healing centers - known as "prayer
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Nigeria: German Chancellor Visits Nigeria, Discusses Key Issues with Tinubu
[Premium Times] Mr Tinubu made the request at a bilateral meeting with the German Chancellor at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Sunday.
President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, solicited the support of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in combating terrorism in Nigeria.
Mr Tinubu made the request at a bilateral meeting with the German Chancellor at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Sunday.
He said, "We are fighting terrorism and that is improving. We still need more support in that area. And for us to be able to sustain
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Sudan: U.S., Saudi Arabia, IGAD and AU Relaunch Humanitarian and Ceasefire Talks Between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces
[State Department] The United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) reconvened ceasefire talks between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). We thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting the talks, and welcome IGAD, which is also participating on behalf of the African Union, as a co-facilitator.
Consistent with the May 11 Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, the reconvened talks continue to have a narrow
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South Africa: Parents Fear for Children's Safety At Dilapidated School
[GroundUp] Mntla Primary consists of prefabs from the 1980s
Prefab classrooms dating back to the 1980s are falling apart at Mntla Primary School in Ngqamakhwe, Eastern Cape. With ceilings caving in and walls collapsing, parents fear for their children's safety. The education department says the classrooms are scheduled to receive repairs within this financial year but parents say they have heard this before.
Parents at Mntla Primary School in Khothane village in the remote town of Ngqamakhwe, Eastern Cape, say they
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Morocco: One Dead, Three Hurt As Multiple Blasts Rock Western Sahara
[DW] For 30 years, the resource-rich North African desert territory has been 80% controlled by Morocco. But three years ago, the Algeria-backed Polisario Front renewed its armed struggle for independence.
Four explosions were reported in the city of Smara in Morocco-controlled Western Sahara, local authorities said on Sunday.
One man was killed and three others injured in the blasts, which also damaged two houses, according to a statement by officials.
The AFP news agency cited local authorities as saying the
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South Africa: Disability Grant Applicants Sleep Outside This Sassa Office
[GroundUp] SASSA admitted that there had been "technical challenges with the online system" but that these had since been resolved
The recent technical challenges with the online system at SASSA resulted in many disability grant applicants spending the night outside the agency's Beautiful Gate office in Philippi. While SASSA says that these challenges have since been resolved, this week we still found scores of people waiting in line to collect or submit applications. Most people said they have had to return to the
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South Africa: Job Vacancy - Mayor of Joburg Wanted
[Scrolla] Another change of government awaits the City of Johannesburg as the ANC and the EFF experienced an irreversible breakdown in their unofficial partnership.
The city has already had four executive mayors since the November 2021 local government elections.
Now the ANC in Gauteng is convinced that its alliance with the EFF in Gauteng municipalities has run its course. The provincial executive committee has taken the matter to the party's leadership, which has also accepted that the open marriage must end.
This
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South Africa: Alleged Bogus TikTok 'Doctor' Arrested at Johannesburg Hospital - South African News Briefs - October 30, 2023
[allAfrica]
Bogus TikTok 'Doctor' Matthew Lani Arrested at Johannesburg Hospital
TikToker Matthew Lani has been apprehended by health authorities for allegedly impersonating a medical doctor to gain social media followers, reports News24. He was caught trying to sneak into Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, wearing a hoodie, a surgical mask, and a stethoscope, pretending to be a qualified doctor. After being stopped by security, he attempted to escape through a bathroom window but was recaptured. Lani
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Namibia: EU to Pump N$20b Into Namibia's Green Hydrogen, Raw Materials Sectors
[Namibian] The European Union (EU) has pledged a significant N$20 billion investment in Namibia's green hydrogen and raw materials sector.
This commitment was announced by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen during the EU-Namibia business forum on Wednesday in Brussels, Belgium.
Highlighting Namibia's vast potential in renewable energy, Von der Leyen described the country as a leader in the green hydrogen domain.
"The EU is proud to be a partner in this transformative journey towards green industrialisation.
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Nigeria: Tribunal Dismisses Binani's Petition, Affirms Fintiri's Victory
[Daily Trust] The Adamawa State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Yola has dismissed the petition by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the reelection of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Delivering the judgment on Saturday, Justice Theodora Obi Uloho said the petitioners failed to prove allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Binani had challenged the election results, alleging that the exercise did not comply with the electoral
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Uganda: Bobi Wine Highlights 'Horrific Crimes' Committed By Ruling Party As He Likens Museveni to Amin
[Nile Post] The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has criticised the actions and crimes committed during President Museveni's government equating him to the notorious dictator, Idi Amin.
Kyagulanyi accused Museveni of seizing power in an unconstitutional manner through a war that resulted in the deaths of numerous Ugandans.
Recently, President Museveni rejected a request from Kaps Fungaroo, the former Obongi West MP, to establish an institute in memory of former
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