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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Africa: 'Children Live in a World That Is Increasingly Hostile to Their Rights'
[Unicef] Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell
"Each year on November 20, we mark World Children's Day to commemorate the 1989 adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. By ratifying this international legal framework, world leaders acknowledged that all children have inalienable rights. And they promised that governments would ensure that those rights would be protected and upheld.
"Unfortunately, children
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Nigeria: Nine Bodies Recovered After Niger Boat Mishap - Official
[Premium Times] Ten persons were confirmed dead in a boat mishap that occurred in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on Thursday, 16 November.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has said that nine bodies were recovered after a boat mishap that occurred in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
The Head of Relief and Rehabilitation in NSEMA, Salihu Garba, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday.
NAN recalls that 10 persons were confirmed dead
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South Africa: Spoekiesdorp Families Haunted By Past Evictions and Uncertain Future
[GroundUp] "Many of us are here because we were evicted from farms. We were dumped here"
Spoekiesdorp informal settlement is prone to flooding, lacks access to toilets and clean water, and there is no formal electricity. The Breede Valley Local Municipality has proposed relocation of the approximately 1,000 people to a town 20km away. But residents say it is too far and plagued by gang violence.
"Every time they tell us we need to be patient. But we have been patient," says Spoekiesdorp resident Angeline Dynae. "I
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South Africa: Sundowns Women's Team Are African Champions
[Scrolla] Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies reclaimed the CAF Women's Champions League following a convincing 3-0 victory over Sporting Casablanca at Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly on Sunday.
A brace by Refilwe Tholakele and a goal from Boitumelo Rabale powered the Brazilians to victory in the Ivorian city of Korhogo where they were backed by a biased and vociferous crowd.
Tholakele thrust Sundowns ahead after 21 minutes from the penalty spot before Lesotho attacker Rabale doubled Masandawana's advantage three minutes later.
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South Africa: Sewage in the Sea - Cape Town Council Fails to Meet Hout Bay Permit Conditions
[GroundUp] The City of Cape Town's own data shows it is releasing more sewage than is allowed
The City of Cape Town has been pumping more sewage into the sea at Hout Bay than it is allowed to do. Data obtained by Action SA shows the City has contravened the discharge permit granted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. ActionSA has laid a criminal charge for violation of the Integrated Coastal Management Act.
The City of Cape Town has been pumping more sewage into the ocean at Hout Bay than is
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Congo-Kinshasa: Presidential Candidates Kick Off Month-Long Campaigns
[DW] Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi is competing for a second term, while the opposition is trying to rally behind a single candidate. Rebel fighting in the east is casting its shadow over the vote.
Presidential candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) launched their election campaigns on Sunday ahead of the country's December 20 presidential vote.
Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi is seeking a second term and is the favorite to win. He opened his campaign with a rally at the Martyrs
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Africa: Berlin Summit Aims to Boost Investment in Africa
[DW] Germany is hosting an investors' conference in Berlin under the G20's Compact with Africa initiative. The gathering is part of the German government's commitment to supporting African countries in making economic gains.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday will host a meeting of African and G20 nations in Berlin.
The gathering is part of the Compact with Africa (CwA) initiative established during Germany's 2017 presidency of the G20.
The CwA aims to generate additional private investment in the African
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Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa in U-Turn Over Military General Sibanda's Illegal Zanu-PF Politburo Posting
[New Zimbabwe] President Emmerson Mnangagwa has admitted blundering by illegally appointing Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, to the Zanu PF Politburo.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe precludes members of the uniformed forces from actively participating in politics.
Mnangagwa defied the country's Constitution and controversially appointed Sibanda, an ex-officio member of Zanu PF's Politburo, the ruling party's supreme decision-making organ outside Congress.
He made the shock announcement
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Africa: Reclaiming the Past, Defining the Future
[allAfrica] This month, I visited the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa. It's a stunning arena that was built ahead of FIFA World Cup 2010 and named after an anti-apartheid activist, trade unionist and politician who played a key role in shaping the destiny of South Africa.
While touring the stadium I came across an eye-opening exhibit: 'South Africa in the Making'. This series of powerful images chronicles the making of what South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu termed the 'Rainbow Nation', celebrating
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Liberia: President Weah's Concession Speech
[New Republic] ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. GEORGE MANNEH WEAH
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA CONCERNING THE RESULTS OF THE RUN-OFF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HELD ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023 MONROVIA, LIBERIA
NOVEMBER 17, 2023
MY FELLOW LIBERIANS, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
I stand before you tonight with a heavy heart, but with the utmost respect for the democratic process that has defined our nation. As your President and the leader of the Coalition for Democratic Change, I want to address you on
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Nigeria: Experts Worry Over 'Adoption' of Child Labour By Ogun Cocoa Farmers
[Daily Trust] Major stakeholders have decried the incessant abuse and child labour in cocoa industries, especially farmers in Ogun State and other parts of the South West.
They spoke at a stakeholders' forum on the Campaign Against Forced Labour in Cocoa Industry in Nigeria Programme held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The forum, organized by the African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
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Kenya Power Announces Planned Power Outages in 5 Counties Including Nairobi
[Capital FM] Kenya Power has announced planned power interruptions expected in select parts of five counties.
In a notice issued today, the utility company stated that this will pave the way for scheduled maintenance.
The affected counties include Nairobi, Kilifi, Kwale, Uasin Gishu and Kisumu with the interruptions set to run from 9am to 5pm.
In Nairobi, some of the areas that will be affected include places along Outer ring road, Tena Estate, Umoja One, Stella street and Rockfield.
In Kisumu county, Africa Sea food,
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Nigeria: 10 Die in Niger Boat Mishap
[Premium Times] Niger State authorities said the boat mishap was caused by water hyacinth, strong waves and a grafting tree.
No fewer than 10 persons have lost their lives in a boat mishap in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state.
Garba Salihu, Head of Relief and Rehabilitation in the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, the state capital, on Friday.
He said the agency received report of a boat mishap in Shiroro council area that occurred on
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Nigeria: Mohbad - Police Release Naira Marley, Sam Larry
[Premium Times] Naira Marley and Sam Larry had been in police custody over the controversial death of rapper, musician and song writer, Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad).
Police in Lagos State released musician and label owner, Azeez Fashola (Naira Marley) and Samson Balogun (Sam Larry) from custody on Friday.
They were released after meeting their bail conditions.
The duo had been in police custody over the controversial death of rapper, musician and song writer, Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad).
Sam Larry had been held since 28
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Africa: Experts Step Up Efforts to Tackle Diabetes Trends in the African Region
[WHO-AFRO] In June 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Emmanuella Selasi Hormenoo, an 18-year-old Ghanian university student, was teetering on the brink of death. "The doctors initially thought that I might have COVID-19, but when they did the tests, they were always negative. During one of the blood transfusions I had to have, I went into cardiac arrest, and slipped into yet another coma."
After three horrific months in and out of hospitals and battling life-threatening complications, including being
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Sudan: 'Six Days of Terror' in West Darfur - Ethnically-Based Attacks On the Rise
[UN News] The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has voiced alarm over reports of another ethnically motivated mass attack in the Darfur region of Sudan, amidst the ongoing conflict between the national army and a rival military known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Hundreds of ethnic Masalit civilians were reportedly killed earlier this month in Ardamata town, West Darfur, by the RSF and their allied Arab militia.
The RSF has its roots in the Janjaweed militias which fought on the Government side against a rebel
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Africa: Report Exposes Dark Web of Fisheries Labour Abuses
[IPS] It is a terrifying life experience, cut off from the world and trapped in forced labour aboard fishing vessels, often in high seas or seas beyond the territorial waters of any state. The fishers are isolated under hazardous and horrific working conditions under limited regulatory oversight. More than 128,000 fishers were trapped in forced labour aboard fishing vessels in 2021 alone.
A new report by the Financial Transparency Coalition - a group of 11 NGOs from across the world, including Transparency
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Nigerian Govt Indicts Hospital's Chief Medical Director of Job Racketeering
[Premium Times] The statement termed the conduct of the teaching hospital chief and his accomplices as a "flagrant abuse of extant rules and regulations."
An investigative panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Sunday revealed why some health workers at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have been unpaid for months.
The investigative panel led by Aderemi Azeez found that the former Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Afolabi Owojuyigbe,
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South African University Students Use AI to Help Them Understand - Not to Avoid Work
[The Conversation Africa] When ChatGPT was released in November 2022, it sparked many conversations and moral panics. These centre on the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the information environment. People worry that AI chatbots can negatively affect the integrity of creative and academic work, especially since they can produce human-like texts and images.
ChatGPT is a generative AI model using machine learning. It creates human-like responses, having been trained to recognise patterns in data. While it appears
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South Africa: July 2021 Unrest - 65 in Court to Face Terrorism and Other Charges Linked to Deadly Violence
[Daily Maverick] Two years after the July 2021 upheaval left a trail of destruction and more than 350 people dead, 65 people arrested and implicated in the mayhem will finally face justice. Among the charges are terrorism, conspiring or inciting the commission of terrorism, sedition, conspiracy to commit murder, public violence, conspiracy to commit public violence and incitement to commit public violence.
The 65 alleged instigators charged in connection with the unrest and public violence in parts of KwaZulu-Natal in July
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South Africa: Ramaphosa's Security Chief Dined with Game Farm Suspects - South African News Briefs - November 20, 2023
[allAfrica]
Ramaphosa's Security Chief Dined with Game Farm Suspects
Following a 2020 burglary at Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala estate, Major-General Wally Rhoode, head of the president's security team, questioned suspects but neglected to ensure charges were filed, report Karyn Maughan and Jan Gerber in an exclusive News24 report. Transcripts of an interview with the Office of the Public Protector have revealed that Rhoode insisted he was not "investigating" the Phala Phala break-in when he interviewed one of
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Nigeria: Militants Kill Policeman, Abduct 13 Others in Fresh Zamfara Attack
[Premium Times] Six women were among those abducted.
A mobile policeman attached to the Maru police division was killed by terrorists who attacked Ruwan Doruwa, a community in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Sunday.
Residents said 13 people consisting of six women, five men and two children were abducted by the terrorists during the attack that lasted more than two hours.
"The terrorists surrounded the town around 1:00 a.m and started shooting. Some of the terrorists entered the town and started shooting.
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Sudan: Strong African Mediation Needed to End Disastrous Conflict
[allAfrica] While the Global North, and some African nations, are intensely engaged with the latest outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, relatively little attention is being given to the massive suffering caused by the current conflict in Sudan – where since April this year more than 10,000 people have died, more than 5.7 million have been driven from their homes and 25 million, more than half the population, need humanitarian assistance.
A determined democracy movement, which drew thousands of people
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Africa: World Toilet Day, Flush With Innovations for Safer Sanitation
[UN News] Innovation abounds in the race to broaden access to clean water and sanitation around the world on World Toilet Day, marked on 19 November.
In line with this year's theme of accelerating change, innovators have been part of ongoing efforts to address the needs of some of the world's 3.5 billion people living without safe toilets.
From a Nepalese woman who prompted her village to improve hygiene to a fresh game plan launched in 2022 by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), these game changers are advancing
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Ethiopia: Thousands Gather for Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa
[ENA] Tens of thousands of people have gathered at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa today for the 10-kilometre Great Ethiopian Run, the largest road race in Africa.
Today, the streets of the capital city are filled with the energy and excitement of the Great Ethiopian Run which started early morning and attracted more than 45,000 participants from Ethiopia, Africa and all over the world.
The runners, including elite athletes, recreational runners, and walkers, made their way through the city's vibrant asphalt
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Namibia: Nurses, Doctors Working on Patients With No Protective Gloves
[Namibian] Health minister Kalumbi Shangula has described the shortage of medical gloves at some hospitals nationwide as a crisis.
This comes after some nurses told The Namibian they have been working on patients without protective gloves.
In the Zambezi region, nurses and doctors at the Katima Mulilo District Hospital have been operating without medical gloves for the past month, and the health minister yesterday confirmed it is a national crisis.
The Katima Mulilo hospital, which currently only has one operating
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Liberia: Weah Concedes Defeat But...
[Observer] Barely six hours following the National Elections Commission (NEC)'s announcement of 99.58 percent of the Presidential runoff election held on November 14, 2023, President George Weah has conceded defeat and called on his supporters to follow suit but regroup to begin preparation to retake power in 2029.
"I urge you to follow my example and accept the results of the election. Go home tonight with the knowledge that our ideas and vision for Liberia remain strong. We are a young movement and our time will
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Malawi: Mutharika Calls Malawians Stupid for Voting Him Out of Power
[Nyasa Times] Emotions boiled over at the PAGE House where the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a press briefing with the party's leader losing it and called Malawians stupid for voting him out of power.
Responding to one of the questions, DPP President and the country's former Head of State Peter Arthur Mutharika angrily said Malawians made a "stupid" decision for not voting for him in the 2020 elections.
"Am sorry to say this, Malawians you made a choice; munandinena kuti ndine okalamba, opanda mano and those
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Africa: The Africa We Want - Private Sector Bill of Rights as Companion to RECs and the AfCFTA
[allAfrica] Keynote Address by Professor Kingsley Moghalu, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board of the Africa Private Sector Summit, at the AfCFTA Joint Private Sector Session of the 2023 Afreximbank Intra-African Trade Fair
I. RECs and AfCFTA - Regional Trade as the Path to Prosperity
Decades ago, Africa's political leaders recognized, with foresight, that regional integration and trade are a powerful path to achieving prosperity. They established eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) that
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Rwanda: UK Supreme Court Rejects Plan to Send Asylum Seekers to Rwanda
[allAfrica] The UK Supreme Court has declared the UK government's policy of sending certain asylum seekers to Rwanda illegal, BBC reports.
The Court ruled that there was a chance that any asylum applicant brought there would be sent back home, in violation of both UK and international human rights legislation. It also mentioned Rwanda's history of mistreating refugees and its dismal record on human rights as reasons for its decision.
Announced in April 2022, the five-year pilot called for sending certain asylum
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