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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Africa: Online Foreign Exchange System Aims to Enable Cross-Border Payments in Local Currencies - What You Need to Know
[The Conversation Africa] The high cost of making cross border payments on the African continent has driven governments on the continent to seek options of settling trade and other transactions in local currencies. This has given birth to the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System which is scheduled to go live in 2024 under Kenya's leadership.
Development economist Christopher Adam, who has studied the exchange rate policies of African countries, answers some key questions.
Why are African countries exposed in the international
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Africa: Inclusive Policies Could Close Africa's Stem Gender Gap
[SciDev.Net] This article was supported by IDRC.
Role models, mentorship and maternity breaks could help unblock Africa's longstanding gender gap in science and technology, a swathe of research projects has revealed.
Researchers shared these insights during a panel discussion entitled Reimagining African Universities as Gender-Inclusive, a side event hosted by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) at the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) conference held on 16 November at the University
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Africa: Loss and Damage Q&A - What's At Stake for Africa At COP28?
[African Arguments] Why is the Loss and Damage fund so important for Africa and what will likely come out of the negotiations at COP28?
At the upcoming international climate talks in Dubai, Parties will look to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund, a potential lifeline for developing countries agreed to at the last minute at COP27. Our climate editor, James Wan, spoke to Hyacinthe Niyitegeka, coordinator of the Loss and Damage Collaboration to learn more.
In the run-up to COP28, we will be publishing further explainers
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Kenya: Hague Court Formally Closes Cases Against President Ruto, Joshua Arap Sang
[Capital FM] The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally closed the cases against President William Ruto and former Journalist Joshua Arap Sang where they are accused of crimes against humanity in the 2007 post-general election violence.
In a statement, the ICC however stated that the charges against Walter Barasa, Philip Bett will remain active.
Deputy Prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan stated that she had reached the decision to terminate the case after assessing the information availed to her.
"After assessing
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Kenya: High Courts Halts Implementation of Three Health Acts
[Capital FM] The High Court has halted the implementation of three health Acts by the Ministry of Health pending the hearing and determination of a petition seeking to impede it.
The Petitioner Joseph Aura filed a case arguing that all the three Health Acts contravened the constitution with provisions seeking to deny Kenyans critical rights.
Justice Chacha Mwita issued conservatory orders halting the implementation saying the petition pointed out said important constitutional issues.
"That in the meantime, a
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African Leaders Gather to Break Barriers, Reposition Continent in Global Health
[allAfrica] Africa is on a mission to strengthen its healthcare systems and become more self-reliant in public health.
The Third International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) has opened with a commitment to increased collaboration and investment in healthcare.
The conference theme of this year, "Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture," underscores a fundamental truth: health is not only a matter of medical science, but also of policy, equity, and global cooperation,
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Africa: WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Health
[allAfrica] In recognition of his unwavering dedication to advancing global health and his transformative leadership during unprecedented crises, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), was bestowed with the prestigious 2023 CPHIA Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Health. This accolade was presented at the International Conference on Public Health in Africa conference, being held in Lusaka, Zambia.
The award recognizes Dr. Tedros's unwavering dedication to
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South Africa: Municipality's Head of Good Governance Allegedly Scored R3.5-Million in Tenders
[GroundUp] The PR councillor will continue working at Matatiele Local Municipality while the Hawks and COGTA investigate
An ANC Proportional Representative (PR)Councillor, who is head of good governance and special programmes in the Matatiele Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, is under investigation. PR Councillor Mzwamandla Nyembezi allegedly benefitted from R3.5-million in municipal tenders.
Mziomhle Trading allegedly received sub-contracts for electrification of Mkhemana and Phalane villages in Matatiele's ward 22,
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South Africa: Miners Die in Safety Incident in North West Province - South African News Briefs - November 28, 2023
[allAfrica]
Rescue Operation Under Way After Serious Safety Incident at Mine
Emergency services and paramedics are working hard to rescue mineworkers trapped in a shaft in Rustenburg, eNCA reports. A mine spokeperson told eNCA that 88 people had been involved, and that 11 had died. Impala Platinum (Implats) said in a press release that there had been a "serious safety incident" involving a winder rope. The rope was connected to a "personnel conveyance, which hoists employees up and down the shaft".
Top
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South Africa: Power Utility Forecasts More Crippling Blackouts Over the Coming Months
[Daily Maverick] Eskom officials have forecast that there will be rolling blackouts (between stages 1 and 3) every day during December and January -- except for six days. And that is the best-case scenario. Electricity situation looks dire for most of 2024 and early 2025, with demand on the rise and uncomfortable levels of unplanned blackouts.
A forecast by Eskom officials on the state of SA's electricity system has shown that there will be consistent blackouts in December and January -- contradicting the recent claims
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Sierra Leone Now Calm After Coordinated Series of Attacks
[DW] Active and retired soldiers allegedly participated in Sunday's attacks in Freetown, but the government says it's too early to tell if it was an attempted coup.
The streets of Sierra Leone's capital Freetown were nearly empty on Monday, with most shops shuttered and school children staying home after a series of attacks, including on a military barrack and an armory.
Security forces were still patroling Freetown's streets and controlling traffic at checkpoints.
"Monday is usually a very busy day," said DW
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Kenyan Women Forced Into Backstreet Abortions Amid Legal Uncertainty
[allAfrica] The uncertainty in Kenyan abortion laws is driving many women to seek services from unofficial clinics. BBC Africa Eye investigated the stigma and misinformation surrounding abortion in the country.
Kenya is grappling with complexities surrounding abortion.
Kenya's penal code, rooted in the colonial era, prohibits abortion, making it a criminal offense for the woman, the abortion provider, and the supplier of materials. However, under the 2010 constitution and broader legal provisions, abortion is
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Ethiopia: National Movement of Amhara Calls for Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict in Amhara Region
[Addis Standard] The National Movement of Amhara (NaMA) has issued an appeal to the government to engage in peace talks regarding the ongoing conflict in Amhara region between the federal government and a non-state militia group, Fano.
In a statement released yesterday, NaMA urged the government to carefully address the Amhara people's demands, declare an immediate ceasefire, and encourage armed forces in the area to engage in peaceful discussions.
The party, whose leader is serving in PM Abiy Ahmed's cabinet as minister
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Congo-Kinshasa: WHO Confirms Spread of MPox in DR Congo
[allAfrica] The World Health Organization said that it documented sexual transmission of mpox ( previously monkeypox ) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the first time during the nation's largest epidemic, a troubling finding that African scientists say might make it more difficult to stop the illness.
The UN health agency said that a Belgian citizen visited the Congo in March and soon after, tested positive for mpox. The man "identified himself as a man who has sexual relations with other men"
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South Africa: Major Crisis at South Africa's Ports
[allAfrica] Delays in container offloading at Durban port, Richards Bay port and Cape Town port is once again highlighting the crisis at Transnet, the state-owned enterprise that oversees rail, ports and pipelines in the country.
Transnet has been at the centre of South Africa's rail and port woes for a number of years.
Since submitting a turnaround plan set for the next two years, costing U.S.$5,2 billion, Transnet is now taking responsibility for not maintaining its equipment at some ports - compromising their
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Kenyan Court Strikes Down 1,5% Housing Tax
[allAfrica] The Kenya High Court declared a 1.5% housing levy that was imposed by the government as part of a finance law in July 2023, unconstitutional, reports BBC News.
A three-judge bench ruled that the tax didn't have proper legal support. The introduction of the housing levy, among other taxes, sparked deadly protests amid a high cost of living.
The government is now asking the court to delay the decision for 45 days while they figure out what to do next.
President William Ruto had, on June 12, 2023, bowed
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Mozambique: Electoral Body Proposes Election Re-Run in December
[Mozambique News Reports And Clippings] The Council of Ministers is expected to announce, by tomorrow, the date for the repeat of the local elections in Marromeu and parts of Guruè, Milange and Nacala-Porto. The National Electoral Commission (CNE) proposal is for the rerun to take place on Sunday 10 December.
The proposal apparently violates Law 7/2018 of 3 August, which states that elections declared null and void must be repeated by the second Sunday after the Constitutional Council's decision. The decision was Friday 24 November so the
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South Africa: Activists Want Government to Do More to Register Domestic Workers
[GroundUp] Three years after the landmark Concourt ruling, very little has changed with their access to compensation
It's been three years since the Constitutional Court's landmark ruling for domestic workers to be covered by the provisions of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA). But activists say very little has changed for most workers. According to SERI, fewer than 20 claims have been submitted with COIDA since 2020, despite a relatively larger number of cases reported to the
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Central Africa's Dinosaur Regimes and the Art of Coup-Proofing
[African Arguments] The putsch against Gabon's Bongo dynasty has shaken the region's fragile autocrats and tremulous gerontocrats into a desperation of self-protective measures. How much longer can they postpone the inevitable?
After the 30 August Brice Nguema-led military coup in Gabon, political commentators called time on central Africa's Francophone "dinosaur regimes" - hinting that Bongo's overthrow would most likely create cascading effects across the subregion. This prediction was informed by the fact that these
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West Africa: Europe's Migration Deals in the Sahel Must Be Revised
[ISS] As instability in the region grows, the EU's faltering strategy with partner countries should be adapted.
This year, a complex mix of insecurity, poverty and misgovernance has seen instability soar in the Sahel. Among the immediate effects is a rise in forced and voluntary migration from the region to other parts of Africa and towards Europe, which is difficult to contain.
According to Médecins Sans Frontières, 2023 has been the deadliest year on the Central Mediterranean migration route
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Mali: Siege in Timbuktu - Nearly 74,000 Children Trapped in City and Running Out of Food
[Save the Children US] More than 136,000 people, including nearly 74,000 children, are trapped in the city of Timbuktu in northern Mali, with armed groups preventing the entry of food, medicines and other essential supplies, Save the Children said.
The siege of the historic city, which started in August, has led to a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with only limited food allowed in. The UN estimates that while at least 33,000 people have been displaced around Timbuktu since the crisis began, the rate of people fleeing has
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Mozambique: Rwanda's Troops in Mozambique Have Done Well to Protect Civilians - The Factors At Play
[The Conversation Africa] Rwanda's involvement in peacekeeping operations for the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) has increased since 2004.
The relatively small east African nation is Africa's most active troop-contributing country and the fourth most active worldwide. It has nearly 6,000 soldiers and police committed to UN peacekeeping missions.
In recent years, however, Rwanda has deployed its army independently of the UN or AU. In 2020, it sent 1,000 troops to fight anti-government rebels in the Central African
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South Africa: 11 Miners Killed in Accident at Platinum Mine
[allAfrica] Eleven miners died in an incident at the Impala Rustenburg platinum mine in the North West province of South Africa, according to Implats, one of the world's foremost producers of platinum and associated platinum group metals.
The company confirmed 11 workers died while being transported in a "personnel conveyance" in a shaft. Rescue operations were launched.
"Initial reports indicate that there have been several serious injuries, but an accurate assessment of the full human impacts of the accident
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Africa: New Report From the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Outlines Priorities for COP28
[Mo Ibrahim Foundation] The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) has released its latest research report, Africa on the road to COP28: reconciling climate & development , outlining the three priorities that must be addressed at COP28 in Dubai.
The research builds on the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and the Call to Action published after the Africa Climate Summit and seeks to support efforts to strengthen Africa's voice in the global climate debate ahead of COP28.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has long advocated for a
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Southern Africa: EAC, SADC Chiefs of Defence Forces to Discuss the Next Steps for the Nairobi Process On DRC
[Capital FM] The Chiefs of Defence Forces from the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) States have been mandated to discuss the next steps for the Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The decision was made Friday following an extensive closed-door discussion addressing various regional issues, with a primary focus on the security situation in Eastern DRC at the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State.
It came at a time when
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East Africa: U.S. Intelligence Chief Leads Diplomatic Mission to Diffuse DRC, Rwanda Tension
[Premium Times] During her visit, Ms Haines engaged in crucial talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi.
In a significant diplomatic move, America's topmost intelligence chief, US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines, traveled on a high-stakes visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda between 19 and 20 November, as confirmed by the White House on 21 November.
In her delegation were Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and
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Congo-Kinshasa: President of the Bishops' Conference - 'Here Too, Families Are in Crisis and Children Are Left to Their Fate As 'Street Children''
[Agenzia Fides] "2/023 was a very intense year for the Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo," says the President of the Congolese Episcopal Conference and Archbishop of Kisangan, Marcel Utembi Tapa. "In 2023 there were for the Church at the national level in the Democratic Republic of Congo and as a world church two important events: the Synod of Bishops on Synodality at the same time as the Synod in October, the Ad Limina visit. We Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo gathered to pray at St. Peter's Tomb
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Malawi: President Lazarus Chakwera Under Fire for Sending Malawians to Work on Israeli Farms
[allAfrica] President Lazarus Chakwera and his administration came under fire from opposition parties and human rights organizations in Malawi, for a deal allowing 221 young young Malawians to be airlifted on Saturday, November 25, 2023 to work on Israeli farms.
The action comes in the wake of Israel's U.S.$60 million aid package for Malawi's economic recovery two weeks ago. Concerns are for the agreement's secrecy and concerns for the safety of workers in light of Israel's confrontation with Hamas.
Malawian
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Sudan: 5 Million Children on Brink In Darfur as Unchecked Conflict Worsens
[Unicef] In the last seven months of fighting in Sudan, reported cases of children killed and injured in Darfur spiked 550 per cent when compared to all of 2022.
The escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan over the last seven months has reached a grim milestone in Darfur, where at least 5 million children are facing extreme deprivation of their rights and protection risks due to ongoing conflict.
Since the war broke out on April 15, over 3,130 allegations of severe child rights violations have been reported in the
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Kenya: Army Helicopter Crashes in Wajir After Delivering Relief Food
[Capital FM] A Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) logistics helicopter crashed in Buna, Wajir North, on Monday where it flew to deliver relief supplies to residents affected by floods.
Footage circulated online showed the chopper crashing moments after takeoff.
Details on the number of those on board were not available with KDF yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The incident, confirmed by local leaders, marked the third KDF chopper in under five months.
KDF constituted a Board of Inquiry in September to probe a fatal
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