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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Liberia: All Sanctioned Officials, Families Banned From U.S. For Life
[New Republic] As Liberian Government officials continue to face the wrath of the United States Government, the US Embassy near the Liberian capital, Monrovia has disclosed that all sanctioned officials and their families will be banned for life from entering the United States.
This latest statement was reechoed by the Chargé d'Affaires at the United States Embassy in Monrovia Catherine Rodriguez who reminded the sanctioned Liberian Government officials that they and their families will be banned from entering the
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Zimbabwe: Opposition MPs Ejected From August House After Protesting Swearing-in of New Legislators
[New Zimbabwe] Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda on Thursday ejected all Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators from the National Assembly for disrupting the swearing-in of the newly elected MPs.
The new MPs were elected in the weekend by-election following recalls by self-imposed CCC Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu.
Police were called to force the MPs out of the New Parliament building after the opposition MPs sang in protest.
JUST IN: All CCC members have been ejected from the August house after they sang
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Tanzania Govt Confirms Death of Second Student in Israel
[allAfrica] A Tanzanian student, Joshua Mollel, initially reported missing after a Hamas attack on an Israeli kibbutz in October 2023, has been confirmed dead by the Tanzanian government, reports BBC.
Mollel was working as an agricultural intern at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, and he was killed immediately after being taken hostage during the October 7th attack by Hamas gunmen, according to Tanzania's Foreign Minister, January Makamba.
This news follows the confirmed death of fellow Tanzanian student Clemence Felix Mtenga, also
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West Africa: Ecowas Finally Suspends Niger Republic
[Premium Times] ECOWAS had, until Sunday, considered the situation in Niger Republic as an attempted coup.
The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS/CEDEAO) has officially suspended the Republic of Niger's membership until constitutional order is restored in the country.
This was contained in a statement by the regional body, following the decisions taken at the summit of heads of state and government held on Sunday in Abuja.
"Until the 64th ordinary session held on 10 December 2023, the
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Tanzania: EU Parliament Calls Out Maasai Evictions from Serengeti
[Survival International] In a groundbreaking move, the European Parliament has condemned evictions of Indigenous Maasai communities under the guise of conservation. It also stressed that Indigenous rights are a non-negotiable prerequisite for any conservation initiative.
The resolution, passed with resounding support today, comes after attempts to evict the Maasai people from Tanzania's world-famous Serengeti ecosystem.
Violence and arbitrary arrests of community leaders have made headlines since last year. Tanzanian
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Uganda: Why Funding for Climate Adaptation Is Key to Any Refugee and Hunger Response
[WFP] Lessons from East Africa's most ambitious and under-resourced response to refugees
To drive into a refugee settlement in Uganda is to drive into hope. Refugee houses stand proudly alongside those of host communities - a testament to what happens when you invest in a refugee response, providing displaced people a degree of security amid crises.
The World Food Programme reaches 1.4 million, out of the 1.5 million, refugees in Uganda with food assistance and livelihood interventions, Yet our funding is at a
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South Africa: Trio Sues Over N1 Attack by VIP Unit, Demands R3 Million - South African News Briefs - December 15 2023
[allAfrica]
N1 Attack Victims Seek R3 Million in Damages from Deputy President's Bodyguards
Three people who were victims of a violent attack on the N1 freeway in Johannesburg by eight members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile's protection detail are seeking R1 million each in damages for the alleged attack, reports News24. Julian Malan, Lucian Avontuur, and Shelene Bezuidenhout, representing themselves as victims, intend to file a civil claim against Police Minister Bheki Cele and the
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Africa: Digital Press Briefing: U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit â One Year Anniversary of Implementation
[State Department] Special Briefing with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Jonathan Pratt, National Security Council Senior Director for African Affairs, Judd Devermont, and Prosper Africa Coordinator, British Robinson.
Listen to or download the audio file here.
MODERATOR: Good afternoon to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Regional Media Hub. I would like to welcome our participants logging in from across
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Africa: FACT SHEET: Accelerating the U.S. â Africa Partnership After the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
[White House] Since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022, President Biden kicked off an extraordinary year of U.S. engagement with Africa and made progress in delivering on our high-profile commitments announced during the Summit. The Biden-Harris Administration is over-delivering on our commitment to invest $55 billion in Africa over three years. Over the last year, the United States has welcomed the African Union as a permanent member of the G20, expanded trade and investment partnerships,
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Somalia: IMF and World Bank Announce U.S$4.5 Billion in Debt Relief for Somalia
[IMF] The Executive Boards of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) have approved[1] the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative Completion Point for Somalia, which provides total debt service savings for the country of US$4.5 billion.[2] Following HIPC Completion Point, Somalia’s external debt has fallen from 64 percent of GDP in 2018 to less than 6 percent of GDP by end 2023. This debt relief will facilitate access to
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Sudan: 'Hunger Catastrophe' Looming in War-Ravaged Sudan, UN Agency Warns
[UN News] Civilians in Sudan - where rival militaries are waging a bloody war, with devastating consequences - are at a high risk of falling into catastrophic levels of hunger by May next year, the UN emergency food relief agency warned on Wednesday.
The World Food Programme's (WFP) latest food security analysis of the country shows the worst hunger level ever recorded during the harvest season (October through February), which is typically a period when more food is available.
If there is no significant increase in
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Ethiopia: Former State Minister Taye Dendea Arrested Over Alleged Terrorist Ties
[Addis Standard] Taye Dendea, the former State Minister for Peace, has been apprehended today by the Federal Security and Intelligence Task Force.
According to the statement put forward by the Task Force, the arrest comes following a thorough investigation revealing alleged evidence of Taye's participation in terrorist activities during his tenure in a high-ranking position within the administration.
The statement continues by explaining that Taye, who held the crucial role of State Minister with a focus on peacebuilding,
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South Africa: Ramaphosa to Fight King Misuzulu Court Ruling
[Scrolla] President Cyril Ramaphosa is appealing the North Gauteng High Court ruling that his recognition of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the King of the Zulu nation was unlawful and invalid.
Some senior members of the Zulu royal family, who had legitimate standing to be part of a meeting called to identify the future king, complained that they were excluded from that meeting.
This immediately deepened the divisions in the family, especially because the excluded factions say they intended to add new candidates to
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Nigerian Islamic Scholar Shares Misleading Information About Girl-Child Education Policy
[Premium Times] During a short commentary after delivering the Friday sermon at the Indimi Mosque, Maiduguri, Borno State, the cleric claimed that the AGILE project targeted Northern Nigeria and Islam to erode religious beliefs and instil moral decadence.
On Friday, 19th November, a popular Kano-based Islamic scholar, Muhammad Uthman, made certain claims about the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE).
AGILE is a World Bank-assisted project of the Federal Ministry of Education geared at
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African Countries At COP28 - Several Big Wins and a United Voice
[The Conversation Africa] African countries entered the recent COP28 negotiations on climate change in high spirits. Before this conference, in September, African government leaders, policymakers, activists and other groups from the continent met at the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The African position and expectations for COP28 were shaped at this summit by the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration.
Africa's main agenda at COP28, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, was to convince global players that they must show more
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Nigeria: Supreme Court Orders Continuation of Biafra Leader Nnamdi Kanu's Trial
[Premium Times] The judgement also implies an effective reversal of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal ordering the release of Mr Kanu from detention.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the continuation of the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over terrorism charges.
The trial which started in 2015 had been put on hold at the Federal High Court in Abuja after the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the charges in a judgement delivered in October 2022.
A five-member panel of
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Nigeria: Supreme Court Okays Biafra Leader Nnamdi Kanu's Trial, Quashes Order for His Release
[Vanguard] Supreme Court has nullified the judgment of Court of Appeal that ordered FG to release Nnamdi Kanu.
The Supreme Court, on Friday, nullified the judgment of Court of Appeal that ordered the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
Though the apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel of Justices, acknowledged that FG acted "irresponsibly" when it forcefully brought Kanu back to the country from Kenya, against
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Nigeria: Destination, Universal Health Coverage for All Nigerians - Can a Sector-Wide Approach Get Us There?
[Nigeria Health Watch] The repositioning of Nigeria's health sector is benefiting from the highest levels of political engagement. The involvement of critical stakeholders with the power and influence to bring about the desired changes, to accelerate the country's attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has provided the health sector with a much-needed boost. The Ministry for Health and Social Welfare under the leadership of Professor Mohammad Ali Pate, has made it clear from the onset, that a different approach in the
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Nigeria: Key Issues As Supreme Court Rules On Govt's Appeal Against Biafra's Leader Kanu's Release
[Premium Times] The IPOB leader has been in detention since June 2021 when he was repatriated from Kenya to Nigeria.
The Supreme Court will, on Friday, deliver judgment on the appeal by the Nigerian government challenging an order for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.
Mr Kanu, the IPOB leader, has been in detention since June 2021 when he was repatriated from
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Chad to Hold Controversial Referendum On New Constitution
[DW] Chad is set to vote on a contentious constitutional referendum on Sunday that is widely seen as a move to consolidate power by transitional leader Mahamat Deby.
Some 8 million registered voters head to the polls on Sunday to cast their ballots on whether Chad should adopt a new constitution.
The "yes" vote is endorsed by a broad alliance of parties, including the military-led transitional government headed by General Mahamat Deby, the former ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) and the main opposition
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West Africa: Ecowas Tries Negotiations With Niger's Coup Leaders but Analysts Skeptical
[VOA] The West African bloc ECOWAS is seeking to hold talks with Niger's military government and chart a course forward following the country's July coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The bloc is pushing for Bazoum's release and a shorter path back to democratic rule, but analysts worry they may not succeed.
Niger is one of several African countries that have experienced coups or attempted coups in recent years.
At a recent summit in Abuja, Nigeria, West African leaders from regional bloc ECOWAS agreed
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Africa: One Year After the US-Africa Leaders Summit: Deal Book Showcases 547 New Deals Valued at $14.2 Billion in U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment
[Prosper Africa] To mark the one-year anniversary since last December's U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the U.S. Government's Prosper Africa released today a groundbreaking Deal Book that demonstrates that the United States is catalyzing significant progress in trade and investment, citing the successful closure of 547 new deals totaling an estimated value of $14.2 billion in two-way trade and investment between the United States and African countries. The new figures represent an increase of 67 percent in the number and
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Africa: U.S. Celebrates Milestones in African Relations On U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Anniversary
[Premium Times] US officials discuss unprecedented achievements and future collaborations in transformative U.S.-African Relations
In a significant milestone marking the first anniversary of the US-Africa Leaders' Summit held in December 2022, Special Assistant to President Joe Biden and Senior Director for African Affairs, Judd Devermont, highlighted to journalists the extraordinary achievements in US-African relations over the past year.
Mr Devermont noted that the United States had experienced a "record-setting year"
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Africa: What's the Big Deal About Fossil Fuels? #AfricaClimateHope
[allAfrica] When you hear the word "fossil" what generally comes to mind? Old bones, right? The bones of dinosaurs and other animals, and maybe you'd even call to mind the ancient remains of our human ancestors. The point is that it's really old. So are fossil fuels.
But why is this source of energy powering global expansion and extraction in the industrial model of development for well over the past century so contentious?
And why is much of the talk around the climate crisis centred around this topic?
To understand
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South Africa: Comedian Trevor Noah Takes the Grammy Stage Again!
[allAfrica] Get ready for another round of laughs as award-winning South African comedian Trevor Noah is officially returning as host for the 66th Grammy Awards!
The event on February 4, 2024 is a historic moment for Noah who will be the first-ever host to preside over music's biggest night for four years in a row.
"Guess who's back as #GRAMMYs host?" the Recording Academy teased on social media, followed by a resounding "Trevor Noah is back for his 4th year!"
Noah confirmed the news on his "What Now?" podcast,
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South Africa: No Conclusion Yet in Probe Into Naval Submarine Deaths
[allAfrica] South African Navy spokesperson, Commander Theo Mabina, said an inquiry - originally scheduled to end its investigation into the deaths on the SAS Manthatisi in November 2023 - is yet to reach a conclusion, Eyewitness News reports. The inquiry began after the burial of the mariners in October.
Mabina spoke on the scale of the investigation, saying it was extensive, and said a report would be issued once the convening authority was satisfied with it. Mabina was unable to confirm when the investigation would
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Nigeria: I'm Not Satisfied With Nigeria's Security Situation - Tinubu
[This Day] President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, reviewed the country's security situation and declared that he was not satisfied with the current state.
Tinubu declared that he would not relent until insecurity became a thing of the past across the country, stressing that protection of lives and property remains the top priority of his government.
Speaking in Maiduguri at the palace of Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the president grieved again over the recent military bombing of
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Nigeria: Hunger Number One Issue Facing Children in Nigeria, 12 Others in 2023 - Survey
[Vanguard] Hunger is the most concerning issue affecting children in Nigeria and around the world in 2023, according to almost half of adults surveyed in almost every continent by Save the Children.
Save the Children conducted the survey of more than 25,000 adults in a range of high- middle- and low-income countries, including Nigeria, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the US, between September and October.
It was the largest global audience insights study of
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Nigerians Under Poverty Line Rise to 104 Million - World Bank
[Vanguard] Nigeria's poverty level has taken a notch higher, at the backdrop of the recent economic and fiscal reforms, World Bank report reveals.
A World Bank report has indicated that Nigeria's poverty level has taken a notch higher, at the backdrop of the recent economic and fiscal reforms.
The key reforms include the removal of petrol subsidy and the foreign exchange market rate restructuring.
The bank, however, commended the Federal Government for what it considered 'bold reforms' necessary to rescue Nigeria
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Cameroon Says Bedbugs Imported From Europe Infest Towns and Villages
[VOA] Sanitation and health workers in Cameroon are disinfecting homes to kill bedbugs that have infested the central African state's capital, Yaounde, and several towns and villages. Government officials say the bloodsucking bugs are imported by travelers from Europe, where some countries are also experiencing infestation.
Cameroon residents say they are expecting teams from the central African state's hygiene and sanitation service to come to their homes to help get rid of the bugs.
Fruit seller Kuffo Marilyne
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