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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Sudan: Fighting Hampers Cholera Response in Sudan
[UN News] The conflict in Sudan continues to block efforts to respond to a deadly cholera outbreak that continues to spread across the country, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.
The number of suspected cases has increased by more than 100 percent over the past month, with nearly 8,300 suspected cases and more than 200 deaths reported in nine states as of 23 December, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Sudan's Ministry of Health.
This includes more than 1,800 suspected
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Liberia: Bong County Tanker Explosion - Hospital Overwhelmed As Death Toll Rises
[FrontPageAfrica] Bong County is still reeling from shock and grief following Tuesday's accident, where 15 people have now been confirmed killed and 36 others wounded after a fuel tanker exploded in Totota, lower Bong County.
FrontPageAfrica gathered the hospital is full, owing to the large number of patients from the incident. Doctors and nurses who were not on duty have been called to reinforce service.
https://web.facebook.com/61554367384110/videos/1062962148185477
Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Cynthia Blapooh said:
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Nigeria: 20 Feared Dead As Explosion Rocks Pipeline in Rivers
[Daily Trust] No fewer than 20 persons were feared dead following an explosion from a vandalised oil pipeline in Omoku, Ogba/Egebema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning, after the youths allegedly broke a pipeline belonging to one of the multinational oil firms operating in the areas.
They were reportedly using jerrycans and buckets to scoop fuel when the tragedy struck.
I was learnt that many persons suffered varying degrees of burns and were
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Nigeria: $9.3bn Required Annually for Refugee Education in Developing Nations - World Bank
[Vanguard] The World Bank has estimated that about $9.3 billion is required annually to finance the education of refugee children in low and middle-income countries around the world.
In a publication titled "Refugee Education: Financing what matters," citing statistics from 2022, the Bank said aid to refugee education amounted to $2.6 billion, while host governments and philanthropists contributed $2.4 billion, leaving a deficit of nearly 50 per cent.
According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees,
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Africa: Unusual Ancient Elephant Tracks Had Our Team of Fossil Experts Stumped - How We Solved the Mystery
[The Conversation Africa] Over the past 15 years, through our scientific study of tracks and traces, we have identified more than 350 fossil vertebrate tracksites from South Africa's Cape south coast. Most are found in cemented sand dunes, called aeolianites, and all are from the Pleistocene Epoch, ranging in age from about 35,000 to 400,000 years.
During that time we have honed our identification skills and have become used to finding and interpreting tracksites - a field called ichnology. And yet, every once in a while, we
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Niger Suspends Cooperation With International Francophone Body
[RFI] Niger has suspended all cooperation with the international organisation of Francophone nations (OIF), its military leaders said, as it progressively severs ties with former colonial ruler France.
In a new move to cut all contact with France, Niger's junta cut cords with one more French-led organisation.
The 88-member body defending the French language "has always been used by France as an instrument to defend French interests", said a spokesperson for Niger's ruling junta on national television late on
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Nigeria: Former Central Bank Governor Meets Bail Conditions, Regains Freedom
[This Day] Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre after fulfilling his bail conditions.
Emefiele's release was confirmed yesterday by the spokesperson for the Kuje Correctional Centre, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adamu Duza.
He said: "I can confirm to you that he (Emefiele) has met his bail conditions, hence he has no reason to remain in our facility.
"He met his bail condition and was released past 2p.m. yesterday (Friday)."
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Malawi: Government Intends to Establish Sign Language Clubs in Schools
[Nyasa Times] Government has disclosed its intentions to establish SignLanguage clubs in schools to increase equitable access to quality and relevant education.
Ministry of Education Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Rachel Chimbwete Phiri, made the remarks on Tuesday in Mponela during the first phase of training primary and secondary school teachers as Trainer of Trainers for Malawi SignLanguage organized with support from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
She said in its efforts to achieve the
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Mozambique: Mozambican Forces Recover Over 90% of Territory Once Controlled By Terrorists
[AIM] The Commander of the Mozambican army, Maj-Gen Tiago Nampele, claims that the terrorists in the northern province of Cabo Delgado have been defeated, since between 90 and 95 per cent of the territory that was once in the terrorists' hands has been recaptured.
According to Nampele, who was speaking to reporters in Mocimboa da Praia district, remnants of the insurgents have now been driven into the Catupa forest, in the north-east of Macomia district, where they operate in small groups.
Nampele believes that
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Somalia: Good Morning, Mogadishu! Preserving Somalia's Cultural History, One Tape At a Time
[UN News] Historic audio recordings covering the recent history of Somalia are being preserved for future generations thanks to UN support.
Sitting in a small, windowless room in a government building in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed loops another audio tape onto the dilapidated machine and presses a few buttons.
He's beginning a time-intensive process to digitize some seven decades of unique historical recordings belonging to the government-run Radio Mogadishu.
One down, a couple of hundred
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Rwanda: Year in Review - Five Key Changes in the Education Sector in 2023
[New Times] As the year draws to a close, The New Times looks at the significant changes witnessed within the education sector over the past twelve months.
These changes range from advanced technical programs to revamped school initiatives and innovative examination methods, each contributing to the elevation of education quality and the cultivation of skilled, capable students.
BTech Programs Introduced for TVET Graduates
The government's dedication to evolving into a knowledge-based economy by 2035 has spurred
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Uganda: Top 10 African Countries On the Unesco World Heritage Sites List
[Independent (Kampala)] A UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site has cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance and is protected under an international convention.
43 African countries have at least one World Heritage Site and Ethiopia has 11. Here is a list of the African countries that boast the most of these must-see sites:
**Ethiopia (11)**
Bale Mountains National Park - an Afroalpine area that is home to the Ethiopian wolf - is the most recent
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Nigeria: Gloomy Christmas - Death Toll in Plateau Attacks Now 113
[Daily Trust] Following attacks by assailants on some communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State between Saturday night and Monday morning, the death toll from the incident has risen to 113.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Monday Kassah, confirmed that 113 persons were killed in the attacks on the villages.
Daily trust reported on Sunday that about 16 persons were killed in Mushu village in Bokkos LGA. The spokesperson for Operation
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Zimbabwe: Notorious Border Gezi Militia Training Re-Introduction On the Cards
[New Zimbabwe] The government has revealed that the controversial National Youth Service (NYS) commonly known as the Border Gezi Youth Militia training reintroduction is on the cards.
Popularly known as Green Bombers because of their green training uniform, the NYS was established as a youth militia in the 2000s by late youth minister and Zanu PF stalwart Border Gezi.
The Zanu PF-linked militia has in previous years been accused of terrorising, assaulting, raping and killing opposition supporters during elections, mainly
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Sudan: The Impact of RSF's Capture of Wad Medani
[Ayin English] Over a quarter million civilians have fled Sudan's Al-Jazeera State, the UN reports, after four days of fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces last weekend.
"First, I was displaced from Khartoum, now I am forced to move again," says Siddiq Ahmed*, a former resident of Khartoum who relocated in May to Wad Medani, the capital of Al-Jazeera State. Ahmed fled Wad Medani last weekend on foot due to a lack of finances for public transport. While walking to the southern border of the
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Africa: 2023 Marked By Achievements and Avoidable Suffering - WHO Chief
[UN News] The past year saw significant milestones and challenges in global public health but also immense and avoidable suffering, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted key achievements during 2023 - which also marked the agency's 75th anniversary - and set out objectives for the coming year.
"In May, I declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern. This marked a turning point for the world
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Sudan: RSF Accused of Selling El Geriza Looted Goods in Sudan Capital
[Dabanga] As fighting continues in Khartoum, Omdurman, and El Obeid, some markets in the Sudanese capital witnessed significant price drops due to an influx of goods from El Gezira, where the RSF has been condemned for "terrible aggression" against civilians.
Military operations continued intermittently between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since yesterday morning in separate areas of the capital, where large explosions were heard in central Khartoum, and smoke clouds rose in the
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Nigeria: Carnival - Visitors Finding It Difficult Getting Hotel Accommodation in Calabar
[Premium Times] The Cross River State Government declared 14 days of public holiday to enable its civil servants to take part in the carnival.
Visitors trooping to Cross River State for the 2023 annual Calabar carnival are battling to find hotel accommodation in the city.
NAN reports that the 20th edition of the annual carnival which began on 1 December, has lived up to its billing despite the security challenges in Calabar.
Several activities have been lined up for each of the 31 days of the carnival with 28 December
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South Africa: Student Sues After Assault on School Grounds - South African News Briefs - December 27, 2023
[allAfrica]
Student Sues Over School Rape, Seeking R5.1 Million
A teenager who was tied up and raped by two pupils on a school's premises when she was eight years old is suing the government for R5.1 million in damages, reports News24. The former pupil of Kutumela-Molefi Intermediate Farm School, outside Pretoria, was sexually assaulted by two boys aged 10 and 14 on 11 June 2015 while waiting for transport to go home. She was in Grade 3. Two other Grade 2 pupils were also assaulted. According to
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Nigeria: Plateau Killers Won't Escape Justice, Says Tinubu
[Vanguard] President Bola Tinubu has directed the security agencies to immediately apprehend those behind the heinous and brutal attacks in Bokkos and Barki-Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.
The president also condemned the bastardly act that resulted in the tragic loss of many lives.
President Tinubu's directive to the security agencies was made public via a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement partly reads, "President Tinubu
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Zimbabwe: Raw Minerals, Tobacco Dominate Zim's Export List
[New Zimbabwe] RAW minerals and tobacco continued to dominate Zimbabwe's export list in the third quarter of the year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) third-quarter report has established.
The central bank report shows that during the period, gold injected US$502,5 million being the largest export earner constituting 26% of the total exports. The Platinum Group of Minerals (PGM) raked in US $403.8 million.
Industrial diamonds raked in US$136,8 million 7,1% of exports, Ferro-Chromium US$85 million 4,4% percentage
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Africa: General Assembly Approves $3.59 Billion UN Budget for 2024
[UN News] The General Assembly has approved a $3.59 billion budget for the United Nations for 2024, including the establishment for a special account to finance the Organization's peacebuilding fund.
In actions taken late evening on Friday, the 193-member General Assembly also adopted nearly $50 million in additional funding for decisions taken by the Human Rights Council, UN's primary forum on human rights matters.
It also decided to establish the Peacebuilding Account, a dedicated multi-year special account, as a
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Zimbabwe: Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube Extends Car Import Deadline for Former MPs
[New Zimbabwe] Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Mthuli Ncube has extended the car import deadline for former legislators while promising 10th Members of Parliament (MP) vehicles worth US$60 000 vehicles.
Members of the Ninth Parliament who couldn't import vehicles before its dissolution will get a reprieve.
Responding to concerns by MPs during the 2024 national budget debate, Ncube said the relevant Statutory Instrument will be extended, allowing them to finally bring in their second
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Zimbabwean Bishops Reject Pope's Move to Bless Same-Sex Relationships
[New Zimbabwe] THE Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC) has rejected the approval of same-sex marriages after Pope Francis permitted Catholic priests to bless the unions.
In a Vatican declaration recently, Pope Francis said priests should be allowed to give blessings to same-sex couples, however, this should not be integrated into standard rituals or connected to civil unions or weddings.
However, in a pastoral statement Sunday, the Roman Catholic clergy cited Zimbabwe's laws saying same-sex unions are not
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East Africa: 4 Must-Read Books From East Africa in 2023 - From Tanzanian Masters to Ugandan Queens
[The Conversation Africa] East African literature continues to grow and reshape itself in exciting new ways - and 2023 was no exception. The world really did take notice of the region when Tanzanian-British author Abdulrazak Gurnah won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021. Interest in Gurnah's work continued last year when he made a homecoming to east Africa.
But it is in Tanzania that Gurnah made a proper homecoming in 2023 - through the first ever Kiswahili translation of Paradise, now out as Peponi.
I am an interdisciplinary
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South Africa: Gerco van Deventer Home After 6 Years in Al-Qaeda Captivity - South African News Briefs - December 26, 2023
[allAfrica]
South African Paramedic Home After 6 Years in Al-Qaeda Captivity
South African paramedic Gerco van Deventer, kidnapped in Libya in 2017 by Al-Qaeda militants, has returned home, reports EWN. He spent over six years in captivity before being released and taken to Algeria for medical care. Gift of the Givers, a humanitarian aid group, played a key role in negotiating his release. Van Deventer is said to be in good health and spirits, reuniting with his family.
Amid Christmas Joy, Concern for Young
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Ghana: A Midwife's Journey of Hope and Healing in Ghana
[Nigeria Health Watch] Aisha Bawa, a 34-year-old midwife at the Manhyia Government Hospital in Ghana, tries to ensure safe deliveries in her facility. Aisha has worked in the Ghana Health Service for nine years, where she has been committed to minimising maternal deaths while providing emotional support to grieving mothers.
"Saving a baby and the mother feels like securing a ticket to heaven for me," Aisha said.
Over the years, Ghana has seen a decline in its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) from 760 per 100,000 live births in
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Rwanda: Over 40 Babies Born On Christmas in Kigali
[New Times] At least 40 babies were born on Christmas day, in four major hospitals in Kigali, by midday.
However, contrary to the usual trend where many of them instantly receive the truest of Christmas names, most parents interviewed preferred to choose names which don't have christmas in their definition for their newborns.One such parent is Winnie Mutesi, who gave birth at Hôpital Croix du Sud. For her, there is no better feeling on Christmas than bringing a new life into the world.
Mutesi carefully selected
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Zimbabwe: Jazz Legend Bob Nyabinde Dies
[New Zimbabwe] JAZZ legend Bob Nyabinde affectionately known as "The Headmaster" has died.
Nyabinde had been unwell for some time, following his diagnosis with diabetes in 2018 which greatly affected his eyesight.
In 2021, he suffered a stroke which stalled his decades-long music career.
A post shared on his official Facebook page reads "The great songwriter has fallen. Go Well Jazz legend. Sing with the angels."
At the peak of his career, Bob Nyabinde churned out chart-topping tracks like Chabuda Hapana off his debut
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Africa: Uncertainty Reigns As Fourth Round GERD Talks Fail
[Reporter] The fourth round of trilateral negotiations involving Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) ended this week in Addis Ababa, without an agreement.
The fourth meeting since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El Sisi initially agreed to a resumption of negotiations in July 2023, the latest sit down in the Ethiopian capital failed to meet the leaders' promise of a resolution before the end of the year.
A joint statement on the leaders of the
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