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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Ethiopia: Amhara Region Breathes Sigh of Relief As Major Cities Return to Routine
[Addis Standard] Numerous urban centers within Ethiopia's Amhara region are witnessing a gradual restoration of normalcy following a recent period of conflict.
Inhabitants of cities such as Gondar and Debre Birhan have observed a notable improvement in their localities, signifying a reduction in hostilities and a move towards peace.
The command post responsible for overseeing the state of emergency in Debre Berhan and its vicinity had instituted a prohibition on Bajaj vehicles effective 05 January, 2023, due to
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Rwanda: Main Polluters of Four Major Lakes Revealed - What Next?
[New Times] An investigation by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) between December 2023 and January 2024 revealed that construction and agriculture projects, as well as waste discharge, are polluting four major lakes in Rwanda.
ALSO READ: MPs push for law enforcement against encroachment on water bodies
The environmental watchdog surveyed to assess compliance with the 2018 law, which requires a buffer zone of at least 50 metres between lakes and human activities to conserve the water bodies.
The lakes
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South Africa: Why South Africa Has Taken Israel to the World Court
[VOA] The U.N.'s International Court of Justice will hold hearings this week to decide whether an interim measure needs to be brought against Israel to try and halt the war in Gaza. There is a history behind the South African government's longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian people.
South Africa has gone to the ICJ or International Court of Justice in The Hague, charging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. On Thursday and Friday the court will hear arguments from both sides and will then decide
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South Africa: SuperSport Secures Broadcasting Rights for Africa Cup of Nations - South African News Briefs - January 11, 2023
[allAfrica]
Afcon Bonanza! SuperSport Secures All 52 Games Live from Ivory Coast
SuperSport has officially obtained the broadcasting rights for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), as confirmed in a statement released, reports TimesLIVE. The pay-TV channel will air all 52 matches of the continental tournament hosted by Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11. A commercially viable agreement was reached between MultiChoice, SuperSport's parent company, and the rights holders, New World TV (NWTV), for the 34th
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Gabon: Demonstrations in Gabon As Regional Blocs Bloc Maintain Sanctions Against Junta
[VOA] Opposition and civil society groups are rallying in support of Gabon's coup leader, after a bloc of Central African states refused to lift the sanctions on Gabon they imposed after the military ousted President Ali Ben Bongo at the end of August.
There were demonstrations this week in the Gabonese cities of Libreville, Oyem and Franceville, as civil society groups call for an end to sanctions, including Gabon's suspension from the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, and Economic
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Africa: What's At Stake for Africa in 2024?
[Chatham House] From a year of elections, to multiple summits, as well as conflict hotspots and debt burdens, 2024 will bring mixed fortunes for the African continent.
Africa in 2024 will be the second fastest-growing economic region in the world (after Asia) at 4 per cent, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but behind the headline figure is a less auspicious reality.
Fresh conflict, more military coups, the renewed Israel-Gaza conflict and the lingering Russia-Ukraine war are contributing to stifling
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Zimbabwe: Expert Says 2024 National Budget to Worsen Workers' Plight in the New Year
[New Zimbabwe] RENOWNED academic, Dr Godfrey Kanyenze says the just commenced year will be one of the toughest for workers owing to a cocktail of ensuing hardships.
The 2024 National Budget unveiled by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube last year attracted cross-cutting backlash with some sections even in the ruling Zanu-PF party calling for the resignation of the Treasury boss. The developments forced authorities to admit the need for an intense amendment of the National Budget which has seen some alterations being effected.
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Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo Constitutional Court Upholds Tshisekedi Election Win
[RFI] The Democratic Republic of Congo's Constitutional Court has confirmed Felix Tshisekedi's landslide re-election in December polls - paving the way for him to serve another five years as president of the mineral-rich country.
The court on Tuesday rejected two legal challenges to the provisional results of last month's contested 20 December presidential, legislative, regional and local elections.
Nine opposition leaders signed a declaration declaring the polls, in which Tshisekedi got 73.47 percent of the
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Africa: Moroccan Envoy Pips South African for UN Human Rights Council Post
[allAfrica] The UN Human Rights Council has elected Ambassador Omar Zniber of Morocco as president of the UN Human Rights Council for 2024 after he beat South African envoy, Mxolisi Nkosi in a vote.
Voting was by secret ballot on January 10 and held after the 47-member council resumed its work for 2024 without a leader for only the second time in its 18-year history.
Of the votes cast, Zniber won 30 to the 17 cast for Nkosi with all members voting.
The council presidency rotates annually between five regional groups
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Africa: Vaccinating Africa - Expanding Vaccine Manufacturing for Health Security
[Nigeria Health Watch] It is time for Africa to focus on producing vaccines for its population.
In February 2021, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres highlighted vaccine equity as "the biggest moral test before the global community." This statement was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic which exposed the vulnerability of Africa's health systems and amplified the urgency for the continent to become self-reliant in addressing public health challenges. The pandemic served as a reminder of the critical importance of equitable
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Ugandans Spend Shs 2.2 Trillion On Diabetes Annually
[Observer] Uganda has found itself at the center of a growing health crisis, one that isn't always immediately evident but carries significant financial implications.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) identifies Uganda as one of the 48 countries facing a concerning diabetes-related health issue. The spotlight in this article falls on Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a condition that affects millions of Ugandans, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, causing a heavy economic burden on households and the
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Senegal's Sponsorship Phase for Presidential Candidates Nears Completion
[RFI] In Senegal, 21 candidates have made it through the sponsorship phase, despite issues and complaints. The final list will be known on 20 January.
The sponsorship phase requires potential candidates for the presidential election in Senegal to collect signatures demonstrating support from at least 0.6 percent of the electorate, 13 members of the National Assembly, or 120 mayors and heads of regional councils.
For the 25 February election, it started in October 2023.
Senegal's Constitutional Council finished
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Zambia: Govt Asks For Help With Cholera As Schools Remain Shut During Outbreak
[allAfrica] Primary and secondary learners in Zambia will resume school on January 29 - three weeks late - the education ministry announced as the country's cholera cases reaches 7,000 and 273 people are dead.
Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said that the 60,000-seater National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka is now being used as a health facility for cholera to ease the pressure on hospitals.
“We continue sensitizing our citizens not to buy food from unsafe locations and to observe the highest level of hygiene so
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Zimbabwe: Teachers Stage Sit in As Schools Open for 2024, Demand U.S.$1,2k Salary
[New Zimbabwe] The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) claims its members across the country staged a sit-in on the first day of the 2024 school calendar in protest over poor salaries and working conditions.
The labour union demanded that the government increase the minimum wage from the current US$300 monthly pay to US$1, 260.
ARTUZ said teachers had reported for duty but took heed of the call not to work until the parent ministry accedes to demands for a three-fold salary hike to match the rising cost
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Africa: Minister Lamola to Lead South Africa's Delegation to the Hague
[SAnews.gov.za] Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola will lead South Africa's delegation to the Peace Palace, which houses the United Nations International Court of Justice, in the Hague.
South Africa has approached the International Court of Justice, under the Genocide Convention, with respect to acts committed by Israel in the context of its attacks on Gaza.
"We are determined to see the end of the genocide that is currently taking place in Gaza. We are most encouraged by leaders of the world who
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South Africa: Protesters Show Support for South African Case At International Court of Justice
[GroundUp] South Africa's legal team is presenting at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, on Thursday about the devastating effects of the ongoing war in Gaza
About 100 people gathered outside the Western Cape High Court on Thursday to express support for South Africa's legal team at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The South African government submitted an application on 29 December to the ICJ. It describes the recent history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
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Uganda: Worth the Salt? Artisanal Miners Continue to Work Despite Health Concerns
[Global Press Journal] The unlicensed workers use what they have to combat health fears in Uganda's top salt-producing lake. A new law is supposed to offer protections. So far, little is on the way.
At first glance, the branches scratching the surface of Lake Katwe look like a gripping artwork for the way they create different shapes in the water. If, to an outsider's eye, their arrangement may seem random, for the thousands of artisanal salt miners whose livelihoods depend on the lake, every branch serves a purpose as they are
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Nigeria: 'We Don't Know the Characters in BBC's Documentary' - Synagogue Church
[Premium Times] "Some of those identified are relics of homosexual and lesbian associates. My findings further show that everything the BBC put together is strange to SCOAN."
The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has reacted to the BBC documentary, 'Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua,' which portrayed the late founder Temitope Joshua, aka TB Joshua, in a negative light.
BBC released a documentary accusing the late TB Joshua of multiple crimes, including allegations of rape against certain members.
The three-part
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South Africa: Black Coffee Injured in 'Severe Travel Accident'
[Scrolla] Nkosinathi Maphumulo, popularly known as Black Coffee, is recovering in hospital after suffering an injury in a "severe travel accident" aboard a plane.
Maphumulo was travelling to perform at a show in the Argentinian town of Mar del Plata when the accident took place, according to a statement released by his team on Wednesday.
"The incident resulted in unforeseen complications and left him with some injuries," reads the statement, which does not explain how he was injured.
The statement also doesn't
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Burkina Faso: 'Nobody Sees Me' - Photographing Displacement in Burkina Faso's Capital
[The New Humanitarian] 'Since I have been here, nobody from the government has ever come to help.'
More than 30,000 Burkinabé have made their way down to the capital city, Ouagadougou, over the past few years, escaping a jihadist conflict that has enveloped large parts of the country and displaced more than two million people overall.
Yet despite the city's safety and employment opportunities, the displaced people have been struggling with high rents and a lack of assistance and recognition from humanitarian organisations
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Nigeria Launches Crackdown On Fake Degrees
[DW] The Nigerian government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to investigate fake academic degrees. The move comes after Abuja banned degree certificates from 18 foreign universities.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's administration, through the Ministry of Education, said that it will start investigating 107 local private universities that began operating in the past 15 years.
The move aims to tackle the proliferation of fake degrees that has shaken Nigeria's academic institutions following an
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Tanzania: Malawi's Maize Import Ban Forces WFP to Mill Grain From Tanzania
[VOA] Despite ongoing food shortages, the government of Malawi last month banned the import of unmilled maize from Kenya and Tanzania, citing concerns about the spread of maize lethal necrosis disease, or MLN. To help keep Malawians fed, the World Food Program has started milling 30,000 metric tons of relief maize. Authorities say the first consignment of the milled grain is expected next week.
Ironically, the maize the WFP purchased for milling is from Tanzania. The grain was held up last week, awaiting the
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Africa: Phd Students' Mental Health Is Poor and the Pandemic Made It Worse - but There Are Coping Strategies That Can Help
[The Conversation Africa] A pre-pandemic study on PhD students' mental health showed that they often struggle with such issues. Financial insecurity and feelings of isolation can be among the factors affecting students' wellbeing.
The pandemic made the situation worse. We carried out research that looked into the impact of the pandemic on PhD students, surveying 1,780 students in summer 2020. We asked them about their mental health, the methods they used to cope and their satisfaction with their progress in their doctoral study.
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Africa: South Africa Is Taking Israel to Court for Genocide in Palestine. What Does It Mean for the War in Gaza?
[The Conversation Africa] South Africa has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ, also known as the World Court) in The Hague claiming genocide has been committed against Palestinians during the Gaza conflict.
A charge of genocide before the court in the midst of a heated armed conflict is exceptional.
Likewise, the significance of South Africa's claim against Israel has immense cultural, diplomatic, historical, and political significance. Israel has rejected South Africa's claim and vowed to contest the case
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Namibia: Multichoice Kicks TB Joshua's Channel to the Curb
[Namibian] MultiChoice Namibia is getting rid of Emmanuel TV.
This was confirmed by the company's managing director, Roger Gertze, on Wednesday.
This comes as allegations of being a cult leader and sexual abuser have been levelled against the late founder of the channel, Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua.
"As part of this ongoing process, Emmanuel TV will no longer be available on DStv and GOtv packages, effective 17 January 2024 at 23:59," Gertze said.
A group of over 25 women claim to have been abused by Joshua, who was
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Africa: Viruses Aren't Always Harmful. 6 Ways They're Used in Health Care and Pest Control
[The Conversation Africa] We tend to just think of viruses in terms of their damaging impacts on human health and lives. The 1918 flu pandemic killed around 50 million people. Smallpox claimed 30% of those who caught it, and survivors were often scarred and blinded. More recently, we're all too familiar with the health and economic impacts of COVID.
But viruses can also be used to benefit human health, agriculture and the environment.
Viruses are comparatively simple in structure, consisting of a piece of genetic material (RNA or
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Africa: COP28 Just About Put Food Systems On the Climate Agenda. Now We Build
[African Arguments] Though the talks' long overdue focus on food and agriculture ultimately disappointed, it provides a starting point for future action and advocacy.
At COP28 in Dubai last month, food systems were finally put in the spotlight of global climate talks. There were numerous announcements related to the sector and, for the first time ever, there was a whole day dedicated to food and agriculture.
Given the profound impact of agricultural practices and food consumption patterns on our planet's health, this
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Congo-Kinshasa: UN Rights Official Denounces Rising Hate Speech, Incitement
[New Times] The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has said he is "concerned about the rise in ethnic-based hate speech and incitement to violence" in eastern DR Congo.
Türk said hate speech and incitement to violence was on the rise since the December 20, 2023 elections, especially in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu as well as in the Kasaï and Katanga regions.
"Hateful, dehumanizing and inciteful rhetoric is abhorrent and can only deepen tension and violence in the
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Kenya: I Will Crush Vested Interest in All Arms of Government - Ruto
[Capital FM] President William Ruto has singled out vested interest and incompetent leadership in successive regimes as key impediments of development.
President Ruto added that corruption bedeviling the Executive, Legislature as well as Judiciary has derailed the country's progress.
"Corruption anywhere in all arms of government must be dealt with," he said during a groundbreaking ceremony of the affordable housing project in Nanyuki.
"Three things have held our country hostage and have led to the transformation of
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Africa: Afcon 2023 Preview - Zambia's Chipolopolo First Appearance in Eight Years
[Vanguard] Chipolopolo makes a return to the AFCON under Avram Grant and has set sights on moving past the group stage and possibly winning the tournament.
Zambia made history on the continent when it defeated a star-studded Ivorian side to win the 2012 AFCON. The team was led by the Katongo brothers, Christopher and Felix.
11 years after the win, Zambian football has struggled, with the team crashing out in the group stage in the 2013 and 2015 editions, while it has failed to qualify for the last three editions.
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