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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Sudan: U.S. Offers Reward for Capture of Former Minister Harun
[Dabanga] Ahmed Mohamed Harun, former Minister for Humanitarian Affairs under the Al Bashir regime, was designated under the War Crimes Rewards Program (WCRP) yesterday by the US Department of State. Harun is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur between 2003 and 2004.
The WCRP offers rewards of up to US$5 million for information that leads to the arrest or conviction in any country or international tribunal of designated foreign
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Rwanda: Will the Next Pandemic Come From NTDs?
[New Times] On January 30 every year, people everywhere come together to observe World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day.
The purpose of this day is to reflect on the suffering caused by NTDs; celebrate those who are engaged in tackling the burden and the accomplishments of the global NTD community; as well as gather more support towards their control, elimination, and eradication.
Even if these diseases are stigmatised, marginalised, and neglected by the global public health system, the WHO anticipates that the next
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South Sudan: Peacekeepers and Civilians Killed During Clashes in Disputed Abyei Region
[UN News] Continuing intercommunal clashes in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan have left more than 50 people dead including two peacekeepers, the UN said on Monday.
Armed youth from rival factions of the Dinka ethnic group have been battling over the location of an administrative boundary in the oil-rich region, claimed by both countries, according to media reports.
The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) reported that clashes erupted on Saturday in the Nyinkuac, Majbong and Khadian
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Kenya Economy May Miss Growth Target Amid High Debt Distress
[Capital FM] Kenya is at risk of not meeting its economic growth targets in the medium term as the country grapples with high debt and a deteriorating macroeconomic operating environment.
Data from the Institute of Public Finance's (IPF's) Macro Fiscal Analytical Snapshot Report shows that the country finds itself in a tight spot following years of successive borrowing, coupled with the inability of the private sector to create sufficient jobs for millions of young people entering the job market annually.
Since 2014,
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Sudan-South Sudan Border - 52 People Killed in Abyei Clashes
[Dabanga] On Saturday, 52 people were killed and 64 injured in tribal clashes, according to Bulabek Deng Kuol, Sultan of the Ngok Dinka in the disputed Abyei* border region between Sudan and South Sudan. The UN Interim Security Force in Abyei** (UNISFA) confirmed in a statement on Sunday the death of a peacekeeper.
The statement said that another armed group attacked the headquarters of UNICEF in Agok after people fled to it, but UNICEF forces repelled the attack. One of its peacekeepers, who came from Ghana, was
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Africa: Climate-Smart Farming Gets Funding Boost at COP28, But Small Farmers Still Struggle
[allAfrica] Despite not securing a phase-out of fossil fuels, COP28 witnessed a historic focus on food. The summit saw over $7 billion in funding commitments, as well as a pledge by 152 countries to include food and agriculture in their climate plans.
There is no doubt that commercial agriculture is a major contributor to the climate crisis, responsible for around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to Greenpeace. This includes emissions from land use change, on-farm production,
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Kenya Fails to Achieve 100% Transition From Primary to Secondary Education
[VOA] The school year is well under way across Kenya, but education officials say that not every high school aged student has made it to class. The enrollment is at less than 100%.
Social media pages in Kenya are filled with primary school graduates, holding placards asking well-wishers to help them with school fees to continue their education.
Some have received help from ordinary citizens and businesses, and some politicians have come forward to help; however, more than two weeks after secondary school classes
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Nigeria Makes Strides in Transparency International Index Ranking
[Premium Times] Nigeria's slight improvement in points scored places it below the Sub-Saharan African average of 33 points.
Nigeria has recorded an improved ranking in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released on Tuesday by Transparency International (TI), moving five places up to rank 145 out of 180 countries assessed.
Apart from moving five places up from its 150th position, the country also gained one point added to its previous 24, ending up scoring 25 out of the 100 maximum points in the 2023 CPI results.
The
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Nigeriens Celebrate Exit From Ecowas but How Does It Solve Their Problems?
[Premium Times] Analysts see the three countries' decision as an unwise one.
A few hours after Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced their exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday, Nigeriens poured out into the streets of Niamey to celebrate "freedom" from ECOWAS and the West.
BBC Hausa reported that several residents of the Niger Republic capital were in a celebratory mood over the decision.
The regional bloc had imposed sanctions on the three countries but more recently in Niger, where
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Sudan: Warring Parties Likely Committed War Crimes in Darfur - ICC Prosecutor
[VOA] The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he believes war crimes have been committed by both sides in the Darfur region of Sudan since fighting erupted between rival generals in mid-April.
"Based on the work of my office, it's my clear assessment that there are grounds to believe that presently Rome Statute crimes are being committed in Darfur by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated groups," Karim Khan told the U.N. Security Council in
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South Africa: ANC NEC Suspends Ex-President Jacob Zuma Over MK Party Support
[Daily Maverick] The ANC has suspended its former leader Jacob Zuma from the party. This comes more than a month after he announced his support for the newly formed uMkhonto Wesizwe party.
Speaking to the media on Monday evening at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said former party leader Jacob Zuma is "actively impugning the integrity of the ANC" by campaigning to dislodge the organisation from power.
Mbalula said the NEC invoked Rule 25.60 of the party's
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Nigeria: Nourishing Nigeria - Advancing Nutrition Through Climate Resilience
[Nigeria Health Watch] Climate change poses a critical global crisis, impacting environments and threatening public health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050, from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress alone. This calls for urgent collective action to protect communities worldwide.
The intersection between climate change, health, and nutrition is increasingly evident, with rising temperatures,
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South Africa Is Failing People Who Aren't Poor, but Aren't Middle Class Either
[The Conversation Africa] Many South African households are trapped. They are neither poor nor middle class. As a demographic they hover above the indigence threshold financially. But they are not yet securely in the middle class.
This aspirant middle class - individuals whose income is above the indigent thresholds but too low to afford the middle-class lifestyle - is growing in metropolitan areas globally. This class is financially vulnerable, with a higher risk of falling back into poverty compared to the established middle
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South Africa: Ruling Party Suspends Zuma's Membership to Preserve Party Integrity - South African News Briefs - January 30, 2023
[allAfrica]
Ruling Party Suspends Former President Zuma to Preserve Party Integrity
The African National Congress (ANC) has officially suspended its former president, Jacob Zuma, following a decision by the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) to protect the party's integrity, reports News24. Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula announced the suspension, stating that exceptional circumstances justified the immediate decision. Zuma, who had been actively campaigning against the ANC since announcing his
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Africa: Neglected Tropical Diseases Persist in the World's Poorest Places
[The Conversation Africa] It's sobering to reflect that "neglected tropical diseases" are referred to as "neglected" because they persist in the poorest, most marginalised communities even after being wiped out in more developed parts of the world.
A variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins, cause neglected tropical diseases, which include dengue, chikungunya, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and yaws.
They inflict tremendous suffering because of their disfiguring, debilitating and sometimes
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Rwanda: World NTDs Day - a Look At Common Diseases in Rwanda
[New Times] Rwanda will join the rest of the world to observe World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day on Tuesday, January 30 at DP World Kigali, Masaka sector in Kicukiro District.
The objective of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is to reflect on the causes of NTDs, celebrate those who are engaged in tackling the burden and the accomplishments of the global NTD community, and gather more support towards their control, elimination, and eradication.
According to information from the Ministry of Health (MoH), eight
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Africa: UN Peacekeepers and Civilians Killed During Clashes in Disputed Abyei Region
[UN] Armed youth from rival factions of the Dinka ethnic group have been battling over the location of an administrative boundary in the oil-rich region, claimed by both countries, according to media reports.
The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) reported that clashes erupted on Saturday in the Nyinkuac, Majbong and Khadian areas, leading to casualties and the evacuation of civilians to its bases.
Refuge from violence
UNISFA is engaging with local authorities to verify the numbers of those
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Ghana's Looted Asante Gold Comes Home (For Now) - Asante Ruler's Advisor Tells Us About the Deal
[The Conversation Africa] After 150 years, 39 artefacts that form part of Asante's royal regalia are due to return to the Asantehene (ruler of the Asante people) in Kumasi, Ghana, in February and April this year. The Asante empire was the largest and most powerful in the region in the 18th century and controlled an area that was rich in gold. Many of the gold royal artefacts were looted by British troops during the third Anglo-Asante war of 1874 (Sagrenti War).
The first collection of seven objects is expected from the Fowler
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Nigeria: Ship-Owners Challenge Govt Over Cabotage, Trade Policy
[Vanguard] The Nigeria Ship-Owners Association, NISA, has challenged the Federal Government to stop granting waivers to foreign ship owners operating in the Cabotage area to demonstrate its seriousness with developing the local shipping industry.
Speaking with Vanguard on the issue, president of NISA, Sola Adewumi, said stoppage of waivers for Cabotage will increase the number of local ships operating within the costal ways; which will in turn grow local capacity in terms of manpower and number of ships.
He also
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West Africa: Nigeria Reacts to Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso's 'Exit' From Ecowas
[Premium Times] "Nigeria stands with ECOWAS to emphasise due process and shared commitment to protect and strengthen the rights and welfare of all citizens of Member States," it said.
The Nigerian government on Monday expressed sadness over an announcement by three ECOWAS member states to withdraw from the bloc.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, Nigeria recalled that ECOWAS has worked to promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region.
"Nigeria
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South Africa: Jacob Zuma, the Violence-Monger - Concern Over Unrest in 2024 Polls
[Daily Maverick] The SA Human Rights Commission's inconclusive findings about the 2021 KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng riots should serve as a warning about the potential for more violence in the upcoming elections. The fact that former president Jacob Zuma is campaigning for a new party may increase the chance of such incidents occurring. However, there are still factors that mitigate against the use of public violence as a political tool.
The finding of the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that there was insufficient
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Kenya's Healthcare Workers Abuse a Third of Teen Mums From Informal Settlements - Study
[The Conversation Africa] Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health concern: in 2022, about 13% of girls and young women gave birth before the age of 18.
Compared with women in their early 20s, adolescents are more susceptible to maternal deaths. Pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death among Africa's adolescent girls.
Babies born to adolescent mothers in low- to middle-income countries also face an increased risk of neonatal deaths, and pre-term and underweight birth.
These risks make it vital
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Niger and Russia Are Forming Military Ties - 3 Ways This Could Upset Old Allies
[The Conversation Africa] In July 2023, Niger's military took over in a coup just two years after the country's first transition to civilian power. The coup has brought into sharp focus the role of foreign countries in Niger's politics.
Before the coup, France and the US were the main security allies of Niger. But the coup leaders, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, were open about their antagonism to France, the country's former colonial ruler, and ordered the French military to leave.
Now the attention of many people in Niger
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Kenya's Govt Says It Will Appeal High Court Ruling That Blocks Sending Police to Haiti
[VOA] Kenyan President William Ruto says he will appeal a court ruling last week rejecting a planned deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti. Ruto promised last year that Kenya would lead a multinational force to help fight gangs in the troubled Caribbean nation, but critics challenged his legal authority.
Friday's court ruling didn't come as a surprise because procedure was not followed said, Dr. Francis Khayundi, assistant professor of international law at the United States International University
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Nigeria: 48 Nigerian CSOs Ask Tinubu to Declare State of Emergency On Security
[Premium Times] The organisation said between May 2023 when President Tinubu assumed office and January 2024, at least 2,423 people have been killed in mass atrocities-related incidents and about 1,872 persons have been abducted.
A coalition of 48 civil society organisations in Nigeria has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the current security situation in the country.
The coalition made the call during a world press conference on Monday, in Abuja.
Executive Director of the Civil Society
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Africa: Governance Continues to Deteriorate in Africa Because of Data Gaps - Report
[Premium Times] Only three African countries (Egypt, Mauritius, and Seychelles) have a death registration system that registers at least 90 per cent of the deaths that occur.
Africa remains the continent most impacted by data gaps globally, with the region possessing the lowest availability of civil registration and vital statistics, a new report shows.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) on Monday published the 2023 series of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) report entitled "The Power of Data for Governance:
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Africa: Ruling By UN's Top Court Means Canada and the U.S. Could Be Complicit in Gaza Genocide
[The Conversation Africa] The International Court of Justice has issued a ground-breaking decision in South Africa's genocide case against Israel, ordering Israel to comply with six provisional measures to safeguard the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from genocidal violence.
The court's order is binding on Israel and formalizes the international legal obligations of other countries that are parties to the UN Genocide Convention.
Properly understood, the order should dramatically alter both the foreign and domestic
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Malawi Launches New Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign Amid Rising Cases
[VOA] The Malawi government and the World Health Organization launched a new COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Monday in 10 of the country's 29 districts. This is partly in response to new cases confirmed in the past three weeks in several districts across the country.
Nsanje District in southern Malawi currently leads in the number of COVID-19 cases recorded this year.
George Mbotwa, spokesperson for the district health office, said the district has registered 17 new cases in the past three weeks and some are
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Uganda: How a Tourism App in Uganda Is Making Its Mark in East Africa - and Beyond
[Global Press Journal] Founder Brian Namanya discusses the future of Tubayo, an online marketplace for accommodations, tours and other experiences.
When Brian Namanya traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, for a conference in 2019, he was eager to experience the city. But it was his first time, and he didn't know where to begin. One of the options was to pay travel agents for a tour, but this would have been costly.
"I ended up not doing anything. I just stayed at the hotel," he says.
This got him thinking. What if there was a platform
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Ghanaians Mobilize in Solidarity With Palestine and to Demand a Ceasefire in Gaza
[People's Dispatch] The protest in Kumasi, along with the demonstrations taking place across Ghana, serves as an important reminder of the urgent need for a ceasefire
On January 13, in a powerful display of solidarity, the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) organized a protest in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, specifically in Kumasi, to strengthen calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. Similar protests were held in the country's capital, Accra, and the Northern Regional Capital, Tamale. This
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