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News and information from the fast-changing continent.
Nigeria: Inflation in Nigeria Is Still Climbing While It Has Slowed Globally - Here's Why
[The Conversation Africa] Just as Nigerians were gradually digging out from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were hit by high inflation.
The Nigerian economy contracted by 6.1% at the peak of COVID in the second quarter of 2020. Unemployment rate rose from 27% in the second quarter of 2020 to 33% in the fourth quarter of the same year.
The World Bank estimated that 11 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty during the pandemic, in addition to the 100 million (out of 200 million people in the country) who
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Rwanda, Tanzania Move to Open New Border Post
[New Times] A top Tanzanian oficial has announced plans to open a new border post with Rwanda, as part of a raft of measures to scale up ties between the two East African countries.
January Makamba, Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, who has just wound up a visit to Rwanda, says the proposed border crossing will be set up in Tanzania's Kyerwa district in Kagera Region.
The two countries mainly rely on Rusumo border post to transact business.
ALSO READ: Rwanda, Tanzania commit to
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Senegal to Hold Presidential Election After Constitutional Council Voids Delay
[People's Dispatch] President Macky Sall's announcement to hold an election on March 23 follows weeks of uncertainty over his bid to extend his time in power
Senegal is set to hold its presidential election on March 24 after the country's top judicial body, the Constitutional Council, rejected the government's bid to delay the polls. Outgoing president Macky Sall formally announced on the evening of March 6 that the Council of Ministers had been informed of the date. The decision was also ratified by the Constitutional
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Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Hint At a New West African Currency - What It'll Take for It to Succeed
[The Conversation Africa] On 11 February 2024, the head of Niger's ruling military junta, General Abdourahmane Tiani, spoke of the possible creation of a common currency with Burkina Faso and Mali. "The currency is a first step toward breaking free from the legacy of colonisation," he said on national TV, referring to the CFA franc inherited from French colonisation.
Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, three former French colonies, have experienced military coups in recent years. They're now all ruled by military regimes. They also
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Zimbabwe: Police Arrest Cult Leader, Rescue 251 'Child Labourers'
[New Zimbabwe] A self-styled prophet and leader of the Johanne Masowe Gore Jena Penyeranyika sect has been arrested for detaining and abusing minors while conducting unlawful burials at his shrine at Nyabira, Mashonaland West province.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the sect leader, Ishmael Chokurongerwa (56), together with his aide-de-camps.
The other suspects are, Shingirai Ngawafune (42), James Gwenzi (55), Zebediah Sigudu, Devlodge
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Nigeria: Negligence Escalates Hunger Crisis in Northwest Nigeria, Aid Group Says
[VOA] The medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said this week that Nigeria's northwest region is experiencing "catastrophic" levels of malnutrition and disease outbreaks as it copes with a decline in humanitarian support.
The aid group, known by its French initials MSF, said that while heavy conflict continues to affect both the northeast and northwest regions of Nigeria, the humanitarian needs of the northwest have yet to be met under the national response plan.
In a media statement, MSF said that the
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Sierra Leone: '1.5c? We're Already There', Says Sierra Leone's Climate Minister
[African Arguments] Jiwoh Abulai, Environment and Climate Change Minister of Sierra Leone talks 30x30, land rights, carbon credits, climate finance, and more.
You've recently come out of regional meetings on the so-called 30x30 plan to designate 30% of the world's lands and oceans as protected areas by 2030. How does Sierra Leone reach this goal?
Sierra Leone is a small country with natural assets that have degraded over time. To achieve the 30x30 goal, we need to set aside some more areas to be protected. We need to protect
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Africa: The Next Pandemic? It's Already Here for Earth's Wildlife
[The Conversation Africa] I am a conservation biologist who studies emerging infectious diseases. When people ask me what I think the next pandemic will be I often say that we are in the midst of one - it's just afflicting a great many species more than ours.
I am referring to the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1), otherwise known as bird flu, which has killed millions of birds and unknown numbers of mammals, particularly during the past three years.
This is the strain that emerged in domestic geese in
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South Africa: Library Vandalism Hits Learners Hard in Philippi
[GroundUp] The library in Brown's Farm, Philippi, in Cape Town, has been closed for seven months after it was vandalised, and may not be open again for another five months, leaving tens of thousands of users in the lurch.
The library, the only one in the area, was attacked on 7 August. Criminals stole and damaged books, computers and other appliances, broke windows and doors. Fifteen computers were lost. City of Cape Town spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said it would cost R4-million to fix the library and the money
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South Africa: Joshlin Smith Accused Bail Hearing Sees Violence Flare, Police Attacked Outside Court
[Daily Maverick] The court proceedings for the accused, who face charges of human trafficking and kidnapping of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, were preceded by violent clashes between police and protesters. A 29-year-old female police constable was hit in the face and rushed to hospital with blood flowing from her wound.
On Wednesday, a large crowd attempted to remove the barbed wire preventing them from entering Vredenburg Magistrates Court. They pelted police with stones, prompting police to fire stun grenades and teargas.
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Kenya: Cooperative University Gets Modern Server for Agricultural Transformation
[Business Day Africa] The Cooperative University has taken a major step in transforming Kenya's agricultural landscape with the acquisition of a state-of-the-art server, which is aimed at enhancing farmers productivity and income.
Donated by the African Development Bank (AfDB), this technological asset is poised to boost the Kenya Rural Transformation Centres Digital Platform (KRTCDP), a pioneering initiative aimed at enhancing farmer connectivity, combating market cartels, and bolstering farmer incomes.
Prof Kamau Ngamau,
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South Africa's Master Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim Going On a World Tour At 90
[The Conversation Africa] Abdullah Ibrahim, South Africa's most distinguished pianist, was born on 9 October 1934 in Cape Town. This year marks not only his 90th birthday but also the start of a world tour. Christine Lucia has studied Ibrahim's work and published research articles about him. We asked her why he is so important.
Who is Abdullah Ibrahim and what shaped him?
Abdullah Ibrahim is the finest jazz pianist-composer that South Africa has ever produced - even in such a jazz-rich country. He is the country's equivalent of the
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Nigeria: Tinubu Vows Not to Pay Ransom to Kidnappers of Kaduna Students, Others
[Premium Times] In Kaduna, north-west Nigeria, over 200 students were kidnapped last week by yet-to-be-identified bandits.
President Bola Tinubu has vowed not to pay ransom to kidnappers of scores of students and other people in parts of Nigeria, an official has said.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who stated this in Abuja while addressing journalists on Wednesday, said the president also directed security agencies to ensure the release of all kidnapped victims without the payment of ransom.
"Mr President has also
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Nigeria: Cement Price - Nigerian Lawmakers Summon Dangote, BUA, Others
[Premium Times] The manufacturers are to appear before the entire House to brief the lawmakers on the 'arbitrary increase in cement price."
The House of Representatives has summoned the major cement manufacturers over the spike in the price of the product in the country.
The summon followed a motion jointly moved by Gaza Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa) and Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos), during plenary on Wednesday.
The manufacturers are to appear before the entire House to brief the lawmakers on the 'arbitrary increase in cement
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Africa: 'The Patriarchy May Be Pushing Back, but So Are We', UN Chief Tells CSW68
[UN News] Women's rights are under attack, and governments must act to reverse that dangerous trend, the UN chief told a his annual town hall event with civil society activists on Wednesday, as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) session continued its first week, with a host of side events highlighting deteriorating conditions around the world.
"After decades of progress, women's rights are being undermined and reversed," said Secretary-General António Guterres.
Pointing to several ominous examples,
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Sudan's Forgotten War - a New Diplomatic Push Is Needed
[Chatham House] After nearly a year of devastating conflict, there is little sign of a ceasefire. Concerted high-level international pressure is needed to change the calculations of the generals and support a democratic transition.
On 8 March, the UN Security Council adopted a UK-drafted resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the month of Ramadan, a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue, compliance with international humanitarian law and unhindered humanitarian
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Zambian Women Are Obsessed With Using Tobacco for Sex - Despite the Health Risks
[Global Press Journal] They ingest snuff to self-medicate and insert it in their vaginas to increase their partner's sexual pleasure. But smokeless tobacco could compound the already steep health challenges they face.
At her makeshift stall, vegetable vendor Racheal Zimba retrieves a small white bottle from her bra and sprinkles some black powder onto her palm. She sniffs it, then sneezes a few times. She buries the remaining powder under her tongue and passes the bottle to another woman, a fellow trader, who also takes a sniff.
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South Africa: Sewage Leaks Put South Africa's Freshwater At Risk - How Citizen Scientists Are Helping Clean Up
[The Conversation Africa] Across South Africa, sewage systems are leaking and contaminating the country's freshwater. Involving the affected communities can help prevent this pollution hazard, as a group of 15 citizen scientists in KwaZulu-Natal province have shown. Their community water monitoring programme, working with municipal authorities, has managed to prevent raw sewage from flooding into rivers.
The young, unemployed residents from Mpophomeni, a working-class area, became "Enviro-Champs" in 2009 through a partnership
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South Africa: Supreme Court Grants Motsoaledi Leave to Appeal Zimbabwe Immigration Federation Case
[Department of Home Affairs] It will be recalled that in the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) and Zimbabwe Immigration Federation (ZIF) matters, the full court of the Gauteng Division granted orders sought by HSF and ZIF on 28 June 2023. These are matters that have to do with the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP).
The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, applied for leave to appeal in the SCA in both matters.
The Minister's leave to appeal the HSF matter was dismissed by the SCA and he has now applied for leave to appeal to the
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Africa: Putin Denies Strategy to Spread Influence in Africa After Wagner 'Rebrand'
[VOA] Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied he is seeking to oust Western influence in Africa, as new analysis suggests the Kremlin's military intelligence arm has taken over activities of the disbanded Wagner Russian paramilitary group on the continent.
In a television interview broadcast in Russia on March 13, Putin dismissed claims that Moscow is seeking to displace France as the major partner of countries such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
"We have not ousted anyone. It's just that the African
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Somalia: Militants Attack Mogadishu Hotel
[VOA] Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia stormed a heavily guarded hotel in downtown Mogadishu on Thursday evening, witnesses and officials said.
A resident told VOA that an explosion was detonated outside the SYL hotel. Moments later, the witness said, he heard gunfire from inside the hotel.
The al-Shabab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, and its members were fighting inside the hotel.
Two security officers who did not want to be identified also said militants had entered the hotel.
One of the
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South Africa: Gauteng Hospitals Hemorrhage Millions in Negligence Claims - South African News Briefs - March 15, 2024
[allAfrica]
Gauteng Hospitals Hemorrhage Millions in Negligence Claims
In just nine months, the Gauteng health department has paid R623 million to claimants in medical negligence or malpractice cases, alongside R597 million to lawyers and legal services, reports News24. This overspend accounts for a 20% increase in administrative costs for medico-legal claims this financial year. One poignant case involves Tebogo*, who, due to a seven-hour delay in receiving proper medical attention, lost his leg, resulting in
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South Africa: Are You Sitting Too Long in Your Office Job? South African Study Offers Some Health Tips
[The Conversation Africa] Sedentary behaviour can result in chronic health conditions such as obesity and heart diseases, bad news for the millions of office workers who are forced to sit behind their desks every day.
In its simplest form, the term "sedentary behaviour" describes sitting for too long and not breaking this up with movement.
Sitting for more than one hour without a break can be considered as too much sitting time.
Existing evidence shows that about 25% of adults and over 75% of adolescents worldwide are not meeting
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Kenya: Secretary Blinken's Call With President Ruto
[State Department] The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto today to discuss the expeditious deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission to provide security and stability to the Haitian people, including immediate next steps to facilitate deployment.
Secretary Blinken and President Ruto underscored the United Nations Security Council's stated expectation that the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti deploy
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Tanzania: Diamond Platnumz Calls Off Wedding, Not Ready for Such a Commitment
[New Times] Renowned Tanzanian Bongo Flava star Diamond Platnumz has allegedly called off a wedding just moments before the ceremony was set to take place, after realizing that he wasn't ready for such a commitment. He even advised his fiancée identified as Sophia to stop the wedding proceedings.
ALSO READ: Diamond Platnumz to perform with The Ben at Trace Awards
According to Esma Platnumz, the 'Yatapita' singer 's sister, who disclosed this bombshell during a recent an exclusive interview with Wasafi FM, the
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Africa: 'Record High' in UN Development Index Masks Stark Disparities
[UN News] Despite record high global human development scores in 2023, disparities between the haves and the have-nots are widening, a new UN report revealed on Wednesday.
The 2023 Human Development Index (HDI) stands at a new high following steep decline during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Rich countries experienced unprecedented development, the Human Development Report details, yet half of the world's poorest nations continue to languish below their
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Uganda: High Cost of Internet, Smart Devices Frustrating Uganda's Digital Transformation Journey - Minister Baryomunsi
[Nile Post] The Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has said the high cost of purchasing smart devices like phones is still frustrating Uganda's digital transformation journey.
"We have made advances in terms of embracing technology and I am sure Ugandans appreciate the situation today is not as it was 10 or so years ago. We have addressed issues of connectivity and extending internet to various parts of the country but there are a few challenges like the cost of smart devices like smart
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Rwanda: Kigali's Public Transport Revolution - a Bumpy Road to a Smoother Ride
[New Times] The move this week by the regulatory authority together with the City of Kigali to liberalise the public transportation sector is a welcome step towards a more efficient and accessible system for all.
This decision, which has seen the bus companies operating city routes significantly increase to 14 so far licensed, holds immense potential to address the city's growing public transport needs.
ALSO READ City of Kigali opens new public transport routes
The previous system struggled with a shortage of
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Africa: Corrupt, Brutal and Unprofessional? Africa-Wide Survey of Police Finds Diverging Patterns
[The Conversation Africa] Africans generally have a low regard for the quality of policing on the continent. Perceptions of police misconduct, corruption and brutality are widespread, according to a new survey by Afrobarometer. The independent research network surveyed 39 countries between 2021 and 2023.
Our survey offers new evidence of how Africans experience and assess their police. It shows people often have to contend with demands for bribes from police officers. But assessments varied by country: in some, police were said to
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Equatorial Guinea: Jailed Human Rights Defender At Risk of Torture: Anacleto Micha Ndong
[AI London] On 1 March, Anacleto Micha Ndong, an Equatoguinean human rights defender, was transferred to the Malabo prison of Black Beach on pre-trial detention.
He has been accused of outrage and calumny by a gendarme who Anacleto had accused of torturing him the last time he was detained in Black Beach, in 2023. This gendarme still works at Black Beach so there are serious concerns for the human rights defender's safety.
On 26 January, the human rights defender was violently arrested at his home, in Malabo and held
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