Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.
Commentary
Second Russia-Africa Summit: A Mixed Bag for Africa
In recent years, Russia may have increased its influence in Africa more than any other external power.Click here to read…
Yevgeny Prigozhin's Death and Wagner's Future in Africa
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founding head of the private military company (PMC) Wagner Group and known as “Putin’s boss,” was killed in an air strike near Moscow on August 23.Click here to read…
Africa Climate Summit 2023 ends with ‘Nairobi Declaration’, but not everyone is happy
The inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS23) in Nairobi culminated in the ‘Nairobi Declaration’, giving the continent a common voice ahead of upcoming key global engagements.Click here to read…
What’s behind Africa’s recent coups
A recent coup in the Central African nation of Gabon is the latest nondemocratic transition of power on the continent.Click here to read…
News
Filling of Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile complete, Ethiopia says
Ethiopia has announced that it has filled its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile, which has been the source of a long-running water dispute with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan.Click here to read…
Egypt flags concern as Ethiopia fills Nile dam reservoir
Egypt has said that Ethiopia's filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir on the Blue Nile river without a consensus with Egypt and Sudan, the two downstream countries, is a violation of the Declaration of Principles, a previously signed tripartite deal.Click here to read…
Egypt slams Ethiopia’s unilateral filling of Nile dam
Egypt on Sunday denounced Ethiopia’s 4th filling of its dam on the Blue Nile as a violation of international law.Click here to read…
France's Emmanuel Macron refuses Niger Junta demand to withdraw forces
Macron's comments came after ruling junta said France was ignoring its request for 1,500 French troops stationed in Niger to leave the country by September 3.Click here to read…
Niger says France amassing troops, equipment in ECOWAS states
Niger’s military has accused France of gathering forces and equipment in several West African countries with a view to launching a “military intervention” against Niamey.Click here to read…
Gabon military government appoints former opposition leader as interim PM
Raymond Ndong Sima, a 68-year-old economist, was an outspoken critic of President Ali Bongo, who was removed by military officers last month.Click here to read…
Gabon coup: New PM tells BBC country should hold elections within two years
Gabon's new prime minister has told the BBC that the country should hold fresh elections within the next two years, following a military coup last week.Click here to read…
Absence of foreign forces making Mali more vulnerable - Analyst
An analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit suggested last Friday that recent attacks in Mali took place in areas where there used to be a high concentration of foreign forces.Click here to read…
Burkina junta lifts radio station's suspension over Niger coup criticism
Burkina Faso’s junta-led government said one of the country’s most popular radio stations could resume broadcasting on Monday (Sep. 11) after being suspended for airing an interview deemed “insulting” to Niger’s new military leaders.Click here to read…
Madagascar president resigns ahead of polls in November
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has resigned after he was officially confirmed as a candidate in the Indian Ocean Island nation’s presidential elections scheduled for November 9, according to the country’s constitutional court.Click here to read…
Senegal: Macky Sall to Back Amadou Ba in Presidential Elections
Senegalese President Macky Sall announced that Prime Minister Amadou Ba will be the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY) coalition's candidate in the February presidential election.Click here to read…
Kagame prepares list of achievements ahead of polls
As Rwanda prepares to hold presidential elections next year, the dominant ruling party — Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) is expected to front President Paul Kagame as its flag bearer.Click here to read…
Liberia: President George Weah starts his re-election campaign
Liberian President George Weah, who is standing for re-election, launched his campaign for the 10 October presidential election in Monrovia on Thursday in front of several thousand people, who will also be taking part in parliamentary elections, an AFP journalist noted.Click here to read…
Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa appoints son as deputy finance minister in new cabinet
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday appointed his son as the deputy finance minister and retained Mthuli Ncube as the finance minister as he battles to rescue the country’s ailing economy.Click here to read…
At least two killed in Guinea anti-junta protests on eve of coup anniversary
At least two people were killed in Guinea's capital Conakry when armed security forces attacked the neighbourhoods of political activists on the eve of planned demonstrations against the junta that seized power in 2021, protest organisers said on Tuesday.Click here to read…
Tanzania opposition leader Lissu released after weekend arrest
One of Tanzania’s main opposition leaders and former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu has been released on bail hours after he was arrested by police for allegedly holding an illegal gathering.Click here to read…
Sierra Leone: Anti-government protests to occur nationwide Sept. 11
Political activists affiliated with the All People's Congress (APC) opposition party will hold anti-government demonstrations nationwide Sept. 11.Click here to read…
Central African Republic ex-strongman charged with crimes against humanity
The United Nations-backed court in Bangui is handling cases concerning war crimes and crimes against humanity, dating back to 2003.Click here to read…
Malawi President Takes Steps Toward Eliminating Food Shortages
Malawi’s president has launched a large-scale crop production initiative known as “mega farms,” aimed at boosting the country’s agricultural-based economy and help end persistent food shortages.Click here to read…
Eswatini celebrates 55 years of independence
Africa's last absolute monarchy celebrated Wednesday (Sep. 06) its 55th independence anniversary.Click here to read…
US-EU announce support for Angola-Zambia-DRC corridor as race for critical minerals heats up
On sidelines of G20, US and EU said they will support the development of a transport corridor connecting DRC’s mineral-rich Katanga to port of Lobito in Angola via Zambia.Click here to read…
Sudan accused African Union Commission of not serving Africa's interests
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry on Friday accused the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson's office of following a policy of double standards and serving an agenda that does not "serve the interests of Africa."Click here to read…
Tsai eyes century-long Eswatini ties
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) wished Taiwan and the Kingdom of Eswatini would continue to support each other toward reaching the milestone for a century-long friendship at the celebration ceremony of the 55th anniversary of Taiwan’s African diplomatic ally’s independence on Wednesday.Click here to read…
President Tsai returns home following Eswatini trip
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) touched down in Taiwan on Friday afternoon after completing a four-day trip in the country's only African ally Eswatini, which she said had brought about fruitful results.Click here to read…
Taiwan to build new oil tank in Eswatini
Taiwan has agreed to help Eswatini, its only African ally, by building a new oil tank in the country, according to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked between the two sides on Tuesday.Click here to read…
43 killed in airstrike on Sudan market
At least 43 people were killed in an airstrike on a marketplace in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Sunday, according to a medical group.Click here to read…
3 killed, including lawmaker, in blast in Central Somalia shortly after army freed town from militants
At least three people were killed, including a lawmaker and a local municipality staffer, in a bomb blast in Somalia's central state of Galmudug on Monday, a security official confirmed.Click here to read…
Four killed in blast at Chinese-owned quarry in Ghana
At least four people were killed, including one Chinese national, in an explosion at a granite quarry in western Ghana owned by Chinese company Omni Quarries late on Saturday, local officials said on Sunday.Click here to read…
China, South Africa ink agreements on international lunar research program
Space agencies of China and South Africa have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).Click here to read…
Ghana, West Africa food security concerns rise on Niger sanctions
The challenges facing Ghanaian onion traders are not isolated as cross-border traders from Nigeria and other neighbouring countries also suffer similar fate.Click here to read…
What next after Tunisia rejects IMF and austerity burdens?
Neither Tunisia nor other African countries deserve the exorbitant interest rates and stringent conditions that the IMF imposes on them, argue analysts from international development consultancy Development Reimagined.Click here to read…
African Union Asks IMF for $650 Billion in Special Drawing Rights For Climate Crisis
The African Union proposed that the International Monetary Fund consider issuing $650 billion in special drawing rights to combat the climate crisis.Click here to read…
Debt-ridden Zambia's leader to visit top creditor China
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema will begin an official visit to China on Sunday, as the heavily indebted African nation works to secure financial relief after a restructuring agreement reached in June.Click here to read…
Uganda turns to local market for funding after freeze
Uganda is turning to local pension funds as a survival measure following external freezing of funding from the World Bank.Click here to read…
Focus On Angola Oil and Gas Conference 2023
One of Africa's largest oil and gas producers is hosting its annual oil and gas summit for 2023. This comes at a time of increased geopolitical tensions, a rising demand for oil and a sharp reduction in Saudi production.Click here to read…
Rwanda to become hub for AI research in Africa
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to take the world by storm, Rwanda is set to host a global technology company that will conduct AI research and solutions for Africa.Click here to read…
Morocco earthquake death toll rises to 2,800 as search for survivors continues
Villagers in parts of Morocco, struck by the country's most powerful earthquake in more than a century, endured their fourth night sleeping outdoors on September 11.Click here to read…
Algeria suspends ban, opens airspace
Algeria will allow aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to quake-hit Morocco to pass through its airspace, the president's office announced Saturday, suspending a two-year ban on flights to its regional rival.Click here to read…
An Algerian outpouring of support for Moroccans after earthquake
Despite the long-lasting diplomatic disputes between Algeria and Morocco, both the Algerian government and its people have offered the latter aid and solidarity post-quake.Click here to read…
China to give $200,000 to earthquake-stricken Morocco
The Red Cross Society of China will provide $200,000 to help earthquake-hit Morocco, Chinese Foreign Minister spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.Click here to read…
Taiwan offers condolences to Morocco, donates US$500,000 for quake relief
The government and people of Taiwan extended their sincere condolences to Morocco following the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit near the southwestern city of Marrakech and caused over 2,000 deaths.Click here to read…
Death toll in Libya floods nearly 3,000 after Storm Daniel
Up to 3,000 people have died and 10,000 are missing in the massive floods that have overwhelmed parts of eastern Libya.Click here to read…
Sierra Leone hit by power cuts after Turkish power ship switches off supply
Sierra Leone's capital Freetown has been hit by power cuts after Turkey's Karpowership switched off the electricity supply due to an unpaid debt of around $40 million, the energy minister said on Friday.Click here to read…
South African rand jumps on encouraging Chinese data
The South African rand extended gains against a weaker dollar on Monday as encouraging economic data from China aided some emerging market currencies.Click here to read…
Congo Airways announces the temporary suspension of its activities as of Monday
The national company Congo Airways announced on Sunday, September 10, the temporary interruption of its activities across the country from this Monday, September 11.Click here to read…
Egypt bans niqab in schools
The Egyptian government has announced a ban on the wearing of the face-covering niqab in schools from the beginning of the next term on 30 September.Click here to read…
India in Africa
African Union is now a G20 permanent member, announces PM Modi at summit
The African Union will have the same status as the 27-member European Union (EU), the only regional bloc with full membership of the G20.Click here to read…
G20 becomes G21 as India takes lead in bringing African Union to global table
In his inaugural address on Saturday, Modi said: “It was in the spirit of 'sabka saath' that India proposed permanent membership for the African Union in the G20. I believe that we all agree on this proposal.”Click here to read…
African Union and presidents welcome G20 membership
The African Union (AU) has officially joined the G20 at its annual forum in India in the latest sign of Africa’s growing clout in international forums.Click here to read…
Voice of Africa to grow stronger with AU inclusion in G20: SA top official
The voice of Africa and the Global South will "grow stronger" after the African Union's inclusion in the G20, a top South African official said on Saturday.Click here to read…
G20 Summit: Good progress on easing debt in Zambia, Ethiopia & Ghana, says finance minister
India releases G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration stating developing countries would need $5.8-5.9 trillion up to 2030 to implement Nationally Determined contributions.Click here to read…
Africa CDC To Cooperate with G20 Members On Health Issues
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said that it would cooperate with the Group of 20 (G20) members on health-related issues.Click here to read…
African Dividend: After G20 inclusion of AU, India must take ties with Africa to next level
The inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a permanent G20 member – an Indian initiative – has big geopolitical ramifications.Click here to read…
PM’s meeting with the President of Comoros
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros on 10 September 2023 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi.Click here to read…
Morocco Earthquake: 'India ready to offer all possible assistance, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief at the loss of lives in an earthquake in Morocco and offered all possible assistance to it in this difficult time.Click here to read…
Morocco Ambassador Maliki welcomes India's offer of assistance after deadly earthquake
India's offer of assistance to Morocco comes after the country extended help to Turkey and Syria earlier this year in the aftermath of earthquakes, marking the first time India had provided assistance to countries beyond its extended neighbourhood.Click here to read…
Prez Hassan’s visit to deepen India-Tanzania ties
The growing ties between India and Tanzania may enter a critical phase with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s official visit to New Delhi, said government officials.Click here to read…
India’s $14-billion investment commitments to Nigeria: ‘Ready to give you the best returns,’ says President Bola Tinubu
In a significant stride towards economic cooperation, Nigeria has obtained investment commitments totalling nearly $14 billion from various Indian companies and the Indian government.Click here to read…
India-Nigeria Infrastructure Deal to Boost Agriculture and Ports
Nigeria has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with an Indian investment agency to support infrastructure projects including power, rails, warehousing and ports in Africa’s most populous nation.Click here to read…
India’s LCA Tejas, ALH Dhruv & LCH Prachand Draws Nigeria’s Interest; HAL Provides 1st Demonstration
Nigeria has shown interest in the Indian-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand,’ Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) ‘Dhruv.’Click here to read…
Zambia agrees to hand disputed copper assets back to India's Vedanta
Zambia has agreed to return control of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to Vedanta Resources, mines minister Paul Kabuswe said on Tuesday, ending a row over the ownership of the assets that erupted in 2019 when authorities seized the mines.Click here to read…
'Perfect time,' says Anil Agarwal as Vedanta regains control over Konkola Copper Mines from Zambia govt
Vedanta Resources Limited (Vedanta) had last week said it will restart copper operations in Zambia after a government decision in favour of the company.Click here to read…
BNHS members make field trip to Kenya, see big five
The field trip was led by BNHS Assistant Director Dr Sujit Narwade, a scientist working on grassland bird ecology and conservation for over a decade’s time.Click here to read…
Sunil Mittal lauds inclusion of African Union into G20
Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Chair B20 India Action Council on African Economic Integration, lauded the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.Click here to read…
India now a global superpower, says African Union chair
Comoros President Azali Assoumani has praised India as a superpower, stating that it is "ahead of China now".Click here to read…
India's rising Africa bet: FDI outflows at $14 billion, shows data
India is entwined with Africa in terms of trade and investments, having become one of the largest sources of investment in the continent, accounting for $14 billion in foreign direct investment.Click here to read…
How Congo and Somaliland can be vantage points for India's next-level Africa strategy
By all accounts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third trip to South Africa was a success.Click here to read…
INS Sunayna enters Port Victoria, Seychelles
INS Sunayna entered Port Victoria, Seychelles on 03 Sep 2023. During ship's visit, personnel from Indian Navy and Seychelles Defence Forces will engage in professional interactions.Click here to read…
Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth in Varanasi for kin's 'asthi visarjan'
Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth performed the ritual of "asthi visarjan" (immersion of ashes) of his father-in-law in the Ganga at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi on Monday.Click here to read…
