Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.
COMMENTARY
Africa: Requiem for a continent
Every year on May 25, the world celebrates Africa Day. It is to commemorate May 25, 1963, when 30 independent African leaders signed the founding charter of the OAU (Organization of African Unity). Click here to read...
Africa Day 2022: An Odyssey of a Continent
Every year on May 25, the world celebrates Africa Day. On May 25 1963, 30 independent African leaders signed the founding charter of the OAU (Organization of African Unity). Click here to read...
Kenya’s political titans gear up for electoral fight
After 10 years of outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta’s rule, a faltering economy and rising prices, shopkeeper Betty Kagwiria wants to vote for change in this year’s elections in Kenya. Click here to read...
NEWS
CHOGM 2022: Commonwealth heads to assemble in Rwanda
From June 20 to 27, Rwanda will host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). What exactly is the Commonwealth? What is the point of this international summit? Click here to read...
Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces move towards negotiations
The Ethiopian government has formed a committee to negotiate with forces from the Tigray region, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a televised speech to parliament on Tuesday. Click here to read...
Kenya’s political titans gear up for electoral fight
After 10 years of outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta’s rule, a faltering economy and rising prices, shopkeeper Betty Kagwiria wants to vote for change in this year’s elections in Kenya. Click here to read...
Somali president nominates Hamza Abdi Barre as prime minister
Somalia’s president has nominated Hamza Abdi Barre, a former chairman of the Jubbaland state election commission, as prime minister. Click here to read...
Voters head to polls in Nigeria's key local election
Voters in Nigeria's Ekiti state have started casting their ballots to elect a new governor in what could be a bellwether for who wins next year's presidential election. Click here to read...
Tunisians protest against constitution referendum as opposition grows
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tunis on Saturday in opposition to a referendum on a new constitution called by President Kais Saied that would cement his hold on power. Click here to read...
South Sudan’s President hails bilateral relations with Israel
South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Wednesday held discussions with the Israeli ambassador to the country, Gershon Kedar during which he hailed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. Click here to read...
Is Uganda heading for a dynastic succession?
He is the son of the president and a vainglorious Twitter user. He is also a belligerent general whose soldiers are accused of kidnapping and torturing opponents. Click here to read...
‘Farmgate’ threatens Cyril Ramaphosa’s South Africa re-election bid
The South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is facing the most serious personal challenge of his four years in power after claims he tried to cover up the theft of millions of US dollars hidden at his game farm. Click here to read...
Algeria is increasingly aligned with Russia, Spanish minister says
Algeria's decision to suspend a friendship treaty with Spain last week was not surprising because Algiers is increasingly aligning itself with RussiaClick here to read...
What DRC brings to the EAC table
The DR Congo, a sub-Sahara’s largest country, became the seventh member state of the East African Community (EAC) on March 29, joining Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Click here to read...
IMF bailout alone will not solve Zambia’s debt crisis
As Zambia began talks with its creditors to resolve its debt crisis, Hannah Ryder, the CEO of China-based African consultancy Development Reimagined, spoke to African Business about the country’s chances of obtaining an IMF bailout and its prospects for economic growth. Click here to read...
Egypt boosts ties with Tanzania amid ongoing Nile dam dispute
Egypt is boosting ties with the Nile Basin countries while Ethiopia inches toward the third filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without an agreement with the downstream countries. Click here to read...
Rights groups condemn Tanzanian police violence against Maasai
Human rights organisations have accused Tanzanian police of using violence to evict members of the Masaai Indigenous community in Loliondo, in the country’s northern district of Ngorongoro. Click here to read...
Russian Mercenaries in Mali Base Days After France Pullout: Sources
Russian mercenaries arrived in the Malian town of Menaka on Wednesday just days after France’s military pullout from the site, sources briefed on the matter told AFP. Click here to read...
U.K. vows more Rwanda deportation flights after legal setback
The British government vowed Wednesday to organize more flights to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda, after a last-minute court judgment grounded the first plane due to take off under the contentious policy. Click here to read...
Gambia: Officials Accused of Crimes Under Jammeh to Be Suspended
The Gambian government has announced this week that it would order suspensions for state employees accused of crimes under the former Yahya Jammeh regime, one of the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). Click here to read...
State controls just 60 percent of Burkina Faso: ECOWAS mediator
Authorities in Burkina Faso control just 60 percent of the country and the remaining territory is outside state control, a mediator from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said. Click here to read...
DRC closes Rwanda border after soldier is shot dead during attack
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has closed its border with Rwanda after a Congolese soldier was shot dead while attacking border guards inside Rwandan territory. Click here to read...
France says it has captured Islamic State bigwig in Mali
French troops operating at the border between Mali and Niger have arrested a senior figure of the Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) armed group, authorities in Paris have said. Click here to read...
Libya Has Another Chance at Democracy
Libya was founded as a democracy. It is not too late to be a democracy again. Click here to read...
Clashes in Sudan's Darfur Kill More Than 100
Clashes in Sudan's Darfur between Arab and non-Arab groups have killed more than 100 people, adding to a toll of hundreds in the region over recent months. Click here to read...
Forty fighters ‘neutralised’ in drone strikes in Niger
French drone strikes have killed nearly 40 fighters earlier travelling on motorcycles near Niger’s border with Burkina Faso, France’s military said on Thursday. Click here to read...
Kenya calls for immediate deployment of regional force to eastern Congo
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday called for the immediate deployment of a new regional military force to try to stop rebel violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Click here to read...
Thousands flee as jihadist attacks resume in Mozambique
At least seven people have died in a spate of jihadist-related violence in northern Mozambique, local sources said Tuesday, as the UN said 10 000 people had fled their homes. Click here to read...
Somalia: Security Forces Kill Nearly 70 Al-Shabab Terrorists In Galmudug Region
Somalia’s state forces, on Friday, killed 67 Al-Shabab terrorists and inflicted injuries on several others. The clashes happened in the Galhaduud. Click here to read...
One-third of Sudan’s population faces hunger crisis: UN
Aid groups warn food insecurity may dramatically increase to ‘unprecedented levels’ and lead to more conflict and displacement unless Sudan receives ‘robust agriculture support’. Click here to read...
Egypt localizes environment-friendly transport ahead of COP27
Egypt has developed a future strategy to introduce electric means of transport into public transport. This comes as the state is only 138 days away from hosting the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, referred to as (COP27). Click here to read...
In Zimbabwe, reporter’s conviction sparks fears of renewed abuse
For the first time in more than a year, Jeffrey Moyo, reporter for The New York Times in Zimbabwe, is breathing rather easy. Click here to read...
Urgent support needed for 14,000 who fled following Burkina Faso massacre
In Burkina Faso, UN humanitarians on Friday appealed to the international community for help, after attacks by armed groups forced thousands to flee their homes in the east of the country. Click here to read...
Spain Resumes Operation Crossing the Strait with Morocco
Following a closure that lasted for two years, Spain has yesterday resumed Operation Crossing the Strait, which will allow movement between the continent of Europe and Africa for three months. Click here to read...
Cameroon, Central African Republic Agree to Demarcate Border
Cameroon and the Central African Republic have agreed to demarcate several hundred kilometers of their shared border. Click here to read...
Chad rebels threaten to pull out of Doha talks
Chad rebels due to take part in landmark talks with opposition groups and the military government on Saturday threatened to pull out citing “provocations and attempted aggression” by the government. Click here to read...
Zimbabwe breaks ground on $300 million lithium project
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa oversaw the groundbreaking of a 300 million U.S. dollar spodumene project at the Bikita Minerals mine. It’s hoped the spodumene project will ramp up lithium production and extend the life of Zimbabwe’s oldest mine. Click here to read...
Angola to become Germany's first supplier of green hydrogen
Angola is set to become Germany's first supplier of green hydrogen from renewable energy after its state-owned energy company Sonangol signed a letter of intent to build a factory with two German engineering firms on WednesdayClick here to read...
INDIA IN AFRICA
African Union is India's 4th largest trading partner
The African Union is India's fourth largest trading partner after the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates, propped up by diversification in Indian exports to the continent. Click here to read...
Egypt looks to India for wheat to make up losses from Ukraine war
A potential deal between Egypt and India to import 500,000 tons of Indian wheat in exchange for Egyptian fertilizers is in the works amid ongoing global wheat shortages. Click here to read...
India, Tanzania hold foreign office consultations
India and Tanzania on Thursday reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political, economic and defence at the second round of Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries. Click here to read...
Vedanta starts iron ore mining in Liberia via subsidiary
Vedanta Iron & Steel sector has ventured into International Iron ore mining operations in Liberia, West Africa through its subsidiary Western Cluster Limited (WCL). Click here to read...
BCG Digital Ventures Launches New Innovation Centers in India and Morocco
BCG Digital Ventures (BCGDV), the corporate innovation and business-building arm of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), is opening innovation centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Casablanca. Click here to read...
Lessons for India: How Benin got its bronzes back
Formal requests began in the 1960s and were ignored. Nigeria persisted, lobbied the international community, kept the pressure up. Now, countries one by one are returning the treasures. Click here to read...
Muslim Conference of Ghana demands apology from India over insulting comments by two politicians
The National Muslim Conference of Ghana has joined Muslims across the world to call on the Indian government to render an unconditional apology for insulting comments made by two political figures. Click here to read...
