Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.
Commentary
China’s growing bonhomie with Senegal: Why the world should take notice
China's role in Senegal is expanding, particularly in digital infrastructure, but also in manufacturing, infrastructure, culture and health.Click here to read...
A magnum opus on India's development partnership with Africa: The Harambee factor
Magnum opus is the only word to describe this new book, "The Harambee Factor: India - Africa Economic and Development Partnership".Click here to read...
How do the Sierra Leonean elections work? A basic guide
Sierra Leone, one of West Africa’s smallest but oldest states elect a new president and government this June.Click here to read...
News
Sudan’s warring sides agree to new 72-hour ceasefire
Truce brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia takes effect as Khartoum reels from air attack that killed 17 people, including five children.Click here to read...
17 including 5 children killed in Air strike in Sudan's Khartoum
Air strikes killed civilians and pummeled multiple parts of the Sudanese capital on Saturday, residents said, as mediators pushed the warring factions towards a new ceasefire.Click here to read...
Attacks by suspected jihadists in Burkina Faso kill 21
Twenty-one people, most of them members of the security forces, have been killed in Burkina Faso in attacks by suspected jihadists, security sources said on Wednesday.Click here to read...
38 Students Killed in Rebel Attack on Ugandan School Near Congo Border
The mayor of the Ugandan border where suspected rebels attacked a school says 41 bodies have been recovered, including 38 students.Click here to read...
Mali urges immediate end to UN Minusma peacekeeping mission
Mali's foreign minister has called on the UN to withdraw its peacekeeping force from his country "without delay".Click here to read...
Somalia Facing Uncertainty as African Troops Leave
A rapid collapse of state institutions may await Somalia when the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, or ATMIS, ends at the end of 2024, unless the United Nations' weapons embargo on the country is lifted, security experts warn.Click here to read...
What one more massacre in DR Congo says about MONUSCO
The end of the UN peacekeeping mission to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is being heralded. But the massacre at a camp for displaced people on Sunday points to failures, experts say.Click here to read...
CAR: Tanzanian peacekeepers to be repatriated after abuse claims
The UN announced on Friday (June 9th) a unit of 60 peacekeepers from Tanzania was to be repatriated from the Central African Republic following serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.Click here to read...
Protesters in Senegal accuse police of using armed civilians to quell unrest
Demonstrators and civil rights groups in Senegal are accusing the country's security forces of working with armed civilians who shot and killed several people who participated in recent anti-government protests.Click here to read...
Angola fuel hike protesters clash with police
Angolan police fired tear gas in the capital Luanda and other cities Benguela and Namibe as thousands of protesters took to the streets a week after clashes over a recent fuel hike killed at least five people.Click here to read...
Uganda school attack: Dozens of pupils killed by militants linked to Islamic State group
Nearly 40 pupils have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group (IS).Click here to read...
Zimbabwe increase fees to run for political offices
Zimbabwe's parliament has approved a staggering increase in the fees to be paid by future presidential candidates, from 1,000 to 20,000 US dollars, a decision deemed discriminatory by the opposition on Thursday.Click here to read...
Sierra Leone: Opposition candidate demands electoral commission resignation
APC leader and presidential candidate Samura Kamara demanded the resignation of the electoral commission ahead of the June 24th presidential elections.Click here to read...
African leaders to meet Putin, Zelensky in a bid to resolve Ukraine crisis
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on Friday as part of a delegation of African leaders and senior officials seeking ways to end Kyiv's 15-month war with Russia.Click here to read...
South Africa’s Ramaphosa arrives in Ukraine on African peace mission
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on Friday as part of an African peace mission, the South African presidency said on Twitter.Click here to read...
Ukraine war must end, South African President Ramaphosa tells Putin
Mr Ramaphosa's remarks came as he met Mr Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday as part of a peace mission with six other African countries.Click here to read...
Eritrea rejoins East Africa bloc after exit 16 years ago
Eritrea quit the body in 2007 in protest of its neighbour Ethiopia deploying troops to nearby Somalia to fight al-Shabab.Click here to read...
Sisi hands over Zambia presidency of 22nd COMESA summit
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday handed over his Zambian counterpart Hakainde Hichilema the presidency of the 22nd Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).Click here to read...
Egypt applies for BRICS membership
EGYPT has applied to join the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) bloc.Click here to read...
Israel said to mull recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over disputed Western Sahara
Move would open door for Jerusalem and Rabat to upgrade to full diplomatic ties, Reuters reports, as national security adviser visits North African kingdom.Click here to read...
Russia, Algeria to Agree “Expanded Strategic Partnership”
Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Algerian President is currently on a state visit to Russia, that is expected to culminate in the signing of an “Expanded Strategic Partnership” between the two countries.Click here to read...
Morocco, Israel signs memorandum to strengthen health cooperation
The two nations focus on exchanging expertise and best practices in medical innovation, fight against non-communicable diseases.Click here to read...
IMF says Ghana's economy showing signs of stabilization
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday that Ghana's economy is showing signs of stabilization, with softening inflation, an increase in international reserves and a less volatile exchange rate.Click here to read...
EU offers Tunisia aid package, seeks tighter border control
The EU is considering a major financial package for the cash-strapped nation amid a growing refugee and migrant crisis.Click here to read...
Libya's Haftar backs creation of new government in challenge to Tripoli
Haftar's Libyan National Army said it supported the recommendations of the 6+6 committee, a group drawn from two legislative chambers that have proposed new electoral laws.Click here to read...
Cameroon: Main opposition leader John Fru Ndi dies at 81
John Fru Ndi, one of the historic opponents of Cameroon's long time ruling President Paul Biya, has died.Click here to read...
South Sudan shifts oil supply routes to Djibouti and Mombasa ports
South Sudan has announced that it will import essential oil supplies through Djibouti and Kenyan ports instead of using Port Sudan due to ongoing conflict.Click here to read...
Rwanda seeks to reintegrate genocide convicts
President Paul Kagame's government wants to free thousands of prisoners convicted for the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.Click here to read...
Is Ethiopia now becoming another predatory state?
The US has suspended food aid to Ethiopia because of widespread theft of emergency food by government officials.Click here to read...
Kenya is poised to become the ‘Singapore of Africa
Of all the countries in sub-Saharan Africa to be optimistic about, the most promising is Kenya. Economic and political forces are converging to put the continent’s seventh-largest nation in a relatively favourable position.Click here to read...
Cameroon, Niger, Benin Citizens Lament Fuel Subsidy Removal In Nigeria
Prices of petroleum products have nearly doubled in Cameroon, Benin Republic and Niger following the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.Click here to read...
South Africa Extends Ban on Scrap-Metal Exports by Six Months as it Seeks to Curb Theft
South Africa extended a ban on scrap-metal exports by six months as the government tries to combat theft and vandalism of public infrastructure.Click here to read...
Namibia to sell 40 crocodiles following rise of human attacks
The Namibian government announced on Thursday that it would be putting forty crocodiles up for sale and issuing more permits to kill the reptile following a rise in attacks on humans.Click here to read...
India in Africa
PM Modi writes to G20 members, seeks full membership for African Union
As part of India's G20 presidency, PM Modi has been particularly focusing on incorporating priorities of the African countries in the G20 agenda.Click here to read...
Honouring sacrifice and strengthening bonds: PM Modi’s visit to Egypt marks a milestone
PM Modi’s unwavering focus on acknowledging the remarkable contributions of Indian soldiers in both World Wars remains constant, even as he visits a memorial that was tragically destroyed during a conflict in the 1970s.Click here to read...
India weighs barter trade with crisis-hit Egypt in credit line talks - sources
India is weighing a proposal to begin barter trade in goods like fertiliser and gas with Egypt as part of a wider deal that could see New Delhi extending a credit line worth several billion dollars to Cairo.Click here to read...
Africa Occupies Important Place In India's Foreign Policy: Jaishankar
"India's development partnership with Africa will have a strong focus on digital, green, healthcare, food security and water, in tune with the pressing priorities of Africa," he stated.Click here to read...
For India, the rise of Africa is key to geopolitical rebalancing: S Jaishankar
The Minister was speaking at the inaugural session “India-Africa: Synergies for ONE Growth”. Recent Indian experiences in Africa including India’s digital delivery of public goods, deployment of green technologies, Covid response and healthcare efforts, among others have been impactful and will foster inclusive development in Africa, he added.Click here to read...
Confident that India-Africa trade will cross $100 billion: EAM Jaishankar
India, Jaishankar said, had extended over USD 12.37 billion in concessional loans to Africa. India has completed 197 projects, 65 are under execution and 81 are in the pre-execution stage.Click here to read...
Partnership with Africa to focus on digital, healthcare, food security: EAM
India’s development partnership with Africa will have a strong focus on digital, green, healthcare, food security and water – External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.Click here to read...
India-Africa Partnership: Unleashing potential through digital innovation, sustainable development and collaborative Synergies
Driven by the pressing priorities of the African continent, this alliance is set to address critical areas such as digital transformation, environmental sustainability, healthcare advancements, food security, and water management.Click here to read...
India, Africa can double trade to $200 billion: Piyush Goyal
Goyal suggested sharing renewable energy between India and Africa. "If we were to create an interconnected bridge between Africa and India, partially through overline, over the ground, partially, it will also be under the ocean and we could transmit clean energy, renewable energy from Africa to India particularly during our peak hours, and from India to Africa in our non-peak hours," he said.Click here to read...
India-Africa bilateral trade grew 9.26% in 2022-23: Piyush Goyal
Bilateral trade of India with Africa grew by 9.26 per cent in 2022-23, reaching almost $100 billion, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said while addressing the CII-EXIM Bank conclave on “India-Africa Partnership”.Click here to read...
India can look for FTA talks with Africa to further strengthen ties: Goyal
India can also look for negotiating a free trade agreement with Africa to further strengthen economic ties, he said.Click here to read...
India-Africa partnership poised for a big leap forward: MoS Muraleedharan
V Muraleedharan said that India-Africa partnership is poised to take a big leap forward in the coming days.Click here to read...
Future LoCs to Africa could cover defence, says EXIM Bank MD
As India explores defence exports to Africa based on the growing interests for Indian defence equipment in the continent, future LoCs could cover defence, according to Bangari.Click here to read...
Indian cos look at USD 176 bn investments on infra development in Africa: Afcons
Addressing the 18th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership, Paramasivan pointed out that there is a funding deficit to the tune of USD 60-160 billion on infrastructure development in Africa, and there is scope for further investment in multiple areas.Click here to read...
Gabon’s first Agri-SEZ project flagged off, scripting a new chapter in India-Africa relations
India-Africa relations have gone from strength to strength, recording more than 35 high level visits from India and more than 100 similar ones from Africa in last few years.Click here to read...
India suggests ISA to take up more solar energy projects in Africa
The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy of India R. K. Singh emphasized the need for the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to start more solar energy projects, especially in Africa.Click here to read...
IndiGo gets govt nod for entry into Africa
The regulator, before permitting air carriers to start operations to new foreign destinations, assesses their preparedness to conduct such flights.Click here to read...
India seeks Taiwan, S. Africa backing on carbon border tax
India is in talks with South Africa, Taiwan, and several developing nations to contest the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at the World Trade Organization (WTO).Click here to read...
In a setback for Airtel Africa operations, Nigerian currency Naira devalues to a record low
With 50 percent of Airtel Africa's EBITDA contributed by Nigeria, the telecom player faces a setback as the Nigerian currency Naira devalues to record lows.Click here to read...
Liberia confiscates contaminated paracetamol syrup from India
Health officials confirmed that 250 cartons of Para Clear were seized by the West African nation due to the presence of toxic ethylene glycol.Click here to read...
Nigeria's drug regulator issues alert against a painkiller made by Mumbai-based SynerCare
SynerCare's sample painkiller comprised toxic ethylene glycol, which Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said could be fatal.https://www.cnbctv18.com/healthcare/nigeria-drug-regulator-issues-alert-against-painkiller-made-mumbai-based-synercare-16960541.htm " target="_blank">Click here to read...
Kenyan woman ‘carrying cocaine in whisky bottles’ held
Officials said that the woman told them the bottles were given to her Nairobi airport by a person who instructed her to hand them over to someone in Delhi.Click here to read...
