Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.
COMMENTARY
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has Renewed Nigerian Hopes: Can he Awaken the Sleeping Giant?
As outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari decided to step down after serving the maximum two terms permitted by the constitution, Nigeria held its seventh democratic Presidential electionon 25th February. Click here to read...
Developing Ghana’s One District One Factory (1D1F) in India way
Following a closely contested election, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo obtained a second four-year term in 2020. Click here to read...
The Politics of Maandamano: Understanding Kenya’s Cost of Living Demonstrations
On April 2, Kenya’s President William Ruto in a speech extended an olive branch to the opposition and pleaded them to hold off Monday’s “mother of all demonstrations” in Nairobi. Click here to read...
NEWS
Sudan’s army chief, paramilitary head ready to de-escalate tensions – mediators
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of Sudan’s army, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a powerful Sudanese paramilitary group, are prepared to take steps to de-escalate tensions between their forces. Click here to read...
Kenyan opposition willing to talk to government, resume protests
Kenya’s opposition alliance is prepared to negotiate with the government over electoral reforms and the high cost of living while also resuming protests, its leader Raila Odinga said on Thursday. Click here to read...
Morocco balances new alliance with Israel with traditional support for Palestinians
Rabat was quick to condemn Israeli security forces’ storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, but rejects local demands to sever a relationship that was brokered by the US and provides access to state-of-the-art military equipment. Click here to read...
Algeria law ‘controlling media’ close to passing
Algerian parliament’s lower house approved the bill last month which includes forcing journalists to reveal their sources and a ban on media organisations receiving foreign funds. Click here to read...
At least 8 journalists detained amid renewed unrest in Ethiopia
Ethiopian authorities should cease arbitrarily detaining journalists during times of political tension and investigate allegations that security officers attacked members of the press. Click here to read...
UN resupplies mission in Western Sahara for first time since 2020
The United Nations has sent an overland convoy to resupply its peacekeeping mission in separatist-controlled Western Sahara for the first time since 2020. The UN says its presence in the field is key to finding a way to resolve the disagreement over what to do with the territory. Click here to read...
Gabonese president to pay state visit to China from April 18 to 21
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba will pay a state visit to China from April 18 to 21, China's Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. Click here to read...
UN chief appeals for “massive international support” for Somalia
United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, appealed for “massive international support” for Somalia during his visit to the country which came as it faces its worst drought in decades. Click here to read...
Almost 45,000 migrants have entered UK since Rwanda deal was announced
Rishi Sunak has conceded that the issue of Channel crossings won't be solved 'overnight' as the UK marks one year since the landmark deal was agreed. Click here to read...
Niger's Agadez region overwhelmed by migration
Along the dusty alley, new faces appear in the doorways. In Arlit, a mining town in the Agadez region of northern Niger, the massive arrival of migrants from all over West Africa has caused the population to explode. Click here to read...
Is Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa behind gold smuggling?
One gold smuggler described Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa as his business partner. Click here to read...
Big push to overhaul visas in South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again reaffirmed the government’s commitment to introducing a ‘remote work visa’ for digital nomads wishing to work in South Africa. Click here to read...
Singapore says unidentified people boarded tanker off Ivory Coast
There was a 20-member crew on the tanker, which has been operating in the West African zone for the past 60 days. Click here to read...
More than 40 killed in east DR Congo attacks
More than 40 people were killed Friday in attacks on villages in eastern DR Congo, local sources said, blaming the CODECO militant group. Click here to read...
Vigilantes kill 50 terrorists in Niger
No fewer than 50 terrorists have been killed in an attack by local vigilantes in Ibbi community in Mashegu local government area of Niger State. Click here to read...
Islamic State terrorists extend control over north-eastern Mali
Jihadists affiliated to Islamic State group have taken Tidermene in Mali, further isolating the regional capital Menaka. Click here to read...
Burkina Faso's military junta declares 'general mobilisation' as jihadist attacks rise
Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina's transitional president who staged the most recent coup on 30 September, has set a goal of recapturing 40 percent of the country's territory, which is controlled by jihadistsClick here to read...
EU condemns Chad's “regrettable” expulsion of German ambassador
The decision of the Chadian government to expel the German ambassador is "regrettable" and constitutes "a particularly hostile gesture," a spokeswoman for the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell said Wednesday. Click here to read...
Nigeria probes sale of stolen 48 mn barrels of crude oil to China
Nigeria’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday said illegal deals with China cost Nigeria USD 2.4-billion revenue loss from the sale of stolen 48 million barrels. Click here to read...
Zambia conducts crypto regulation tests to shape crypto laws and boost financial inclusion
The primary objective of Zambia's crypto policy is to balance innovation in the realm of digital payments with the safety of citizensClick here to read...
Türkiye, Egypt pledge to work closely in Libya
Türkiye and Egypt have agreed to work more closely to resolve the ongoing conflict in Libya by helping the two rival Libyan groups to set up a joint military unit as part of the unification efforts in the North African country. Click here to read...
Morocco looks to US HIMARS in ongoing arms race with Algeria
As Algeria and Morocco's border disagreements persist, the proposed sale contributes to regional stability and security in North Africa. Click here to read...
Comoros, France spar over Mayotte expulsions
The Comoros government asked France on Monday to abandon a planned operation of evictions, destruction of illegal housing and arrests in Mayotte, a French department in the Indian Ocean facing a galloping crime rate, against the backdrop of a migration crisis. Click here to read...
Why is a Namibian fishing scandal raising a stink in Europe?
EU has not acted against Iceland's biggest fishing firm despite evidence of its corrupt deals in NamibiaClick here to read...
Ramaphosa Seeks $110 Billion of Capital for Nation in Crisis
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa set a target of attracting 2 trillion rand ($110 billion) of new investment in the next five years, as executives pleaded with his government to urgently address the nation’s energy crisis, fix crumbling infrastructure and end rampant crime. Click here to read...
Italy vows help with IMF in bid to stabilize Tunisia
Italy on Thursday vowed a host of investments in Tunisia and help negotiating an International Monetary Fund bailout as Rome seeks to stabilize the North African country's economic crisis and stem the increased number of migrants coming to the European nation. Click here to read...
Burundi gets $261mln IMF loan to aid in economic recovery
Burundi has received $261 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — a first in eight years — that will go towards supporting its economic recovery. Click here to read...
Botswana seeks better De Beers deal after taking Belgian diamond processor stake
President threatens to abandon diamond producer unless country’s share of rough stones is increased. Click here to read...
Chevron to finalize production deal with Congo, Angola for offshore oil block
Chevron Corp. is finalizing a production-sharing agreement with Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo to operate their shared offshore oil block, Congolese Oil Minister Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga said. Click here to read...
Nigeria to invest $12.5bn in Morocco pipeline
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is planning to invest about $12.5 billion to secure a 50 per cent equity stake in the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project. Click here to read...
Ghana becomes first country to approve Oxford’s malaria vaccine
For years, scientists have been trying to develop vaccines for the disease which kills more than 600,000 people annually – most of them in Africa. Click here to read...
Mauritania: Africa’s Global Green Hydrogen Hub
As countries look for sustainable energy sources to replace traditional fossil fuels, Mauritania is positioning itself as a major player in the future hydrogen market, thanks to its significant renewable energy resources. Click here to read...
No Country for Kids: In Nigeria parents pull children out of schools as abduction becomes industry
According to UNICEF, more than 1,000 students in Nigeria have been taken for ransom by criminal gangs in Nigeria's northwest and central states since December 2020. Click here to read...
Dozens of women, minors raped during expulsion from Angola to DRC: UN
Doctor who specialises in treating victims of sexual violence at a health centre in Kamako, said local clinics had recorded at least 122 cases of rape this year - an unprecedented level for the community. Click here to read...
INDIA IN AFRICA
Jaishankar calls on Mozambique's Prez, discusses trade, investments and defence
During the Joint Commission Meeting, EAM Dr S Jaishankar and Mozambique President took stock of the progress made in a wide spectrum of areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade and investment, agriculture, energy, railways, health, education and others. Click here to read...
India, Mozambique share vision for progress and prosperity: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday reiterated that India and Mozambique have a lot in common, including a shared vision for progress and prosperity at the 5th Joint Commission Meeting between the two countries. Click here to read...
EAM Jaishankar rides ‘Made in India’ train in Mozambique
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rode a ‘Made in India’ train here during his visit to Mozambique and held a “great green” conversation on expanding train networks, electric mobility and waterways connectivity with the country’s transport minister. Click here to read...
India, Uganda have very 'converging perspective' in terms of world outlook: Jaishankar
In terms of the world outlook, India and Uganda have very converging perspectives which are based on the solidarity of the south-south cooperation between the two nations, said Jaihankar on Thursday in a podcast of his recently concluded Uganda visit. Click here to read...
India's National Forensic Sciences University opens first overseas campus in Uganda
The first overseas campus of India's National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) was on Wednesday opened in Uganda's Jinja, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar describing it as a "significant milestone" in bilateral ties. Click here to read...
India’s progress can create new opportunities for Ugandan businesses: EAM Jaishankar
India’s progress and prosperity can create new opportunities that can benefit Uganda, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, as he met the Indian business community here and encouraged it to bolster bilateral business ties for growth and development. Click here to read...
EAMS Jaishankar launches ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in Uganda
During his three-day visit to Uganda’s Kampala, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched the ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in Varanasi. Click here to read...
Josh is very high in India: EAM to Indian diaspora in Uganda
While speaking to the Indian diaspora in Uganda, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar quoted a dialogue from the Bollywood movie 'Uri: The Surgical Strike'. "There's a popular dialogue 'How's the josh'. Click here to read...
Willing to take Mauritius-India Partnership to new heights: Foreign Secy Kwatra
Foreign Secretary of India Vinay Mohan Kwatra met with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on Thursday at the New Treasury Building, in the Capital Port Louis. He was accompanied by the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, K. Nandini Singla, Le Matinal reported. Click here to read...
India, Mauritius review vostro account mechanism, implementation of CECPA
India and Mauritius carried out a comprehensive review of their overall ties including the vostro account mechanism for settlement of trade transactions and the proposed launch of Indian Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system and RuPay card in the African country. Click here to read...
Malaria vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India
The University of Oxford-developed and Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactured and scaled up R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, leveraging Novavax’s adjuvant technology, has been licensed for use in Ghana by the country’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). Click here to read...
PM Modi’s Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure aim to include African states as members
While CDRI is currently focusing on meeting requirements in disaster prone South Pacific Island states, the coalition is expanding to include Africa under its ambit. Click here to read...
India, Congo agree to enhance cooperation in multilateral fora
India and Congo on Thursday held the second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and agreed to enhance their cooperation in the multilateral fora. Click here to read...
India and Tanzania Likely to Develop Solar Power Projects Together
India and Tanzania have agreed to develop solar power projects together in the future as members of International Solar Alliance (ISA). Click here to read...
India gives $2 million to African Union Transition Mission in Somalia
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, reiterated India's dedication to fostering peace and stability in Somalia by presenting a donation of USD 2 million. Click here to read...
Ziskakan from Reunion Island comes back to Chennai
Popular Maloyan band Ziskakan from Reunion Island is set to make Chennaiites dance and groove to their island tunes. Click here to read...
