Welcome to Africa Now your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.
COMMENTARY
Indo-Africa: The Rising Relationship
The foreign policy of India is visible from the increasing number of high-level visits from both the sides, which primarily concerns areas related to cooperation in various fields. Today, the bilateral trade between the two has increased from $34 billion in 2009 to $69 billion in 2019. Click here to read...
Raksha Mantri’s Visit to Egypt: Significance for India–Africa Defence Cooperation
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s visit to Egypt from 18 to 20 September 2022 has opened new avenues for defence cooperation. The visit signifies India’s growing defence ties with the African region. Click here to read...
Africa’s next wannabe third-term presidents must be stopped
If the presidents of Senegal and the Central African Republic are planning constitutional coups, the AU must step in. Click here to read...
NEWS
Lesotho election body says it made a mistake over parliament seats
Electoral authorities in Lesotho have said they incorrectly allocated parliamentary seats after an Oct. 7 election, asking the country's top court to amend the allocations and halt the legislature's first sitting, court papers showed on Saturday. Click here to read...
Tigray peace talks to start on Monday, says Addis Ababa
The African Union (AU) has set October 24 as a new date for the start of direct talks between Tigray and the Ethiopian government. Click here to read...
Ethiopia, seeking to control Tigray airports, takes a town
Ethiopian authorities said Monday they are aiming to get immediate control of airports and other infrastructure in Tigray, a statement of their war intentions that was followed by the capture of a town in the embattled northern region. Click here to read...
Ibrahim Traore sworn in as Burkina Faso interim president
Ibrahim Traore has been sworn in as interim president of Burkina Faso, several weeks after Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was removed in a coup. Click here to read...
Sudan's civilian coalition presents vision for military exit from politics
Sudan's main political coalition on Monday presented its vision for a fully civilian-led authority to lead a transition to elections; following stepped up efforts to end an 11-month-old stalemate between the ruling military and pro-democracy forces. Click here to read...
South Africa vows 'unapologetic' support for Western Sahara independence from Morocco
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed his government's "unapologetic" backing for the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara. Click here to read...
Western Sahara: Morocco Hits Back at South Africa’s Hostile Position
The Moroccan FM recalled that half of African countries have opened representations in the southern provinces, reflecting their unwavering support for the country’s territorial integrity. Click here to read...
Guinea junta agrees return to civilian rule in two years
West African leaders had last month suspended Guinea from the bloc and imposed sanctions on a number of individuals following a military coup. Click here to read...
Tripoli-based PM Dbeibah rejects 'sovereign positions' deal in Libya
Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, the prime minister of Libya's Tripoli-based unity government, rejected a deal with the east Libya-based parliament on changing the heads of the country's sovereign positions. Click here to read...
Tunisian protesters denounce ‘coup’, demand president steps down
Thousands of Tunisians have demonstrated in the capital Tunis, denouncing President Kais Saied’s moves to consolidate political power and demanding accountability for the country’s long-running economic crisis. Click here to read...
Togo’s flag raised at Marlborough House to mark admission into the Commonwealth
The flag of Togo was raised for the first time at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London, formally marking the country’s entry into the 56-member association. Click here to read...
Attack on hotel in Somalia’s Kismayo ends with 9 civilians dead
An attack on a hotel in the centre of the port city of Kismayo in southern Somalia killed nine civilians on Sunday before security forces killed the gunmen. Click here to read...
Several killed in suspected 'insurgency attack' in western Niger
An attack on three Lorries and a motorcycle in western Niger near the border with Mali has killed 11 people, local sources have said, calling it a suspected insurgency attack. Click here to read...
DR Congo troops clash with M23 rebels, 4 civilians killed
Fresh clashes between the army and M23 rebels have erupted in eastern DR Congo, officials said Sunday, with at least four civilians killed and dozens more wounded in the fighting. Click here to read...
60 killed as anti-government protests intensify in Africa's Chad
At least 60 people were killed in Africa's Chad after security forces opened fire on anti-government demonstrators. This came amid demonstrations in the central African nation against interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby’s two-year extension of his power. Click here to read...
Hundreds Flee Attacks in Mozambique’s Ruby Mining Region
This week, suspected Al-Shabab fighters attacked precious gem-rich areas of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, closing at least two mining operations and causing hundreds of people to flee villages in Ancuabe and Montepuez districts. Click here to read...
US hits al-Shabab finance facilitators with sanctions
The Treasury Department said Monday that it has sanctioned a group of high-ranking members of the Somalia-based al-Shabab militant group, who act as key middle men between the group and local companies in Somalia. Click here to read...
Saudi Arabia and South Africa sign 17 MoUs worth more than $15 billion
On the occasion of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the Kingdom, both countries agreed to strengthen their bonds in several fields by signing MoUs worth above 15 billion. Click here to read...
At least 150 killed in two days of fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile
At least 150 people were killed during two days of fighting in the latest ethnic clashes over land disputes in Sudan’s southern Blue Nile state. Click here to read...
Walmart doubles down on Africa despite a decade of frustration`
The strategy - according to nine analysts, investors and sources with direct knowledge of Walmart's plans - is firstly to build Massmart into a force able to see off its brick-and-mortar rivals and then win a looming battle against Amazon for the future of African e-commerce. Click here to read...
Ethiopia, Djibouti eye strong electricity connectivity
The governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti have expressed the need to augment electricity connectivity to spur socio-economic ties among the two neighboring countries. Click here to read...
Ghana and Zambia race to secure IMF bailouts
Runaway inflation and soaring food prices have compelled Ghana and Zambia to seek bailouts from the International Monetary Fund. This week, traders across Ghana closed shop to protest the worsening economy. Click here to read...
Germany Allocates €38 Million For Morocco’s First Green Hydrogen Plant
Germany has vowed to allocate €38 million (MAD 408 million) to support the construction of Morocco’s first green hydrogen plant amid bilateral efforts to consolidate diplomatic and economic ties between Rabat and Berlin. Click here to read...
Burundi: $23 million from the African Development Bank Group to Develop the Agro-Pastoral Sector for the Youth and Women
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has greenlighted the award of a $23.26 million grant to Burundi to implement the Agro-Pastoral Entrepreneurship and Professional Development Project for the Youth and Women. Click here to read...
China may seize Kenyan assets, external debt reaches more than USD 36 billion
The default occurred a year after Kenya requested a six-month extension of the debt repayment moratorium from bilateral lenders, including China. However, the lenders, particularly the Exim Bank of China, refused to consider Kenya's application. Click here to read...
China launches first-ever intermodal service to Africa
China set in motion a new intermodal service connecting the country with Africa via Europe. The rail part of the service will run between Chengdu, in southwest China, with Hamburg, in Germany, via the China-Europe Railway Express. From there, goods are shipped to Casablanca, in Morocco, by sea. Click here to read...
Cop 27: Uganda-Tanzania oil pipeline sparks climate row
Uganda and Tanzania are set to begin work on a massive crude oil pipeline a year after the International Energy Agency warned that the world risked not meeting its climate goals if new fossil fuel projects were not stopped. The two East African countries say their priority is economic development. Click here to read...
Fire breaks out at Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, locals help firefighters tackle blaze
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro that was spread due to heavy winds overnight. They were assisted by the police and the locals. Click here to read...
UN Agencies Say Rains Have Flooded Two-Thirds of South Sudan
The United Nations refugee agency says that South Sudanese flood victims are in desperate need of international support. Click here to read...
INDIA IN AFRICA
MoS V Muraleedharan to visit Senegal 24-25 October
V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, will visit the Republic of Senegal during 24-25 October. Muraleedharan will participate in the Dakar Forum on Peace and Security. Click here to read...
India-Africa Defence Dialogue held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
The India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) was held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 18, 2022. The dialogue successfully brought out various aspects of the IADD’s theme ‘Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’. Click here to read...
Rajnath Singh meets African counterparts ahead of India-Africa Defence Dialogue
Ahead of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue which is scheduled for Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held fruitful discussions with defence ministers of various African nations. Click here to read...
India committed to provide all-round support to African nations: Defence Minister
Addressing the delegates from 43 African countries during ‘India-Africa Defence Dialogue’ (IADD) in Gandhinagar today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh put forth India’s stand as committed partner to provide support in all arenas to African countries, for fulfilling their aspirations for peace and stability in the region. Click here to read...
India to showcase arms to Africa, Indian Ocean Region nations
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is holding bilateral talks with his counterparts from several African nations including Mauritania, Gambia and the Central African Republic (CAR) at the sidelines of the show, said India's target is to achieve exports worth '35,000 crore by 2025, up from last year's Rs 13,000 crore. Click here to read...
To counter China’s influence, India seeks to boost defence cooperation with African countries
Underlining that India does not believe in making another country a “client” or “satellite state”, New Delhi is aspiring for deeper defence cooperation with African countries in the form of training and sale of equipment like attack choppers, drones, missiles, patrol vessels and small arms, among others. Click here to read...
‘India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme’ at MP-IDSA launched during India-Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022
During the IADD, in keeping with the new proposals of the Gandhinagar Declaration, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the ‘India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme’ and released its brochure by handing it over to Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). Click here to read...
India remains steadfast in supporting people of Mali in seeking peace
India remains steadfast in supporting the people of Mali in their quest for seeking enduring peace, security and development. Click here to read...
Jaishankar meets Botswana’s Foreign Minister
In a continuation of India’s deepening engagement with Africa, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of Botswana on 19 October 2022. Click here to read...
International Solar Alliance approves funding facility
The payment guarantee mechanism is expected to stimulate investments into solar projects through two financial components — a Solar Payment Guarantee Fund and Solar Insurance Fund. Click here to read...
INS Tarkash Arrives for IBSAMAR-VII in South Africa
INS Tarkash reached Port Grequhrea (also known as Port Elizabeth) in South Africa to participate in the seventh edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies from October 10-12. Click here to read...
Mudurunu receives an order in Gabon
Mudunuru has received orders worth US$355,395 for a project to implement the SmartPort solution for the mining port of Gabon (Central Africa). According to the filing, the order was received from Owendo Mineral Port (OMP). And it concerns the people and resources monitoring and management system for the Owendo mining port. Click here to read...
Billionaire Adani to Target Europe with Huge Morocco Clean Energy Project
Gautam Adani, Asia’s richest person, is in exploratory talks for a giant renewables project in Morocco, which would aim to supply electricity and emissions-free fuel to Europe. Click here to read...
The importance of the India-Africa defence dialogue
India is taking steps to increase its defence exports and emerge as a hub of defence production in the Indo-Pacific region. It is useful for building up a domestic defence-industrial-technological base, creating local capabilities and, in the long run, will reduce weapons imports. https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/the-importance-of-the-india-africa-defence-dialogue-1156113.html " target="_blank">Click here to read...
2 missing Indians part of Kenyan President's campaign killed: Report
A close aide of Kenyan President William Ruto has claimed that the two Indians, who went missing in July, have been killed. Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan and his friend Mohammed Zaid Sami Kidwai were part of President Ruto's digital campaign team. Click here to read...
Ekta Kapoor contacts Ministry of External Affairs and Kenya Red Cross to find the ex-COO of Balaji Telefilms after he goes missing in Nairobi
The owner of Balaji Telefilms, Ekta Kapoor recently took to social media to share a post regarding one of her friends and her colleagues who went missing during a recent trip. Zulfikar Ahmad Khan, who was the COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Balaji Telefilms and also a former journalist, recently took off to Nairobi and has been missing since the past three months. Click here to read...
