Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.
In February 2022, the annual summit of the African Union (AU) took place in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, also headquarter of the African Union. Click here to read... [2]
Fifty-nine years have passed on since the proclamation of the need for a United States of Africa and with it hopes and dreams. Click here to read... [3]
On March 27th, Israel hosted a landmark summit in which foreign ministers from Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States met to discuss a myriad of international issues. Click here to read... [4]
The warning from Algeria comes against the background of already-soaring gas prices driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Click here to read... [5]
The Libyan House of Representatives has condemned Algeria's recognition of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and refusal to acknowledge the competing government in Tobruk. Click here to read... [6]
Demonstrators marched across Sudanese cities to mark the deadly sit-in protests during the military takeover of the government where over 60 people were killed in the capital Khartoum in 2019. Click here to read... [7]
The head of Guinea's military government has announced the country will return to civilian rule after a 39-month transition period. Click here to read... [8]
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights criticised Mali’s decision to ban French media outlets and called on its military rulers to reverse their decision. Click here to read... [9]
China has reportedly deployed and installed new generation of surface-to- air missiles (SAM) in Zimbabwe, Team pachedu has alleged. Click here to read... [10]
Cameroon’s president signs a security deal with Putin amid war in Ukraine and conflict at home. Click here to read... [11]
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is heading to West Africa on Saturday to join Muslims marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan and to highlight the impact of the Ukraine war on the African continent. Click here to read... [12]
Kenya’s presidential contender Raila Odinga has moved to broker a pre-election power-sharing deal in Nairobi among the political parties in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, defusing tensions that threatened to derail his campaign. Click here to read... [13]
African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina concluded a three-day official visit to Washington DC on Saturday. Click here to read... [14]
The OPEC Fund for International Development will finance 14.3 million U.S. dollars for the second phase of the studies in the submarine Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. Click here to read... [15]
Chinese lending to African governments fell to a 16-year low in 2020 as the impact of the coronavirus deterred countries on the continent from borrowing. Click here to read... [16]
More than 500 UN peacekeepers from Tigray who were deployed to Abyei, a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan, have asked Khartoum for asylum, citing fears for their safetyClick here to read... [17]
After El Salvador and a Honduras SEZ, and the city of Lugano, the Central African Republic has also accepted the Bitcoin as the legal tender in the country. Click here to read... [18]
Guinea's military junta announced that it has received "proposals" for a political transition in the country. The proposals range from 18 to 52 months. Click here to read... [19]
Kenya has distanced itself from a United States listing of 60 signatories to an agreement that commits countries from arbitrarily shutting down the internet. Click here to read... [20]
Nigeria's opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) said on Monday it will choose a presidential candidate at the end of May to contest elections set for February next year as it seeks to return to power after losing office seven years ago. Click here to read... [21]
The Congolese presidency said on Thursday that the first round of peace talks to end one of the world's worst and longest-running humanitarian emergencies had concluded. Click here to read... [22]
Libya is losing tens of millions of dollars a day from the shutdown of its oil facilities, while global prices are at their highest in years, the country’s oil minister told AFP. Click here to read... [23]
As Tunisia’s political crisis rumbles on, President Kais Saied has made several moves that critics say are designed to entrench him in power and appears increasingly unwilling to compromise. Click here to read... [24]
Somali lawmakers have elected a new parliamentary speaker after a tense standoff between African Union peacekeepers and police, underscoring bitter divisions within the country’s security forces exacerbated by delayed elections. Click here to read... [25]
Guinea's ruling junta on Monday signalled it might break a deadline to set out its plans to return to civilian rule, opening up the prospect of more sanctions from West Africa's political and economic bloc. Click here to read... [26]
Troops participating in a West African joint military force claim to have killed an estimated 20 rebel fighters in the Lake Chad basin. Click here to read... [27]
Clashes in West Darfur left at least 200 people dead and over a hundred injured, local authorities said on April 27. The clashes unfolded between members of the non-Arab Massalit community and Arab fighters near West Darfur's state capital El Geneina. Click here to read... [28]
TOGO COULD become the latest country to join the Commonwealth after MPs passed a vote asking its Government to make a formal bid for membership on Friday. Click here to read... [29]
The African Union has said there was need for a "peaceful solution to the conflict with Russia". Click here to read... [31]
New Zealand will extend its peacekeeping contributions in South Sudan and the Middle East. An international relations expert said the deployments were a chance for troops to get specialist training and learn from overseas counterparts. Click here to read... [32]
President Hakainde Hichilema has thanked China for coming on board to commit and join other creditors in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Zambia debt restructuring process. Click here to read... [33]
Under a scorching sun at a trading post in Malawi, Chikumbutso Chekeni and his wife head to their tobacco sheds to dry their newly harvested leaf. Click here to read... [34]
Suspected Islamic State terrorists blew up a natural gas pipeline Saturday in Egypt’s restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, causing a fire but no casualties, security officials saidClick here to read... [35]
Senior Eritrean delegation composed of Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Presidential Adviser Mr. Yemane Gebreab is on a two-day working visit to Russia on invitation of Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Click here to read... [36]
Bitcoin is not a cure-all for Africa's economic woes, the International Monetary Fund warned Thursday, after the Central African Republic adopted the cryptocurrency as legal tender. Click here to read... [37]
Pressure is piling on the Chadian government to delay the date of a national dialogue set to start in two weeks as rebel groups and representatives of the country’s transitional council are yet to reach an amnesty agreement seen as a crucial condition for the success of the talks. Click here to read... [38]
The Angolan oil sector has reason to smile with export figures more than satisfactory at the end of 2021-beginning of 2022. In the same vein, the historic launch of the very first oil platform in the country will take place next June. Click here to read... [39]
South Africa has likely entered a new wave of Covid-19 earlier than expected as new infections and hospitalisations have risen rapidly over the past two weeks, the country's health minister said on Friday. Click here to read... [40]
South Africa has indicated its interest in co-chairing Zambia’s official creditors committee together with France, the nation’s finance ministry said. Click here to read... [41]
South African Muslims are pleased to see more faithful gathering at mosques during this year's holy month of Ramadan. Click here to read... [42]
The family of Paul Rusesabagina, the subject of Oscar-nominated film Hotel Rwanda, have filed a $400m (£307m) lawsuit in the United States over his alleged abduction and torture. Click here to read... [43]
The Gabonese government has announced the construction of a new special economic zone (SEZ), the Mpassa-Lebombi, in the south-eastern province of Haut-Ogooué. Click here to read... [44]
Despite significant growth Vietnam-Africa bilateral ties in recent years, the trade relationship between the two had not achieved its full potential, especially in the fashion industry, according to Le Hoang Tai, deputy director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade). Click here to read... [45]
African energy sector investment platform Energy Capital & Power (EPC) has created a coalition with Mauritania’s Energy Ministry and NOC to attract foreign stakeholder interest in the country’s potential renewable projects and 28 offshore blocks that are open for bids, EPC announcedClick here to read... [46]
The visiting Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato has called the “Indo-Pacific vision a legitimate vision", an important remark given the country's key location in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Click here to read... [47]
Realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a self-reliant nation in defence manufacturing, an Indian Army peacekeeping battalion equipped with homemade wheeled armoured personnel carriers has been deployed in Africa's oil-rich Abyei region, which sits between northern and southern Sudan. Click here to read... [48]
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra has urged members of the Indian Community to register as Overseas Voters. He also told the NRI community that extension of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) facility to overseas voters is being contemplated.Click here to read... [49]
Over 1,100 Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were awarded UN medals, honouring them for their exceptional service in the strife-torn East African country. Click here to read... [50]
A delegation from Kenya visited the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor along with N Srinivas, the Director of Operations & Business Development, DFCCILClick here to read... [51]
Mozambique's publicly owned electricity company, EDM, has awarded the construction of the interconnection power line with neighbouring Malawi to "Lasern & Toubro" (L&T), India's infrastructure development companyClick here to read... [52]
Since its founding in March 1972, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has been celebrating 50 years of scientific innovation and impact in the drylands. Click here to read... [53]
India is scheduled to ship its first wheat cargo to Egypt, following the latter's phytosanitary approval of India-origin crop earlier in April. Click here to read... [54]
The AfCFTA, whose Secretariat is hosted in Accra, provides duty-free and quota-free trade access for businesses and companies. Click here to read... [55]
Continuing with what has been New Delhi’s approach on strengthening bonds with countries in the Indian Ocean Region, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R Hari Kumar has visited Seychelles and Maldives. Click here to read... [56]
India's top private university Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has announced a new scholarship program to support 350 students from across Africa to travel to India for higher education. The announcement made at the Amrita-Africa Summit in New Delhi was attended by ambassadors from across Africa and hosted by dignitaries from the universityClick here to read... [57]
The sources said a chapter on general economic cooperation is also expected to be included in the pact, which is officially termed as Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA). Click here to read... [58]
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest carrier in Africa, is allowed to operate 35 flights per week to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. Click here to read... [59]
Guptas used former president Zuma against people of S Africa: Commission of Inquiry
A report said Jacob Zuma "would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do for them", including firing competent ministers and senior officials at parastatal institutions. Click here to read... [60]
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has invited Mauritian investors to invest in the state as well as participate in the Global Investors Summit proposed to be held in the state soon. Click here to read... [61]
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday congratulated Tanzania Foreign Minister Liberata Mulamula and the people of the country on the 58th anniversary of their Union DayClick here to read... [62]
In a significant initiative towards boosting scientific temper and enthusiasm for space technology in the young citizens of Seychelles, an Indian organization facilitated the launch of Seychelles' first-ever balloon satellite. Click here to read... [63]
Tension prevailed at GITAM University campus on the outskirts of Bengaluru after a 22-year-old student fell to her death from the sixth floor of the hostel building on Wednesday night, the police said. Click here to read... [64]
In one of the latest reports issued by the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, the three Gupta brothers have been held responsible for capturing the parastatal electricity supplier, Eskom and provoking South African natives against their former President Jacob Zuma. Click here to read... [65]
A report said Jacob Zuma "would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do for them", including firing competent ministers and senior officials at parastatal institutions. Click here to read... [60]
Indian agrochemicals manufacturer UPL Ltd has applied for permission to flush water contaminated by a toxic pesticides spill in South Africa’s city of Durban directly into the sea or the sewerage system, the company said on Saturday. Click here to read... [66]
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Links:
[1] https://www.vifindia.org/2022/may/02/africa-now-weekly-newsletter-week-18
[2] https://www.modernghana.com/news/1154830/the-future-of-israel-africa-ties.html
[3] https://mg.co.za/africa/2022-04-26-africa-day-2022-comes-amid-a-divided-continent/
[4] https://theowp.org/reports/israel-offers-support-to-morocco-over-western-sahara-after-summit/
[5] https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/4/28/algeria-threatens-to-halt-gas-exports-to-spain
[6] https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/libyan-parliament-lashes-out-algeria-recognises-gnu
[7] https://www.trtworld.com/africa/sudanese-people-protest-against-military-rule-in-anniversary-56791
[8] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61288641
[9] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/29/un-condemns-malis-ban-on-french-media
[10] https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-218523.html
[11] https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/04/27/cameroon-russia-military-deal-biya-putin-france/
[12] https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/international/2022/04/30/fgn89-un-wafrica.html
[13] https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/raila-horse-trading-in-nairobi-governor-race-3791626
[14] https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/2016044-afdb-president-garners-strong-support-for-robust-16th-replenishment-of-african-development-fund
[15] https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2022-05-01/OPEC-Fund-to-finance-Nigeria-Morocco-gas-pipeline-19F7xwr3bVK/index.html
[16] https://www.bloombergquint.com/china/chinese-lending-to-africa-fell-to-16-year-low-when-pandemic-hit
[17] https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ethiopia-says-tigrayan-peacekeepers-victims-of-rebel-propaganda/article65363340.ece
[18] https://www.businesstoday.in/crypto/story/central-african-republic-accepts-bitcoin-as-legal-tender-331077-2022-04-25
[19] https://www.africanews.com/2022/04/30/guinea-considers-proposals-for-political-transition//
[20] https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/news/kenya-distances-itself-us-pact-against-internet-shutdowns-3798636
[21] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerias-opposition-pick-presidential-candidate-end-may-2022-04-25/
[22] https://www.dw.com/en/few-optimistic-about-drc-peace-talks-in-kenya/a-61620879
[23] https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/4/29/libya-is-losing-60m-a-day-in-oil-shutdown-oil-minister
[24] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/29/tunisia-president-unwilling-compromise-democracy-fears-grow
[25] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/28/somalia-parliament-elects-new-speaker-after-security-standoff
[26] https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-25/guinea-and-burkina-faso-juntas-risk-more-sanctions-over-transition-delays
[27] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/1/joint-west-african-force-claims-20-rebels-killed-in-lake-chad
[28] https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/sudan-west-darfur-clashes-leave-200-dead/article38481462.ece
[29] https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/world-news/2022/04/26/togo-to-join-commonwealth/
[30] https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20220430-benin-celebrates-return-of-royal-treasures-after-130-years
[31] https://www.africanews.com/2022/04/29/will-au-give-support-to-ukraine-after-zelensky-s-second-request-to-address-african-leaders/
[32] https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/nzdf-peacekeepers-extend-mission-in-south-sudan-and-middle-east/
[33] https://www.africanews.com/2022/04/26/china-aids-zambia-in-debt-restructuring-process/
[34] https://www.africanews.com/2022/05/01/malawi-looks-to-cannabis-for-profits-amid-declining-tobacco-demand/
[35] https://www.timesofisrael.com/suspected-islamic-state-terrorists-blow-up-gas-pipeline-in-egypts-sinai/
[36] https://african.business/2022/04/apo-newsfeed/senior-eritrean-delegation-on-working-visit-to-russia/
[37] https://www.forbesindia.com/article/news/bitcoin-not-a-panacea-for-africas-economic-woes-imf/75817/1
[38] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/27/pressure-mounts-for-chad-to-delay-its-national-dialogue
[39] https://www.africanews.com/2022/04/26/angola-s-historic-first-oil-platform-to-be-launched-in-june/
[40] https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/south-africa-likely-in-new-covid-wave-says-health-minister-1943683-2022-04-30
[41] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-30/south-africa-offers-to-co-chair-zambia-s-creditor-committee
[42] https://www.dailysabah.com/life/religion/more-faithful-in-south-african-mosques-during-ramadan-this-year
[43] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61288030
[44] https://african.business/2022/04/finance-services/gabon-launches-new-economic-zone/
[45] https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/latest-fashion-trends-news/africa-vietnam-fashion-trade-ties-yet-to-hit-full-potential-vietrade-280301-newsdetails.htm
[46] https://worldoil.com/news/2022/4/28/mauritania-working-to-promote-28-offshore-blocks-open-for-bids/
[47] https://www.wionews.com/india-news/madagascar-fm-calls-indo-pacific-a-legitimate-vision-bats-for-peaceful-military-ties-with-india-474163
[48] https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/india-defence/why-are-indian-army-and-made-in-india-vehicles-in-africa-s-oil-rich-abyei--rb1lz6#image1
[49] https://newsonair.com/2022/04/23/chief-election-commissioner-sushil-chandra-urges-indian-diaspora-to-register-as-overseas-voters/
[50] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/over-1-000-indian-peacekeepers-get-un-award-for-serving-in-south-sudan-2933726
[51] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/kenya-delegation-visits-dfccil-freight-corridor/videoshow/91219784.cms
[52] https://allafrica.com/stories/202204130105.html
[53] https://krishijagran.com/agriculture-world/icrisat-s-50th-anniversary-celebration-held-in-malawi/
[54] https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2325114-india-to-send-first-wheat-cargo-to-egypt
[55] https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/general/261728/Gov-t-urges-Ghanaian-Indian-pharmaceutical-companies-to-access-AfCFTA-opportunities
[56] https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/apr/25/navy-chief-hands-over-navigation-charts-to-maldives-andseychelles-2446161.html
[57] https://www.indiatoday.in/impact-feature/video/amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham-to-completely-fund-university-studies-for-students-from-africa-1942498-2022-04-27
[58] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-mauritius-trade-pact-may-include-safeguard-mechanism-related-provisions/articleshow/91228336.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
[59] https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/ethiopian-airlines-to-boost-india-flights-eyes-higher-traffic-from-brics-122042900245_1.html
[60] https://indianexpress.com/article/world/guptas-used-former-president-zuma-against-people-of-s-africa-commission-of-inquiry-7895878/
[61] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/91060914.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
[62] https://www.aninews.in/news/world/others/jaishankar-congratulates-tanzania-on-countrys-union-day20220426103139/
[63] https://www.wionews.com/india-news/unesco-funds-launch-of-seychelles-first-ever-balloon-satellite-475280
[64] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-ugandan-woman-dies-falling-from-hostel-terrace-students-stage-protest-7893837/
[65] https://theprint.in/world/indias-gupta-brothers-used-south-africas-ex-president-in-capturing-eskom/938553/
[66] https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/disaster-pmn/indias-upl-applies-to-flush-toxic-pesticides-into-south-african-sea
[67] http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?title=Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 18, 2022)&desc=&images=&u=https://www.vifindia.org/2022/may/02/africa-now-weekly-newsletter-week-18
[68] http://twitter.com/share?text=Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 18, 2022)&url=https://www.vifindia.org/2022/may/02/africa-now-weekly-newsletter-week-18&via=Azure Power
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[70] https://www.vifindia.org/author/Samir-Bhattacharya