Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 6, 2023)

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Whither Political Freedoms in Africa?

A marked disjuncture between the consolidation of democratic forms and the affirmation of civil liberties is one of the many paradoxes of Africa’s democratic evolution. Click here to read... [2]

How the international community can help restore Sudan’s democracy

The 2019 Sudanese revolution was a uniquely inspiring moment for the world. Click here to read... [3]

NEWS

Tunisia votes again in 2nd round of parliamentary elections

Tunisian voters headed to polling stations on Sunday for the second round of parliamentary elections in a country embroiled in a deepening political crisis. Click here to read... [4]

Burkina Faso, Mali eye federation after expelling French soldiers

Burkina Faso's prime minister, in a visit to neighbouring Mali this week, has suggested the two countries form a "federation" to boost their economic clout, his office said. Click here to read... [5]

Ethiopian PM meets Tigray region leaders for first time since peace deal

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met senior leaders of the Tigray region forces on Friday for the first time since they signed a peace deal with the national government ending two years of war. Click here to read... [6]

Zimbabwe approves 'draconian' law targeting civil society

Zimbabwe's upper house of parliament has approved legislation that critics say will gag civil society groups, placing them under the threat of harsh sanctions and strict government control. Click here to read... [7]

Why lifting Tanzania's opposition ban suits President Samia

There is a well-deserved excitement about the return after six years of political rallies in Tanzania. Click here to read... [8]
South Africa to host 15th BRICS summit at Durban in late August 2023

The 15th BRICS summit is all set to take place in South Africa's Durban in late August this year. Click here to read... [9]

Somalia hosts regional summit to discuss fighting al-Shabab

Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti are set to discuss a joint military offensive against the al-Qaeda affiliate. Click here to read... [10]

Nigeria’s attempt to replace its currency notes descends into chaos

Long queues form outside cash machines and fights break out as customers demand access to money. Click here to read... [11]

US seeks to expel Russian mercenaries from Sudan, Libya

The United States has stepped up pressure on Middle East allies to expel the Wagner Group, a military contractor owned by an oligarch with close ties to Russia’s president. Click here to read... [12]

Burkina Faso Junta Leader Says No Wagner Mercenaries in Country as Ties with France Worsen

Burkina Faso’s military leader said Friday that there was no break in diplomatic relations with France, which he asked to withdraw its forces, and denied Russian Wagner mercenaries were in the country. Click here to read... [13]

South Africa’s ANC calls for ‘state of disaster’ to end energy crisis

South Africa's governing ANC party has asked top officials to declare a national state of disaster to end severe electricity blackouts that have wreaked havoc on Africa's most industrialised nation. Click here to read... [14]

Is Mozambique LNG rebirth in sight? Speculation builds about restart of $20 billion project

Thought to be in Mozambique, TotalEnergies’ chief executive Patrick Pouyanne may shortly announce positive progress on huge developmentClick here to read... [15]

E Guinea accuses French firm of giving away domain name

Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president has accused French telecom operator Orange SA of “fraudulently” giving the .gq domain name to the Netherlands, forcing the African nation’s institutions to pay to use the domain. Click here to read... [16]

Angola Needs U.S.$ 238.5 Million to Complete Clearing Landmines

Angola said Thursday it needs more than USD238.5 million to complete the demining process, started in 2002. Click here to read... [17]

Chad to open embassy in Israel on Thursday: Israeli PM Netanyahu

Israel and Chad resumed ties in 2018 following a visit to Jerusalem by then-President Idriss Deby to PM Netanyahu. Click here to read... [18]

Israel, Sudan announce deal to normalise relations

Israel and Sudan have finalised a deal to normalise relations, with a signing ceremony expected following a transfer of power from the military to a civilian government in Khartoum. Click here to read... [19]

Yellen warns against violating Russia sanctions during SA stop of Africa Tour

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she had discussed economic sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in every stop on her Africa tour and she was hopeful an agreement on the next Russian oil price cap could be reached soon. Click here to read... [20]

China must join Ghana debt restructuring effort soon, Germany’s Lindner says

Germany’s finance minister singled out China during a visit to Ghana on Friday, as he called on countries that have lent to the embattled West African nation to form a creditor committee quickly to help it restructure its debt. Click here to read... [21]

Russian Forces Help Secure Central Africa Gold Zone in New Pact

Three nations have agreed with the help of Russian troops to secure a gold-rich region in the Central African Republic rife with armed rebel groups, the latest sign of Moscow’s expanding influence on the continent. Click here to read... [22]

ECOWAS accuses France of fuelling political lethargy on West Africa’s single currency

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has alleged that the French government is fueling a political inertia in the adoption of the West African single currency, ECO, over its CFA franc. Click here to read... [23]

Tundu Lissu’s return reawakens opposition in Tanzania

Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu has energised opposition politics after he returned to the country from exile to a heroic welcome. Click here to read... [24]

Cameroon's ex-defense minister gets 30 years in jail for corruption

A court in Cameroon on Thursday sentenced a former defense minister to 30 years in prison for embezzling more than $38 million. Click here to read... [25]

Somalia is the most corrupt country in the world

Somalia sits at the bottom of the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index by Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International that surveyed 180 countries. Click here to read... [26]

Seychelles ranked Africa's least corrupt country - 2022 CPI

Seychelles has maintained its top ranking for the sub-Saharan African region in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Tuesday. Click here to read... [27]

More than 40 killed in Nigeria as gunmen and vigilantes clash

More than 40 people have been killed in clashes between gunmen and vigilantes in Nigeria’s northern Katsina state, the latest violence ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections. Click here to read... [28]

UAE, Algeria explore cooperation in defence industries

The Joint Emirati-Algerian Committee concluded its 11th meeting on Thursday. Click here to read... [29]

Spain and Morocco hold first summit in eight years

Spain and Morocco are holding their first summit for eight years as they seek to strengthen their economic ties. Click here to read... [30]

Italy's Meloni in Libya to conclude $8 billion gas deal

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Tripoli on Saturday to conclude an $8 billion gas deal aimed at boosting energy supplies to Europe despite the insecurity and political chaos in the North African country. Click here to read... [31]

Italy is building ties with Algeria, and could bring it closer to the West

A perception of isolation within Algiers could push it to deepen relations with Russia and China, hindering relations with the West. Click here to read... [32]

One Chinese citizen killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region - embassy

One Chinese citizen was killed in an attack on Monday in Ethiopia's Oromiya region, the Chinese embassy in the country said, and it warned other citizens in Ethiopia to exercise caution and build up safety awareness. Click here to read... [33]

'Hands off Africa,' Pope Francis tells rich world

Pope Francis denounced the "poison of greed" driving conflicts in Africa as he began a visit to Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, saying the rich world had to realise that people were more precious than the minerals in the earth beneath them.

Pope Francis in South Sudan: The Catholic pilgrims who walked nine days to Juba

A group of about 60 Catholic pilgrims are recovering after spending nine days trekking through war-torn South Sudan to see Pope Francis in the capital, Juba. Click here to read... [34]

Rhino poaching surges 93 percent in Namibia

Authorities say 87 rhinos were killed last year compared with 45 in 2021, most of them poached from the country’s largest park. Click here to read... [35]

INDIA IN AFRICA

Rwanda opens third consulate in india

Rwanda has opened the third Honorary Consulate in India in the State of Kolkata and commissioned an Indian national to run the office with jurisdiction in nine States. Click here to read... [36]

Rwanda names new consul to Indian city of Kolkata

Rudra Chartejee was on January 31, appointed the Honorary Consul of Rwanda in Kolkata, India. Click here to read... [37]

Parliamentary delegation from Zambia calls on President Droupadi Murmu

A Parliamentary delegation from Zambia called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. Click here to read... [38]

EAM Jaishankar meets Zambia National Assembly Speaker Nelly Mutti and her delegation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today held a meeting with Zambia National Assembly Speaker Nelly Mutti and her delegation in Parliament House and discussed economic and development cooperation. Click here to read... [39]

India hands over 100 nautical charts to Kenya

A joint survey of the coastal area around the Lamu Archipelago near Kenya had been carried out by the Navies of the two countriesClick here to read... [40]

India and Egypt Expand Space Cooperation through a Strategic Partnership

India and Egypt are expected to deepen their cooperation in the space sector after elevating their relations to a “Strategic Partnership” on 26 January 2023. Click here to read... [41]

Ghana finds in India a dependable partner – Minister

Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, a Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, says Ghana finds in India a dependable partner in bilateral cooperation, evident in India’s confidence and investment in the country’s economy. Click here to read... [42]

India supports peace process and capacity building in South Sudan

India on Tuesday supported the peace process and capacity building in South Sudan in the journey for peace. Click here to read... [43]

India Pavilion – Agritech West Africa 2023 Ghana

The Expo will feature participation from ten different countries and will be organised under the auspices of Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with the support of Ghana's High Commission in India and all major Chambers and Associations in the Agribusiness in Ghana. Click here to read... [44]

Kenya showcases destination attractions to attract Indian tourists

Destination Kenya is all set to attract Indian Outbound Tourism with a slew of initiatives planned for the upcoming season. Click here to read... [45]