Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 12, 2023)

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

COMMENTARY

Africa's message to the world vis-a-vis Ukraine crisis: Africa is for Africans

On February 21, 2022, President Vladimir Putin declared Ukraine's two breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, independent. This was followed by the launch of military action in support of these separatists, supported by Moscow. Click here to read... [2]

On this day 31 years ago, how apartheid ended in South Africa

The apartheid officially began in 1948. Here is how it was finally cast off, after decades of protests and brutal repression. Click here to read... [3]

United States of Black Africa as a Desideratum: Morocco-Tunisian Saga as Catalyst

“African Continent without the Maghrebin Region, Now a Desideratum: Morocco as an Agent Provocateur,” was the title of the Vie Internationale of Sunday, February 5, 2023. Click here to read... [4]

The Persistence of Cults of Personality in African Governance

African leaders who hold power indefinitely often employ cults of personality to consolidate power, demand personal fealty, and systematically undermine independent governance institutions. Click here to read... [5]

NEWS

Nigeria counts votes in elections to choose new state governors

Nigeria’s election officials counted ballots after polls closed on Saturday in a delayed vote to pick new state governors, amid reports of scattered violence and voter intimidation, including in Lagos, where a tight race was expected. Click here to read... [6]

Nigerian opposition to review election documents

Nigeria’s election commission agreed to hand over documents linked to last month’s disputed election to the opposition’s legal team on Tuesday. Click here to read... [7]

Son of long-serving Museveni to run for Uganda presidency in 2026

The outspoken army general seems intent on replacing his father, who has ruled the East African country for 37 years, as president. Click here to read... [8]

Zimbabwe holds voter registration ahead general elections

Zimbabweans in voting units across Harare formed waiting lines Wednesday to register for the country's forthcoming polls. In five months, Zimbabweans will vote in harmonized presidential and legislative elections. Click here to read... [9]

Sudan generals face off in post-coup power struggle

Sixteen months since Sudan’s top generals ousted a transition to civilian rule, the coup leaders are embroiled in a dangerous power struggle with deepening rivalries within the security forces. Click here to read... [10]

Unrest in Senegal as police clash with opposition supporters

Police and demonstrators clashed in Senegal’s capital Dakar on Thursday before a court case involving opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who is widely supported by many of the West African country’s youth. Click here to read... [11]

Mali Gets Warplanes from Russia, Drones From Turkey

Mali’s military rulers took delivery on Thursday of more aircraft from Russia, now its main military and political ally, as well as drones from Turkey. Click here to read... [12]

Tunisian president names ally as new interior minister

Former Tunis governor Kamal Feki was given the post, days after mass opposition protests took place in the country. Click here to read... [13]

Ethiopia's Tigray region appoints new interim leader, Tigrai TV reports

The dominant party in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has nominated its spokesman Getachew Reda to be president of a regional interim administration. Click here to read... [14]

South Sudan Must Halt Fighting, Move Faster to Elections

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday demanded an immediate end to all fighting in South Sudan and pushed for swift progress by the government to ensure that delayed elections are held peacefully and freely in December 2024. Click here to read... [15]

Tanzania’s Opposition Welcomes President’s Pledge to Restore Competitive Politics

Tanzania’s opposition has welcomed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s pledge to restore competitive politics and review the country’s constitution. Click here to read... [16]

Zambia says it is pushing to agree debt restructuring despite delays

Zambia is working very hard with its creditors, including China, so that hopefully a debt restructuring can be agreed by the end of March or shortly afterwards. Click here to read... [17]

Togo adopts new law developed by IRU and World Bank to modernise transport

The Parliament of Togo has unanimously endorsed a new transport law developed by IRU with the support of the World Bank. Click here to read... [18]

Tunisian crisis deepens as Saied doubles down on agenda

Kais Saied’s racist speech against African migrants has isolated Tunisia internationally and sparked protest, but there is little sign that the president is prepared to engage with his critics. Click here to read... [19]

One-day CEMAC summit ends in Cameroon

Heads of state from the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) met on Friday in Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, for a one-day summit to discuss the region's economy and impact of the war in Ukraine. Click here to read... [20]

Blinken Visits Ethiopia Amidst Broader US Push Into Africa

Secretary of State Antony Blinken became the latest senior US official to visit Africa as part of a broader push by Washington to re-engage with the continent’s leaders. Click here to read... [21]

US Secretary of State Blinken visits Niger on Africa tour

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $150 million in direct assistance to Africa’s Sahel region Thursday as he visited Niger. Click here to read... [22]

British Indian minister in Rwanda to assess illegal migration plan

Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, arrived in Rwanda on Saturday on a tour of facilities being built as part of a bilateral migration pact that will see hundreds of illegal migrants deported from the UK to the central African nation. Click here to read... [23]

China Square: The cheap Chinese shop at the centre of Kenya row

A Chinese-owned shop selling cheap household goods at the centre of a dispute in Kenya has reopened after a counterfeit complaint against it was dismissed. The row got to the heart of a debate about whether this kind of outlet hurts or helps Kenyans. Click here to read... [24]

Egyptian, Turkey FMs meet in Cairo as ties thaw

Egypt and Turkey took another step towards mending relations on Saturday when Ankara’s top diplomat visited Cairo for the first time since ties were ruptured a decade ago and held talks with his Egyptian counterpart. Click here to read... [25]

U.S. military conducts first maritime drills with West African forces

The West African troops silently pulled their small boats up to a rust-stained ferry and swarmed up its sides on grappling hooks to disarm the mock kidnappers onboard. Click here to read... [26]

Angola buys Aksungur combat drone from Turkey

Angola has recently purchased the Aksungur combat drone from Turkey, a move that is sure to bolster the country’s defense capabilities. Click here to read... [27]

Rebels Pull Back in Eastern DR Congo as Regional Force Deploys

M23 rebels in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have withdrawn from several villages ahead of military deployments by a regional force. Click here to read... [28]

Russian Federation supports Algeria's intention to join the BRICS group

Russian Chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko has met with the Chairman of the Algerian Council of the Nation, Salah Goudjil, in Algiers. Click here to read... [29]

African Union Urged to Resolve Egypt-Ethiopia Dam Issue: Report

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River would continue to be built by Ethiopia, Africa as confirmed by the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry on Thursday. Click here to read... [30]

Gabon transport minister resigns in wake of deadly shipwreck

Gabon's transport minister, Brice Paillat, resigned Thursday (Mar. 16), the presidency announced, a week after a ferry disaster claimed the lives of at least 21 people, with another 16 still missing. Click here to read... [31]

China Energy is building a $5.1 billion green hydrogen project in Egypt

China Energy announced the implementation of a USD-5.1-billion green hydrogen plant in Egypt in May, during a meeting with Egypt's prime minister Mostafa Madbouly. Click here to read... [32]

2.5 Tons of Missing Uranium Found in South Libya: Report

More than 2 tonnes of natural uranium reported missing by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in Libya have been found. Click here to read... [33]

Russian Uranium Company Appeals Namibian Government Decision

A court in Namibia is hearing an appeal by the local branch of Russia's state-owned atomic energy agency, Rosatom, which is seeking water permits needed for uranium mining. Click here to read... [34]

China’s ‘Digital Silk Road’ in Africa Raises Questions

A group of U.S. lawmakers recently drafted a resolution criticizing South Africa’s government for its close relations with Beijing. Click here to read... [35]

Southern Africa's Cyclone Freddy set to be one of the longest and strongest ever

Cyclone Freddy is tearing its way through Southern Africa and is on track to be one of the longest lasting and strongest cyclones on record. Click here to read... [36]

Cyclone Freddy toll passes 400 in Africa's Malawi and Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Freddy has killed more than 400 people in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar since it first made landfall in Africa in late February and circled back to hit the region for a second time over the weekend. Click here to read... [37]

Unknown Disease Kills 5 In Tanzania, Symptoms Detected In 7 More

A mysterious disease has killed five people in Tanzania. It appears to be a communicable disease, which has become a serious concern for health experts in the East African country. Click here to read... [38]

Burundi announces first polio outbreak in more than 30 years

Health authorities in Burundi on Friday said that they had detected eight samples of polio, officially declaring the landlocked African nation’s first outbreak in more than 30 years. Click here to read... [39]

INDIA IN AFRICA

25 Armies from Africa to attend maiden India-Africa Chiefs Conclave in Pune

Armies of 25 African countries will attend the India-Africa Chiefs Conclave in Pune on March 28. Click here to read... [40]

India to host African Chiefs Conclave, second Africa-India field training exercise

The Indian Army is set to host the second edition of the Africa-India field training exercise (AFINDEX-23) from March 21 to 30, and African Chiefs Conclave on March 28, in Pune. Click here to read... [41]

South Africa Delegation Arrives in India Ahead Of 2nd G20 EdWG Meeting

Delegates from South Africa have arrived to attend the 2nd G20 EdWG Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency which is scheduled to be held in Amritsar from 15-17th March 2023. Click here to read... [42]

India hosts Ministerial Round Table of leading millets (Shree Anna) countries

Ministerial Round Table of Millets was held post-inaugural session of the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference held today in New Delhi. Ministers from Guyana, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname & Zambia Permanent Secretary, Agriculture of Gambia & Maldives and Director General, Millets Initiative, Nigeria participated in the meeting. Click here to read... [43]

Chief Justice of Kenya Martha K Koome attends proceedings of Supreme Court of India

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Lady Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH, on Tuesday attended the proceedings of the Supreme Court of India, as part of the Constitution Bench. Click here to read... [44]

Visit of Algerian Navy Ship El Moutassadi to Mumbai - 13 to 16 March 2023

Algerian Navy Patrol Ship El Moutassadi visited Mumbai from 13 to 16 March 2023. The ship is under the command of Commandant Takia Fouad and Colonel Arabi Belhamed, Commander of the Anti-Submarine Division of the Algerian Navy and Senior Officer present onboard. Algerian Navy ships had earlier visited Kochi in 2016. Click here to read... [45]

RBI allows India and Tanzania to use national currencies for trading

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given the go-ahead for India and Tanzania to use their national currencies for bilateral trade settlement. Click here to read... [46]

Government ramps up efforts to resume Mozambique gas ops

India is ramping up efforts to resume operations at a gas project in a terrorist-affected province of Mozambique where an ONGC Videsh-led Indian consortium has a 30% stake. Click here to read... [47]

India and Ethiopia set to finalize stalled deals

India’s diplomatic support for the Ethiopian government during the civil war has been an important factor propelling the relationship forward. Click here to read... [48]

India's infra development model can be applied to uplift Africa

“Digital connectivity, that’s an area where I work in 15 countries in Africa for the last 13 years. It requires more attention and to my mind, India has shown that while physical infrastructure can take years if not decades. Click here to read... [49]

HAL LCA Tejas Mk1A and the continuing struggle with Botswana F-5 fighter replacement efforts

The Botswana Defense Force (BDF) is now negotiating with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited of India to purchase several of the company’s LCA Tejas fighter planes. Click here to read... [50]

PM Modi Condoles Loss Of Lives In Southern Africa Due To Cyclone Freddy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the loss of lives due to Cyclone Freddy in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar, and said India stands with them in this tough time. Click here to read... [51]

Airtel Africa to Rollout Nokia iSIM Technology Over the Next Year

Nokia and Airtel have already worked together on deploying iSIM Secure Connect in Nigeria earlier this month. Click here to read... [52]

Explore India With Kenya’s Leading Fashion and Travel Maven – Silvia Njoki

Digital content creator per excellence, journalist, fashion, lifestyle and travel connoisseur – Silvia Njoki takes a Soul Sync Discoveries trip to the artistic country of India. Click here to read... [53]

PODCAST

Decoding the Presidential Election of Nigeria

In this episode of VIF podcast, Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation and Samir Bhattacharya, Senior Research Associate, VIF discuss the implications of Nigerian Presidential election for Nigerian democracy and beyond. Click here to read... [54]