Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 14, 2023)

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

COMMENTARY

Western Sahara - The North African Gordian Knot

Western Saharan conflict is one of the world's most ignored conflicts .. it is crucial to indigenous Sahrawis and their kin in southern Morocco, northern Mauritania and western Algeria. Click here to read... [2]

India's G20 Presidency Presents an Opportunity to Foster India-Africa Collaboration on Traditional Medicines

After the G20 Summit in Bali, India took over the G20 presidency for one year, from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. Click here to read... [3]

NEWS

Sudan factions delay post-coup deal on civilian rule

A coup in October 2021 led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had derailed the transition to civilian-led rule that began following the 2019 ouster of Islamist general Omar al-BashirClick here to read... [4]

Political leader fears new military coup in Sudan

The reluctance of military leaders to sign the final political agreement coupled with the blockade of roads indicate that a coup could happen in Sudan, said a political leader involved in the ongoing political process. Click here to read... [5]

Nigeria 2023: After presidential poll defeat, Atiku and Obi unite against Tinubu

Despite working individually throughout the presidential campaign period, Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party’s (LP) Peter Obi have now forged a strategic partnership to overturn the victory of Bola Tinubu as president-elect. Could this work? Click here to read... [6]

Kenyan opposition leader Odinga suspends anti-government protests

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga said on Sunday he was suspending anti-government protests and was ready for talks after an appeal from President William Ruto, though he warned that demonstrations could restart in days. Click here to read... [7]

Ethiopia Drops Charges Against Rebel Leaders After Peace Deal

The Ethiopian government on Thursday announced it is scrapping criminal charges against leaders of the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), in line with a peace deal in its northern region. Click here to read... [8]

Senegalese opposition postpones April 3rd protests

The Senegalese opposition announced Friday (Mar.31) they'd postponed risky demonstrations scheduled Monday (Apr. 3rd). Throughout the trial of politician Ousmane Sonko, tensions were high in the country. Click here to read... [9]

Algeria court sentences prominent journalist El Kadi to three years in prison

El Kadi was remanded in December following accusations of “receiving sums of money and privileges from people and organisations inside the country and abroad in exchange for carrying out activities that could harm state security”. Click here to read... [10]

Burkina Faso expels correspondents from French newspapers

Burkina Faso has expelled journalists from two leading French newspapers, in the latest move against France by Burkina Faso's military junta.Sophie Douce of Le Monde and Agnès Faivre of Libération arrived in Paris after being given 24 hours to leave. Click here to read... [11]

Pirates attack Danish ship in Gulf of Guinea, kidnap crew

The French navy found the hijacked Monjasa Reformer in the Gulf of Guinea, but six members of its crew had been kidnapped. Click here to read... [12]

14 al-Shabab militants killed in southwestern Somalia

The Somali National Army (SNA) killed 14 al-Shabab militants during an onslaught in the Southwest State of Somalia, an official said on Saturday. Click here to read... [13]

Congolese M23 rebels begin withdrawal from bases in Congo: Ugandan military

The Ugandan military has said that the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have started withdrawing and handing over their bases in the eastern Congo to the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF). Click here to read... [14]

South Sudanese troops arrive in Congo under EAC regional force mandate

The first contingent of South Sudan's army has arrived in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the eastern Congo, under the mandate of the regional force of the East African Community (EAC). Click here to read... [15]

Lesotho lawmakers to debate reclaiming parts of South Africa

The motion, based on a 1962 UN resolution, aims to ‘return’ South Africa’s entire Free State and four other regions to Lesotho. Click here to read... [16]

Nigeria's Supreme Court rules CBN naira redesign invalid

Nigeria's Supreme Court has ruled that old banknotes remain legal tender until the end of the year, bringing relief to millions affected by a chaotic redesign of the naira notes. Click here to read... [17]

Top Zimbabwe ambassador involved in gold smuggling scheme

One of Zimbabwe’s most influential diplomats, Uebert Angel, offered to use his status to launder millions of dollars through a gold-smuggling scheme, during an undercover operation by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit). Click here to read... [18]

UN mission accuses EU of aiding crimes against humanity in Libya

Fact-finding mission says state security forces and armed militia groups have committed a wide array of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Click here to read... [19]

Tunisia to cut water supplies to citizens overnight amid drought

The drought-hit country announced other tight restrictions on water usage as it braces for another baking summer. Click here to read... [20]

Ethiopia says keen to resume dam talks with Egypt, Sudan

Ethiopia on Saturday reiterated its interest in resuming talks with Egypt and Sudan over a huge and controversial dam project which is being built on the river Nile. Click here to read... [21]

Kamala Harris announces Tanzania trade initiatives on Africa tour

VP Harris announced a list of initiatives including an MOU between the Export-Import Bank of the US (EXIM) and Tanzania. Click here to read... [22]

China's global influence looms over Kamala Harris trip to Africa

When US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Zambia on Friday for the final stop of her week-long trip across Africa, she touched down at an airport that’s doubled in size and features glittering new terminals. Click here to read... [23]

US Vice-President Kamala Harris is in Africa, so why does China keep coming up?

As she launched her week-long trip to Africa on Monday, US Vice-President Kamala Harris promised Washington would invest millions of dollars in the continent. Click here to read... [24]

Local employees ill-treated by Chinese companies in African regions

Local labourers are ill-treated, abused, forcefully made to work under dire conditions and given wages which are way below contract pay. In a recent case, a Tanzanian woman was assaulted by a Chinese national. The incident took place on March 18. Click here to read... [25]

UK home secretary says Rwanda is safe for asylum seekers

Suella Braverman declines to set any deadline for the first deportations to the East African country.

Israel envoy accused of sexual harassment to return to Morocco

The head of the Israeli Liaison Office in Morocco, David Govrin, will reportedly return to Rabat in the coming days to resume his duties, after being recalled last year over allegations of sexual harassment, Israeli media reported. Click here to read... [26]

SA’s ANC party officials in Russia ahead of BRICS summit

Senior members of South Africa’s ruling party ANC are on a "working visit" to Russia.In a statement on Saturday evening, the African National Congress party said the visit followed an invitation from Russia’s ruling party and ally the United Russia Party. Click here to read... [27]

Saudi crown prince receives letter from Djibouti president

The president of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, has written to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about ways to further strengthen ties between the two countries in all fields. Click here to read... [28]

Egypt’s Sisi heads to Saudi Arabia amid financial pressure, regional realignment

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is travelling to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, according to three diplomatic sources, as Cairo continues to seek financial inflows to ease pressure on its currency and bolster a faltering economy. Click here to read... [29]

Egypt, Syria in Advanced Talks to Restore Diplomatic Relations

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could meet soon after Ramadan. Click here to read... [30]

German government to deploy troops to Niger as part of EU mission

The cabinet decision to deploy troops, part of a European Union operation designed to support Niger’s forces, will be voted on in April. Click here to read... [31]

Nigeria to host Africans in Diaspora April

Nigeria is set to host Africans in Diaspora to effectively harness the human and economic potentials of its diaspora for continental and national development. Click here to read... [32]

In wake of Cyclone Freddy, Mozambique faces worst cholera outbreak in over a decade

The after effects of Cyclone Freddy continue to affect Mozambicans. The cyclone’s displaced some 184,000 people as the country faces its worst cholera outbreak in more than a decade. Click here to read... [33]

INDIA IN AFRICA

India-Africa ties aim at building a multipolar world order: Rajnath Singh

He was speaking at the first edition of the India-Africa Army Chiefs’ conclave organised on the sidelines of the second Africa-India Joint Exercise ‘AFINDEX’ in Pune on March 28Click here to read... [34]

India- Africa Joint Military Exercise ‘AFINDEX-23’ Concluded At Foreign Training Node, Aundh, Pune

The 2nd edition of joint military exercise “The Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-2023)” culminated at Foreign Training Node, Aundh, Pune. AFINDEX-2023 was held from 16 to 29 Mar 2023. Click here to read... [35]

India Showcases Indigenous Military Products To Woo African Nations

Indian Army hosted two strategically important events in Pune to project India as a key defence supplier to African nations. Click here to read... [36]

India pitches 'affordable' military hardware to Africa

India has pumped billions into its defence sector in an effort to become less reliant on imports, including from Russia, as it faces off against China on their disputed border. Click here to read... [37]

India emphasises for “African leadership & Africa-driven solutions to Africa’s problems”

”We need to acknowledge and accept African leadership and Africa-driven solutions to Africa’s problems. Trying an external, one-size fits all solution is a recipe for failure,” said Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj. Click here to read... [38]

India lays down 6-point plan on 'Silencing the Guns in Africa' at UN Security Council

India's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, laid down a six-point plan at the UN Security Council to support African efforts in Silencing the Guns by the end of this decade. Click here to read... [39]

Indian delegation explores investment opportunities in South Africa and Botswana

A multi-product Indian business delegation on a five-day visit to South Africa and neighbouring Botswana has been well-received by potential partners for trade and investment in both countries. Click here to read... [40]

India-Ghana trade conference held

Dubbing Ghana as the best place for investment and trade, High Commissioner of Ghana to India HE Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh said the West African country is the most peaceful nation in the region. Click here to read... [41]

Ghana opens doors to Tamil Nadu industrialists

A delegation from Ghana held a trade summit, a first-of-its-kind for a city like Madurai, with top bureaucrats from the West African nation explaining why the country is the most conducive to do business. Click here to read... [42]

India Eager to Boost Military Exports to Morocco, 30 Other African Countries

India is eager to boost its military exports to Africa, including Morocco, with the country seeking to position itself as a “reliable” security partner for countries in the Global South. Click here to read... [43]

India allows exports of 3.5 lakh tonnes broken rice to Gambia, Senegal

The Government has approved the export of 3.5 lakh tonnes (lt) of broken rice to Gambia and Senegal as a special consideration as shipments of this variety were banned on September 8, 2022. Click here to read... [44]

Madagascar scam: Stay alert against missed calls in Kolkata

It's known as Madagascar scam, where calls come from +261 (there are numerous other numbers originating from other nations, too), said cops.

Nigeria, Jamtara links in SIM swap

Cops have identified the top boss of this gang to be a Nigerian. This is the first time in a cybercrime in Kolkata that a Nigerian has joined. Click here to read... [45]

US Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Indian Grandfather's Home In Zambia

U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris remembered her maternal grandfather P. V. Gopalan, an Indian Foreign Service official, during her tour to Zambia and paid a visit to the Gopalan's family house in Lusaka. Click here to read... [46]