This institution, over time, educated a generation of Ethiopian military officers from several other independent African nations. Click here to read… [2]
U.S. President Joe Biden sought to showcase the United States’ commitment to Africa as he hosted his Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenco, a meeting that highlighted the former's unfulfilled pledge to visit the continent. Click here to read… [3]
Today, 48% of Africa’s population uses banking services, according to the African Digital Banking Transformation Report 2023. Click here to read… [4]
Somalia was admitted to the East African Community (EAC) on Friday at the 23rd ordinary meeting of the bloc’s heads of state in Arusha, becoming its eighth member state. Click here to read… [5]
Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, was jolted awake by gunshots on Sunday morning. Click here to read… [6]
Gunfire and clashes that erupted in the capital of Guinea-Bissau this week were an “attempted coup”, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has said. Click here to read… [7]
A Dakar court will next week consider whether Senegalese opposition figure Ousmane Sonko should be reinstated on the electoral roll, a point on which his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race depends, a judicial source said Tuesday. Click here to read… [8]
Addressing supporters in the eastern city of Bukavu, the renowned doctor said he would use political power to "put an end to war, put an end to famine" and to fight graft. Click here to read… [9]
Franco-Ivorian former banker Tidjane Thiam is vying for the presidency of the Parti Démocratique de Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), with his sights set on the 2025 presidential election. Click here to read… [10]
The New Patriotic Party has revoked the membership of four political heavyweights who openly back the breakaway candidature of ex-Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen. Click here to read… [11]
Madagascar's incumbent resident, Andry Rajoelina, was declared the winner on Friday of the Nov. 16 election by the country's High Constitutional Court. Click here to read… [12]
The government of Ethiopia's largest region, Oromiya, on Saturday accused the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) rebel group of killing "many civilians" in attacks that followed the failure of peace talks in Tanzania. Click here to read… [13]
Somalia may have joined the East African Community (EAC) last week, becoming the eighth member of the expanding bloc, but Somalis are wondering whether the move could kill their national language: Somali. Click here to read… [14]
The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger recommended on Friday (Dec. 01) creating a confederation as part of a long-term goal of uniting the West African neighbours within a federation. Click here to read… [15]
Junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have ditched the G5 anti-jihadist force. Experts say their intended new confederation to tackle Islamist insurgents in the Sahel is bound to fail unless they mend ties with ECOWAS. Click here to read… [16]
Mali and Niger have revoked two treaties with France for cooperation and administrative assistance in tax matters, their governments said in a statement on Tuesday. Click here to read… [17]
Burkina Faso and Niger have followed Mali in announcing they are to withdraw from an international force known as the G5 that was set up to fight Islamists in the Sahel region. Click here to read… [18]
Military-ruled Burkina Faso on Saturday suspended "all distribution methods" of Le Monde daily after an article on a deadly jihadi attack in the north, in the latest measure against a French media organization. Click here to read… [19]
Algeria’s National Council passed a new media law that officials hailed as a major victory for the country’s journalists as concerns about press freedoms have plagued President Abdelmajid Tebboune’s first term in office. Click here to read… [20]
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is due to vote on Friday to remove the final restrictions on weapons deliveries to Somalia’s government and its security forces.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/1/un-security-council-to-vote-to-end-somalia-arms-embargo-after-three-decades [21] "target="_blank"> Click here to read…
The United Nations Security Council is due to vote on Friday to end a political mission in war-torn Sudan, diplomats said, after the country's acting foreign minister requested the move earlier this month and described the mission's performance as "disappointing." Click here to read… [22]
In a call to action, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) has urged the immediate implementation of a plan to end the ongoing conflict in Sudan and pave the way for a civilian-led transitional government. Click here to read… [23]
A United Nations political mission in war-racked Sudan will end on Sunday after the UN Security Council voted to shut it down following a request from Sudanese authorities last month. Click here to read… [24]
West Africa's regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, on Sunday condemned the attempt by certain individuals to "acquire arms and disturb constitutional order" in Sierra Leone. Click here to read… [25]
Scores of Kenyan troops flew out of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, marking the start of the withdrawal of a regional force after Kinshasa did not renew its mandate to help fight M23 rebels. Click here to read… [26]
Chad's opposition and civil society groups are asking France to immediately withdraw troops who arrived in Chad after being ordered to depart neighboring Niger by that country’s military junta. Click here to read… [27]
President Biden hosted President João Lourenço of Angola at the White House on Thursday, promoting a major U.S. investment in the country. Click here to read… [28]
President Joe Biden and his Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenco met at the White House on Thursday to discuss infrastructure and regional security, as the United States seeks to counter China’s growing influence in Africa. Click here to read… [29]
President Joe Biden welcomed Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to the Oval Office on Thursday, aiming to reaffirm his dedication to Africa despite the two ongoing wars dominating his administration's foreign policy focus. Click here to read… [30]
The United States on Monday expanded a visa restriction policy on Ugandan officials to include those it believes are responsible for undermining democracy and repressing marginalized groups in Uganda, while also announcing a new visa restriction policy for officials in Zimbabwe. Click here to read… [31]
Nigeria is talking with China about selling large stakes in some of its biggest oil blocks, according to a leaked document, in what executives say may be a bid to strengthen its hand with existing Western oil partners. Click here to read… [32]
China helped Egypt send a remote-sensing satellite into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China Monday. Click here to read… [33]
Sierra Leone has signed an agreement with the China Road and Bridge Corporation and Senegal’s Atepa Group for the construction of an 8 kilometer (4.97 miles) bridge linking its capital and main airport. Click here to read… [34]
A Ghanaian court has sentenced a Chinese national to prison for illegal gold mining in the West African nation, her attorney said Monday, ending a case that started in 2017 and shed light on Chinese involvement in the activity. Click here to read… [35]
Russian shipments of donated grain are due to begin landing in Africa within days, giving fresh impetus to its bid to bolster its influence in the continent. Click here to read… [36]
Early in November, while a large-scale massacre of civilians was taking place in a village in the north-central region of Burkina Faso, Defense Minister Kassoum Coulibaly was in Moscow to strengthen defence cooperation with Russia. Click here to read… [37]
Russia is stepping up its pursuit of closer ties with Africa by offering digital expertise in a strategy backed by President Vladimir Putin’s younger daughter. Click here to read… [38]
France’s Development Agency will provide a 200 million euro ($217.7 million) budgetary loan to Mauritius to finance an overhaul of the country’s water sector. Click here to read… [39]
The United Arab Emirates, the host of this year’s United Nations climate summit, pledged $4.5 billion to help African nations accelerate clean-energy projects. Click here to read… [40]
Zambia has selected United Arab Emirates' International Resources Holdings (IRH) as the new strategic equity partner in Mopani Copper Mines, the miner's owner ZCCM-IH (ZCCM.LZ) said late on Thursday. Click here to read… [41]
King Mohammed VI is set to go on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Monday following an invitation from President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, according to a statement from the Royal Cabinet. Click here to read… [42]
South Korea could be viewed as a favourable ally in Africa as the nation touts its rice growing expertise across a continent dominated by China’s influence. Click here to read… [43]
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Tuesday that strengthening cooperation with African countries is one of the main directions of his country's foreign policy. Click here to read… [44]
Getting the government's Rwanda plan right will "literally save us billions in the long run", Rishi Sunak has said. Click here to read… [45]
Since 2005, African nations have been unified in their demand for equitable representation, calling for two permanent seats with veto power and two additional non-permanent seats. Click here to read… [46]
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said there was no decision to cut all ties with Tel Aviv. Click here to read… [47]
Angola rejected a new output quota handed to it by OPEC and said it planned to breach it, a rare challenge to the cartel that heralds more infighting ahead. Click here to read… [48]
Throughout the two-week conference, the Bank will actively engage in partnerships and resource mobilization, emphasizing initiatives such as the Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation (ACRIFA). Click here to read… [49]
Angola signed the U.S.-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration Nov. 30, becoming the third African nation to do so. Click here to read… [50]
Equinor ASA is exiting Nigeria after over three decades, selling assets that include its stake in the Agbami oil field to Chappal Energies Mauritius Ltd. Click here to read… [51]
Presided by Kenyan President William Ruto in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency and several other African nations, the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII) was launched along the sidelines of the COP28 along with more than $4 billion in deals of new geothermal development or utilizing geothermal resources in Kenya. Click here to read… [52]
Gabon's national oil firm is seeking to use its right of first refusal to acquire Carlyle's (CG.O) Assala Energy after the private equity giant agreed to sell the business for $1.3 billion to France's Maurel & Prom, three sources told Reuters. Click here to read… [53]
An “emotional rollercoaster” is how Brian Masaba describes the past fortnight for Uganda’s cricketers. Click here to read… [54]
About 143 Bangladeshi irregular migrants, who were kept in detention centers in Libya's capital Tripoli, returned home with the help of UN refugee agency. Click here to read… [55]
The number of people killed by floods from heavy rains in Somalia has climbed to 96, state news agency SONNA said on Saturday. Click here to read… [56]
Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto will pay a State visit to India from December 4-6 on the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. He will be accompanied by a high-level official delegation. Click here to read… [57]
Chaturvedi said that roughly two-thirds of the world's population and 75 per cent of global trade were covered by the G20. Click here to read… [58]
BRICS Sherpa and Ambassador at Large for Asia and BRICS Anil Sooklal said that South Africa’s BRICS chairship and India’s G20 presidency have brought the Global South into centre stage in terms of determining new international architecture. Click here to read… [59]
Former Liberian Prime Minister Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said India has played a leading role in working with Africa on development issues through bilateral arrangements. Click here to read… [60]
The major trading partners of India in sub-Saharan African countries in 2022-23 were South Africa, Nigeria, Togo and Tanzania. Click here to read… [61]
India, South Africa, and Egypt have expressed concern about the nature of discussions regarding reforms in the dispute settlement system at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the 13th ministerial conference (MC13) scheduled for February next year. Click here to read… [62]
India, South Africa and Egypt have introduced a paper regarding ongoing discussions on the reforms of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) dispute settlement body, an official said. Click here to read… [63]
The global demand for crude oil is expected to see its peak in 2030 at 112 million barrels a day mark with India and Africa to be major contributors. Click here to read… [64]
ArcelorMittal South Africa says steel consumption in Africa's most advanced economy has fallen 20% over the past 7 years, due to limited infrastructure spend and project delays. Click here to read… [65]
Indian tests of a cough syrup linked to the deaths of at least six children in Cameroon have found unidentified quality issues in at least one of the five samples picked up by authorities, two people familiar with the investigation told Reuters. Click here to read… [66]
[70]
Links:
[1] https://www.vifindia.org/2023/december/08/africa-now-weekly-newsletter-week-49
[2] https://www.modernghana.com/news/1276260/global-insecurity-and-evolving-india-africa-defenc.html
[3] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/01/world/politics/biden-africa-trip-neglect/
[4] https://theprint.in/tech/why-africa-is-the-future-of-mobile-and-digital-banking/1859551/
[5] https://ugbusiness.com/2023/11/politics-policy/east-african-community/somalias-accession-to-the-eac-has-it-been-too-far-too-fast
[6] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67541285
[7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/2/guinea-bissau-president-says-this-weeks-violence-was-attempted-coup
[8] https://www.barrons.com/news/senegal-court-to-mull-if-opposition-leader-can-run-for-president-859604ca
[9] https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20231126-drc-s-nobel-winner-mukwege-stages-presidential-rally-in-hometown
[10] https://www.theafricareport.com/329188/cote-divoire-tidjane-thiam-vies-for-opposition-party-top-spot-eyeing-presidency/
[11] https://www.theafricareport.com/329073/ghana-ruling-npp-purges-rebels-who-back-wrong-presidential-candidate/
[12] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-leader-wins-presidential-vote-constitutional-court-says-2023-12-01/
[13] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/105679409.cms?from=mdr&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
[14] https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/somalia-faces-swahili-question-as-country-joins-eac-4451830
[15] https://www.africanews.com/2023/12/02/burkina-faso-mali-and-niger-look-to-form-a-federation/
[16] https://www.dw.com/en/mali-burkina-faso-and-niger-alliance-faces-uphill-task/a-67632987
[17] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mali-niger-revoke-tax-cooperation-treaties-with-france-2023-12-05/
[18] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67605967
[19] https://www.voanews.com/a/burkina-faso-suspends-all-distribution-methods-of-french-daily-le-monde/7383500.html
[20] https://apnews.com/article/algeria-media-freedom-law-arrests-a0cd86e63308de2dc0a48b38971c1717
[21] https://www.vifindia.org/<a href=
[22] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/un-security-council-due-vote-close-sudan-political-mission-2023-11-30/
[23] https://sudantribune.com/article279742/
[24] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/2/security-council-agrees-to-terminate-un-mission-in-sudan
[25] https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/2724756-west-africa-regional-bloc-condemns-barracks-attack-in-sierra-leone
[26] https://theprint.in/world/east-africa-force-starts-withdrawal-from-congo/1869948/
[27] https://www.voanews.com/a/chad-s-opposition-civil-society-ask-french-troops-to-leave/7380337.html
[28] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/us/politics/biden-angola-africa.html
[29] https://www.newagebd.net/article/219162/us-stresses-bid-to-counter-china-in-africa
[30] https://www.africanews.com/2023/12/01/president-lourenco-praises-bidens-africa-strategy-and-pursues-closer-us-relation/
[31] https://theprint.in/world/us-restricts-visas-for-uganda-zimbabwe-officials-citing-repression/1872215/
[32] https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLT571260/
[33] https://www.uniindia.com/news/world/china-helps-egypt-send-new-satellite-into-orbit/3098945.html
[34] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-02/chinese-firm-to-help-build-1-5-billion-bridge-in-sierra-leone
[35] https://www.voanews.com/a/ghana-court-jails-chinese-national-over-illegal-gold-mining-/7384152.html
[36] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-26/russia-woos-africa-with-free-grain-fertilizer-research-funding
[37] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/selling-weapons-and-sealing-deals-is-russia-a-reliable-defense-partner-for-africa/3066118
[38] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-29/putin-s-daughter-pursues-digital-plan-in-push-to-embrace-africa
[39] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-02/france-loans-218-million-to-mauritius-for-water-sector-projects
[40] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-05/uae-pledges-4-5-billion-to-help-finance-africa-climate-projects
[41] https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/zambia-selects-uaes-ihc-unit-new-partner-mopani-copper-mines-2023-12-01/
[42] https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/12/359306/king-mohammed-vi-to-visit-uae-on-monday
[43] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-27/south-korea-touts-rice-prowess-to-africa-as-market-faces-squeeze
[44] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/kazakh-president-says-cooperation-with-africa-among-priorities-of-countrys-foreign-policy/3067121
[45] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67588407
[46] https://politicstoday.org/africa-united-nations-security-council/
[47] https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/no-decision-on-south-africa-severing-ties-with-israel-ab5527c6-9493-4aba-aec5-c98339e995a5
[48] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-30/angola-rejects-opec-quota-and-plans-to-break-it-governor-says
[49] https://www.financialexpress.com/business/sustainability-african-development-banks-strategic-moves-at-cop28-to-address-climate-challenges-3320969/
[50] https://spacenews.com/angola-signs-artemis-accords/
[51] https://www.rigzone.com/news/equinor_exits_nigeria-01-dec-2023-174906-article/
[52] https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/kenya-inks-more-than-4-billion-in-deals-to-advance-geothermal-sector/
[53] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/gabon-seeks-preempt-13-bln-sale-carlyles-oil-business-sources-2023-11-29/
[54] https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/three-years-of-planning-paved-uganda-s-road-to-world-cup-101701438230157.html
[55] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/143-bangladeshi-irregular-migrants-detained-in-libya-reach-home/3068362
[56] https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/flood-kills-96-people-in-somalia-2467587-2023-11-26
[57] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kenyan-president-william-samoei-ruto-to-pay-state-visit-to-india-from-december-4-6/article67597718.ece
[58] https://www.aninews.in/news/world/others/african-union-joining-g20-can-change-larger-international-architecture-for-global-south-t20-india20231125211837/
[59] https://theprint.in/world/south-africas-brics-chairship-indias-g20-presidency-brought-global-south-into-centre-stage-brics-sherpa/1860074/
[60] https://theprint.in/world/india-played-leading-role-in-working-with-africa-on-development-issues-former-liberian-prime-minister/1859286/
[61] https://www.business-standard.com/pti-stories/national/comm-min-working-to-remove-trade-barriers-boost-exports-in-sub-saharan-africa-gulf-nations-123112700639_1.html
[62] https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/india-s-africa-egypt-raise-concern-over-dispute-settlement-talks-at-wto-123112600492_1.html
[63] https://www.ptinews.com/news/business/-india-s-africa-egypt-introduces-paper-on-wto-dispute-settlement-reform-/696217.html
[64] https://www.zeebiz.com/economy-infra/news-india-africa-to-be-major-contributors-to-112-million-barrel/day-of-peak-global-crude-oil-demand-in-2030-sp-266870
[65] https://www.livemint.com/industry/human-resource/arcelormittal-south-africa-to-sack-3-500-workers-and-close-long-steel-unit-shares-plunge-17-11701167832358.html
[66] https://theprint.in/india/india-finds-quality-issues-with-cough-syrup-linked-to-cameroon-deaths-sources/1871303/
[67] http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?title=Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 49, 2023)&desc=&images=&u=https://www.vifindia.org/2023/december/08/africa-now-weekly-newsletter-week-49
[68] http://twitter.com/share?text=Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 49, 2023)&url=https://www.vifindia.org/2023/december/08/africa-now-weekly-newsletter-week-49&via=Azure Power
[69] whatsapp://send?text=https://www.vifindia.org/2023/december/08/africa-now-weekly-newsletter-week-49
[70] https://www.vifindia.org/author/Samir-Bhattacharya