Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 13, 2022)

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

COMMENTARY

Heard of Eritrea, Africa’s Ukraine?

There was a little-known African nation that fought for its freedom from Ethiopia, the big bully next door. The little guy won there too. Click here to read... [2]

UN’s Ukraine vote shows the racial subtext of global politics

“Like intercourse in Victorian England . . . race is a taboo topic in modern well-mannered society.” That is how the late R J Vincent, a extremely regarded British worldwide relations theorist, started his 1982 article, ‘Race in worldwide relations’. Click here to read... [3]

NEWS

Ethiopia declares humanitarian truce in war-ravaged Tigray

Ethiopia’s government has announced what it called an “indefinite humanitarian truce” in its war-ravaged Tigray region, saying the action was necessary to allow unimpeded relief supplies into the area. Click here to read... [4]

DR Congo to join EAC next week

The Democratic Republic of Congo will officially be admitted to the East Africa Community (EAC) next week, adding a 90 million market for the bloc. Click here to read... [5]

Mali: ECOWAS leaders meet in Accra to debate sanctions

West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS leaders on Friday staged a summit over Mali's political crisis, three months after slapping tough sanctions on the Sahelian nation. Click here to read... [6]

Tunisia: Mass anti-Saied protests take place in capital Tunis

Thousands of Tunisians have taken to the streets of the capital Tunis in the latest of a series of rallies against President Kais Saied, accused by opponents of grabbing power amid a deepening political crisis. Click here to read... [7]

More than 30 killed in twin attacks in Somalia

The death toll from twin attacks in central Somalia on Wednesday night has climbed above 30, the Beledweyne district police chief told AFP on Thursday, with the Al-Shabaab insurgent group saying it was targeting politicians ahead of elections. Click here to read... [8]

Burkina Faso: Ousted ruling party calls for President Kabore's "immediate release"

The party of ousted Burkina Faso president Roch Marc Christian Kabore on Thursday demanded his "immediate release" saying his house arrest is more like detention. Click here to read... [9]

Rwanda to Host Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

Rwanda has promised to successfully and safely host the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU) due in Kigali in October 2022.
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China’s version of mediation for the Horn of Africa

Beijing is sending its Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa to countries in the region, with a promise to help reach lasting peace, via economic development, while leaving local political settings unaffected. Click here to read... [10]

Sudan’s Military is Brutally Suppressing Protests

In Sudan, where prices for bread and fuel have skyrocketed following the military coup, people are once again taking to the streets. Click here to read... [11]

Niger Attempts Peace Talks with Jihadists Following Attack

Following the most recent jihadist attack on Thursday, March 17, that killed 21 people, the government of Niger has decided to continue attempting peace talks with the militants. Click here to read... [12]

Turkey urges Libya to avoid steps that could renew clashes

The Turkish National Security Council urged Wednesday all parties in Libya for restraint and refraining from steps that could cause new clashes. Click here to read... [13]

Al-Shabab Increases Attacks as Elections Drag in Somalia

Al-Shabab mounted one of its deadliest attacks Wednesday, targeting elections at the regional presidential palace in Beledweyne town. Forty-eight people were killed and more than 100 others wounded. Click here to read... [14]

China planning another military base in Africa, after Djibouti now eyes Equatorial Guinea

China is planning to build a military base in Equatorial Guinea, which once completed, would be China’s second base in AfricaClick here to read... [15]
Tanzania viewpoint: What President Samia has achieved in her first year

If a happiness index was taken within the last few weeks, it would have shown Tanzanians to be the happiest people in the world, according to some Tanzanians on social media. Click here to read... [16]

Egypt, UAE, Israel leaders meet for first ever three-way summit

Concerns over the war in Ukraine, as well as the Iran nuclear deal, are reportedly on the agenda. Click here to read... [17]

Osinbajo: Any Muslim who supports RCCG member traitor to Islam – MURIC warns

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned that any political party that picks any member of the Redeemed Church of Christ Group (RCCG) will kiss the Aso Rock goodbye. Click here to read... [18]

Spain PM eyes ‘more solid’ Morocco ties after Western Sahara U-turn

Under attack over Spain’s decision to change its stance on Western Sahara, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday defended the move as crucial to securing a “more solid relationship” with Morocco. Click here to read... [19]

Ex-Togo premier elected head of UN labour agency

Gilbert Houngbo, the former prime minister of Togo, was on Friday elected the next head of the International Labour Organization, and will become the first African to lead the UN agency. Click here to read... [20]

Blinken to visit Israel, West Bank, Morocco and Algeria

The Russia-Ukraine war, Arab-Israeli normalisation and the two-state solution are on the agenda during the US secretary of state’s visit, the United States says. Click here to read... [21]

Uganda: Court issues warrant for author in exile in Germany

The author fled to Germany earlier this year, the second government critic to leave Uganda in less than six months. Click here to read... [22]

Mauritius challenges UK rights over Indian Ocean domain name

The right to license lucrative online domain names favoured by cryptocurrency firms has become the latest battlefield in the escalating dispute between Mauritius and the UK

Gambia Participates in OIC Foreign Ministers Summit in Pakistan

The Chief Executive Officer of The Gambia OIC Secretariat, Mr.Yankuba Dibba is taking part in the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Islamabad, PakistanClick here to read... [23]

Qatar takes up mediation role in Chad talks

Qatar has agreed to act as a mediator in Chad peace talks in a bid to unblock the fledgling process, officials and rebel groups said Friday. Click here to read... [24]

Guinea Expands Role in Mining Sector with Plan to Ship Exports

Guinea’s government plans to export half of miners’ output in a push to exert more control over the lifeblood of its economy.

Hotel, choppers seized as Zambia steps up anti-graft drive

President Hakainde Hichilema took office last year with the kind of anti-corruption promises that Zambians have learned to take with a grain of salt. This week, those promises became more real. Click here to read... [25]

Young teacher committed to introducing Chinese language in Botswana

Excitement and joy could be felt as students at Legae English Medium School in Gaborone, Botswana, greeted their teacher Goitseone Ishmael with the Chinese phrase nihao, which literally translates to "hello" in English, before she began her Chinese language lesson. Click here to read... [26]

Angola on a mission to hunt for European investors

The first-ever EU-Angola Business forum took place this Thursday in Brussels with an objective of convincing European investors to bet on Angola’s reforms to support private sector investment and business links. Click here to read... [27]

Cameroon Starts Cholera Vaccinations as Outbreak Kills 62 Since October

An outbreak of cholera in Cameroon has claimed 62 lives since October, prompting the central African nation to vaccinate people against the water-borne disease. Click here to read... [28]

INDIA IN AFRICA

India-Madagascar chamber of commerce launched in Antananarivo

The Indian embassy in Antananarivo organized a trade promotion event on Thursday, which saw the launch of the India-Madagascar Chamber of Commerce in the capital city of the island nation. Click here to read... [29]

India’s HAL To Help Uganda with Maintenance of Sukhoi Su-30 Fighter Jets as Russia Gets Entangled in Ukraine War

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Moscow have put countries importing defence equipment from Moscow in a spot. However, this crisis has opened a window of opportunity for India. Click here to read... [30]

India to boost wheat exports to fill void left by Ukraine conflict

Egypt, Israel, Oman, Nigeria and South Africa have approached India to secure wheat supplies, two government officials said, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict entered its fourth week, threatening a global food crisis. Click here to read... [31]

Steel major JSPL Mauritius' arm makes $ 357-mn prepayment to lenders

Homegrown steel major JSPL on Sunday said its subsidiary in Mauritius has made a prepayment of USD 357 million to lenders. Click here to read... [32]

Opening of Opportunities for Tamil Nadu Businessmen in Ethiopia

The India Africa Trade Council-COMESA organized the India Ethiopia Trade Conference which was attended by the Business community in South India especially Tamil Nadu. Click here to read... [33]

KQ to start daily flights to India on easing of curbs

Kenya Airways will now fly daily to India after the Asian country lifted the restrictions that had limited the national carrier to three flights a week, coming as a major boost to the airline that is struggling financially. Click here to read... [34]

India, Namibia partnership grows progressively

Indian High commissioner to Namibia Prashant Agrawal said a defining feature for Namibia and India is confronting and overcoming challenges that set precedents on the relations and cooperation between the two states. Click here to read... [35]

Doctor alleges smuggling of PPE kits to Africa

The Doctor Was Working In A Hospital In Congo During The Pandemic When She Allegedly Saw Illegally Sourced PPE Kits Being Used ThereClick here to read... [36]

Mumbai-Seychelles travel links boosted at OTM - India's biggest travel trade show

Air Seychelles and Tourism Seychelles had the opportunity to promote their services, products and best travel options to the island nation at the OTM travel show in India. Click here to read... [37]

Airtel Africa plans to raise $194 million via debt from IFC for capex needs

The debt financing package for Airtel Africa Plc will comprise a direct $150 million investment from Washington-based IFC and an additional $44 million in mobilisation from its Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP). Click here to read... [38]