IS-backed Boko Haram faction may have new chief: AFP, 5 March 2019
The leader of an Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram may have been replaced, sources say, against a backdrop of speculation as to his fate -- and the group's future direction. Three sources with deep knowledge of the group said they had been told in recent days that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had dropped Abu Mus'ab Al-Barnawi.
A previously unknown figure named Abu Abdullah Ibn Umar Albarnawi is said to have replaced Al-Barnawi, whose father Muhammad Yusuf founded Boko Haram in 2002. Click here to read...
UN warns humanitarian crisis unfolding in Burkina Faso: VOA, 5 March 2019
The United Nations warned Tuesday that "an unprecedented humanitarian emergency" is developing in Burkina Faso, which has seen a surge in terrorist attacks and intercommunal violence. "Thousands of families continue to flee due to persistent insecurity," said U.N. deputy humanitarian chief Ursula Mueller, who just wrapped up a four-day visit to the West African country. Click here to read...
Armed with memes, Algerian students join anti-Bouteflika protests: Aljazeera, 6 March 2019
Thousands of university students have marched in Algeria's capital, as peaceful rallies against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid to seek a fifth term continued for a second week. Like their peers who held similar protests across the North African country, the students in Algiers on Tuesday took to the streets to reject the 82-year-old's candidacy in the April 18 elections. Click here to read...
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/armed-memes-algerian-students-join-anti-bouteflika-protests-190305192908825.html
Rwanda, Uganda in diplomatic war of words over rebel's aid: Daily Nation, 6 March 2019
Rwanda accused its much larger neighbour Uganda on Tuesday of supporting rebels opposed to the government in Kigali, a claim firmly rebutted by Kampala.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Richard Sezibera told journalists that Kigali had information that rebels of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) "communicate with Ugandan people and give them instructions on arresting Rwandans". Click here to read...
Over 8 million Ethiopians need food aid due to violence, drought –Government: Reuters, 7 March 2019
More than eight million people need food aid in Ethiopia, a 5 percent rise from last year, due to a surge in violence that has triggered mass displacement as well as the lingering effects of past droughts, officials said on Thursday.
The crisis has prompted an Ethiopian government appeal for $1.3 billion to provide emergency food and non-food assistance for 8.3 million people. “The impacts of the climate change-induced droughts of 2016 and before have persisted. Moreover, violence in many parts of the country have added to the burden,” said Mitiku Kassa, Ethiopia’s commissioner of national disaster risk management. Click here to read...
UN fears fall armyworm outbreak threatens Zimbabwe’s food security: VOA, 7 March 2019
The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization fears that an outbreak of fall armyworm in Zimbabwe will affect food security in a country where more than 5 million are already in need of food assistance.
At Malvern Farm, about an hour drive northeast of Harare, Ntombizodwa Ncube is concerned by fall armyworms devouring the corn crop, despite efforts to contain the problem with chemicals for the third year running. Click here to read...
One year on, Africa free trade deal nears reality: allAfrica, 7 March 2019
Almost a year after the formal launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the plan is inching toward the 22-country threshold needed for implementation.
The African Union envisioned the free trade zone spanning the entire continent — with a combined gross domestic product of at least $2.3 trillion — as a means of improving the movement of goods, services and people among the AU's 55 members. By integrating economies and reducing trade barriers such as tariffs, it aims to increase employment prospects, living standards and opportunities for the region's 1.3 billion people — and to make Africa more globally competitive. Click here to read...
Ethiopian flight crash victims were from at least 35 nations: africanews, 10 March 2019
Victims of Sunday’s Ethiopian airlines crash were from at least 35 nations, according to Kenya’s Transport Minister. Kenya had 32 nationals aboard flight ET 302 which crashed Sunday morning en route to Nairobi.Kenya’s Transport Minister, James Macharia addressed a news conference Sun
“We can now confirm that there were at least 35 nationalities, and I’m saying at least because as of now two are unknown. Among the most affected, as you may expect, is Kenya which had about 32 passengers on board out of the 149 passengers. Other nationalities involved, with number of passengers in the flight, were Canada with 18, China with eight, Netherlands with five, Egypt with six, Ethiopia with nine, France and the UK with seven each, India with four, Italy with eight. Then we have Slovakia with four, the U.S.A with eight. The other nationalities had one or two passengers on board”, he said. Click here to read...
