Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.
COMMENTARY
Justice for Thomas Sankara
This week, Blaise Compaoré was jailed for his role in the murder of Burkinabe revolutionary Thomas Sankara –but real justice can only be won by a movement that fights to bring Sankara’s socialist vision back to life. Click here to read…
Corridor in uncertainty
The Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, a joint initiative of India and Japan, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting of the African Development Bank in 2017Click here to read…
NEWS
Morocco, Spain mend ties after change in policy on Western Sahara
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez and Moroccan King Mohammad VI met in Rabat after a year of tense relations. Spain said it backed the kingdom’s plan of limited autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty for Western Sahara. Click here to read…
EXCLUSIVE- Draft Sudan deal seeks to cement military’s grip
Factions aligned with Sudan’s military have drawn up a deal to form a transitional government that would cement the army’s control and bypass pro-democracy groups it shared power with before an October coup. Click here to read…
Russia blocks UN security council request for investigation into Moura massacre
A UN Security Council request for independent investigations into the alleged Moura massacre in Mali has been blocked by Russia. Click here to read…
Despite a recent agreement, new clashes broke out between supporters of South Sudan’s rivals
Less than a week days after a major agreement was sealed between South Sudan’s rival leaders, fighting erupted in the North of the country. Click here to read…
Sparring Somali leaders now at odds over expulsion of African Union envoy
Somalia’s prime minister on Thursday expelled the African Union representative because of “acts incompatible with his status” but the president rejected the order, signalling a new rift between the leaders of the Horn of Africa nation. Click here to read…
Tunisia to compensate victims of revolution
Tunisian President Kais Saied, facing political and economic crisis and accusations that he took power in a coup, announced compensation on Sunday for the families of those killed and wounded in the 2011 revolution that brought democracy to the country. Click here to read…
DR Congo’s Tshisekedi signs EAC Treaty
Tshisekedi’s accession signature immediately brought the DR Congo into the realms and provisions of all the protocols and regional policies of the EAC. Click here to read…
Nigeria’s electricity grid collapses for the second time in a month
Nigeria’s national electricity grid has collapsed for the second time in a month, the federal ministry of power said on Saturday, leaving the parts of the country it serves, including capital Abuja and Africa’s biggest city Lagos, without power. Click here to read…
Burkina ex-president moved to home after house arrest
Burkina Faso’s military-led government said in a statement that former president Kabore would return to his home after house arrest. Click here to read…
Eastern Libyan military commanders urge closure of road to west
Military commanders in eastern Libya said on Saturday they had suspended participation in a U.N.-backed joint military council, accusing the Tripoli-based government of failing to hand power to a new cabinet and calling for the road west to be closed. Click here to read…
The Gambia votes for a new National Assembly
Gambians to vote for 53 legislators on a five-year term, with President Barrow picking five others, including the parliament’s president. Click here to read…
What is happening with Chad’s peace talks in Doha?
About 300 rebels landed in the Qatari capital, seeking a peace deal, but find themselves in a curious cohabitation. Click here to read…
Guinea junta chiefs warns mining giants over inequality
The head of Guinea’s ruling junta, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, has warned foreign mining companies to build processing factories locally and to share revenues with the country equally. Click here to read…
Angola: UN Supports Angola’s Transition to Middle Income Country
The resident coordinator of the United Nations in Angola Zahira Virami reaffirmed Wednesday the support of the UN system in the preparation process of Angola’s transition from Least Developed Country to Middle Income Country. Click here to read…
New COVID-19 variant discovered in Botswana
A new COVID-19 variant has been discovered in Botswana, a government official said. The new variant, which has characteristics of both the Alpha and Delta variants, has yet to be named. Click here to read…
Kenya’s Odinga running his fifth presidential race. Why outcome means so much for Kenya
“Odinga has a common touch that resonates with Kenyans who have felt locked out of the power matrix controlled by two ethnic groups.” Click here to read…
Life sentence for Burkinabe ex-leader Compaoré for Sankara murder
The long-awaited verdict brings to close a six-month trial for the assassination of Thomas Sankara on October 15, 1987. Click here to read…
Separatist commander killed in infighting in Cameroon’s restive Anglophone region
Security and local sources said on Saturday that a notorious separatist commander has been killed in Cameroon’s war-torn Anglophone region of Northwest in clashes between rival separatist groups. Click here to read…
Ghana on high alert against terrorist attacks – Minister of National Security assures
The Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has given the assurance that the country will be able to respond and ward off any terrorist attacks in the country. Click here to read…
Coptic Christian Priest Killed in Egypt’s Alexandria
On Thursday 7 April 2022, the Ministry of Interior announced on its official Facebook page the arrest of a 60-year-old man who stabbed an archpriest to death in Alexandria. Click here to read…
US Alarmed by Reports of Atrocities in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region
The United States expressed concern Friday about reports of ethnically motivated atrocities in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Click here to read…
Draghi Heads to Algeria as Italy Seeks to Cut Russia Gas Imports
Mario Draghi will visit Algeria on Monday as part of a plan to wean Italy off Russian natural gas. Click here to read…
Zambia’s President Hichilema goes eight months without salary
The Zambian leader, who was elected into office last August, says a salary was not his motivation for seeking public office. Click here to read…
Togo dismisses more teachers in new dispute with teachers’ union
The Togolese government has dismissed nine teachers, within a week of firing 137 others, even as the teacher’s union continues to demand that the Faure Gnassigbe administration honour its promises to them. Click here to read…
The problem with gaming in Uganda
The gaming industry in Uganda is highly informal, with individual-owned gaming parlours charging per hour of game time. However, the opportunity is huge. Click here to read…
Tanzania commemorates 100 years of founding leader Julius Nyerere
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Saturday joined fellow citizens in commemorating 100 years of the birth of founding leader Julius Nyerere. Click here to read…
Negotiating Local Business Practices with China in Benin
Beninese officials have shown how even small countries can use close coordination between ministries and other negotiating tactics to strike deals with Chinese counterparts that better protect their own interests. Click here to read…
Mozambique: All eyes on suitors as they await news on bid round qualification
Thirteen players — including two from Russia — will hear this week if they have succeeded in their plans to take part in Mozambique’s upcoming licensing round. Click here to read…
29,000 COVID-19 Vaccines Expired in Botswana: Official
At least 29,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have already expired and some will expire at the end of April in Botswana, an official said Saturday. Click here to read…
INDIA IN AFRICA
Haryana signs collaboration deal with Ethiopia to strengthen trade, investment ties
The FFC was signed by Haryana’s Principal Secretary Yogender Choudhary and Ethiopian Ambassador Dr Tizita Mulugeta. Click here to read…
India, Kenya holds 2nd Foreign Office Consultations, review bilateral relations
India and Kenya on Friday held the 2nd round of Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political and economicClick here to read…
MoU with Congo-based foundation
MS University has signed an MoU with the Vinmart Foundation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for our scholarships to students of Congo who will be coming to Vadodara to pursue higher education. Click here to read…
Haryana, Ethiopian panel sign trade framework
During the two-day meeting of the Haryana-Ethiopia Investment Commission (EIC), a framework of collaboration (FFC) was signed between Haryana and the EIC. Click here to read…
Madagascar joins India-backed Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Madagascar has become the 30th country to join the India-backed Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that aims to help small island nations develop resilience to deal with the adverse impact of climate change. Click here to read…
Fishermen team meets Kanimozhi for release of five captains from Seychelles
Thoothukudi MP and DMK leader Kanimozhi has assured a delegation from the International Fishermen Development Trust (INFIDET) that she will take efforts for the release of five captains and their boats detained in Seychelles. Click here to read…
Rwandans in India pay tribute to genocide victims
The Rwandan High Commission in New Delhi, India in collaboration with the India Africa Trade Council commemorated the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi on April 7Click here to read…
Why India’s beautiful flowers miss the plane of exports while Kenya & Ethiopia fly high
Ethiopia and Kenya have promoted floriculture in key markets, offered tax holidays, organised producers and worked to create infrastructure for farmers. Click here to read…
Why is a dragon carved on Jain temple in Mangalore? Medieval Africa-China trade holds answer
While many of us have heard of Indian interactions with Southeast Asia and China, or even Arabia, Africa is a gaping hole in how we think about premodern trade. But it was one of the most prosperous. Click here to read…
Review: India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons by Rajiv Bhatia
A meticulously detailed book that tells us why Africa matters so much to India and presents good suggestions on how the India-Africa relationship should be enhanced and pushed ahead. Click here to read…
Chibuzor, who once ruled Kolkata football, dies in Nigeria
Nigerian striker Chibuzor Nwakanma – the first foreigner to play for Kolkata’s big three clubs and whose unique nose for goals often set the field afire with his special somersault celebration – is no more. Click here to read…
Egyptian Govt expresses interest to buy Indian wheat
Team from Cairo to visit New Delhi next week, to inspect facilities for imports by supplies and commodities authorityClick here to read…
Nigeria Exports Crude Oil worth NGN774.5 Bln to India in 4Q
Nigeria exported crude oil worth 774.5 billion Nigerian naira ($1.86 billion) to India in the fourth quarter of 2021, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics said in a report. Click here to read…
Paree Sanitary Pads Eyes Global Expansion, Enters Tanzania, Africa, and Nepal
With an objective to cater to women’s needs and make sanitary pads easily accessible, Paree Sanitary Pad has now expanded its operations to Tanzania, Africa, and Nepal. Click here to read…
Indian community to strengthen economic relations with Ghana
The Indian community in Ghana has said it will expand business operations as part of efforts to boost investment and increase its economic relations with the country. Click here to read…