DEFENCE

• Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy is on an official visit to India.
• Ex UDARASHAKTI between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) culminates.
• Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise VINBAX 2022 concludes.
• Indian Air Force contingent has reached Australia for participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2022.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• India delivers the 10th batch of medical assistance to Afghanistan.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with Tanzanian Minister of Defence.
• The third Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 780 strategically important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Components approved.
• 13th Edition of India – USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2022 culminates.

NATIONAL TERRORISM

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Nigeria

• Security forces destroyed Boko Haram markets in Borno State.

Somalia

• Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked a hotel and killed 12 people in Mogadishu.

Afghanistan

• At the UNSC, India highlighted significant increase in IS-KP presence in Afghanistan.
• “Taliban have not found the body of Ayman al-Zawahiri”: Taliban spokesperson.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

• NIA officials searched multiple locations in UT of J&K in ‘Drone’ case.
• SIA and CID of J&K police arrested a terror financer from IGI Airport, Delhi.
• Security forces eliminated two LeT terrorists in Shopian.
• Police arrested three LeT terrorists from Baramulla.

Left-Wing Extremism

• Two Maoists, including a section commander, surrendered in Telangana.
• Over 500 Maoist sympathisers surrendered before Odisha police.

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

• NIA filed chargesheet against four Islamic extremists in ‘Mayiladuthurai PS case’ of Tamil Nadu.
• India security agencies on vigil over IS suicide bomber’s confession.
• UP police arrested a JeM terrorist form Lucknow.

Narcotics Trafficking

• NIA filed supplementary chargesheet against nine narcotics traffickers in ‘Mundra Drugs’ case.

DEFENCE

Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy is on an official visit to India.

Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Bin Mohd Sany, Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy is on an official visit to India from 16 to 19 Aug 22. Adm Mohd Reza called on Adm R Hari Kumar, CNS and discussed the progress of ongoing bilateral engagements in the maritime domain. He was also briefed on the broad range of Foreign Cooperation activities pursued by the Indian Navy. The leaders identified several new avenues for further strengthening bilateral naval cooperation and also expressed commitment to their support to uphold the principle of collective responsibility for maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
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Ex UDARASHAKTI between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) culminates.

The bilateral exercise, Ex UDARASHAKTI between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) culminated at the RMAF Air Base Kuantan on 16 Aug 2022. Spanning four days, the exercise saw the two Air Forces work in cohesion through a series of complex aerial combat drills in multiple domains and exercise settings. The exercise was characterised by the display of a high degree of professionalism by all participants. Ex UDARASHAKTI provided both the Air Forces, an opportunity to share each other’s’ best practices. The culmination of the exercise was marked by a traditional closing ceremony and a seven aircraft formation flypast of Su-30MKI & Su-30 MKM aircraft over the air base.
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Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise VINBAX 2022 concludes.

Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise VINBAX 2022 concluded at Chandimandir with an display of Multi Agency Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Relief (HADR) demonstration and an equipment display showcasing the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. The exercise had commenced on 01 August and was focused on deployment of Army Engineer and Medical teams in UN Peacekeeping operations. It was the first time that the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) was undertaking a Field Training Exercise with any foreign Army. Over a period of three weeks, the soldiers of the two Armies worked with each other while learning and sharing best practices. The next edition of VINBAX will be hosted in Vietnam in 2023.
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Indian Air Force contingent has reached Australia for participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2022.

An Indian Air Force contingent has reached Australia for participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2022 scheduled to be held from 19 Aug 22 to 08 Sep 22 in Darwin. This is a biennial, multi-national exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It will focus on Large Force Employment warfare. The last edition was conducted in 2018. The 2020 edition of the exercise was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s exercise will see the participation of over 100 aircraft and 2500 military personnel from various air forces. The IAF contingent, comprises over 100 air warriors, deployed with four Su-30 MKI fighter and two C-17 aircraft. They will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange best practices with the participating air forces.
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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh attends Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Raksha Mantri (RM) Shri Rajnath Singh, on August 23, 2022, reached Tashkent, Uzbekistan on a three-day official visit. On the first day the RM held bilateral meetings with his Uzbek counterpart Lieutenant General Bakhodir Kurbanov; Defence Minister of Kazakhstan Colonel General Zhaksylykov Ruslan Zhakslykov and Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin. The entire spectrum of defence cooperation with the three countries was reviewed during the meetings, with focus on identifying avenues to expand mutually beneficial collaboration. Issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting at Tashkent, Uzbekistan on August 24, 2022, the Raksha Mantri asserted that terrorism in any form, including cross-border terrorism, committed by anyone and for whatever purpose, is a crime against humanity. In this context, the Raksha Mantri proposed to host a workshop in India in 2023 on the theme ‘Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief – Risk mitigation and Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’ for the Defence Ministries of SCO Member States. He also suggested an annual seminar on ‘Topic of Interest’ among the defence think tanks of SCO countries. “We propose to organise the first such defence think tank seminar in India in 2023,” he added.

The Raksha Mantri met with Defence Minister of Kyrgyzstan also and during exchange of pleasantries with Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu the RM conveyed his deep appreciation for arresting in Moscow a terrorist who was planning attacks in India.
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India delivers the 10th batch of medical assistance to Afghanistan.

India supplied the tenth batch of medical assistance as part of India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance. The same was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul. In view of the urgent appeals made by the United Nations to assist the Afghan people, India has, so far, supplied 32 tons of medical assistance in ten batches, which includes essential life saving medicines, anti-TB medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine etc. These medical consignments have been handed over to the World Health Organization(WHO) and Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul.
For more information: Click here to read…

Raksha Mantri (RM) will hold bilateral talks with Tanzanian Minister of Defence.

RM held bilateral talks with Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax in New Delhi on August 26, 2022. A wide range of issues concerning bilateral, regional and defence industrial cooperation were discussed during the meeting. The two Ministers reviewed the existing military-to-military activities and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in all domains with a focus on defence industry cooperation. Both the Ministers agreed to the formation of a Task Force to prepare a Five Year Future Road map for enhancing defence cooperation between both the countries and to hold the next Joint Defence Cooperation meeting in Tanzania at an early date. The Raksha Mantri also invited his Tanzanian counterpart to the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and DefExpo which is scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 18-22 October, 2022.
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The third Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 780 strategically important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Components approved.

In pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing and to minimise imports by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’, RM has approved the third Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 780 strategically important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Components with a timeline beyond which they will only be procured from the domestic industry. This list is in continuation to the two PILs of LRUs/Sub-systems/Assemblies/Sub-assemblies/Components that were published in December 2021 and March 2022. These lists contain 2,500 items which are already indigenised and 458 (351+107) items which will be indigenised within the given timelines. Out of 458, 167 items (1st PIL -163, 2nd PIL – 4) have been indigenised, so far.
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13th Edition of India – USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2022 culminates.

The 13th Edition of India – USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2022 culminated at Bakloh (HP) on 28 August 2022. This annual exercise is hosted alternatively between India and the United States. The 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington (USA) in October 2021.

The 21-day joint training provided an opportunity for the Special Forces from both nations to train in Air Borne Operations, Special Operations and Counter Terrorism operations in a joint environment under United Nations Charter. The exercise was conducted in two phases; the first phase involved combat conditioning and tactical level special missions training exercises and the second phase included 48 hours of validation of training received by both contingents in the first phase.
For more information: Click here to read…

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Nigeria

Security forces destroyed Boko Haram markets in Borno State.

On 24 August 2022, the troops of Nigeria’s security forces’ 21 Armoured Brigade attacked and destroyed Boko Haram markets in Bama Local Council of Borno State, and also eliminated six Boko Haram terrorists manning the market. “Troops in collaboration with the civilian joint task force, stormed an illegal market at Bararam village where terrorists were trading food items, used clothes, petrol, and drugs,” said Zagazola Makama— counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region.
For more information: Click here to read…

Somalia

Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked a hotel and killed at least 20 people in Mogadishu.

On 19 August 2022, al-Shabaab terrorists attacked a hotel and killed at least 20 people in Mogadishu; although some local media reported that the death toll could be higher. After the initial attack, a website affiliated with al-Shabaab claimed that terrorists were carrying out random shootings at the hotel— a prime location for employees of the federal government to meet. According to police spokesperson, the initial attack on the hotel was carried out by two car bombs. Al-Shabaab control much of the southern and central parts of Somalia, but has been successful to extend its influence into areas controlled by the government based in Mogadishu.
For more information: Click here to read…

Afghanistan

At the UNSC, India highlighted significant increase in IS-KP presence in Afghanistan.

At the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), India highlighted the significant presence and rise of Islamic State-Khurasan Province (IS-KP)’s capabilities to carry out attack in Afghanistan. India warned the UNSC about the linkages between proscribed terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), posing a direct threat to the region’s peace and stability.

“As we have repeatedly stated at the UNSC, India has direct stakes in ensuring the return of peace and stability, given our position as a contiguous neighbour and long-standing partner of Afghanistan, as well as our strong historical and civilisational linkages to the Afghan people,” said India’s Permanent Representative the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj.
For more information: Click here to read…

“Taliban have not found the body of Ayman al-Zawahiri”: Taliban spokesperson.

Taliban spokesperson— Zabihullah Mujahid, on 25 August 2022, said that they have not found the body of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former al-Qa’ida leader, after the United States (US) claimed to kill the leader in a drone strike in Kabul in August 2022.
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SIA and CID of J&K police arrested a terror financer from IGI Airport, Delhi.

On 25 August 2022, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) and Counter-Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police arrested a terror financer— Farooq Ahmad Naikoo aka Farooq Tendulkar, at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi. Farooq was deported from United Arab Emirates (UAE) and arrested at the airport for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case. “Farooq’s name appeared in various terror financing transactions during the investigation of the case and further investigation about his role was being investigated by the SIA officials,” said an official on the basis of anonymity.
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Security forces eliminated two LeT terrorists in Shopian.

On 30 August 2022, security forces killed two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in a counter-terrorism operation in Nagbal area of Shopian district in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Following the inputs about terrorists’ presence in the area, security forces initiated the Cordon And Search operation and engaged in an exchange of fire with terrorists.
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Police arrested three LeT terrorists from Baramulla.

On 26 August 2022, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police arrested three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists— i) Shariq Ashraf, ii) Saqlain Mushtaq, and iii) Taufiq Hasan Sheikh, from Bomai Chowk area in Sopore of Baramulla district. The joint operation involved 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 179 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

Upon arrest, police personnel recovered three hand grenades, 09 posters, and 12 Pakistani flags from terrorists. In another incident a day before i.e., on 25 August, security forces eliminated three infiltrators near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of J&K and recovered a Chinese-made M16 rifle from their possession.
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Left-Wing Extremism

Two Maoists, including a section commander, surrendered in Telangana.

On 24 August 2022, two Chhattisgarh-based Maoists— i) Deva, a section commander, and ii) Madvi Pojja, a militia member, surrendered before Superintendent of Police (SP) G. Vineeth in Kothagudem in Telangana. Deva was active in Maddedu, Bhairamgarh, and Gangaluru in Dandakaranya forest area and was also involved in four different incidents of conflict with police personnel in West Bastar division.
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Over 500 Maoist sympathisers surrendered before Odisha police.

On 22 August 2022, more than 500 Maoists sympathisers surrendered before police in Swabhiman Anchal area of Malkangiri district in Odisha. “After surrender of 295 Maoists sympathisers before police on 11 June 2022, another 500 of Ralegada surrendered before Malkangiri police and BSF personnel. They were motivated by the welfare work of the Odisha government,” tweeted the Director-General of Police (DGP) S K Bansal.

The Maoist supporters included both men and women from Dabal Pahad, Ralegada, Chintalduli, Korrapalli, Tekpadar, Palankrayi, Tatipahad, Eskapalli, Sarukabandha, Durgam, Banajholi, Chikatpalli, Jajpalli, Gajalmamidi, Sitapalli villages in Ralegada gram panchayat area under the jurisdiction of Papermetla police station. Before surrendering, the Maoist supporters burnt the dress materials of Maoists and demolished the Maoist ‘Martyr Pillar’ and shouted slogans— Maobadi Murdabad (death to the Maoist ideology).
For more information: Click here to read…

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA filed chargesheet against four Islamic extremists in ‘Mayiladuthurai PS case’ of Tamil Nadu.

On 18 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against four Islamic extremists— i) Sathik Batcha, ii) R. Ashiq, iii) A. Mohammad Irfan, and iv) Rahamathulla, at the NIA Special Court, Chennai. The case— RC-20/2022/NIA/DLI pertains to a conspiracy by five Islamic extremists for threatening public and also attempting to kill police personnel during vehicle checking on 21 February 2022. All four chargesheet extremists were involved in forming terror modules, including ‘Khilafah Party of India’, ‘Khilafah Front of India’, ‘Intellectual Students of India’, and associating themselves with proscribed terror organisations, such as al-Qa’ida, Islamic State (IS), and National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) of Sri Lanka.
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Russia’s FSB arrested an IS terrorist plotting an attack on Indian politician over prophet Mohammad controversy.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), on 22 August 2022, arrested a Central Asian nation citizen and an Islamic State (IS) terrorist— Azamov Mashahont, who underwent a special training to carry out a suicide attack against a member of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for the comments on prophet Mohammad.

According to the confession made by Mashahont, he was radicalised online by the IS operatives through Telegram application. As per the conspiracy, he travelled from Turkey to Russia and was in process to fly for India. During the interrogation, he confirmed that he would have received explosives, detonators, and other equipment necessary for a suicide bombing from a contact in India after his arrival from Russia.
For more information: Click here to read… ; Click here to read…

UP police arrested a JeM terrorist form Lucknow.

On 12 August 2022, Uttar Pradesh police’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist— Muhammad Nadeem, from Saharanpur. Preliminary interrogation revealed that since 2018, Muhammad Nadeem was in touch with his handlers based in Pakistan and on their behest, he was conspiring to carryout terrorist attacks in many places in the State. Allegedly, he was also tasked to kill suspended BJP leader— Nupur Sharma.

“He (Nadeem) was in contact with several handlers on Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and they encouraged him to conduct anti-India activities. He was trained for lone-wolf attacks by knife and was ready to travel to Af-Pak region for further training,” said Prashant Kumar, Additional Director-General (ADG) of Police (Law and Order).
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Narcotics Trafficking

NIA filed supplementary chargesheet against nine narcotics traffickers in ‘Mundra Drugs’ case.

On 29 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed supplementary chargesheet against nine narcotics traffickers— i) Sarabjit Singh, ii) Jannat Gul Kaker, iii) Mujahid Shinwari, iv) Shami Ullah, v) Mohammad Lal Kaker, vi) Imtiaz Ahmed, vii) Imran Ahmed, viii) Balwinder Singh, and ix) Jasvir Singh, in the NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad, in connection with Mundra drugs seizure case.

The case—RC-26/2021/NIA/DLI pertains to the seizure of total 2988.21 kilograms of Heroin between 17-19 September 2021 at Container Freight Station, Mundra Port, Gujarat by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The consignment was concealed in semi-processed talc stone. The traffickers are members of the international drugs smuggling network involved in trafficking of Heroin from Afghanistan to India for further distribution in Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and other States of India.

Earlier on 24 August 2022, NIA officials carried out search operations at 20 locations in various States— 14 locations in Delhi, 02 locations in Gujarat, 01 location in Punjab, and 03 locations in West Bengal in connection with the same case. The investigation into the entire supply chain and network of money laundering, drug distribution, and other players involved in this international drug network is still ongoing.
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Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Marikana and its aftermath

In August 2022, South Africa commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Marikana Massacre. On 16 August 2012, South African Police shot down labourers of the Marikana platinum mine. Click here to read…

Japan’s opportunity to build a new legacy in Africa

At a time when China, the United States, and Russia are competing in Africa in ways reminiscent of Cold War rivalries on the continent, Japan, whose eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) has just ended in Tunis, is entering the arena too. Click here to read…

The Biden Administration’s New Africa Policy

Imagine you’ve just been confirmed to be the US ambassador to a small country in Africa. However, before departing to take up your assignment, you learn that the administration doesn’t yet have an official policy for that country. Click here to read…

NEWS

TICAD 2022: Japan’s Deepening Partnerships in Africa

The international context has changed markedly since the last TICAD in 2019. How is Japan approaching African countries today? Click here to read…

Japan, Africa leaders wrap up TICAD talks, vowing to tackle food crisis

Leaders from Japan and African nations on Sunday said the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine has caused a food crisis on the fast-growing continent, without referring to Moscow by name. Click here to read…

Kishida vows $30 billion over next three years for Africa as China and Russia loom

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday pledged $30 billion over the next three years for African development, with a focus on investing in human capital and fostering quality growth in a continent where China and Russia are exerting their influence. Click here to read…

Kenya election 2022: Were results sheets altered as Odinga claims?

William Ruto was declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election over two weeks ago with 50.5% of the vote, but his opponent Raila Odinga is challenging the result, claiming it was fraudulent. Click here to read…

Angolan opposition files legal challenge, seeks annulment of vote

Angola’s main opposition party has filed a case with the country’s constitutional court to seek the annulment of last month’s election in which the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) was declared the winner. Click here to read…

Ethiopia, Eritrea forces launch new offensive in Tigray: TPLF

Ethiopian and Eritrean government forces have launched an attack in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray, targeting rebel forces. Click here to read…

Biden to Meet South Africa Leader Amid Differences on Russia

President Joe Biden will host South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House this month as the administration looks to draw African nations closer to the U.S. Click here to read…

France’s Macron concludes Algeria visit with new pact

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune have declared a “new, irreversible dynamic of progress” in their nations’ ties, concluding a visit by Macron aimed at ending months of tensions. Click here to read…

‘Air strike’ rocks Mekelle city in Ethiopia’s Tigray region

Ethiopian government officials were not immediately reachable for comment but officials at Ayder Referral Hospital say the midnight strike near Mekelle general hospital caused casualties. Click here to read…

New U.S. ambassador arrives in Sudan after 25 years of absence

The new U.S. ambassador John Godfrey arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday. He arrives after a 25-year absence of a US envoy in Sudan due to diplomatic differences between the two countries. Click here to read…

Mozambique reaffirms commitment to bilateral relations with Portugal

The Portuguese prime minister and the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, have expressed satisfaction with the resumption of bilateral meetings, and António Costa reaffirmed “every commitment” to continue working with that African country. Click here to read…

Morocco, Japan reiterates rejection of Tunisia’s invitation to separatist entity

Moroccan and Japanese foreign ministers reaffirmed in the strongest terms their denunciation of Tunisia’s unilateral invitation of the Algeria-backed Polisario entity to the Japan-Africa summit TICAD last Month. Click here to read…

1st Ukraine grain ship for Horn of Africa reaches Djibouti

The first ship carrying grain from Ukraine for people in the hungriest parts of the world has docked at the Horn of Africa port of Djibouti as areas of East Africa are badly affected by deadly drought and conflict. Click here to read…

South Africa’s Ruling ANC to Win 2024 Vote Even as City Support Plunges, Survey Shows

South Africa’s governing party is likely to win the country’s next national elections in 2024 even as its support slips further in major cities, a survey showed. Click here to read…

South Sudan’s former rebels join unified army

Thousands of former rebels swore an oath of loyalty in a ceremony held under tight security in South Sudan. Click here to read…

Egypt to Organize ‘Arab Labor Conference’ With Participation of 21 Countries

Egypt is preparing to host this month the work of the forty-eighth round of the Arab Labor Conference (ALC) to be attended by the labor ministers, delegations, organization and unions of 21 Arab countries. Click here to read…

Crisis-hit Zambia secures $1.3bn IMF loan to rebuild stricken economy

The International Monetary Fund has approved a $1.3bn (£1.1bn) loan to Zambia, as the country scrambles to rebuild its crisis-hit economy after defaulting on its foreign debts in 2020. Click here to read…

UN Secretary General proposes Senegal’s Abdoulaye Bathily as envoy to Libya

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has nominated Abdoulaye Bathily to be the new UN envoy to Libya, and France’s UN ambassador said he thinks the Security Council will approve the minister. Click here to read…

Algeria’s move to English signals erosion of France’s sway

In the world of diplomacy, few details carry as much import as language. And few languages carry the diplomatic and cultural heft that French has long boasted. Click here to read…

Tunisia: Pro-Saied party calls for including military in gov’t

The July 25 Movement, also known as the National Youth Movement of Tunisia, on Wednesday called for the formation of a “national salvation government” that encompasses “military figures” in order to avoid a “social explosion” as a result of the current economic situation. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe government harasses opposition with arrests, jail

Opposition politicians languishing in prison. Journalists and government critics harassed and arrested. Public meetings banned. Click here to read…

Türkiye-Egypt rapprochement continues gradually

The normalization process between Türkiye and Egypt continues at a gradual pace. Discussions are being held at the intelligence level and extending the process over time does not mean that it is not progressing positively. Click here to read…

Rwanda flight migrants ‘include victims of torture and human trafficking

Out of the 17 people that doctors conducted clinical assessments for, 14 showed evidence of having been tortured and six were survivors of trafficking. Click here to read…

Ex-Botswana president Khama: plans in place to ensure Masisi removed from power

Former Botswana president Ian Khama on Friday said plans were in place to ensure the electoral defeat of current Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi at that country’s next elections in 2024. Click here to read…

Russian exports to Morocco double in 1H 2022

Russian exports to the Kingdom of Morocco doubled in the first half of 2022, Russia’s Trade Representative to the country Artyom Tsingamzgvrishvili told TASS on Friday. Click here to read…

Second UN helicopter crashes in eastern DR Congo in five months

There were no passengers on board and three crew members were injured, the UN’s World Food Programme said. Click here to read…

Terrorism: Nigeria ranked second despite N11tn security budgets

Nigeria budgeted a total of N11.18tn for security from 2015 to 2022, investigations by The PUNCH have revealed. Despite the high budgetary allocation, however, the country remains the second most attacked country by the Islamic State terrorist group globally, according to the data by Jihad Analytics. Click here to read…

Comoros President ‘Regrets’ Morocco’s Absence from TICAD in Tunisia

Azali Assoumani, President of the East African country Comoros, said today that he regrets Morocco’s absence from the 8th edition of The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Click here to read…

Central African Republic: UN expert calls for end to impunity, urges armed groups to lay down arms

Armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) must lay down their arms and engage in political dialogue, a UN expert said today, urging the international community to strengthen efforts to restore State authority and end impunity in the country. Click here to read…

At least 32 dead in renewed Tripoli fighting

At least 32 people have died in renewed fighting in Tripoli, ending the relative peace that has held for the last two years and signaling the breakdown of a political process that’s brought Libya no closer to long-delayed elections and a unified stateClick here to read…

Madagascar police shoot 18 dead in albino kidnap protest: Medic

Since 2020, there have been more than a dozen abductions, attacks and murders of people with albinism in Madagascar, according to the UN. Click here to read…

Tanzania launches first 5G technology

Telecom company Vodacom Tanzania Plc has launched the country’s first 5G technology in what promises to be a transformational development in the country’s digital journey. Click here to read…

The ‘Big Four’ are leading Africa’s start-up scene—Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya

Unperturbed by the COVID-19 pandemic, international investors have continued to pour money into the African continent’s start-up scene — but that influx of cash is not being distributed evenly. Click here to read…

E-Commerce Company Jumia Launches Drone Deliveries in Ghana

Africa’s largest e-commerce company, Jumia, launched the first commercial drone delivery service on the continent this week, offering delivery of products across Ghana. Click here to read…

Phase 2 of Senegal LNG project needs $5 bln: president

The second phase of Senegal’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project will need investments worth around $5 billion and could start in 2024 or 2025, Senegal’s President Macky Sall said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Project Will Help Create Competitive Zone in North-West Africa

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, which is currently in its Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase, will contribute to the emergence of an integrated and competitive North-West African zone. Click here to read…

Ivory Coast Supplies the World With Cocoa. Now It Wants Some for Itself

A new generation of Ivory Coast chocolatiers is striving to change an industry that has long left cocoa farmers in poverty. Click here to read…

Angolans gather for funeral of ex-leader Dos Santos amid dispute over vote
Angolans and foreign dignitaries gathered on Sunday for the funeral of long-serving ex-leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who died in Spain in July but whose burial was delayed by a family request for an autopsy. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Serum Institute signs deal with Aspen to sell vaccines in Africa

The deal with Serum gives Aspen certainty on volumes, which will eventually more than cover an expected decline in revenues from its COVID vaccine contract with J&J, he said. Click here to read…

India, South Africa to set up a Joint Working Group on Education

Union Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a bilateral meeting in Bali with Dr Bonginkosi Emmanuel “Blade” NZIMANDE, South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education, Science Innovation. Click here to read…

Nigeria seeks stronger ties with Indian textile industry

A 12-member delegation from Nigeria is on a week’s study tour to India. Nigeria is looking at strengthening its ties with Indian textile industry to revive its cotton integrated industry. Click here to read…

India, UAE working on joint health projects in Kenya and Tanzania

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working on a joint initiative to establish health projects in Kenya and Tanzania and taking forward cooperation in food security within the I2U2 framework that includes the US and Israel. Click here to read…

Indian ambassador celebrates 75 years of diplomatic Egypt-India relations

India and Egypt are celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations on 18 August 2022. As two of the world’s most ancient civilisations, India and Egypt have enjoyed close contacts for many centuries. Click here to read…

Egypt, India to see significant progress in political, economic, and cultural ties: Ambassador Gupte

Indian Ambassador in Cairo Ajit Gupte expected that the political, economic and cultural relations between India and Egypt would see significant progress in the near future. Click here to read…

At UNSC, India Names Turkey for Violating UNSC Sanctions on Libya

Stating that Turkey’s ‘blatant disregard’ was a cause for serious concern, India’s permanent representative to the UN said that the country’s activities had contributed to the ‘enduring political stalemate.’Click here to read…

South Africa and India will make four vaccines without the help of rich western countries

According to the announcement, Aspen SA Operations signed a deal to produce vaccines for the African market by packaging bulk drug substance—the actual vaccine ingredients—produced by the Serum Institute. Click here to read…

APO Group partners with PR Wire India to provide high-quality Pan-African press release content to the Indian market

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, today announced a content partnership with PR Wire India (https://PRWireIndia.com) which will ensure all text, images, videos and soundbites distributed by APO Group are published on the PR Wire India platform. Click here to read…

UP Inc forges tie-ups in Africa, Europe to achieve $1 trn economy target

Aligning with the $-trillion economy goal set by the state government, the Uttar Pradesh Inc is forging industry and trade alliances with partners in the African, Latin American and European countries. Click here to read…

How Sunil Bharti Mittal turned Airtel around in Africa

In 2010, Bharti Airtel entered into a $10.7 billion deal to acquire Zain Telecom’s African operations in 15 nations. It was a bold move but challenges soon cropped up. Click here to read…

Airtel Africa aims to be continent’s biggest telco: CEO

Airtel Africa managing director and CEO Olusegun Ogunsanya said the telco, which operates in 14 countries, has captured the top spot in four and is No. 2 in nine others. Click here to read…

BPCL expects Mozambique project to take off next year

With the law and order situation improving considerably, Bharat Petroleum Corporation’s (BPCL’s) 12.88 million tonne per annum (mtpa) Mozambique LNG project should take off in the first half of next year, BPCL said on Monday. Click here to read…

Indian envoy Abhay Kumar discusses climate change with Madagascar Environment Minister

Indian Ambassador to Antananarivo Abhay Kumar met Madagascar Environment Minister Marie-Orlea Vina on Thursday and discussed several issues including ways to deal with climate change. Click here to read…

Made in India Suzuki Grand Vitara showcased in South Africa

The Grand Vitara for South Africa gets AllGrip AWD with automatic gearbox; joins a long list of made-in-India Suzuki cars sold there. Click here to read…

Nationalistic blogger Sima Nan banned from Chinese social media: South China Morning Post

August 23, 2022

Sima Nan, a Chinese blogger who shot to fame on the back of rising nationalism by writing inflammatory articles about the United States, was suddenly banned from his social media accounts for unknown reasons. He has been blocked from posting on Weibo, WeChat, Bilibili and Douyin “for violation of relevant laws and regulations”, according to notices posted on the platforms, but his previous posts remained untouched. He last updated his accounts on Saturday. No further details were released, and the immediate cause of what appears to be a collective effort by Chinese social media to censor his accounts is not clear. It is not known when or if he will be able to resume posting on the platforms. Click here to read…

China’s offshore undersea detection system passes sea trial: Xinhuanet

August 24, 2022

China’s independently developed offshore undersea mobile detection system Haizhe, also called Jellyfish, has completed its 3,000-meter deep sea trial in a methane seep zone of the South China Sea and passed the acceptance, the China Science Daily reported on Wednesday. Click here to read…

China launches human resources website for older people: Xinhuanet

August 24, 2022

China on Wednesday launched a human resources website for older people, marking the first step of building a human resources information service platform for the country’s older citizens. The website, launched by the China National Committee on Ageing, offers content including human resources policies, human resources knowledge and employment information. Click here to read…

Chinese police solve over 1,500 cases in crackdown on production, sale of fake medicine: Xinhuanet

August 24, 2022

Chinese police have solved over 1,500 cases involving the production and sale of fake or substandard medicine in the first half of this year, with the value of money involved amounting to 4.78 billion yuan (about 696 million U.S. dollars), said the Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Circular urges study of book on Xi Jinping’s thinking on armed forces: China Military

August 24, 2022

A circular has called on Party organizations at all levels and the armed forces to conduct thorough and in-depth study of a new book on Xi Jinping’s thinking on strengthening the armed forces. The circular was jointly released by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission. Click here to read…

Chinese defense chief delivers video speech at SCO defense ministers meeting: China Military

August 24, 2022

The 19th meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on August 24, 2022. Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe attended and addressed the meeting via video link. Click here to read…

China expresses condolences to victims of floods in Pakistan, provides relief supplies, aid: Global Times

August 24, 2022

China is offering emergency aid, including needed supplies and $300,000 in cash to Pakistan, to support its disaster-hit areas where flood has caused casualties and property loss, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

YU-20 aerial tanker to star in PLA Air Force’s open day event: Global Times

August 24, 2022

The YU-20 aerial tanker, the force amplifier that recently entered service with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and made frequent appearances in exercises around the island of Taiwan earlier this month, will be a star of the show at the upcoming PLA Air Force open day event with its first static display to the general public. Click here to read…

China, Iran Friendship Associations vow to strengthen bilateral Belt and Road cooperation: People’s Daily

August 24, 2022

The 13th annual conference of China Iran Friendship Associations and Dialogues between the sister provinces/cities of China and Iran was held online on Tuesday to bolster cooperation between the two countries. Under the theme of “Future-oriented China-Iran Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Win-win Cooperation for Common Development,” the conference was jointly organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China-Iran Friendship Association, and Iran-China Friendship Association. Click here to read…

China halts more than 20 IPOs sponsored by China Merchants Securities amid probe: Reuters

August 24, 2022

Chinese bourses have halted processing more than 20 initial public offering (IPO) plans sponsored by China Merchants Securities (600999.SS), following an investigation into the broker, according to exchange disclosures. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange has suspended 15 IPO plans set for its ChiNext board, while the Shanghai exchange has paused five IPOs targeting its tech-focused STAR Market since last Friday, exchange filings showed. Click here to read…

China exerting growing pressure on foreign companies, study finds: Reuters

August 24, 2022

China is exerting increasing pressure on foreign companies doing business in its markets to bring them into line with its political agenda, broadening the “red lines” for issues to which it is allergic, a German study seen by Reuters shows. A survey of more than 100 companies by the Berlin-based Merics think tank for China studies and the BDI industry association showed that the threshhold for exerting pressure on companies is falling. The number of known cases rose significantly from 2018, it found. Click here to read…

China regulator warns banks against yuan selling: Reuters

August 24, 2022

China’s foreign exchange regulator phoned several banks on Wednesday to warn them against aggressively selling the Chinese currency, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, in a new sign of official discomfort with recent yuan weakness. Click here to read…

Japan to pledge human resources investment in Africa to counter China: Kyodo

August 24, 2022

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will announce investment in human resources in Africa at a gathering held in Tunisia later this week, in an effort to counter China’s influence on the continent, government sources said Wednesday. At the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Kishida will pledge to invest in fostering the talents of 300,000 people for the next three years, primarily in the agriculture and health sectors, according to the sources. Click here to read…

Ideas shared to improve job market: China Daily

August 25, 2022

National political advisers have presented their ideas on helping the nation tackle its employment problems, which have been compounded by COVID-19 and an economic slowdown. Held from Monday to Wednesday, a session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference focused on stabilizing the job market by implementing an employment-first policy. Click here to read…

Minister calls for more SCO security cooperation: China Daily

August 25, 2022

China’s defense minister on Wednesday called for global solidarity amid multiple crises and challenges rarely seen in history, encouraging member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to deepen security cooperation. Click here to read…

China to build on policy package for stabilizing economy to firm up foundation for recovery, growth: People’s Daily

August 25, 2022

China will adopt follow-up policies on top of the policy package for stabilizing the economy as part of intensified efforts to consolidate the foundation of economic recovery and growth, and send taskforces to localities to supervise and assist work on this front to promote policy implementation at a faster pace, according to the decision made at the State Council’s Executive Meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. Click here to read…

China reopens to foreign students after two years: Taipei Times

August 25, 2022

China yesterday opened its borders for foreign students for the first time in more than two years, easing restrictions on their entry imposed in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign nationals holding a Chinese residence permit for study or an APEC business travel card would be allowed to enter the country, the Chinese embassy in the US said in a statement on WeChat on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Xi Jinping looks to take China beyond Deng Xiaoping’s ‘get rich’ era with historic third term: South China Morning Post

August 25, 2022

On a cold morning in mid-January, two dozen senior Communist Party officials, wrapped in black coats to protect them against the winter chill, stood solemnly in rows at the courtyard of Guohong Mansion, home to China’s top economic planning agency. The group had gathered for the launch of the Xi Jinping Economic Thought Research Centre, the 18th research institution set up since the Chinese president’s philosophy was enshrined in the constitution in 2018. Click here to read…

Chinese prosecutors charge former senior official of Guangxi with bribery: Xinhuanet

August 25, 2022

A public prosecution has been instituted against Liu Hongwu, former vice chairman of the people’s government of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He is suspected of bribery, an official statement said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 345 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

August 25, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 345 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 217 were in Hainan Province, the National Health Commission said Thursday. Altogether 1,289 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified on Wednesday, including 521 in Tibet and 309 in Hainan, said the commission in its report. Click here to read…

China to implement negative list for cross-border trade in services: Qiushi

August 25, 2022

China will implement a negative list for cross-border trade in services, expand opening-up in the services sector and bolster digital trade to shore up economic growth, said government officials on Tuesday. A negative list refers to special administrative measures for access of foreign investors to specific fields. China introduced a negative list for cross-border trade in services at the Hainan Free Trade Port last year. Click here to read…

China achieves progress in building international consumption centers: Qiushi

August 25, 2022

Progress has been made by Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing, one year after the five leading cities were approved to develop international consumption centers cities. On Aug. 8, Aveda, a high-level manufacturer of hair care products owned by Estée Lauder Companies, opened its first store on the Chinese mainland at the Taikoo Li Qiantan, a mega shopping mall in Shanghai. Click here to read…

DEFENCE

• RIMPAC – 2022.
• DRDO successfully test fires indigenously developed laser-guided ATGMs.
• Tejas Fighter Aircraft.
• Army Design Bureau has signed a MoU with the Drone Federation of India.
• 13th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “Ex Vajra Prahar 2022”.
• 12th Def Expo to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) flew three indigenous platforms, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40).
• Repair of a US Navy Ship in India.
• 4th India-Bangladesh Annual Defence Dialogue.
• Indian Air Force to participate in bilateral exercise hosted by Malaysia.
• Indo Oman Joint Military Exercise Al Najaf IV concluded.
• Bengaluru-based start-up innovates communication through Quantum Key Distribution Systems.
• India gifts Dornier aircraft to strengthen maritime security of Sri Lanka.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Nigeria

• Around 1,755 Boko Haram terrorists surrendered during the Operation HADIN KAI at various locations.

Niger

• Several Boko Haram terrorists were killed in an airstrike in Shiroro LGA.

Afghanistan

• Islamic State carried out an attack in Kabul and killed a prominent Taliban cleric.
• “Al-Qa’ida has not reconstituted its presence in Afghanistan,” claimed new US intelligence assessment.
• Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Kabul.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

• NIA officials searched various locations in Doda and Jammu districts in “JeI-J&K Terror Financing” case.
• Security forces killed a key LeT terrorist in Budgam.
• JKGF carried out a grenade attack in Ramban.

Left-Wing Extremism

• Maoist woman leader surrendered in Andhra Pradesh.

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

• NIA officials arrested 10th accused in “Amravati killing case”.
• Police demolished an illegal madrassa linked with al-Qa’ida in Assam.
• NIA arrested two JMB operatives from Madhya Pradesh in connection with “JMB Bhopal case”.
• NIA officials arrested 09th accused in “Udaipur killing case”.
• NIA officials searched and arrested an IS operative from Delhi.
• UP ATS arrested an IS operative from Azamgarh.
• NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against an al-Qa’ida operative in “al-Qa’ida Lucknow case”.

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

• SFJ threatened to replace Tiranga with ‘Khalistan’ flag at Attari border in Amritsar, Punjab.
• Canada-based drug cartels are trying to revive Khalistan movement in India.
• SFJ announced to hold ‘Canadian phase’ of Khalistan Referendum in September 2022.

DEFENCE

RIMPAC – 2022.

INS Satpura entered Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, USA on 02 Aug 22 on completion of the sea phase of RIMPAC-22, a multilateral exercise conducted over 22 days off Hawaii, USA. RIMPAC-22 is one of the largest multilateral naval exercises in which the Indian Navy participates and the exercise this year has witnessed participation from 26 countries comprising 38 surface ships, 09 land forces, 31 unmanned systems, 170 aircraft and over 2,500 personnel.
For more information: Click here to read…

DRDO successfully test fires indigenously developed laser-guided ATGMs.

Indigenously developed Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) were successfully test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Army.
Fore more information: Click here to read…

Tejas Fighter Aircraft.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence responded to a Request for Information (RFI) received from Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Malaysia in February, 2019 for LCA class aircraft. Subsequently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited responded in October, 2021 to Request for Proposal (RFP) issued against tender released by Royal Malaysian Air Force, Malaysia for 18 nos of Fighter Lead In Trainer – Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT – LCA) and HAL offered LCA Tejas twin seater variant. Other countries which have evinced interest in LCA aircraft are: Argentina, Australia, Egypt, USA, Indonesia, and Philippines.
For more information: Click here to read…

Army Design Bureau has signed a MoU with the Drone Federation of India.

The Army Design Bureau on behalf of the Indian Army has signed a MoU with the Drone Federation of India to collaboratively work towards promoting research, development, testing and manufacturing of drones, counter-drone and associated technologies that can assist the Indian Army in its operations.
For more information: Click here to read…

13th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “Ex Vajra Prahar 2022”.

The 13th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “Ex Vajra Prahar 2022” commenced at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh (HP) today. The US contingent is represented by personnel from the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) and Special Tactics Squadron (STS) of US Special Forces and the Indian Army contingent is formed by drawing Special Forces personnel under the aegis of SFTS. This annual exercise is hosted alternatively between India and the United States. The 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mcchord, Washington (USA) in October 2021.

During the course of next 21 days, teams of both armies would jointly train, plan and execute a series of Special Operations, Counter Terrorist Operations, Air Borne operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain.
For more information: Click here to read…

12th Def Expo to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujrat.

The 12th edition of DefExpo – India’s flagship exhibition on Land, Naval and Homeland Security systems – will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from October 18-22, 2022. The five-day event will witness three business days followed by two public days. It was postponed in March 2022 due to logistical problems being faced by the participants.
For more information: Click here to read…

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) flew three indigenous platforms, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40).

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) was on a two day visit to Bangalore. He flew three indigenous platforms, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), which are being inducted into IAF as part of its drive towards Atmanirbharta.
For more information: Click here to read…

Repair of a US Navy Ship in India.

US Navy Ship (USNS) Charles Drew arrived at L&T’s Shipyard at Kattupalli, Chennai on August 07, 2022 for undertaking repairs and allied services. This is the first ever repair of a US Navy ship in India. The US Navy had awarded a contract to L&T’s Shipyard at Kattupalli for undertaking maintenance of the ship. The USNS Charles Drew will be at Kattupalli shipyard for a period of 11 days and undergo repairs in various areas.
For more information: Click here to read…

4th India-Bangladesh Annual Defence Dialogue.

The 4th India-Bangladesh Annual Defence Dialogue, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, was held in New Delhi on August 11, 2022. During their interaction, they reviewed ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries and expressed satisfaction that collaboration is growing despite difficulties imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both sides emphasised the need to work closely to implement the USD 500 million line of credit extended from India for defence items.
For more information: Click here to read…

Indian Air Force to participate in bilateral exercise hosted by Malaysia

A contingent of the Indian Air Force left for Malaysia today to participate in a bilateral exercise named ‘Udarashakti’. Indian Air Force is participating in the air exercise with Su-30 MKI and C-17 aircraft while the RMAF will be flying Su 30 MKM aircraft. The Indian contingent departed from one of its air bases directly for their destination, the RMAF base of Kuantan. The exercise will give an opportunity to IAF contingent members to share and learn best practices with some of the best professionals from RMAF, while also discussing mutual combat capabilities. The four days of exercise will witness conduct of various aerial combat drills between the two Air Forces. The aim of the exercise was to achieve inter-operability and to acquaint each other with operational procedures and combat drills in a Counter Terrorism environment under United Nations mandate.
For more information: Click here to read…

Indo Oman Joint Military Exercise Al Najaf IV concluded.
The Indo Oman Joint Military Exercise Al Najaf IV concluded at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges today. A solemn Closing Ceremony marked the culmination of the exercise. This platoon level 13 days exercise had commenced on 01 August 2022.
For more information: Click here to read…

Bengaluru-based start-up innovates communication through Quantum Key Distribution Systems.

QNu Labs, a Bengaluru-based Deep Tech Start-up, has broken distance barriers by innovating advanced secured communication through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems. The project was curated by iDEX-DIO with Indian Army. After the successful trials, now the Indian Army has initiated the process of procurement of QKD systems developed by QNu Labs by issuing commercial Request For Proposal (RFP) and its deployment.

Quantum technology has a huge potential for military application and a disruptive impact on modern-day warfare. A QKD system allows creation of a quantum secure secret pair of symmetric keys between two end points, separated by certain distance (in this case, over 150 Kms) in terrestrial optical fiber infrastructure.
For more information: Click here to read…

India gifts Dornier aircraft to strengthen maritime security of Sri Lanka.

India gifted a Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft on 15 August 2022 towards strengthening the maritime security of Sri Lanka at a special event held in Sri Lanka Air Force Base, Katunayake. Navy and Air Force personnel of Sri Lanka who received training in India for close to four months shall operate the aircraft. They will also receive operational support from their Indian counterparts.
For more information: Click here to read…

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Nigeria

Around 1,755 Boko Haram terrorists surrendered during the Operation HADIN KAI at various locations.

During a week of the Operation HADIN KAI at various locations in Nigeria, around 1,755 Boko Haram terrorists and their families, comprising of 280 male, 523 females, and 925 Children, surrendered before the Nigerian troops, and handed over to relevant authorities. According to the out-going Defence Media Operations spokesman— Maj Gen Bernard Onyenko, “troops ambushed the hideouts of Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists along Road Uzoro-Gadamayo in Adamawa State.”

Likewise, airstrikes were carried out on 03 August 2022 as a part of Operation HADIN KAI at Degbawa near Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. During the airstrike, a key ISWAP commander— Alhaji Modu aka Bem Bem and his associates were eliminated. “Within a week of the same operation, Nigerian troops eliminated 29 terrorists, arrested 55 terrorists, and rescued 52 civilians. Also, troops recovered 128 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunitions, 05 bicycles, 12 AK-47 rifles, 04 motorbikes, and 05 mobile phones,” confirmed Maj Gen Onyenko.
For more information: Click here to read…

Niger

Several Boko Haram terrorists were killed in an airstrike in Shiroro LGA.

On 14 August 2022, the Niger’s Federal Government posted on official Twitter handle that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) carried out an airstrike and have eliminated several Boko Haram terrorists, while attending a meeting called by a key commander— Aminu Duniya, in Kurebe in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA), Niger. The operation was conducted by ground and air force of the Nigerian armed forces.

“While @HQNigerianArmy troops laid siege around the location, @NigAirForce aircraft were directed to the suspected location of the terrorists. Several terrorists were confirmed killed after the strike, though it remains unclear if Aminu Duniya was also neutralized.”— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov).
For more information: Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Islamic State carried out an attack in Kabul and killed a prominent Taliban cleric.

On 11 August 2022, the Islamic State (IS) carried out an attack and killed a prominent Taliban cleric— Rahimullah Haqqani, at his religious centre in Kabul, Afghanistan. According to the Taliban officials, the attack was carried out with explosives hidden in a plastic artificial leg. There have been several attacks on Taliban leaders and often target religious & ethnic minorities, since the Taliban came into power forcefully in Afghanistan.
For more information: Click here to read…

“Al-Qa’ida has not reconstituted its presence in Afghanistan,” claimed new US intelligence assessment.

According to the recent US intelligence assessment, the consensus view of the intelligence community is that “while fewer than a dozen al-Qa’ida core members remain in Afghanistan, Zawahiri was the only key figure who had tried to re-establish himself in the country after US forces departed.” According to the assessment, any surviving al-Qa’ida militants are not conspiring on an external attack, and the organisation as a whole “does not have capabilities to launch strikes against the United States (US) or its interests abroad from Afghanistan.”

“US will continue to remain vigilant, along with our partners, to defend our nation and ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorism,” said US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
For more information: Click here to read…

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Kabul.

On 05 August 2022, Islamic State (IS) terror organisation carried out a bomb blast in which at least eight people were killed and 18 wounded, in a Shi’ite residential area in Kabul in Afghanistan. According to a senior Taliban security official, “explosives were placed in a vegetable cart. There is a possibility of rise in death toll because many of the wounded people had critical wounds.”
For more information: Click here to read…

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

NIA officials searched various locations in Doda and Jammu districts in “JeI-J&K Terror Financing” case.

On 08 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials searched premises of six suspects in Doda district and one suspect’s house in Jammu district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), in the case related to Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)-J&K terror funding case.

The case— RC-03/2021/NIA/DLI related to the financing activities of the JeI-J&K, which even after its declaration as the Unlawful Association in 2019, continues to raise funds in various forms under the shadow of charitable purposes. However, these funds were diverted to terrorist organisations, such as Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and others for carrying out terrorist activities in Kashmir valley and rest of India. During the search, the NIA personnel recovered incriminating material, receipt of funds raised by the JeI-J&K, bank and property related documents, and electronic devices.
For more information: Click here to read…

Security forces killed a key LeT terrorist in Budgam.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)’s terrorist— Lateef Ahmad Rather was involved in killings of several civilians, including Rahul Bhat— a clerk and TV actor— Amreen Bhat in May 2022. On 10 August 2022, security forces killed Lateef Ahmad Rather in exchange of fire in Waterhail area of Budgam district in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

In 2000, Rather joined terrorism and was involved in random terrorist incidents in the Valley. Since March 2022, Rather was directly involved in six terrorist attacks in the various areas of Kashmir.
For more information: Click here to read…

JKGF carried out a grenade attack in Ramban.
On 02 August 2022, terrorists of Jammu-Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), an off-shoot of terror group— Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) carried out a grenade attack on the police post in Gool area of Ramban district in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). However, the attack was thwarted by the Sentry deployed at the post as he noticed suspicious movement around the post and fired some rounds of ammunition at terrorists. Police found a letter in which JKGF claimed the responsibility of the attack.

To evade international scrutiny and carry-on terrorist activities, post-Pulwama attack in 2019, JeM formed the JKGF terror group. The JKGF comprises of operatives from other terrorist groups, including Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM), al-Badr, Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind (AGuH), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). “A grenade blast has occurred near the premises of police post which falls in the jurisdiction of police station gool. A letter has also been found claiming it to be done by JKGF. The Special Operations Group (SOG) and Army teams have been mobilised for cordon and search. The case has been registered and investigation in progress,” said Mukesh Singh, ADG Jammu.
For more information: https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/grenade-attack-on-police-post-in-ramban-ghaznavi-force-claims-responsibility-articleshow.html” target=”_blank”>Click here to read…

Left-Wing Extremism

Maoist woman leader surrendered in Andhra Pradesh.

On 06 August 2022, a Maoist woman leader— Podiam Jogamma aka Ritika surrendered before the police in Andhra Pradesh. According to police records, Jogamma was involved in the gun-battle with Chhattisgarh police in 2021 in which 22 police personnel attained Veergati and three Maoists were killed.
For more information: Click here to read…

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA officials arrested 10th accused in “Amravati killing case”.

On 11 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials arrested Shaikh Shakeel, a 28 years-old, for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy of the murder of Umesh Pralhadrao Kolhe in Amravati, Maharashtra. Earlier, nine accused had already been arrested in the same case on 23 June, 24 June, 25 June, 02 July, and 02 August.
Umesh Pralhadrao Kolhe, a chemist by profession, was killed on 21 June 2022 in Amravati (Maharashtra), a week before the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
For more information: Click here to read…

Police demolished an illegal madrassa linked with al-Qa’ida-affiliate group in Assam.

On 04 August 2022, Assam police demolished an illegal madrassa managed by alleged ‘funding-handler’ of al-Qa’ida affiliate group— Ansar ul-Islam (AuI) at Moriabari in Morigaon district in Assam. On 27 July 2022, Mufti Mustafa, an operative of al-Qa’ida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the man behind madrassa, was arrested.

So far, total 28 AQIS operatives have been arrested in Assam, including a Bangladeshi national. Assam has already shutdown about 600 State-run madrassas and turned them into regular schools. However, about 1,000 madrassas are still active and operational. The demolition of Moriabari madrassa was in accordance with the Disaster Management Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A].
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA arrested two JMB operatives from Madhya Pradesh in connection with “JMB Bhopal case”.

On 07 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials arrested two Jamaat ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operatives— i) Hamidullah aka Raju Gaji, and ii) Mohammad Sahadat Hussain aka Abidullah, from the Police Station— Eint Khedi in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

The case— RC-11/2022/NIA/DLI is related to the arrest of six JMB operatives, including three illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Aishbagh in Bhopal. The arrested operatives were involved in propagating JMB ideology and luring the youth to carryout jihad against India. The arrested duo— Hamidullah and Sahadat were close associates of earlier arrested JMB operatives and were communicating with their associates in India and Bangladesh via encrypted application.
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA officials arrested 09th accused in “Udaipur killing case”.

On 10 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials arrested Muslim Khan aka Muslim Raza, for his alleged involvement in killing of Kanhaiya Lal Teli, a tailor by profession, in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Muslim Khan is a 09th accused in the same case.
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA officials searched and arrested an IS “fund raiser” from Delhi.

On 06 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials carried out a search operation and arrested an Islamic State (IS) operative— Mohsin Ahmad, from Batla House, New Delhi, for his alleged involvement in collection of funds for IS from sympathisers in India as well as abroad.
The case— RC-26/2022/NIA/DLI was registered suo-moto by NIA on 25 June 2022. Allegedly, Mohsin was transferring the funds to Syria and other places in form of cryptocurrency in order to further the activities of IS.
For more information: Click here to read… `

UP ATS arrested an IS operative from Azamgarh.

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), on 09 August 2022, foiled a conspiracy to target Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members and arrested an Islamic State (IS) operative— Sabahudeen Azmi from Azamgarh, UP. The ATS team recovered an illegal firearm and raw materials which are useful in preparing a “pipe bomb”. The preliminary investigation revealed that Sabahudeen was in contact with two other IS recruiters— i) Abu Umar, and ii) Abu Bakar al-Shami.
According to the ATS officials, on the basis of anonymity, Sabahudeen was radicalising more people to join IS through social media platforms and also created a Telegram channel ‘Al-Saqr Media’ to brainwash Indian Muslim youth.
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against an al-Qa’ida operative in “al-Qa’ida Lucknow case”.

On 03 August 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary chargesheet before the NIA Special Court, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, against an al-Qa’ida operative— Umar Halmandi, based on Afghanistan-Pakistan border was radicalising and recruiting youth for the al-Qa’ida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Umar was accused of raising an al-Qa’ida module and a chapter of Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind (AGuH) in Lucknow to carryout terrorist activities.
For more information: Click here to read…

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

SFJ threatened to replace Tiranga with ‘Khalistan’ flag at Attari border in Amritsar, Punjab.

Against Indian government’s campaign of Har Ghar Tiranga (Tiranga in every house), the proscribed unlawful organisation— Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) issued a statement in which its chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu said that his organisation will start the Ghar Ghar Khalistan (Khalistan in every house) campaign and had threatened to replace India’s tallest national flag at the International Border of India-Pakistan at Attari, Amritsar, with the so-called Khalistan flag on 15 August 2022.

In one of the videos circulated on social media, a veiled woman, who identified herself as a ‘Kashmiri Mujahid’, vows support for the Khalistan and called for the removal of Tiranga at the Attari border.
For more information: https://newindian.in/sfj-threatens-to-replace-indias-tallest-tiranga-with-khalistan-flag/” target=”_blank”>Click here to read…

Canada-based drug cartels are trying to revive Khalistan movement in India.

Indian security agencies are suspecting the revival of Khalistan movement in India, which is being handled from Canada and Pakistan by involving the narco-terror network run by India-Canadian gangsters who operate out of Canada. The agencies had been tracking links between the late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala with the India-Canadian criminal network, which has penetrated and entrenched deeply within the Canadian law enforcement, including its intelligence agencies.

According to Indian intelligence officials, pro-Khalistan sentiments are now wielding influence inside Canadian government offices due to the electoral power that some members of their group have in that country.
For more information: Click here to read…

SFJ announced to hold ‘Canadian phase’ of Khalistan Referendum in September 2022.

The banned unlawful organisation— Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) announced to hold ‘Canadian phase’ of Khalistan Referendum on 18 September 2022 in Toronto, Canada. In Referendum, the Canadian-Sikhs will vote on the question— “Should India governed Punjab be an independent country?”. The SFJ named the voting centre in Toronto after “Shaheed Harjinder Singh Pahra”, a young pro-Khalistan Sikh who went back to India from Canada to participate in violent movement against Indian Army’s counter-insurgency operation at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984.

“The referendum will be held in various phases during which the voting will take place across Canada, including cities of Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Surrey,” said the SFJ in a statement.
For more information: Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

The Impact of the Marikana Massacre: ‘Plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose’

This August 2022 will be the 10th year of the Marikana Massacre. After a week of protracted protest, on August 16, 2012, South African Police shot at labourers of a platinum mine, resulting in 34 fatalities and 78 injuries. Click here to read…

The Marikana Massacre: 10 Years On

I do not remember much of my ninth year. In fact, it was perhaps the year in which I shed most (not all) of my naive ways of looking at the world and began to grow into consciousness. I had just turned nine years old when, on Aug. 16, 2012, the South African police shot dead 34 striking mine workers in what we now call the Marikana Massacre. Click here to read…

NEWS

Kenya election 2022: Raila Odinga likely to go to court, as others celebrate

Kenya has held one of its most nail-biting and controversial elections since one-party rule ended in 1991, as candidates vied for a plethora of seats. Here, we look at some of those who succeeded, and some who failed, in their quest for power. Click here to read…

Unequal and divided, Angola braces for tense election

Angolans head to the polls next week in what is likely to be a tense standoff between a ruling party in power for nearly five decades and an opposition with growing appeal to a frustrated, impoverished youth. Click here to read…

What is at stake for investors in Angola’s elections?

Angolan voters will choose next Wednesday between a party that’s been in power for nearly five decades and its main opponent for even longer, in what looks like the closest ever election in Africa’s second-biggest oil producer. Click here to read…

Tunisia constitution giving president wider powers comes into effect

Tunisia’s new constitution giving the president far greater powers is to come into effect after the official electoral commission announced final results on Tuesday for last month’s referendum. Click here to read…

France has withdrawn its final troops from Mali

In january 2013 French forces swooped into Mali to halt columns of northern separatists and jihadists that were threatening Bamako, the capital. Click here to read…

Sierra Leone’s main opposition party demands probe over deadly protest

Sierra Leone’s main opposition party is calling for an independent probe into last week’s deadly clashes and ensuing police raids that killed one of its well-known members. Click here to read…

Ethiopia plans referendum to create 12th region

Ethiopia’s House of Federation, or the upper house of Parliament, has approved a resolution to hold a referendum on the creation of the East African country’s 12th region. Click here to read…

Denmark in talks with Rwanda on UK-style transfer of asylum seekers

Denmark is in talks with Rwanda about setting up a UK-style scheme to transfer asylum seekers to the country. Click here to read…

South African Opposition Considers Joint Campaign for 2024 Vote

South African opposition parties that formed coalitions to wrest control of a number of towns from the governing African National Congress in last year’s municipal elections, are now considering campaigning jointly ahead of a national and provincial vote in 2024Click here to read…

U.N.’s Congo peacekeeping mission pulls out of major eastern city

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo has pulled out of one of the largest cities in the country’s east after deadly protests against its failure to protect civilians. Click here to read…

Zanu PF determined to win at all costs

AS Zimbabweans ready themselves for the crunch polls expected next year, there is a feeling that the elections will be largely characterised by violence, of similar magnitude to the one seen in 2008. Click here to read…

SADC needs a firmer strategy for the spiralling Eswatini crisis

The Eswatini crisis is descending into violent conflict, with the bombing of state institutions and attacks against security forces on the rise. At the same time, brutal repression of protests and apparent abductions of civil society members continue. Click here to read…

Peru cuts ties with Western Sahara area after talks with Morocco

Lima snaps relations with the Polisario-run area of Western Sahara, saying it “respects” territorial integrity of Morocco, which claims the entire disputed territory and controls nearly 80 percent of it. Click here to read…

Rebel leader Timan Erdimi returns to Chad after 17 years in exile

One of Chad’s most prominent rebel leaders, Timan Erdimi, has returned to the country after 17 years in exile, days ahead of the start of national talks aimed at paving the way for elections after the military seized power last year. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso lashes ‘ethnic cleansing’ calls on social media

Burkina Faso’s government on Thursday lashed calls on social media to attack the country’s Fulani minority, describing them as a campaign for “ethnic cleansing” similar to the Rwanda genocide. Click here to read…

Senegal says keeping troops in Mali after opposition lashing

Senegal’s army says it is standing by the country’s commitments to the UN’s peacekeeping mission in neighboring Mali, after an opposition leader suggested it was withdrawing. Click here to read…

African Leaders Quick to Address US-China Tensions Over Taiwan

A spike in tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan has not gone unnoticed in Africa and has prompted responses that underscore the continent’s tilt toward Beijing. Click here to read…

At the US-Africa Leaders Summit, launch ‘Process Africa’

Several weeks ago, President Biden announced that he will host a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington in December. It’s about time. This is the first U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit since 2014, and just the second such meeting ever. Click here to read…

SADC leaders criticise US law seeking to punish African countries that trade with Russia

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) says the United States’ plan to implement measures to punish African countries that trade with Russia was in bad taste. Click here to read…

China-Africa Ties: Wang Yi: Implementation of FOCAC goals progressing well

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a virtual conference on Thursday to discuss progress following last November’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Senegal. Known by the acronym FOCAC, it’s a high-level forum between China and nearly all the African countries. CGTN’s Gao Ang brings us the latest. Click here to read…

Emirates airline suspends all flights to Nigeria as it struggles to repatriate funds

Nigeria’s aviation ministry says it is “working hard” to release trapped funds to the Emirates airline after the carrier suspended flights to Nigeria beginning from next month. Click here to read…

Nigerians May Use Togo, Ghana Airports for International Travels As More Airlines Will Suspend Services To Nigeria – Foreign Airlines Association

The President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, Kingsley Nwokeoma, has said the Emirates Airlines’ suspension of its flights to Nigeria over trapped forex is just the beginning as more international carriers would join soon if nothing was done to address their concerns. Click here to read…

Al-Shabaab attacks hotel in Somalia’s Mogadishu, casualties reported

The assault on the Hayat Hotel triggered a fierce gunfight between security forces and gunmen from the jihadist group who are still holed up inside the building, a security official said. Click here to read…

Ethiopia denounces WHO head for saying crisis ignored because of Tigrayans’ skin color

Ethiopia’s government is criticizing as “unethical” the statement by the World Health Organization’s director-general that the crisis in the country’s Tigray region is “the worst disaster on Earth” and his assertion that the lack of attention from global leaders may be due to Tigrayans’ skin color. Click here to read…

Botswana to Become the Latest Target of Biden State Department’s Ideological Colonialism

It seems Biden’s State Department has decided it must do even more to shame countries into normalizing same-sex relations. It announced a new grant to “promote greater social acceptance of LGBTQI+ persons” in a small African country using U.S. tax dollars. Click here to read…

Ivorian troops arrested in Mali charged with undermining state security

Dozens of Ivorian soldiers held in Mali and accused of being mercenaries have been charged with attempting to harm state security and remanded in custody, judicial sources told AFP on Sunday. Click here to read…

Nigerian President Marks Humanitarian Day in War-Impacted Borno State

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has formally opened resettlement houses for people internally displaced by the 13-year conflict with Islamist militants in the country’s northeastClick here to read…

A cybersecurity regional hub will soon be built in Lomé, Togo

Togo will soon host a regional cybersecurity hub: the African Cybersecurity Center. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) will help the country build the facility. Click here to read…

Ghana delivers biggest rate hike ever at emergency meeting

Ghana’s central bank on Wednesday delivered its biggest rate hike ever, a 300 basis point increase to 22% (GHCBIR=ECI), at an emergency meeting to address the economy’s rapid deterioration amid crippling inflation. Click here to read…

Egypt Seeks “Exceptional” Treatment by the IMF

Egypt is seeking a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the fallout from a sharp increase in prices that has had devastating impacts on people’s economic rights. Click here to read…

Arab Monetary Fund Forecasts 1% Economic Growth in Morocco

After 2021’s staggering 7.9% growth in Morocco’s economy, adverse international economic conditions are causing the economy to slow down again, prompting experts to speculate the country’s economic growth is set to average 1% in 2022. Click here to read…

Tanzania installs internet on Mount Kilimanjaro for Insta-ascents

Tanzania has installed high-speed internet services on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, allowing anyone with a smartphone to tweet, Instagram or WhatsApp their ascent up Africa’s highest mountain. Click here to read…

Torrential rain, floods in Sudan kill 77 and destroy 14,500 homes

Flooding in Sudan has killed scores of people and destroyed an estimated 14,500 homes as seasonal rains pound the country, causing rivers to flood and destroying property. Click here to read…

Wildfires across Algeria kill at least 37 people

Wildfires have killed at least 37 people and injured dozens more across northern Algeria, with the fires continuing to rage in several areas of the North African country. Click here to read…

Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe….15 must-read books this summe

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer is a great time to recalibrate from a fast-paced year. Regardless if you are at a holiday destination or holed up in the comfort of your home, it’s a moment to catch up on literature, especially from Africa and Africans in the Diaspora. Click here to read…

All aboard Botswana’s Elephant Express

Botswana’s eastern Okavango panhandle has as many elephants as it does people, leading to conflict where they both live in close quarters. Can a solution as simple as a bus help? Click here to read…

How English is becoming a popular option in Algeria

The three main streets of the centre of the Algerian capital all radiate from the Grande Poste, a neo-Moorish edifice which sits above the city’s majestic bay. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

MoS Muraleedharan to visit Nigeria, address Nigeria-India Business Council meet

Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan will pay an official visit to Nigeria from August 22-23 and address the Nigeria-India Business Council (NIBC) meeting. Click here to read…

Egypt releases Postage Stamp celebrating 75th Anniversary of diplomatic ties with India

The two nations became even more closer in the 1950s and concluded a historic Friendship Treaty in 1955. During the last couple of years, the traditionally strong bilateral relations enjoyed by the two countries have received an impetus with regular exchange of high-level meetings and contacts between the two sides. Click here to read…

Jaishankar extends wishes to Egypt on 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday extended his wishes to his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, the government and the people of Egypt on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Click here to read…

Ghana-India Trade Bounces Back To $2.7b After COVID-19 Slowdown – High Commissioner

Trade between Ghana and India is on the path of recovery after plummeting in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

India @ 75: Amrit Mahotsav in Mali strengthens India-Mali Relationship

The celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence and ongoing Amrit Mahotsav has led to deepening of India-Mali relationship. In particular, numerous events held in various parts of Mali have reinforced the people-to-people relationship between India and Mali and expanded the goodwill for each other and awareness about the growing potential for win-win partnership between the two countries. Click here to read…

Exclusive Satellite Pics: China’s New ‘Mission Indian Ocean’ Targets India

China’s naval base in Djibouti is its first overseas military base, built at a cost of $590 million and has been under construction since 2016. Click here to read…

An Expert Explains: Why a stable Kenya is in the interest of Africa and the world

Africa, and the world as a whole, could do without a meltdown in Kenya. The country is in transition, with a different tribal and class coalition, and new kinds of engagement. Click here to read…

Salesians in Zambia invite Indian film experts to train students

Salesian missionaries in Zambia have invited filmmaking experts from India to train youth who are passionate about filmmaking. Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

Navigating India-Africa relations in a post-pandemic world

India has traditionally prioritised Africa in its foreign policy. However, the current administration of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has shown an extraordinary determination to strengthen India’s longstanding ties to the African continentClick here to read…

Civil War in Ethiopia: Why India can’t let Africa’s second-most-populous country go Yugoslavia’s way

India should be more assertive and play an active role in helping the conflicting political factions to navigate towards a political settlement peacefully. Click here to read…

NEWS

Kenya election result: William Ruto wins presidential poll

Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election amid dramatic scenes. Click here to read…

Kenya Elections 2022: Raila Odinga and William Ruto in tight race for president

Logistical delays and a failure of the identification kit in some parts of the country marred a largely peaceful election day in Kenya. Polls are now officially closed but voting has been extended in places which opened late. Click here to read…

East Africa won’t sleep well until Kenya counts the votes

On August 9, the cultural politics of East Africa could be reshaped in ways it hasn’t been in 37 years. Either Deputy President William Ruto or veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will become the fifth president of Kenya. Click here to read…

Ethiopia completes third filling of Blue Nile mega-dam reservoir

Ethiopia has completed the third filling of its mega-dam reservoir on the Blue Nile, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced, a development that could raise further tensions with downstream neighbours Egypt and Sudan. Click here to read…

France completes troop withdrawal from Mali

The last soldiers belonging to France’s Barkhane operation in Mali have now left the African country, the French chiefs of staff said on Monday. Click here to read…

German military mission to Mali suspended

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has announced that Germany’s military mission in Mali would be halted until further notice. France is withdrawing a larger force from Mali, as the junta has hired Russian mercenaries. Click here to read…

Sierra Leone president says protests aimed to overthrow the government

Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, said on Friday that this week’s anti-government protests, which led to the deaths of six police officers and at least 21 civilians, were an attempt to overthrow the government. Click here to read…

Angola enters final stretch of electoral campaigns

Angola has entered the final stretch of the electoral campaign, in the upcoming general elections on the 24th of August. Click here to read…

Guinea dissolves leading opposition group amid political unrest

Guinea’s junta-appointed government has dissolved the country’s leading opposition movement, the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), under a decree authenticated by AFP on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Hundreds rally in Sudan to support military-backed initiative

Hundreds of Sudanese rallied outside a Khartoum conference hall in a show of support for a political initiative backed by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who last year led a military coup. Click here to read…

Chad military gov’t, opposition groups sign peace deal in Qatar

At least 40 groups sign a deal with the government to launch a national reconciliation dialogue, but the main rebel group refuses to take part. Click here to read…

‘Stakeholders’ reject extension of South Sudan’s transitional period

A group of “like minded” South Sudanese stakeholder have “categorically” reject the extension by the parties of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) period. Click here to read…

Burundi sends troops into Congo as part of East African force

Burundian troops entered the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday as the first deployment of an East African regional force aiming to quell rebel violence, Congo’s army said. Click here to read…

UN Security Council to hold session for the appointment of Libya Special envoy

The UN Security Council is expected to hold a session on Libya this Monday, with the appointment of a new head of UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on top of the agenda, Libya Update reports. Click here to read…

Strategic importance of Djibouti

Djibouti occupies a very strategic maritime location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. It is strategically positioned near the world’s busiest shipping lanes and acts as a refueling and transshipment center. Click here to read…

US Airstrike in Somalia Kills 14 al-Shabab Militants

Officials in central Somalia say a U.S. airstrike against al-Shabab militants has killed 14 fighters, the deadliest strike against the terrorist group in months. Click here to read…

UK pushes ahead with Rwanda migrant scheme as small boats keep coming

Housed in a detention centre in southern England, Aladeen says he risked his life to travel thousands of miles from his homeland of Syria to escape being forced to fight in the military of President Bashar al-Assad. Click here to read…

USA invests $ 2 billion in Africa, might impact Africa’s future

The US state Secretary Antony Blinken announced a 10-year program to strengthen democratic governance in sub-Saharan regions of Africa. The program is going to have a budget of 2 billion US dollars. Click here to read…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in South Africa on Africa tour

Blinken’s visit to Africa is seen as part of a competition between Russia and Western powers for support from African countries over the war in Ukraine. Click here to read…

Blinken arrives in Africa ‘to counter Russian influence’ on the continent

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in South Africa on Sunday to kick off a three-country tour that will also take him to DR Congo and Rwanda, aimed at “developing a strategy to counter Russian efforts to undermine democracy in Africa”, according to a France-based political scientist. Click here to read…

US Says New Africa Strategy Will Engage Leaders, Rethink Military Role

The White House on Monday unveiled broad new policy goals for sub-Saharan Africa, with administration officials seeking to tie the region’s democratic, economic and security progress to US national security. Click here to read…

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says U.S. is “equal partner” with African countries

The United States sees Africa’s 54 nations as “equal partners” in tackling global problems, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in South Africa Monday. Click here to read…

China Critical of Blinken’s Africa Offensive

We’re not in competition: That was the line from both the United States and China as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Africa this week, but analysts said the trip was indeed aimed at, among other things, countering Beijing’s massive influence on the continent. Click here to read…

China Backs $640 Million Sudan Rail Revamp Amid Economic Crunch

Sudan secured Chinese backing to begin a $640 million restoration of its railway network, pressing ahead with the ambitious project despite an economic crisis worsened by last year’s coup. Click here to read…

Moroccan ambassador: Morocco adheres to one-China policy

Moroccan Ambassador to China Aziz Mekouar recently reiterated the Kingdom of Morocco’s adherence to the one-China policy as the foundation of relations between the two friendly countries. Click here to read…

How the US lost Africa to China over new disease control centre in Addis Ababa

Just south of Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the US$80 million new African disease control headquarters, built and funded by China, is nearing completion amid disquiet in Washington. Click here to read…

Uganda Boosted Fuel Buffer to 10 Days Ahead of Kenyan Election

Landlocked Uganda increased its fuel buffer to 100 million liters ahead of Kenya elections to avoid potential supply disruptions, as was the case in 2007 when voting-related violence erupted in Kenya, which is a main conduit for its imports. Click here to read…

The founding head of al-Qaeda is dead. But radicalism continues to thrive in Egypt.

When US President Joe Biden announced the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al- Zawahiri on August 1, his family members in Cairo received news of his demise with shock and dismay. Click here to read…

Congo tests boundaries of democracy, climate action during Blinken visit

America’s top diplomat on Wednesday was hoping to showcase the potential for democracy and climate action here in one of Africa’s largest countries. But backsliding reality got in the way. Click here to read…

Ennahdha needs to change to save itself, and Tunisia’s democracy

Ennahdha is perhaps the only force remaining in Tunisia that can realistically act against President Saied’s autocratic regime – but to succeed, it needs to reform itself. Click here to read…

Police kill 3 in Somaliland opposition protests over vote

Police in Somaliland said they fired on opposition protesters Thursday amid tensions over an upcoming election, killing three people and wounding 27. Click here to read…

Tanzania, Zambia cross-border railway unlocks trade ties

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Zambian counterpart, Haikande Hichilema, have agreed to upgrade the cross-border railway connecting the two countries to speed up economic progress as part of a broader push to strengthen ties. Click here to read…

Security expert warns UN Africa could be future IS caliphate

The Islamic State has expanded its influence beyond measure in Africa, with at least 20 countries directly experiencing the extremist group’s activity, said African security expert Martin Ewi. Click here to read…

Again, Angola Overtakes Nigeria in Oil Production

Angola has again produced more crude oil than Nigeria for the third consecutive month, as Africa’s biggest economy lost 74,000 barrels per day in July compared with the previous month of June. Click here to read…

African countries seek to revive Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline dream

Nigeria, Algeria and Niger — keen to benefit from EU efforts to wean itself off Russian gas — are renewing efforts to implement a decades-old plan. But is there enough political will and funding for the project? Click here to read…

Fire At Church in Egypt’s Cairo’s Kills 41

A fire at Coptic Church in Egypt’s Cairo killed 41 and injured 16 others. The fire broke out in an air conditioning unit in the church, Egypt’s Interior Ministry said. Egypt’s Coptic community and churches have been a target of religious-based violence in the past, reported CNN. Click here to read…

15 Soldiers Killed by Twin Blasts in Burkina Faso

At least 15 Burkinabe soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit several landmines in the northern region of the country. The number of those killed includes a rescue team that hit a second explosive while attempting to help the first vehicle. Click here to read…

Central African Republic President Says Successful Launch of Sango Coin a Key Milestone

According to Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, his country’s launch of the “Sango coin” currency, as well as the call for the creation of a common digital currency by the regional central bank, represent two key achievements for his country and all of Africa. Click here to read…

Electric cars changing the face of tourism in Tanzania

The advent of electric cars on the Tanzanian market has changed the way tourists visit National parks in Arusha and the whole of the Northern tourist circuit, the cars are silent and do not emit any carbon dioxide. Click here to read…

More than 150 endangered vultures poisoned in South Africa, Botswana

Birds died after feeding from carcass of buffalo, which appeared to have been laced with poison, conservationist says. Click here to read…

Tiny African kingdom enjoys some rare snow as Europe reels under heatwave

Visitors enjoy the snow at the Afriski ski resort near Butha-Buthe, Lesotho, Saturday July 30, 2022. While millions across Europe sweat through a summer of record-breaking heat, Afriski in the Maluti Mountains is Africa’s only operating ski resort south of the equator. Click here to read…

Ivory Coast rains raise farmers’ hopes for cocoa crop

Above-average rains last week in most of Ivory Coast’s cocoa regions could pave the way for an early and strong start to the October-to-March main crop if the weather remains favourable next month, farmers said on Monday. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

India highlights the importance of Africa to the International Community in UN

India’s Charge d’affairs to the United Nations, R Ravindra highlighted the importance of the African Continent to the international community on the 9th of August 2022 (Monday) in a UN briefing. Click here to read…

India urges international community to pay ‘close attention’ to Africa

Extending its support to peacebuilding in Africa and establishing capabilities and capacities, India on Monday urged the international community to pay close attention to the African voice and wisdom. Click here to read…

Egypt hands India COP27 invitation

Ambassador of Egypt to India Wael Hamed, handed the Indian Minister for External Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, President Abdel Fattah al Sisi invitation for the Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference [COP27] expected in November at Sharm al Sheikh. Click here to read…

Jaishankar wishes people of Chad on country’s Independence Day

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday extended greetings to the government and people of the Republic of Chad on the occasion of their Independence Day. Click here to read…

Jaishankar wishes people of Central African Republic on their Independence Day

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday extended greetings to the Government and people of the Central African Republic on their Independence Day. Click here to read…

Namgya Khampa appointed India’s High Commissioner to Kenya

Namgya C. Khampa has been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to Kenya, a press release by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Click here to read…

India woos Africa with trade, tech and investment

India is trying to strengthen its long-standing ties to countries on the continent as New Delhi attempts to catch up with China, which has emerged as Africa’s largest trading partner. Click here to read…

India pledges commitment to end insecurity in Nigeria

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, on Monday, pledged his country’s readiness to provide the needed support to end insecurity in Nigeria. Click here to read…

Trilateral Cooperation in Africa gets moving

Faced with China’s BRI and aggressive strategic intent, individual countries could not fulfil the challenge for an alternative to China. Thus, the concept of trilateral cooperation emerged. Click here to read…

Airtel Africa signs up for $125-mn credit pact with America’s Citi

Airtel Africa has signed up for a USD 125 million revolving facility from American banking major Citi. Click here to read…

ONE adds Kenya to Middle East – India – Africa service

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has introduced a new port call in Mombasa, Kenya to its Middle East – India – Mozambique (MIM) service. Click here to read…

50 Indian companies invest total $3.15bln in Egypt: Ambassador Gupte

The major Indian investments in Egypt include TCI Sanmar Chemicals (with the largest investment of $1.5bln), Alexandria Carbon Black Company, Kirloskar Group, Dabur, FLEX P. FILMS, Scib Paints, Godrej, Mahindra, and Monginis. Click here to read…

After vandalism during unrest in South Africa, India-based Cipla reopens Durban manufacturing site

Indian generic drug manufacturer Cipla revealed that one of its plants in South Africa has reopened more than a month after it was vandalized during a period of civil unrest that claimed the lives of more than 300 and caused an estimated $3.3 billion in economic losses. Click here to read…

Mahatma Gandhi founded 3 football clubs in South Africa

It may appear that our dusty history books have done their part to enlighten us about Mahatma Gandhi’s magnificent figure — the lawyer, the anti-colonial resistance leader, and the political campaigner — all of which add to his reputation as the Father of the Nation. Click here to read…

DEFENCE

• Chief of Army Staff Proceeds on a Three Day Visit to Bangladesh.
• Prime Minister unveils ‘SPRINT’.
• Joint Press Release of the 16th Round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting.
• Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) conducted between Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Indian Navy.
• Self-Reliance in Defence Manufacturing.
• Development Work by Defence Industries.
• MoD accords high priority to indigenisation of Software Defined Radios for the Armed Forces.
• iDEX-DIO signs 100th contract for defence innovation.
• Defence Acquisition Council, approves arms procurement proposals worth Rs 28,732 crore.
• Second conference on Military Ammunition (Ammo India) inaugurated by RM.
• Delivery of the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’.
• Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on a visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
• Royal Army of Oman contingent for joint exercise Al NAJAH-IV arrive in India.
• Vietnam India bilateral army exercise “Ex VINBAX 2022”.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

West Asia

• “Hizbu’llah has all of Israel in its missile range,” Hizbu’llah leader Nasrallah.

Africa

Ethiopia

• Al-Shabaab terrorists carried out cross-border attack into Ethiopia’s Somali region.

Somalia

• US airstrike killed two al-Shabaab terrorists in Lower Juba region.

Nigeria

• Five Boko Haram terrorists surrendered in Borno State.

Mali

• Islamist terrorists attacked Mali’s main military base outside Bamako.

Afghanistan

• “Al-Qa’ida and Islamic State are gaining strength in Afghanistan”, claimed the UNSC report.
• US killed al-Qa’ida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a counter-terrorism operation in Kabul.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

• NIA searched multiple locations in Srinagar in “Chanapora Arms Recovery in Srinagar” case.
• SIA unearthed the nexus between JeM and Punjab-based gangsters.

Left-Wing Extremism

• NIA arrested a Maoist associate in connection with “Terror Financing by CPI (Maoist) in Bihar” case.
• Police killed a Maoist in an anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh.
• NIA searched multiple locations in Jharkhand in connection with “killing of police personnel and looting of arms and ammunition by CPI (Maoists)” case.
• “Maoist-affected Districts reduced to 46 in 2021”, informed MoS for Home Affairs.
• NIA arrested a Maoist associate in revival of Magadh zone of CPI (Maoist) case.

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA searched multiple locations in six States in connection with “ISIS module” case.

NIA arrested 08th accused in “Udaipur killing” case.

NIA searched multiple locations in connection with “PFI Phulwari Sharif” case in Bihar.

Khalistan-inspired Extremism

• India raised concerns at the growth of pro-Khalistan movement in Canada.

Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) Cases

• NIA Special Court (Bihar) convicted and sentenced a FICN trafficker in “FICN case of East Champaran, Bihar”.

Narcotics-Trafficking

• NIA searched multiple locations in Tamil Nadu in the case of “Narcotics and Arms trafficking to India and Sri Lanka”.

DEFENCE

DRDO conducts successful maiden flight of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator.

Maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator was carried out successfully by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight, including take-off, way point navigation and a smooth touchdown. It is powered by a small turbofan engine, the airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were developed indigenously. This flight marks a major milestone in terms of proving critical technologies towards the development of future unmanned aircraft.
For more information: Click here to read…

Chief of Army Staff Proceeds on a Three Day Visit to Bangladesh.

Continuing with the excellent bilateral defence ties between India and Bangladesh, General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) proceeded on a visit to the Bangladesh from 18 to 20 July 2022. This is the first foreign visit by General Manoj Pande since assumption as Army Chief.
For more information: Click here to read…

Prime Minister unveils ‘SPRINT.

Prime Minister (PM) Shri Narendra Modi unveiled ‘SPRINT Challenges’, aimed at giving a boost to the usage of indigenous technology in Indian Navy, during Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar ‘Swavlamban’ in New Delhi on July 18, 2022. NIIO, in conjunction with the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), aims to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy. This collaborative project is named SPRINT {Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), NIIO and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC)}. In the last 4-5 years, PM said the defence imports have come down by about 21 per cent. Today we are moving fast from the biggest defence importer to a big exporter. Last year, Rs 13,000 crore worth of defence export was done with more than 70 percent of which being from the private sector, he pointed out.

In the conference Shri Rajnath Singh informed the Prime Minister that in line with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign, the Indian Navy spent over 64% of its capital budget in domestic procurement in the last financial year and it is expected to increase to 70% in the current financial year.
For more information: Click here to read…

Joint Press Release of the 16th Round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting.

The 16th round India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on 17th July 2022.

Building on the progress made at the last meeting on 11th March 2022, the two sides continued discussions for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector in a constructive and forward looking manner. They had a frank and in-depth exchange of views in this regard, in keeping with the guidance provided by the State Leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. The two sides reaffirmed that the resolution of remaining issues would help in restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations. In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.
Reference: Click here to read…

Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) conducted between Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Indian Navy.

A Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) was conducted between Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Indian Navy on 23 Jul 22 in Andaman Sea. This exercise is part of the ongoing efforts between the two navies towards ensuring safe and secure international shipping and trade in Indian Ocean Region.
For more information: Click here to read…

Self-Reliance in Defence Manufacturing.

The Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country, thereby expanding the production of indigenous defence equipment. With these actions of the Government, the expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources which used to be 46% of the overall expenditure has reduced to 36% in the last four years i.e. 2018-19 to 2021-22.
For more information: Click here to read…

Development Work by Defence Industries.

In continuous pursuit of achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and in sync with the announcement made in the Union Budget 2022-23 that allocated 25% of Defence R&D Budget for industry led R&D, 18 (eighteen) major platforms have been identified and announced by the Ministry of Defence for industry led Design & Development under various routes prescribed in Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020, namely, Make-I, Make-II, Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).
For more information: Click here to read…

MoD accords high priority to indigenisation of Software Defined Radios for the Armed Forces.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) has fast-tracked the indigenisation of Software Defined Radios (SDRs) with country’s premier R&D institutions viz. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to fulfill the increasing demand by the Armed Forces across a broad spectrum of operations. Two key elements of indigenous SDR technology are the standardised operating software environment (OE) and applications (also known as waveforms) with associated waveforms repository and test/certification facility. Standard OE enables waveform portability and interoperability among SDRs of multiple vendors. Towards this, the Ministry of Defence has taken a decision to define and develop reference implementation of India specific operating environment called India Software Communication Architecture (SCA) profile or Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA).
For more information: Click here to read…

iDEX-DIO signs 100th contract for defence innovation.

iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), signed its 100th contract on 26 July 2022. Till date, iDEX has launched iDEX Prime, seven rounds of DISC (including DISC SPRINT) and five rounds of OC, receiving more than 4,000 applications from individual innovators, MSMEs and start-ups. More than Rs 250 crore worth of projects have been allocated and procurement of 14 items worth over Rs 400 crore have been cleared. In the last four years, 17 start-ups in 14 projects have already been accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for trial and procurement in March 2022. Projects from balance of DISC 1 & 2 and some from DISC 3 are nearing completion and may be accorded AoN by DAC by end of current Financial Year.
For more information: Click here to read…

Defence Acquisition Council, approves arms procurement proposals worth Rs 28,732 crore.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, was held on July 26, 2022. Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Capital Acquisition Proposals of the Armed Forces amounting to Rs 28,732 crore were accorded by the DAC in this meeting under Buy (Indian IDDM) and Buy (Indian) categories giving a further boost to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in Defence.

Among the proposals approved by DAC in the meeting are three proposals of the Indian Army, viz. Guided Extended Range Rocket Ammunition, Area Denial Munition Type I and Infantry Combat Vehicle – Command have been designed and developed by DRDO. The total value of these three proposals is Rs 8,599 crore. DAC aslo accorded AoN for Bullet Proof Jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection. To combat the current complex paradigm of conventional and hybrid warfare and counter terrorism at the borders, AoN for induction of approx. four lakh of Close Quarter Battle Carbines for the Services has also been accorded by the DAC.

AoN were also accorded for procurement of Autonomous Surveillance and Armed Drone Swarms has been accorded by the DAC under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. The DAC also approved Navy’s proposal to procure upgraded 1250KW capacity Marine Gas Turbine Generator for power generation application onboard Kolkata class of ships through Indian Industry. This will give a major boost to indigenous manufacturing of gas turbine generators. In order to enhance the security in the coastal region of the country, the DAC also approved the proposal of procurement of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for Indian Coast Guard under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) with 60% IC.
For more information: Click here to read…

Second conference on Military Ammunition (Ammo India) inaugurated by RM.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called for innovations in the field of ammunition for the creation of a strong and self-reliant base that keeps the Armed Forces fully prepared to deal with future challenges. He was addressing the inaugural session of the second conference on Military Ammunition (Ammo India) on the theme ‘Make in India Opportunities and Challenges’ in New Delhi on July 27, 2022. The Raksha Mantri described advanced ammunition as the reality of the new age warfare, which is a must for India, given its regional & global imperatives and security challenges.
For more information: Click here to read…

Delivery of the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant.

Indian Navy took delivery of the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant on 28 July 2022, from her builder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. Designed by Indian Navy’s inhouse Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built by CSL, a Public Sector Shipyard under Ministry of Shipping (MoS), the carrier is christened after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier. The 262 mtr long carrier has a full displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes which is much larger and advanced than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines totaling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed of 28 Knots. Built at an overall cost of close to Rs. 20,000 Crs. The ship’s keel was laid in Feb 2009, followed by launching in Aug 2013, with an overall indigenous content of 76%.

The ship would be capable of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising of MIG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy). Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as STOBAR (Short Take- Off but Arrested Landing).
For more information: Click here to read…

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on a visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has proceeded on a visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan from 29 July. This visit will further enhance the unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterised by utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding.
For more information: Click here to read…

Royal Army of Oman contingent for joint exercise Al NAJAH-IV arrive in India.

The 4th Edition of India Oman Joint Military Exercise ‘AL NAJAH-IV’ between contingents of Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman is scheduled to take place at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan) from 01 to 13 August 2022. The Royal Army of Oman contingent comprising 60 personnel from the Sultan of Oman Parachute Regiment have arrived at the exercise location. The Indian Army is represented by troops from the 18 MECHANISED INFANTRY Battalion. The previous edition of Ex AL NAJAH IV was organised at Muscat from 12 to 25 March 2019.
For more information: Click here to read…

Vietnam India bilateral army exercise “Ex VINBAX 2022”.

The 3rd Edition of Vietnam India Bilateral Army Exercise “Ex VINBAX 2022” is scheduled to be conducted at Chandimandir from 01 to 20 Aug 2022. The exercise is a sequel to previously conducted bilateral exercise in Vietnam in 2019 and a major milestone in strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Vietnam. India and Vietnam share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership. The theme of Ex VINBAX – 2022 is employment and deployment of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team as part of United Nations Contingent for Peace Keeping Operations.
For more information: Click here to read…

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

West Asia

“Hizbu’llah has all of Israel in its missile range,” Hizbu’llah leader Nasrallah.

In an interview on 25 July 2022, Lebanese Hizbu’llah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that “all of Israel is within the range of Hizbu’llah’s missiles. Boasting about drones, Nasrallah said that the recent drone operation, targeting Israel’s Karish gas field, was carried out by the group. Though Israel shot down the drone, but Nasrallah informed Al-Mayadeen media that over the period in the past, Hizbu’llah used drones over Israel many times.

Nasrallah suggested that Hizbu’llah could gain from the trip of the US President Biden to the region by bringing Iranian oil and gas to Lebanon, and that Hizbu’llah can exploit Lebanon’s crisis and the US’ desire for stability in the region.
For more information: Click here to read…

Africa

Ethiopia

Al-Shabaab terrorists carried out cross-border attack into Ethiopia’s Somali region.

On 21 July 2022, al-Shabaab terrorists from Somalia launched a cross-border attack into Ethiopia’s Somali region. This is the first time that al-Shabaab carried out a terrorist attack in Ethiopia. According to Somali military and Ethiopia’s paramilitary Liyu police, several al-Shabaab terrorists crossed into the Afdher zone and took control of several of their positions. However, with heavy police casualties, all positions were recaptured. According to Somali military officials posted in Bakool— the region that borders Ethiopia, around 87 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in the gun-battle.
For more information: Click here to read…

Somalia

US airstrike killed two al-Shabaab terrorists in Lower Juba region.

On 17 July 2022, the United States (US) Africa Command, in coordination with the government of Somalia, carried out airstrike and killed two al-Shabaab terrorists in a remote location near Libikus in Lower Juba region, Somalia. The strike was carried out after al-Shabaab attacked partner forces in the region. According to the statement released, “violent extremist organisations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to Somali, regional and US interests.”
For more information: Click here to read…

Nigeria

Five Boko Haram terrorists surrendered in Borno State.

On 22 July 2022, five Boko Haram terrorists, including Mallam Isa, a commander, surrendered before the 73 Battalion of the Nigerian Army during “Operation Hadin Kai” in Borno State. “Preliminary investigation discovered that terrorists were said to have come out from Gazuwa, a new HQ of Boko Haram, located about 08 kilometres to Bama Local Government area,” said Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert. According to the Theatre Commander of North-East Joint Task Force of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’— Christopher Musa, “more than 67,000 terrorists have surrendered to troops so far.”
For more information: Click here to read…

Mali

Islamist terrorists attacked Mali’s main military base outside Bamako.

On 22 July 2022, Islamist terrorists of al-Qa’ida and Islamic State affiliated groups attacked Mali’s main military base in Kati, outside the Capital Bamako, however, the armed forces had repelled the attack and brought situation under control. In a statement released by military, “the attack involved two car bombs and was carried out by a local al-Qa’ida affiliated group— Katiba Macina.” Katiba Macina is more active terror group in Central Mali.

In attack, a soldier was martyred and six people were wounded, while seven terrorists were killed and eight got arrested, read the statement. The military blamed Katiba Macina for several attacks on 21 July 2022 against military bases in Central Mali in which a soldier was martyred and 15 others were wounded.
For more information: Click here to read…

Afghanistan

“Al-Qa’ida and Islamic State are gaining strength in Afghanistan”, claimed the UNSC report.

The 30th report of the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team revealed the activities of al-Qa’ida (AQ), Islamic State (IS), and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, and concluded that al-Qa’ida and IS related threats are high in the conflict zones and the neighbouring countries though both terror groups are likely to attempt an attack in non-conflicted areas.

An Afghan national— Sanaullah Ghafari aka Shahab al-Muhajir, has been leading the Islamic State-Khurasan Province (IS-KP/IS-K) since June 2000. However, the IS core has established a separate structure called Al-Siddiq office under Sheikh Tamim al-Kurdi aka Abu Ahmed al-Madani for group’s regional agenda. The report also pointed about the IS-KP’s increased presence in northern and eastern Afghanistan. The group has terrorists from the Central Asia, who have increased activities in the north, bordering Central Asian states of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
For more information: Click here to read…

US killed al-Qa’ida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a counter-terrorism operation in Kabul.

On 01 August 2022, United States (US) President— Joe Biden, announced that in a counter-terrorism operation carried out on 30 July 2022 in Kabul, Afghanistan, the US government killed the al-Qa’ida leader— Ayman al-Zawahiri. “Al-Zawahiri coordinated al-Qa’ida’s branches all around the world since Bin Laden’s death in 2011, including setting priorities for providing operational guidance that call for and inspire attacks against US targets,” explained the US President during the announcement.

“The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm,” Biden continued. “We make it clear again tonight that, no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out,” added the US President.
For more information: Click here to read…

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

NIA searched multiple locations in Srinagar in “Chanapora Arms Recovery in Srinagar” case.

On 20 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials searched nine locations in Kashmir, including four in Srinagar district and five in Pulwama district, in the case— RC-04/2022/NIA/JMU related to the conspiracy of conducting terror attacks in and around Srinagar, in which four operatives were arrested and 15 pistols, 30 magazines, 300 rounds, and one Mahindra-built Scorpio vehicle were seized.

The case was re-registered by the NIA on 18 June 2022. The NIA officials seized digital devices and other incriminating materials.
For more information: Click here to read…

SIA unearthed the nexus between JeM and Punjab-based gangsters.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) unearthed the nexus between Pakistan-based terrorist group— Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Punjab-based gangsters, as the SIA filed a chargesheet against five operatives in a terror-funding related case registered in 2021.

The case was related to the recovery of ₹ 43 lakh by Jammu police at the Sidhra bridge, from Kashmir-bound vehicle, on 16 November 2021. The SIA filed a chargesheet before the Special NIA court in Jammu on 26 July 2022, against five operatives, including JeM commander— Ashiq Nengroo (presently operating from Pakistan), Muzammil Ahmad Malik (JeM operative) from Pulwama, and other three Punjab-based gangsters— i) Ravi Kumar, ii) Jaideep Dhawan, and iii) Amarbir Singh (all residents of Punjab), under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], the Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
For more information: Click here to read…

Left-Wing Extremism

NIA arrested a Maoist associate in connection with “Terror Financing by CPI (Maoist) in Bihar” case.

On 28 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials arrested— Rajesh Gupta, a Maoist associate, in connection to a conspiracy by CPI (Maoist) cadres and others for attempting to revive the banned organisation’s module in the Son-Ganga Bindh region of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The case— RC-19/2022/NIA/DLI was re-registered on 26 April 2022 and NIA taken over the investigation. Earlier, NIA had arrested 03 associates in this case on 12 April 2022 and 25 May 2022. Rajesh Gupta is a close associate of earlier arrested Vijay Kumar Arya— a Central Committee Member (CCM) and was actively involved in reviving the module in Son-Ganga Bindh region.
For more information: Click here to read…

Police killed a Maoist in an anti-naxal operation in Chhattisgarh.

On 26 July 2022, Chhattisgarh police eliminated a Maoist— Budh Ram Madkam aka Mahangu Deva, a member of Katekalyan Area Committee of CPI (Maoist), in forest near Jabrameta village of Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh.
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA searched multiple locations in Jharkhand in connection with “killing of police personnel and looting of arms and ammunition by CPI (Maoists)” case.

On 27 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials searched 03 locations of suspects in connection with suspects’ involvement in an attack on police party on 14 June 2019 at Kukru Haat in Saraikela-Kherswan district in Jharkhand. In the attack, five police personnel attained Veergati, and their arms and ammunitions were looted by perpetrators.

The case— RC-39/2020/NIA/DLI was re-registered by the NIA on 09 December 2020. The NIA officials recovered digital devices, illicit weapons and ammunitions, and various incriminating materials.
For more information: Click here to read…

“Maoist-affected Districts reduced to 46 in 2021”, informed MoS for Home Affairs.

The Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs— Nityanand Rai, on 26 July 2022, informed the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament) that number of Maoist-affected districts has reduced from 70 in the year 2014 to 46 in 2021. Along with, the incidents inspired from Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) have recorded significant reduction from 1,091 in 2014 to 509 incidents in 2021.

The Minister also informed the Lok Sabha about Central government-led schemes for Maoist-affected areas, including Security Related Expenditure Scheme (SRES), Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), Road Requirement Plan-1, mobile connectivity projects in Maoist affected districts.
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA arrested a Maoist associate in revival of Magadh zone of CPI (Maoist) case.

On 25 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested— Tarun Kumar, in connection with a case— RC-05/2021/NIA/RNC, where CPI (Maoist) cadre prominent— Pradyuman Sharma and others, were conspiring to revive a module of banned organisation in Magadh zone. Tarun Kumar, along with other accused conspired to raise funds for procurement of arms and ammunition and training the fellow cadres in fabrication of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).

The group was also planning to create nexus with incarcerated naxals and Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) in various jails for commission of violent crimes.
For more information: Click here to read…

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA searched multiple locations in six States in connection with “ISIS module” case.

On 31 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched 13 premises of Islamic State (IS) suspects in six Indian States— i) Gujarat, ii) Bihar, iii) Karnataka, iv) Maharashtra, v) Uttar Pradesh, and vi) Madhya Pradesh, in a case related to Islamic State (ISIS) module and its activities.

On 25 June 2022, the case— RC-26/2022/NIA/DLI was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A].
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA arrested 08th accused in “Udaipur killing” case.

On 21 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials arrested the 08th accused— Mohammed Javed (age 19 years), in the case— RC-27/2022/NIA/DLI pertaining to the killing of Shri Kanhaiya Lal Teli in Udaipur, Rajasthan, by two Islamic extremists armed with sharp weapons at his tailor shop on 28 June 2022.

The NIA re-registered the case on 29 June 2022 and taken over the investigation. Earlier, 07 accused were arrested in the case on 29 June, 01 July, 04 July, and 09 July 2022. Mohammed Javed had played an important role in the killing by conducting recce and conveying the information about the victim to one of the main perpetrators— Riyaz, prior to the brutal murder.
For more information: Click here to read…

NIA searched multiple locations in connection with “PFI Phulwari Sharif” case in Bihar.

On 28 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials carried out searches at 10 locations of the PFI operatives in Bihar, for their alleged involvement with the Popular Front of India (PFI) in anti-national activities.

The case— RC-31/2022/NIA/DLI was re-registered by the NIA on 22 July 2022 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The NIA officials seized digital devices and several incriminating materials from the sites.
For more information: Click here to read…

Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) Cases

NIA Special Court (Bihar) convicted and sentenced a FICN trafficker in “FICN case of East Champaran, Bihar”.

On 22 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Bihar, convicted and sentenced— Mohammad Ali Akhtar Ansari for his involvement in the Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) proliferation in India. The case— RC-08/2016/NIA/DLI pertains to the seizure of a parcel containing high quality FICNs worth around ₹ 25 lakhs. Mohammad Akhtar came to Raxaul, to take delivery of the FICNs consignment on 30 September 2015, and was subsequently arrested.

According to the investigation, the seized FICNs had been smuggled from a foreign country into India and supposed to be delivered to another accused— Abi Mohammad of Nepal. Investigation also revealed that a Pakistani national— Syed Muhammad Shaffi, now residing in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), had couriered the parcel from the UAE via ICS (International Courier Service). Mohammad Akhtar Ansari rewarded 20 years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) with ₹ 50,000 as fine under Section 16 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], 10 years of RI with ₹ 25,000 as fine under Section 489B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and 07 years of RI under Section 489C of the IPC by the NIA Special Court (Patna), Bihar.
For more information: Click here to read…

Narcotics-Trafficking

NIA searched multiple locations in Tamil Nadu in the case of “Narcotics and Arms trafficking to India and Sri Lanka”.

On 20 July 2022, the National Investigation Agency officials searched 22 premises of suspects at various locations in Tamil Nadu in connection with the case— RC-29/2022/NIA/DLI, pertaining to illicit activities of Sri Lankan drug mafia being operated by C Gunashekharan in association with Haji Salim— drug and arms supplier based in Pakistan.

The drugs and arms traffickers have been operating in India and Sri Lanka, and have been conspiring for the revival of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) terror group and to further its violent activities. The case was registered suo moto by the NIA on 08 July 2022 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], read with sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
For more information: Click here to read…

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.
Week 32, 2022

COMMENTARY

Tracing the Future of India-Africa Defence Cooperation

In his address to the Ugandan Parliament in July 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi enunciated the ten guiding principles of India’s engagement with Africa and elucidated the importance of each principle. Click here to read…

Burundi at 60 is the poorest country on the planet: a look at what went wrong

Co-opted administrative and economic bureaucracies have appropriated power and wealth by force, first for the benefit of a Tutsi and then of a Hutu eliteClick here to read…

NEWS

Senegal’s ruling party, opposition both claim victory after legislative vote

Senegalese President Macky Sall’s ruling party and the opposition both claimed victory after legislative elections on Sunday, while awaiting the release of official results. Click here to read…

Tunisia civil society groups raise questions over referendum data

Amid complaints over data management, election authority maintains the results of constitutional referendum are valid. Click here to read…

Media on the spot as Angola’s vote looms

The tone of the Angolan electoral campaign has risen again, with the Electoral Commission warning parties to avoid messages that can incite violence and division. Click here to read…

South Sudan extends transitional govt by 2 yrs

South Sudan’s parties to the unity government on Thursday extended the transitional period by two years. Click here to read…

Mali agrees to integrate 26,000 ex-rebels into army

Ex-combatants will be merged in “two tranches of 13,000” fighters, says junta-appointed government, a move billed to help restructure the national army and better represent northern Tuareg region. Click here to read…

Egypt categorically rejects Ethiopia’s unilateral filling of GERD in letter to UN Security Council

The letter stressed that this is a clear violation of the 2015 Declaration of Principles agreement and a serious violation of the applicable rules of international law, which oblige Ethiopia, as an upstream country, not to harm the rights of downstream countries. Click here to read…

Ramaphosa scolds ruling ANC for losing South Africans’ trust

In a sombre address to an ANC national policy conference in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa urged delegates to come up with ways to tackle the corruption, persistent poverty, unemployment and poor public services. Click here to read…

UN relaxes arms embargo on Central African Republic

The U.N. Security Council voted Friday to relax the arms embargo against the Central African Republic, a disappointment to its government, which sought a complete lifting of the ban on the sale or transfer of weapons and ammunition. Click here to read…

Detentions loom over Egypt’s political dialogue

After nine years of sweeping crackdowns on dissent, Egypt is set to launch a carefully choreographed political dialogue, but the main Islamist opposition movement is excluded and critics say a parallel move to release prisoners is proceeding too slowly. Click here to read…

Social Media Platforms Under Scrutiny Ahead of Kenyan Elections

Authorities in Kenya have given Facebook a week to comply with regulations related to hate speech after a report found the social media giant had failed to address the issue ahead of elections next month. Click here to read…

Russia eyes Port Sudan as key naval hub

On July 31, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving the country’s new Maritime Doctrine. This conceptual document redefines the goals and objectives of maritime policy, emphasizes the oceanic purpose of the Russian navy and strengthens the confrontation with the United States and NATOClick here to read…

China allegedly deploying huge no of ex-PLA personnel in Africa

In the beginning of the 21st century, China’s presence in Africa in terms of trade and investment was almost negligible. By 2009, it had overtaken the US in Africa by becoming its largest trading partner and by 2020, under the Belt and Road Initiative, it invested in Africa more than $60 billion of the total $139 billion it pumped in for projects across the world. Click here to read…

Guinea junta slammed over use of force, urged to hold dialogue after deadly banned demos

A coalition of political parties, trade unions and other bodies, demanded ‘the immediate opening of a framework for inclusive dialogue’ in Guinea and threatened new demonstrations from 15 August. Click here to read…

Zambia cancels US$1.6 billion Chinese loans and halts infrastructure projects in move to avoid debt crisis

Zambia has cancelled US$1.6 billion in agreed upon but not-disbursed Chinese loans, mostly from China Exim Bank and the Industrial Commercial Bank of China, to help manage its debt woes. Click here to read…

Morocco king favours restoration of diplomatic ties with Algeria

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has called for a restoration of diplomatic ties with neighbouring Algeria, which broke off diplomatic relations with Rabat last year. Click here to read…

From al-Shabab to the cabinet: Somalia’s move fuels debate

Somalia’s appointment of a former al-Shabab leader to the cabinet is fuelling debate. Click here to read…

Rwanda backing M23 rebels in DRC: UN experts

A UN group of experts finds ‘solid evidence’ that Kigali is supporting M23 fighters despite repeated denials. Click here to read…

After years of hostility, Turkey forges ties with eastern Libya

Turkey’s hosting of the head of Libya’s eastern-based parliament sets a meaningful landmark in its bid to reshape its Libya policy. Click here to read…

1st Deployment Of S-350 Missiles? Leaked Satellite Image of Russian-Made ‘Vityaz SAM’ Surfaces Online

Algeria appears to have deployed its Russian-made S-350 ‘Vityaz’ air defense system near the border with Morocco, per recent media reports and satellite images doing the rounds on social media. The deployment reportedly comes in response to the recent Moroccan-Israeli rapprochement. Click here to read…

More than 600 hostages of the Islamic State freed in northern Mozambique

A joint Rwandan military contingent, with their Mozambican counterparts and forces of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), have liberated more than 600 hostages in the Province of Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique. Click here to read…

10 killed by suspected rebels in DR Congo

Suspected fighters from a notorious rebel group have killed 10 civilians in an attack in Ituri in eastern DR Congo, local officials said Saturday, as fighting continued. Click here to read…

12 security personnel killed in attacks in Burkina Faso

Suspected militants in northern Burkina Faso have killed three soldiers and nine civilian auxiliaries, local and security sources said on Friday. Click here to read…

Mob attacks illegal miners after rapes shock South Africa

Thousands of angry residents in the South African city of Krugersdorp attacked a group of illegal miners with machetes, golf clubs and hammers after a gang rape last week shocked the nation. Click here to read…

Forgotten Zimbabwe City of Bulawayo Gets a Dam as Vote Looms

A $42-million dam a century in the making could end water shortages for more than half a million Zimbabweans — and win votes for the ruling party in an opposition stronghold that may decide next year’s presidential election. Click here to read…

Mauritania passes controversial bill on national languages in primary school

Mauritania’s National Assembly passed a new law introducing national languages into primary education, but the text has been heavily criticized by the black Mauritanian community, which fears that Arabic will be imposed on them. Click here to read…

Benin joins the electric motorcycle revolution

Two-wheelers are sought after in many sub-Saharan African cities. The vehicles often charge less than cars for a ride. In Cotonou, Benin’s capital, there are more than 250,000 motorcycle taxi drivers, known as zemidjan. Click here to read…

Africa observes Women’s Day to affirm social, economic status of women in Continent

Africa is observing Women’s Day on Sunday, a day earmarked to recognise and affirm the role of women’s organising in achieving the political freedom of Africa and advancing the social and economic status of women on the continent. Click here to read…

Uganda LGBT rights: Government shuts down key advocacy group

Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug) has been ordered to shut down with “immediate effect” for not registering properly with authorities. Click here to read…

BOOK REVIEW: NoViolet Bulawayo’s novel is an allegory of Zimbabwe politics

In Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo’s new novel Glory — longlisted for the Booker Prize 2022 — animals take on human characteristics. Through this she explores what happens when an authoritarian regime implodes, using characters who are horses, pigs, dogs, cows, cats, chickens, crocodiles, birds and butterflies. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

India-Gabon Relations: Building on Opportunities

Last week a bevy of diplomats and high-level ministers from several African countries descended in capital for a two-day business summit. This was 17th edition of the conclave launched by CII-Exim Bank on India-Africa Growth Partnership, seventeen years ago in 2005. Click here to read…

India, South Africa hold 11th Foreign Office Consultations, review ties

India and South Africa held the third round of the 11th Round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi on Wednesday where both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. Click here to read…

Abu Dhabi, India firms set to invest in Tanzania ports

The government’s pro-business policies are increasingly attracting investors to Tanzania with the latest entrants being Abu Dhabi Ports PSJC (AD Ports Group) and India’s largest integrated ports and logistics company, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. Click here to read…

India, Mauritius to include provisions in trade pact to deal with sudden rise in imports

India and Mauritius have agreed to include provisions related to the automatic trigger safeguard mechanism in their trade pact to deal with a sudden increase in imports, the commerce ministry said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Leyland ties up with Kenya bank

Ashok Leyland’s authorised distributors – Deluxe Trucks and Buses in Kenya have signed a partnership agreement with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to jointly promote the Ashok Leyland brand of vehicles. Click here to read…

INS Tarkash visits Dakar, Senegal

INS Tarkash visited Port Dakar, Senegal, from 31 July to 01 August 2022 and was received at Dakar by officials of the Embassy of India, Senegal and Senegal Navy. Click here to read…

India’s ONGC Videsh, Indian Oil weigh stake in Tullow’s $3bn Kenya project

ONGC Videsh and Indian Oil Corp are in talks to acquire a stake in Tullow Oil Plc’s $3.4 billion project in Kenya, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Click here to read…

India to source Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) from Senegal in West Africa

As part of the self-reliant India initiative to promote self-sufficiency in Fertilisers, Government of India has been advising and supporting the Indian fertiliser companies to strengthen their backend supply chain. Click here to read…

AD Ports Group and India’s Adani Ports to explore investment opportunities in Tanzania

AD Ports Group, the operator of industrial cities and free zones in Abu Dhabi, and India’s Adani Ports have signed a preliminary agreement to explore joint investment opportunities in Tanzania. Click here to read…

Mauritius Telecom CEO, who leaked Indian team visit, under lens for China links

The country’s Central Criminal Investigation Department Special Cell has questioned Sherry Singh for three possible offenses: Breach of Information & Communication Technologies Act (Icta), Diffusion of False News and Criminal Defamation. Click here to read…

Two ministries welcome new heads: China Daily

July 29, 2022

Jin Zhuanglong was appointed the new secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Friday. According to an official statement issued on Thursday, Xiao Yaqing, who is being investigated by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, has been removed from the post. Also on Friday, Wang Xiangxi was appointed as the new Party chief of the Ministry of Emergency Management of China, while Huang Ming was removed from the post, the ministry’s website said. Click here to read…

China, Africa work to build security community: People’s Daily

July 29, 2022

China has always worked to develop relations with Africa, with a commitment to upholding the greater good in the pursuit of shared interests and following the principles of sincerity, pragmatism, affinity and good faith, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a congratulatory letter to the second China-Africa Peace and Security Forum on July 25. Click here to read…

Chinese, Pakistani FMs discuss bilateral ties, issues of mutual interests: Xinhuanet

July 29, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Thursday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), discussing bilateral relations and issues of mutual interests. Click here to read…

Chinese, Afghan FMs meet on cementing ties: Xinhuanet

July 29, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Afghan interim government, here on Thursday over further strengthening the two countries’ relations. Click here to read…

Former senior provincial legislator expelled from CPC, office: Xinhuanet

July 29, 2022

Wang Minghui, a former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office over serious violations of Party discipline and laws, the country’s top anti-graft body announced Friday. Click here to read…

Former senior Hebei provincial legislator expelled from CPC: Xinhuanet

July 29, 2022

A former senior legislator of north China’s Hebei Province has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) over severe violations of Party discipline and the law, the country’s top anti-graft body announced Friday. Click here to read…

Ex-senior Beijing political advisor arrested for suspected bribe-taking: Xinhuanet

July 29, 2022

China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate has ordered the arrest of Yu Luming, formerly a senior political advisor of Beijing, for suspected bribe-taking. The case was transferred to procuratorial authorities for prosecution following an investigation by the National Supervisory Commission, an official statement said Friday. Click here to read…

Premier urges smart investing: China Daily

July 30, 2022

China will adopt measures to further bolster demand, promote effective investment and boost consumption, according to a decision made at the State Council Executive Meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Friday. Click here to read…

Xi stresses solidarity of Chinese at home and abroad for national rejuvenation: Xinhuanet

July 31, 2022

The Central Conference on United Front Work was held from Friday to Saturday in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended and delivered an important speech. Click here to read…

Xi attends reception celebrating 95th founding anniversary of PLA: Xinhuanet

July 31, 2022

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Sunday attended a reception to celebrate the 95th founding anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which falls on Aug. 1.The reception was held at the Great Hall of the People by the Ministry of National Defense. Click here to read…

Rocket debris fall back to Earth: China Daily

July 31, 2022

China launches its Wentian space laboratory on July 24, sending the country’s largest-ever spacecraft to Earth’s orbit to become part of the Tiangong space station. [Photo/Xinhua]
Debris of the recently launched Long March 5B carrier rocket of China fell back to the Earth and ended up in the Pacific Ocean early Sunday morning, with most of the remnants burnt up during the reentry process, the China Manned Space Agency said. Click here to read…

Air force commissions new refueling aircraft: China Daily

July 31, 2022

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force has commissioned the YY-20 large aerial refueling aircraft, which observers said will extensively enhance the service’s operational capability. Senior Colonel Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force, said at a news conference on Sunday in Beijing the YY-20 has recently carried out aerial refueling exercises with the J-16 strike fighter above the sea and the operations helped improve combat training. Click here to read…

China’s Tibet reaps fruitful results in glacier protection: People’s Daily

July 31, 2022

Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest in the West, is the world’s highest peak and one of the most famous snow-capped mountains. Thanks to enhanced efforts of ecological protection, Mount Qomolangma and its surrounding areas have seen better environmental conditions in recent years. Click here to read…

25 senior Chinese officials face disciplinary actions in Jan-Jul, as anti-graft efforts intensify: Global Times

July 31, 2022

A total of 25 senior Chinese officials, or centrally administered officials, have faced disciplinary actions so far this year, equaling a record annual number in recent years, underscoring the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s zero tolerance toward corruption and its intensifying efforts to fight corruption, experts said on Sunday. Click here to read…

China, Central Asian countries enhance strategic partnership, boost connectivity, economic ties: Global Times

July 31, 2022

Following the consensus reached at the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Tashkent, China and Central Asian countries – Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to enhance their strategic partnerships and build an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, particularly focusing on enhancing connectivity and boosting trade and economic cooperation. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 33 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

August 1, 2022

The Chinese mainland Sunday reported 33 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 15 in Gansu and nine in Guangxi, according to the National Health Commission’s report Monday. A total of 244 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified. Click here to read…

Chinese military begins exercises in Yellow Sea: China Daily

August 1, 2022

The Chinese military has begun to carry out exercises in the northern Yellow Sea starting Monday, according to the Maritime Safety Administration. The administration said in a navigational warning published on Sunday on its website that the exercises would last 14 days. It released geographical coordinates of the drill zone, asking ships not connected to the event not to enter the zone. The administration did not elaborate. Click here to read…

Shenzhen accelerates China’s driverless car dreams: Reuters

August 1, 2022

On a busy downtown street three delivery bikes suddenly dart over the pedestrian crossing ahead of the car. On the car’s dashboard they look like small 3D blue blocks from a 1990s video game. The steering wheel turns itself a notch and the vehicle slows to a gentle halt, while the safety driver looks on from the passenger seat. Click here to read…

China’s Nio to make power products for Europe at its first overseas plant: Reuters

August 1, 2022

Chinese electric car maker Nio plans to open its first overseas plant in September to make power products for the European market as it accelerates expansion abroad. The plant, in Pest, Hungary, will develop and manufacture power products such as battery-swapping stations to serve European users, Nio said in a statement late on Friday. Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

Forging a New Path for India-Africa Relations

As the world transitions to post-pandemic optimism, India and Africa have emerged as twin centres of growth and are poised to transform their multi-faceted economic relationship. Click here to read…

Islamic State’s Expansion in Africa and its Implications for Southeast Asia

Will the group’s call for hijrah (migration) to Africa prompt Southeast Asian Muslims to join the struggle? Click here to read…

France still not paid for humanitarian crimes committed in Africa

It is now a known fact that colonialism, which has been adopted by the West, particularly in France, as an “innocent ideology of helping socially, economically and politically underdeveloped nations adapt to the civilized world.” Click here to read…

NEWS

Tunisia’s Saïed consolidates power with new constitution

Tunisian voters have approved a new constitution by referendum vote, one that further consolidates power for President Kaïs Saïed despite concerns from the political opposition over the future of the country’s democracy. Click here to read…

West Africa bloc chair says Guinea accepts two-year transition

The chair of the West African regional bloc has said Guinea will cut the timeline of its planned transition to civilian rule from three to two years. Click here to read…

Angola’s campaigns gain momentum as political parties call for peace

The first week of the election campaign in Angola went more smoothly. The political tensions of the pre-election period dropped considerably and the tone of the candidates has also become more positive. Click here to read…

The ‘Hustler-in-Chief’ or the veteran ‘Baba’ politician, who will be Kenya’s next president?

On August 9, Kenyans head to the polls and with soaring food and fuel prices, high unemployment and post-pandemic stagnation, a change in leadership could not come at a more critical time for East Africa’s largest economy. Click here to read…

Algeria, Niger and Nigeria sign MoU for Saharan gas pipeline

Algeria, Nigeria and Niger have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a natural gas pipeline across the Sahara Desert. Click here to read…

Blinken to Visit South Africa, DR Congo and Rwanda

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to three African countries from August 7 to 12 with visits to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and RwandaClick here to read…

Has the UN’s peacekeeping mission in DR Congo failed?

Several killed in violent protests calling for UN peacekeepers to leave. At least 12 civilians and three members of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) have been killed in days of anti-UN protests. Click here to read…

Egypt protests against Ethiopia’s plan to fill Nile dam reservoir

Cairo lodges its protest at UN Security Council, objecting to Addis Ababa’s unilateral filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without a binding deal with downstream countries including Sudan. Click here to read…

In Mali, ‘risks of political and military escalation’ between the government and ex-rebels of the north

The last time that relations were this tense between the former Tuareg rebel groups and the Malian government was in 2015 when the peace process was launched in Algiers. Click here to read…

Al Shabab attacks military base on Somalia-Ethiopia border

Al Shabab militants have attacked a military base on the Somalia-Ethiopia border, triggering fierce fighting that caused an unknown number of casualties, security officials said. Click here to read…

Ethiopian Authorities to Create Buffer Zone Inside Somalia

A local Somali official has welcomed a plan by Ethiopia’s Somali state to create a buffer zone along the border inside Somalia to fight militant group al-Shabab. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe yearns for real change

NOVEMBER 17, 2017 marked the end of the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe’s reign, who had tormented the people of Zimbabwe since 1980. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso’s Compaoré apologises to family of murdered Sankara

Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaoré, sentenced in absentia to life in jail for the 1987 assassination of revolutionary icon Thomas Sankara, has apologised to the ex-leader’s family. Click here to read…

Senegal legislative poll tests ruling party ahead of 2024 vote

Senegal’s main opposition coalition is vying to gain clout in legislative polls on Sunday that will set the scene for a presidential election in 2024 – which could see President Macky Sall run for a controversial third term. Click here to read…

Malawi President Launches Anti-Corruption Campaign to Fight Graft

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera launched a nationwide anti-corruption campaign Tuesday at the end of a two-day conference on graftClick here to read…

Nigerian senators urge Buhari impeachment over insecurity

Parliament is controlled by the ruling APC and any move to impeach Buhari would require support from two-thirds of the 109 senators. Click here to read…

Tunisians vote to expand president’s powers

Tunisians voted to drastically expand the president’s powers and critics warn the referendum could usher in a dictatorship. Click here to read…

Civilians in crossfire as shifting alliances spark Libya violence

Fathi Bashagha, one of Libya’s two rival prime ministers, is from Misrata – as is his rival, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, whose internationally recognised government sits in Tripoli. Click here to read…

Power line kills 4 at anti-UN protest in eastern Congo

Four people participating in demonstrations against the United Nations peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo were killed Wednesday when a high-voltage power line fell on them, officials said. Click here to read…

France’s Macron heads to Africa for three-nation trip

The four-day visit to Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau is the French leader’s first diplomatic trip outside of Europe since winning re-election, showing how Africa is high on the list of priorities for the former colonial power. Click here to read…

Russia’s reengagement with Africa pays off

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is on a four-nation tour to Africa. The trip is part of Russia’s ongoing charm offensive on the continent to shore up support. Click here to read…

Macron says France will stand by Africa on security issues

French President Emmanuel Macron has wrapped up a meeting with Paul Biya, his counterpart in Cameroon, the first port of call on his three nation tour. He reiterated that France would continue to support Africa’s security needs. Click here to read…

French president wraps up Africa tour in Guinea-Bissau

French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up a three-country Africa tour in Guinea-Bissau Thursday that saw him pledge funding for education and economic development as well as military support to fight extremism in West and Central Africa. Click here to read…

Benin marks Macron visit by releasing 30 jailed opposition politicians

This week’s visit to Benin by French President Emmanuel Macron was marked by the release of 30 opposition figures, imprisoned during the April 2021 election campaign. Click here to read…

Israel Reaffirms Support for Morocco’s Sovereignty Over Western Sahara

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Gideon Sa’ar reaffirmed on Wednesday his country’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. Click here to read…

Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine

Days after Moscow launched its bloody war on Ukraine, a Russian cargo plane stood on a Khartoum runway, a strip of tarmac surrounded by red-orange sand. Click here to read…

Uganda: Lavrov visit to Museveni creates headache for Washington

Uganda welcomed its highest-ever ranking visit from a Moscow official on 26 July. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov got a warm welcome from President Yoweri Museveni. Click here to read…

Zambia commissions China-financed project to improve water supply in Zambian capital

Zambia on Friday commissioned a project financed by China aimed at improving water supply and sanitation in Lusaka, the Zambian capital. Click here to read…

Central African Republic’s digital coin finds few buyers

The sale of Central African Republic’s first digital coin got off to a slow start, with just over 5% of the target bought in the hours after its launch, amid questions about the project’s transparency and a wider downturn in the industry. Click here to read…

Tanzania, Zambia Sh1.4 trillion power line to start in 2023

The Coordinator of the Tanzania-Zambia Project (Taza) – which involves the construction of electricity transmission infrastructure between the two countries – Mr Elias Makunga, said yesterday that actual execution of the project will start in January, 2023. Click here to read…

Mozambique LNG: Saipem says work will not restart in 2022 and original EPC contract will be revised

Force majeure will not be lifted until 2023 at earliest, while contract to build LNG trains will be revamped to account for higher costs. Click here to read…

Egypt cancels contracts for 240,000 T of stranded Ukrainian wheat

Egypt has cancelled contracts for a total of 240,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat that were booked by its state grains buyer for February and March delivery but never loaded due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read…

Burundi secretly sent troops to DR Congo – rights group

Burundi has secretly sent hundreds of troops and members of a youth militia into neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo since the end of 2021 to fight an armed rebel group, a Burundian human rights group said Wednesday. Click here to read…

Wildfires in northern Morocco, a villager prosecuted

A villager was charged for involuntary fire in the northern Moroccan province of Larache, the region most affected by violent forest fires, a judicial source said. Click here to read…

Mali and Burkina Faso: Did the coups halt jihadist attacks?

Widespread anger at chronic insecurity in the West African countries of Mali and Burkina Faso paved the way for military men to kick out failing governments over the past two years. Click here to read…

As Zimbabwe struggles with daily blackouts, Zambia declares huge 1,000MW electricity surplus

ZAMBIA’S integrated power utility ZESCO has declared that the country how has surplus capacity of about 1,000 megawatts (MW) at a time the country is also enjoying an economic rebound. Click here to read…

Chinese-built highway inaugurated in southwestern Cameroon

A major Chinese-built highway in southwestern Cameroon was inaugurated on Friday. Click here to read…

Rwanda on course to grow electric mobility market

Five years ago, Rwanda announced plans to introduce environmentally friendly transport services as part of the efforts to prioritise a climate resilient low carbon economy. Click here to read…

Africa Protected Areas Congress: Continent gets $200 billion conservation fund

A $200 billion trust fund has been initiated to conserve around 8,600 protected areas covering 26 million square kilometres in Africa. Conservationists have called for global contributions to it. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

India extends 222 LoCs worth $14.07 bn in Africa, 37 LoCs to neighbours

The LoCs projects in African nations are spread across sectors roads, railways, power, ports and shipping, education, telecom, health, and aviation. Click here to read…

The 17th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India

The CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in India, which was held recently, focused on enhancing India-Africa relations through entrepreneurial initiatives and trade. Click here to read…

32,000 Africans earn scholarships from India

Some 32,000 African students have benefited from Indian government scholarships since 2015, part of the 50,000 opportunities the country had pledged to give African students over a 10-year period. Click here to read…

Egypt signs $8 billion agreement with India for Suez Canal Economic Zone

Egypt and an Indian company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to construct a green hydrogen factory in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Click here to read…

ReNew Power eyes green hydrogen projects in Africa

NASDAQ-listed ReNew Power Ltd is looking to foray into Africa by developing green hydrogen projects in Egypt and Morocco. Click here to read…

Zambia attracts $5B investment from India

Indian investment amounting to $5 billion is in the pipeline for Zambia, targeting sectors such as health, agriculture, and infrastructure development, the Zambian deputy president announced on Wednesday. Click here to read…

India to invest $700m in Egypt

India looks forward to pumping additional investments into Egypt amounting to about $700 million in the coming few years, New Delhi’s ambassador in Cairo has said. Click here to read…

INS Tarkash commences Atlantic deployment by exercising with Morocco Navy

Indian Navy on Friday said its guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, completed her Mediterranean deployment and entered the Atlantic to continue with her long-range voyage. Click here to read…

LS Speaker Om Birla and Esperanca Bias sign MoU of Cooperation between Parliaments of India and Mozambique

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held a bilateral meeting with the Speaker of the Assembly of Mozambique, Esperanca Laurinda Francisco Nhiuane Bias at Parliament House Complex today. Click here to read…

India, COMESA trade stands at $15bn

THE value of trade between India and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states stood at US$15 billion in 2021. Click here to read…

PM Modi calls for speedy probe in Congo attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, discussed with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the recent attack on UN mission personnel in Congo, in which two Indian peacekeepers were killed, and called for an expeditious investigation to bring the perpetrators of the incident to justice. Click here to read…

President Ramaphosa welcomes Serum Institute of India’s $2.5 million pledge to boost Africa’s healthcare

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday welcomed the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) pledge to provide an initial 2.5 million U.S. dollars to support the African Union (AU) COVID-19 Commission to improve healthcare systems on the continent. Click here to read…

Mozambique Parliamentary delegation calls on President Droupadi Murmu

A Parliamentary delegation from Mozambique called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. Click here to read…

Will India Try Again for a Military Base in Seychelles?

India’s previous efforts to secure a base on Assumption Island were rebuffed. As China gains ground, will New Delhi make another offer? Click here to read…

India Calls for UN Security Council Meeting After Attack in DR Congo

India had called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council after an attack on the UN mission in Congo killed Indian and Moroccan peacekeepers and also ensured that a strong-worded statement is issued by the 15-nation body that calls for accountability for the killing of the Blue Helmets. Click here to read…

IIT-Madras considers setting up campus in Tanzania; Nepal, Lanka too send requests

An offshore campus of IIT Madras in Tanzania is among the options on the government’s table as it works on a plan to ensure the country’s premier engineering institutes have a presence on the world map. Click here to read…

Grand Hindu Temple in Madagascar’s Capital City

India’s Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros, Abhay Kumar, yesterday inaugurated a grand Hindu temple in Madagascar’s capital city Antananarivo. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the statues of the deities were unveiled amidst hymns and devotional songs. The temple, the first of its kind in the city, is built by the Hindu Samaj. Click here to read…

Indian Overseas Center inaugurated in Madagascar

The Foreign Minister of Madagascar, an East African country, Richard Randriamandrato, inaugurated the Indian Diaspora Center ‘Indian Dhow’ in Antananarivo on Friday. Click here to read…

South African Tourism launches digital campaign for India

South African Tourism has announced the launch of a digital campaign for India in partnership with Air Seychelles. Click here to read…

Airtel’s Africa business reports net profit of $178 million in Q1FY23, a 25% on-year jump

Revenue for the quarter ended June 2022 rose 13%-on year and 2.8% sequentially in reported currency, to $1.257 billion, the company said Thursday. Average revenue per user (ARPU) was up 0.6% on quarter and 4.4% on year, at $2.9. Click here to read…

Ongc Videsh, Indian Oil weigh stake in $3 billion Kenya project

ONGC Videsh and Indian Oil Corp. are in talks to acquire a stake in Tullow Oil Plc’s $3.4 billion project in Kenya, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Click here to read…

How fears of Chinese digital espionage ‘got RAW involved in Mauritius, led to snooping scandal’

Allegations that Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth allowed Indian tech team to install equipment for intercepting internet traffic have snowballed into growing political scandal. Click here to read…