Tag Archives: African Union

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 46, 2022)

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

COMMENTARY

India-Africa Defence Dialogue- A positive step towards strengthening the defence diplomacy

The DefExpo 2022 was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from October 18 to 22, 2022. During the meeting, the grandiosity of India’s flagship Land, Naval, and Homeland Security Systems exhibition ensured that DefExpo 2022 remains Asia’s most prominent defence exhibition. Click here to read…

Rishi Sunak’s Tanzanian roots amid post-independence ambitions in EA

The rise of Rishi Sunak as British Prime Minister ends as a beautiful story that started with political rejection in East Africa. Click here to read…

NEWS

New round of peace talks between Ethiopia, Tigray envoys

A new round of talks began Monday between Ethiopia’s government and Tigray regional representatives to work out military and other details of last week’s signing of a “permanent” cessation of hostilities in a two-year conflict thought to have killed hundreds of thousands of people. Click here to read…

Ethiopia and Tigray rebels sign peace deal roadmap

Commanders of both Ethiopian and Tigrayan forces reach agreement on how to implement a peace deal. It will allow for aid deliveries and the disarming of rebels within the coming days. Click here to read…

Niger: Opposition, civil society groups welcome end of French Barkhane operation

In Niamey, the Nigerien capital, reactions are mixed after the official announcement of the end of the operation of the French anti-jihadist Barkhane force, part of which has redeployed to Niger after leaving neighbouring Mali. Click here to read…

Central African Republic: MINUSCA Mandate Renewal

Tomorrow afternoon (14 November), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for another year, until 15 November 2023. Click here to read…

Pro-Coup Coalition Forms in Sudan, Hopes to Break Country’s Political Stalemate

In Sudan, armed groups and supporters of the military’s coup last year have formed a new political coalition to appeal to marginalized groups. Calling itself the “Forces for Freedom and Change – Democratic Bloc (FFC-DB),” the pro-coup group wants to replace the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) group, which has opposed military rule. Click here to read…

Fighting picks up between M23 and Congolese army in eastern Congo

Fighting picked up on Friday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army, a rebel leader, military sources and civilians told Reuters. Click here to read…

Tunisia: Ennahda condemns official ‘courtesy’ towards Israel at COP27

Tunisia’s Ennahda movement has criticised the “courtesy” shown by Tunisian officials towards Israel, with some calling for normalisation of relations, Al-Quds Al-Arabi has reported. This, said Ennahda, confirms the “insincerity” of President Kais Saied’s oft-repeated slogan that “normalisation is high treason”.Click here to read…

Rising tensions between Rwanda and DRC jeopardise prospects for peacebuilding in the Great Lakes region

The province of North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing significant instability due to the resurgent March 23 Movement (M23), which has resumed clashes with the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in the territories of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo since June 2022. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso’s new transitional legislature takes office

The 71 deputies appointed to Burkina Faso’s new Transitional Legislative Assembly (TLA) took office on Friday, more than a month after the coup d’etat that brought Captain Ibrahim Traore to power. Click here to read…

El Burhan Speech to Sudan Military Dubbed ‘Political Posturing’

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces and leader of the October 2021 coup d’état, Abdelfattah El Burhan, confirmed that meetings about a new political framework for the country are being held on Sunday, provoking strong reactions. Click here to read…

France calls time on anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane in Sahel

President Emmanuel Macron has formally ended France’s decade-long operation to fight Islamist insurgents in the Sahel. Click here to read…

US offers $10 million reward for leads on Somalia’s Al-Shabaab leaders

The United States said Monday it was increasing its reward for information about key leaders of Somalia’s Al-Shabaab to $10 million apiece, a move that follows a spate of deadly attacks by the jihadist group. Click here to read…

Ghana’s finance minister set to present budget despite calls for dismissal

Ghana’s embattled finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta plans to present his 2023 budget statement this month, a ruling party official said on Friday, despite demands by ruling party and opposition figures that he resign. Click here to read…

World leaders expected in Tunisia for 18th Francophonie Summit

World leaders are expected to start arriving in Tunisia’s southern island of Djerba for the 18th Francophonie Summit, which will be held from November 19-20. Click here to read…

Mozambique Exports First LNG to Help Ease European Crunch

Mozambique flagged off its first shipment of liquefied natural gas, exports that could help ease Europe’s energy crunch as Russia squeezes supplies. Click here to read…

Tanzania to Sign Key $40 Billion LNG-Project Accords Next Month

Tanzania will sign key agreements with oil majors including Equinor ASA and Shell Plc next month to pave the way for a planned $40 billion liquefied natural gas export project Click here to read…

Why Washington Needs A Friendlier Approach To This Major Gas Producer

In September, a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives called on the U.S. Secretary of State to impose sanctions on the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (“Algeria”), claiming that a $7 billion arms deal with Russia violated the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Click here to read…

Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 to Unlock the Potential of Angola’s Deepwater Basins

Angola’s deepwater market success continues to shine a spotlight on the country’s untapped oil and gas potential. Click here to read…

Nigeria: 26 sailors charged for attempting to steal crude oil, vessel seized by Navy

26 crew members including 16 Indian and eight Sri Lankan sailors of an oil vessel have been detained and handed over to the Nigerian Navy for alleged oil theft. Click here to read…

Uganda Says Airforce Destroyed Islamic State-Linked Rebel Camp

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said his nation’s airforce had attacked and destroyed a camp in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo that was housing Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces. Click here to read…

ACP-EU Partnership: EU and Togo talk economic governance and security, among others

On Monday, November 7, 2022, Lomé hosted the first session of the partnership dialogue between Togo and the European Union (EU) within the framework of the new Partnership Agreement between the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and the European Union (OACPS-EU). Click here to read…

Togo: In 2023, the government will pay special attention to inflation

The government of Togo will keep paying special attention to inflation in the coming months. The authorities said this last Friday, November 11, after the council of ministers held that day. Click here to read…

Italy: Refugee camps can be set up in Libya similar to ones in Turkey

Refugee camps, similar to the ones in Turkey, could also be in Libya and other countries where migrants leave for European shores, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the press on Sunday. Click here to read…

Commonwealth Secretariat mission to visit Zimbabwe

The delegation’s visit is a part of the informal process of assessment regarding Zimbabwe’s request for re-admission into the Commonwealth. Click here to read…

Kenyans to enter South Africa visa-free from January

The presidents of South Africa and Kenya said Wednesday they have resolved a long-standing visa dispute and Kenyans will be able to visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days in a calendar year. Click here to read…

Lesotho Names First Female Central Bank Head as Finance Minister

Lesotho’s former central bank governor, Retselisitsoe Matlanyane, was appointed finance minister in the southern African nation’s new government. Click here to read…

Amnesty: Egypt has days to save jailed activist’s life

Amnesty International’s head on Sunday warned that the proceedings of COP27 in Egypt could be stained by the death of one of the country’s leading rights activists from a hunger and water strike in prison if Egyptian authorities do not release him within days. Click here to read…

Zambia plans to establish climate financing vehicle

Zambia plans to establish a robust national climate financing vehicle aimed at supporting the process of institutionalizing a climate resilient economy, a government official said on Saturday. Click here to read…

Africa launches new framework to support growth of carbon credits production, create jobs, protect biodiversity

Africa launched a new framework to support growth of carbon credits production, create jobs and protect biodiversity in the continent – the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI). Click here to read…

Uganda confirms Ebola case in country’s east as outbreak expands

An Ebola case has been confirmed in Jinja in eastern Uganda, the country’s health minister said on Sunday, the first time the outbreak has spread to a new region of the country from central Uganda where cases have been confined so far. Click here to read…

Last apartheid leader De Klerk’s Nobel Prize stolen in South Africa

The Nobel Peace Prize medal awarded to South Africa’s last apartheid president, FW de Klerk, was stolen from his Cape Town home six months ago. Click here to read…

Digital Benin project reunites bronzes looted by British soldiers

Cheerfully gnashing their magnificent fangs as they stand side by side, the two bronze leopards look back on a journey that was as adventurous as it was cruelly absurd. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Balasubramanian accredited as India’s permanent representative to economic community of West African states

G. Balasubramanian has been concurrently accredited as the next Permanent Representative of India to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Click here to read…

South African Customs Union emerges as key trade partner for India: Report

A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and the South African Customs Union countries will enhance future partnerships as the region has emerged as an important partner for India, both as an export destination and an import source, according to a report from the India Exim Bank. Click here to read…

India Deploys P-8I Aircraft At France’s Reunion Island For Third Time In Three Years As China Increases Presence In Western Indian Ocean

An Indian P-8I aircraft has been deployed to the island for the third time ifour years. A P-8I aircraft of the Indian Navy participated in a joint patrol with France from Réunion Island in 2020. Click here to read…

India has an invite to mine natural resources from oil-to-gold in Central African Republic

Landlocked in the heart of Africa, Central African Republic that is comparable to the size of Ukraine has the largest reserve of iron ore in the world and the best quality of rare wood and timber across the globe. Click here to read…

Wipro appoints Warren Zambelli as MD for Africa, Simmi Dhamija as COO for APMEA

Wipro, on Wednesday, announced the appointment of Warren Zambelli as Managing Director for Africa, and Simmi Dhamija as the Chief Operating Officer for APMEA (Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa). Click here to read…

A New Era of India-Africa Defense Cooperation

As India moves towards becoming a major exporter of defense products, achieving the target of exporting $5 billion by 2025, Africa will play a crucial role in realizing this goal. Click here to read…

India calls for early resolution as detained ship with 16 Indian sailors onboard reaches Nigeria

Days after 16 Indian sailors in the custody of Equatorial Guinea’s navy appealed to the Indian government to help them return home, Equatorial Guinea’s neighbour Nigeria released a detailed statement with fresh allegations and counter-clarifications. Click here to read…

Vijayan writes to Modi for help in releasing Indians held hostage in Africa

Some of the hostages have sent desperate videos home saying they were herded into a small room and regular food and water have become a luxury for them. Click here to read…

16 Indian sailors detained in Equatorial Guinea cry for help, send out SOS

A crew of 16 Indian sailors, who are stuck in Equatorial Guinea, have flagged an SOS for help. The crew have been detained in the region for over 80 days and they fear arrest by the Nigerian Navy. Click here to read…

China: Daily Scan, November 15, 2022

4 weaknesses in China’s economy, from local government finances to poor regulation: South China Morning Post
November 14, 2022

Deteriorating local government finances, weak banks and inadequate regulation are among the main risks facing China’s economy, according to senior officials and regulators who have recently published candid assessments following the agenda-setting 20th party congress. Vice-Premier Liu He, central bank governor Yi Gang, Minister of Finance Liu Kun and banking and insurance regulator chairman Guo Shuqing have all reflected on the dangers facing the state-dominated financial system, though they have not outlined specific improvements. Click here to read…

Xi told Biden Taiwan is first red line that must not be crossed, urging US to respect China’s path, system: Global Times
November 14, 2022

At the very core of China’s core interests, the Taiwan question is the first red line that must not be crossed, Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Joe Biden during the meeting on Monday in Bali, Indonesia, urging the US to respect the differences between the two countries’ paths. Click here to read…

Quantum computing patent filings surge in China: China Daily
November 15, 2022

Applications by Chinese companies for patents related to quantum computing have surged in the past two years alongside an industry boom and increasing awareness of the field, though experts said the country still has a long way to go to catch up with foreign competitors. Click here to read…

State weapons contractors capitalize on growing global market for munitions: China Daily
November 15, 2022

A number of State-owned defense contractors have developed and promoted their own loitering munitions — also known as suicide drones — expecting to seize the rapidly expanding demand for such hardware in the market. Click here to read…

Beijing braces after rise in COVID cases: China Daily
November 15, 2022

The number of COVID-19 infections in Beijing has continued to trend upward in recent days, involving most districts, a senior official said on Monday. Xu Hejian, spokesman for the municipal government, said at a news conference on Monday that people should be aware of the capital’s severe and complicated epidemic situation and that the government will strengthen accurate and scientific prevention work. Click here to read…

Chinese cities harness nuclear power for winter heating: Global Times
November 15, 2022

A growing list of Chinese cities are utilizing nuclear energy as a source of winter heating, with 9.24 million square meters covered so far. In Haiyang, East China’s Shandong Province, the nuclear power plant has entered test operation to provide heating services to 200,000 residents living in a city area of 5 million square meters, domestic news portal China Media Group (CMG) reported on Monday. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 1,621 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: People’s Daily
November 15, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 1,621 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Tuesday. Altogether 16,151 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified. Click here to read…

Xi, Biden hold candid, in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties, major global issues: Qiushi
November 15, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, had a candid and in-depth exchange of views here on Monday on issues of strategic importance in China-U.S. relations and on major global and regional issues. The current state of China-U.S. relations is not in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and is not what the international community expects, Xi said. Click here to read…

Biden, Xi trade barbs over Taiwan, seek “principles” on competition: Kyodo
November 15, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping traded barbs Monday over Taiwan, with Xi stressing that the question of the self-ruled island is “the first red line that must not be crossed,” but agreed to develop “principles” to manage their intensifying competition. In their first in-person summit, which took place in Indonesia’s Bali, Biden expressed objections to China’s “coercive and increasingly aggressive actions” toward Taiwan, saying they undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and jeopardize global prosperity, according to the White House. Click here to read…

Xi raises anti-secession law in talks on Taiwan with Biden, says China foreign minister: Reuters
November 15, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the country’s anti-secession law in talks on Taiwan with U.S. President Joe Biden at the G20 Summit on Monday, the Chinese foreign minister said in a statement. Xi told Biden that China will uphold the “One country, Two systems” proposal for Taiwan and will make all efforts for peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan, the statement said. Click here to read…

China’s property investment falls at a faster clip in Jan-Oct: Reuters
November 15, 2022

China’s property investment fell at a faster pace during January-October, declining 8.8% from a year earlier after slumping 8.0% in the first nine months of the year. Property sales by floor area dropped 22.3% during January-October from the same period a year earlier, compared with the 22.2% plunge in the first nine months of the year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Click here to read…

China picks public health expert as Beijing leader: Taipei Times
November 15, 2022

China has named former SARS firefighter Yin Li the new Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader of Beijing, as President Xi Jinping begins recalibrating the “zero COVID” policy that has slowed the world’s second largest economy. Yin, 60, replaces Cai Qi as party secretary of the capital city of about 21 million people, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. Click here to read…

Xi says China supports African Union to join G20: Xinhuanet
November 15, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that China supports the African Union to join the Group of 20 when addressing the G20 summit. Click here to read…

Highlights of Xi-Biden meeting ahead of G20 summit in Indonesia: Xinhuanet
November 15, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, had a candid and in-depth exchange of views here on Monday on issues of strategic importance in China-U.S. relations and on major global and regional issues. Click here to read…

Courts make joint agreement on IPR protection: China Daily
November 15, 2022

Legal protection on intellectual property will be further strengthened in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region thanks to an agreement made by courts in the three areas. The agreement was jointly signed by the Beijing Intellectual Property Court, the Tianjin No 3 Intermediate Court and Hebei’s Xiong’an New Area Intermediate Court on Friday. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 45, 2022)

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

COMMENTARY

DefExpo 2022 paves the way for a new golden era of India-Africa defence cooperation

The DefExpo 2022 took place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, between 18 and 22 October 2022. Initially scheduled to take place in March 2022, it was postponed due to logistic challenges. Click here to read…

In Zambia’s Reform Process, Political Parties Remain a Weak Link

In Zambia’s August 2021 elections, Hakainde Hichilema defeated then-incumbent President Edgar Lungu by a margin of over twenty percent. Lungu’s defeat and timely commitment to ensuring an orderly transition of power. Click here to read…

Thomas Sankara’s ghost haunts Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, like the rest of West African countries lately, is becoming a geopolitical dilemma for Paris. As ex-President Thomas Sankara put it, ‘We must choose either champagne for a few or safe drinking water for all’Click here to read…

NEWS

Ethiopia Peace Deal Hailed as First Step to End Africa’s Deadliest Conflict

World leaders are reacting with cautious optimism after the announcement of a peace deal and a cease-fire between warring parties in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Click here to read…

Ethiopia: Peace agreement between Government and Tigray ‘a critical first step’: Guterres

A peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed on Wednesday in South Africa, represents “a critical first step” towards ending the brutal two year war, said the UN chief. Click here to read…

Guinea: Junta gives order to prosecute ex-president Alpha Condé

Guinea’s ruling junta on Thursday ordered prosecutors to take legal action against former president Alpha Conde (who was overthrown in a 2021 coup) and over 180 other officials and ex-ministers, notably for alleged corruption. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe: How Mnangagwa ‘crushed’ Chiwenga’s dream of becoming president

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has outmanoeuvred his deputy Constantino Chiwenga in the fierce battle to be the 2023 presidential candidate for the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu–PF). Click here to read…

Biden confirms that Burkina Faso is now on Russia’s side

The West’s attempt to hurt the economy of an African country just got unmasked with its sinister motives coming out in the open. The west is so blind in it obsessive fear of losing Africa to its nemesis, that it is willing to cause destruction. Click here to read…

US to Cut Burkina Faso from Africa Trade Program After Counter-Coup

The US said it will end Burkina Faso’s access to a preferential trade program for African countries, citing concern about unconstitutional changes in the nation’s government. Click here to read…

Pro-Coup Coalition Forms in Sudan, Hopes to Break Country’s Political Stalemate

In Sudan, armed groups and supporters of the military’s coup last year have formed a new political coalition to appeal to marginalized groups. Calling itself the “Forces for Freedom and Change – Democratic Bloc (FFC-DB),” the pro-coup group wants to replace the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) group, which has opposed military rule. Click here to read…

Sudan’s Burhan says political talks ongoing but Bashir loyalists not welcome

Sudan’s military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan confirmed on Sunday that talks on a new political framework for the country were being held, but he warned the former ruling party in harsh words not to interfere with the military or in politics. Click here to read…

E.Guinea accuses France, Spain, US of election ‘interference’

Equatorial Guinea on Sunday accused Spain, France and the United States of “interference” in its presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 20. Click here to read…

Russia to send $100m in food and fuel to Mali, minister says

Mali expects Russia to send shipments of fuel, fertiliser and food worth around $100 million to Mali in the coming weeks, the West African country’s economy minister, Alousseini Sanou, says. Click here to read…

Burkina junta chief holds talks in Mali on first foreign trip

Burkina Faso’s new military leader on Wednesday visited Mali for his first foreign trip since taking power, holding what his Malian counterpart hailed as “fruitful” exchanges on peace and security. Click here to read…

Crisis in South Africa Shakes Up Politics Before Party Election

The economy is shrinking, power cuts are at a record, unemployment is close to an all-time high, living costs have surged, towns are falling apart and there are sporadic outbreaks of xenophobic violence. Click here to read…

800 schools forced to close in Niger

Hundreds of children, with their blue Unicef-stamped school bags on their backs, walk down small sand dunes to study on the outskirts of Ouallam, a town in southwestern Niger that has been plagued by jihadist violence for five years. Click here to read…

South Africa vows to support Western Sahara

South Africa has for decades been supporting the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Western Sahara, a move that continues to anger Morocco which views this region as part of its territory. Click here to read…

Congo and Rwanda hold talks to resolve conflict in eastern Congo

Officials from Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda held talks on Saturday aimed at ending a political stand-off between the two countries caused by widespread conflict near their shared border. Click here to read…

Congolese diaspora in Rwanda backs ‘sincere dialogue’ to end tensions

The Congolese community living in Rwanda say they support peaceful means to the end of the conflict between the M23 rebels group and the Kinshasa government. Click here to read…

Cameroon’s Paul Biya marks 40 years as president

When Paul Biya first took the helm of Cameroon, Ronald Reagan was in his second year of presidency, Madonna had not yet made the charts and the Soviet Union was still nearly a decade away from break-up. Click here to read…

Sam Matekane – can a diamond magnate help Lesotho to sparkle?

Sam Matekane has taken many chances in his life – it is how he has been able to build a multimillion-dollar mining empire and become one of Lesotho’s most formidable businessmen. But those close to him say entering politics is by far his biggest gamble. Click here to read…

Leaders head to Algeria for first Arab League summit in two years

The first Arab League summit since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is set to begin in Algeria, but political divisions continue to rankle among the regional organisation’s members. Click here to read…

Arab Tourism Organization honors Algerian leader for supporting industry

The Arab Tourism Organization has honored Algeria’s president for his country’s role in supporting the tourism industry in the Arab world. Click here to read…

New Tunisia electoral law ‘eliminates’ gender parity: HRW

New electoral changes, including ending public financing of campaigns, will make it difficult for women to run for office, critics say. Click here to read…

Turkey looks to sell armed drones to Libya

Ankara’s new deals with one of Libya’s rival premiers have inflamed the country’s internal rows, bringing the north African nation closer to acquiring armed drones. Click here to read…

Angola: The end of Isabel dos Santos at Unitel

The nationalisation of Unitel, the country’s main telephone operator, as decided by president João Lourenço, signals the exit of Isabel dos Santos and the general ‘Dino’ from a pillar of the Angolan economy. Click here to read…

Chinese builder completes US$1.5 billion deep water port in Nigeria

About 60km (37 miles) east of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, China Harbour Engineering has finished building the US$1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port. Click here to read…

UK agrees to negotiate with Mauritius over handover of Chagos Islands

The UK has agreed to open negotiations with Mauritius over the future handover of the Chagos Islands, in a major reversal of policy following years of resistance and legal defeats in international courts. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe teachers hits back at Zanu-PF

TEACHERS unions have hit back at the ruling Zanu-PF’s accusations that they were being funded by “hostile” embassies to destabilise the country’s education system. Click here to read…

Oil theft: Vessel arrested in Equatorial Guinea is on its way back to Nigeria, says navy

The Nigerian Navy says it is conducting an investigation into the activities of MV HEROIC IDUN, a supertanker, arrested by Equatorial Guinea forces over alleged crude oil theft in Nigeria. Click here to read…

Mozambique to Export First Gas to Europe in November

Mozambique’s petroleum regulator, the National Petroleum Institute (INP), says the country is set to ship its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to the European market from the Coral Sul floating LNG facility by the end of October or early November this year. Click here to read…

After six years, UN climate summit returns to Africa

The 27th annual Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – better known as COP27 – will be held in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and begins next week. Click here to read…

COP27 shines spotlight on Egypt’s rights abuses

From a small blue tent pitched outside the UK’s Foreign Office, Sanaa al-Seif has been leading a one-woman protest in a bid to secure her brother’s release from an Egyptian jail as the Arab state prepares to host global leaders at the COP27 summit. Click here to read…

Egypt Eyes Diplomatic Payoff From Hosting COP27 Climate Summit

Authorities want to show “that Egypt is not an irrelevant country, that Egypt has the prowess, the diplomatic clout and the power, the security presence to be a pivotal figure”, a scholar said. Click here to read…

Two Million People Are Demanding Payment for Forest Preservation

Right now, countries and companies can get paid for all kinds of pollution-reducing initiatives, including lowering historic rates of deforestation or planting new trees. Click here to read…

Afreximbank plans $1.5 billion economic package for Botswana

The African Import and Export Bank (Afreximbank) plans a $1.5 billion economic package for Botswana to support key economic sectors such as mining, manufacturing, transport and agricultureClick here to read…

South Africa says it needs $84bln for energy transition in next 5 years

South Africa needs about 1.5 trillion rand ($84 billion) over the next five years for its plans to cut carbon emissions, harness economic opportunities from the energy transition and support affected communities. Click here to read…

EU signs six financing agreements with Mozambique

The European Union has signed six financing agreements with Mozambique. They are worth more than 148 million euros for development programs in the country. Click here to read…

Xi exchanges congratulations with Madagascar’s president over 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday exchanged congratulatory messages with President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Click here to read…

Pakistan’s economic tilt towards Africa

AFRICA spreads over 30 million km2 which makes it the second largest continent of the planet earth. Africa is also the second most populous continent. The continent sits at the intersection of international commerce and is adjacent to critical sea lanes of communication. Click here to read…

Passengers stranded as Kenya Airways’ pilots strike

Kenya Airways (KQNA.NR) on Saturday warned its striking pilots they could be dismissed if they do not return to work immediately as industrial action led to the cancellation of dozens of flights and left thousands of passengers stranded. Click here to read…

15 People Killed In Alleged Suicide Bombing At Military Base In Somalia’s Capital

A sucide bomb killed over a dozen on 5 november at Somalia Military Base named General Dhagabadan militarya training facility. 15 people dead. Click here to read…

Somali Government Says 21 Al-Shabab Militants Killed

The Somali government Sunday said its elite soldiers have killed 21 al-Shabab militants and wounding 10 others in an operation in the country’s lower Shabelle region. Click here to read…

Police: 21 bodies found at mine in South Africa

South African police are investigating the discovery of at least 21 bodies suspected of being illegal miners that were found near an active mine in the town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg. Click here to read…

Hundreds of elephants, wildebeests and zebras dead in Kenya amid prolonged drought

Hundreds of elephants, wildebeests, and zebras have died across Kenya amid the nation’s longest drought in decades. Click here to read…

Tanzanian plane crash-lands into Lake Victoria, 19 passengers dead

A Precision Air flight, carrying 43 persons, made a crash-landing into Lake Victoria on Sunday while attempting to reach a nearby airport in Bukoba, Tanzania. Click here to read…

World’s largest uncut emerald unearthed in Zambia, reminds people of kryptonite

Guinness World Records (GWR) regularly keeps people updated about different amazing and extraordinary things. The latest inclusion in their list of things that may make your jaw drop in wonder is a piece of uncut emerald. Click here to read…

Uganda extends lockdowns as Ebola spreads

Uganda on Saturday extended a three-week lockdown on two districts at the center of an Ebola outbreak which has claimed over 50 lives, curbing travel and closing public places. Click here to read…

Africa lost its largest female Elephant

Wildlife authorities have confirmed Dida, Africa’s giant female elephant, died between 60 and 65 years old on Tuesday at a national park southeast of the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Click here to read…

South Africa throws mega party as new Zulu king crowned

South Africa’s new Zulu King was formally declared the head of the country’s most influential traditional monarchy at a colorful ceremony presided over by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Indian Exim Bank Inks Pact With Southern Africa’s Leading Bank to Boost India-Africa Trade

Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) has concluded a Master Risk Participation Agreement for supporting trade transactions with FirstRand Bank (FRB) Limited. The agreement was signed in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the India – Southern Africa Regional Conclave. Click here to read…

India Could Emerge As Major Supplier Of Africa’s Defence Requirements: Report

The report by India Exim Bank released on Tuesday talks about various major areas of defence like aerospace, defence, maritime equipment and boats which can safeguard the security and boost Africa’s technological capability while accelerating India’s defence export target of USD 5 billion by 2025. Click here to read…

India could fulfill Africa’s maritime, aerospace and defence requirements: Exim Bank report

The report by India Exim Bank, titled ‘Reinvigorating India’s Economic Engagements with Southern Africa’, was released at the inauguration of the CII-Exim Bank Regional Conclave on India-Southern Africa Growth Partnership, where government officials and captains of business and industry are meeting on Tuesday to discuss a wide range of areas of potential cooperation. Click here to read…

Africa ‘major buyer’ of Indian arms

India has emerged as a leading defence exporter in recent years and could fulfil Africa’s maritime, aerospace and defence requirements, with Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles becoming the major buyers of Indian arms during 2017-2021, according to a research report released here. Click here to read…

Bharat sharpens focus on East Africa with new round of naval exercises

As it ended Saturday, the first-ever India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral (IMT TRILAT) maritime exercise began a new chapter in the Indian Navy’s growing efforts to enhance the security of the east coast of southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Region as a whole. Click here to read…

First India-Africa trilateral naval exercise ends

India has held its first-ever trilateral Navy exercise with Africa as part of initiatives to expand defence partnership with the continent. The Trilateral exercise comprising the Navies of India, Tanzania and Mozambique was held late last month. Click here to read…

4th India-Namibia Foreign Office Consultations

India and Namibia held the 4th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) on 3rd November 2022 in Windhoek, Namibia. Click here to read…

IFS Rajesh Ranjan named as next Indian envoy to Ivory Coast

Indian Foreign Service officer, Dr Rajesh Ranjan has been appointed as the next Indian Ambassador to the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire or Ivory Coast. Click here to read…

Stalled gas supplies may be part of EAM’s Russia agenda

Mint reported earlier that India is in talks with Angola and Algeria to procure liquefied natural gas on long-term contracts and that it has also reached out to the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq at a government-to-government level to secure additional spot LNG cargoes at affordable prices. Click here to read…

Two Kochi natives and Vismaya’s brother among 16 ship crew detained by Guinea

Concerted efforts for the release of the 16 Indian crew of a ship detained by the Navy of Guinea, a West African nation, are on. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 44, 2022)

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

COMMENTARY

A new chapter in India-Africa relations?

The size and health of India’s US$3.5 trillion economy have made the country a force to be reckoned with in global affairs. It has surpassed the United Kingdom in size and looks set to outstrip Germany by 2028, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Click here to read…

Kenyan politics, hit squads and Indians gone missing: The story so far

After having a blast of a lifetime at a popular club in a posh residential neighbourhood of Nairobi, the duo came out and got into a cab. Minutes later, a vehicle, the ones used by the now disbanded Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ (DCI) Special Service Unit (SSU), blocked the cab.
Click here to read…

Turkey deepens its defence diplomacy in Africa

Sales of drones and other arms to African nations are booming after Turkey signed military cooperation deals with dozens of governments on the continent. DW examines why so many countries are turning to Turkey for arms.
Click here to read…

NEWS

Diamond magnate Sam Matekane takes over as Lesotho’s prime minister

Sam Matekane officially became Lesotho’s new prime minister on Friday, vowing to make the small southern African state “great again.” 64-year-old businessman formed his political party just 6 months before winning October elections.
Click here to read…

Burkina Faso: Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla, Captain Traoré’s surprise prime minister

A popular polemicist and convinced Sankarist without claiming it, Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla is known for his outspokenness and iconoclastic positions.
Click here to read…

US is now at Burkina Faso’s mercy in the Sahel region

There have been worries that Burkina Faso could follow the example of its neighbor Mali, which late last year hired mercenary fighters from the Russian Wagner organization to support its army’s efforts to combat Islamist insurgents.
Click here to read…

Burkina Faso not planning to hire Russia’s Wagner mercenaries like Mali

Burkina Faso’s interim President Ibrahim Traore has assured US diplomats that he has no intention of inviting mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group to fight militants in the country.
Click here to read…

US blames Russia’s Wagner Group for worsening security in Mali

Mali’s security situation has become “significantly worse” due to the ruling junta’s choices, including an alleged decision to partner with Wagner, a Russian private security firm, a senior US official said Wednesday.
Click here to read…

Sudan Islamists protest UN post-coup mediation, call for religious rule instead

Some 3,000 protesters in Khartoum on Saturday rejected UN mediation efforts between civilian and military leaders as “foreign interference” and called for religious rule in Sudan.
Click here to read…

US orders families of embassy employees to depart Nigeria due to heightened risk of terrorism

The State Department has ordered non-emergency US embassy employees and their family members in Abuja, Nigeria to leave the country “due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there.”
Click here to read…

Arab League seeks new start for joint Arab action, says Algerian foreign minister

The Arab League is seeking a new start for joint Arab action and global developments should not affect the pursuit of solving Arab issues
Click here to read…

Senegal: NGOs urge Macky Sall to give up 3rd mandate

Several Senegalese organisations on Thursday urged President Macky Sall to dispel any doubts and openly declare that he would not run for his own succession in 2024, a candidacy they say could spread “chaos”.
Click here to read…

Ethiopia peace talks start in South Africa

The first formal peace talks aimed at ending two years of war between the Ethiopian army and forces from the country’s northern region of Tigray started in South Africa.
Click here to read…

Witnesses allege deadly abuses by Eritrean forces during Ethiopia peace talks

Even as Ethiopia’s warring sides attend their first formal peace talks in a devastating two-year conflict, witnesses in the country’s embattled Tigray region tell The Associated Press that forces from neighboring Eritrea are killing some civilians and looting as they and allied Ethiopian forces head for the regional capital.
Click here to read…

Western Sahara: Morocco Welcomes Adoption of Resolution 2654

Morocco welcomed on Thursday the adoption of Resolution 2654 by the Security Council, which renewed the mandate of peacekeeping operation MINURSO in Western Sahara to one year.
Click here to read…

Madagascar minister fired for voting against Russia’s Ukraine annexation

Madagascar’s president has fired his foreign affairs minister for voting at the United Nations to condemn Russian-organised referendums to annex four partially-occupied regions in Ukraine.
Click here to read…

Zimbabwe President Gets Ruling Party’s Backing for Another Term

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa secured his party’s backing to be its candidate in next year’s elections.
Click here to read…

Seychelles: President Ramkalawan Announced Members of the New Defence Forces Council

President Wavel Ramkalawan today announced and convened the first meeting of the Defence Forces Council, at State House. The new Council has been set up following the promotions and restructuring of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).
Click here to read…

UN Security Council to receive report on Abyei region

The United Nations Security Council will on Thursday receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s most recent report on the world body’s peacekeeping force in Abyei (UNISFA), covering the period from 15 April to 3 October.
Click here to read…

US Embassy issues demonstration alert for Port Louis, Mauritius, Oct. 29. Increased security likely.

The US Embassy in Port Louis issued a security alert Oct. 28, warning of a demonstration in the city Oct. 29. The purpose of the action is to demand justice for the killing of a local politician. Organizers plan protests at Place d’Armes, near Rogers House, from 14:00.
Click here to read…

Ramaphosa Criticizes US Over South Africa Terror Warning

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized the US for failing to discuss a terror alert issued by the American Embassy with local authorities.
Click here to read…

Uganda: Keep Private Sector Money Out of Politics, Govt Asked

Stakeholders have raised concern over the increased financing of politics by the private sector that they said in turn kills the public interest of service delivery.
Click here to read…

Rice shipment brings relief to shortage-hit Comoros

It’s late in the evening in the Comorian capital of Moroni but the city’s port is filled with eager faces. An 800-tonne rice shipment docked in the Indian Ocean archipelago and was offloaded on October 3.
Click here to read…

President of Guinea-Bissau visits Kyiv after trip to Moscow

President of Guinea-Bissau and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Umaro Sissoco Embalo arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Click here to read…

French-Australian veterinarian kidnapped in Chad

Jérôme Hugonot, a conservationist with dual French and Australian citizenship, has been kidnapped in north-eastern Chad and a search and rescue mission is under way, the Chad government has said.
Click here to read…

Two car bombs set off outside education ministry in Somalia; 100 dead, says President

Two car bomb explosions outside Somalia’s education ministry in its capital Mogadishu on Saturday left at least 100 people dead and 300 injured
Click here to read…

DR Congo expels Rwandan ambassador as M23 rebels seize towns

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government has ordered Rwandan Ambassador Vincent Karega to leave the country within 48 hours after accusing Kigali of supporting M23 rebels, who have seized two towns in the DRC’s east, raising tensions between the two countries.
Click here to read…

Burkina Violence Displaces 4,000 in Togo

More than 4,000 people have been displaced this year in northern Togo after the security climate worsened following jihadist attacks in neighboring Burkina Faso, the government said.
Click here to read…

Al-Qaeda Claims Deadly Attack In Burkina Faso

A powerful jihadist group has claimed responsibility for an attack Monday on an army base in northern Burkina Faso, adding it had also freed scores of prisoners in addition to killing 10 soldiers.
Click here to read…

Niger Lists 15 Anti-rebel Operations With French Forces

Nigerien and French forces staged 15 “joint operations” seizing arms and ammunition from jihadist insurgents along the African country’s volatile border with Mali from July to October, Niger’s army said Saturday.
Click here to read…

Saudi Fund for Development helps Comoros with $5m water project

A Saudi Fund for Development delegation laid the foundation stone for a $5 million water project in Moroni, Comoros.
Click here to read…

World Bank approves $275 million in development support for Zambia

The World Bank has approved US$275 million in assistance to help Zambia recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and deal with the fallout from the war in Ukraine.
Click here to read…

Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 to Examine Best Approaches for Angola to Achieve Fuel Self Sufficiency

The upcoming Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 conference and exhibition (https://bit.ly/3sButIz) which runs from November 29 – December 1, will explore the best approach Angola should implement to ensure fuel self-sufficiency.
Click here to read…

Guinea’s Colonel Doumbouya visits Sierra Leone

The leader of Guinea’s ruling junta, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, was greeted in Freetown during a visit to neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Click here to read…

Tanzanian President to visit China with focus on cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Samia Suluhu Hassan, president of the United Republic of Tanzania, will pay a state visit to China from November 2 to November 4.
Click here to read…

Turkey looks to sell armed drones to Libya

Ankara’s new deals with one of Libya’s rival premiers have inflamed the country’s internal rows, bringing the north African nation closer to acquiring armed drones.
Click here to read…

Burundi declares border with Rwanda open more than 5 years after closure

Burundi’s foreign affairs minister officially declared that the border between the East African country and Rwanda has been reopened.
Click here to read…

Tunisia could lose its World Cup spot weeks ahead of 2022 kick off

FIFA has sent a warning to the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF) stating that its participation at the World Cup could be threatened if government interference is found within the organisation
Click here to read…

Saudi, Algerian ministers discuss bilateral ties

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji met Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra in Algiers, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Click here to read…

Ivory Coast and Ghana join hands to destroy western chocolate industry and reclaim the cocoa throne

There is a famous saying that ‘God helps those who help themselves’. Two African countries have after years of exploitation decided to catch the devil by its horns in order to do something against the injustice being done to their farmers at the hands of the western multinational corporations.
Click here to read…

Gas, the new deal for Mauritania

In just a year, production is due to commence on the $4.8bn Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) liquefied natural gas platform. It will be operated by the British oil giant BP and Kosmos Energy of the US.
Click here to read…

Biden to visit Egypt, Cambodia and Indonesia for COP27, Nov summits

US President Joe Biden, as part of his North Africa and Asia visit, will attend the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Egypt and other November summits in Cambodia and Indonesia.
Click here to read…

Greenpeace accused of greenwashing Egypt’s image ahead of Cop27

Greenpeace has been accused by human rights defenders of “greenwashing” the Egyptian government’s image and discouraging other activists from forcefully raising the country’s abysmal human right record ahead of Cop27.
Click here to read…

Nearly 200 dead as Niger flooding death toll rises

Flooding caused by torrential rain in Niger has left 195 people dead and affected more than 322,000, an official toll showed on Saturday.
Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

India-COMESA Trade Council office opened

The launch was announced in a release on the first India – COMESA trade conference here on Thursday, an event in which Ambassadors of Ethiopia, Malawi, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Sudan participated.
Click here to read…

Jaishankar meets his UK, Ghana, UAE counterparts, discusses ways to boost bilateral ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met his UK, Ghana, and UAE counterparts – James Cleverly, Shirley A Botchwey and Reem Al Hashimy respectively.
Click here to read…

MoS Muraleedharan underscores policy to deepen engagement with Africa

Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan underscored India’s policy to intensify and deepen its engagement with Africa at the Dakar Forum held in Senegal.
Click here to read…

India stands ready to support Africa on its developmental priorities: MoS V Muraleedharan

Mr Muraleedharan was on a two-day visit to Senegal from 24th of this month to participate in the 8th edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security. Click here to read…

Indian Navy’s Goa Maritime Symposium to commence from Monday

The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) is being conducted by the Naval War College (NWC) at Goa from 31 October to 1 November 2022.
Click here to read…

India Takes Part in Maiden Trilateral Maritime Exercise With Mozambique And Tanzania

The 1st edition of India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise between the navies of the respective countries commenced at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Oct 27.
Click here to read…

Navy holds drill with Mozambique,Tanzania

The first edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT), a joint maritime exercise, concluded at Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Click here to read…

INS Tarangini Departs Djibouti

INS Tarangini visited Port of Djibouti from 23 to 25 October 2022 as part of Lokayan 2022. High level interactions were undertaken with Djibouti Coast Guard during stay. The ship was also open to visitors and a guided tour of ship was organised to help visitors understand the nuances of life onboard a ‘Tall Ship’.
Click here to read…

With India’s generous help, Morocco will be providing “green energy” to Europe

Indian business tycoon Gautam Adani is holding talks with the Moroccan government to develop its renewable energy projects which will be used to supply electricity and hydrogen to Europe.
Click here to read…

Exports to African and Latin American countries on the rise

Exports to African and Latin American countries have jumped in the first five months of the fiscal compensating to an extent diminished opportunities in the US and Europe because of a global slowdown.
Click here to read…

‘Global interest in India-modified M4’ — South African defence firm wants to manufacture in India

South African defence major, Paramount Group — which has a tie-up with India’s Kalyani Group for the joint production of M4 armoured vehicles for the Army here — wants to expand its Indian manufacturing presence to cater to its global clients.
Click here to read…

India’s G20 Presidency and the next phase of industrial growth

India will assume the Presidency of the Group of Twenty (or G20) for one year from 01 December 2022 to 30 November 2023 and this is expected to be a turning point for further deepening India’s global footprints.
Click here to read…

Bug diplomacy: Parasitoid from Africa’s Republic of Benin comes to aid of India’s tapioca

India is the number one producer of tapioca (fresh tubers) in the world with 35.0 tonnes/hectare as against the world average of 10.76 tonnes/hectare.
Click here to read…

EAM @DrSJaishankar Met FM of Ghana, Shirley A. Botchwey; Thanked Her for Participation in … – Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services

The latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services states, ‘EAM @DrSJaishankar met FM of Ghana, Shirley A. Botchwey; thanked her for participation in UNSC special meeting.
Click here to read…

UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022 From November 22 For Students, Teachers; 23 Nations To Participate

The UNESCO India – Afrika Hackathon scheduled to be held between November 22 and 25, is an annual event that brings together students, educators, teachers and the research community of India.
Click here to read…

Why two Indians disappeared on a July night in Kenya

Two Indian tourists and their local driver disappeared in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on a July night. More than two months after the incident, nine policemen have been arrested in connection with the case, which India says it is “closely watching”.
Click here to read…

Deaths of Gambian children cast dark shadow over India’s drugs industry

The tragic demise of 66 children in the West African nation of Gambia as a result of the use of suspect cough remedies has brought into focus a dangerous aspect of India’s massive pharmaceutical industry.
Click here to read…

Airtel Africa profit after tax down 17.2% at $180 mn in Sept quarter

Airtel Africa’s revenue grew 12.7 percent on a reported basis and 18.5 percent in constant currency, to $1,308 million in Q2 September 2022.
Click here to read…

Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations, Lusaka, Zambia

More than 8,800 visitors, including 1,500 students, from all over Zambia and Malawi, visited the seven-day Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations organized by BAPS at the six-acre Pramukh Swami Nagar set up on the CPS Ground in the Kamwala area of Lusaka.
Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 43, 2022)

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

COMMENTARY

Indo-Africa: The Rising Relationship

The foreign policy of India is visible from the increasing number of high-level visits from both the sides, which primarily concerns areas related to cooperation in various fields. Today, the bilateral trade between the two has increased from $34 billion in 2009 to $69 billion in 2019. Click here to read…

Raksha Mantri’s Visit to Egypt: Significance for India–Africa Defence Cooperation

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s visit to Egypt from 18 to 20 September 2022 has opened new avenues for defence cooperation. The visit signifies India’s growing defence ties with the African region. Click here to read…

Africa’s next wannabe third-term presidents must be stopped

If the presidents of Senegal and the Central African Republic are planning constitutional coups, the AU must step in. Click here to read…

NEWS

Lesotho election body says it made a mistake over parliament seats

Electoral authorities in Lesotho have said they incorrectly allocated parliamentary seats after an Oct. 7 election, asking the country’s top court to amend the allocations and halt the legislature’s first sitting, court papers showed on Saturday. Click here to read…

Tigray peace talks to start on Monday, says Addis Ababa

The African Union (AU) has set October 24 as a new date for the start of direct talks between Tigray and the Ethiopian government. Click here to read…

Ethiopia, seeking to control Tigray airports, takes a town

Ethiopian authorities said Monday they are aiming to get immediate control of airports and other infrastructure in Tigray, a statement of their war intentions that was followed by the capture of a town in the embattled northern region. Click here to read…

Ibrahim Traore sworn in as Burkina Faso interim president

Ibrahim Traore has been sworn in as interim president of Burkina Faso, several weeks after Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was removed in a coup. Click here to read…

Sudan’s civilian coalition presents vision for military exit from politics

Sudan’s main political coalition on Monday presented its vision for a fully civilian-led authority to lead a transition to elections; following stepped up efforts to end an 11-month-old stalemate between the ruling military and pro-democracy forces. Click here to read…

South Africa vows ‘unapologetic’ support for Western Sahara independence from Morocco

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed his government’s “unapologetic” backing for the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara. Click here to read…

Western Sahara: Morocco Hits Back at South Africa’s Hostile Position

The Moroccan FM recalled that half of African countries have opened representations in the southern provinces, reflecting their unwavering support for the country’s territorial integrity. Click here to read…

Guinea junta agrees return to civilian rule in two years

West African leaders had last month suspended Guinea from the bloc and imposed sanctions on a number of individuals following a military coup. Click here to read…

Tripoli-based PM Dbeibah rejects ‘sovereign positions’ deal in Libya

Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, the prime minister of Libya’s Tripoli-based unity government, rejected a deal with the east Libya-based parliament on changing the heads of the country’s sovereign positions. Click here to read…

Tunisian protesters denounce ‘coup’, demand president steps down

Thousands of Tunisians have demonstrated in the capital Tunis, denouncing President Kais Saied’s moves to consolidate political power and demanding accountability for the country’s long-running economic crisis. Click here to read…

Togo’s flag raised at Marlborough House to mark admission into the Commonwealth

The flag of Togo was raised for the first time at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London, formally marking the country’s entry into the 56-member association. Click here to read…

Attack on hotel in Somalia’s Kismayo ends with 9 civilians dead

An attack on a hotel in the centre of the port city of Kismayo in southern Somalia killed nine civilians on Sunday before security forces killed the gunmen. Click here to read…

Several killed in suspected ‘insurgency attack’ in western Niger

An attack on three Lorries and a motorcycle in western Niger near the border with Mali has killed 11 people, local sources have said, calling it a suspected insurgency attack. Click here to read…

DR Congo troops clash with M23 rebels, 4 civilians killed

Fresh clashes between the army and M23 rebels have erupted in eastern DR Congo, officials said Sunday, with at least four civilians killed and dozens more wounded in the fighting. Click here to read…

60 killed as anti-government protests intensify in Africa’s Chad

At least 60 people were killed in Africa’s Chad after security forces opened fire on anti-government demonstrators. This came amid demonstrations in the central African nation against interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby’s two-year extension of his power. Click here to read…

Hundreds Flee Attacks in Mozambique’s Ruby Mining Region

This week, suspected Al-Shabab fighters attacked precious gem-rich areas of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, closing at least two mining operations and causing hundreds of people to flee villages in Ancuabe and Montepuez districts. Click here to read…

US hits al-Shabab finance facilitators with sanctions

The Treasury Department said Monday that it has sanctioned a group of high-ranking members of the Somalia-based al-Shabab militant group, who act as key middle men between the group and local companies in Somalia. Click here to read…

Saudi Arabia and South Africa sign 17 MoUs worth more than $15 billion

On the occasion of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the Kingdom, both countries agreed to strengthen their bonds in several fields by signing MoUs worth above 15 billion. Click here to read…

At least 150 killed in two days of fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile

At least 150 people were killed during two days of fighting in the latest ethnic clashes over land disputes in Sudan’s southern Blue Nile state. Click here to read…

Walmart doubles down on Africa despite a decade of frustration`

The strategy – according to nine analysts, investors and sources with direct knowledge of Walmart’s plans – is firstly to build Massmart into a force able to see off its brick-and-mortar rivals and then win a looming battle against Amazon for the future of African e-commerce. Click here to read…

Ethiopia, Djibouti eye strong electricity connectivity

The governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti have expressed the need to augment electricity connectivity to spur socio-economic ties among the two neighboring countries. Click here to read…

Ghana and Zambia race to secure IMF bailouts

Runaway inflation and soaring food prices have compelled Ghana and Zambia to seek bailouts from the International Monetary Fund. This week, traders across Ghana closed shop to protest the worsening economy. Click here to read…

Germany Allocates €38 Million For Morocco’s First Green Hydrogen Plant

Germany has vowed to allocate €38 million (MAD 408 million) to support the construction of Morocco’s first green hydrogen plant amid bilateral efforts to consolidate diplomatic and economic ties between Rabat and Berlin. Click here to read…

Burundi: $23 million from the African Development Bank Group to Develop the Agro-Pastoral Sector for the Youth and Women

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has greenlighted the award of a $23.26 million grant to Burundi to implement the Agro-Pastoral Entrepreneurship and Professional Development Project for the Youth and Women. Click here to read…

China may seize Kenyan assets, external debt reaches more than USD 36 billion

The default occurred a year after Kenya requested a six-month extension of the debt repayment moratorium from bilateral lenders, including China. However, the lenders, particularly the Exim Bank of China, refused to consider Kenya’s application. Click here to read…

China launches first-ever intermodal service to Africa

China set in motion a new intermodal service connecting the country with Africa via Europe. The rail part of the service will run between Chengdu, in southwest China, with Hamburg, in Germany, via the China-Europe Railway Express. From there, goods are shipped to Casablanca, in Morocco, by sea. Click here to read…

Cop 27: Uganda-Tanzania oil pipeline sparks climate row

Uganda and Tanzania are set to begin work on a massive crude oil pipeline a year after the International Energy Agency warned that the world risked not meeting its climate goals if new fossil fuel projects were not stopped. The two East African countries say their priority is economic development. Click here to read…

Fire breaks out at Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, locals help firefighters tackle blaze

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro that was spread due to heavy winds overnight. They were assisted by the police and the locals. Click here to read…

UN Agencies Say Rains Have Flooded Two-Thirds of South Sudan

The United Nations refugee agency says that South Sudanese flood victims are in desperate need of international support. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

MoS V Muraleedharan to visit Senegal 24-25 October

V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, will visit the Republic of Senegal during 24-25 October. Muraleedharan will participate in the Dakar Forum on Peace and Security. Click here to read…

India-Africa Defence Dialogue held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

The India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) was held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 18, 2022. The dialogue successfully brought out various aspects of the IADD’s theme ‘Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’. Click here to read…

Rajnath Singh meets African counterparts ahead of India-Africa Defence Dialogue

Ahead of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue which is scheduled for Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held fruitful discussions with defence ministers of various African nations. Click here to read…

India committed to provide all-round support to African nations: Defence Minister

Addressing the delegates from 43 African countries during ‘India-Africa Defence Dialogue’ (IADD) in Gandhinagar today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh put forth India’s stand as committed partner to provide support in all arenas to African countries, for fulfilling their aspirations for peace and stability in the region. Click here to read…

India to showcase arms to Africa, Indian Ocean Region nations

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is holding bilateral talks with his counterparts from several African nations including Mauritania, Gambia and the Central African Republic (CAR) at the sidelines of the show, said India’s target is to achieve exports worth ‘35,000 crore by 2025, up from last year’s Rs 13,000 crore. Click here to read…

To counter China’s influence, India seeks to boost defence cooperation with African countries

Underlining that India does not believe in making another country a “client” or “satellite state”, New Delhi is aspiring for deeper defence cooperation with African countries in the form of training and sale of equipment like attack choppers, drones, missiles, patrol vessels and small arms, among others. Click here to read…

‘India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme’ at MP-IDSA launched during India-Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022

During the IADD, in keeping with the new proposals of the Gandhinagar Declaration, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the ‘India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme’ and released its brochure by handing it over to Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). Click here to read…

India remains steadfast in supporting people of Mali in seeking peace

India remains steadfast in supporting the people of Mali in their quest for seeking enduring peace, security and development. Click here to read…

Jaishankar meets Botswana’s Foreign Minister

In a continuation of India’s deepening engagement with Africa, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of Botswana on 19 October 2022. Click here to read…

International Solar Alliance approves funding facility

The payment guarantee mechanism is expected to stimulate investments into solar projects through two financial components — a Solar Payment Guarantee Fund and Solar Insurance Fund. Click here to read…

INS Tarkash Arrives for IBSAMAR-VII in South Africa

INS Tarkash reached Port Grequhrea (also known as Port Elizabeth) in South Africa to participate in the seventh edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies from October 10-12. Click here to read…

Mudurunu receives an order in Gabon

Mudunuru has received orders worth US$355,395 for a project to implement the SmartPort solution for the mining port of Gabon (Central Africa). According to the filing, the order was received from Owendo Mineral Port (OMP). And it concerns the people and resources monitoring and management system for the Owendo mining port. Click here to read…

Billionaire Adani to Target Europe with Huge Morocco Clean Energy Project

Gautam Adani, Asia’s richest person, is in exploratory talks for a giant renewables project in Morocco, which would aim to supply electricity and emissions-free fuel to Europe. Click here to read…

The importance of the India-Africa defence dialogue

India is taking steps to increase its defence exports and emerge as a hub of defence production in the Indo-Pacific region. It is useful for building up a domestic defence-industrial-technological base, creating local capabilities and, in the long run, will reduce weapons imports. Click here to read…

2 missing Indians part of Kenyan President’s campaign killed: Report

A close aide of Kenyan President William Ruto has claimed that the two Indians, who went missing in July, have been killed. Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan and his friend Mohammed Zaid Sami Kidwai were part of President Ruto’s digital campaign team. Click here to read…

Ekta Kapoor contacts Ministry of External Affairs and Kenya Red Cross to find the ex-COO of Balaji Telefilms after he goes missing in Nairobi

The owner of Balaji Telefilms, Ekta Kapoor recently took to social media to share a post regarding one of her friends and her colleagues who went missing during a recent trip. Zulfikar Ahmad Khan, who was the COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Balaji Telefilms and also a former journalist, recently took off to Nairobi and has been missing since the past three months. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 42, 2022)

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 42, 2022)Welcome toAfrica Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Harnessing the Trade Winds: History of Indian Traders in Eastern Africa

Imagine someone telling you, Indians knew the monsoon winds much before European sailors. Imagine someone claiming that Indians started sailing long before the European explorers of the 14th century; even before Hippalus.Click here to read…

How death of Gambian children will affect India’s African outreach

FROM THE INDIAN perspective, Bangladesh and The Gambia may be worlds apart. But, there are a couple of commonalities between the western African country and India’s eastern neighbour. First is India’s diplomatic outreach. Click here to read…

Why Russia is cheering on the Burkina Faso coup

The latest coup in Burkina Faso saw young people waving Russian flags in the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou – something that must have warmed hearts in the Kremlin. Click here to read…

NEWS

Millionaire businessman turns tables to win Lesotho polls

Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), a party set up only six months ago by a 64-year-old businessman Sam Matekane, won 56 out of 120 seats in parliament. Click here to read…

Lesotho populist party wins most seats in election, falls short of majority

A Lesotho party led by a diamond magnate won the most seats in last week’s election, but fell short of an overall majority, the election commission said on Monday, raising the prospect of more political gridlock. Click here to read…

Lesotho’s RFP party forms coalition government with other opposition after election win

Lesotho’s newly formed party Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), which won the most seats in last week’s election but fell short of an overall majority, has formed a coalition government with two other opposition parties. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso geared for political change following coup unrest

Political parties, social and religious groups and representatives of the security forces gather Friday to chart the next phase in Burkina Faso’s future after the country’s latest coup. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso’s latest coup leader named transition president

Burkina Faso’s latest coup, announced on September 30 on state television, has raised fears that the country’s political chaos could result in more violence from the region’s Islamic extremists. Click here to read…

Sudan ‘close’ to a national consensus: army chief

Head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, has said the country’s political groups are close to reaching a national consensus. Click here to read…

Mali’s new draft constitution bolsters president’s power

The draft of a new constitution handed to Mali’s military ruler bolsters the powers of the future president and rules out extensive autonomy for the country’s north. Click here to read…

Chadian prime minister resigns to pave way for new government

Chad’s Prime Minister, Albert Pahimi Padacke, has resigned to pave the way for a new government after the Central African country pushed back elections by two years. Click here to read…

Chad names opposition politician Saleh Kebzabo as new PM

Chad’s transitional government on Wednesday named opposition politician Saleh Kebzabo as the new prime minister after the former prime minister resigned to pave way for a new administration. Click here to read…

Tunisia: Thousands from rival political parties protest against President Kais Saied

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Tunisia’s capital to demonstrate against the president. Parallel demonstrations by political movements who are deeply opposed to each other were held in Tunis. Click here to read…

Angola’s President gives first National Assembly speech since re-election

Angolan President Joao Lourenço delivered his first speech before the National Assembly since his re-election admitting to devoting all his strength and attention to the search for the best conditions for the population. Click here to read…

Botswana President reaffirms continuous support to Sahrawi people right to self-determination and independence

President of Botswana, Mr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, has reaffirmed his country’s historical position in support of the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination, liberation and independence. Click here to read…

Somalia Warns Traders Not to Pay off Islamist Militants

Somalia’s government Saturday threatened to sanction businesses that pay extortion money to al-Shabab, looking to choke a lucrative cash pipeline the Islamist militants use to fund a deadly insurgency. Click here to read…

China’s CRRC Qiqihar branch exports largest railway flat wagon to Tanzania

A railway flat wagon, with a maximum capacity of 200 tons, which will be exported by CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co. has been loaded for shipment to Tanzania at Tianjin port, North China, on Saturday. Click here to read…

Kenya denies defaulting on China railway debt

Kenya on Thursday denied it had defaulted on interest repayments on a loan advanced by China for the construction of a railway line from the port city of Mombasa that opened in 2017. Click here to read…

Zambia finance minister eager to renegotiate debt, awaits China’s team

Zambia’s finance minister said on Saturday it is still unclear who will be leading talks for renegotiating its nearly $6 billion debt with China, the largest bilateral creditor of the first African sovereign default in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Click here to read…

Palestinian factions sign reconciliation agreement in Algeria

Rival Palestinian factions meeting in Algiers for talks mediated by the Algerian government have agreed on a reconciliation deal that aims to resolve 15 years of discord through new elections in the occupied Palestinian territories. Click here to read…

Nigeria election: Dangers of being religious in a religious nation

Religious intolerance – in one of the most religious countries in Africa if not the world – is one of the issues dominating debate ahead of next year’s elections. Click here to read…

Inter-Parliamentary Union condemns coups in Africa

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Tuesday condemned the increasing coups on the African continent. Much of Africa’s Sahel region has been battling growing unrest which has prompted a spate of coups in Mali, Guinea and Chad since 2020. Click here to read…

‘Our problems are our problems,’ South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique have sent a strong message to the West

African countries have decided that their internal security crisis can be resolved only by them and not by any external player.Click here to read…

Sudan, Ethiopia agree to resolve border issues peacefully

The head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and the country’s de-facto leader Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed agreed to resolve border issues peacefully, the office of the Sudanese leader said on Saturday. Click here to read…

Nigeria dismisses terrorism charges against separatist leader

Charges against a Nigerian separatist leader accused of terrorism and instigating violence in the country’s southeast have been discharged by a local court, his lawyer told The Associated Press. Click here to read…

Ethiopia restricts use of foreign currency

Ethiopia has ordered banks to deny foreign currency to businesses importing non-priority goods, in an effort to shore up dwindling foreign reserves in one of Africa’s major economies. Click here to read…

With the help of Israel, Morocco is the first African country to enter the drone manufacturers club

Morocco has entered the club of drone manufacturers by virtue of the recent deal it concluded with Israel, according to which Morocco will manufacture Israeli war drones. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe inks deal to manufacture lithium-ion batteries

Zimbabwe entered into a deal with an unnamed foreign investor to manufacture lithium batteries, Deputy Mines Minister Polite Kambamura said on Sunday. Click here to read…

New commercial shipping service between France, Spain and Morocco

The French company CMA-CGM will put into service the transport of containers between France, Spain and Morocco with a stopover in Algeciras and Barcelona Click here to read…

Europe turns to Africa in bid to replace Russian natural gas

A new liquefied natural gas project off Africa’s western coast may only be 80% complete, but already the prospect of a new energy supplier has drawn visits from the leaders of Poland and Germany. Click here to read…

Mauritania boosts its industrial investments after finding new gas reserves off the country’s coasts

The Mauritanian country has accelerated the pace of awakening gas reserves on its Atlantic coast with the award of new exploration contracts, under the watchful eye of the European Union. Click here to read…

A $1 billion investment by Google in Africa is rooted in the ‘spirit of Ubuntu’

Pan-Africanism was meant to be centred on the Ubuntu principle, but it has been difficult to implement because some African nations are pushing for protectionist policies even under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (Afcfta.) Click here to read…

Botswana’s first indigenous bank to launch in early 2023

Botswana’s BBS Limited will launch as the country’s first indigenous commercial bank early next year after the central bank issued it a full banking licence. Click here to read…

6th Africa Agri Expo to kick off in Kenya next year in February!

Africa’s rich agribusiness, fertile untapped land, and enormous underlying prospects have always paved the way for such events that connect the continent’s agribusiness to the rest of the world – while also providing exclusive networking and brand-building opportunities for global agricultural industry players. Click here to read…

Africa’s longest oil pipeline takes shape in Niger

With a projected length of nearly 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) – including 1,250 km in Niger itself – the pipeline will connect oil wells in the eastern region of Agadem, a zone troubled by deadly jihadist incursions, with the Beninese port of Seme. Click here to read…

Africa’s airline industry to return to profit in 2024, IATA official says

Those problems were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as national airlines sought government bailouts while others were liquidated when passenger seats plummeted during strict lockdowns. Click here to read…

Mauritius becomes a model for innovation-driven development in Africa

Despite a turbulent year of inflation fuelled both by the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mauritius has retained its crown as Africa’s most innovative country, besting the likes of South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal. Click here to read…

Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia on edge as Africa fraught with default risks

The months-long Ukraine war and other global headwinds have left Africa’s largest economies struggling with relentless fiscal pressures and default risks, with soaring yields on the continent barely reversing an exodus of non-resident investors to developed nations. Click here to read…

Africa’s Only G-20 Member Wants to Reform Its Debt Framework

Africa’s only member of the Group of 20 nations is working with its continental peers to propose reforms to the forum’s mechanism for countries to restructure unaffordable debt. Click here to read…

Turkish ship suspected of carrying weapons arrives in Misrata, 444 militia start movement south

The movement of the 444 militia south of Misrata to Bani Walid on Friday took place after the Turkish container ship MATILDE A docked at the Port of Misrata on Wednesday around 1:30 pm, which continued unloading its cargo until Friday. Click here to read…

Jihadis Kill 11 in Burkina Faso Ambush, Security Sources Say

Jihadi militants killed at least three soldiers and eight civilian auxiliaries in an attack Saturday in Burkina Faso’s volatile north, security sources told AFP. Click here to read…

Blast in Central African Republic kills 3 Bangladesh UN peacekeepers

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers and the people in government of Bangladesh,” he added. Click here to read…

11 killed, dozens injured in bus blast in central Mali

The bus hit an explosive device while travelling the road between Bandiagara and Goundaka, in the Mopti area, known as a hotbed for jihadist violence. Click here to read…

Mozambique jihadi violence spreads despite military effort

The 5-year wave of jihadi violence in Cabo Delgado province has killed more than 4,000 people and scuppered international investments worth billions of dollars. Click here to read…

Villagers brutally massacred in DRC’s eastern Ituri province

Unidentified militants have killed 12 civilians in a village in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region which has been plagued by violence perpetrated by armed groups for years. Click here to read…

DR Congo colonels get death penalty for murder of Chinese workers

Six people, including two army colonels, sentenced to death while four others were jailed for 10 years in connection with the March killing. Click here to read…

Chinese investors dogged by controversy with gross human rights violations of Zimbabwean workers

Chinese-run companies in Zimbabwe have been dogged by controversy with gross human rights violations and safety norms for mining workers. Click here to read…

Chinese peacekeeper to South Sudan (Wau) awarded UN Peace Medals

An award ceremony was held on October 11 local time at the Chinese engineering camp in the Super Camp of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Wau. Click here to read…

Head of Africa CDC alleges mistreatment at German airport

The acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alleged he was “mistreated” upon his arrival at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport on Saturday and had decided to return to Africa. Click here to read…

Ebola in Uganda: Three-week lockdown announced for two districts

A three-week lockdown has been declared in two districts of Uganda as the country battles an Ebola outbreak. Bars, nightclubs, places of worship and entertainment venues will be closed in Mubende and neighbouring Kassanda, and a curfew will come into force. Click here to read…

From Shining Shoes in Africa to a Seat in Italy’s Parliament

When Aboubakar Soumahoro was a child in his West African home country of Ivory Coast, he cleaned people’s shoes to make money. He also had a dream to go to Italy. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Visit of External Affairs Minister to the Arab Republic of Egypt (October 15-16, 2022)

At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, will pay an official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt from 15-16 October 2022. Click here to read…

Jaishankar begins his first bilateral visit to Egypt

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began his visit to Egypt visit in the capital city of Cairo on Saturday where he met eminent personalities in the field of foreign policy. Click here to read…

Jaishankar meets Egyptian president, says both countries promote global peace

India foreign minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday met the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Describing both the countries as “independent-minded” nations, in a series of tweets, Jaishankar said both the countries contribute towards global discourse and promote the cause of peace, progress and development. Click here to read…

In Egypt, EAM Jaishankar talks Ukraine, Indo-Pacific

External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo on Saturday and the two leaders discussed regional developments and exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific. Click here to read…

India, Egypt to now explore opportunities in renewable energy, trade: Jaishankar

Addressing a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry following their meeting in Cairo, Jaishankar said bilateral trade had recorded the highest-ever figure of $ 7.2 billion last year. Click here to read…

India, Egypt to collaborate on premier higher educational institutes like IIT

A committee was constituted by the Union education ministry after IIT-Delhi submitted a proposal last year for opening centres in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Click here to read…

EAM Jaishankar thanks diaspora for shaping India’s image in Egypt

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar thanked the Indian business community in Egypt for advancing national interests and shaping the country’s image in the region. Click here to read…

Visiting Egypt very much on PM Modi’s mind: EAM Jaishankar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has very good personal relationship with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and he has been wanting to visit the key north African country for some time, but the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the travel schedule, India’s top diplomat has said. Click here to read…

Partnership with Africa a top priority for India: Ruchira Kamboj at UNSC

Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, held that terrorist outfits like armed groups merit the attention of the Council. While addressing the council meet on October 11, Ruchira Kamboj said, “Terrorist outfits like armed groups deserve the attention of the council in their response to addressing security threats confronting Africa today. Click here to read…

African defence ministers to attend India-Africa Defence Dialogue in Gujarat next week

As many as 13 African defence ministers will be travelling to India to participate in the India-Africa Defence Dialogue that will take place on October 18 on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Click here to read…

Defence exports to cross Rs. 13,000 cr, Gujarat to get 5th airbase

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the second India-Africa defence dialogue and a conclave of defence ministers of over 25 countries during the DefExpo 2022, scheduled to begin in Gandhinagar on October 18. Click here to read…

Indian Naval Ship Tarkash Reaches South Africa for IBSAMAR VII

INS Tarkash reached Port Grequhrea which is also known as Port Elizabeth in South Africa. INS Tarkash will participate in the seventh edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise. Click here to read…

INS TARKASH PARTICIPATES IN IBSAMAR VII

The 7th edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise, among the Indian, Brazilian and South Africa navies was held at Port Gqeberha (also known as Port Elizabeth), South Africa from 10 to 12 Oct 22. The Indian Navy was represented in it by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and MARCOS Special Forces. Click here to read…

Former media executive among 2 missing in Kenya for over 80 days, friends seek PM Modi’s help

An Indian national and former senior executive at Star and Balaji, Zulfiqar Khan, has been missing in Kenya since July 21 this year. His friends say that there has been complete silence since then. Click here to read…

India pushes for settlement of international trade in rupee with Sudan

India has reached out to Sudan towards settlement of international trade in rupee as part of its push towards internationalisation of the domestic currency. Click here to read…

Airtel and Cellulant Plan to Increase Their Customer Base in Zambia

In order to increase their position in the Zambian market, operator Airtel Africa and payments provider Cellulant have made announcements. The Lusaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Cellulant Zambia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide digital payments to the LCCI’s member companies. Click here to read…

From obscure bank to a fintech darling: The curious case of SBM

What do fintech competitors Slice, Uni and Lazypay have in common? And we are not talking of their ambition to outrace each other in the digital lending space. The answer: State Bank of Mauritius (SBM) India.Click here to read…

Doon School Srinagar bags award of excellence from Mauritius Govt

The Doon International School (DIS) Srinagar has received a prestigious award in excellence in School Education Awards- 2022. Click here to read…

Cough Syrup death case: Death toll rises to 70, Gambia begins probe

As the world turns their eyes tot he cough syrup deaths of children, the Gambian government has informed that the death toll has risen to 70 from a previous toll of 69. Click here to read…

Nigeria, Liberia flag Maiden syrups after Gambia deaths

The head of India’s apex pharma export promotion body warned of rising “negativity” over the Maiden Pharma controversy after Nigeria and Liberia issued alerts over four Maiden-manufactured cough syrups linked to the deaths of 69 Gambian children. Click here to read…

Jaishankar: Deepest condolences to Gambia over death of children

“In a telecon with Gambian FM Dr Mamadou Tangara, conveyed our deepest condolences on the deaths of young children recently. Underlined that matter is being seriously investigated by appropriate authorities; we agreed to remain in touch,” Jaishankar tweeted. Click here to read…

The Gambia deaths | India seeks more data

India has sought more information from the World Health Organization on the deaths in the Gambia linked to contaminated cough syrups made by Maiden Pharma in India. Click here to read…

The cough syrups linked to child deaths in Africa: a wake-up call for India’s drug regulators

The World Health Organisation says cough syrups supplied by an Indian company are linked to the deaths of 66 children in Africa’s Gambia. The incident puts the spotlight on India’s weak drug regulatory system, which experts say has acquired a reputation and has been often found lacking due to a history of corruption. Click here to read…

India halts production of cough syrups suspected of links to child deaths

Indian health authorities have halted production at a pharmaceutical company in New Delhi after the World Health Organization (WHO) said its cough and cold syrups may be linked to the deaths of dozens of children. Click here to read…

Murder charge against Indian-origin doctor in South Africa over patient’s death after surgery

35-year-old Dr Avindra Dayanand surrendered before the police after his patient died following gall bladder surgery, according to a report in the Sunday Times. Click here to read…

Of drug quality, Gambia and India: an interview with the authors of The Truth Pill

The Truth Pill, by Dinesh Singh Thakur and Prashant Reddy Thikkavarapu investigates the challenges of drug regulation in India. It looks at why enforcement by authorities is lax; and how this sows the seeds for incidents such as the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia. Click here to read…

India has great potential in athletics, a champion from the country will come soon: Haile Gebrselassie

New Delhi is hosting legendary athlete Haile Gebrselassie. The Ethiopian won the 10,000m gold in successive Olympics and eight World Championships in his 25-year storied career. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 41, 2022)

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.
Week 41, 2022

COMMENTARY

Coups d’état as Instrument of France Non-grata in Africa: The Cases of Mali and Burkina Faso

Very few African countries had an independent status before 1960. These countries included Ethiopia in East Africa, Liberia and Ghana in West Africa. When many of the dependent countries began to accede to both national and international sovereignty in the 1960s, coup-making was generally presented as an instrument to achieve better governance and not necessarily for good governance. Click here to read…

For the second time this year soldiers stage a coup in Burkina Faso

At first glance the images of soldiers in a television studio on September 30th, some of them masked and bristling with guns were almost indistinguishable from those broadcasts in Burkina Faso in January, when the army overthrew an elected president, Roch Kaboré. Click here to read…

vWho is Peter Obi, and why is he making the Nigerian establishment so nervous?

It is not easy to get 2 000 Nigerians to sing the national anthem as if they mean it. On a Monday evening earlier this month, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, Peter Obi did exactly that. He was there to give a speech on the role of the Nigerian diaspora in civic leadership, as part of his global tour. Click here to read…

NEWS

Ibrahim Traore declared Burkina Faso president after coup

Captain Ibrahim Traore has been appointed as president of Burkina Faso after Paul-Henri Damiba was removed in the West African country’s second coup in less than nine months. Click here to read…

Who is Ibrahim Traore, the soldier behind Burkina Faso’s latest coup?

As a heavily armed convoy drove through a cheering crowd in Burkina Faso’s capital on Sunday morning, the boyish face of the country’s latest military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traore, emerged from the turret of an armored personnel carrier. Click here to read…

Pro-Russia demonstrators rally in Burkina after coup

Several dozen protestors waving Russian flags rallied in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou on Tuesday as West African delegates arrived on a fact-finding mission following the country’s second coup in less than nine months. Click here to read…

Protesters attack French Embassy in Burkina Faso after coup

Protesters in Burkina Faso’s capital have attacked the French Embassy after the military junta in charge accused France of sheltering the ousted interim president. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso coup supporters gather near regional mediation

Protesters waving Russian flags gathered in Burkina Faso’s capital where West African regional envoys were meeting on Tuesday to press the country’s latest coup leaders to swiftly return the country to civilian rule. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso’s new military government meets West Africa bloc

Burkina Faso’s new military leaders met with representatives of West Africa’s main political and economic bloc ECOWAS on Tuesday to discuss plans for a democratic transition after the country’s second coup this year, the interim presidency said. Click here to read…

vOusted Burkina Faso Leader Leaves Country for Togo

Burkina Faso’s ousted coup leader Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba left the country for Togo Sunday two days after he himself was overthrown in a coup, while the new junta urged citizens not to loot or vandalize. Click here to read…

AU invites Tigray, Ethiopia leaders for peace talks in South Africa

Ethiopia’s government on Wednesday said it has accepted an invitation from the African Union to take part in peace talks aimed at ending a nearly two-year-long ongoing civil war in the country’s northern Tigray region. Click here to read…

Junta set to stay in power after Chad delays elections by two years

Chad has adopted resolutions that push back democratic elections by two years and allow interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby to stay in power and be eligible to run for president in the eventual vote. Click here to read…

Lesotho votes in election with political crisis still unresolved

Lesotho citizens were due to vote in an election on Friday, after years of political instability that the southern African mountain kingdom’s lawmakers have yet to resolve. Click here to read…

Gabon Takes the UN Security Council Hot Seat, Sticking to African Views

Naturally enough, Gabon is focusing on Africa as the country leads the United Nations Security Council this month. Gabon’s UN ambassador, Michel Xavier Biang, detailed his country’s plans for the rotating presidency, elaborating on a climate change agenda as well as counterterrorism, alignment of UN and African Union interests plus strengthening women’s resilience in conflicts. Click here to read…

Uganda president apologizes to Kenya for son’s ill-advised invasion tweets

President Yoweri Museveni has apologized to Kenyans over tweets posted by his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba that had repeatedly threatened to invade Uganda’s East African neighbor. Click here to read…

Two Including Russian Pilot Killed in Mali Plane Crash

A Russian pilot and a member of ground crew staff died Tuesday when a plane that Russia recently delivered to Mali’s armed forces crashed near the northern city of Gao, an official and the military said. Click here to read…

Sudan’s democracy groups approve charter opposing army rule

More than 50 Sudanese pro-democracy groups have agreed on a new draft constitution, in one of the largest shows of unity from the country’s opposition since the 2019 popular uprising. Click here to read…

Malawi: Political crisis looms as VP Chilima graft scandal unfolds

A report by Malawi’s anti-corruption body has landed Vice President Saulos Chilima in hot water. With pressure from President Lazarus Chakwera, his second-in-command might be tried in court at some point, a scenario that could lead to a political deadlock. Click here to read…

DR Congo appoints new army chief as part of military reforms

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has replaced the head of the country’s armed forces as part of broader military reforms aimed at boosting efficiency. Click here to read…

Lawmakers in breakaway Somaliland extend president’s term

The House of Elders in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland has extended the term of office of President Muse Bihi Abdi by two years, a decision expected to cause more unrest by opposition groups. Click here to read…

Tunisian labour union warns of strikes as IMF talks loom

Tunisia’s powerful UGTT labour union has no deal with the government on reforming subsidies and publicly owned companies and will lead street protests over any “painful” changes, it said on Monday, potentially complicating foreign bailout talks. Click here to read…

Nigeria Discovers Huge Pipeline Used for Oil Theft

The head of Nigeria’s petroleum company told a legislative committee this week that a 4-kilometer pipeline from the Forcados export terminal has been used to steal oil for nine years, resulting in the theft of hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil per day. Click here to read…

Ghana Cedi is worst performing currency against US dollar – World Bank report

The World Bank has ranked the Ghana cedi as the worst-performing currency in Africa since the beginning of the year with a depreciation of 60 per cent against the United States dollar. Click here to read…

Somalia, Ethiopia sign deal to strengthen ties

Somalia and Ethiopia say they will work together to protect each other’s territories, including requesting the UN Security Council to lift an age-old arms embargo on Mogadishu. Click here to read…

South Africa’s phoenix president Zuma wants to rise from the ashes

Popular wisdom dictates that you will not die as long as you stay in politics, which means that every leading politician does their best to remain in the local political landscape, just like 86-year-old Silvio Berlusconi, who was seen during Italy’s election weekend. Click here to read…

Cameroon’s Biya Orders Enforcement of Bilingualism Law

Cameroon’s president has ordered officials to enforce a 2019 law on bilingualism and make life easier for English speakers in the French-speaking majority country. Click here to read…

Youth are vital for Sudan’s post-coup stability

Sudanese youth drove the demonstrations and uprising that toppled former president Omar al-Bashir’s nearly 30-year-long rule. They were instrumental in mobilising and creating a social movement urging the military to eventually step in to remove al-Bashir from power in a popular coup in April 2019. Click here to read…

US airstrike killed an al-Shabaab leader in Somalia on Saturday

A US airstrike in Somalia killed an al-Shabaab militant leader on Saturday in coordination with the Somali government, US Africa Command said in a statement. Click here to read…

‘Ma’awisley’ Militias in Central Somalia Mobilizing Against al-Shabab

For years, Somali clans and villages have tried to resist demands from the Islamist group al-Shabab, which can include taxes called “zakat,” plus livestock, weapons and boys they can turn into fighters. Click here to read…

Blast in Central African Republic kills 3 Bangladesh UN peacekeepers

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers and the people in government of Bangladesh,” he added. Click here to read…

Mozambique Marks Five Years of Extreme Violence in Cabo Delgado

Mozambique marks five years since extreme violence erupted in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, forcing nearly 1 million people to flee during that time in October. Click here to read…

Regional court dismisses Maasai eviction case against Tanzania government

A regional court on Friday dismissed a case brought by a group of Maasai villagers claiming the Tanzanian government used violence to evict them from their ancestral lands in the north of the country. Click here to read…

Rwanda, IMF agree on $310m deal on climate financing

Rwanda has secured $310 million (approximately Rwf318 billion) loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) to tackle climate change. Click here to read…

In Kenya, green parties struggle for votes

In August, Kenya held its fifth general elections since the introduction of multiparty politics in 1991. Four of the 93 registered political parties were green parties. Click here to read…

Amid climate politics, Uganda presses on with oil pipeline

Uganda’s ambitions of joining the oil producer’s club almost entirely rest on a pipeline being built between the oil fields in the Lake Albert region and the Tanzanian port of Tanga on the east African coast. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe is poised to become Africa’s largest steel producer

Zimbabwe is poised to become Africa’s largest steel producer and one of the biggest steel players in the world. A multi-billion steel plant is being constructed in Manhize, central Zimbabwe, that has the potential to meet all of the country’s requirements plus that of most countries in Africa and beyond. Click here to read…

Namibia, Zambia sign deal to develop oil, gas pipeline

Namibia and Zambia on Thursday inked an agreement in Swakopmund, Namibia, to facilitate a private sector-led infrastructure development project. Click here to read…

Nigerians mark independence anniversary ahead of key poll

Nigerians celebrated the 62nd anniversary of their independence Saturday with the country’s leader acknowledging the economic and security hardships citizens are facing as they prepare to vote for a new president in four months. Click here to read…

Botswana turns 56: From one of the poorest countries to an upper middle-income economy

Botswana celebrates 56 years of independence on Friday after attaining self-government in 1965, following 80 years as the British protectorate Bechuanaland. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

MoS Muraleedharan meets Gabon FM, conveys wishes on UNSC Presidency

On the sidelines of the UNSC High-Level debate at New York, MoS for External Affairs V Muraleedharan met with the foreign minister of Gabon Michael Adamo and held discussions on various aspects of bilateral relations. Click here to read…

‘Terror outfits enhancing their finances and presence by exploiting natural resources in Africa’: Indian minister V Muraleedharan at UNSC

V Muraleedharan said terrorist organisations were exploiting resources to bolster their finances. “These regions have remained vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing. Click here to read…

India and Nigeria hold Foreign Office Consultations

New Delhi played host to the second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Nigeria on 29 September 2022. Click here to read…

INS Tarkash visits Namibia’s Port Walvis Bay

Indian Navy warship, INS Tarkash visited Port Walvis Bay at Namibia from Oct 3-6 as a part of an ongoing extended-range operational deployment, the Indian Navy said in an official statement. Click here to read…

INS Sunayna participates in combined maritime forces exercise in Seychelles

The Indian Naval Ship Sunayna participated in the capacity-building exercise Operation Southern Readiness conducted by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) at Seychelles during September 24-27, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Click here to read…

India in talks with Angola, Algeria for LNG supplies

India is in talks with Angola and Algeria to procure liquefied natural gas (LNG) on long-term contracts, said two officials aware of the development, amid concerns of a global gas shortage fuelled by the Ukraine crisis. Click here to read…

Togo govt plans to sign MoU with Andhra University on IT, space

Togo’s minister of education and research, Dr Wateba said that they will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Andhra University and will work in various fields. Click here to read…

‘A Hell Of A Fighter’ – Why India’s Joint Collaboration With Egypt Failed To Develop A Supersonic Warplane – The Helwan 300?

With the recent visit of the Indian defense minister to Egypt, the two nations are boosting their security cooperation. However, their defense ties stretch back to the 60s, when India played a pivotal role in Egypt’s attempts to develop a supersonic aircraft. Click here to read…

Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal: India’s export restrictions complicate rice supply

New Delhi’s rice export restrictions herald higher prices for many West African countries, including big rice importers Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana. Click here to read…

Tunisia runs out of sugar, to import from Algeria and India

Tunisian sugar reserves have run out, according to the secretary general of the Ben Arous regional office of the tourism, trade and industry federation of the UGTT trade union Souhail Boukhris. Click here to read…

Gambia deaths: 4 states had red-flagged Maiden Pharma

Several Indian states and at least one foreign country have red-flagged the quality of medicines manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceutical, whose contaminated cough syrups has reportedly led to the deaths of more than 60 children in The Gambia, in west Africa, prompting the WHO to issue an alert. Click here to read…

India-made cough syrups and deaths in Gambia: what we know so far

The World Health Organisation has issued an alert about four Indian-manufactured cough syrups that it said could have caused 66 deaths in Gambia. What do we know about the cough syrups? Are they sold in India? Should you be worried? Click here to read…

Why Bhagwat brought up East Timor, South Sudan & Kosovo in speech about ‘population imbalance’

In his annual Vijayadashmi speech in Nagpur, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat called for a comprehensive population control policy, citing “religion-based population imbalance”. Click here to read…

India Community in Ghana commemorates Gandhi’s 153 anniversary

The India Community in Ghana has commemorated the 153 anniversary of Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi, late leader and the foremost campaigner for India’s independence, in Accra. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 33, 2022)

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…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 32, 2022)

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…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 31, 2022)

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…