Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.
COMMENTARY
Biden aims to narrow trust gap with US-Africa leaders’ summit
President Joe Biden is set to play host to dozens of African leaders in Washington this week as the White House looks to narrow a gaping trust gap with Africa.Click here to read…
Biden tries to reboot US brand in Africa amid China, Russia inroads
When Barack Obama welcomed African leaders to Washington in 2014, many viewed the summit as historic. Click here to read…
Morocco’s World Cup victories overshadow Arab political rivalries
Morocco’s success at the World Cup in Qatar is bringing the Arab people together in a significant way. Click here to read…
NEWS
Angola hosts 10th summit of the OACPS which represents 79 states
The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states, which represents 79 countries, held its penultimate meeting in Angola’s capital Luanda on Friday. Click here to read…
MWL Conference of African Ulemas Kicks off in Gambia to Promote Moderation
Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Mohammed al-Issa kicked off on Saturday the inaugural conference of African Ulemas in the Gambian capital Banjul. Click here to read…
Gambia, Muslim World League Ink MOU On Development Cooperation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia on Tuesday, 6th December 2022 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Muslim World League (MWL) a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Banjul. Click here to read…
Tunisians protest against Saied ahead of parliamentary elections
Hundreds of Tunisians have taken to the streets to protest against President Kais Saied a week before parliamentary elections are set to take place under a new constitution. Click here to read…
Junta chief says «fight for total independence» in Burkina Faso has begun
The head of Burkina Faso’s military junta, Ibrahim Traoré, has assured that “the fight for total independence began a few weeks ago”, after denouncing that part of the country “is occupied” due to the deterioration of security due to the operations of jihadist groups. Click here to read…
Chad jails more than 260 people after mass trial over protests
A court in Chad has handed out jail terms of between two and three years to more than 260 people arrested after anti-government protests in October, while defence lawyers have argued that the trial was “illegal”. Click here to read…
M23 says ready to ‘withdraw’ in eastern DRC, yet clashes reported
The M23 rebel group says it is ready to withdraw from occupied territory in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and will support regional peace-making efforts despite not being represented in talks. Click here to read…
DR Congo conflict: M23 rebels executed over 130 civilians – UN
A UN investigation has found that at least 131 civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo died in a November attack by the M23 rebel group. Click here to read…
Sudan generals and parties sign outline deal, protesters cry foul
Sudanese political parties and the military signed a framework deal on Monday that they said would pave the way for two-year civilian-led transition towards elections and end a sometimes violent standoff triggered by a coup in October 2021. Click here to read…
West Africa Contemplate Setting Up A Regional Peacekeeping Force After Coups In The Region
Leaders of West Africa, concerned by recent military coups in the region, have reportedly decided to set up a regional peacekeeping force. Click here to read…
Ugandan officials snub AU summit
Despite receiving official invitations in advance, Ugandan representatives—including two ministers—did not attend a significant African Union (AU) meeting. Click here to read…
Power back in capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region
Power services have been restored in Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, for the first time in over a year, state-affiliated Fana Broadcast said on Tuesday. Click here to read…
U.S. troops are back in Somalia and scrambling to help its special forces
The U.S. military is scrambling to make up for lost time in Somalia after President Biden this spring reversed his predecessor’s order to pull American soldiers out of the country and returned hundreds of them to the fight against one of al-Qaeda’s most powerful global affiliates. Click here to read…
‘Let the president continue’: Party backs South Africa’s Ramaphosa amid ‘Farmgate’ scandal
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was on Monday given a lifeline by his African National Congress’ (ANC) top executives, who decided to reject a report which found that Ramaphosa had flouted his constitutional obligations. Click here to read…
UN Sec-Gen urges Nigeria to investigate mass abortion report
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Nigerian authorities to investigate allegations of systemic and coerced abortions reportedly perpetrated by its army, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said. Click here to read…
Mauritanian indicted in 3 deadly 2015 terror attacks in Mali
A Mauritanian national suspected of planning and coordinating three lethal attacks in 2015 on Westerners in Mali was arraigned in a New York federal court on Saturday, a day after being transferred to U.S. custody in Mali. Click here to read…
Record number of mosques opened in Egypt this year
A record 1,200 new mosques opened across Egypt this year, according to the Ministry of Awqaf. Click here to read…
Burkina Faso To Raise 150 million Euros For War Fund
The Burkina Faso government has announced plans to raise 152 million euros for a “fund to support the war” against a bloody jihadist insurgency. Click here to read…
Tanzania’s President Cancels Independence Day Celebrations
Tanzania’s president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has canceled Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Friday and directed that the budget instead be used to build dormitories for children with special needs. Click here to read…
Tanzania’s Samia hints at a government shakeup ahead of 2025 elections
A major shakeup in the Tanzanian government looks imminent as President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is also the national chairperson of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), seeks to get rid of “detractors” and “languid” individuals ahead of the 2025 elections. Click here to read…
France Seeking to End Political Crisis With Morocco
France is reportedly working to “find appeasement gestures” in an attempt to put an end to the lingering diplomatic crisis with Morocco. Click here to read…
Ghana Cedi posts world’s biggest gain against US dollar
It said the Ghana cedi took the title of the world’s best performer against the dollar last week amid optimism the country was moving closer to unlocking an International Monetary Fund bailout. Click here to read…
Tanzania ranked among best investments destinations in Africa
. Tanzania has been ranked one of the best investment destinations in Africa, thanks to its strong regulatory framework, sound macroeconomic fundamentals and a vibrant financial market. Click here to read…
New Italian-built power plant opens in Tunisia
A new 10 MW photovoltaic plant has started production in Tunisia. The plant, installed by the Italian energy company Eni in the city of Tataouine, will contribute to the country’s decarbonisation process. Click here to read…
Rwanda, Nepal to sign air service agreement
Rwanda and Nepal are expected to sign an air service agreement to operate flights connecting both countries, according to media reports.Click here to read…
Egypt’s pound keeps falling on black market ahead of IMF meeting
The gap between the official rate of the Egyptian pound against the dollar and the price on the black market has widened further, putting pressure on Egypt ahead of a crucial International Monetary Fund board meeting next week. Click here to read…
Sub-Saharan Africa’s debt burden increased to a record $789 billion in 2021, highest since 2010
The world’s poorest countries continued to borrow in 2021 due to the pandemic-induced disruptions to economic activity and supply chains, according to a new World Bank report. Click here to read…
without power for 19 hours a day as Kariba dam runs dry
Zimbabweans are being subjected to 19 hours of power cuts a day, because there is insufficient water in the Kariba dam to drive the nation’s main hydropower plant. Click here to read…
US sanctions ex-Guinea leader, Mali politician for right abuses
The US sanctions freeze assests including those of Guinea’s former President Conde and Mali’s former President Keita’s son. Click here to read…
Mozambique ex-president’s son, 10 others jailed over corruption
A court in Mozambique has sentenced the son of a former president, two ex-spy bosses, and eight others to years in prison for their part in a corruption scandal in which the government sought to conceal huge debts, triggering financial havoc. Click here to read…
Libyan Charged in 1988 Lockerbie Plane Bombing Taken into US Custody
A man accused of making the bomb that killed 270 people after it blew up Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland in 1988 is in custody in the United States, Scottish and U.S. law enforcement officials said on Sunday. Click here to read…
German aid worker freed after kidnapping in Niger four years ago
A 63-year-old German aid worker, Joerg Lange, has been freed more than four years after he was kidnapped in western Niger near the Malian border, his employer, humanitarian organisation Help. Click here to read…
Niger lawmakers want gay relationships criminalised
A group of lawmakers in Niger has backed a motion seeking to criminalise same-sex relationships in the country. The vast majority of Niger’s population is Muslim, but it has a secular government and there is currently no specific law on same-sex relationships. Click here to read…
Covid boosts heart-related deaths sixfold, Top Africa health insurer says
Africa’s biggest health insurer said the number of heart-related deaths rose more than sixfold during the Covid-19 pandemic among the clients of one of its units. Click here to read…
CHINA IN AFRICA
President Xi Jinping Meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
President Xi Jinping pointed out that as the regional and international environments are undergoing profound and complex changes, the strategic and overarching importance of China-Egypt relations has become all the more evident. Click here to read…
Xi Jinping Meets with President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti
Xi Jinping noted that strategic mutual trust between China and Djibouti has been deepened in recent years, cooperation in various fields has made fruitful achievements, and bilateral friendship has been deeply rooted in people’s hearts.Click here to read…
Xi meets Algerian prime minister
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Algerian Prime Minister Ayman Benabderrahmane here on Friday. Xi Jinping stressed that China and Algeria enjoy traditional friendship and the practical cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruitful results. Click here to read…
Xi says China supports Tunisia’s development path, opposes external interference
China firmly supports Tunisia in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and opposes external interference in Tunisia’s internal affairs, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday. Click here to read…
China ready to work with Mauritania to elevate friendly cooperation to higher levels, Xi says
China is willing to work with Mauritania to promote bilateral friendly cooperation to higher levels, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Friday when meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Click here to read…
Xi says China to continue support for Sudan’s political transition
China supports all parties in Sudan in continuing to push for steady political transition through dialogue and consultation, opposes interference by external forces in Sudan’s internal affairs, and will continue to speak up for Sudanese friends on the international stage. Click here to read…
Xi Jinping Meets with Comorian President Azali Assoumani
On the morning of December 9, 2022 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Comorian President Azali Assoumani in Riyadh. Click here to read…
Xi says China supports the Comoros in playing greater role in int’l, regional affairs
China supports the Comoros in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to work closely with the Comoros to firmly support each other, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice. Click here to read…
Chinese Port Projects Along Africa’s Coasts Come with Environmental Costs, Study Finds
China has constructed numerous ports, bridges and other coastal projects throughout the developing world in recent years in what’s been dubbed by Beijing the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” – part of President Xi Jinping’s greater Belt and Road Initiative to build infrastructure. Click here to read…
Gulf of Guinea Countries Agree to Stop Illegal Chinese Fishing
Chinese boats are decimating West Africa’s fish stocks and fishing communities in the Gulf of Guinea, say environmental groups. Click here to read…
China looking for naval bases near Diego Garcia
There is worry that Mauritius may give China a part of the Chagos islands to get its debt to that country written off. This poses a threat to both India and the US. The island of Diego Garcia in the region is a US military facility. Click here to read…
Mozambican undergraduates win Chinese Ambassador Scholarship
A total of 12 undergraduates from Mozambique’s University Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), were awarded Friday in Maputo this year’s Chinese Ambassador Scholarship. Click here to read…
INDIA IN AFRICA
India extended ‘soft loans’ worth USD 2bn to Central Africa: Ruchira Kamboj
India extended ‘soft loans’ worth USD 2 billion for projects in Central Africa, India’s Permanent Representative to UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj on Thursday, as she underscored the cordial and friendly bilateral relations of New Delhi with the region. Click here to read…
Biden to announce support for African Union joining G20
President Joe Biden next week will announce U.S. support for the African Union’s admission to the G20 group of the world’s largest economies as a permanent member, a White House official said on Friday. Click here to read…
India working for speedy release of cargo vessel crew detained in Nigeria: EAM
The Indian government has been engaged with relevant authorities through the missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria since August for the release of the detained crew membersClick here to read…
Gravita India shares gain on beginning production at recycling plant in West Africa
The company has been sourcing scrap from Togo for the last three years and has set up a strong scrap collection network before establishing the plant. Click here to read…
Ghana, India urged to leverage bilateral relations to boost tourism, culture
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku Mantey has underscored the need for Ghana to leverage the bilateral relationship it has with India to transform the Tourism, Arts and Culture sector. Click here to read…
India: Parliamentary Delegation from Zimbabwe calls on President
A Parliamentary Delegation from Zimbabwe led by Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, called on President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (07 December 2022). Click here to read…
6 well-known Indian companies in Nigeria
Trade between Nigeria and India has strengthened over the years, resulting in a good number of Indian companies establishing their presence in Nigeria. Click here to read…
DCGI gives nod to SII-manufactured Ebola vaccine for export to Uganda
India’s first Ebola vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for export to Uganda, official sources said Thursday. Click here to read…
Uganda receives 1,200 doses of Ebola vaccine candidates for trials
Uganda’s health ministry today announced that the country has received 1,200 doses of a candidate Sudan Ebola vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO) Uganda office, which is slated for use in a clinical trialClick here to read…
Airtel Africa-IFC sign $194 million loan facility
Airtel Africa and the International Finance Corporation (‘IFC’) have signed a new $194 million facility with a sister organisation of the World Bank and a member of the World Bank Group. Click here to read…
What Sweden and India can teach Nigeria about the cashless economy
One of Adedeji Olowe’s financial predictions for 2022 was the possible introduction of an incentive — free transfers — for more Nigerians to adopt electronic banking, thus, promoting financial inclusion. However, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent directives on cash withdrawal limits approached the cashless economy conversation in a different and largely unexpected way. Click here to read…