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

COMMENTARY

How Burkina Faso became the epicentre of conflict in the Sahel

In 2014, when millions of Burkinabes ended the 27-year rule of Blaise Campaore by forcing him to step down, observers and analysts dubbed the occurrence West Africa’s version of the “Arab Spring”. Click here to read…

How China’s Ambitious Belt and Road Plans for East Africa Came Apart

As China draws back from large scale infrastructure investments in Africa, it is worth considering why so many major Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in the region, unveiled with great fanfare, have ultimately struggled. Click here to read…

UN chief wants Amisom to remain in Somalia

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has recommended to the Security Council that the African Union maintains its staffing level in Somalia through the end of the year. Click here to read…

Libya armed groups backing rival PM withdraw from Tripoli

Libya’s parliament-appointed Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha said that armed groups backing him have withdrawn from positions around Tripoli, after the UN warned of a new escalation in the divided country. Click here to read…

Russia ramps up ties with Sudan as Ukraine war rages

As much of the West seeks to isolate Russia after it invaded Ukraine, experts say Moscow is boosting relations with its long time African ally Sudan, eyeing its gold wealth and strategic location. Click here to read…

France to continue aerial support to Mali after troop withdrawal

France will still provide aerial military support to Malian troops battling an Islamist insurgency in the Sahel even after its counter-terrorism mission has withdrawn, but only where Russian fighters are not present. Click here to read…

Arab League summit to take place in Algeria starting November 1

The Arab League will hold its first annual summit for three years in November in Algeria, the bloc said on Wednesday, after the pandemic forced the meetings’ suspension. Click here to read…

Ukraine looms over US-African Union summit

The United States and the African Union (AU) held their first high-level summit since the Covid-19 pandemic this week with the conflicts in Ukraine and Ethiopia looming over the gathering. Click here to read…

South Africa is ready for a woman chief justice

During the vetting of the candidates for chief justice, the question was asked if South Africa is ready for a woman chief justice. Although the question is absurd, misogynistic and a confirmation of our patriarchal society, the answer is a resounding yes — and it is long overdue. Click here to read…

Mohamed Bazoum: Is Niger France’s new key partner in the Sahel?

The president of Niger discusses if his country will become the new focal point in the fight against ISIL and al-Qaeda. Click here to read…

Chad junta and rebels gear for tricky talks in Qatar

Chad’s ruling junta is scheduled to meet rebel leaders in Qatar on Sunday for delayed talks aimed at coaxing armed groups into joining a “national dialogue” on the troubled country’s futureClick here to read…

African Start-up Eswatini Air to Launch Soon After Taking First Aircraft

The southern African nation of Eswatini – previously Swaziland – is tiny. At just 6,704 square miles (17,364 square km), it is smaller in area than Wales and only a bit larger than the US state of Connecticut. It is Africa’s smallest landlocked country. Click here to read…

Important Step Toward Justice in DR Congo?

The Congolese human rights minister launched national consultations on a new transitional justice initiative that, if implemented, would help the Democratic Republic of Congo emerge from conflict, address grave human rights violations, and institute needed reforms. Click here to read…

Morocco to chair 6th UN Environment Assembly

At the end of the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) which took place in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, the member countries voted Morocco as the host country for the next edition. By hosting the 6th edition of UNEA, the Cherifian kingdom reaffirms the need to strengthen the fight against pollution and climate change whose effects have impacts on the global economy. Click here to read…

Tunisian authorities urged to drop draft law restricting civil society organizations

Thirteen NGOs urged Tunisian authorities on Friday to drop a draft law providing restrictions on civil society organizations, which could result in a “major setback” for rights after the country’s 2011 revolution. Click here to read…

New Zimbabwe law threatens to criminalise and ban NGOs

The bill will effectively criminalise the operations of NGOs, proposing harsh penalties, including closure of the organisations, require them to disclose their source of funding and jail terms of up to a year for breaches. Click here to read…

Egypt announces the country is to diversify its sources of wheat

Egypt’s Prime Minister announced the country is to diversify its sources of wheat to avoid relying on what he described as “specific sources” for this productClick here to read…

Chinese Imports Edging Out Kenya’s Local Products

Kenyan artisans say they are losing the market for their products to Chinese imports. According to the crafts persons, the high quality and lower prices of Chinese-made goods put them at a disadvantageClick here to read…

Lesotho: EU Considering Deployment of EOM

The European Union (EU) is planning to deploy the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Lesotho ahead of the elections which are due to take place in September 2022. Click here to read…

Malian Army Accused of Killing Mauritanian Citizens

A Malian delegation is expected in Mauritania’s capital Friday to discuss the alleged disappearance of several Mauritanians on Malian territory. Click here to read…

Rwanda to impose tax on watching Netflix

Rwanda is the latest African country to announce plans to tax online services consumed within the country. This comes a few months after Zimbabwe and Nigeria laid out plans for the collection of taxes from e-commerce and digital companies such as Netflix, Google, YouTube, and Amazon. Click here to read…

Guinea suspends Simandou iron ore project, saying there has been no progress

Guinea’s ruling junta has ordered the cessation of all activities at the massive Simandou iron ore deposit owned by Rio Tinto and a Chinese-backed consortium, saying it was seeking clarification of how Guinea’s interests will be preserved.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/guinea-suspends-simandou-iron-ore-mine-project-2022-03-11/

Turkey’s women diplomats shape relations with Africa

Turkey has made significant progress in its political, economic and cultural ties with African countries in the last two decades, and women diplomats have an important place in these relationsClick here to read…

Uganda: Doctors, MPs unite against bid to jail unvaccinated

In February, the Ugandan parliament introduced a bill proposing to fine anyone refusing to take COVID-19 vaccines four million Ugandan shillings ($1,100) or sentence them to jail for six months. Click here to read…

Ethiopian Airlines, Air Djibouti partner for China-Africa Sea to air transport

Ethiopia’s national air carrier, Ethiopian Airlines announced on Tuesday it has partnered with Air Djibouti and Djibouti Industrial Park Operation (IDIPO) to commence sea-air multimodal transportation. Click here to read…

Eni And bp Finalize Agreement to Create New Independent Joint Venture in Angola

BP and Eni confirmed Friday that they have signed an agreement to form a new 50/50 independent company, Azule Energy [a bp and Eni Company], through the combination of the two companies’ Angolan businesses. Click here to read…

Zambia’s ex-President Rupiah Banda dead at 85

Rupiah Banda, who served as president of Zambia from 2008 and 2011, died Friday evening in the capital Lusaka at age 85 after a two-year battle with cancer. His son Andrew confirmed the former leader’s death, saying, “He is gone.” Click here to read…

Prince William says war normal in Africa and Asia, ‘alien’ in Europe; invites backlash

Prince William’s comments that it is ‘very alien’ to see a war in Europe while it was normal to witness conflict in Asia and Africa has invited a backlash on social media. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Defence Expo put off

The situation in Ukraine has led to the postponement of the prestigious defence exhibition DefExpo-2022, to be held from March 10-14 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Click here to read…

India, European Union hold inaugural consultations on Africa

The leaders of India and EU held the inaugural India-EU Consultations on Africa on March 7, in virtual mode, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. Click here to read…

South Africa: Made-in-India Suzuki Celerio goes on sale

Suzuki has launched the second generation Celerio in the South African market. The car is manufactured and exported from Maruti Suzuki’s production facility in India. Click here to read…

Indian Embassy unveils plaque of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ in Antananarivo

To mark the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on the occasion of 75 years of India’s Independence, the Indian Embassy in Madagascar organized a special unveiling ceremony of the plaque of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. Click here to read…

India focuses on Revitalization Agreement, election preparations in South Sudan at UNSC

India emphasised the execution of the Revitalization Agreement and election preparations at a UN Security Council (UNSC) briefing on the situation in South Sudan. Click here to read…

South Africa to issue e-visas for Indian travellers soon

As part of post-pandemic revival plans, South Africa will introduce e-visas for Indians to attract more tourists, business travellers and movie-makers, mainly from the south. Click here to read…

26 more Indian fishers held in Seychelles

Twenty-six more Indian fishermen were detained by authorities in Seychelles, off East Africa, on Wednesday on charges of entering their territorial waters. This takes the total number of Indian fishermen detained there in three days to 59. Click here to read…

Sewa International evacuates 467 African students from Ukraine

Houston-based Indian-American non-profit body Sewa International has evacuated 467 African students including 367 Nigerians, from Ukraine’s Sumy amidst a Russian military offensive. Click here to read…

Former diplomat Rajiv Bhatia’s India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons, is an essential reader on India’s burgeoning ties with African states

This book is certainly rare considering the paucity of scholarly writings by Indians on the core issues of Africa. As a scholar-diplomat, who headed Indian embassies in South Africa, Kenya and Lesotho, Rajiv Bhatia has deftly handled changing horizons of Indo-African ties. Click here to read…

Chennai’s Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science celebrates its 12th Convocation

Chennai’s Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science (HITS) celebrated its 12th annual convocation on March 5 where Dr Grace Akello, Uganda Ambassador to India, was one of the key guest speakers. Click here to read…

Morocco & Jordan join hands with India to organise sporting tournament in Kashmir

Key Arab states of Morocco and Jordan have taken a key step in organising a sporting tournament in collaboration with India in Kashmir. Click here to read…

‘Best experience in India’: Travelers from Morocco join clean-up drive at Thiruvanmiyur beach

Two Moroccon travelers joined the save a turtle team for a beach clean-up drive to create awareness on responsible tourism at Thiruvanmiyur beach on Friday. Click here to read…

Telecoms major Airtel Uganda plans IPO by 2022-end: MD

Airtel Uganda, the country’s second largest telecoms company and a unit of India’s Bharti Airtel, plans to list a part of its equity by the end of this year, a top company official told local NTV Uganda late Monday. Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

Africa has had eight coup attempts in recent months. What’s behind the ‘coup epidemic’?

Last week, soldiers in Guinea Bissau surrounded the government palace, attacking President Umaro Sissoco Embaló during a cabinet meeting. Although the coup attempts ultimately failed, the firefight resulted in numerous fatalities. Only a week earlier, widespread mutinies in Burkina Faso prompted army officers to depose another competitively elected African president. Click here to read…

NEWS

African Union postpones debate on Israel’s observer status

The African Union (AU) has suspended a debate on whether to withdraw Israel’s accreditation as an observer to the bloc, avoiding a vote that risked creating an unprecedented rift in the 55-member body. Click here to read…

African Union to Establish Permanent Mission in Beijing

Following a heads of state meeting in Addis Ababa, the African Union has announced it will open a permanent mission in Beijing this year. The proposal had been set forth by the Council of Ministers in an effort to engage more directly with Africa’s largest trading partner and diplomatic-ally. Click here to read…

Guinea-Bissau arrests ex-navy chief linked to drug trade over failed coup

Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Thursday accused a former Guinean navy chief with links to the drug trade and two accomplices of being behind a failed coup in the west African nation on February 1. Click here to read…

UN Security Council calls for release of Burkina Faso President

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has expressed grave concern about Burkina Faso’s “unconstitutional change of government,” and has called for President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and other government leaders to be released and protected. Click here to read…

Sudan’s military rulers step up crackdown, arrest activists

Amira Osman, a Sudanese women’s rights activist, was getting ready for bed a few minutes before midnight when about 30 policemen forced their way into her home in Khartoum last month. Click here to read…

Guinea transitional assembly holds first post-coup session

Guinea’s transitional assembly has held its first session, five months after the military overthrow of democratically elected President Alpha Conde. Click here to read…

Diplomatic flurry as crunch time on Western military role in Mali nears

Western foreign ministers will hold crunch talks on their countries’ future presence fighting Islamist militants in Mali on Monday, four European sources said, with three saying regional and international leaders will also meet on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Libyan parliament elects new PM to replace interim government

The Libyan House of Representatives, on Thursday unanimously voted for Fathi Bashagha as the country’s new prime minister. Click here to read…

Libyan PM survives assassination attempt as car shot: Sources

Assailants struck Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah’s car with bullets early on Thursday but he escaped unharmed, a source close to him said, amid intense factional wrangling over control of the government. Mauritius Presses Claim for Indian Ocean Islands Under ‘Unlawful’ UK Administration

A delegation from Mauritius is set to sail Tuesday to the Chagos Islands to press the country’s claim for the strategically important Indian Ocean archipelago, which is also claimed by Britain and is home to an American military base. Click here to read…

Taiwan to host Somaliland ministers in Africa diplomacy push

Taiwan will host a high-level delegation from Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland region this week, the government said on Monday, as the island pursues diplomacy in Africa in the face of Chinese pressure to limit its international footprint. Click here to read…

Several killed in attack targeting Somalia election delegates

A suicide bomber targeting a minibus full of delegates involved in Somalia’s parliamentary elections killed at least six people in Mogadishu, the ambulance service said, as the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab armed group claimed responsibility for the attack. Click here to read…

Central Africa PM fired amid tensions over Russia-France tug of war

The Central African Republic’s prime minister has been sacked, the presidency confirmed Monday, against the backdrop of tensions between pro-Russian and pro-French factions within the government of the poor, unstable country.Click here to read…

US aims to thwart China’s plan for Atlantic base in Africa

The Biden administration is intensifying its campaign to persuade Equatorial Guinea to reject China’s bid to build a military base on the country’s Atlantic Coast. Click here to read…

AfCFTA Adjustment Fund agreement signed in Cairo

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), signed the $10bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund on Wednesday in Cairo. Click here to read…

EU unveils €1.6 billion investment in Morocco

It is the first African scheme in the EU’s €300 billion “Global Gateway” infrastructure plan, the bloc’s response to China’s Belt and Road strategy.
https://www.dw.com/en/eu-unveils-16-billion-investment-in-morocco/a-60710607″ target=”_blank”>Click here to read…

French president voices support for Egypt’s regional development and anti-terror efforts

French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country remains committed to the continued enhancement of joint cooperation with Egypt in a number of fields, and to supporting Cairo’s efforts to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, and combat terrorism and extremist ideology in its region. Click here to read…

Tanzania: Victory for media freedom as ban on four newspapers lifted

The lifting of ban on four newspapers that had been barred from publishing since 2016 and 2017 for exposing alleged corruption and human rights violations is a positive step, but the Tanzanian authorities must do more to guarantee media freedom going forward, Amnesty International said today. Click here to read…

Ethiopia’s telco battle will take place in the mobile money arena

Safaricom opened an office in Ethiopia last month, as Kenya’s largest mobile operator aims to take on one of Africa’s most sought-after telecoms markets. Click here to read…

‘Fragile Five’ Indebted Africa Nations Flagged by Top Lender

Five key African economies will face debt risks over the next two years, according to the continent’s biggest bank, as an era of extraordinary pandemic-induced stimulus and relief for poor nations draws to an end. Click here to read…

UN’s top court orders Uganda to pay $325 million to DR Congo

Delivering its judgement, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) broke down the compensation, awarding the DRC $225 million for damage to persons, which includes loss of life, rape, recruitment of child soldiers and displacement of civilians. Click here to read…

E-levy Ghana: Ghanaians hit streets of Accra to protest against electronic transactions tax way government want to introduce

Protestors for Ghana hit the streets of Accra to register their displeasure with the new electronic transactions tax way government want to introduce. Click here to read…

Deaths Rise To 92 In Madagascar Cyclone, 112,000 In Need of Assistance

The death toll from Tropical Cyclone Batsirai has risen to 92 in Madagascar, authorities said Wednesday, as humanitarian organisations ramped up aid efforts with more than 110,000 people in need of emergency assistance. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe teachers go on strike days after schools’ resume classes

A teachers’ strike has paralyzed learning at many Zimbabwean schools, which opened this week after a prolonged closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

Demand for traditional Chinese medicine in Africa sparks fears for endangered species

Amid the rise in demand for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products in African countries has sparked fear for poaching of endangered species. Click here to read…

Nigeria Islamic police destroy nearly 4 mn beers

Religious police in northern Nigeria’s city of Kano have destroyed nearly four milllion bottles of beer, on grounds that sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the predominantly Muslim region. Click here to read…

‘White Malice’: How the CIA Strangled African Independence at Birth

In her latest book, historian Susan Williams ruthlessly reveals through factual evidence the unsavoury machinations of the CIA in Africa during the Cold War until the late 1960s. Click here to read…

Explained: Why Africa embraces Huawei tech despite security concerns

Huawei is popular across Africa, but its systems could also appeal to authoritarian regimes hoping to cling to power. Click here to read…

Should Bangladesh Lease Land from South Sudan?

For a long period of time, Bangladesh has been striving to ensure food security at home by planning to shop farmland abroad. Recently, South Sudan, an African country, has expressed interest in leasing a vast area of its fallow land to Bangladesh in order to collaborate in agricultural production, processing, and marketing in the central African countries. Click here to read…

U.S. reaches out to foreign producers in Algeria on gas options -sources

The U.S. government has asked to meet Eni, Total Energies (TTEF.PA) and other energy companies operating in Algeria to see if more gas can be sourced from the country, sources familiar with the matter said. Click here to read…

WHO Chief visits South Africa’s mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus today visited the groundbreaking mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in Cape Town and also met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss progress in making Africa self-sufficient in the production of COVID-19 vaccines and related treatments. Click here to read…

China’s StarTimes injects 1.76 mln USD to boost local content in Kenya

Chinese pay television firm, StarTimes on Thursday announced injection of an additional 200 million shillings (about 1.76 million U.S. dollars) to boost development of indigenous content in Kenya. Click here to read…

Zambia on course to launch satellite in 2023

Zambia on Friday said it is on course to launch a satellite in 2023. According to a statement by Science and Technology Minister Felix Mutati, moving to digital technology will enhance digital economic activities and help the government plan ahead in meeting challenges such as climate change, flooding, and health issues. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Indian envoys hold virtual meeting with Comoros FM to review progress in bilateral ties

Indian envoy to Moroni Abhay Kumar held a virtual meeting with Comoros Foreign Minister Dhoihir Dhoulkamal and reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties between the two countries. … Recently INS Kesari visited Comoros in January 2022 to help repair a Comorian shipClick here to read…

Liaison officer from Mauritius posted at Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre

A liaison officer from Mauritius was on Thursday posted at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) which has emerged as a key hub in tracking developments in the Indian Ocean. Click here to read…

Tanzania set to export avocado to India

Tanzania is set to begin exporting avocado to India, as the country seeks to strengthen bilateral trade ties and enable farmers to get higher returns for their produce. Click here to read…

Here is Why this Former PM of Kenya is Grateful to an Ayurvedic Hospital in Kerala

Former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinka, who was in Kerala recently, thanked Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala for restoring his daughter’s eyesight. She had become blind after a stroke in 2017 and had spent two years in total darkness. Click here to read…

Ramaphosa’s hope of making S Africa major cell phone producer dashes as factory owned by Indian-origin entrepreneur shuts

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s hopes of the country becoming a major producer of mobile phones or Africa have been dashed with the closure of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility owned by a Rwanda-based Indian-origin entrepreneur. Click here to read…

Mozambique: Harare, Maputo Deepen Economic Ties

Zimbabwe and the rest of SADC countries are set to benefit from infrastructural development being undertaken by Mozambique, with President Mnangagwa and President Felipe Nyusi committing to facilitate the emancipation of their people through economic development. Click here to read…Stranded in Mali: Relieved, say workers on their return to Jharkhand

Weeks after their distress calls, the first batch of seven Indian workers out of the 33 who were stranded in Mali without their earnings and their passports returned to the country on Saturday. Click here to read…

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

COMMENTARY

Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2022

The African Union’s twentieth anniversary in the coming year gives it a chance to assess its achievements as well as reinvigorate its work to safeguard peace and security on the continent. This briefing points to eight conflict situations needing the organisation’s urgent attention. Click here to read…

NEWS

Burkina Faso restores constitution, names coup leader president

Burkina Faso’s military government said it has restored the constitution a week after taking power and has appointed the coup’s leader as head of state for a transitional period. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso junta lifts nationwide curfew in force since coup

Burkina Faso’s junta lifted Wednesday a nationwide curfew they imposed after seizing power in a coup last month, the military announced. Click here to read…

Guinea Bissau president survives W. Africa’s latest coup attempt

Cheering crowds welcomed Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo’s election victory in 2020, but his opponent’s alleged fraud. Click here to read…

French ambassador expelled from Mali

Mali’s military leaders are expelling the French ambassador over what they called “outrageous” comments made by the French foreign minister about the transitional government. Click here to read…

Germany mulls end of military mission in Mali

German troops have been stationed in Mali for nearly nine years. But the Bundeswehr’s mission might soon be over. Critics in Berlin are questioning its purpose. And Mali itself is looking out for new allies. Click here to read…

Guinea-Bissau’s failed coup attempt may have been linked to drug trafficking

In a Facebook post on Feb. 1, Umaro El Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, president of Guinea-Bissau, reassured citizens that their country was calm and that his government had not been overthrown by an armed groupClick here to read…

Guterres asks for immediate cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia

The United Nations’ Secretary-General on Tuesday made the “strongest possible appeal” for all parties in Ethiopia to immediately end the fighting in Tigray and other areas, in the spirit of the General Assembly’s Olympic Truce which began just a few days ago. Click here to read…

Sudanese security forces fire tear gas as protesters defy ban

Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have marched in Sudan’s capital and other cities, the latest demonstration to denounce military rule since the army seized power in October 2021Click here to read…

Somalia election on track, official says

Organisers of Somalia’s much-delayed elections say the polls have picked up the “right pace”, assuring citizens that they will meet the February 25 deadline to conclude voting. Click here to read…

US launches third military training project in Mozambique

The US government has launched a third Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) programme with Mozambique, to enhance the military’s readiness to contain rising insecurity.Click here to read…

DR Congo: At least 50 dead following militia attack on camp

According to the UN Mission in the country (MONUSCO), the attack was carried out by members of the so-called Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) – a loose association of various Lendu militia groups.Click here to read…

South Africa’s Afrigen makes mRNA Covid vaccine using Moderna data

South Africa’s Afrigen Biologics has used the publicly available sequence of Moderna Inc’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccine to make its own version of the shot, which could be tested in humans before the end of this year, Afrigen’s top executive said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Mix of differences, challenges delays Arab summit until further notice

The Arab summit to be held in Algeria is facing many obstacles that could lead to its cancellation. This comes in the light of the mounting differences between the host country on the one hand and the Arab League on the other. Click here to read…

Kenya to Inject $176 Million Into Struggling National Airline

Kenya plans to inject 20 billion shillings ($176 million) of capital into the country’s cash-strapped national airline, which is battling to survive after years of losses and a mounting debt pile. Click here to read…

Tunisia elected to African Union’s Peace and Security Council

Tunisia has been elected to the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council for the term 2022-2024. Click here to read…

Wrangle over interim Libyan government intensifies

The speaker of Libya’s eastern-based parliament said on Monday the chamber would choose a new interim prime minister next week, but the current incumbent rejected the move. Click here to read…

Kenyan, Rwandan leaders discuss trade and security issues

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday hosted his Rwandese counterpart Paul Kagame for talks in Nairobi, focusing on a wide range of areas of cooperation. Click here to read…

African Experts Argue Prospects for China’s New $300 Billion Agreement

A Chinese official in Nigeria says Beijing plans to invest over $300 billion in Africa to increase African exports and help close the large trade gap with China. China’s plans for more investment in Africa have been welcomed by some, but critics worry about Africa’s growing debt with Beijing. Click here to read…

Private military contractors bolster Russian influence in Africa

Russia’s geopolitical ambitions in Africa have in recent years been backed by private military contractors, often described as belonging to the “Wagner group” — an entity with no known legal status. Click here to read…

Russian diplomat, African Union official discuss preparations for Russia-Africa Summit

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the meeting was held on the sidelines of the 35th session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. Click here to read…

Egypt inks $1.6 billion deal for South Korean howitzers

South Korea on Tuesday said it signed a $1.6 billion deal to sell arms to Egypt a week after US President Joe Biden’s administration approved another massive arms sale to the Middle Eastern nation. Click here to read…

Explosion at Nigerian oil vessel sparks fears of major spill

A vessel with a storage capacity of two million barrels of oil has exploded off the coast of southern Nigeria’s Delta state, raising fears of an environmental disaster and concerns about the fate of its crew. Click here to read…

South Africa’s 10-yearly population census kicks off

South Africa on Wednesday launched its once-in-a-decade population census to collect data that will help the government’s policy formulation and planning, the statistics agency has said. Click here to read…

Shell Is Betting Big on Namibia’s Oil Boom

While all recent oil exploration attention has been on Exxon’s massive string of discoveries in Guyana, another giant player and a junior explorer are shifting to focus toward what may be the next up-and-coming oil hotspot It’s Namibia–a country that’s never produced a barrel of oil. Click here to read…

Zambia aims for IMF debt deal in May – FinMin

Zambia expects an International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt health check to be finalised this month, to strike a restructuring deal with creditors by April and get a formal agreement with the fund signed off in May, its finance minister said. Click here to read…

Russian paramilitary ‘saviours’ star in films on Africa conflicts

Paramilitary fighters from the Russia-linked Wagner group star in a new film singing their praises for interventions against rebels in the Central African Republic and elsewhere on the continent. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Raila starts week-long trip to India, Ethiopia

ODM leader Raila Odinga has left the country for a week-long trip to Ethiopia and India. Click here to read…

Belagavi firm to build 6,000 houses in Rwanda

The Department of MBA at KLS Gogte Institute of Technology organised an online international conference on Indo African Businesses-Strategic Perspective in Belagavi recently. Click here to read…

Kebbi sponsors 117 indigenes to study in India

Kebbi State has awarded no fewer than 117 indigenes scholarship to study Medicine, Engineering and related courses in India. Click here to read…

‘India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons’ review: An eye-opener on Africa

With China taking a lead, India should deepen its political commitment in the continent, set aside sizeable financial resources, and increase the capability of project execution, says a new bookClick here to read…

Zambia, India ties vintage

INDIA’S Republic Day, January 26, is a gazetted holiday celebrated throughout the world. It is a day to remember when India’s constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, completing the country’s transition toward becoming an independent state. Click here to read…

Mahindra sets record for monthly vehicle sales in South Africa

Mahindra South Africa has set a new record for monthly sales since it first started selling its range of automotive vehicles in the country 18 years ago. Click here to read…

Made-in-India Nissan Magnite exports expanded to 15 nations

The made-in-India Magnite is now sold in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles, Mozambique, Zambia, Mauritius, Tanzania and Malawi. In the second half of 2020, Nissan managed to ship out a total of 6,344 units of the Magnite. Click here to read…

Airtel Africa Q3 results: Net profit up 54% to $180 mn

Telecom operator Airtel Africa reported a 54.4 per cent increase in profit after tax (PAT) to $180 million for the December 2021 quarter. The company had posted a PAT of $116 million in the same period a year ago. Click here to read…

MONDIACULT 2022 | Africa Regional Consultation January 31 – February 1, 2022

The Regional Consultation on Cultural Policies for the African region will be held on January 31 and February 1, 2022. For two days, 47 Ministers of Culture are invited to meet online, with international and non-governmental organizations, with all the key actors of the Arts and Culture sector to discuss and present the voice of the continent on the issues of culture and development. Click here to read…

Week 5, 2022Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Burkina Faso is the site of Africa’s latest coup. How many more are coming?

The African continent was rattled by another military coup Monday—its fourth in less than two years—after Burkina Faso’s military ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré from power. Click here to read…

African Politics: Return of The Military

The military seized power in Burkina Faso on Monday, ousting the country’s democratically elected President, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. I was in a conference on security in the Sahel last November and already at that time, the conversation was that the military had decided to seize power in the country and the only question was when not if they would. Click here to read…

NEWS

Burkina Faso crowd celebrates West Africa’s latest coup

More than 1,000 people gathered in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou on Tuesday in support of a military coup that a day earlier ousted President Roch Kabore, dissolved the government and suspended the constitution. Click here to read…

Denmark pulls troops from Mali as military gov’t swipes at France

The decision comes amid rising tensions after several countries imposed sanctions on Mali for failing to organise elections following two military coups. Click here to read…

Ethiopia PM open to talks with Tigray forces

Ethiopia’s prime minister has said there will be negotiations on a cease-fire between his government and the rival Tigray forces who have been waging war for almost 15 months. Click here to read…

Senegal ruling coalition suffers setbacks in key cities

Senegal’s ruling coalition suffered crushing defeats in the capital and other major cities in Sunday’s local elections, local media reported, in a vote seen as a key test for the president. Click here to read…

US envoy for Horn of Africa to visit Turkey to discuss Sudan crisis

The newly appointed United States special envoy for the Horn of Africa will visit five countries, including Turkey, to discuss Sudan and regional peace, the State Department said Tuesday. Click here to read…

Egypt sceptical of Ethiopia call for cooperation on Nile dam

Egypt sees Ethiopia’s latest call for cooperation over its controversial Nile dam as mere ink on paper, as Cairo continues to insist on resuming the negotiations to reach a legally binding agreement. Click here to read…

Sudanese protest against UN talks to resolve post-coup crisis

Sudanese pro-military demonstrators have taken to the streets of the capital, Khartoum, to protest against a UN attempting to resolve a political crisis that has been marred by a wave of bloody protests since a military coup in October. Click here to read…

Shell hits oil and gas in Namibian offshore well

Shell (RDSa.L) has made a significant oil and gas discovery at an closely-watched offshore well in Namibia which could spark a wave of investment in the southern African country. Click here to read…

The Republic of Congo to Receive $455 million IMF Loan

The board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $455 million loan for the Republic of Congo with the objective of extending fiscal relief and stimulating re-growth for the hard-hit economy of the central African country. Congo’s economy has been adversely impacted by the pandemic and the loan is vital for the country with a 52.5% poverty rate. Click here to read…

China writes off $25.3m of debt owed by Mauritania

Mauritania and China yesterday signed an agreement under which China wrote off part of its debts owed by the Mauritanian government. Click here to read…

Beijing puts Djibouti at odds with West by helping equip its army

Beijing is pushing ahead with its policy of providing military equipment by donating 160 Dongfeng trucks to the army, having already supplied two vessels to the Djibouti navy last year. Click here to read…

Uncertainty shrouds Arab League summit in Algeria

The Arab League is facing a third year without a meeting, as the summit due to be held in Algeria in March is set to be delayed. Click here to read…

Libyan parliament committee urges change of interim PM

A Libyan parliament committee has said the chamber should choose a new interim prime minister, a move that could set major factions against each other in the wake of a failed election. Click here to read…

Zambia’s president visits South Africa to discuss trade and security

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema arrived on Wednesday in South Africa to discuss security and trade between the two nations. Click here to read…

Kenya on High Alert After France Warns of Impending Terror Attack

The French Embassy in Kenya has issued a terror alert to Western nationals, urging them to avoid places this weekend where foreigners gather, such as hotels and shopping centers, especially in the capital, Nairobi. Click here to read…

Rwanda to re-open border with Uganda as relations thaw

Rwanda will re-open on Monday a border crossing with Uganda that was shuttered nearly three years ago, even as tensions rise between the central African neighbours, fuelled by accusations of espionage and support for each other’s dissidentsClick here to read…

Death Toll from Tropical Storm Ana in Mozambique, Malawi Rises to 12

The death toll from tropical storm Ana has risen to at least 12 in Mozambique and Malawi, authorities said, although officials and aid agencies are still assessing the full impact of the storm that swept through southern Africa on Monday. Click here to read…

Book Review: Politics of Change in Middle East and North Africa since Arab Spring

After decades of suffering and deprivation under authoritarian regimes, the incident motivated the Arab masses to take their anger and frustration to the streets and demand justice, freedom and democracy. Click here to read…

Where Is Pan-Africanism Today?

Kwame Nkrumah foresaw a period when Africa would be unified and coined the term ‘pan-Africanism’ in the 1960s. He thought that African unification was essential for the continent’s economic, social, and political growth. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Shri G. Balasubramanian appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Shri G. Balasubramanian (IFS: 1998), presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Click here to read…

India-South Africa trade exceeds USD 10 billion target set by leaders

Trade between India and South Africa has exceeded the USD 10 billion target set by the leaders of the two countries, Consul General Anju Ranjan announced at a reception here on Wednesday to celebrate India’s 73rd Republic Day. Click here to read…

Tanzania, India agrees on new areas of cooperation

Tanzania and India have expressed readiness to open up new areas of cooperation to ensure sustainable development for mutual benefits. Click here to read…

Nigeria, India Deepen Ties to Boost ICT, Renewable Energy

The federal government and the Republic of India have mapped out ways through which they can strengthen the existing bilateral relations between both countries to enhance development in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and renewable energy. Click here to read…

India calls for countering terror in Africa’s Sahel and Libya

India has called on the international community to focus its attention on the threat of terrorism in Africa, in particular the Sahel region. Click here to read…

PM Modi thanks Zambian President for R-Day greetings, says ‘India greatly values its friendship’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday thanked Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema for his greetings on the occasion of India’s 73rd Republic Day on January 26. Click here to read…

Indian community marks 75th independence anniversary in Accra

The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Sugandh Rajaram, has called for the strengthening of the bilateral relations between Ghana and India.
According to Mr Rajaram, the achievements chalked by his country had been possible due to the help of its global partners of which Ghana was tops. Click here to read…

Indian embassy in Madagascar celebrates 73rd Republic Day by unfurling national flag

Indian ambassador in Madagascar inaugurated the event by unfurling the Indian flag.Click here to read…

73rd Republic of India: Prime Minister inaugurates the Ashoka Stambh in Ebène

The Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, inaugurated the Ashoka Stambh to mark the 73rd Republic Day of India, this evening, at the High Commission of India, in Ebène. Click here to read…

Tanzania’s avocados now hit Indian markets

Efforts to find international markets for Tanzania’s avocados achieved a milestone after a maiden consignment was exported to India on Friday. This is good news to smallholder growers, traders and the government alike.Click here to read…

Made-in-India Nissan Magnite is now exported to 15 global markets

The Made-in-India Nissan Magnite is now on sale in 15 countries across the world. They are: India, Indonesia, South Africa, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles, Mozambique, Zambia, Mauritius, Tanzania, and Malawi. Click here to read…

NeoCov: India to monitor deadlier Covid variant found in South Africa

India is keeping an eye on reports of a Chinese study on coronavirus type NeoCov, which spreads among bats in South Africa. Click here to read…

Bharti Airtel’s subsidiary Airtel Africa to be added to FTSE 100 Index

Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Thursday informed that its subsidiary Airtel Africa has been made a part of the FTSE 100 Index with effect from Monday, 31 January, 2022. Click here to read…