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

COMMENTARY

The crisis in Mali poses a stiff hurdle for Indian diplomacy

With a heterogeneous mix of Islamists, separatists and ethnic militias, Mali has become a tinderbox and can explode anytime. India must act cautiously but fast. Click here to read…

Ten years after the Marikana massacre in South Africa

This August 2022, South Africa commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Marikana massacre. Located 90 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg, Marikana is one of the richest mineral belts in the world. Click here to read…

Russia-Ukraine Crisis: its Impact and Implications for Southern Africa

This article attempts to contribute to the discussions on the evolutionary political confrontations and contradictions between Russia and Ukraine, its impact on and implications for Africa. Click here to read…

NEWS

Angola’s Joao Lourenco takes oath of office for second term as president

Angola’s Joao Lourenco took the oath of office Thursday for a second term as the country’s president at an inauguration ceremony held in Luanda, the Angolan capital. Click here to read…

Kenya snaps ties with Western Sahara’s Polisario after talks with Morocco

Nairobi rescinds its recognition of the area controlled by Polisario movement, which seeks independence of Western Sahara from Rabat after President William Ruto meets Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita. Click here to read…

Ethiopia’s economy struggles as war reignites in Tigray

Once home to one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, Ethiopia is struggling as the war in its Tigray region has reignited and weary citizens far from the front are pleading for peace. Click here to read…

Ruto appoints predecessor as peace envoy to Ethiopia, Great Lakes region

Newly sworn-in Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta as peace envoy to Ethiopia and the Great Lakes region. Click here to read…

William Ruto: New Kenya president’s bold move to scrap subsidies

While leaders around the world are introducing subsidies to protect people from the rising cost of living, in his first major policy announcement, Kenya’s President William Ruto has surprised the nation by scrapping a subsidy on petrol which has increased the retail price to an all-time high. Click here to read…

Kenya revokes its support for Western Sahara independence, pleases Morocco

Hours after his swear-in ceremony, William Ruto, Kenya’s new president, upended the country’s decades-long policy of siding with the African Union on Western Sahara’s independence by revoking Nairobi’s support. Click here to read…

Egypt withdraws from Arab League meeting amid Libya presidency row

Egypt withdrew from an Arab League meeting on Tuesday in protest of chairing the session by the Libyan foreign minister in the outgoing government of Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. Click here to read…

Djibouti: France’s President Emmanuel Macron reaffirms support for Ismaïl Omar Guelleh

France’s President Emmanuel Macron assured his “attachment to Djibouti’s stability” during a phone conversation with his Djiboutian counterpart Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. Click here to read…

Mozambique’s jihadis spread into most populous province

Extremists allied with the Islamic State group have spread their attacks further south into Mozambique’s most populous province, Nampula, including an assault on a Catholic mission in which an Italian nun was among those killed. Click here to read…

Grim outlook for Guinea-Bissau elections

Bá was found guilty of coordinating the import of 1 800 kilograms of cocaine in September 2020, resulting in the biggest seizure on record in Guinea-Bissau. Click here to read…

In Somalia, al-Shabab’s courts win more converts

More Somalis are losing faith in the country’s slow judicial process and taking their complaints to the armed group. Click here to read…

Chadian rebel pardoned by Egypt ahead of N’djamena dialogue

The release comes on the heels of a pre-negotiation parley held for months in Doha by the Qatari emirate with Chad’s envoys and more than 300 rebel groups. Click here to read…

Ivory Coast asks for ECOWAS summit over diplomatic row with Mali

Ivory Coast on Wednesday accused Mali of “blackmail” over 46 Ivorian troops who have been detained by Bamako and called for West African leaders to discuss the crisis as soon as possible. Click here to read…

‘Difficult’ Discussion on Ukraine Predicted at Biden-Ramaphosa Meeting

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will meet U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House Friday, with trade, energy, and security all on the agenda. What’s not officially on the program, but will likely be discussed, analysts say, are the two democracies’ differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read…

Hungary’s Cooperation with Africa Built on Respect

“Hungary sees Africa not primarily as a continent of threats, but as a continent of opportunities and a continent of the future,” said Tristan Azbej, the State Secretary for the Aid of Christians and the Hungary Helps Program, at the opening of the Hungary-Africa Week, an educational, cultural, and economic event in Budapest on Monday. Click here to read…

UK-Africa ties: future looks gloomy under Liz Truss as political myopia reigns

Britain has a new prime minister in Liz Truss. For African leaders wondering what the new administration might mean for UK-Africa relationships, the view must be pretty gloomy. Click here to read…

Talks between rival Palestinian factions to resume in Algeria in October

The Fatah Party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) will join the dialogue on October 2. Click here to read…

South Sudan offers 14 oil blocks to increase output

South Sudan is putting up 14 oil blocks for sale in a bid to increase production to pre-war levels of 350,000 barrels a day. Click here to read…

Morocco, Nigeria ink deal to pipe gas to West Africa, Europe

The 5,600-km Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project traverses 13 African countries along Atlantic coast and would be linked to Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline in order to reach Europe via Algeria. Click here to read…

Morocco, World Bank Sign €236.7 Million Loan Agreement for North-East Project

Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah and World Bank Vice President for the MENA region Ferid Belhaj signed on Monday a €236.7 million (MAD 2.5 billion) loan agreement to finance Morocco’s North-East Economic Development Project. Click here to read…

NEWS

Turkish firm to build three luxury hotels in Rwanda

A Turkish company, Doğuş Group, is looking into investing in Rwanda’s hospitality sector by setting up at least three luxury resort hotels. Click here to read…

Senegal seeks to cash in on global dash for gas

President Macky Sall of Senegal has become a popular figure on the international stage. His country’s gas reserves, from which exports are due to start in the next couple of years, are now the target of intense interest by European leaders desperate to find alternatives to Russian gas following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Click here to read…

Botswana seeks investors in project to triple strategic oil reserves

Botswana Oil said in a tender document it was seeking bids from companies to design, build, finance and operate the Tshele Hills strategic oil storage depot, which will be transferred to the government after 20 years. Click here to read…

U.S. to withhold $130 mln of military aid to Egypt over human rights -official

The Biden administration has decided to withhold $130 million of foreign military aid to Egypt over its failure to fulfill human rights conditions, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Lenders urged to cancel Zambia debt as country faces economic collapse

More than 100 economists and academics have urged international lenders to crisis-stricken Zambia to write off a significant slice of their loans during financial restructuring talks this month. Click here to read…

Demonstrators burn Israeli flag in Morocco amid probe into misconduct at mission

Around 100 protestors rally against normalization in wake of recall of top Israeli envoy after allegations; initial investigation suggests sexual and financial improprieties. Click here to read…

Chinese-born candidate running for office in Lesotho promises jobs if elected

Jason Shao is an independent candidate running in the October 7 elections in Lesotho. Shao is a Chinese national and a naturalised citizen of Lesotho since 2006. Click here to read…

Nigerian inflation hits 17-year high

Inflation in Nigeria hit a 17-year high of 20.5 per cent in August, driven by soaring prices of food, diesel and a weakened currencyClick here to read…

Guests call out burkini ban at Tunisian hotels as discriminatory

On the second day of her stay at the Marriott Hotel in Sousse, Jannette Mensi waded into the swimming pool only to be told by hotel staff that she would have to get out due to her choice of swimwear — a burkini. Click here to read…

Soldiers and ‘terrorists’ dead in Burkina Faso attack

Two soldiers died and a dozen “terrorists” were killed on Monday during an attack against a military detachment in Burkina Faso’s militant-hit north, the army said. Click here to read…

Yemenia Airways handed maximum fine over 2009 plane crash in Comoros

Yemen’s national airline was convicted of “manslaughter and unintentional injuries” and given a fine of €225,000. The company was also ordered to pay two associations more than €1 million in legal fees and damages. Click here to read…

Tanzania becomes the latest African country to launch 5G

Tanzania’s leading telecom operator by subscriptions, Vodacom has launched the country’s first 5G technology in what promises to be a transformational development in the country’s digital journey. Click here to read…

William Ruto’s rise from chicken seller to Kenya’s president

He went to primary school barefoot, wearing his first pair of shoes at the age of 15. He also sold chicken and groundnuts by the roadside in rural areas of the Rift Valley. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

India-Africa ties deepen, MoS Muraleedharan in Nairobi

India and Kenya are working towards consolidating economic cooperation, maritime security, Indo-Pacific, Space Cooperation, fight against terrorism and Big Four Agenda of the African nation. Click here to read…

PM Modi congratulates Angola’s President on being re-elected

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco on being re-elected as the president of Angola. Click here to read…

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to embark on key Egypt visit next week

The two-day visit by Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh to Egypt next week will be part of India’s attempt to strengthen strategic ties with the Middle East. Click here to read…

CECPA fosters trade ties between India, Mauritius

The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) offers new opportunities for trade, investments, and services activities between Mauritius and India and can accelerate our economic growth. Click here to read…

Mauritius PM hails India for CECPA agreement, says it fosters trade between the two countries

Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, on Tuesday, while speaking at an event to commemorate the relations between India and Mauritius expressed gratitude to New Delhi for their continued support and unwavering commitment to making CECPA a reality. Click here to read…

India, Madagascar sign MoU on training of diplomats

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Madagascar for the training of diplomats, according to an official statement. Click here to read…

Egypt, India discuss strengthening bilateral relations, international issue

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received on Saturday a telephone call from his Indian counterpart Subramaniam Jaishankar, where they discussed bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest. Click here to read…

Egypt interested in coordinating with India on climate issues: FM

FM highlighted Egypt’s interest in coordinating with India on various climate issues, taking into account India’s upcoming presidency of the G20 next year Click here to read…

Nigeria to produce vaccines locally with Serum Institute of India

Nigeria will partner with Serum Institute of India to start local manufacturing of vaccines used in the country’s immunisation programmes, health minister Osagie Ehanire said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

INS Tarkash Mission Deployed in Gulf of Guinea

Reinforcing Indian Navy’s commitment to maritime security, INS Tarkash is currently mission deployed in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) for anti-piracy operations. Click here to read…

Indian war vessel INS Tarkash takes part in Joint Maritime Exercise with Nigerian Navy

Indian Navy warship INS Tarkash which is currently mission deployed in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), took part in a Joint Maritime Exercise with Nigerian Navy Patrol Ships on September 12-13, according to a statement by Indian Navy. Click here to read…

Shri Prakash Chand appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the State of Eritrea

Shri Prakash Chand (YOA: 2004), presently Consul General, Consulate General of India, Bali, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the State of Eritrea. Click here to read…

India hopes to see Sudan emerge as prosperous, peaceful and stable country

India hopes to see Sudan emerge as a prosperous, peaceful and stable country, said India’s Permanent Representative at United Nations Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday, adding that India remains confident that the people of Sudan will overcome the current challenges and press further ahead towards securing a stable and prosperous future. Click here to read…

Indian-origin officer appointed South Africa’s intelligence inspector-general

Imtiaz Ahmed Fazel, an Indian-origin intelligence service officer, has been appointed as the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) of South Africa by the country’s Parliament. Click here to read…

India will do its best to promote South-South cooperation: UN envoy Kamboj

South-South cooperation is a broad framework of collaboration among countries of the South in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and technical domains. Click here to read…

Gujarat Ion Exchange and Chemicals Limited supplied and commissioned the High Speed Fully Automatic Turnkey Mineral Bottling Project in Ethiopia

GIECL, a leader in mineral water plant and turnkey water projects supplier for 26 years in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, delivered a working model of the unique combination “Fully Automatic Turnkey Mineral Water Bottling Project”. Click here to read…

10 things to know about the 8 Namibian cheetahs flying to India on PM Modi’s birthday

Five female and three male cheetahs are in the group being transported to India. All of them are below 5.5 years of age. 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

With Tears and Steel, Kenya’s ‘Hustler’ President Vanquishes His Foes

William Ruto built a career on beating the odds. In his greatest triumph, he is expected to be inaugurated as Kenya’s fifth president on TuesdayClick here to read…

The real reason Egypt is moving its capital

In 2015, Egypt’s government announced it would build a new capital city, about 45 kilometers outside of Cairo, the current capital. Click here to read…

Mikhail Gorbachev on the Streets of Accra

The aftershock of the collapse of the Soviet empire reverberated from Cape Town to Cairo. Click here to read…

NEWS

Kenya’s Supreme Court upholds Ruto’s narrow presidential win

Kenya’s Supreme Court on Monday unanimously rejected challenges to the official results of the presidential election and upheld Deputy President William Ruto’s narrow win in East Africa’s most stable democracy. Click here to read…

Angola court rejects poll result appeal, opposition urges protest

Angola’s Constitutional Court made a final ruling on Thursday to dismiss a complaint filed by the runner-up in the August 24 election seeking to annul the results that gave victory to the ruling MPLA party. Click here to read…

Tunisian opposition to boycott December elections, decry ‘coup’

The National Salvation Front, a body representing the main parties in Tunisia’s opposition, including Ennahdha, has announced that it will boycott December elections to replace a parliament dissolved by President Kais Saied. Click here to read…

Burundi president names new PM after coup plot claims

President Ndayishimiye, a former army general, gave no reasons for the replacement but had warned of a coup plot against his government last week. Click here to read…

Power struggle continues in Libya

Recent deadly clashes have alarmed regional and international powers, as civilians fear displacement and a shortage of medicine and food. Click here to read…

Denmark moves closer to sending asylum seekers to Rwanda

Denmark signed a deal with Rwanda to move the Nordic country closer to setting up an asylum center outside of the European Union to reduce the number of people seeking refuge. Click here to read…

Commonwealth to observe Lesotho’s general elections

The Commonwealth will deploy a team to observe the general elections in Lesotho, scheduled for 7 October, 2022. The group will be led by the former president of Seychelles, His Excellency Danny Faure. Click here to read…

Moroccan army to participate in Israeli military conference next week, Israeli spox says

Morocco and Israel have gone on to sign a number of agreements- especially military deals – since Rabat and Tel Aviv normalised ties in late 2020. Click here to read…

DRC officials tumble as bridge collapses at ribbon-cutting ceremony

Dignitaries gathered to inaugurate a footbridge in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo only for the structure to collapse beneath their feet to the barely concealed delight of onlookers, a video shows. Click here to read…

Zambia seeks $8bn debt relief

Zambia is asking for more than $8bn of relief on its debts to Chinese lenders, private bondholders and other creditors, according to an IMF analysis, in a restructuring widely seen as a test of Beijing’s willingness to absorb losses on loans it has extended to developing countries. Click here to read…

Nigerian oil exports at lowest level in 25 years due to oil theft

Nigeria’s crude oil production fell below 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, figures from its regulator show, as the nation grappled with rampant theft from its pipelines. Click here to read…

Togo: Parliament extends state of emergency in the north for six months

Togo’s parliament on Tuesday extended for six months the state of emergency in the Savannah region in the far north of the country, which has been plagued by incursions by jihadist groups. Click here to read…

Dozens of civilians killed in eastern Mali

Local officials said dozens of civilians were killed this week in Talataye, a town located in north-eastern Mali. The locality which sits at croassroads of influence for rival terrorist groups was allegedly attacked by EIGS fighters who have ties with the Islamic State organization. Click here to read…

Thirty-five civilians killed in convoy blast in Burkina Faso

At least 35 civilians have been killed and 37 wounded when a convoy carrying supplies in Burkina Faso’s jihadist-hit north struck an improvised explosive device, the governor of the Sahel region has said. Click here to read…

At least six Mozambicans beheaded, Italian nun shot dead by insurgents

At least six people were beheaded and an Italian nun killed on Tuesday by Islamic State-linked insurgents in Mozambique’s Nampula province, authorities said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Al-Shabaab: the latest addition to Ethiopia’s woes

In late July, al-Shabaab militants carried out an attack on three towns, Aato, Yeed, and Washaqo, which are on the Ethiopia-Somalia border. Click here to read…

Somali army kills senior Al Shabab militant, frees hostages

Somalia claims to have killed a senior militant leader during a military operation against Al Shabab terrorists in the country’s Lower Shabelle region, as well as freed several civilians who had been held hostage by them. Click here to read…

Thousands flee deadly violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state: UN

Deadly fighting between armed groups in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state has prompted thousands to flee from their homes and triggered violence in displacement camps, a UN spokesman said. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso buys 5 Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey

Burkina Faso is the latest country to acquire Bayraktar TB2 drone from Turkey to reinforce its aerial capabilities against insurgents. Click here to read…

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

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

How gold mining in Ghana is threatening Swiss chocolate

As the world’s second-largest cocoa producer continues to lose swathes of farmland to illegal gold mining, Switzerland’s chocolate makers are waking up to the threat to their raw material supply. Click here to read…

African bloc outlines 10-year plan

Africa’s second 10-year plan will focus on expansion of infrastructure development across the continent, increase agriculture outputs and clean energy transition, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission said Friday. Click here to read…

Deep-Water Somali Port Gives Landlocked Ethiopia New Trade Route

Somalia will open a deep-water port on its northern coast next month, with a road link forging a new trade route connecting Ethiopia’s south-eastern region with the city of Gara’ad. Click here to read…

Türkiye to send grain to Africa if Russian exports unblocked

President Erdogan echoes view of his Russian counterpart; says Ukrainian grain goes to developed countries, not to those in need. Click here to read…

1st Ukraine grain ship for Horn of Africa reaches Djibouti

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

Eni buys BP’s business in Algeria to secure more African gas

Italian energy group Eni (ENI.MI) said on Wednesday it had agreed to acquire BP’s (BP.L) business in Algeria, including two major gas fields. Click here to read…

African nations urged to pile on pressure at climate summit

The former Irish President has called on African nations to pile on the pressure on rich, heavily-polluting countries to fulfill their climate pledges to the continent during a visit to Uganda. Click here to read…

Tanzania dismisses claims of freezing maize export permits

Tanzania has dismissed claims by Kenyan traders that it has frozen the issuance of new maize export permits, urging them to follow procedures. Click here to read…

China-built flyover helps reducing traffic congestion in Botswanan capital

A China-built rainbow intersection which partially opened Friday will help reduce traffic congestion in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, said Mmoloki Baele, the project manager. Click here to read…

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II in Zimbabwe

In 1991, Queen Elizabeth II visited Zimbabwe for the meeting of the heads of government in the Commonwealth, a community of former British colonies. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

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…

INS Tarkash Visited Port Lome, Togo

As part of her ongoing deployment to the Gulf of Guinea, INS Tarkash entered Lome, Togo on 01 September 2022. The first Indian Navy ship to make a port call at Togo, she was welcomed there by the Indian Ambassador to Togo, along with the local Indian diaspora. Click here to read…

Indian warship INS Tarkash arrives at Nigeria’s Port Lagos

Continuing with her deployment in the Gulf of Guinea, the naval vessel was welcomed by officials of the Nigerian Navy, the High Commission of India and children of the Indian Language School at the largest port of Nigeria, the Indian Navy said in an official statement. Click here to read…

All set to create a sattvik environment in Africa

Sattvik Certification South Africa (Pty) Ltd, licensee of Sattvik Council of India, in collaboration with DNV Business Assurance South Africa (Pty) Ltd, has introduced the Sattvik Certification Scheme for the African market in New Delhi. Click here to read…

Lootere teaser: Hansal Mehta’s thriller shows Rajat Kapoor’s ship hijacked in Somalia

Helmed by Hansal Mehta, Lootere traces the story of an Indian ship hijacked in Somalian waters. 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

Marikana and its aftermath

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

Japan’s opportunity to build a new legacy in Africa

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

The Biden Administration’s New Africa Policy

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

NEWS

TICAD 2022: Japan’s Deepening Partnerships in Africa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Angolan opposition files legal challenge, seeks annulment of vote

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

Ethiopia, Eritrea forces launch new offensive in Tigray: TPLF

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

Biden to Meet South Africa Leader Amid Differences on Russia

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

France’s Macron concludes Algeria visit with new pact

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

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

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

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

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

Mozambique reaffirms commitment to bilateral relations with Portugal

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

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

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

1st Ukraine grain ship for Horn of Africa reaches Djibouti

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

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

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

South Sudan’s former rebels join unified army

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zimbabwe government harasses opposition with arrests, jail

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

Türkiye-Egypt rapprochement continues gradually

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

Rwanda flight migrants ‘include victims of torture and human trafficking

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

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

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

Russian exports to Morocco double in 1H 2022

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

Second UN helicopter crashes in eastern DR Congo in five months

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

Terrorism: Nigeria ranked second despite N11tn security budgets

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

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

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

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

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

At least 32 dead in renewed Tripoli fighting

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

Madagascar police shoot 18 dead in albino kidnap protest: Medic

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

Tanzania launches first 5G technology

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

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

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

E-Commerce Company Jumia Launches Drone Deliveries in Ghana

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

INDIA IN AFRICA

Serum Institute signs deal with Aspen to sell vaccines in Africa

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

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

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

Nigeria seeks stronger ties with Indian textile industry

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

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

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

Indian ambassador celebrates 75 years of diplomatic Egypt-India relations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Sunil Bharti Mittal turned Airtel around in Africa

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

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

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

BPCL expects Mozambique project to take off next year

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

Indian envoy Abhay Kumar discusses climate change with Madagascar Environment Minister

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

Made in India Suzuki Grand Vitara showcased in South Africa

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