Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 4, 2023)

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

COMMENTARY

Here’s how President Biden can build on the promise of his Africa summit

After an eight-year hiatus, the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit returned to Washington last month amid heightened global geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty. Click here to read... [2]

The West, Debt and Other Takeaways from Chinese Foreign Minister’s Africa Trip

China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang wrapped up his first international tour to Africa this week, during which he visited five diverse countries — Ethiopia, Gabon, Benin, Angola and Egypt. Click here to read... [3]

NEWS

Thousands protest in Tunisia against president’s rule

Thousands of protesters angry at Tunisia’s economic crisis and the president’s increasingly authoritarian drift marched on Saturday through the capital, responding to a call from opposition parties to mark 12 years since Tunisian protesters unleashed Arab Spring uprisings around the region. Click here to read... [4]

Head of Ethiopia's Supreme Court resigns

A letter to the House of People’s Representatives (HoPR) on Tuesday did not state the reason for their resignation, local media house Addis Standard reported. Click here to read... [5]

Western Sahara: The Polisario movement's 16th congress set for election

Thousands of soldiers and supporters of The Polisario Front - the Western Sahara's pro-independence movement, met on Thursday at the Dakhla Refugee Camp in the Tindouf Region of Algeria, to hold the start of a party conference. Click here to read... [6]

Sudan forces crack down on protesters in capital

Sudanese protesters tried to march onto parliament on Thursday but were intercepted by security forces who fired tear gas and water hoses at the crowds. Click here to read... [7]

Treasury Secretary Yellen kickstarts Biden administration visits to Africa

The Biden administration’s big push to engage more with Africa is underway as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen begins a 10-day visit aimed at promoting all the economic possibilities that lie between the U.S. and the world’s second-largest continent. Click here to read... [8]

In Senegal, Yellen talks about future of US-Africa relations

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen caravanned from a government building to a business incubator in Dakar on Friday and was set to end her day at the president's residence, spreading a message of mutually beneficial U.S.-Africa relations. Click here to read... [9]

Al Qaeda’s JNIM pushes closer to Malian capital

Over the last few weeks, the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), al Qaeda’s branch for the Sahel and much of West Africa, has perpetrated a series of attacks that have inched closer and closer to the Malian capital of Bamako. Click here to read... [10]

Italian PM Heads to Algeria to Secure Energy Supplies

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to travel to Algeria this weekend in the European country’s latest bid to secure more energy supplies away from Russia. Click here to read... [11]

Ruslan Obiang Nsue: Equatorial Guinea president's son arrested over plane's sale

Equatorial Guinea's vice-president personally ordered the arrest of his half-brother over allegations he sold a plane owned by the state airline, a government statement says. Click here to read... [12]

Probe after comments to 'free' W.Sahara at Africa football cup

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said Sunday it will investigate comments made at the African Nations Championship in Algeria to "free" the disputed Western Sahara, that have sparked Moroccan fury. Click here to read... [13]

Ghana to host Africa’s political, business leaders at Africa Prosperity Dialogues

The maiden edition of The Africa Prosperity Dialogue Series will take place from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 January, 2023 in Ghana, proud host nation of the AfCFTA Secretariat. Click here to read... [14]

Egypt's soaring prices drive home economic pain

In better times, Om Mohamed's family used to take holidays at resorts on Egypt's Red Sea coast. Click here to read... [15]

Are white mercenaries fighting in the DRC conflict?

Western diplomats are deeply worried about the sudden appearance of Eastern European mercenaries in the volatile eastern Congo. Click here to read... [16]

Zambia received 'debt-for-nature' proposal from WWF for restructuring

Zambia received a "debt-for-nature swap" proposal as part of its $13 billion restructuring discussions, a move that while complex to secure and not part of current talks, could set an eco-friendly precedent for other debt crises if eventually included. Click here to read... [17]

G20 creditors on board for Ghana debt relief talks: Paris Club

Ghana is in the throes of its worst economic crisis in decades and has requested a restructuring of its debt. Click here to read... [18]

Somalia to Issue First New Banknotes in More Than Three Decades

Somalia’s central bank aims to replace the only high-value currency note still in use by next year to deal with counterfeit bills, excess cash in circulation and inflation. Click here to read... [19]

They are on the run’: Somalia leads fight against al-Shabab

Enough was enough. For 13 years, extremists with al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate had controlled Mohamud Adow’s village in central Somalia, imposing harsh ideology and arresting local teachers and traditional leaders. Click here to read... [20]

Kenyan security forces kill 10 suspected al-Shabab fighters

Kenyan security forces have killed 10 fighters from the Somalia-based al-Shabab group in eastern Kenya, a government official says. Click here to read... [21]

Abducted Burkina Faso women flee gunmen as attacks spike

Piercing thorns and stones underfoot did not stop the young woman as she charged through thickets, baby strapped to her back, fleeing armed men who kidnapped her with dozens of others in northern Burkina Faso last week. Click here to read... [22]

Tanzania registers record $63 million diamond exports

Tanzania diamond exports increased significantly to $63.1 million (Sh147.46 billion) by November 2022, the Bank of Tanzania has revealed. Click here to read... [23]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Skips Davos Amid Electricity Crisis
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos in order to deal with his country's worsening power blackouts. Click here to read... [24]

Russia delivers more warplanes, helicopters to Mali

Mali's current Air force Chief hails the latest deliveries as the latest stage in the "unprecedented" modernisation of the country's forces, which are facing a militant insurgency. Click here to read... [25]

Central African premier holds talks at Russian Defence Ministry

Central African Republic (CAR) Prime Minister Felix Moloua held talks in Moscow on Thursday with the leadership of Russia’s Defence Ministry. Click here to read... [26]

Senegal institute wins $50 mln in boost to Africa's vaccine capacity

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) will invest up to $50 million over 10 years to help Senegal's Institut Pasteur expand Africa's ability to produce vaccines at scale. Click here to read... [27]

Uganda turns away from belt and road rail deal as China stalls on loans

Kampala cancels US$2.3 billion construction deal over funding delays, looks to Turkish company to take over the projectClick here to read... [28]

Uganda approves construction licence for $3.5 bln crude pipeline

Uganda on Wednesday issued a final tender to company controlled by TotalEnergies to construct a $3.5 billion oil pipeline through to Tanzania. Click here to read... [29]

China, Benin ink deal on partial debt cancellation

China and Benin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on partial debt cancellation Saturday during the visit of the Chinese top diplomat Qin Gang to the African country. Click here to read... [30]

Congo sees deal on $6 bln China mining contract overhaul this year

Democratic Republic of Congo expects to reach an agreement on overhauling $6 billion of an infrastructure-for-minerals deal with Chinese investors this year. Click here to read... [31]

China-built Namibian railway renovation project completed

The restoration of the railway line between Walvis Bay and Arandis in Namibia, with a total length of nearly 110 kilometers, by a Chinese construction company was completed. Click here to read... [32]

China-Africa traditional friendship shows 'new characteristic' as FM Qin concludes 8-day visit

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang concluded his first official overseas trip since his appointment on December 30, 2022, with visits to five African countries and two regional organizations on his busy eight-day schedule. Click here to read... [33]

Russia, China to hold naval drills off South Africa

Russia and China will conduct naval drills in the Indian Ocean off the coast of South Africa next monthClick here to read... [34]

Israel ready to support Nigeria with intelligence in tackling terrorism

Israel says it is ready to support Nigeria in the areas of Intelligence sharing, modern combat equipmentand extraction of relevant information to effectively win the ongoing war against terrorism. Click here to read... [35]

Morocco says it will boost military ties with Israel

Morocco’s army said Tuesday it had agreed with Israel to strengthen military cooperation including in intelligence and cybersecurity, following defense meetings in Rabat. Click here to read... [36]

Zambia, UAE to develop $2 billion solar projects

Zesco, the Zambian state-owned power utility, and Masdar, the United Arab Emirates renewable energy firm has signed an agreement to develop solar projects in the amount of $2 billion.Click here to read... [37]

Gambian vice president dies after ‘short illness’ in India

Joof was the fourth deputy to serve under President Barrow since his historic 2016 win against former strongman Yahya Jammeh. Click here to read... [38]

Gabon's foreign minister dies after suffering heart attack during cabinet meeting

Gabon's foreign minister Michael Moussa Adamo died Friday after suffering a heart attack during a cabinet meeting, the government and a presidential source saidClick here to read... [39]

European Parliament condemns Morocco for first time in 25 years, after vote on human rights

European lawmakers voted on Thursday to condemn Morocco for the first time in 25 years, as it called on the country to respect media freedom and to release all political prisoners and jailed journalists. Click here to read... [40]

INDIA IN AFRICA

India, Egypt to hold dialogue on defence ties during President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s visit

India and Egypt are likely to seal around half a dozen agreements during the visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi who is slated to arrive in New Delhi on January 24 ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. Click here to read... [41]

180-Strong Egypt Contingent To Join Republic Day Parade, President Chief Guest

According to sources, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is set to arrive in New Delhi on January 24th and will be greeted by Minister of State for External Affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh. Click here to read... [42]

CYCLONE – I: India, Egypt special forces hold joint exercise in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer

The 14 days long exercise will focus on sharing professional skills and interoperability of special forces in desert terrain while undertaking counter terrorism, reconnaissance, raids and other special operations. Click here to read... [43]

Togo-India Partnership: President Gnassigbe recently met India’s ambassador

The Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, met India’s Ambassador to Togo, Ram Saajiv Tandon last Tuesday. Click here to read... [44]

Lok Sabha Speaker calls on Tanzanian PM, says solutions to global issues require joint action

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is leading an Indian Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) to Tanzania, called on Prime Minister of Tanzania Kassim Majaliwa and said that solutions to global issues require joint action. Click here to read... [45]

Seychelles receives new Ashok Leyland buses made for island use

The Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) has received the first batch of new Ashok Leyland buses to upgrade its transport system. Click here to read... [46]

HDFC Bank-HDFC merger: Mauritius FSC okays Griha share transfer from HDFC Holdings

The country's largest housing finance company HDFC Ltd on Monday, January 16, said it got approval from the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius for the transfer of shares of Griha Investments from HDFC Holdings Ltd to HDFC Bank for the merger. Click here to read... [47]