Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 32, 2023)

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

Commentary

How Niger coup could unleash political & economic proxy wars in Africa’s crucial Sahel region

Last month’s military takeover of uranium-rich Niger was the 8th coup over the last three years in Sahel — a region that is of interest to world powers such as US, France and Russia.Click here to read… [2]

Niger coup: Is France to blame for instability in West Africa?

Many of the coup plotters would certainly like us to think so. Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, who was named prime minister by the military junta in Mali in September 2022, launched a scathing attack on France.Click here to read… [3]

The Niger coup exposes Russia’s grand strategy for Africa

The recent coup in Niger helps to illuminate several issues in world politics, not only in Africa.Click here to read… [4]

China’s Oil Gambit in Africa’s Conflict Zones

Across the continent, China is doubling down on energy investments even in the face of local opposition and violent conflict.Click here to read… [5]

News

Niger closes airspace as it refuses to reinstate president

In the face of the threat of intervention that is becoming more apparent ... Nigerien airspace is closed effective from today, a junta representative said in a statement on national television on Sunday evening.Click here to read… [6]

Niger arrests politicians after coup, other juntas voice support

The overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum has sent shockwaves across West Africa, pitting Niger's former Western allies against the likes of Russia and other junta leaders in the region.Click here to read… [7]

Niger severs diplomatic ties with Nigeria, France, US, Togo

Niger's military junta on Friday severed diplomatic relations with four countries, including its southern neighbor Nigeria, which earlier in the morning disconnected electricity export to the country following its delegation's failure to meet the coup leader.Click here to read… [8]

West African nations threaten to use force if Niger’s president isn’t reinstated within a week

The bloc also imposed strict sanctions, including suspending all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger and freezing of assets in regional central banks.Click here to read… [9]

Chad rejects Niger coup intervention

Chad will not intervene in a coup in neighbouring Niger, the country's defence minister has said.Click here to read… [10]

Burkina Faso, Mali warn against military intervention in Niger

Niger’s neighbours say any intervention to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum will be considered a ‘declaration of war’ against them.Click here to read… [11]

Algeria opposes military intervention in Niger, Ennahar TV reports

Algeria is categorically against any military intervention in Niger, Ennahar TV said late on Saturday citing President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.Click here to read… [12]

As deadline looms, France backs West Africa's bid to undo Niger coup

The 59-year-old coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who received some of his military training in France, said the junta will not back down.Click here to read… [13]

France Suspends Aid to Burkina Faso after West African Country Backs Niger Junta

France is suspending development aid and budgetary assistance to Burkina Faso, its foreign ministry announced Sunday.Click here to read… [14]

Benin says Niger oil pipeline not impacted by regional sanctions over coup

Authorities in Benin said on Thursday that sanctions imposed on neighbouring Niger by West Africa’s regional bloc over last week’s military coup have not affected work on a major oil pipeline linking both countries, but could mean a delay.Click here to read… [15]

250 Indians residing in Niger are safe, says MEA

“We are closely monitoring developments there. We are in touch with our embassy there,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in his weekly media briefing.Click here to read… [16]

Ethiopia declares state of emergency following militia clashes

Ethiopia's federal government on Friday declared a state of emergency following days of clashes in the Amhara region between the military and local militiamen.Click here to read… [17]

Sudan extends airspace closure until August 15 due to conflict

Sudanese airspace was closed to regular traffic after a military conflict erupted between the country's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.Click here to read… [18]

Internet Blackout Takes Out Power, Payment Systems in Senegal

For years, governments around the world have assailed social media for their role in the spread of disinformation, inciting violence and provoking uprisings.Click here to read… [19]

Senegal blocks TikTok in widening clampdown on dissent

Senegalese authorities block access to social media app TikTok amid unrest, days after dissolving opposition party.Click here to read… [20]

Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko hospitalised after one week on hunger strike

Opposition leader’s now-dissolved party says he was admitted for emergency care to a hospital in downtown Dakar.Click here to read… [21]

French lawyer for Senegal opposition leader imprisoned in Dakar

Juan Branco, a French lawyer for Senegalese opposition politician Ousmane Sonko, is in custody in Dakar on terrorism, conspiracy and public order charges, among others, his lawyer told Reuters on Sunday.Click here to read… [22]

Zimbabwe opposition supporter dies in ambush on way to election rally

A Zimbabwean man has died after he and other opposition party supporters were ambushed by suspected supporters of the country’s ruling party on their way to a campaign rally west of the capital, Harare, stoking fears of growing violence three weeks before elections.Click here to read… [23]

Zimbabwe opposition says repression worse than under Mugabe as poll looms

Nelson Chamisa aims to end the rule of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zanu-PF party.Click here to read… [24]

Libya’s High State Council elects new leader as political gridlock deepens

The Tripoli-based governing body chooses Mohammed Takala as leader in a run-off by 67 votes to 62, unseating former head Khaled al-Mishri.Click here to read… [25]

Time running out on election timeline for South Sudan, UN official warns

“With only 17 months remaining on the Roadmap timelines before elections in 2024, I repeat what I had said in an earlier press conference, that 2023 is a ‘make or break’ year,” Nicholas Haysom.Click here to read… [26]

Voters in Central African Republic overwhelmingly back new constitution

More than 95 percent of voters in the Central African Republic have approved a new constitution that could extend the president’s term of office, the committee in charge of overseeing the referendum said.Click here to read… [27]

Tunisia union leaders demand action on migration and economy

The head of Tunisia's largest trade union has demanded Western nations do more to support migrants who are continuing to arrive in Libya after Tunisian authorities began a mass expulsion in early July.Click here to read… [28]

Sierra Leone: Police arrest many including army officers

Sierra Leonean police claimed to have arrested "several" people, including army officers, who were planning violent attacks a year after deadly August 2022 riots that left more than 30 people dead.Click here to read… [29]

Former Ivory Coast President and opposition leader Bedie dies at 89

The career diplomat and politician led the country from 1993 to 1999 until he was removed in a military coup.Click here to read… [30]

Tories consider sending migrants 4,000 miles to Ascension Island if Rwanda plan fails

Rishi Sunak’s government is thought to have revived proposals to send migrants to a British overseas territory 4,000 miles away if the Rwanda plan fails.Click here to read… [31]

British foreign secretary launches $5M UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme in Africa visit

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrived in Ghana on Monday, commencing a four-day visit to three African countries with the aim of strengthening "future-focused, mutually beneficial" partnerships.Click here to read… [32]

UK pledges £3 billion to support green growth in Zambia

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announces a new partnership for green growth in Zambia, with ambitious targets.Click here to read… [33]

Uganda restoring colonial-era rail after China fails to fund another line

The rail line was built during British colonial rule and hasn’t been in use for nearly four decades.Click here to read… [34]

China Pledges Military Support To ‘Troubled’ Zimbabwe; Looks to Further Boost Its Presence In Africa

In what could open gates for further Chinese military expansion in Africa, a Chinese official has announced that his country is committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s military as the friendship between the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) deepens.Click here to read… [35]

China’s Belt and Road Initiative regains momentum as focus shifts to smaller ‘high-quality’ projects

China’s belt and road projects rebounded in the first half of 2023 with a strong focus on metal investments in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report.Click here to read… [36]

UAE provides Chad with military and security equipment

The UAE has sent a shipment of military vehicles and security equipment to Chad to support its counterterrorism efforts and enhance border protection.Click here to read… [37]

Taiwan, Somaliland ink MOU on trade cooperation

Taiwan and Somaliland signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday (July 31) to boost trade and commerce ties, the first such pact between the two countries.Click here to read… [38]

Japan foreign minister courts Russia's partners on Africa tour

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has kicked off a tour of South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia to drum up support for reviving the terminated Black Sea grain deal among African countries with close ties to Russia.Click here to read… [39]

Violent clashes at Toronto Eritrean festival and elsewhere show a divided diaspora, researcher says

An Eritrean cultural festival in Toronto was cut short on the weekend after violent clashes between the participants and a group of protesters sent nine people to hospital, prompting the city to revoke the organizers’ permit.Click here to read… [40]

New plants in Benin and Togo underpin Africa’s EV potential

Electric vehicle company Spiro has launched twin assembly plants in Benin and Togo in a push for localised electric vehicle production in West Africa.Click here to read… [41]

India in Africa

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi speaks with President of South Africa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with His Excellency, Mr. Matemela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa.Click here to read… [42]

India PM Modi to travel to South Africa for BRICS summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Johannesburg to attend a summit of the BRICS group of nations this month, the Indian government said on Thursday.Click here to read… [43]

African Union’s permanent membership in G20 positive development which PM Modi has advocated for: Former Tunisian PM

Former Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa has said that the African Union's permanent membership of the G20 is good news and an important decision, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in favour of implementing, as reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.Click here to read… [44]

2nd round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Malawi

The second Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Malawi were held in Lilongwe on 04 August 2023.Click here to read… [45]

India Joins Africa’s Digital Financial Inclusion Drive with $2 Million Commitment

In a move to bolster digital financial inclusion across the African continent, India has pledged $2 million to the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI).Click here to read… [46]

5th India-Lesotho Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation Meeting

India and Lesotho held the 5th round of Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation on 2nd August 2023 in Maseru, Lesotho. The Indian side was led by Shri Puneet R. Kundal, JS(E&SA) in Ministry of External Affairs and the Lesotho side was led by Mr. Thabang Polycarp Lekhela, Deputy Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Lesotho.Click here to read… [47]

India-Lesotho agrees to hold Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation in New Delhi

Both sides agreed to hold the next round of Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation at mutually convenient dates in New Delhi.Click here to read… [48]

Direct Cairo-Delhi flight launched after PM Modi's Egypt visit

The newly launched Cairo-Delhi route will be served by EgyptAir's newly acquired A320Neo aircraft, offering a two-cabin service with 16 seats in business class and 126 seats in economy class.Click here to read… [49]

Indian e-Visa for Gambia Citizens - Details of Visa Given by India

Since 2014, Gambian nationals can apply for Indian visas online through the Indian government.Click here to read… [50]

India's Rice Export Shutdown Adds to Concerns about Global Grain Trade

In an attempt to control inflation for domestic consumers and ensure adequate supplies, the government of India has banned the export of non-basmati rice, slashing shipment volume from the world's largest rice exporter overnight.Click here to read… [51]

Rites eyes ₹1,000 cr orders in Africa, foreign consulting

Railway engineering and consulting company Rites Ltd is close to signing international contracts to supply locomotives and wagons.Click here to read… [52]

IndiGo Begins Daily Mumbai-Nairobi Flights

IndiGo has started flying to its first African destination, Nairobi, Kenya, as part of its growth strategy to enhance connectivity in the region.Click here to read… [53]

India assures Mozambique of unrestricted tur, urad imports till March 2024

India has told exporters of pulses in Mozambique that it will import pigeon peas (tur) and urad without any quantity restrictions until March 2024.Click here to read… [54]

India-Niger relations remain steady amidst political upheaval: Former Indian Envoy

In a conversation with CNBC-TV18, RS Malhotra, the former Indian envoy to Niger, expressed his views on the current political turmoil in Niger and its potential impact on the bilateral relations between India and the West African nation.Click here to read… [55]

South Africa’s BRICS initiative align with India’s G20 priorities: Union Minister Mandaviya

Addressing the BRICS Health Minister's Meeting, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare said, "South Africa's BRICS initiative is aligned with India's G20 priorities including on health emergency management, medical countermeasures and most specifically Digital Health innovations and solutions.Click here to read… [56]

India orders cough syrup company linked to Cameroon child deaths to stop manufacturing

The Indian government has ordered a Madhya Pradesh-based drugmaker, whose cough syrup was linked to child deaths in Cameroon, to stop manufacturing activities.Click here to read… [57]