VIF News Digest: Africa (05 – 11 Nov 2018)

Yellow fever kills 10 in Ethiopia; WHO ships 1.45 million vaccines: Reuters

5 November 2018

The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing more than a million doses of yellow fever vaccine from its emergency stockpile after the deadly mosquito-borne disease killed 10 people in southwestern Ethiopia, a WHO report said Monday.

The outbreak was confirmed in Wolaita Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region and has been traced back to a patient who fell ill on Aug. 21. It has caused 35 suspected cases of the disease. "This outbreak is of concern since the population of Ethiopia is highly susceptible to yellow fever due to absence of recent exposure and lack of large-scale immunization," the WHO report said. Click here to read... [2]

Africa visit extremely productive’, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu: The Indian Express
6 November 2018

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Tuesday said his three-nation Africa visit was "extremely productive" and has taken the India-Africa relations to next level by reinforcing existing ties and forging cooperation in new areas.

Naidu returned to New Delhi this morning after his six-day visit of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. "In the last four and a half years of this government, 29 visits to Africa have taken place at the level of president, vice president and prime minister. This is truly unprecedented," Naidu told media on board the special Air India aircraft. Click here to read... [3]

ECOWAS earmarks $46,000 for proposed single currency: allAfrica
8 November 2018

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission will commit $46,000 to launch a competition to determine a suitable name and logo for the proposed single currency for the region.

The quest is open to all citizens of ECOWAS member state regardless of their residence as well as legal persons established in an ECOWAS member state in line with its laws. Click here to read... [4]

Death toll from somali bomb blasts rises above 50: The Guardian
10 November 2018

Somali hospital and police sources say the death toll from a string of bombings near a popular hotel in Mogadishu has risen to 53 with more than 100 injured. Captain Mohamed Hussein, a senior Somali police officer, said many of the injured suffered horrific wounds, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.

Islamic extremists exploded four bombs outside the hotel in the capital, Mogadishu on Friday afternoon. After the three explosions in front of the hotel, a fourth blast hit as medics attempted to rescue the injured. Click here to read... [5]

Kenya signs agricultural exports deal with China: Reuters
10 November 2018

Kenya and China signed an agreement on Friday allowing the East African country to export various agricultural products to China, a senior Kenyan government official said.

Nzioka Waita, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Chief of Staff, said the agreement on food, plant and animal safety - known as sanitary and phytosanitary measures - had been reached between the two after a week of negotiations. Click here to read... [6]

AfDB Investment Forum highlights Africa-2-Africa investment: Africa Times
10 November 2018

The Africa Investment Forum ended Friday with some 45 deals worth over US$ 32 billion set in motion with secured investment interest, and a promising emphasis in the continent’s Lusaphone nations.

More than 1,000 delegates attended the three-day event in Johannesburg, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). South Africa, Germany and the AfDB also held the annual Compact with Africa Investor Event, following on the success of last month’s G20 investment summit in Berlin. Click here to read... [7]

DR Congo Ebola outbreak 'worst' in country's history: BBC News
11 November 2018

The latest outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the worst in the country's history, the health ministry says. Almost 200 people have died since August, officials say, with more than 300 confirmed or probable cases. A vaccination programme has so far inoculated about 25,000 people.

DR Congo has suffered long years of instability and efforts to relieve the disease have been hampered by attacks on medical workers. "At this point, 319 cases and 198 deaths have been registered," health minister Oly Ilunga said, "In view of these figures, my thoughts and my prayers go to the hundreds of families grieving, to the hundreds of orphans and the families which have been wiped out." About half the victims were from Beni, a city of 800,000 in the North Kivu region, the national health authority said. Click here to read... [8]