VIF News Digest: International Developments (Africa), 25 Feb - 4 Mar 2019

South Africa's 2019 maize crop seen 20pct lower after drought delays plantings: Reuters, 26 February 2019

South Africa is likely to harvest 20 percent less maize in 2019 compared with the previous season after drought conditions delayed plantings in some corn growing areas, a Reuters poll of five traders and market analysts showed on Tuesday.

The government’s Crop Estimates Committee (CEC), which will provide its first production forecast for the 2019 crop on Wednesday, is seen pegging the harvest at 9.962 million tonnes, down from the 12.510 million tonnes harvested for the 2017/2018 season. The 2019 harvest is expected to consist of 5.045 million tonnes of the food staple white maize and 4.917 million tonnes of yellow maize used mainly in animal feed. Click here to read.... [2]

Nigeria's Buhari Wins Second Term as President: VOA, 26 February 2019

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday won a second term at the helm of Africa's largest economy and top oil producer, a tally by Reuters based on electoral commission results showed. Buhari faces a daunting to-do list, including reviving an economy still struggling to recover from a 2016 recession and quelling a decade-old Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands of people in the northeast, many of them civilians.
Buhari of the All Progressive Congress party proved wrong those who doubted he could survive the blows of recession, militant attacks on oilfields, and Islamist insurgency that blighted his first term. Click here to read.... [3]

40,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon ordered back to northeast Nigeria: MSF – Reuters, 27 February 2019

Cameroonian and Nigerian authorities have ordered 40,000 refugees in Cameroon to return to northeast Nigeria, aid agency Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of people fled the town of Rann in northeast Nigeria after Islamist insurgents attacked last month.

“Today we are seeing people packing up their belongings and leaving for Rann after being told by Cameroonian and Nigerian authorities to leave,” MSF said in a statement, adding it was very concerned over their possible fate due to continuing insecurity in Rann and a lack of humanitarian assistance. Click here to read.... [4]

Zimbabwe’s Ailing Economy Tarnishes Gold’s Glitter: VOA, 28 February 2019

Zimbabwe might have surpassed its 2018 gold production target, but some say there is little to show for it as the country’s economy remains in crisis. Kudzanayi Zvomuya is a small-scale gold panner in Bindura, about 100 kilometers north of Harare, waiting while his 20-plus kilograms of stones are processed to see how much gold they contain.
This 31-year-old man is among many people in this mineral-rich area who have abandoned farming for gold mining. However, Zvomuya says not much has changed for him financially since he gave up farming six years ago. Click here to read.... [5]

New, inclusive gov't formed in C.A.R: africanews, 3 March 2019

A new and inclusive government has been formed in the Central African Republic. The new regime was announced on Sunday with no changes to holders of some ministries, a month after a peace deal was signed between authorities and armed groups. The Defense, Finance, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Communication, Interior and the Economic Ministries remained unchanged.

Maxime Mokom, leader of the armed anti-balaka group has become Minister for Disarmament, De-mobilization, Re-integration and Repatriation. Souleymane Daouda, Spokesperson for the armed group, Unity for Peace in the Central African Republic is now Minister for Livestock. Click here to read.... [6]

Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea leaders meet in Asmara for mini summit: africanews, 3 March 2019

The wind of cooperation and togetherness continues to blow in the Horn of Africa region with Asmara – the Eritrean capital – playing host to the latest tripartite summit of leaders of government. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in Asmara on Sunday for the summit, they were met by Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki.
The two – Abiy and Uhuru – were in Asmara for tripartite talks even though on the side, bilateral talks between Eritrea and the respective guests were also held, information minister Yemane Meskel said on Twitter. Click here to read.... [7]

Algeria protests: President confirms fresh poll bid despite rallies: BBC, 3 March 2019

In a letter he said if he won April's vote he would oversee a national dialogue leading to fresh elections that he would not contest. His decision to seek a fifth term in office sparked nationwide protests. Mr Bouteflika, 82, has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.

Sunday saw new protests as a midnight deadline loomed for candidates to register. By nightfall young people were again marching in the capital Algiers despite the president's offer. Click here to read.... [8]