Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.
COMMENTARY
India must step up its diplomatic efforts to help Mali
Mali is currently experiencing both an Islamist insurgency in the north of the country and a political crisis in the centre as a result of two consecutive coups. On August 18, 2020, a group of senior army officers dissatisfied with the deteriorating political and security situation overthrew the current democratically elected government and established a new transitional one. Click here to read...
Egypt is hosting COP27. What are the expectations?
As the host country for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) from November 6-18, Egypt has a huge role to play during its presidency of the event. Click here to read...
The rise of the opposition in Africa: Which governments are likely to fall next?
Governments in Africa are in trouble. Economic decline, more strategic opposition parties and increasingly sophisticated electorates have left ruling parties increasingly susceptible to election defeat. Click here to read...
NEWS
Eritrea starts big offensive in Ethiopia's Tigray region - TPLF
Eritrean troops have launched a full-scale offensive in Ethiopia's Tigray region, a spokesman for the Tigrayan rebel group, the TPLF, has said. Click here to read...
Ethiopia Rejects UN Report Warning of Crimes against Humanity in Tigray
Ethiopia on Tuesday rejected a report by U.N. investigators that accused Addis Ababa of possible ongoing crimes against humanity in its war-torn Tigray region, including using starvation as a weapon. Click here to read...
Central African Republic’s top court deals blow to president’s 3rd term bid
The Central African Republic’s Constitutional Court on Friday ruled that a commission for constitutional reforms set up recently is “unconstitutional,” dealing the first blow to President Faustin-Archange Touadera’s bid to get through legislation allowing him to run for a third term. Click here to read...
Equatorial Guinea's Obiang, Africa’s Longest-Serving President, to Seek New Term
Teodoro Obiang, the president of Equatorial Guinea, who has led the country for more than 43 years, is the longest serving head of state in the world, excepting monarchs. Click here to read...
Senegal's president appoints former economy minister as PM
Senegalese President Macky Sall reinstated the post of prime minister on Saturday, appointing a former economy minister to the job two months after a tense legislative election in which Sall's ruling coalition lost its comfortable majority. Click here to read...
Sudan generals agree in principle to civilians naming prime minister, head of state
Sudan's military leaders agreed on the appointment of a prime minister and head of state by civilian political forces, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo said in a statement on Friday, following a meeting with head of state General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Click here to read...
Thousands protest alleged electoral fraud in Angola
Thousands of Angolans have protested against what they say was a flawed election last month that returned the ruling MPLA to power, continuing its nearly five decades of uninterrupted rule. 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...
Mmusi Maimane says he is ready to be South Africa’s next president
Former Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has partnered with struggle veteran and current deputy mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay metro, Mkhuseli Jack, to form a new political platform, Build One SA, which is expected to contest the 2024 elections. Click here to read...
Western countries call for holding elections in war-torn Libya
The United States and four European countries have reiterated support to hold inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya "in the shortest time possible." Click here to read...
Kenya’s Polisario Snub Reveals Morocco’s Growing Clout in Africa
Morocco’s phosphate riches are enabling its growing geopolitical clout, and its vital importance towards food security in Africa and beyond. Click here to read...
Western Sahara: South Sudan Slams Alleged Rapprochement with Polisario
Over the past years, South Sudan has repeatedly expressed interest in advancing economic and diplomatic ties with Rabat while notably distancing itself from the Polisario separatists. Click here to read...
Sudan committed to achieve national reconciliation, General Assembly hears
Abdel-Fattah Al Burhan Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, the President of the Transitional Government of Sudan, called for more multilateral action to find sustainable solutions to global challenges and to reduce terrible repercussions for people worldwide, particularly in countries affected by conflict and in the least developed countries. Click here to read...
Mozambique’s Nyusi Re-elected as Leader of Ruling Party
Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi was elected on Sunday to a third five-year term as leader of the ruling Frelimo party. Click here to read...
Biden and Ramaphosa vow to strengthen US-South Africa ties
South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa visits Washington for talks with Joe Biden on climate crisis, trade and Ukraine war, among other issues. Click here to read...
US Bill on Russia will punish African countries: SA Prez Cyril Ramaphosa
In terms of the Bill, the US will assess the influence that Russia has on African countries, especially those which it believes undermines the interests of those nations. Click here to read...
US Prez Biden calls South Africa a vital voice despite Russia stance
Biden made no direct mention that Ramaphosa is among African leaders who have maintained a neutral stance in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read...
South Africa’s Ruling ANC Loses Control of Key City Council
South Africa’s African National Congress was voted out of power in the southern Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, leaving the ruling party in control of only three of the nation’s eight biggest urban areas. Click here to read...
ECOWAS sanctions Guinea, condemns Mali over Ivorian troops
The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has announced more sanctions on Guinea’s military government after it failed to establish a new schedule for a transition to democracy. Click here to read...
South Africa in electricity crisis, nationwide blackouts
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had an urgent meeting scheduled with his Cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the country’s electricity crisis, which has led to unprecedented levels of nationwide power blackouts in Africa’s most developed economy. Click here to read...
Devil in detail of South Africa’s $8.5 billion climate funding, deal on hold
South Africa uses coal to generate more than 80% of its electricity and is the world’s 13th-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. With the country facing record blackouts this year and a number of its coal-fired plants approaching retirement age, additional generating capacity is urgently needed, along with the money to finance it. Click here to read...
At UN, Mali army-appointed PM slams France, praises Russia ties
Mali’s military-appointed prime minister has lashed out at France and the United Nations in a grievance-filled address over his nation’s deteriorating security situation while praising the “exemplary” cooperation with Russia. Click here to read...
Chinese, Algerian FMs meet on sidelines of UNGA session
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here with Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra on Saturday on the sidelines of the ongoing 77th session of the UN General Assembly. Click here to read...
Mali – Burkina Faso: Goïta and Damiba met to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation
Mali’s transitional president Assimi Goïta received Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, his Burkinabe counterpart, for the first time on 3 September in Bamako. At the heart of their discussions was counter-terrorism cooperation between their two countries, which have been shaken by jihadist groups. Click here to read...
Egypt’s leader meets with Sudan’s military ruler in Cairo
President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt on Saturday met with Sudan’s leader in Cairo for talks that focused on ties between the two neighbors, officials said. Click here to read...
Presidential terms should be "limited" - Namibian President
Representative of the last wave of African leaders, Namibian President Hage Geingob, was in Luanda last week for the inauguration of João Lourenço and shared with Euronews his vision of current African politics. Click here to read...
South Sudan Hopes Planned Port in Djibouti Will Increase Market Access, Profits
Officials in South Sudan confirmed this month they have bought land on the coast of Djibouti to build a port. South Sudan says the port will be key for exporting the country’s crude oil. Click here to read...
Tunisia detains former PM Ali Laarayedh after 14-hour questioning
Tunisia’s anti-terrorism police have detained Ali Laarayedh, a former prime minister and senior official in the Ennahdha party, a move the opposition party have called a “political attack” by the country’s president. Click here to read...
Algeria: Free Activist Granted Refugee Status in Tunisia
Algerian authorities should immediately release Slimane Bouhafs, an Algerian activist who disappeared a year ago from Tunisia and is now detained under investigation by an Algerian court, and ensure his freedom to leave the country. Click here to read...
Al-Shabaab suicide attack kills 7 in Somalia
A suicide attack claimed by the Somali Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab killed at least seven people and injured nine others in Mogadishu on Sunday, the army and eyewitnesses told AFP. Click here to read...
Jihadist Attack Kills Four in Burkina Faso
At least two soldiers and two civilian auxiliaries died in a "terrorist" attack on a patrol in eastern Burkina Faso, the army said Sunday. Click here to read...
Armed bandits kill 15 at mosque in northwest Nigeria, residents say
A gang of armed men killed at least 15 people at a mosque in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state, residents said on Saturday. Click here to read...
Tanzania's investment bill to open up the economy
In a quest to reform the country’s economy, a new proposed investment act, tabled for the first reading, seeks to encourage and attract more trade and investments both local and foreign. Click here to read...
As COP27 Looms, Africa Receives a 10th of Climate Financing It Needs
As the international climate community prepares to descend on Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, new analysis shows just how far off their host continent is in terms of attracting the finance it needs to adapt to catastrophic global warming. Click here to read...
Why Angola is Africa’s next agricultural powerhouse
When thinking of Angola, often the first thing that comes to people’s mind is the oil industry, with the country having overtaken Nigeria as Africa’s largest oil producer last month. However, Angola may soon be known as an agricultural powerhouse on the African continent as well. Click here to read...
Ethiopia terminates contract with Chinese POLY-GCL effective today
Takele Uma, Ethiopia’s Minister of Mines & Petroleum announced the termination of the contract with the Chinese POLY-GCL, which has been engaged in oil exploration in Ethiopia. Click here to read...
DAL Group and Air Arabia announce joint venture to launch new airline in Sudan
Sudan’s most innovative and customer-focused conglomerate, DAL Group, and Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator, announced on Thursday the planned launch of “Air Arabia Sudan,” a joint-venture company to be based in Khartoum International Airport. Click here to read...
Major fair marks Turkish defense industry’s high ambitions in Africa
The Turkish defense industry has various high-quality products for African countries and the states in the region are already interested in what Türkiye has to offer. Click here to read...
Vietnam boosts cooperation with Netherlands, African countries
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh had bilateral meetings with the Dutch Prime Minister, and Foreign Ministers of Sierra Leon, Guinea-Bissau and Malawi in New York on September 23 on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 77th United Nations General Assembly. Click here to read...
Eswatini hosts the 15th biennial East, Central and Southern Africa College of Nursing conference
The Kingdom of Eswatini has once again hosted the East, Central, and Southern Africa College of Nursing (ECSACON) delegates for the 15th Biennial Scientific Conference and the 7th Quadrennial General Assembly. Click here to read...
Chinese, Gabonese FMs meet on sidelines of UNGA session
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here with Gabonese Foreign Minister Michael Moussa Adamo on Saturday on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. Click here to read...
Pressure is rising for western countries to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe
At the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Sept. 20, the African Union (AU) piled more pressure on the US, EU, and UK to lift all sanctions against Zimbabwe. Click here to read...
Uganda says Ebola caseload rises to 16 as outbreak grows
Uganda said on Sunday its Ebola caseload had jumped to 16 people while a further 18 people also likely had the disease, fuelling fears of a spreading outbreak that involves a strain for which a vaccine has not yet been found. Click here to read...
Severe Drought Set to Plague the Horn of Africa in October; Could Impact Over 36 Million People
At least 36.1 million people in the Horn of Africa, including 24.1 million in Ethiopia, 7.8 million in Somalia, and 4.2 million in Kenya, will be affected by severe drought in October, the United Nations has warned. Click here to read...
South Africans want this diamond back from Britain
A recent report said that calls for the return of Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I, world's largest known clear-cut diamond, were growing in South Africa. Click here to read...
Rich Chinese culture wows fans in Rwanda
A crowd made up mainly of young people braved the scorching sun in the Rwandan capital of Kigali Friday visiting Chinese cultural exhibitions on display at the University of Rwanda, featuring items ranging from Chinese literature, calligraphy, dance music, traditional costume, cuisine to Chinese kung fu. Click here to read...
Three baby chimps were kidnapped from a sanctuary. Their abductors are demanding a ransom
An animal sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing demands for ransom money, after kidnappers abducted three of its baby chimpanzees. Click here to read...
INDIA IN AFRICA
India: Visit of Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan to the Republic of Djibouti (September 21-22, 2022)
Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan will pay an official visit to the Republic of Djibouti on 21-22 September 2022. This will be his first visit to the country. Click here to read...
At DefExpo 2022, India-Africa defence dialogue on the anvil
The forthcoming DefExpo 2022, scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar from October 18 to 22, will host the second edition of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue with invites extended to 53 African countries. A separate Indian Ocean Region plus (IOR+) conclave with participation of approximately 40 countries is also on the anvil, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Click here to read...
Growing India-Africa Bonhomie: Factors and Trends
Despite the constraints posed by post-pandemic challenges, there has been a marked increase in the flurry of visits and engagement between India and Africa. In just 2021, there were at least 22 engagements between India and Africa including bilateral visits at the level of External Affairs Minister (EAM) and Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, routine foreign office consultations, virtual meetings and phone calls at the level of Prime Minister and other such diplomatic events. Click here to read...
India, Egypt sign MoU to further defence cooperation
India and Egypt on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation. This was signed by Defence Minister Rajanth Singh, who is in a two day visit to Cairo, and his Egyptian counterpart General Mohamed Zaki. Click here to read...
Indian Navy holds anti-piracy operations in Africa
Indian Navy warship INS Tarkash deployed in the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa participated in a joint maritime exercise with Nigerian Navy patrol ships NNS Kano, Osun, Sokoto and Nguru. Click here to read...
Industry can be roped in to fund CV Raman International Fellowship for African Researchers: DST Secy
The objective of this Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for African researchers to conduct collaborative research in various areas of science and technology in different Indian universities and R&D institutions under the guidance of host scientists in India. Click here to read...
Indian Envoy in South Africa Inaugurates Brahmos Aerospace Corporation Pavilion
Indian High Commissioner in South Africa Jaideep Sarkar September 21 inaugurated the BrahMos Aerospace corporation pavilion on the inaugural day of the Africa Aerospace and the Defence Expo in Cape Town. 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. Click here to read...
This time for Africa: For Indian exporters, a new continent of opportunities as demand wanes in Europe, US
“We are getting 20-25% more export orders from Africa than Europe, a major market that now seems to be drying up,” says Ritesh Bhansali, Director at Mumbai-based exporting firm Picaso Trade Enterprises. Click here to read...
India limits rice exports, Togo braces for impact
India recently decided to limit its rice exports, and this poses new risks for Africa’s food security. On September 9, the Indian government imposed a 20% tariff on exports of white and brown rice and banned the sale of broken rice abroad. Click here to read...
Bharathiyar Awards return to South Africa after Covid hiatus
The annual awards named after renowned Tamil poet and freedom fighter C Subramania Bharati, returned to the Siva Gnana Sabay -- a religious organisation based in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg -- after a two-year break forced by the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to read...
Durga Puja goes global: From Finland to Colombia to Nigeria and more
Durga Puja has come a long way (quite literally) since the first ever barowari puja in Hooghly’s Guptipara in 1790, with Bengal’s favourite festival becoming a truly international affair in the third decade of the 21st century. Click here to read...
EEPC India raises curtain on INDEE Tanzania & inks MoU with Tanzania Chamber
India’s largest overseas engineering exhibition INDEE after completing 45 years, traversing 27 nations all set for the 42nd edition from September 22-24 in Tanzania. Click here to read...
After 8 Namibian cheetahs, India now working to get big cats from South Africa
After Namibian wild cheetahs, India might soon get to see South African felines roaming free in the wilds of the country. Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) has said that India is now working with South Africa to bring the big cats from there. Click here to read...
