INSTANT NEWS RECAP | AFRICA: Weekly Updates

40 million voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are set to Participate in the Presidential Election on December 20 

• Nearly 40 million voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are set to participate in the presidential election on December 20, with President Félix Tshisekedi seeking a second term. 

• The DRC is rich in natural resources, holding significant reserves of coltan, diamonds, cobalt, copper, and bauxite. The election is crucial amid conflict, corruption, and historical governance issues. 

• Tshisekedi's challengers include Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege. Concerns about electoral fraud, a cost-of-living crisis, and ongoing conflict in the east add complexity to the electoral landscape.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67587434

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi Wins 2024 Presidential Elections

• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has reportedly won the 2024 presidential elections with preliminary results indicating a vote share exceeding 80%. 

• He comfortably defeated three challengers: Farid Zahran, Abdel-Sanad Yamama, and Hazem Omar. 

• The National Elections Authority is expected to announce the official results on December 18th, marking the conclusion of Egypt's fifth multi-party presidential election since 2005.

Read more at: https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2023/12/13/al-sisi-poised-to-win-big-in-egyptian-presidential-election/

Heavy Fighting Reported in South of Khartoum, Conflict Spreads.

• Heavy fighting is reported south of Khartoum, Sudan, in an area hosting hundreds of thousands of war-displaced civilians. 

• Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) allegedly launched a major incursion in al-Jazira state, previously considered a relatively safe haven. 

• The conflict, which erupted in April, has forced around seven million Sudanese to flee their homes. 

• Despite recent talks' prospect, the situation is escalating, with displaced people preparing for further upheaval.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world/africa?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=657c4dea69d486126e94246f%26Sudan%20war%20spreading%20to%20previous%20safe-haven%2C%20reports%20say%262023-12-15T14%3A20%3A06.645Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:c23a633f-e184-4ff8-8983-869f4e0b1882&pinned_post_asset_id=657c4dea69d486126e94246f&pinned_post_type=share

Somalia officially joins the East African Community (EAC).

• Somalia has officially joined the East African Community (EAC) after being admitted three weeks ago. 

• President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the treaty, making Somalia the eighth member of the regional bloc, joining Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. 

• The move is seen as a significant step for Somalia's regional integration and a positive development for the East African Community.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world/africa?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=657c106069d486126e9423fd%26Somalia%20formally%20joins%20East%20Africa%20bloc%20as%20eighth%20member%262023-12-15T12%3A54%3A44.766Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:d2021af3-17a6-42f7-89e9-d92e27c5638f&pinned_post_asset_id=657c106069d486126e9423fd&pinned_post_type=share

 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Suspends Niger's Membership.

• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Niger's membership after the military junta refused to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown in a coup in July.

• ECOWAS had initially perceived the situation as an attempted coup, leading to delayed action. 

• The regional bloc has suspended Niger from its decision-making bodies until "constitutional order is restored in the country."

Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world/africa?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=657c06dd87855b2dac7d46b7%26Ecowas%20officially%20suspends%20Niger%20over%20coup%262023-12-15T10%3A07%3A39.681Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:3d75cc0d-3ecd-4c72-a00c-0ae05fd75e49&pinned_post_asset_id=657c06dd87855b2dac7d46b7&pinned_post_type=share

Consulting firm McKinsey & Company Allegedly Worked Behind the Scenes to Push Controversial Carbon Market Schemes.

• Consulting firm McKinsey & Company allegedly worked behind the scenes to push controversial carbon market schemes favored by its fossil fuel clients at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. 

• Internal documents indicate McKinsey sought to shape the summit's agenda, promoting the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) and advocating for a $6 billion carbon offset market on the continent. 

• Over 500 civil society groups accused McKinsey of undue influence, criticizing its role in drafting key documents. 

• The summit eventually secured hundreds of millions in pledges for carbon projects, but skepticism about the effectiveness of carbon offsets has grown.

Read more at: https://nation.africa/kenya/health/mckinsey-fossil-fuel-agenda-ruto-climate-meeting-4465558

Soldiers Accused of Widespread Looting from Homes Near Sudanese Capital.

• Residents of Omdurman have described widespread looting by soldiers from the Sudanese armed forces in the only part of the city they still control. People said  soldiers had taken everything from cars to spoons, and had shot at those who tried to stop them.

Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/13/soldiers-accused-of-widespread-looting-from-homes-near-sudanese-capital 

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali Ends After 10 years.

• The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali ends after 10 years, following the junta’s pressure to go. 

• The United Nations ended its 10-year peacekeeping mission in Mali on Monday following the government’s request that alleged the force was inadequate to respond to growing violent extremism in the West African nation.

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/mali-un-peacekeeping-extremism-ffd9c0ebe51e8db820ddc41a101c8d98 

UN Warns Nearly 50 Million People Could Face Hunger Next Year- C. & W. Africa

• The United Nations warned on Tuesday that hunger could surge across West and Central Africa next year, primarily driven by violence in the conflict-riddled region. 

• Nearly 50 million people could face food insecurity and more than 2.5 million will be on the brink of starvation, said officials from the U.N., the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/food-insecurity-west-central-africa-malnutrition-e131b5e8afa9026adc1648840b37ac29?

West African Court Orders Niger’s President to be Released and Reinstated Nearly 5 Months After Coup.

• A court of the West African regional bloc ordered the release and reinstatement of Niger’s democratically elected president Friday, nearly five months after he was overthrown by mutinous soldiers. 

• The ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled that President Mohamed Bazoum and his family were arbitrarily detained and called for him to be restored to office, his legal team said in a statement.

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/niger-coup-president-mohamed-bazoum-ecowas-481dd0bb3926343f7f5603fb24149f30? 

With Death Toll Rising, Kenyan Military Evacuates People from Flood-Hit Areas.

• Kenya’s military hastened efforts Thursday to evacuate hundreds of people trapped by raging floods that have hit many parts of the East African country. 

• Floods have killed at least 170 and displaced more than 600,000 since the onset of heavy rain, according to the Red Cross, which is helping to coordinate the rescue efforts.

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/kenya-floods-military-evacuations-c5f279db8d70b9b93d115401593dd137?