South Sudan's election officials trained for December polls.
- South Sudan's electoral Commission Chair optimistic about fair elections ahead.
- Darren Nance, leading the UN's electoral assistance team, explained the three-day exchange with South Sudanese counterparts.
- South Sudan gained independence in 2011; post-2018 peace deal delays elections.
Read more at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/10/south-sudans-election-officials-undergo-training-ahead-of-next-decembers-polls/
EU Aims to Block Atlantic Migration Route with Mauritania.
- EU allocates €210 million to aid Mauritania in combating smugglers and deterring migrant boats amid rising crossings.
- During a meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania mentions challenges with migrants.
- EU Commission President von der Leyen pledges additional funds for migration, humanitarian aid, and job creation.
Read more at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/09/with-mauritania-eu-seeks-to-close-the-atlantic-to-migrants-and-refugees/
Thousands Displaced as Conflict Escalates in Goma, DRC.
- Escalating clashes prompt thousands to flee surrounding areas for Goma.
- Luanda emphasized the urgent flight due to advancing M23 rebels.
- Long trek from Sake to Goma offers no assured safety.
Read more at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/08/drc-thousands-flee-homes-as-fighting-intensifies-in-goma/
West African Nations Rush to Exit Bloc Opposing Coups.
- Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger seek to leave West African bloc without adhering to exit rules.
- Last month, the three juntas declared their departure from ECOWAS due to strained relations post-coups.
- This marks the bloc's first withdrawal of members in nearly 50 years.
Residents Flee as M23 Rebels Pose Threat to Sake and Goma.
- Fleeing residents report eastern Congo rebel group advancing towards Goma, despite rebels denying intent to capture.
- The M23 rebels cautioned that they would retaliate against attacks on their forces or civilians.
- M23 rebels, reportedly linked to Rwanda, detonate explosives near Goma.
Read more at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/08/civilians-flee-as-m23-rebels-threaten-to-take-sake-goma-cities/
Crises in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger prompt emergency ECOWAS meeting
- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened an emergency meeting to address pressing issues across the region.
- Among the key concerns are the political turmoil in Senegal and ongoing tensions with military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
- The gathering in Abuja, Nigeria, scheduled for Thursday, February 8, will see foreign ministers deliberating on the current security and political challenges facing West Africa.
- While the attendance of the Senegalese minister remains unconfirmed, the focus is on finding solutions to the region's complex issues.
- ECOWAS has faced criticism for its handling of recent events, including the postponement of Senegal's presidential election.
SA president defends ANC record in annual State of the Nation address
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his annual State of the Nation address on Thursday using it as a platform to list the ruling African National Congress’ achievements over the past 30 years.
- The party, which has been in power since the first post-apartheid democratic elections in 1994, is heading into its most challenging campaign as the country prepares to vote later this year.
- Several polls have suggested that the ANC could lose its majority for the first time, forcing it to go into a coalition to stay in power in what would be a landmark moment for South African politics.
- In his nearly two-hour address, Ramaphosa insisted the party was making progress in addressing the country’s problems including record unemployment, an ongoing electricity crisis, and corruption allegations.
US and Kenyan defence ministers highlight importance of security partnership
- United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, highlighted the "important security" partnership the US and Kenya share as he met with his Kenyan counterpart, Aden Bare Duale at the Pentagon on Wednesday.
- The meeting follows the signing last September of a five-year framework on defence cooperation between the two countries.
- "That just underscores that Kenya has long been one of our most important security partners in Africa. Kenya is a key strategic partner in tackling a range of shared threats and advancing security in East Africa and beyond," said Austin.
Malawi lifts visa restrictions for 79 countries
- Malawi has lifted visa restrictions for travellers from 79 countries. Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhałe made this announcement in a gazette notice on Wednesday.
- The decision aims to enable easier access for visitors, including those from the UK, China, Russia, Germany, Australia, Canada, and others with a broad objective of improving tourism in the country.
- The change to immigration regulations means citizens from these countries, as well as nationals from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), no longer need visas to enter Malawi.
- Additionally, certain groups like diplomats and government officials, along with countries having mutual exchange agreements for multiple-entry visas with Malawi, are also exempt from these regulations.
https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/09/malawi-lifts-visa-restrictions-for-79-countries/
UNHCR chief visits displaced families in Sudan amid escalating conflict
- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, embarked on a poignant journey through Sudan, where he met with families torn apart by the devastating conflict ravaging the nation.
- Displaced from their homes and livelihoods by the ongoing turmoil, these families are enduring unimaginable hardships in displacement camps scattered across the country.
- With conflict engulfing Sudan for ten long months, the scale of displacement is staggering, with nearly 8 million people uprooted from their communities, both within Sudan's borders and beyond, seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Central African Republic, and Ethiopia.
- The relentless violence has not only shattered lives but also brought Sudan's economy to its knees and crippled its once-thriving healthcare sector. Recent escalations in the conflict, including the seizure of Wad Madani, Sudan's second-largest city, by the Rapid Support Forces, have exacerbated the suffering of already vulnerable populations.
Senegal: Tension mounts in Dakar as clashes erupt amid political unrest
The streets of Dakar, Senegal, became a battleground on Friday (Feb. 09) as simmering political tensions boiled over into violent clashes between opposition activists and law enforcement agencies.
The catalyst for the unrest was a planned demonstration by supporters of opposition presidential candidates. Their aim was to voice opposition against a recent law passed by the National Assembly. This law not only postponed the presidential election until December 15, but also controversially extended President Macky Sall's term of office.
Read Ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/09/senegal-tension-mounts-in-dakar-as-clashes-erupt-amid-political-unrest/
US calls for investigation into alleged civilian killings in Ethiopia's Amhara region
The U.S. is calling for an investigation into an alleged massacre of civilians in Ethiopia's Amhara region, where a local rights group says more than 80 people were killed last week following clashes between soldiers and armed groups.
The U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, said Friday that the "U.S. government is deeply concerned" by the reports from the town of Merawi and called for "unfettered access by independent human rights monitors as well as an impartial investigation to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice."
Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/09/us-calls-for-investigation-into-alleged-civilian-killings-in-ethiopias-amhara-region/
US museum returns Ghana's Looted Artifacts after 150 years
Seven royal artifacts looted 150 years ago by British colonial forces from Ghana's ancient Asante kingdom and kept by a United States museum have been returned and presented to the kingdom on Thursday, the latest of a series of stolen treasured items being repatriated to several African countries
Looted from British-colonized Ghana in the 19th century before being transferred to Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the 1960s, the artifacts included an elephant tail whisk, an ornamental chair made of wood, leather and iron, two gold stool ornaments, a gold necklace and two bracelets.
After coups, West African nations hurry to leave the regional bloc that opposed military takeovers
The coup-hit nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are in haste to quit West Africa's regional bloc without following its rules of exit, the body said Thursday as its ministers met to deliberate on growing division and political tension in the region.
At the ministerial meeting in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, the bloc known as ECOWAS faulted claims made by the countries' juntas that their unprecedented decision to withdraw their membership was because of the coup-related sanctions the bloc imposed on their countries instead of supporting their development and peace efforts.
Zimbabwe abolishes inherited colonial death penalty
Zimbabwe’s cabinet agreed to abolish the death penalty for murder offences, almost two decades after its last execution.
The cabinet on Tuesday approved the Memorandum on the Private Member’s Death Penalty Abolition Bill introduced to parliament last year, bringing an end to the death penalty introduced in the southern African nation by British colonial administrators.
Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/07/zimbabwe-abolishes-inherited-colonial-death-penalty/
News bits compiled and drafted by:
Swapnil Tiwari (B.A. I.R. 1st Year)
Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 1st Year)
Manjyot Kaur (B.A. I.R., 1st Year)
Published by:
Alithia Clemency Paul (M.A. I.R., 2nd Year)
