INR | AFRICA: Weekly Updates

 

Journalist exposes dire conditions in Makala prison

• In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Makala prison holds over 15,000 inmates, far exceeding its 1,500 capacity.

• Most are in pre-trial detention, creating inhumane conditions, according to a December 2023 report by the Bill Clinton Foundation for Peace.

• Journalist Stanis Bujakera, formerly detained in Makala, posted videos on social media showing extreme overcrowding. He describes the prison as a place where "people are dying alive."

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/22/journalist-exposes-dire-conditions-in-makala-prison/

Sudan: UAE president expresses support in call with Burhan

• The President of the United Arab Emirates has expressed his country's support for Sudan and finding a solution to end the ongoing conflict there.

• His comments came in a phone call on Thursday with the head of of the Sudanese army, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, according to the Emirati news agency, WAM.

• President Mohammed ben Zayed is reported to have said the UAE is keen "to support all solutions and initiatives aimed at halting escalation and ending the crisis in Sudan."

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/22/sudan-uae-president-expresses-support-in-call-with-burhan/

African Union addresses integration issues at Ghana conference

• The African Union convened in Ghana on Sunday to address issues related to African integration and to establish a unified stance before engaging with the G20 and UN.

• Mauritania's President and current African Union Chair, Mohamed Cheikh Ghazouani, urged for the acceleration of the African integration process.

• He stressed the importance of expediting economic integration to support the continent and fulfill the aspirations of African citizens.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/22/african-union-addresses-integration-issues-at-ghana-conference/

Cholera outbreak: Medical experts, government move to curb spread

• The Nigerian government is currently grappling with a cholera outbreak that has swept through the West African nation. As authorities work tirelessly to contain the spread of this diarrheal disease, medical experts are urging residents to maintain proper hygiene when handling food and liquids.

• Dr. Adewale Adeleye emphasized that thorough hand washing and safe food and water practices are crucial in preventing the spread of cholera. He advised citizens to heed all health advisories and take proactive measures, as the disease is highly transmissible.

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/20/cholera-outbreak-medical-experts-government-move-to-curb-spread/

Kenya: Court suspends police ban on protests in Nairobi

• A Kenyan court on Thursday (Jul. 18) halted a police ban on protests in the capital.

• The Milimani law courts ruled the ban remains suspended pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed by a Kenyan NGO challenging the police directive.

• On Wednesday (Jul. 17) the acting police inspector general banned protests in Nairobi's central district (CBD) and surroundings indefinitely citing a lack of leadership that would ensure peaceful protests.

• The suspension came before a planned demonstration, in which protestors were expected to march to the president’s office.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/19/kenya-court-suspends-police-ban-on-protests-in-nairobi/

South Africa: Ramaphosa opens new coalition legislature

• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa opened a new parliament on Thursday, nearly two months after a historic election result that reshaped the country's politics and led to the formation of an unprecedented multi-party coalition government.

• Mr Ramaphosa's speech to lawmakers at Cape Town City Hall - a replacement venue after the fire that gutted the parliament building two years ago - marked the official start of operations for the new coalition, which brings together at least 10 parties to govern Africa's most industrialised country.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/19/south-africa-ramaphosa-opens-new-coalition-legislature/

Drought threatens millions of children as school dropouts rise along with hunger in southern Africa

• It’s Tuesday morning, and 5-year-old Talent should be in school. Instead, he's foraging for the fruit that his family is counting on for food now that crops have withered in the heat.

• Blame the El Nino phenomenon that altered weather worldwide for over a year, or the larger problem of climate change that's bearing down on the African continent, the region most vulnerable to it. The boy's grandmother, Winnie Chihota, knows she's watching part of a generation slip away.

• For many in Zimbabwe’s rural northeastern Mudzi district, crops mean survival. When they fail, the future can, too. 

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/19/drought-threatens-millions-of-children-as-school-dropouts-rise-along-with-hunger-in-southe/

Ivory Coast deports 164 Burkinabe refugees amid concerns

• The Burkinabe government has expressed regret over the deportation of 164 of its citizens, who recently sought refuge in Ivory Coast. This comes amid ongoing efforts to accommodate the 60,000 Burkinabe who have fled instability in their homeland since 2021. Many of these refugees are hosted by local families, while others are housed in government-established reception centers.

• On July 13, 2024, a group of 173 Burkinabe, predominantly women, children, and about fifty men, arrived in Ouangolodougou, Ivory Coast. Seven members of the group reported to local authorities to register their livestock. However, three days later, 164 of the refugees were deported back to Burkina Faso without any official explanation.

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/19/ivory-coast-deports-164-burkinabe-refugees-amid-concerns/

Niger: IMF approves $71 million disbursement

• Niger will receive new loans from the IMF to undertake reforms to reduce risks to prospective balance of payments stability and resolve its protracted balance of payments problems.

• The Executive Board of the IMF completed Wednesday the Fourth and Fifth Reviews of Niger’s economic and financial program supported by the Extended Credit Facility arrangement (ECF), and the First Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility arrangement (RSF).

• The completion of the reviews allowed for the immediate disbursement of SDR 19.74 million(about US$ 26 million) under the ECF—bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 157.92 million (about US$ 210million)—and of SDR 34.216 million (about US$ 45 million) under the RSF.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/19/niger-imf-approves-71-million-disbursement/

South Africa: Ramaphosa opens new Parliament

• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will open a new parliamentary term on Thursday to mark the official start of his 11-party coalition government, an uneasy union held together following a historic election result.

• In his speech, Mr Ramaphosa will likely outline the new government’s priorities, which became clear after his once-dominant African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in elections on 29 May. Voters, driven by anger over sky-high levels of unemployment and inequality and the failing state of many basic public services, gave the ANC its worst result in a national election.

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/19/south-africa-ramaphosa-opens-new-parliament/

Drafted by:

Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)

Published by:

Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)

INR | AFRICA: Weekly Updates

 

"We are ready to fight," President Kagame responds to DRC

• In an exclusive interview with France 24, Rwandan President Paul Kagame declared Rwanda's readiness to go to war with the Democratic Republic of Congo if necessary, stating, 'they are ready to fight and are not afraid of anything.'

• This follows accusations from Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who claimed Rwanda is organizing a genocide in Eastern DRC. Kagame responded by accusing Tshisekedi of promoting a genocidal ideology against Congolese Tutsis.

• Kagame also refused to confirm the presence of Rwandan soldiers in the DRC, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of regional tensions.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/we-are-ready-to-fight-president-kagame-responds-to-drc/

Niger revokes French company's operating licence at major uranium mine

• Niger’s military government has revoked the operating licence of French nuclear fuel producer, Orano, at one of the world’s biggest uranium mines, the company said on Thursday.

• The decision has highlighted tensions between the junta, which came to power in a coup in July last year, and the former colonial power, France.

• The military seized control of Niger on the pledge of cutting ties with the West, vowing to review mining concessions in the country, and ordering the withdrawal of Western troops.

• Orano said it has been told to leave the Imouraren mine in northern Niger, which sits on an estimated 200,000 tonnes of uranium that is vital for producing nuclear energy.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/niger-revokes-french-companys-operating-licence-at-major-uranium-mine/

Climate crisis: Zambia responds to consequences of drought on women, girls

• Monze village in southern Zambia has about 43 health facilities but in times of crisis some residents can't embark on sometimes long journeys for a consultation.

• Some of these communities live hours from the nearest health facility - in Hakukunla village, the nearest clinic is at least 30 km away. Taking services to communities is critical amid concerns that women and girls are prioritizing the search for food and water instead of their health.

• Zambia is currently going through its driest agricultural season in more than 40 years.

• As crops have been wiped out and livestock have died, poverty is deepening.

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/climate-crisis-zambia-responds-to-consequences-of-drought-on-women-girls/

South Sudan's vice president expresses concerns over ongoing peace talks

• South Sudan's vice president said Thursday that peace talks in neighbouring Kenya have failed to acknowledge the country's peace agreement established in 2018, alleging a new draft agreement is aimed at replacing the original peace deal.

• Riek Machar in a protest letter to the talks' mediator said the draft established alternative institutions to replace or run in parallel with those established by the previous peace agreement. He added that the current peace talks should complement and not obliterate the original deal.

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/south-sudans-vice-president-expresses-concerns-over-ongoing-peace-talks/

Chad: Residents react after deadly military ammunition depot blast

• One day after a military ammunition depot in Chad's capital exploded, the neighborhood next to the depot still bears the marks of the incident.

• On Wednesday (Jun. 19), nine people were confirmed dead.

• Residents of the neighborhood around the Chadian army's weapons depot were still in shock.

• “The house was destroyed and the boys' room was set on fire, but nothing was saved, as you can see, it's like this because of the shells (that hit the house),” a resident named Mahamat said.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/20/chad-residents-react-after-deadly-military-ammunition-depot-blast/

Libyans demand elections and unity, says UN envoy

• Libyans from rival regions and all walks of life are fed up with the country’s divisions and want political players to end their years-long impasse and agree to hold national elections, a key step to peace in the oil-rich North African country, the U.N. deputy representative said Wednesday.

• Stephanie Koury told the U.N. Security Council that she has been meeting political leaders, civil society representatives, academics, women’s groups, military leaders and others in the country’s rival east and west to listen to their views. She said there is consensus that the current “status quo is not sustainable” – and the political process needs to advance toward elections.

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/20/libyans-demand-elections-and-unity-says-un-envoy/

Jihadis from Africa's Sahel have crossed into Nigeria's North, a new report says.

• Jihadi fighters who had long operated in Africa's volatile Sahel region have settled in northwestern Nigeria after crossing from neighbouring Benin, a new report said Wednesday, the latest trend in the militants' movements to wealthier West African coastal nations.

• The extremists believed to be linked to al-Qaida have in the last year crossed over from Benin's hard-hit northern region and settled in the Kainji Lake National Park, one of Nigeria's largest which had been under security threats, according to the report by the Clingendael Institute think tank.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/19/jihadis-from-africas-sahel-have-crossed-into-nigerias-north-a-new-report-says/

Sudan accuses UAE of fueling war with weapons to paramilitary rivals

• The Sudanese government on Tuesday, June 19 accused the United Arab Emirates of fueling the 14-month war in the African country by providing weapons to a rival paramilitary force.

• The UAE dismissed the allegation as "ludicrous," calling it "a shameful abuse by one of the warring parties."

• The clash came during a U.N. Security Council meeting at which Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee warned that atrocities are being committed along ethnic lines in Sudan's western Darfur region.

• She urged an immediate cease-fire in the North Darfur capital, El Fasher, which is besieged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, "to prevent further atrocities, protect critical infrastructure, and alleviate civilian suffering."

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/19/sudan-accuses-uae-of-fueling-war-with-weapons-to-paramilitary-rivals/

Burundi: shortages and power cuts slow a return from international isolation

• A deadly nationwide political crackdown in the East African nation is now in the past. But the return to international favour, and benefits like development assistance that come with it, has been slow. As always, everyday citizens feel it most.

• According to United Nations figures, it’s never been easy in landlocked Burundi, which at times has been described as the world’s poorest country.

• The list of commodities in short supply in recent months has ranged from fuel to sugar. But an electricity shortage is hitting the hardest, slowing attempts at economic recovery.

Read ahead at: https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/18/burundi-shortages-and-power-cuts-slow-a-return-from-international-isolation/

Pope Francis urges action to end bloodshed in the Democratic Republic of Congo

• Pope Francis called on national and international authorities to take action to stop the bloodshed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo following a week in which dozens were killed in the North Kivu province.

• At the end of his weekly Sunday prayers on St Peter’s Square, he said the victims included many Christians.

• “Painful news continues to arrive of battles and massacres that are happening in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the pontiff said

Read ahead at:https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/16/pope-francis-urges-action-to-end-bloodshed-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/

Drafted by:

Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)

Published by:

Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)