Category: Africa

Africa: Hapag Lloyd Is Desperate to Make West Africa Its Garbage Dump – After Senegal, Now Mauritania

After German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd was caught in the act of fraud by Senegalese customs, it has since been spotted docked in neighbouring Mauritania. Greenpeace fears that the vessel might try to dump its shipment of plastic waste there. According to Liberation, the fifth largest ship owner in the world was fraudulently trying to bring

NIGERIA : Abuja names bigshot oil arbitrator to fight Shell over oil spill

The three-member tribunal assigned to arbitrate a dispute between the Nigerian state and oil major Shell dating back to an Source link

Malawi: Asians Aggrieved With ‘Extreme Aggression’ By Immigration Dept.

Asian Association of Maravi (AAM) have been greatly aggrieved by “extremely aggressive” invasion by Immigration Department made at Area 2 in Lilongwe on the night of May 9, which the officials had explained was a door-to-door sweep to capture illegal immigrants. A statement, addressed to no one in particular — dated May 13 issued by

Africa: Wang Yi Chairs UN Security Council Open Debate on ‘Peace and Security in Africa’

On May 19, 2021, at the initiative of China, which holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) this month, the Security Council held an Open Debate on “Peace and Security in Africa: Addressing Root Causes of Conflict in Post-Pandemic Recovery in Africa” via video link. The meeting was chaired by Chinese State

Namibia: Napwu Accuses NBC of Malice

Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) says Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) does not have the workers’ best interest at heart, as they are not putting their plight first. According to Napwu’s general secretary Petrus Nevonga, NBC cannot cite budgetary constraints or scarce funds as reasons to not pay their employees their wage increment when management paid

Africa: WHO Issues New Guidance for Research on Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Fight Malaria and Other Vector-Borne Diseases

Geneva, 19 May – New guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) sets essential standards to inform future research and development on genetically modified mosquitoes, particularly in addressing issues relating to ethics, safety, affordability and effectiveness. Malaria and other vector-borne diseases, including dengue and Zika, affect millions globally. More than 400 000 people a year

HORN OF AFRICA : MBZ dominates fence-mending efforts between Abiy and Hamdok

Officially, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki visited Khartoum earlier this month with his special adviser Yemane Gebreab on his own initiative. Source link

Africa Financing Summit in Paris Ends With Calls for Funding, Vaccines

Paris — A Paris summit on supporting African nations hard-hit by COVID-19’s fallout wrapped up Tuesday with sweeping calls for massive financial and vaccination support for Africa — and a broader sea change in relations between donor nations and the continent. French President Emmanuel Macron called earlier for a new deal for Africa. Among the

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES/QATAR/SOMALIA : Farmajo, spurned by Qatar, turns to UAE crown prince MBZ

Qatari envoy Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani’s African trip in early May had a threefold purpose. In a matter of days, he supervised the reopening of diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Mogadishu (AI, 19/03/21) and initiated dialogue with opponents of the Source link

Africa: Towards the Regeneration of the University and Public Policy in Africa (Part One)

A grounded university curriculum that reflects the realities and is responsive to the needs of the poor, hungry and homeless of Africa is urgent and long overdue. This translates to a radical rethink of the purpose and mission of higher education. Taking billions away from higher education to bail out a historically mismanaged and looted

South Africa: Behind the Scenes – How the First 500 000 Vaccine Doses Administered in SA Were Secured

On 1 February 2021, a million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India arrived at OR Tambo International Airport. Everything seemed set for the country’s vaccine rollout to kick off two or so weeks later. But just a few days later on 7 February, the devastating news came that

Africa: President Arrives for the Summit On Financing for African Economies

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this morning , 17 May 2021, arrived in Paris, France, to participate in the Summit on the Financing of African Economies. At the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic, the President will join several African Heads of State and Government as well as leaders of global financing institutions

South Africa: Phase Two of Covid Vaccine Roll-Out Starts Off By Prioritising Old Age Homes

Phase Two of SA’s Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is officially under way from today, Monday, 17 May. The vaccine doses are in hand, with more on the way. National and provincial governments have admitted that the start will be slow, but promised it will start on time and with some of the most vulnerable: those living

African Craft and Design Site Afrikrea Hits U.S. $10 Million Plus in Transactions and Rolls Out a One-Stop Shop, E-Commerce Solution for Exporters

London — From the very earliest of days of the internet in Africa, a recurring idea has been that it would be possible to sell African craft and design globally to European or American buyers looking for something different. But over the last two decades these kinds of sites have usually been disappointing. According to

ZIMBABWE : Mnangagwa's PR misses a step over Kazungula Bridge

Present for the inauguration of the Kazungula Bridge, which spans the Zambezi River between Botswana and Zambia, Emmerson Mnangagwa and his PR team would appear to have somewhat exaggerated the role of the Zimbabwean president in the bridge’s construction. Source link

Zimbabwe: Mambo Dhuterere Slanders Jah Prayzah in Leaked Audios

LEAKED audios of gospel artiste, Mambo Dhuterere bad mouthing Jah Prayzah alleging he uses black magic have flooded the internet. Hours before, the two popular musicians shared a bromance on social media. The audios were leaked by Mambo Dhuterere’s former manager, Marvelous Munemo after the two had a fall-out over US$500. Munemo, who managed Mambo

Africa: As Cities Grow Across Africa, They Must Plan for Water Security

Here’s a startling figure: 1.5 billion people will live in African cities by 2050, more than double the number today. African cities – including unplanned urban areas and informal settlements – are already facing staggering challenges: poverty, the need for more and better jobs, and a lack of housing and basic infrastructure, all of which

LEBANON/AFRICA : Lebanese banks' African subsidiaries hit by chaos back home

Finance is at the heart of Lebanon’s turmoil, as illustrated by two recent events. In early May, a judge ordered Source link

Zimbabwe: JSC Opposes Malaba Term Extension Challenge By Lawyers

The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has opposed an application by top lawyer and Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum boss Musa Kika, who is challenging the extension of Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term of office by President Emmerson Mnangagwa who has been granted the legal tools to do so by the enactment of Constitutional Amendment No.

Africa: Millions of African Muslims Mark Eid Holiday Amid Uncertain Times

Johannesburg — Eid al-Fitr is a special time of year for the nearly half of Africa’s population who are adherents of Islam. But this year’s celebration is different amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic and the devastation it has caused across the continent. Last year’s festival was overshadowed by lockdowns and pandemic restrictions worldwide. Some of

Mozambique: Terrorism Nothing to Do With Religion, Say Moslem Leaders

Maputo — Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday urged the country’s moslem community to become involved in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, and against terrorist violence in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. In a message marking Eid-Ul-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, Nyusi praised “the principles and values of Islam”,

Africa: Nearly 15.5 Million Covid-19 Vaccinations Administered Across Continent

As of May 13, confirmed cases of Covid-19 from 55 African countries reached  4,656,385 while over 15,420,119 vaccinations have been administered across the continent. Reported deaths in Africa reached  125,364 and  4,210,924 people have recovered. South Africa has the most reported cases –  1,602,031 – and  54,968   people died. Other most-affected countries are Morocco ( 

Mozambique: Not True That Equipment Being Dismantled in Afungi

Maputo — A claim that a consortium of firms has been hired to dismantle and remove infrastructure for the national gas liquefaction project on the Afungi Peninsula, in Palma district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, appears to be entirely untrue. A story in the magazine “African Energy Intelligence” claimed that TechnipFMC and

Africa: Rivers of Sewage – Solving South Africa’s Wastewater Treatment Problem

Two weeks ago, DM168 published an investigation looking into the dismal state of SA’s sewage treatment works. Struck by the report’s findings, we asked you, the reader, to suggest solutions. Here’s what you had to say: First published in the Daily Maverick 168 weekly newspaper. Read the original investigation here: South Africa’s rivers of sewage:

Africa: The Basketball Africa League Has Arrived – Here’s Why It Matters

Set to tip off on May 16, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) has finally arrived. Delayed a year by COVID-19, the BAL represents the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s first investment in an NBA-branded league outside of North America and the most consequential US recognition of the African sports sector to date. The league offers a

Southern Africa: SADC Concerned With Expiry Date of Covid-19 Vaccines

Maputo — Mozambican Health Minister Armando Tiago has warned that the issue of African countries receiving Covid-19 vaccines shortly before their expiry date is a stumbling block for the management of health systems, imposing an urgent need to vaccinate a great many people in a very short time. In his opening remarks on Tuesday from

Africa: Surge in India’s Covid Infections Is a Warning to Africa, Who Says

The spike in India’s Covid-19 infections and deaths is a wake-up call for African countries not to let their guard down, the continent’s health bodies have warned. According to both Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (AfricaCDC) and World Health Organisation, Africa region (WHO-Afro), the continent has to act now, collectively and decisively, to

Mozambique: Apiba Calls On Government to Ease Restrictive Measures

Maputo — The Mozambican Association of Small Importers of Alcoholic Drinks (APIBA) has called on the government to extend the trading hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages, which under the current presidential decree can only be traded between 9.00 and 13.00 hours between Monday and Saturday, and not at all on Sundays. At a

Africa: Busybodies Outside the Gates – Nigerian Social Media Obsession With Gates’ Divorce Ignores Its Own Marriage Crisis

The Gates break-up is somehow being framed in Nigerian media as irrefutable evidence that divinity, and not money, sustains a marriage. In other words, if the Gates had a little more god, the marriage might have been saved. It’s the sort of awkward, largely conservative thinking that suggests that wealth and successful marriage are incompatible.

South Africa: Covid-19 Variants – First Detected in India and UK – Hit South African Shores

South Africa’s Health Ministry has officially confirmed the presence of the B.1.617.2 variant of Covid-19, which was discovered in India, and another variant first detected in the UK. Minister Zweli Mkhize says new variant threats are a concern and the government is discussing potential travel regulations, following ‘appropriate consultations’. On the evening of Saturday 8