A landmark decision by the African Union condemns Congo’s forced eviction of the Batwa people from their ancestral home to protect a national park.
African Union condemns eviction of Batwa people Read More »
TotalEnergies aims to contribute to Africa’s energy transition and bring electricity to millions.
French energy giant buys stake in Ugandan hydropower Read More »
The Turkish Coast Guard said Monday that it rescued 25 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Marmaris district in Turkey’s southwestern Mugla province. The irregular migrants were pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek coastal authorities, said the Coast Guard Command. The migrants were handed over to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management after processing. Turkey has repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children. Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
Turkey rescues 25 irregular migrants in Aegean Sea Read More »
Ethiopia has secured an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new financing program valued around $3.4 billion, the IMF announced Monday. The new four-year loan program will help support the country’s economic reform agenda. The approval of the loan agreement allows for the immediate disbursement of around $1 billion, the IMF said in a statement. The agreement follows extensive talks between Ethiopia and the IMF to secure more funding and restructure the country’s debt. As part of the discussions, Ethiopia has taken significant steps, such as the central bank allowing the country’s currency to float, which has led to a 30% devaluation of the Ethiopian birr against the US dollar. “The recent measures to decisively tackle macroeconomic imbalances, including moving to a market-determined exchange rate, removing current account restrictions, and modernizing the monetary policy framework to control inflation are critical steps forward,” the IMF said in a statement. In return for these measures, Ethiopia is expected to receive a $10.7 billion loan package from the IMF, the World Bank, and other creditors.
Ethiopia clinches deal with IMF for $3.4B in financing Read More »
Mozambique expects to recoup around $1.9 billion as a result of a substantial court victory in the “tuna bond” scandal case tried in a London court, the southern African country’s attorney general said Monday. The revelation was made after London’s High Court “substantially” ruled in favor of Mozambique against Emirati-Lebanese shipbuilder Privinvest on Monday in connection with the alleged payment of bribes in one of Africa’s biggest graft scandals. A statement issued by the Attorney General’s Office said the $1.9 billion figure reflects the amounts that the state has already paid under the guarantees, including principal, interest and fees of the Eurobonds. It added that the attorney general would also take steps to pursue the reimbursement of all legal costs resulting from the case. “The Attorney General’s Office will continue within the scope of its constitutional and legal powers to work with other actors in society, both inside and outside the country, to eradicate corruption and all organized and transnational crime, holding those involved accountable,” the statement said. Mozambique sued Privinvest and its late owner Iskandar Safa on allegations of paying bribes to its government officials and Credit Suisse bankers. The suit alleged that more than $136 million was paid to secure favorable terms on three projects in 2013 and 2014, including one designed to exploit the country’s tuna-rich coastal waters. In his ruling, Judge Robin Knowles said Mozambique is “entitled as against Mr. Safa and the Privinvest companies” to payment of more than $825 million in damages. In addition, Mozambique is entitled to an indemnity in respect of payments of around $1.5 billion that it is meant to pay, including about $1.4 billion it is liable to pay to bondholders until 2031, according to the ruling. The court found that Privinvest had bribed Manuel Chang, a former finance minister, to approve loans. Privinvest and Safa, however, denied the charges during the beginning of the trial last year, arguing that any payments were lawful. The respondents through their lawyers claimed the case was politically motivated to shift blame from Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and other senior officials. The scandal occurred after three newly state-owned companies in 2013 and 2014 reportedly acquired more than $2 billion in loans from international banks with the Mozambican government as guarantor – most of it taken without the approval of the country’s parliament. An independent audit in 2017 revealed that $500 million of the money went missing under unclear circumstances. Following the scandal, donors including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut funding to the country, triggering an economic crisis amid a surge in inflation and currency collapse after the government admitted to the borrowing. The money was reportedly used to purchase a large tuna factory and a maritime security fleet but also used to fund other deals involving public-private companies. In 2022, a court in Mozambique handed a 12-year jail term to the son of former President Armando Guebuza after finding him guilty in the scandal. Armando Ndambi Guebuza was convicted of embezzlement, money laundering and criminal association in the case, which defrauded the government of more than $2.7 billion.
Mozambique set to receive $1.9B after ‘Tuna Bond’ ruling Read More »
Tanzania’s Vice President Abdulrahman Kinana has resigned from his position. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party released a written statement confirming Kinana’s resignation. The statement also noted that President Samia Suluhu Hassan asked Kinana to continue in his role following his resignation, but Kinana remained adamant about stepping down. Kinana had been serving as Vice President since April 2022. In related news, on July 22, President Hassan had removed Foreign Minister January Makamba and Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technology Nape Nnauye from their posts as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
Tanzania vice president Kinana resigns from office Read More »
Despite publicly denouncing the ANC and leading the MK to a third-place finish in the parliamentary elections, former president Jacob Zuma maintained that he remained a member of the ANC. However, the party formalized his expulsion on Monday. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula criticized Zuma’s stance, questioning the rationale behind his continued claim to ANC membership after deliberately choosing to leave the party. “We are puzzled by your insistence on retaining membership in a party you’ve clearly decided to abandon. Your actions have compromised the ANC’s integrity,” Mbalula stated at a press conference. “You’ve played a significant role in our decline below the 50% threshold, and we’re now dealing with the fallout from your actions.” Zuma, who joined the ANC Youth League in 1959 and eventually rose to become the party leader, had maintained substantial political influence even after leaving office. Mbalula emphasized the party’s commitment to discipline, noting, “Regardless of rank, if someone violates the rules and constitution, we have a duty to enforce discipline. It’s unprecedented for a former president to face such disciplinary action, but it’s necessary.” In response to the expulsion, Zuma’s MK Party condemned the decision and accused the ANC’s disciplinary committee of operating as a “kangaroo court.” They claimed that neither Zuma nor his representative had been properly notified of the ruling, which they argue violates the ANC’s constitution. The ANC had initially suspended Zuma’s membership in January.
Zuma expelled from ANC amid criticism Read More »
The trial of 26 individuals accused of belonging to the M23 rebel group has seen a prosecutor demand death sentences for 25 of them.
DRC seeks capital punishment for 25 alleged M23 insurgents Read More »
Wagner paramilitary group on Monday conceded in a rare statement that its troops and Malian forces took losses during “fierce battles” with rebels and al-Qaeda in Mali. The statement released on Telegram said that the paramilitary group and servicemen of the Malian Armed Forces (FAM) fought “fierce battles” with Tuareg rebels and al-Qaeda on July 22-27 near the border commune of Tinzaouaten in northeastern Mali. It said the Wagner detachment in the area was commanded by Sergey Shevchenko, saying that his call sign was “Pond.” On the first day, Pond’s group destroyed most of the al-Qaeda terrorists and put the rest to fight, the statement said, adding: “However, the onset of a sandstorm allowed the radicals to regroup and increase their numbers to 1,000 people.” The statement further said that rebels attacked Wagner forces again on July 25, but that this attack was repelled together with Malian military personnel. “Over the next two days, the radicals increased the number of massive attacks, using heavy weapons, drones and suicide vehicles, which resulted in losses on the part of Wagner and FAM soldiers,” it added. The statement went on to say that the last message sent by the group commanded Pond was received on July 27, adding that he was killed. On Sunday, the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) claimed it won a major victory over the Malian army and Wagner forces near Tinzaouaten, located on the country’s border with Algeria. Mali has been fighting an insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and Daesh/ISIS since 2012 when unrest erupted in the north of the country. In 2015, the government signed a peace agreement with several rebel groups in a bid to curb the violence. But last August, fighting erupted between the separatists and the Mali government troops after eight years of lull, as the UN peacekeepers began to withdraw from the West African country. There were also global and regional concerns over developments in Mali as a military coup overthrew the civilian government in 2020.
Wagner paramilitary group admits losses in ‘fierce battles’ in Mali Read More »
On Sunday, a Libyan court sentenced 12 current and former officials to prison terms of up to 27 years for their role in last year’s deadly dam collapse near Derna. The collapse, triggered by Storm Daniel on September 11, sent a massive wall of water through the city, resulting in thousands of deaths. The Derna Criminal Court found the officials guilty of mismanagement, negligence, and errors contributing to the disaster. The prison sentences ranged from nine to 27 years, with three defendants also ordered to return illicit gains. Four others were acquitted. The verdict can be appealed to a higher court. Since the 2011 uprising that ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi, Libya has been in turmoil, with competing governments and armed groups controlling different regions. The dams, built in the 1970s, had been neglected for decades despite warnings and allocated funds for maintenance. The flood severely damaged up to one-third of Derna’s infrastructure, with over 4,000 deaths reported by the World Health Organization and the Red Crescent citing up to 11,300 fatalities. The U.N. reported at least 9,000 missing persons.
Libya: 12 officials sentenced for deadly flooding Read More »
