Africa is a continent of extraordinary geographical scale, with a diversity that extends even to its time zones
Africa’s expansive time zones showcase the continent’s vast diversity Read More »
The first-ever ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership forum, chaired by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, opened in the city of Sochi on Saturday. The two-day event is taking place at Sirius University, with the participation of foreign ministers from Russia and African states, as well as the leadership of the African Union Commission and major continental integration associations, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The business program on the sidelines of the conference features roundtable discussions and panel sessions on key items on the Russian-African agenda, including security, trade and investment, industrialization, technology transfers, agriculture, the development of the mining sector, education, healthcare and epidemiological safety. The ministry said Lavrov held six bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Libya, Mali, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda earlier in the day. Speaking at a meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Taher al-Baour, Lavrov said the situation in the Middle East is changing fast. “We want to contribute as much as possible to its pacification in the Palestinian territories, in Lebanon, and in Libya,” he added. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, for his part, held talks with his counterparts from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Somalia.
Russia-Africa ministerial conference opens in Sochi Read More »
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that approximately 1.4 million people have been affected by the flooding disaster in South Sudan, with 379,000 people displaced. According to a statement from OCHA, the floods in South Sudan this year have impacted around 1.4 million people. The statement also revealed that 379,000 people have been displaced due to the floods. The floods in South Sudan this year have been described as the worst in recent years, with many roads submerged. The statement noted that humanitarian aid deliveries have been delayed due to the difficult conditions and the efforts of response teams to reach affected communities. The statement also mentioned an increase in malaria cases, which has overwhelmed the health system and worsened the situation in flood-affected areas.
UN reports 1.4 million affected by flooding in South Sudan Read More »
More than a month after Rwanda declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, health authorities have discharged the last patient, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. The last patient was discharged on Friday but their contacts, along with those of previously discharged patients, will continue to be followed up until the end of their 21-day observation period, the WHO said in a statement. If no new infections arise 42 days after the last confirmed case tests negative, the outbreak will be declared over. A total of 66 cases and 15 deaths have been recorded during the outbreak, which was declared on Sept. 27. Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana said the outbreak is under control and though no new cases are being reported for over a week, surveillance measures continue. “This outbreak demonstrates that with the best available treatment, recovery is possible, and contributions to science can be made,” he said. “The evidence generated from this outbreak is going to help shape surveillance activities going forward and prevent future outbreaks.” Brian Chirombo, WHO representative in the East African country, attributed the containment of the disease to concerted efforts which involved rapid deployment of rapid response teams, close monitoring of contacts, and implementation of infection prevention and control measures. “Rwanda is successfully emerging from a highly challenging outbreak, effectively mitigating its potentially devastating impacts. The WHO remains committed to supporting these ongoing collaborative efforts until the outbreak is officially declared over,” he said. Marburg virus disease is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola, a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Symptoms include high fever, strong headache, vomiting and muscle aches.
Rwanda discharges last patient of Marburg virus disease Read More »
The number of journalists killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 has soared to 188, media office in the blockaded enclave said on Saturday. While Israeli forces killed on Saturday two journalists in Gaza City, another two targeted earlier were identified by the authorities, the media office said in a statement. Al-Zahraa Abu Sukheil and Ahmed Abu Sukheil, who worked for the News Media Network, were killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a school sheltering the displaced in Gaza City. The other two were identified as Mustafa Bahar and Abdulrahman Bahar, who worked for local news agency Ajel Palestine. Mustafa, a reporter was killed on March 31 near the Kuwait Roundabout south of Gaza City, while Abdulrahman, a photographer, was killed on Oct. 6 in the Al-Karama neighborhood, northwest of Gaza City. The media office condemned the targeting of Palestinian journalists, holding Israel fully responsible. It urged the international community to pressure Israel to stop the killing of media personnel. Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict, including devastating Israeli airstrikes, famine, displacement of population and destruction of buildings. According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, the Israeli war on Gaza has killed more journalists over the past year than any other conflict over the past three decades. Overall, Israel has killed more than 43,000 people since the Hamas attacks last October, and rendered the enclave almost uninhabitable. It faces charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the territory.
Number of journalists killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza rises to 188 Read More »
Thousands of people gathered in Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday for the inauguration of the country’s new president, Duma Boko, marking the end of the former ruling party’s 58-year reign. Boko, leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition, which secured 36 parliamentary seats and denied former president Mokgweetsi Masisi a second term, took the oath of office in front of a large crowd. Arriving in an open-top vehicle with flag-bearing soldiers on white horses, Boko delivered his first official address as president, calling for unity and reconciliation after a contentious election. He praised his predecessor, Masisi, for conceding power peacefully, despite the jeers he faced during the campaign. “This is a historic moment, humbling and sobering,” Boko said, emphasizing the importance of moving past division and focusing on the country’s future. He expressed deep gratitude to the citizens who elected him and promised to serve with love and dedication. Boko’s speech, filled with optimism, was light on specific plans but referenced his party’s campaign promises, including tackling corruption, implementing a minimum wage of 4,000 Pula ($302) per month, and expanding social benefits such as unemployment allowances and old age pensions. Unemployment remains the most pressing concern for Batswana, with rates rising to 27.6% in 2024, up from 25.9% in 2023. The country’s reliance on diamond exports, which account for 80% of revenue, has been strained by the global downturn in demand. Calls for increased local ownership and a larger share of the mining profits have gained traction. Among the dignitaries attending the inauguration were former president Ian Khama, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile, and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema. Boko’s victory and the peaceful transfer of power have been hailed as a historic moment for Botswana, a country once believed unlikely to see a peaceful handover to an opposition party.
Botswana swears in Duma Boko as president Read More »
Racist text messages invoking slavery have raised alarms across the country this week after being sent to Black men, women, and students—including middle schoolers—prompting investigations by the FBI and other agencies. The anonymous messages, reported in multiple states including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, generally shared a similar tone but varied in their wording. Some directed recipients to show up at a specific address with their belongings, while others did not include a location. Several of the messages also referenced the incoming presidential administration. It remains unclear who is behind the messages, and there is no comprehensive list of all the areas where they were sent, though high school and college students were among the recipients. The FBI has said it is coordinating with the Department of Justice on the matter, while the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it is investigating the texts “alongside federal and state law enforcement.” The Ohio Attorney General’s office also confirmed it is looking into the issue. Fisk University, a historically Black university in Nashville, Tennessee, released a statement condemning the messages, which targeted some of its students, calling them “deeply unsettling.” The university urged students to remain calm, suggesting that the messages were likely the work of bots or malicious actors with “no real intentions or credibility.” In Missouri, Nimrod Chapel, president of the NAACP’s state chapter, reported that Black students in the organization’s Missouri State University chapter received messages citing Donald Trump’s 2020 election win, with some texts singling out students by name and making offensive references to slavery, including a message that told them they were “selected to pick cotton” the following Tuesday. Chapel stated that local police in Springfield, Missouri, where the university is located, have been notified and are investigating.
USA: Racist texts target black students, FBI Investigates Read More »
African street food is not only beloved by locals but is increasingly captivating tourists with its bold flavors
African street food: A flavorful journey through regional delights Read More »
Cairo became the first city in Africa to introduce street lighting in 1863
Cairo: Africa’s first city to shine with street lighting in 1863 Read More »
Thousands protested in Mozambique’s capital on Thursday and security forces responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets, as weeks of post-election unrest continued in the southern African country. The protests were sparked by a vote last month that will keep the ruling party in power for more than a half-century amid allegations of rigging. Opposition parties and many citizens have rejected the results of the Oct. 9 presidential election as fraudulent and growing protests in the capital, Maputo, and other cities have been met by deadly force from police. Thursday’s protest was the biggest yet. International rights groups say police have killed at least 20 people since the unrest began nearly a month ago, while local groups say the death toll is more than 50. Authorities are threatening to deploy the army as protesters set fires on the streets and burn ruling party offices. According to Human Rights Watch, the internet is being restricted and social media sites have been blocked. Neighboring South Africa has shut its border post with Mozambique and heightened security around it. What happened in the election? The candidate for the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, was declared the winner of the presidential election on Oct. 24. That keeps the party that has governed Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975 in power for another five years. Even before the results were announced, opposition parties claimed fraud, accusing the ruling party, Frelimo, of ballot stuffing, manipulating voter lists, and staffing polling stations with officials loyal to it. Frelimo has long been accused of rigging elections in the country of around 34 million. The European Union’s observer team said there were irregularities in the election, including the altering of some results. Mozambican media has reported that the Constitutional Council, the supreme body for election law, has asked the commission that ran the election to explain discrepancies. Senior opposition figures killed Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane, who was second behind Chapo in the official results, has led criticism of the vote. He called for a national strike and for people to stay at home in the days after the election in protest at the alleged tampering. But the mood changed when two senior opposition figures were killed in their car in a late-night shooting by unidentified gunmen on Oct. 18. The men who were killed were the lawyer for Mondlane and the official spokesperson for the political party that supported Mondlane in the election. Mondlane said they were assassinated and he and opposition supporters gathered near the site of the killings the day after to protest. Police fired tear gas canisters at Mondlane, his aides and journalists who were interviewing him, forcing them to flee. Growing protests Since then, there have been waves of protests across the country. In one city, protesters toppled and cut the head off a statue of current President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after serving a maximum two terms. Mondlane said on social media that he had gone into exile in fear for his life after the killing of his lawyer. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has called on social media for more protests “so that we can then be freed from these shackles that have held us up for 50 years.” Authorities have said little other than the protests have been violent and needed to be quelled. They have not given information on the number of people killed or injured in the protests. Rights groups accused the police of shooting at peaceful protests in the days after the election and said children were among the victims. Anger among opposition supporters has swelled. The presidential palace is under heavy guard. A history of civil war and violence Mozambique is still in the shadow of a bloody 15-year civil war the leftist Frelimo fought against rebel group Renamo after independence. The country only held its first elections in 1994 and this was the first vote where there were no armed groups connected to political parties after a process to disarm militias. The country, which has rich natural resources including large, newly discovered natural gas fields, was already struggling with a yearslong insurgency by an Islamic State-affiliated group in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Mondlane, who broke away from Renamo, has support among Mozambique’s disaffected youth and he and the new Podesa party that is backing him have become the biggest challenge to Frelimo’s long rule.
Mozambique protests intensify amid election dispute Read More »
