Kenya

Gangs clash with residents and police in Haiti’s Pétionville

Africa /

Gangs launched a new assault on Haiti’s capital early Tuesday, targeting the upscale Pétionville area, where gunmen clashed with residents who joined forces with police to defend their community. The attack was led by the Viv Ansanm gang, headed by former elite police officer Jimmy Chérizier, known as Barbecue, who had posted a video announcing the assault. At least 28 gang members were killed, and hundreds of munitions were seized, according to Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police. It remains unclear whether police were prepared for the attack, given that Chérizier had publicly planned the assault. Local residents, angry over the ongoing violence, reported that some suspected gang members were decapitated or had their feet cut off, with bodies piled up and set on fire. Eyewitnesses said two trucks carrying gang members entered Pétionville, with one truck blocking the community’s main entrance. Chérizier had previously threatened retaliation against hotel staff and management in the area, accusing them of sheltering politicians and “oligarchs.” The attack follows a surge in gang violence that recently led to the closure of Haiti’s main international airport after gunmen opened fire on a plane preparing to land. This violence has displaced more than 20,000 people, with gangs now controlling 85% of Port-au-Prince. Attacks on previously peaceful neighborhoods are part of a broader effort to expand gang control. The escalation of violence coincides with the arrival of a Kenyan-led U.N. peacekeeping mission, and the U.S. is now advocating for a new peacekeeping force due to the Kenyan mission’s funding and personnel shortages.

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G20 summit focuses on climate crisis, global conflicts

Africa /

Climate Crisis and Global Conflicts Dominate G20 Summit Opening The climate crisis, along with the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, took center stage on the first day of the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday. In a joint statement, leaders from the world’s major economies condemned the suffering in Gaza and Ukraine and emphasized the need for cooperation on poverty reduction, tax policy, and climate change. UN climate chief Simon Stiell had urged G20 leaders over the weekend to break the deadlock in climate finance negotiations ahead of COP29 in Azerbaijan. The summit aims to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars for climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. The G20 statement called for a “rapid and substantial increase” in climate finance, but did not propose a specific solution for how much rich nations should contribute. The debate continues over whether to expand the contributor base to include wealthier developing nations like China and Middle Eastern countries. On Tuesday, leaders are set to discuss sustainable development and the transition to cleaner energy, while working to strengthen global efforts on climate change before a potential shift in US policy under a possible Trump presidency.

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Over 800 million affected by diabetes, treatment lags in Africa

Discover /

A new study reveals that over 800 million adults worldwide suffer from diabetes, with more than half of those over 30 not receiving any treatment. African countries are among the hardest hit, as non-communicable diseases like diabetes account for 17 million premature deaths each year, many of which occur before the age of 70. The report highlights that in sub-Saharan Africa, only about 5 to 10% of adults with diabetes receive any form of treatment. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for urgent action to address the growing diabetes epidemic. “We’ve seen a concerning rise in diabetes over the past three decades, driven by factors such as increased obesity, the marketing of unhealthy foods, physical inactivity, and economic challenges,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. He stressed the importance of policies promoting healthy diets and physical activity, as well as strengthening healthcare systems to focus on prevention, early detection, and treatment. The WHO has set global targets for improving diabetes care by 2030, with a particular focus on increasing access to diagnosis and treatment across Africa, aiming to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for millions.

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IFAD calls for climate finance goal for farmers at COP29

Business /

Ahead of the COP29 climate change summit, the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is urging world leaders to set an ambitious global finance goal for climate adaptation. One of the key topics for discussion at the summit in Azerbaijan will be the New Global Quantified Goal (NCQG), with a focus on supporting small-scale farmers in adapting to climate change. Although African countries have contributed little to global climate change, they are among the most severely impacted. African leaders have long advocated for increased funding for both mitigation and adaptation efforts to address the continent’s climate challenges. In Africa, agriculture is largely dependent on rainfall, making it highly vulnerable to the extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. Zimbabwe, for example, is currently facing its worst drought in over four decades. However, thanks to an IFAD-funded irrigation project, farmers have still been able to grow crops despite the drought. “This year, we couldn’t harvest anything because the rains didn’t come as expected. The seasons have changed,” said Tinomuounga Hove, chairperson of the Biri Irrigation Scheme. “Having an irrigation scheme helps us a lot. Even without rains this year, we were still able to grow crops.” IFAD is also supporting similar climate adaptation projects around the world to help smallholder farmers increase their food production in the face of climate challenges. The COP29 climate summit will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22, bringing together climate negotiators, activists, and leaders from around the globe. “This is essentially a negotiation on how much wealthier countries should contribute to help developing nations cope with climate change,” said IFAD President Alvaro Lario. Lario emphasized the importance of a climate finance plan that includes a specific goal for adaptation, with a focus on the needs of small-scale farmers. “Small farms are the backbone of global food systems, but they are also the most vulnerable to climate change,” he said. “Investing in them is crucial if we are to ensure global food security.”

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Haiti’s new prime minister sworn in amid surge in violence

Africa /

Haiti’s newly appointed interim Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, was sworn in on Monday as violence surged in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Shortly after his inauguration, gunfire erupted at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, where armed gangs targeted a Spirit Airlines flight arriving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Shots fired at the plane struck a flight attendant, who suffered minor injuries, according to reports from Spirit Airlines and the U.S. Embassy. The flight, originally scheduled to land in Port-au-Prince, was diverted to the Dominican Republic and landed safely. In response to the escalating violence, some airlines have temporarily suspended flights to Haiti due to security concerns. During his inauguration, Fils-Aimé emphasized the urgent need for security, stating, “The first essential task that will determine the success of the transition is to re-establish the security of people, property and infrastructure, food security, and freedom of movement throughout the country.” Fils-Aimé, a prominent businessman and former president of Haiti’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, assumes office at a particularly turbulent time for the country. The transitional council overseeing the restoration of democratic rule has recently faced allegations of corruption against three of its members, further hindering efforts to stabilize the government. Fils-Aimé’s appointment follows his 2015 Senate campaign and studies at Boston University. He was previously considered a private sector candidate for interim prime minister before the role was held by Garry Conille.

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Samburu tribes celebrate tradition with cultural festival in Kenya

Africa, Discover /

The tribes living in the Samburu region in northern Kenya are among the few that can still live according to their traditions. One of the most important aspects of the Samburu tribe’s survival is their livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, from which they earn their livelihood. At a festival organized by the nomadic Maa community in the Samburu National Reserve, they performed cultural dances in their traditional clothing and jewelry.

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