Kenya

Fire kills 17 boys at Kenyan boarding school, investigation underway

Africa /

A devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, a boarding school in Nyeri, Kenya, claimed the lives of 17 boys in the early hours of Friday. The blaze ripped through a dormitory while the students were sleeping, police confirmed. Local broadcaster Citizen Television reported that the victims were burnt beyond recognition. The incident occurred at the primary school, located roughly 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. “We have lost 17 pupils in the fire incident while 14 are injured,” police spokesperson Resila Onyango stated. “Our team is at the scene at the moment.” According to government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, the boys were in grades 4 to 8, placing their ages between 9 and 13. The dormitory housed 156 students at the time of the fire. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki visited the school and assured the public of a thorough investigation. “All relevant government agencies have been deployed to seek the truth on what caused the fire leading to the loss and injury of so many young souls,” he said. Kindiki also vowed accountability for those responsible, adding that “the government assures full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss.” His remarks were echoed by President William Ruto, who ordered authorities to fully investigate the “horrific incident” and hold the perpetrators accountable. Authorities have cordoned off the school, and crime scene investigators are working to determine the fire’s cause. Calls made to the school’s main phone line by Reuters went unanswered. Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Education, confirmed the school has 824 students, including 422 girls. Of the girls, 160 are boarders while the rest attend as day scholars. Kenya has experienced similar tragedies in the past, many of which were later attributed to arson. In 2017, nine students died in a fire at a Nairobi school, and a 2001 dormitory fire at Kyanguli Secondary School outside Nairobi killed 58 boys. Another incident in 2012 saw eight students lose their lives in Homa Bay County. The government has pledged to find the truth behind this latest tragedy and prevent future occurrences.

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China Pledges $50 Billion to Africa

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 China’s President Xi Jinping Thursday pledged more than $50 billion in funding to the African continent, and announced elevating ties with all member nations to “strategic level.” The Chinese government “will provide RMB360 billion yuan ($50.7 billion) of financial support through the next three years” to African nations, Xi told the 9th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. Beijing is hosting the largest diplomatic gathering with leaders and representatives of nearly 53 African nations attending the three-day summit which began Wednesday. Xi boasted China’s relations with African nations were “now at its best in history.” “With its future growth in mind,” Xi told the summit, “I propose that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations.” He added: “The overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.” Referring to the pledges of new funding, the Chinese leader said more than half of $50 billion will be in credit while nearly $11 billion will be given in various types of grants. It also includes $10 billion investments through Chinese firms, said the 71-year-old Xi, who also leads Chinese Communist Party. In the Action Plan adopted at the Beijing summit, Xi announced 10 areas where China will cooperate and work with African nations in jointly advancing “modernization that is just, equitable, open, win-win, eco-friendly, featuring diversity and inclusiveness and underpinned by peace and security.” Besides, he said China will partner with the African continent in industrial chain cooperation, green development as well as common security. The FOCAC summit has been held every three years since 2000 when it was founded. Xi also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who also attended the summit. “China seeks no selfish interest in Africa, and the new cooperation initiatives and actions announced at FOCAC (summit) are all aimed at turbocharging African countries’ development and making lives better for the African people,” Xi told Guterres. The Chinese leader told the world body chief that China was “ready” to work more closely with the UN to jointly support Africa’s effort for peace, stability, development and prosperity. In the past 22 years since 2000 when FOCAC was established, China has built some 100,000 kilometers (62,138 miles) of highways and 10,000KM of railways in Africa. Besides, China built over 200 schools, over 130 hospitals, nearly 100 ports as well as 50 stadiums on the continent. According to the Boston University Global Development Policy Center database, Chinese lenders provided 1,306 loans amounting to $182.28 billion to 49 African governments and seven regional borrowers from 2000 until last year. Beijing also founded the China-Africa Development Fund in 2006.​​​​​​​

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African nations losing 5% of GDP to climate change

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African nations are losing up to 5% of their GDP annually due to climate change, with the continent experiencing a significant impact from global warming, according to a new report released Monday. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) noted that African countries are allocating up to 9% of their budgets to climate adaptation. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the accelerated warming in Africa, which is outpacing the global average and impacting food security, public health, and stability. Despite contributing less than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa is highly vulnerable to extreme weather, including droughts, floods, and heatwaves. The report, focusing on 2023—one of Africa’s hottest years—urges investment in early warning systems and meteorological services. Without adequate measures, up to 118 million Africans could face severe weather events by 2030. In sub-Saharan Africa, adaptation costs could reach $30-50 billion per year over the next decade. Recent extreme weather events, including floods affecting 300,000 people in West Africa and a severe drought in Zambia, underscore the urgency. The pattern of extreme weather continues into 2024, with significant flooding in the Sahel and an unprecedented heat wave in West Africa earlier this year.

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China urges African countries to unite ‘Global South’

Africa /

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on African leaders to unite the “Global South” in advocating for international equity and justice amid major global changes. In meetings with African leaders attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, Xi stressed the importance of solidarity among developing nations. Xi highlighted new partnerships, including a “Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Partnership” with South Africa and proposed three types of collaboration with Kenya: mutual trust, win-win cooperation, and strategic alignment on international and regional issues. With Comoros, Xi emphasized cooperation as a model of equality and solidarity, offering support to combat poverty and utilize the country’s geographical advantages. He also invited Seychelles to join the China-Indian Ocean Development Cooperation Forum and urged faster sustainable use of marine resources. Regarding Eritrea, Xi proposed enhanced cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and agriculture, noting shared views on international matters. In discussions with Guinea, Xi highlighted FOCAC’s role in boosting practical cooperation and supporting Guinea’s development. With Chad, Xi supported the country’s sovereignty and security, while Chad reaffirmed its adherence to the “One China” policy. In his meeting with Malawi, Xi discussed leveraging opportunities from China’s modernization and increasing cooperation in various fields. Xi reiterated Africa’s crucial role as a global power and China’s diplomatic focus, advocating for a multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization. The FOCAC’s ninth summit will take place in Beijing from September 4-6, with leaders from over 50 countries attending. Eswatini will not participate due to its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

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Africa has almost 4,000 new mpox cases in a week

Africa /

Africa is experiencing a sharp rise in mpox cases, with nearly 4,000 reported in the past week, according to the continent’s public health body. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), shared this update during an online briefing on Tuesday. In the past week, Africa reported 81 mpox-related deaths, bringing the totals to 22,863 cases and 622 deaths. Despite promises of 380,000 doses of mpox vaccines from Western partners like the European Union and the United States, this amounts to less than 15% of what is needed to control the outbreaks, particularly in Congo, the epicenter of the global health emergency. The first batch of promised vaccines for Congo, including 50,000 doses from the U.S. and 15,000 from the GAVI vaccines alliance, is now expected to arrive on September 1 after delays related to documentation and emergency authorization. Congo has also requested at least 2 million additional doses from Japan, with negotiations reportedly advanced. The new mpox variant, first identified in Congo, is causing significant community transmission elsewhere, including nearly 800 cases in neighboring Burundi over the last month. The U.S. has donated 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines to Nigeria, marking the first known donation to Africa since the current outbreaks began. Nigeria has recorded 40 mpox cases this year. The Africa CDC is developing a unified response plan for the outbreaks, which will be presented to African heads of state in September. Meanwhile, health measures and hygiene practices are being promoted across Africa to slow the virus’s spread, though enforcing these measures is challenging in Congo’s displaced camps amidst ongoing humanitarian crises.

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Nigeria has received 10,000 doses of Mpox vaccine sent by the U.S

Africa /

 Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has received 10,000 doses of Mpox vaccine from the U.S. as part of the fight against the Mpox virus. The 10,000 doses of Jynneos vaccine, sent through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), were delivered to officials in the capital, Abuja. The delivery ceremony was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Abuja Richard Mills, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Daju Kachillom, and other guests. Ambassador Mills stated that the vaccines would support the Nigerian government’s response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak. Nigeria has reported 39 Mpox cases this year. To prevent the spread of the disease, the Nigerian government has prepared a health declaration form for international travelers. The African Union has declared a continent-wide public health emergency in response to the rapidly spreading Mpox virus in African countries. Mpox virus is transmitted from rodents such as rats and squirrels or from infected individuals. Key transmission methods include touching body lesions, using contaminated clothing or bedding, and contact with body fluids. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection and include high fever, headaches, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, and a rash similar to chickenpox. There is no specific treatment for Mpox; antiviral medications are used, and most cases are mild, with recovery occurring within a few weeks. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) renamed “monkeypox” to “mpox” to address concerns about racism and discrimination.

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