News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“If I am hungry, that is a material problem; if someone else is hungry, that is a political problem.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Possible genocide committed in Sudan
Banks pressured over Ghana anti-LGBTQ+ law
Top court hears case questioning Zuma’s electoral eligibility
Egypt joins South Africa at ICJ
Chad declares Deby the winner
Right-wing French may control Africa media.
TOP NEWS
Eastern Africa
Rights groups allege war crimes, crimes against humanity in Ethiopia’s conflict zones
Poor Kenyans feel devastated by floods and brutalized by the government’s response
US Congress declines request for a Ruto address
Madagascar president’s former aide jailed for offering mining licence for bribes
Gulf attack raises concerns about growing Somali piracy
Somalia urged to take ‘concrete action’ against officials who violate citizens’ rights
South Sudan forex reserves at ‘historic low’
Juba lawyers ask EA Courts for protection from State
Possible genocide committed in Sudan, report says
Tanzania counts losses after Cyclone Hidaya swept coastline
Uganda court to rule 12 July on LRA commander case
TV stations refuse to air Museveni’s census message for free
Internet outage felt across East Africa
West Africa
World Bank, IMF pressured over Ghana anti-LGBTQ+ law
Ghana, Nigeria and the quest for UK looted treasure
Orders all combat troops to withdraw from Niger
Kidnapped Nigerian university students rescued
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Nigeria to promote mental health
Nigeria’s women drivers rally together to navigate male-dominated industry
Southern Africa
Mozambique battles Islamist attack
Top court hears case questioning Zuma’s electoral eligibility
SAfrica election 2024: When is the poll and what is at stake for the ANC?
Pretoria again requests emergency measures from world court to restrain Israel’s actions in Gaza
The fight to save the African penguin
North Africa
The headache of returning Emir Abdelkader’s sabers to Algeria from France
Egypt says it will join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ
Tent camp razed and migrants activist arrested in Tunisia
Central Africa
Chad declares interim President Deby winner of disputed vote
After Déby’s disputed victory, N’Djamena is under heavy surveillance
AFRICA GENERAL
UN RELATED NEWS
VIDEO (S) OF THE DAY
(11) ARTICLES ON ANALYSIS, EDITORIAL & OPINION
EASTERN AFRICA
ETHIOPIA
Rights groups allege war crimes, crimes against humanity in Ethiopia’s conflict zones
In a compressive report submitted to the United Nations, leading human rights organizations Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights have alleged a broad pattern of serious violations across multiple conflict zones in Ethiopia over the past four years that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity…In Tigray, the two-year war between Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) backed by Eritrean soldiers and allied militias against Tigrayan forces has been particularly devastating, the report alleges. It cites evidence that Ethiopian and Eritrean forces carried out large-scale massacres, widespread sexual violence, pillaging, and indiscriminate attacks, including drone strikes and shelling of residential areas. Tigrayan forces have also committed summary executions and attacks on refugees and civilian areas after initially moving into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions, according to the report. In Oromia, the rights groups document a pattern of extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary arrests carried out by security forces and armed groups like the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) amid insurgent violence and a harsh counterinsurgency campaign.
KENYA
Poor Kenyans feel devastated by floods and brutalized by the government’s response
Winnie Makinda, 35, says she is facing the worst crisis and lowest moment of her life because of the Kenyan government’s response to floods that devastated her poor community in the capital of Nairobi. The floods and mudslides swept away people and inundated homes, killing at least 267 people and impacting more than 380,000, according to government statistics. The floods are fueled by unusually heavy rainfall during Kenya’s rainy season which starts in March and sometimes extends up to June. Hardest hit are people living close to rivers, including the Mathare River running through Nairobi. In order to save lives in the future, the government last week ordered evacuations and the demolition of structures and buildings that had been built illegally within 30 meters of river banks. Officials say at least 181,000 people have been moved since last week and that measures have been taken to provide temporary shelter, food and other essentials. But the demolitions have only led to more suffering as those affected say they are being carried out in a chaotic and inhumane way. At least three people have died in the past week when bulldozers brought down structures on top of them, according to rights groups, family members of the deceased and residents… Some say they were evicted without the legally recommended three-month notice period that should be given before action is taken. The government has defended itself against opposition accusations it was ill-prepared for the impact of the floods despite early warnings. However, observers point out that the government received early warnings of the floods from the metrological department in October.
US Congress declines request for a Ruto address
The US House Speaker Mike Johnson has turned down a request by top Democrats for President William Ruto to address a joint session of Congress. The request to address the joint session was made by the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs in April, which formally requested Speaker Johnson to invite President Ruto to address a joint session of Congress, potentially giving the Kenyan leader a new podium to promote his ideals. But in a statement, Johnson’s deputy chief of staff Raj Shah said the speakers’ decision not to invite Dr Ruto to address lawmakers was due to “scheduling constraints”. According to Shah, a joint session consumes a lot of energy on Capitol Hill. The chamber closes for hours, a security headache and the House leadership loses a large chunk of the day’s floor time. President Ruto would have been the first Kenyan leader to address a joint meeting of Congress and the first African leader to do so since Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf spoke in the House chamber in 2006. President Ruto is scheduled to be in Washington on May 23, 2024 on an official state visit where he will be hosted by US President Joe Biden, the first such visit to the White House by an African leader since 2008.
MADAGASCAR
President’s former aide jailed for offering mining licence for bribes
Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina’s former chief of staff was jailed for three and a half years by a London court on Friday for offering to help precious stone miner Gemfields win lucrative mining rights in exchange for substantial bribes.
Romy Andrianarisoa, 47, was accused of using her position and proximity to Rajoelina to seek substantial payments from Gemfields between 2021 and 2023. Andrianarisoa came into contact with Gemfields CEO Sean Gilbertson in 2021 and offered to help the company expand its business into Madagascar. Gemfields, which owns the Faberge jewellery brand, became suspicious and approached Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which deployed an undercover officer posing as a consultant negotiating on Gemfields’ behalf. During conversations with the purported consultant, known as “Charles” to protect his identity, Andrianarisoa and her associate, Philippe Tabuteau, sought around 270,000 Swiss francs (nearly $300,000) between them. The pair also wanted a 5% stake in a Gemfields company mine in Madagascar which, based on valuations of similar operations in Mozambique and Zambia, would be worth around $4 million.
SOMALIA
Attack in the Gulf of Aden raises concerns about growing Somali piracy
A European naval force detained six suspected pirates on Friday after they opened fire on an oil tanker traveling through the Gulf of Aden, officials said, likely part of a growing number of piracy attacks emanating from Somalia. The attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged Chrystal Arctic comes as Yemen’s Houthi rebels have also been attacking ships traveling through the crucial waterway, the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting them. The assaults have slowed commercial traffic through the key maritime route onward to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. Once-rampant piracy off the Somali coast diminished after a peak in 2011. That year, there were 237 reported attacks in waters off Somalia. Somali piracy in the region at the time cost the world’s economy some $7 billion — with $160 million paid out in ransoms, according to the Oceans Beyond Piracy monitoring group. Increased naval patrols, a strengthening central government in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, and other efforts saw the piracy beaten back. However, concerns about new attacks have grown in recent months. In the first quarter of 2024, there have been five reported incidents off Somalia, according to the International Maritime Bureau. These attacks come as the Houthi campaign targeting shipping since November as part of their pressure campaign to stop the Israel-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip.
Somalia urged to take ‘concrete action’ against officials who violate citizens’ rights
The UN independent human rights expert on Somalia on Thursday called on authorities to step up efforts to address the country’s complex and serious security challenges. Concluding an official visit to the Horn of Africa nation Isha Dyfan highlighted the impact on civilians, especially women and children, who continue to bear the brunt of deadly attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab terrorists. “I strongly condemn the continued deadly attacks perpetrated by Al-Shabaab and urge the Government to take all steps to ensure the protection of civilians, and for armed groups to comply strictly with the obligations applicable to them under international humanitarian and human rights law,” she said. … Allegations of rape and gang rapes combined with homicide need to be addressed efficiently, ensuring that alleged perpetrators are identified and brought to justice, she said. … The independent expert further voiced grave concerns over continuing restrictions on civic space, including harassment, arbitrary arrest, detention and imprisonment of journalists and media workers leading to self-censorship. “A safe and inclusive civic space is essential to good governance, rule of law, and can help to reduce and prevent violence,” she urged.
SUDAN
Possible genocide committed in Sudan, report says
A genocide may have been committed in the West Darfur city of El Geneina in one of the worst atrocities of the year-long Sudanese civil war, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW). It says ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been committed against ethnic Massalit and non-Arab communities in the city by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and its Arab allies. The report calls for sanctions against those responsible for the atrocities, including the RSF leader, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. The UN says about 15,000 people are feared to have been killed in El Geneina last year. The HRW report documents evidence of a systematic campaign by the RSF and allied militias to remove Massalit residents from El Geneina. Witnesses described how the RSF rounded up and shot men, women and children who attempted to escape the ethnic violence in the restive city. At least “thousands of people” were killed and “hundreds of thousands” left as refugees between April and November 2023, the 218-page report said. ”The events are among the worst atrocities against civilians so far in the current conflict in Sudan,” it added.
SOUTH SUDAN
Forex reserves at ‘historic low’
The Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) expects more inflationary pressures and weakening of the South Sudanese pound as a result of the continuous decline in forex reserves, highlighting the depth of economic woes facing the nation ahead of the general election scheduled for December this year. Juba is grappling with a shortage of dollars as a result of declining revenues from oil production-the nation’s chief revenue earner, on depleted wells and military conflict in the neighbouring Sudan. BoSS Governor James Alic Garang says oil reserves are at “historic low” levels as a result of geopolitical tensions, including the raging conflict in neighbouring Sudan and the Israel-Hamas war…the low levels of reserves have huge implications for the country’s balance of payments, with consequences for currency depreciation and high volatility manifested in prices of goods and services. Most transactions in the country were initially carried out in dollars, largely due to hyperinflation and the volatility of the local currency.
Juba lawyers ask EACJ for protection from state security agency
The legal fraternity in South Sudan is seeking protection from state security agencies, citing harassment of advocates by the National Security Service. The agency is accused of targeting especially those who seek redress at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), as lawyers and rights activists avoid the local courts for fear of not getting justice. In the past two months, South Sudan’s security agents have detained two people, one a former mayor, without warrants and denied lawyers access to them and information about their whereabouts…Both the EACJ and the Human Rights Watch have documented cases of intimidation of lawyers and their outspoken clients. The NSS produced Morris Mabior Awikjok Bak, a South Sudanese critic and former refugee in Kenya, before a county court in Juba to face charges of criminal defamation against the director of the agency. Bak had been picked up on February 4, 2023, in Nairobi, taken back to South Sudan, and detained by the NSS, although it refused to acknowledge his detention or disclose his location. The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan in its March 2024 report flagged unchecked mass violence and entrenched repression in South Sudan, threatening the prospects of durable peace and human rights protection.
TANZANIA
Losses counted after Cyclone Hidaya swept coastline
Tanzania’s government announced that the death toll has risen to 166 with five more people dead and seven others injured, following Cyclone Hidaya sweeping through the country’s south-eastern coast on the Indian Ocean. Cyclone Hidaya landed on Tanzania’s coastline on May 4, 2024, adversely affecting Mtwara, Lindi, Coast and Morogoro regions. The disaster affected 18,862 individuals, destroyed 678 houses, damaged 877 houses and submerged 543 houses according to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa. Majaliwa said the weather stations in Kilwa and Mtwara recorded 316 millimetres and 99 millimetres of rain levels respectively, which is are record levels recorded in May, as compared to 96.6 millimetres and 54 millimetres normal rainfall levels. He added that the government is assessing the situation, including damaged electrical infrastructure, repairing roads and constructing temporary bridges.
UGANDA
Court to rule 12 July on LRA commander case
The verdict in the trial of Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army militia accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, will be delivered on July, a Ugandan court has said. He is being tried by the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the high court in northern Gulu in what is regarded as the first war crimes trial in Uganda. Kwoyelo faces 78 counts and is accused of brutal civilian murders during a 20-year conflict in northern Uganda. Kwoyelo is not among the top LRA commanders, some of whom — including rebel supremo and former altar boy Joseph Kony — are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for rape, slavery, mutilation, murder and forcibly recruiting child soldiers…According to court documents, “all attacks by the LRA which took place in Kilak County, Amuru District between 1987 and 2005, the subject of charges in this indictment, were either commanded by him or were carried out with his full knowledge and authority.” His lawyer Caleb Alaka said Kwoyelo “has been consistent that he is innocent and looking forward to the court ruling”.
TV stations refuse to air Museveni’s census message for free
Uganda’s privately owned TV and radio stations have refused to broadcast a presidential message promoting efforts to carry out a national census, citing a lack of funding. This is despite a directive by the state-linked Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to all broadcasters to give the census “maximum publicity” for free. President Yoweri Museveni had recorded a video message explaining to Ugandans the importance of participating in the exercise. But the broadcasters’ association dismissed the directive, saying they could not comply with it without adequate government funding. On Tuesday, the UCC ordered all local broadcasters to air the message throughout the exercise to ensure its success. It reminded broadcasters of their obligation, under official guidelines, to give the government free airtime for national events. In response, the industry representative, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), said that private broadcasters provided free coverage during national emergencies but expected the government to fund pre-planned events like the census. Media outlets operated as commercial entities, paying licensing fees and taxes to the government, while also having other costs, like staff salaries, NAB chairman Innocent Nahabwe said in a statement. Complying with such directives without appropriate funding would set a worrying precedent, he added.
Internet outage felt across East Africa
Internet users in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda have been complaining about poor connectivity as service providers across East Africa acknowledge there has been a problem.
They have said they are working to fix it.
The patchy service was a result of faults in the under-sea cables that connect the region to the rest of the world through South Africa, industry expert Ben Roberts told the BBC. A similar outage was experienced in parts of West and Southern Africa in March. Cloudflare Radar, which monitors internet connectivity, said that Tanzania was of the worst-affected countries with traffic falling to 30% of expected levels.
Tanzania’s Citizen newspaper described what has happened as an “internet blackout [that] has affected major network channels”. Safaricom, also in Kenya, said it was “experiencing a challenge”. Airtel Ugandan has said it was aware of the “intermittent internet service”. And MTN Rwanda said there was “an issue of degradation of international links”. Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar have also been affected according to Cloudflare Radar.
WEST AFRICA
GHANA/NIGERIA
Ghana, Nigeria and the quest for UK looted treasure
There are obvious similarities between the British pillaging of Kumasi and another notorious episode in West African colonial history – the sacking of the palace of the king, or Oba, in Benin City in 1897, in what is today Edo State, southern Nigeria. That was when the British took the Benin Bronzes – thousands of brass castings and ivory carvings – which are at the forefront of the debate around looted artefacts in Western museums. Nigeria has had some success in its campaign for the return of the bronzes. In 2022 the German government announced the transfer of ownership of some 1,000 Benin Bronzes. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock flew to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and handed over 22 of the most spectacular objects to the Nigerian government. She said it was “a step that was long overdue”. Almost one-and-a-half years later, none of the bronzes she returned have been displayed in public since. They, and others which have trickled back from museums in the UK and the US, are in secure storage – while two are in the Oba’s palace in Benin City. A government official promises a display “soon”, but would not specify when. Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Oba’s palace have had disagreements over the ownership of the Benin Bronzes. A much-discussed Benin Royal Museum is yet to materialise.
NIGER
US orders all combat troops to withdraw
The Pentagon has officially ordered all 1,000 US combat troops to withdraw from Niger following intensive talks regarding the US withdrawal from the resource-rich African nation struggling under the weight of imperialism. The US in April announced that it would start discussions for an “orderly and responsible withdrawal” from Niger after its government said it was revoking its military cooperation deal with Washington in light of strained ties between the two parties. Nigerien diplomat Ali Tassa told Al Mayadeen in April that Niamey was determined to expel US forces from its territory. “Washington initially wanted to negotiate the continuation of an air base, but the Nigerian government refused,” Tassa underlined. He stressed that Niger was open to Russia, China, Iran, and any country that respects its sovereignty, adding that his country is strengthening its relations with Moscow.
NIGERIA
Kidnapped Nigerian university students rescued
Nigerian security forces have rescued students kidnapped from a university in northern Kogi state, along with other victims held by the abductors, the army and state government said on Sunday. Kogi information commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo said security forces were involved in a shootout with the armed gang that carried out Thursday’s abduction at Confluence University of Science and Technology. The state had enlisted the help of local hunters who know the Kogi terrain, and a security agent and hunter were wounded. The Nigerian army said in a separate statement that troops, other security agencies and local vigilantes were involved in “a fierce firefight” with the kidnappers. “The superior firepower of the troops led to the kidnappers abandoning nine of the kidnapped students, who were subsequently rescued,” the army said.
Harry and Meghan arrive in Nigeria to promote mental health
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria amid pomp and dancing on Friday to champion mental health for young people affected by conflicts and to promote the Invictus Games, which the prince founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans. The couple, in the West African nation for the first time on the invitation of its military, began their three-day visit by going to the Lightway Academy school which receives support from their Archewell foundation to train young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria, before going on to meet with the nation’s military officers. Harry and Meghan will also be meeting with wounded soldiers and their families in what Nigerian officials have said is a show of support to improve the morale of the soldiers, including those fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists in the country’s northeast. The news of Meghan’s visit excited some in Nigeria where her life — and association with the British royal family — is closely followed. Meghan has also said in the past that she found out through a genealogy test that she was 43% Nigerian.
Nigeria’s women drivers rally together to navigate male-dominated industry
Six years ago when the Ladies on Wheel Association of Nigeria, or LOWAN first started, there were six women in the group. Now there are some 5,000 members ranging in age from 25 to 60 – all of them female commercial drivers working across Nigeria. As their membership grows, so do the ways they support each other. LOWAN is a close-knit group, says founder Nkechi Abiola, with members looking after each other, looking out for one another on the road, and even exchanging trade advice and secondary business opportunities. They also facilitate loans to help the 60 percent of the group’s members who do not yet own their cars, and they assist one another through a regular savings scheme. Beyond driving, members also engage in campaigns against gender-based violence and domestic abuse to raise awareness about issues women in Nigeria face. In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of women venturing into the commercial transport business in Nigeria – working as taxi, danfo bus, tricycle and motorcycle taxi drivers. Experts say this increase is driven by Nigeria’s worsening economic situation which is forcing women to earn more money to support their families – ushering many into industries that have traditionally been more male dominated.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique battles Islamist attack
Mozambique’s military is battling a major Islamist attack in the town of Macomia in northern Mozambique, according to President Filipe Nyusi. “Macomia is under attack since this morning. Fire exchange still continues,” Nyusi said in a televised address on Friday, adding that the militants initially withdrew after about 45 minutes of fighting, but then regrouped and came back. Macomia lies in the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado. Local media reported that hundreds of militants took part in the Friday attack. The attack appeared to be the most serious in a while, amid a surge in violence since the start of the year. A regional force from Southern African Development Community (SADC), deployed in Mozambique in 2021, started withdrawing last month as its mandate ends in July. The attack comes as French energy giant TotalEnergies explores restarting work on a $20-billion (approximately €18.56 billion) liquefied natural gas project in Cabo Delgado. The project was paused in 2021 due to the insurgency.
SOUTH AFRICA
Top court hears case questioning Zuma’s electoral eligibility
South Africa’s Constitutional Court will decide on an appeal questioning former President Jacob Zuma’s eligibility to run in this month’s election, a race that could tilt the balance of the parliament and determine the country’s next leader. The court in Johannesburg is on Friday hearing the appeal filed by the country’s election body after a lower court ruled that Zuma could run for office. Earlier, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), barred Zuma from contesting the May 29 polls. Zuma, 82, is fronting a new opposition party that has become a potential disrupter in the general election. While his party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), is not expected to win enough votes to return the former leader to the presidency, it could cut into the vote share of the dominant governing African National Congress (ANC) party, and determine who will be the country’s next leader. … The eligibility case against Zuma revolves around the interpretation of a constitutional norm barring anyone sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment from serving in parliament.
Election 2024: When is the poll and what is at stake for the ANC?
South Africa is heading for a general election in late May, with some polls suggesting the governing African National Congress (ANC) could get less than 50% of the vote for the first time in 30 years. Mounting criticism of the party that led the fight against apartheid under the late Nelson Mandela has chipped away at its support, raising the possibility of a coalition government. On 29 May, nearly 28 million South African registered voters have the chance to elect representatives to the national and provincial parliaments. It will be the country’s seventh democratic general election.
Pretoria again requests emergency measures from world court to restrain Israel’s actions in Gaza
South Africa urged the United Nations’ top court Friday to issue more emergency measures to restrain Israel, saying its military incursion in Rafah threatens the “very survival of Palestinians in Gaza.” The request marks the fourth for additional measures by South Africa, which filed a genocide case against Israel late last year at the International Court of Justice. According to the latest request, the previous preliminary orders by The Hague-based court were not sufficient to address “a brutal military attack on the sole remaining refuge for the people of Gaza.” At hearings in January, lawyers for Israel argued that its war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. South Africa has asked the court to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah; to take measures to ensure unimpeded access to U.N. officials, humanitarian organizations and journalists to the Gaza Strip; and to report back within one week as to how it is meeting these demands. South Africa also accused Israel of violating the previous provisional measures imposed by the court. The court also announced on Friday that Libya had asked to join the case and intervene in support of South Africa. The North African country joins Nicaragua and Colombia, which have filed their own requests to take part in the proceedings.
The fight to save the African penguin
Every year there are fewer African penguins and soon there may be none at all. Scientists say that the species is declining by around 8% every year. … The African penguin – which is native to South Africa and Namibia – has lost 99% of its population over the last century. “If the current rates of decline persist into the near future we could see the extinction of the species within our lifetime by 2035, so the situation is extremely urgent,” Dr McInnes warns. This is why BirdLife South Africa and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) are taking legal action against the government in the first case of its kind in South Africa. … The now-discontinued practice of harvesting guano (accumulated bird droppings into which penguins would dig their burrows) damaged their habitat. Climate change is exacerbating the problem – storms and flooding endanger their colonies and it is becoming harder for the birds to access food as ocean currents and temperatures shift. And the sardines and anchovies on which the penguins depend are also a valuable commodity for the commercial fishing industry. The South African government has tried to restrict the activities of so-called purse seine fishing vessels, which use large nets to catch great shoals of fish.
NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
The headache of returning Emir Abdelkader’s sabers to Algeria from France
Key to the reconciliation of memories between the two countries, Algiers’ request to recover the national hero’s possessions currently held in French museums is likely to come up against a legal dilemma. There’s a majestic saber in slightly curved damascus steel, set in a chased gilded met al scabbard.The weapon belonged to Emir Abdelkader, the emblematic leader of the resistance to the French conquest of Algeria, who was forced to surrender on December 23, 1847. Even today, his legacy clouds diplomatic relations between France and Algeria, as demands for its return multiply. In this “Algerian” corner of the Musée de l’Empéri, dedicated to military art and history, Abdelkader’s saber catches the eye. Its somewhat baroque ornamentation, reminiscent of the so-called “Ottoman rococo” style, is not the only explanation. The attraction is mainly due to the political weight the piece holds, hinted at by its label: “La Reddition d’Abelkader” (“Abdelkader’s Surrender).”
EGYPT
Egypt says it will join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ
Egypt says it will formally join the case filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in its war on the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that Cairo intended to join the case due to escalating Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians. “The submission … comes in light of the worsening severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and the continued perpetration of systematic practices against the Palestinian people, including direct targeting of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure in the Strip, and pushing Palestinians to flee,” the ministry said in a statement. South Africa brought its case against Israel in January, accusing the country of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza, which began in October, has surpassed 35,000, and most of the dead are women and children, according to Palestinian authorities. Egypt will join Turkey and Colombia in formally requesting to join the case against Israel.
TUNISIA
Tent camp razed and migrants activist arrested
Tensions in Tunisia ratcheted up as demonstrators seeking better rights for migrants staged a sit-in before European Union headquarters on Thursday, capping a week in which Tunisian authorities targeted migrant communities from the coast to the capital with arrests and the demolition of tent camps. Several activists were apprehended this week, accused of financial crimes stemming from providing aid to migrants. Authorities razed encampments outside U.N. headquarters, sweeping up dozens of sub-Saharan Africans who had been living there for months. Fewer migrants have made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea this year compared to last year, due to weather and beefed-up border security. The 2024 figures are in line with objectives set by the EU as part of a deal worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) that included assistance to better police the border and prevent migrants without papers from reaching Europe. However, human rights activists say the crackdown has been damaging for the tens of thousands of migrants stuck in Tunisia as a result. Demonstrators on Thursday blasted the security-centric approach that governments on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea have chosen to drive their migration policies. Some of the signs at the protests decried Tunisia’s cooperation with Italy and Europe, while others mourned the lives of Tunisians who have died or gone missing at sea.
CENTRAL AFRICA
CHAD
Interim President Deby declared winner of disputed vote
Chad’s military leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, 40, has been declared winner of Monday’s long-delayed presidential election, according to provisional results by the National Elections Management Agency. According to the election body, Deby garnered 61.03 percent of the votes cast, beating nine other candidates who were seeking to occupy the country’s topmost office. The vote puts Deby comfortably over the 50 percent needed to avoid a run off. His main challenger, Prime Minister Succes Masra, 40, came in a distant second with 18.53 percent of the vote, results which he has disputed. Former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke, 58, who was runner-up in the last presidential election in 2021, came in third place with 16.91 percent. The results were announced Thursday night, about two weeks earlier than expected. Preliminary results of the vote were initially expected on May 21. The outcome of the vote will be validated and announced by the Constitutional Council. Chad’s junta has become the first of the coup-hit countries in West and Central Africa to stage a return to constitutional rule via the ballot box, but some opposition parties have cried foul over vote-rigging concerns.
After Déby’s disputed victory, N’Djamena is under heavy surveillance
The announcement was hasty, but the results were expected. On the evening of Thursday, May 9, about 10 days before the legal deadline and when the Constitutional Court had only just received copies of the polling stations’ reports, Chad’s National Agency for Election Management (ANGE) proclaimed Mahamat Idriss Déby’s victory in the first round of the presidential election, with 61.03% of the vote. Throughout his campaign, the opponent, Prime Minister Masra, had called on his supporters to check the results of the ballot boxes by taking photos of the count sheets, instilling a climate of suspicion in a campaign that turned out to be more offensive than expected. The announcement of the results was followed by automatic gunfire from all over the city. In the city center, vehicles sped off to the joyful sounds of car horns and ululations. In the southern districts of N’Djamena, reputed to be pro-opposition, these celebrations were seen as a sign of intimidation.
AFRICA – GENERAL NEWS
Africa’s biggest media deal could see Right-wing French control
One of the biggest media deals in the world – and the biggest-ever on the African continent – is being negotiated in South Africa. If it goes through, a French billionaire with a track record of buying media and using them to promote far-right ideologies will have access to tens of millions of African homes. Vincent Bolloré is no stranger to controversy. Described by Bloomberg as “the French Rupert Murdoch” who is in the process of “building his own right-wing media empire”, he has been implicated in at least one corruption scandal in West Africa. A successful businessman, Bolloré has used his money to buy media companies. His family company, the Bolloré Group, owns a controlling stake in Vivendi, which owns the French television giant Canal+. It is the largest satellite television provider in Francophone Africa. And it wants to buy the continent’s other big provider, South Africa-based MultiChoice, which owns prominent brands that include DStv, SuperSport and Showmax. This de facto monopoly could give the group and the Bolloré family extraordinary influence over what appears, or doesn’t, on some 30-million African television screens…Bolloré is currently on trial in France, where prosecutors accused him and two Bolloré Group associates of bribing the president of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, to obtain a lucrative port operating licence.
AI becomes latest frontier in China-US race for Africa
What’s the future of Artificial Intelligence in Africa? When that question is entered into the AI platform ChatGPT, it answers that it “holds immense potential for transformative impact across various sectors,” notably health care, agriculture and education. Human experts tend to agree, and AI is fast becoming the latest frontier in U.S.-China competition on the continent. “To advance in AI research and innovation, African countries will need significant investments in computing infrastructure,” said Chinasa T. Okolo, a Center for Technology Innovation fellow at The Brookings Institution. “The U.S. and China could potentially be good partners to help with such initiatives.” In the coming years, researchers predict AI companies will run out of data in English and Western languages but that is not the case in Africa where much more data is still needed, Okolo said. “Thus, by investing in Africa, companies from AI superpowers like the U.S. and China stand to gain valuable data that they could use to build services and systems to be sold back to African countries,” she said.
Ex-French colonies confront slave trade legacy
On the occasion of France’s commemoration of the abolition of slavery, individuals from former colonies that are now French overseas departments spoke about this somber chapter in history. When questioned, residents of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion Island all shared their similar perspectives on the significance of commemorating the day. Singer Valérie Tribord further added that the legislation introduced mandates the inclusion of slavery’s history in the curriculum, ensuring that the suffering endured during the colonial era is not forgotten. “In Guyana, we commemorate the abolition of slavery on 10 June – the day it was officially announced in 1848. However, 10 May is important in ensuring that future generations learn about the slave trade. More and more research on the topic is helping to uncover aspects of slavery we didn’t know about,” she said. Frank Salin, a writer and director from Guadeloupe, emphasized the significance of May 23 and May 27 in commemorating the abolition of slavery. For Salin, the duty of remembrance is paramount, particularly as his own ancestor, Jean-Charles Salin, was born a slave. He recalled participating in a silent march with 40,000 French Caribbeans in Paris on May 23, 1998, advocating for the recognition and remembrance of the victims of slavery.
UN RELATED NEWS
First UN civil society forum held in Africa heralds ‘inclusive’ Summit of the Future
‘Meaningful participation’ and ‘inclusion’ were the buzzwords at the opening on Thursday of a major UN conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where governments were urged to heed the diverse voices of civil society, which were well-placed to work alongside them in building a fairer and more just future. Bringing together civil society actors, government representatives, senior UN officials, young changemakers, academic and other stakeholders, the UN Civil Society Conference is the premier event on the civil society calendar at the United Nations, ahead of the Summit of the Future, set for this coming September. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, in a video message to the event, began by expressing deep condolences to the victims of the devastating floods in Kenya and reiterating the United Nation’s continued commitment to supporting the Kenyan Government during this challenging time. … Florence Syevuo, [a] SDG Young Leader, said the Conference was a call from civil society to address global inequality once and for all, particularly those between the Global North and South. Some 70 per cent of the participants hailed from Africa, which was important; those left out of the ‘New York bubble’ could not meaningfully engage in conversations on sustainable development.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
Implications of Amazon’s launch in South Africa?
Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce company, has launched in South Africa. That should be good news, but not everyone is excited, as there are fears it could also lead to the collapse of local online retailers.
AFRICA – ANALYSIS, EDITORIAL/OPINION
Bold African Union role needed to stabilise east DRC
The African Union lacks a coherent strategy that can reduce tensions between countries and improve security coordination.
It Matters How the Media Reports on Africa
Gendered disinformation hinders African women
A new study sheds light on the pervasive use of gendered disinformation in Africa, aiming to silence critics and marginalise women in online political discussions
Counting the victims of a conflict: who does it, how?
Policing in Africa: Imperatives to Peacebuilding
Addressing China’s Monopoly over Africa’s Renewable Energy Minerals
Ghana
World Bank, IMF pressured over Ghana anti-LGBTQ+ law
Kenya
Floods: as the costs add up pressure mounts on a country in economic crisis
Nigeria
US-Nigeria Partnership in the Changing Global Arena: A Conversation with the Foreign Minister of Nigeria, H. E. Amb. Y. M. Tugga
Sudan
With no military victory in sight, negotiation is the only path to peace in Sudan*
Zimbabwe
Transitional Justice and Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace in Zimbabwe
The Africa Edition ©️ 
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