News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Kenya’s Haiti deployment imminent
Niger’s PM blames US for rupture
Russian ambassador’s death in Mozambique investigated
Egypt to intervene in ICJ case against Israel
Chad deploys troops to quell post election violence.
TOP NEWS
Death toll in IDP camps bombings rises to at least 35
Can SADC troops in DRC defeat M23?
US Special Envoy meets with Oromo opposition leaders
Why an Ethiopian community buried lightning survivors
Saudi Arabia postpones execution of Kenyan man
Kenya rallies police officers ahead of Haiti deployment
Kenyan MPs shield Minister, ignite corruption claims
Kenya’s new planned tax hikes spark anger
Rwanda: Witnesses defect from Genocide trial in Belgium
4m Somalia children hit by war and climate change, experts say
RSF intensify shelling in El Fasher, civilians bear brunt of renewed clashes
Renewed clashes in El Fasher leave 27 civilians dead
RSF accused of running secret execution chambers in Khartoum
Tanzania polls: Kabwe commits to challenge Samia
US Embassy in Tanzania closed over internet outage
Museveni tasks UK to produce evidence in Speaker’s wealth claims
East Africa faces internet woes as undersea cable issues persist
East Africa trades more with its African peers than with EU, Asia
West Africa
Cameroon military frees 300 Boko Haram captives along northern border
Guinea massacre trial: Victims call for ‘crimes against humanity’ charges
Stevie Wonder and family arrive in Ghana, receives Ghanaian citizenship
With French under fire, Mali uses AI to bring local language to students
Niger’s prime minister blames US for rupture of military pact
Nigerian gunmen seek talks after abducting dozens
Nigeria’s fashion and dancing styles are in the spotlight as Harry and Meghan visit Lagos
Nigerians turn to unproven asthma treatments as inhaler costs rise
Senegal buys back library of poet president Senghor from France
Southern Africa
Lesotho makes another step at fixing its constitution, but civil society not impressed.
Malawi ex-president to contest in 2025 elections
Depleted SANDF troops in Mozambique battle Islamic State insurgents
Mozambique: Big Rise in Insurgent Activity in Past Month
Mozambique investigates death of Russian ambassador
Ramaphosa to sign ‘universal’ health insurance bill
Death toll from South Africa building collapse rises to 23
News Coverage of SAfrica’s 2024 Elections:
Key issues for SAfrica 2024 election
Why Jacob Zuma could be ‘kingmaker’ in general election
Will Israel’s war on Gaza sway South Africa’s election?
Nobel laureate’s death to be re-examined in SAfrica
North Africa
Egypt to intervene in ICJ case as Israel tensions rise
Libyan officials arrested in $1.9bn gold trafficking
Morocco to become military drone manufacturer, thanks to Israel
Hundreds protest in Tunisia to demand a date for fair presidential elections
Central Africa
CAR rebels kill at least 4 people during an attack on a mining town
Chad opposition leader files challenge against presidential election result
Chad deploys combat-ready troops to quell post election violence
AFRICA GENERAL
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
Death toll in IDP camps bombings rises to at least 35
The death toll in the bombings of two camps for displaced people in eastern Congo last week rose to at least 35 Friday, with an additional two in very critical condition, a local official reported. Éric Bwanapuwa, a lawmaker who represents Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu state, where the attacks took place, provided the updated figure in an interview Friday. The Congolese army and a rebel group known as M23 have blamed each other for the bombings at the Mugunga and Lac Vert displacement camps in eastern Congo. The U.S. State Department accused M23 and the army of neighboring Rwanda.
Can SADC troops defeat M23?
Troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployed to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are struggling to restore peace and security to the restive region. The DRC is relying on its partners in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to neutralize the M24 rebel group in Congo’s conflict-hit east.Tensions flared in March 2022 when M23, after a decade of relative calm, attacked Congolese army positions near the border between Uganda and Rwanda, causing locals to flee for their safety. The SADC Mission in Congo, known as SAMIDRC, started deploying in December after Congo — one of SADC’s 16 members — sought support under the bloc’s mutual defense pact. But the SADC’s capacity to restore peace and security in eastern Congo is in question. According to analysts, a lack of funding for foreign soldiers is hampering the success of the mission in eastern Congo. At the end of the day, the problem is “that these big, very expensive missions are not sustainable by the troop contibuting countries,” said Stephanie Wolters, a senior research fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg…The SADC deployment to eastern Congo is now the priority for the region and some of the assets that have been used in Mozambique have been redeployed there. In February, South Africa’s government said that 2,900 of its soldiers were being mobilized for the SADC operation in eastern Congo, which has a mandate until December 2024, at a cost of around 2 billion rand ($105 million, €98 million)…Congo is also using mercenaries and it has mobilized many of the armed groups that were fighting the Kinshasa government some time ago, Wolters said. Now they are part of the pro-government coalition fighting together with the Congolese army against violent rebel groups.
ETHIOPIA
US Special Envoy meets with Oromo opposition leaders
Mike Hammer, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, engaged in discussions with notable opposition party leaders regarding the present political circumstances in Ethiopia as a whole, with a specific emphasis on the Oromia region. Among the political figures who conversed with Hammer on Monday, 13 May, 2024, were Merera Gudina, the chairperson of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), and Dawud Ibsa, the leader of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). In an interview, Merera highlighted that the conversation centered on “fundamental political issues concerning Ethiopia as a whole and Oromia specifically.” The chairman indicated that he provided the envoy with an overview of the overall political landscape in the nation. According to Merera, the national dialogue process was a particular point of discussion. The chairman stated that he informed Hammer that “the national dialogue is not going to get the country anywhere, as it lacks inclusiveness and lacks trust among the general populace.”
Merera disclosed that the recent assassination of Batte Urgessa, a political officer of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), was also a topic of discussion.
Why an Ethiopian community buried lightning survivors
Twelve people in eastern Ethiopia who survived a lightning strike were buried up to their necks for around two hours in accordance with local customs. The incident occurred on Sunday in Melka Bello, a town around 450km (280 miles) from the capital, Addis Ababa. “It was not heavy rain as such. The lightning struck a sheep at the door while we were inside a house. All of us fell down. Many of us were shaking,” survivor Nesro Abdi said. Locals who heard screaming rushed to help. “They brought milk and poured it on us. They dug up the ground and buried our bodies below our necks,” Mr Nesro said. In Ethiopia’s central region of Oromia, it is widely believed that if someone survives a lightning strike, burying them in soil and giving them milk to drink or pouring milk on them will restore their health. Lightning is seen as an act of God – when it occurs, people celebrate so as not to offend the Almighty. Mr Nesro said: “As I couldn’t move my legs before, people had to carry me and put me in the soil. But when we got out of the soil, everyone is feeling better. I am moving well now.” Haftu Birhane, an environmental physics researcher at Haramaya University, warns against these traditions as they are not scientifically proven. “What science advises is to take [survivors] to the nearest health facilities,” he said.
KENYA
Saudi Arabia postpones execution of Kenyan man
A Kenyan man due to be executed in Saudi Arabia has had a last-minute reprieve following a large-scale social media campaign. Stephen Munyakho, son of veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, received the death penalty in 2011 following a fatal fight with a colleague in the Gulf nation. According to the Bring Back Stevo campaign, run by Munyakho’s supporters, both workers “sustained stab wounds” but only Munyakho survived. Consequently Munyakho was handed the death sentence. Under Saudi law, a death sentence can be lifted if the family agrees to get compensation instead. His family back home in Kenya have been attempting to raise the required blood money, which is 3.5m Saudi riyals ($940,000; £750,000), for the deceased’s family. On Monday, just two days before Munyakho was due to be executed, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs said Saudi Arabia had “kindly granted” the government’s request to postpone the death in order to allow for “further negotiations between all parties”. Korir Sing’Oei wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter: “As we devise strategies to bring this matter to a more acceptable conclusion, and thereby giving both families the closure they so urgently need and deserve, we shall continue to lean on the warm and solid friendship that we have with our Saudi partners, as well as on the goodwill of all Kenyans.”
Kenya rallies police officers ahead of Haiti deployment
Hundreds of Kenyan police officers have been training since late last year to embark on the deployment of a lifetime: helping lead a multinational force tasked with quelling gang-fueled lawlessness in Haiti. The deployment has divided the East African nation from the onset. It touched off fierce debate in parliament and among officials in at least two ministries about whether Kenya should lead such a mission. The courts also sought to block the deployment, while activists and human rights groups, citing a history of abuse and unlawful killings by the Kenyan police, roundly denounced it. Now, months after finishing their training, Kenyan officers were called back from leave this week in preparation for leaving for Haiti…officers said they have not been given a precise date but anticipated that they would arrive in Haiti this month. The looming deployment comes as Mr. Ruto prepares for an official state visit with President Biden on May 23, which will provide a brief distraction from a slew of domestic challenges, including deadly floods, mounting debt and a major scandal over fertilizer subsidies. The international mission is expected to consist of 2,500 members, led by 1,000 Kenyan police officers. The rest of the deployment will come from more than half a dozen nations that have pledged to provide additional personnel.
MPs shield Minister, ignite corruption claims
A covert maneuover has emerged, shedding light on the inner workings of the Kenya Kwanza government’s efforts to shield Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi from impeachment, thereby averting potential disgrace for the Ruto administration. This revelation exposes alleged clandestine activities and a meticulously coordinated strategy aimed at safeguarding Mr Linturi. The report by the committee is set to be tabled in the plenary but sources with the knowledge of the matter say the CS has been absolved from all the charges that had been levelled against him. Claims have surfaced indicating that MPs involved in the investigation may have been influenced with bribes to protect the embattled CS. Last week, an 11-member committee tasked with probing the impeachment case voted in favour of sparing Mr Linturi, purportedly following directives from State House. Seven MPs, predominantly from the ruling regime, endorsed the government’s directive, granting Mr Linturi a reprieve after the fertiliser scandal imperiled his public service career.
Kenya’s new planned tax hikes spark anger
Plans to introduce new taxes and increase exsisting ones have triggered widespread criticism in Kenya. The price of bread is set to climb after the national treasury proposed removing the staple product from a value added tax (VAT) exemption list. The costs of mobile money transfers, airtime and data are also set to go up as the government seeks to raise an additional $2.4bn (£2bn) in taxes, in the financial year that starts in July. In the 2024 Finance Bill, published on Saturday, the government also proposed a new motor vehicle tax that will see drivers pay up to $750 (£600) annually to keep their vehicles on the road. The tax hikes are part of a series of financial measures introduced by President William Ruto’s government in order to fund its extensive infrastructure and social programmes. The move has generated sharp criticism, with politicians and human rights activists calling the taxes “burdening”. The opposition has threatened to mobilise protests across the country if the government goes ahead with the new tax measures. Last year, the government introduced several taxes, including a controversial housing levy, despite widespread objection from some Kenyans.
RWANDA
Witnesses defect from Genocide trial in Belgium
The Brussels Assize Court, which is currently trying Belgian-Rwandan Emmanuel Nkunduwimye for genocide, is facing a major defection of witnesses. The latest is Paul Rusesabagina, former manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali in 1994, who has finally refused to appear. Around a third of witnesses called failed to turn up, including at least three who were much anticipated. The defence could benefit from this. The three major absences are not the only ones. Many other witnesses were unable to be heard for various reasons. The court deplored the death of some of them between the dispatch of summonses and the start of trial on April 8. It also received several medical certificates for very elderly witnesses whose frail health prevented them from being heard. Others simply did not show up. These defections were so palpable that, on April 24, none of the three witnesses scheduled to be heard that morning turned up. Twenty minutes after starting, the hearing was suspended for the rest of the morning. And so, with the end of trial scheduled for the end of May, around a third of the witnesses called have evaporated. The defence was quick to react, pointing out that reading out the statements of absent witnesses during the investigation does not replace a hearing in the context of an adversarial debate, and contravenes the sacrosanct principle of oral proceedings in the Assize Court.
SOMALIA
4m Somalia children hit by war and climate change, experts say
As Somali forces navigate a delicate transition to assume the country’s security responsibilities from African Union peacekeepers who have secured civilians and personnel of international agencies for the past 17 years, experts say that four million children in Somalia have been affected by conflict and climate change. Isha Dyfan, UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Somalia, announced this Thursday, at meetings with government officials, UN representatives, children rights activists and other humanitarian agencies operating in Somalia…Ms Dyfan said children represent 60-70 percent of the internally displaced persons and other vulnerable populations, all being victims of forced eviction and its impact, and children are further at risk of mines and hazardous materials in the liberated areas.
SUDAN
RSF intensify shelling in El Fasher, civilians bear brunt of renewed clashes
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have ramped up their attacks on El Fasher, unleashing a relentless barrage of artillery and rockets on densely populated western and southern districts. This escalation has resulted in a mounting civilian death toll. For the past three days, El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has witnessed a dramatic rise in the intensity of clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied armed movements on one side and the RSF on the other. The fierce fighting has caused numerous deaths and injuries among civilians caught in the crossfire. Despite international and regional warnings urging the RSF to halt their assault on El Fasher, a city already reeling from war casualties, the paramilitary group persists in its offensive. This aggression appears to be part of a broader campaign to seize control of the entire Darfur region following their capture of the southern, central, eastern, and western Darfur states…In a press conference held in Port Sudan, Babiker Hamdin, the Darfur Region’s Minister of Health and Social Care, vehemently condemned the RSF’s actions, calling them “barbaric aggression” and a “siege” on El Fasher. He highlighted the plight of thousands of civilians exposed to the dangers of hunger and thirst due to the conflict, emphasizing that such actions constitute a crime punishable under international law.
Renewed clashes in El Fasher leave 27 civilians dead, 130 injured
Brutal clashes between Sudanese forces and rebels in El Fasher, North Darfur, have left at least 27 civilians dead and 130 injured, the UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) reported Sunday. Airstrikes and heavy weapons pounded the city from May 10th morning to 6:30 pm, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict. The violence erupted mid-morning in eastern El Fasher, quickly engulfing the town centre, main market, and neighbourhoods. Hundreds of civilians, estimated at 850 people (170 families), fled their homes, seeking refuge in the south. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported widespread displacement…This latest violence adds to a devastating pattern. Over 40,600 people were displaced in El Fasher locality between April 1st and 18th due to tribal clashes and fighting between government forces and rebels. Humanitarian access to El Fasher is severely restricted, hindering aid delivery.
RSF accused of running secret execution chambers in the Sudanese capital
A disturbing investigation by Sudan Tribune has uncovered evidence suggesting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been executing civilians by hanging inside secret execution chambers across the capital, Khartoum…Residents recently returned to areas previously controlled by the RSF have provided chilling accounts…Video clips of executions and ethnic cleansing committed by the fighting forces in Sudan are circulating on social media. These videos show cold-blooded executions of civilians in various regions, as confirmed by international reports and human rights organizations. Activists told Sudan Tribune about the existence of at least 14 secret execution chambers established by the RSF in Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman. These facilities are allegedly overseen by officers who act as judges, issuing death sentences for civilians accused of collaborating with the army intelligence.
TANZANIA
Polls: Kabwe commits to challenge Samia, Chadema still undecided
Retired ACT-Wazalendo party leader Zitto Kabwe has become the first Tanzanian opposition politician to openly voice presidential aspirations for next year’s general election. Speaking at an event marking the party’s 10th anniversary in Kigoma on May 5, Zitto said he was ready to make a U-turn on his previously stated intention to first focus on regaining the parliamentary seat he lost in the controversial 2020 election before moving on to a presidential bid at a later time, probably 2030. He said despite having stepped down from day-to-day party leadership in March this year, he would make himself available to run against incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the ruling CCM party if ACT-Wazalendo required him to do so. In 2025, President Samia will be seeking the electorate’s mandate for the first time after being elevated from vice-president to succeed John Magufuli by constitutional decree in 2021. She is eligible for one full five-year term and her candidacy is likely to be endorsed by the ruling CCM which has never broken its age-old tradition of always approving incumbent presidents for reelection.
US Embassy in Tanzania closed over internet outage
The US Embassy in Tanzania has closed for two days because of an internet outage affecting several East African countries. It cancelled all consular appointments for Tuesday and Wednesday and rescheduled them to a later date. The internet outage has persisted since Sunday morning, causing poor connectivity in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda…Metrics showed that Tanzania has been worst hit by the outage. 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.
UGANDA
Museveni tasks UK to produce evidence in Speaker’s wealth claims
President Museveni has directed Foreign Affairs minister Jeje Odongo to write to demand the UK government explain the source their information that Speaker Anita Among has a house or houses in the UK. “They cannot falsely accuse any of our people and we just let it pass,” Mr Museveni said in the May 11 letter. The President said he had received the Inspectorate of Government’s message that Ms Among did not not reveal anything related to ownership of a house or houses in the UK. He said Ms Among had also told him that she does not own a house or houses in UK. Speaker Among’s alleged UK wealth was revealed to President Museveni by the British High Commissioner, Ms Kate Airey OBE, at State House Nakasero on April 30 – just hours before the UK government announced sanctions against three Ugandan legislators. The President said if Ms Among indeed had houses in the UK, then the next issue would be to ascertain where she got the money to build them. On May 2, the President directed IGG and Ethics ministry to look into Speaker’s UK wealth. The UK government slapped Speaker Among and two former Karamoja Affairs ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu with travel ban and asset freezes for what it called “epitome of corruption and [that has] no place in society”.
East Africa faces internet woes as undersea cable issues persist
Internet users in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda are voicing their frustration over poor connectivity as service providers across East Africa acknowledge the issue and pledge to resolve it. Industry expert Ben Roberts explained that the spotty service stemmed from faults in the undersea cables linking the region to the rest of the world via South Africa. A similar disruption occurred in parts of West and Southern Africa in March. As of Monday, some East Africans are still experiencing sluggish internet speeds, with telecom companies indicating that the problem persists and urging patience from subscribers. Responding to concerned users, Airtel Kenya and Vodacom Tanzania reassured customers on social media that they were collaborating with undersea cable teams to address the issue. Cloudflare Radar reported significant internet traffic drops in Tanzania, with the country among the worst-affected. Tanzania’s Citizen newspaper labeled the situation an “internet blackout,” impacting major network channels.
East Africa trades more with its African peers than with EU, Asia
East African Community (EAC) member states are increasingly trading with one another and with other African countries, while reduce their trade with Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world, shaping the intra-Africa trade dream projected to boost commerce and livelihoods on the continent. The seven countries in the region (as of last year) increased their trade with the rest of Africa by $584.6 million to $4.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, a 14 percent rise compared with a similar period in 2022, latest data by the EAC Secretariat shows. Cross-border trade within the region also recorded a 12 percent rise, from the previous year’s $2.6 billion to $2.9 billion in last year’s Quarter 4, an indication of rising trade within the region over the year…Amid the decline in trade with Europe, Asia, and the US, some African countries have emerged as important trade partners for the EAC. Trade between East Africa and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), for instance, more than tripled to $199.6 million in October-December last year, from $61 million in 2022, raising its share in EAC’s total trade from 0.3 percent to 1 percent. Similarly, trade with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) saw an improvement in the period, rising by 40 percent to 2.7 billion, improving the share in total EAC trade from 9.8 percent to 12.8 percent.
WEST AFRICA
CAMEROON
Cameroon military frees 300 Boko Haram captives along northern border
Cameroon’s military has moved over 300 civilians rescued from Boko Haram terrorist captivity along the central African states border with Nigeria and Chad this week to a northern Cameroon military post. The country’s army says scores of militants of the Nigeria-based insurgent group were neutralized in a border operation called Alpha. Oumar Fatime, 37, tells Cameroon military and senior government officials that she was a successful vegetable farmer in Ngouboua village, until April 17 when heavily armed Boko Haram fighters abducted her and three of her family members. Ngouboua is a village in Chad located near the northeastern shore of Lake Chad, a water body shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Cameroon state TV showed video of the rescued civilians brought in military trucks to a military camp in Dabanga district near the border with Chad and Nigeria Monday. The Cameroon military said most of the freed hostages are women and children. Cameroon’s military says it was assisted in assaults on some Boko Haram strongholds in border localities by government troops from Chad and Nigeria. Scores of militants were killed and several dozens wounded in the operation that lasted one week according to Cameroon officials.
GHANA
Stevie Wonder and family arrive in Ghana, receives Ghanaian citizenship
The legendary singer revealed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that he wants to relocate to Ghana permanently. American singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder arrived in Ghana Monday morning along with his wife, Tomeeka Robyn Bracy, family and team. The legendary singer was greeted by industry players, representatives from the Diaspora Affairs Office, and a local cultural group performing a traditional dance performance at the Kotoka International Airport. The visit comes after Wonder revealed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, that he wants to relocate to Ghana permanently. The “I just called to say I love you” singer said he felt a greater sense of community in Ghana than in the US. A few hours after the news of his visit broke, Stevie Wonder was reported to have taken the Oath of Allegiance and received the Certificate of Citizenship by Registration at the Jubilee House, making him an official Ghanaian citizen. Stevie Wonder expressed his joy over the honour bestowed upon him. “I guess it’s just the lineage I felt Ghana, I felt my civilisation was there and I was there where it began. So, I thank all of you so very much. I always say this is the beginning, [the best part of the rest of my life got to do God’s promised,” he said.
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.
GUINEA
Guinea massacre trial: Victims call for ‘crimes against humanity’ charges
Lawyers for victims of a 2009 massacre in Guinea on Monday called for the charges in the landmark trial to be reclassified as crimes against humanity as closing arguments got under way. Former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara and 10 other former military and government officials are accused over the killing of 156 people and the rape of at least 109 women by pro-junta forces at a political rally. They face a string of charges including murder, assassination, rape, torture, intentional assault and battery, kidnapping, arson and looting.
“For us civil parties, these events, these horrendous, regrettable, condemnable and unacceptable crimes, are crimes against humanity,” said Hamidou Barry, one of the victims’ lawyers. As the trial which opened in September 2022 entered its final stage on Monday, the court asked lawyers to ensure that defendants know their fate before the August recess. The civil parties’ lawyers, who will speak on behalf of organisations representing hundreds of victims, are expected to present their arguments over several days. “There is no other qualification: these are crimes against humanity,” said lawyer Barry. He said the victims’ requests to have the charges reclassified had been rejected by investigating judges in 2017, the court of appeal in 2018 and by the court of cassation in 2019.
MALI
With French under fire, Mali uses AI to bring local language to students
As Mali’s relationship with French — the language of its former colonial ruler, France — has grown more fraught, an effort to use AI to create children’s books in Bambara and other local languages is gaining momentum. With political tensions high between the two countries, Mali’s military government last year replaced French as the country’s “official” language, instead elevating Bambara and 12 other native languages, though French will still be used in government settings and public schools. That change has meant there is more political will behind efforts like that of RobotsMali, a start-up that has used artificial intelligence to create more than 140 books in Bambara since last year, said Séni Tognine, who works in Mali’s Education Ministry and has been helping RobotsMali create its books. Now, he said, both the government and the people “are engaged in wanting to learn and valorize local languages.”…The vast majority of Africa’s roughly 1,000 languages are not represented on websites, which big generative AI platforms like ChatGPT crawl to help train themselves.If you ask ChatGPT the most basic questions in Ethiopia’s two most popular lang uages, Amharic and Tigrinya, for example, it produces a nonsensical jumble of Amharic, Tigrinya and sometimes even other languages, Asmelash Teka Hadgu said. But Hadgu, who created a start-up focused on using machine learning to translate between English and Ethiopian languages, said that specific projects like that of RobotsMali also speak to the potential of artificial intelligence. “If it is done right,” he said, “the potential in terms of democratizing access to education is enormous.”
NIGERIA
Gunmen seek talks after abducting dozens
Gunmen who abducted 105 people in northwest Nigeria last week are not after ransom payments but negotiations with the Zamfara state government, five families of the victims who were contacted by the armed men said on Monday. Armed gangs continue to terrorise northern Nigeria, abducting villagers, students and motorists for ransom. Bello Mohammed, whose wife, three children and young brother were among those taken, said he received a call on Saturday night from people who said they had carried out the attack. “They don’t need any ransom from us, but said if we need our loved ones back, they asked me and other people to deliver (a) message to the state’s governor. The government should reach out to them for negotiations,” he said. Three other residents said they also received such calls. Zamfara’s information commissioner Mannir Kaura could not be reached for comment. But in a statement dated May 11, Kaura criticised unnamed individuals that he said were pushing for negotiations with the kidnapping gangs. He said Zamfara state government “has rejected the so-called peace accord initiative with bandits by these groups of individuals.”
Nigerians turn to unproven asthma treatments as inhaler costs rise
In Nigeria, soaring inhaler costs pose a significant challenge for asthma patients, especially as the world marked Asthma Day this week. The departure of multinational firms like GSK, coupled with inflation, has driven prices skyward, rendering essential medications unaffordable. As a result, patients are turning to alternative treatments. World Asthma Day 2024 finds Nigeria facing a mounting health crisis with asthma medication costs soaring more than 500 percent in less than a year. Asthma, a chronic lung disease, affects millions globally, and a 2019 survey estimated Nigeria has 13 million asthma sufferers, among the most in Africa. Public health experts like Ejike Orji fear the rising cost of medication could lead to a crisis. Asthma’s burden falls heavily on low-income countries. More than 80 percent of deaths occur there due to lack of awareness, poor management of the disease, and limited healthcare access as disclosed by WHO.
Nigeria: Shell must be held accountable for Human Rights harms before being allowed to sell Niger Delta business
Reacting to news that Nigeria’s oil industry regulator is prepared to offer a fast-track sales approvals process for oil companies wanting to sell their businesses in the country, Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria Director, said: “With Shell currently seeking regulatory approval for the sale of its business in the Niger Delta, it is essential that it is held fully to account for decades of grievous human rights abuses related to oil spills which have polluted the environment, contaminated drinking water and poisoned agricultural land, fisheries and people. “An offer made by Nigeria’s industry regulator to fast-track approvals of sales by oil companies which accept responsibility for pollution must not be an easy option that allows Shell to cut and run from the suffering related to its operations in the Niger Delta, or which exposes local communities to more human rights harms…“Amnesty International continues to recommend that any sales approval process related to Shell’s business in Nigeria must be full and thorough and involve safeguards to protect human rights, including an environmental study to assess clean-up requirements, an inventory of the physical assets being sold, and an evaluation to ensure sufficient funds are set aside for potential decommissioning of oil infrastructure.
Nigeria’s fashion and dancing styles are in the spotlight as Harry and Meghan visit Lagos
Fashion and traditional dances were at full display as Prince Harry and Meghan visited Lagos, as part of their three-day visit to the country to promote mental health for soldiers and empower young people. The couple, invited to the West African nation by its military, were treated to different bouts of dancing, starting from the Lagos airport where a troupe’s acrobatic moves left both applauding and grinning. One of the dancers, who looked younger than 5 years old, exchanged salutes with Harry from high up in the air, standing on firm shoulders. Going with Meghan’s white top was the traditional Nigerian aso oke, a patterned handwoven fabric wrapped around the waist and often reserved for special occasions. It was a gift from a group of women a day earlier. The couple visited a local charity – Giants of Africa — which uses basketball to empower young people. There, they were treated to another round of dancing before unveiling a partnership between the organization and their Archewell Foundation. “What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing,” Harry said of the group. “The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates community and there are no barriers, which is the most important thing.”
SENEGAL
Senegal buys back library of poet president Senghor from France
More than 300 books collected by the first president of independent Senegal, Léopold Sédar Senghor, will be transferred to Dakar after the Senegalese government stepped in to stop them being auctioned off in France. In total, 344 volumes will leave the house in Normandy where Senghor spent the final 20 years of his life, several of them personally inscribed by authors including Martinican poet Aimé Césaire. Along with Césaire and other African and Caribbean intellectuals, Senghor was one of the founders of the Négritude black consciousness movement born in 1930s Paris. On the instructions of Senghor’s heirs, his library was to go under the hammer at an auction house in the city of Caen in mid-April, divided into nearly 200 separate lots. But the newly elected president of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, asked for the sale to be suspended while his government negotiated to buy the complete collection. That deal was finalised earlier this month.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
LESOTHO
Lesotho makes another step at fixing its constitution, but civil society not impressed.
Last week, [Lesotho’s] Law and Justice Minister Richard Ramoeletsi introduced the long-awaited Tenth Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution Bill that the government of then Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro failed to pass ahead of 2022 elections. But while the government wants to amend the existing constitution, some civil society organisations want to write a new one…Lesotho became a crisis spot in the SADC region in 2014 when, under Prime Minister Tom Thabane, there were two coup attempts. On the last attempt, he fled to South Africa, leaving the country under the care of his deputy, Mothetjoa Metsing. Hard-pressed to maintain peace in the region, SADC pushed for early elections in Lesotho, slated for February 2015. Under the guidance of South Africa, Lesotho was to come up with a roadmap known as “The Lesotho We Want”. This project, spearheaded by the National Reforms Authority (NRA), provided a table for Basotho to participate in the kingdom’s change through persistent public discussions about reforms, national healing, reconciliation, and hope restorations.
MALAWI
Ex-president Peter Mutharika to contest in 2025 elections
Malawi’s former president Peter Mutharika has publicly announced his candidacy in the country’s 2025 presidential elections. Mutharika ruled Malawi, the Sub-Saharan least developed country, from 2014 to 2020. Mutharika, who turns 84 in July, disclosed his ambition for the top seat at his first political rally held in the commercial city of Blantyre on Sunday, since he was ousted by Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) Lazarus Chakwera in August 2020. Mutharika said his decision followed “Malawians’ outcry” for his comeback to “rescue the country from the mess it is in”, adding that when he bounces back, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government will recover the country’s economy in two years’ time. Local analysts have expressed mixed views, with some applauding Mutharika’s comeback and others saying he poses no threat to the ruling MCP. Mutharika’s second-term win in 2019 was successfully challenged in court by the opposition, and the country went to the polls again in 2020 to usher in an alliance government led by MCP’s Lazarus Chakwera.
MOZAMBIQUE
Depleted SANDF troops in northern Mozambique battle Islamic State insurgents
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF), in the process of withdrawing from northern Mozambique, had to fight a hard battle with insurgents in the town of Macomia in the province of Cabo Delgado on Friday, 10 May. A large insurgent group attacked the inland town where the SANDF has a base. Most of the SANDF soldiers had already withdrawn to the coastal provincial capital of Pemba – about 130km to the southeast – in preparation for leaving the country by July. They had left a small contingent at the base in Macomia…The SANDF forces form part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM). The sharp clash in Macomia has raised further doubts about the wisdom of SADC’s decision to withdraw SAMIM from Mozambique by July. Much of the force, including most of the SANDF troops, have already left Mozambique. It is understood that about 300 SANDF infantry remain.
Mozambique: Big Rise in Insurgent Activity in Past Month
A major insurgent attack on Macomia town at 05.00 Friday morning (10 May) underlined the increase in insurgent activity since the end of Ramadan a month ago. An estimated 100 insurgents entered the town on the road from Mucojo to the east. There was heavy firing, which caused local residents to flee into the bush and stay there over night. Insurgents occupied the town until about 14.00 on Saturday There had been some warning as the security services detailed three suspects in the town the week before. And the army and local militia did respond and the Defence Ministry says an insurgent leader called Issa was killed. But Lusa reports that the insurgents held the town until Saturday afternoon, and the population only began to return after the insurgents had left. (Macomia town had been occupied and largely destroyed two years ago.)
Mozambique investigates death of Russian ambassador
A major insurgent attack on Macomia town at 05.00 Friday morning (10 May) underlined the increase in insurgent activity since the end of Ramadan a month ago. An estimated 100 insurgents entered the town on the road from Mucojo to the east. There was heavy firing, which caused local residents to flee into the bush and stay there over night. Insurgents occupied the town until about 14.00 on Saturday There had been some warning as the security services detailed three suspects in the town the week before. And the army and local militia did respond and the Defence Ministry says an insurgent leader called Issa was killed. But Lusa reports that the insurgents held the town until Saturday afternoon, and the population only began to return after the insurgents had left. (Macomia town had been occupied and largely destroyed two years ago.)
SOUTH AFRICA
Death toll from building collapse rises to 23
Search and rescue crews were still working at the site of the disaster, a week after the accident in the city of George in the Western Cape province. On Monday, municipal authorities said the fatalities had topped 23. An investigation to establish the cause of the collapse is ongoing. The country’s public works minister was due to visit the accident scene on Monday, local media reported. On Saturday, a man was pulled from underneath the rubble, 116 hours after the accident. The building whose construction was approved last July was meant to be a 42-unit apartment block. It came down shortly after 2:00pm local time on Monday. Around 75 construction workers are believed to have been on site at the time of the accident. 15 people remain hospitalized and many are still missing. There have been allegations that most of the crew were foreign nationals. The government said it would contact the diplomatic missions of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique without confirming the claims.
Ramaphosa to sign ‘universal’ health insurance bill
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday sign into law a national health bill that aims to provide universal coverage to South Africans, the country’s presidency said in a statement. The signing of the National Health Insurance bill – popular among voters – will come just before the May 29 national election that could test the African National Congress‘ 30-year rule. The bill, which will be implemented in stages at a cost of billions of dollars, received Ramaphosa’s approval after it was passed by lawmakers last year. The law aims to provide healthcare to millions of poor citizens in a major overhaul of a two-tier system, which still reflects deep racial and social inequalities three decades after the end of white minority rule. The legislation has been strongly opposed by business groups which say it will lead to disinvestment in the healthcare sector and damage South Africa’s already fragile economy.
Political commentators say that concrete changes are unlikely to come soon even once the bill is signed.
News Coverage of SAfrica’s 2024 Elections:
Key issues for voters in 2024 election
South Africans will vote in a national election on May 29 with an unprecedented sense of uncertainty about the outcome, as polls suggest the African National Congress (ANC) will lose its majority after 30 years in power. With coalition government looking like a possibility for the first time since the end of apartheid, a dizzying array of 70 parties from Marxists to social democrats to free marketeers are vying for voters’ attention in the last weeks of campaigning. The key issues that matter to voters who will elect a new National Assembly, that will then choose the next president, include: jobs; economy; corruption; crime; and immigration.
Why Zuma could be ‘kingmaker’ in general election
Former South African President Jacob Zuma is unlikely to become the country’s next president after the May 29 election — but he may decide who will. The African National Congress, which has held power in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, has slipped in the polls, plagued by scandals and a suffering economy. Last year Zuma split with the ANC and created the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), which analysts say could hold the balance of power if the election results deliver a coalition government.
Will Israel’s war on Gaza sway South Africa’s election?
Governing ANC is vocally pro-Palestine while main opposition DA remains neutral on the Gaza war, which may affect voters on May 29. The South African government’s support for Palestine has become a common theme in debates leading up to the May 29 general elections and expressions of solidarity with the people of Gaza have featured during the campaigns of various political parties. The governing centre-left African National Congress (ANC), which has historical links with Palestine, has publicly condemned human rights violations under Israeli occupation and has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing it of genocide in its war on Gaza. The official opposition DA, however, did not support the government’s decision to haul Israel to the ICJ and has been criticised by some for its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict since the war began in October. Although the DA has historically shown support for Israel, it says its position is one of neutrality. In the Western Cape, where the DA has governed for the last 15 years, the party has enjoyed support from working-class majority Muslim areas like Surrey Estate. But in this instance, the disdain from the community was palatable as angry residents insisted that the DA was complicit in condoning genocide in Gaza…at another working-class majority Muslim suburb in Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosa was addressing residents at a public meeting. There, the president arrived wearing a keffiyeh and maintained an unapologetic position for the ANC’s support for the people of Palestine.
Nobel laureate’s death to be re-examined in SAfrica
A new inquest will be held into the mysterious death in 1967 of South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader and first Nobel Peace Prize winner Chief Albert Luthuli, justice minister Ronald Lamola has said. Chief Luthuli’s family and activists have long cast doubts on the white-minority government’s version of his death. Its inquest found that the Nobel laureate had died in an accident after being hit by a train as he was walking by a railway line near his home in KwaZulu-Natal province. But campaigners suspected the regime killed him and covered it up by claiming he had died of a fractured skull after being struck by a train. At the time of his death, Chief Luthuli was not allowed to leave his residential area in Groutville or take part in politics. He was the leader of the banned African National Congress (ANC) – the liberation movement that came to power in 1994 when the racist system of apartheid ended. Chief Luthuli won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 for spearheading the campaign against apartheid – an award that was later given to three other South Africans: Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1984 and Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk in 1993.
NORTH AFRICA
LIBYA
Libyan officials arrested in $1.9bn gold trafficking
Libyan authorities have detained multiple customs officials on suspicion of orchestrating a brazen attempt to traffic an astounding 26 tonnes of gold, with an estimated value of nearly $1.9bn, abroad. Prosecutors announced the apprehensions, shedding light on a sophisticated operation that challenges the nation’s already fragile stability. The Libyan prosecutor’s office refrained from disclosing the precise origins of the colossal amount of precious metal, which surpasses the national gold reserves of numerous countries. This revelation has triggered widespread concern and scrutiny over the intricate networks facilitating such illicit activities within Libya’s borders. The arrests were made by authorities in Misrata, a pivotal city in western Libya, directly linked to the trafficking at the international airport. Offering insights into the operation, the prosecutor’s office, in a statement released on social media, declared, ‘The investigating authorities ordered the arrest of the director-general of customs and customs officials at the international airport of Misrata.’
MOROCCO
Morocco to become military drone manufacturer, thanks to Israel
Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems has announced the imminent start-up of a production facility in Rabat. Morocco joins South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria, soon to become a member of the group of African countries that build military drones. The announcement was made by Ronen Nadir, founder and president of the Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems, which belongs in part to the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries corporation. In a statement published on April 13 by the Spanish magazine Zona Militar, the former Israeli air force commander said that a production plant for unmanned aircraft (ASPs) had been created in Morocco and would start operating in the near future. No details have been released on the location of this installation, nor on its start-up date. Which drones will be manufactured in Morocco? WanderB and ThunderB models. These devices are primarily intended for reconnaissance, intelligence and target acquisition missions. By 2022, Rabat had ordered 150 of them, some of which will be produced on Moroccan soil. The Israeli company’s SpyX drone, a ‘kamikaze’ version recently acquired by Morocco, could also be manufactured locally. These loitering munitions, which have proved their worth in Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, “are increasingly decisive on the battlefield…”
EGYPT
Egypt to intervene in ICJ case as Israel tensions rise
On Sunday, Egypt said it would intervene in support of South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, citing the growing scale of Israel’s operations in Gaza and their impact on civilians. The move highlights growing tensions between the two neighbours as the Israeli operation in border town Rafah tests long-term agreements and security cooperation. “The announcement of the intervention in this case comes in light of the expansion in scope and scale of Israeli violations against civilians in Gaza,” the Egyptian foreign ministry said, without specifying what the intervention would entail. Egypt has in the past presented arguments in the case. South Africa asked the court on Friday to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah as part of additional emergency measures in an ongoing case that accuses Israel of acts of genocide. Egyptian security sources said that Egyptian officials had relayed to Israel that they blamed its actions for the strained bilateral relations and the breakdown of ceasefire talks delegations from Hamas, Israel, the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have held in Cairo.
TUNISIA
Hundreds protest to demand a date for fair presidential elections
Hundreds of protesters gathered in the Tunisian capital on Sunday to demand the release of imprisoned journalists, activists and opposition figures, and the setting of a date for fair presidential elections. The protest comes amid an economic and political crisis and a wave of arrests targeting journalists, lawyers, activists and opponents. Tunisian police stormed the building of the Deanship of Lawyers on Saturday and arrested Sonia Dahmani, a lawyer known for her fierce criticism of President Kais Saied. Two journalists were also arrested on the same day. The Election Commission said earlier that the elections would be held on time, but with the president’s first term, which lasts for five years, drawing to a close, it has not so far announced a date. Saied took office following free elections in 2019, but two years later seized additional powers when he shut down the elected parliament and moved to rule by decree. He also assumed authority over the judiciary, a step that the opposition called a coup.
CENTRAL AFRICA
CENTRAL AFRICAN REP. (CAR)
Rebels kill at least 4 people during an attack on a mining town
Armed rebels on Sunday attacked a Chinese-run gold mining town and killed at least four people in Central African Republic, authorities said. Maxime Balalu, a local government spokesperson, told The Associated Press that the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an alliance of rebel groups aligned with former President Francois Bozize, had carried out the attack in Gaga, a village roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) from the capital, Bangui. He said the death toll might rise and included several individuals who worked at the nearby mine. Several others were injured in the attack, Balalu said. Central African Republic has been in conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim rebels seized power and forced the President Francois Bozize from office. Mostly Christian militias fought back.
CHAD
Opposition leader files challenge against presidential election result
Succes Masra, the opposition leader, has lodged a legal appeal with the country’s constitutional council to challenge the preliminary result of the Central African nation’s May 6 presidential election. The state-run national election management body on Thursday declared interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby winner of the election with 61.3% of the vote, according to provisional results, while Masra was placed a distant second with 18.53%. However, prior to the official announcement, Masra, who serves as the prime minister of a transitional government, had claimed victory, alleging that an electoral fraud was being planned. Another opposition candidate, Pahimini Padacke Albert, also challenged the results. He had previously congratulated Deby on his victory. Political tensions are running high in Chad, the first of a string of coup-hit countries in West and Central Africa to attempt a return to constitutional rule. At least 10 people, including children, were killed and dozens were injured by celebratory gunfire on Friday following the announcement of the results, according to Amnesty International and Chadian media.
Chad deploys combat-ready troops to quell post election violence
Chad says it has deployed combat-ready troops to stop armed attacks and maintain peace as the death toll increased to 12 people in post-election violence on Saturday. At least 90 people have sustained severe injuries in the capital, N’djamena…Opposition and civil society say several hundred civilians who protested the May 6 presidential election results have been arrested and detained, especially in the capital city and in Moundou, Chad’s second-largest city.
AFRICA – GENERAL NEWS
Africa’s internet vulnerability and how to fix it
A severe internet outage that has hit several African countries – the third disruption in four months – is a stark reminder of how vulnerable the service is on the continent. Questions are being asked about how the reliability of what has become an essential tool in nearly every aspect of life can be improved. A cut to two of the undersea cables, which carry the data around the continent, early on Sunday morning, led to the recent disruption. In March, damage to four cables off the West African coast caused similar problems. And in February, the vital links were damaged in the Red Sea after the anchor of a stricken ship dragged through three cables. Investigations are under way into this weekend’s case. But it was also likely to have been caused by “an anchor drag” from a ship, Prenesh Padayachee, chief digital and operations officer at Seacom, which owns one of the two cables affected, told media. The second cable, known as Eassy, was affected at the same time and at the same place…Some people have proposed alternatives such as satellite internet links to bolster digital resilience. Elon Musk’s Starlink project, for example, aims to provide high-speed internet but is very expensive and currently not available everywhere. The answer really lies in greater investment on the ground to support the vital communications infrastructure.
End the Negative Narrative, Africa is Thriving – AfDB Chief
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), delivered a keynote address, at the AllAfrica Media Leaders’ Summit (AMLS), stressing the need for a new narrative about Africa. He acknowledged the importance of a free and independent media for democracy and development in Africa. He highlighted the challenges that the media industry has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of social media. Dr. Adesina emphasized the need for critical thinking and discernment in the face of a constantly changing information landscape. Dr. Adesina underscored the critical role of information in Africa’s development, emphasizing how it’s produced, used, interpreted, and its ultimate impact. He expressed his pride in the African Development Bank’s achievement of maintaining the continent’s only AAA credit rating. Dr. Adesina criticizes the lack of reporting on these positive developments. “The question is, how many news organizations know of or reported this?”. He argues that positive news from Africa is often overshadowed by negativity. “The news of Africa, either from within or shared from outside, is often full of stereotypes, negativity, and old and tired jokes, misconceptions, or greatly entrenched biases”…”Despite the negative media narrative, Africa’s economy is showing resilience. Africa’s growth rate in 2022 was 3.2%, exceeding the global average. Eleven of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies are in Africa,” he added.
In Red Sea, US Navy paying the price of shipbuilding failures
The Navy is struggling to meet some of its operational requirements in part because it simply doesn’t have all the ships it expected. The current threat to navigation in the Red Sea is precisely the scenario for which the Navy invested so much time and resources building the Littoral Combat Ships. The LCS program was sold to the American people as a “networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals.” The Houthi rebels launching missiles and drones from shore and hijacking commercial shipping in the confined waters of the Red Sea meets the textbook definition of an asymmetric threat in a littoral region. Yet the “little crappy ships,” as they have come to be known, are nowhere to be seen inside the Red Sea. Rather, the Navy has to keep a carrier strike group composed of Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers on station longer than anticipated in an attempt to keep an important maritime choke point open. The Littoral Combat Ship is one of two major shipbuilding failures from the past 20 years. The other is the Zumwalt-class destroyer. Both programs began in earnest in the years after 9/11 and almost immediately ran into trouble. The Zumwalt program saw massive cost growth which forced Navy leaders to slash the planned fleet size from the originally planned 32 to 7 and finally to the three which were actually built. These three ships cost nearly $8 billion each while failing to deliver promised combat capabilities. The Littoral Combat Ship program cost $28 billion to build a fleet of 35 ships. According to the Government Accountability Office, the Navy expects to pay more than $60 billion to operate the fleet for its expected 25-year lifespan. Like the Zumwalt, the LCS program’s combat functionality is far less than expected. The ships were designed to be modular with crews swapping out mission systems in port for different missions. Engineers could never get the mission modules to work properly, so the scheme was abandoned.
White House quietly appoints new Africa director
US President Joe Biden appointed Frances Z. Brown as his new special assistant and senior director for African affairs. She takes over from Judd Devermont who stepped down in January to take up a role with an Africa-focused investor firm. Brown joined the White House team two weeks ago without much fanfare, even as the administration winds down what it hopes is a first term and readies for the November presidential election. Brown is expected to continue in the National Security Council role if Biden is re-elected. A longtime democracy, development, and defense specialist, Brown had spent just under seven years at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank. She previously worked for President Barack Obama at the tail end of his second term, and into the first year of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Africa Edition ©️ 
Leave a comment