News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
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HIGHLIGHTS
EA Court of Justice suspends sessions
EU to end military mission to Niger
South Africa Elections2024
2nd Egyptian soldier dies after Rafah border shootout with Israel
China is back in Africa and doubling down on minerals.
TOP NEWS
Eastern Africa
Ethiopia grants free visa renewals to over 15,000 Sudanese refugees
US flexes soft power as it advances rights issues in Africa
Why Haitians do not want a UN mission in their country
Kenya, US sign huge highway construction deal
Ruto says private jet to US cheaper than ‘Commercial’
Somalia: Thousands of students displaced as floods submerge schools
Sudan: Mass exodus from Abu Shouk camp as violence escalates in El-Fasher
EA Court of Justice suspends sessions as severe funding crisis hits
West Africa
EU to end military mission to Niger by June 30
Nigeria cracks down on illegal lithium mining
Nigeria: Who’s behind the kidnappings and what do they want?
A synthetic drug ravages youth in Sierra Leone
Southern Africa
>Political killings rock South Africa as it heads into elections
>ANC is weaker, opposition fragmented
>Julius Malema could be kingmaker in South Africa election
>South African opposition leader warns of ‘doomsday’ ANC coalition with radicals
>Kenyatta leads AU election observation mission
>South Africa elections 2024 explained in maps and charts
-‘Crippling’ drought in Zambia threatens hunger for millions, says minister
North Africa
Aid Deliveries From Egypt Resume Going Into Gaza
2nd Egyptian soldier dies after Rafah border shootout with Israeli forces
Egypt jails former presidential hopeful for one year with labour
Luxury perfumes linked to child labour in Egypt
Morocco accused of using Israeli weapons to kill civilians in Western Sahara
30 UK parliamentarians urge support of Morocco’s control over Western Sahara
Tunisia: Kais Saied dismisses two of his ministers amid factional struggles
AFRICA GENERAL
UN RELATED NEWS
AFRICA CALENDAR
ARTICLES ON ANALYSIS, EDITORIAL & OPINION
EASTERN AFRICA
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia grants free visa renewals to over 15,000 Sudanese refugees
More than 15,000 Sudanese refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war are residing in urban centers like Addis Abaeba, with their visas renewed for free. This was revealed by the National Task Force, which was established to oversee the treatment of Sudanese and other foreign national refugees. In addition to urban centers, more than 50,000 Sudanese reside in camps across Ethiopia, primarily in the Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. Furthermore, it was revealed that over 128,000 refugees from more than 17 countries have entered Ethiopia since the Sudanese conflict began in April 2023, with border checkpoints like Metema and Kurmuk seeing a significant influx. Among these refugees, over 47,000 are Ethiopian returnees. According to UNHCR, Sudanese refugees housed in camps in the Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regions near the Sudanese border face significant challenges, including a lack of security, severe food shortages, and inadequate medical care. Furthermore, the UN agency reports incidents of violence, including sexual assaults, armed robberies, and kidnappings, with minimal protection provided.
KENYA
US flexes soft power as it advances rights issues in Africa
The basketful of goodies earned from Kenyan President William Ruto’s State Visit to the United States no doubt serves as a valid indicator of mission success. President Ruto came back with a loaded plate which showed that the US is not only focused on advancing her commercial interests in Kenya, strengthening military and security cooperation and recruiting a key ally against Chinese and Russian encroachment in the region. It’s also leveraging its influence to employ a soft-power approach in nudging the Ruto government towards important people-centred reforms in areas of governance, democracy, human rights, media freedom, civil society activity, and reform of the justice, law and order sector. The visit is also interpreted by many analysts as part of efforts by the US to claw back ground lost in Africa to China on commercial links and to Russia in security relationships, particularly following a string of military coups in West Africa where new juntas have gravitated towards Moscow. President Ruto cementing his role as a key Washington ally in global geopolitics invariably raises questions as to whether he is becoming a western lackey. It also remains to be seen how China, Kenya’s biggest bilateral lender and contractor on major infrastructure projects, will respond to the seemingly tilting back towards Washington since the shift to Beijing financiers started when President Mwai Kibaki came to power in 2002.
Why Haitians do not want a UN mission in their country
Haitians are very vocal about their objection to the peace-keeping mission authorised by the United Nations Security Council that is set to begin later this month. Hounded by political turmoil, instability, wars and gang infestations, the UN has often sent in troops to calm the restive nation. But diseases brought in by the visiting troops, cases of human rights violations and feelings that their sovereignty is being trampled on have made Haitians wary of such missions. With the latest planned UN mission, civil rights groups in Haiti have accused the US of using Kenya to meddle in the Caribbean country’s internal affairs. It is also emerging that Haitians see the gangs that are operating in their country as heroes… “Most people in Haiti tend to see that the gangs are fighting for their freedom and now that they have joined hands then the situation is complicated”. Haitians do not want any sort of assistance from the US because most of the firearms being used by gang members originate from there. Recent seizures of illegal weapons exposed how easy it is for gun-runners to operate. For the Haitians, efforts by the US to bring peace to their country have only resulted in them losing their autonomy.
Kenya, US sign huge highway construction deal
Kenya’s Nairobi-Mombasa expressway also known as Usahihi Expressway has received financial impetus with the signing of a major deal to allow construction work to start. Kenya’s highways Authority(KenHA) and U.S. infrastructure investment manager Everstrong Capital have signed a $3.6 billion (about Sh471 billion) agreement to build the 440 km (273 miles) highway between the capital Nairobi and the port city Mombasa. Under a 30-year concession, Everstrong Capital LLC will manage the entire lifecycle of the Mombasa Expressway, from construction to tolling and maintenance. Construction is supposed to last 3-4 years. A game-changer for Kenyan transportation. The USAHIHI Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway is poised to deliver significant time and cost savings to its users, but more notably, it will facilitate the secure, efficient, and comfortable movement of people and goods within East Africa. Upon completion, the project will be largest toll road project in Africa and envisions a transformative symbol of Kenya’s dedication to transparent and innovative infrastructure development, serving as a testament to the strengthened partnership between the United States and Kenya.
Ruto says private jet to US cheaper than ‘Commercial’
Kenya’s President William Ruto has come in for widespread criticism after saying the private jet he used to fly to the US last week was cheaper than using the national airline. He did not, however, say how much the jet had cost, or how much it would have cost on Kenya Airways.
“The facts that are out in the public do not seem to bear him out,” said political analyst Prof Herman Manyora. The president used a Dubai-owned RoyalJet company to travel to the US, along with an entourage of about 30 people. Hiring such a jet is reported to cost $1.5m (£1.2m) versus the $300,000 estimated cost for business-class tickets on Kenya Airways for the entire delegation. Mr Ruto went to the US on a three-day official state visit – the first such trip by an African leader in more than 15 years. On Sunday, a day after returning to the country, Mr Ruto defended himself as a “steward of public resources”. “In keeping with my determination for us to live within our means and that I should lead from the front in so doing, the cost was less than travelling on [Kenya Airways],” he said on X (formerly Twitter). Kenya Airways has not commented regarding the cost.
SOMALIA
Thousands of students displaced as floods submerge schools
Tens of thousands of students in Somalia’s central Hiran region have been forced to stay out of schools after heavy rains flooded the institutions. According to Somali education officials, more than 37,000 students in this region in central Somalia are no longer in school due to the impact of recent flooding. The area has been battered by heavy rains resulting in severe flooding in schools. Parents are worried about how the disruption of education will affect their children’s performance in the upcoming national examinations, and the floods also raised concerns of local teachers about the long-term impact on the education. “The learning materials have been destroyed and the classrooms have been damaged. It will be very difficult to recover, because most of the students have been displaced to far away locations, and it will be hard to bring them back and resume lessons,” said Elmi Hashi Dhalin, a teacher in Somalia. Parents of the affected students have been appealing to the government to intervene.
SUDAN
Mass exodus from Abu Shouk camp as violence escalates in El-Fasher
Amidst escalating violence and widespread abuses by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an estimated 60% of residents have fled the Abu Shouk camp in El-Fasher, North Darfur. The camp, home to approximately 400,000 displaced persons, was overrun by the RSF on Wednesday, triggering a wave of killings, lootings, arrests, and arson…Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur, told Sudan Tribune that the exodus began early Thursday morning, with thousands fleeing the northern sections of the camp “to unknown areas”…El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been engulfed in bloody conflict for two weeks between the army, allied armed movements, and the RSF, resulting in a significant civilian death toll. In a surprising development, an army position in northern El-Fasher abruptly withdrew, citing ammunition shortages, inadvertently allowing the RSF to infiltrate the Abu Shouk camp.
EA Court suspends sessions as severe funding crisis hits
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has cancelled its court sessions for June, which were to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, citing a lack of funds. In a statement Monday, the court said that cases before the Appellate Division that were to be conducted in May did not take place as well. “The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) deeply regrets to inform its esteemed stakeholders, particularly litigants and the general public, that there will be no scheduled session of the First Instance Division in June 2024,” it said, attributing it to “delayed remittances from the partner states”. The EACJ hears cases on violations of the rule of law, one of the fundamental and operational principles set out in the East African Community Treaty. Established in 1999 and headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, the court hears cases from all member states — the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Somalia. The EACJ does not have a budget of its own and lacks the autonomy to run and manage its own affairs. Delayed remittance of the annual contributions has left the EAC struggling to run its operations, forcing overreliance on donor funding.
WEST AFRICA
NIGER
EU to end military mission to Niger by June 30
The European Union will end a military mission comprising dozens of soldiers in Niger at the end of June, it said on Monday, citing the junta-run nation’s political situation. Until a coup in 2023, Niger had been a partner of the West in Africa’s Sahel region against militants who have killed thousands and displaced millions more. However, the military rulers have pushed former colonial power France to remove its forces and agreed on the withdrawal of American troops, while deepening ties with Russia. “The Council today decided to not extend the European Union military partnership mission in Niger (EUMPM) beyond 30 June 2024, in view of the grave current political situation in the country,” it said.Established in 2022, the mission in one of the world’s poorest countries has some 50-100 European troops there to help with logistics and infrastructure.
NIGERIA
Who’s behind the kidnappings and what do they want?
Kidnapping in Nigeria has evolved into a security threat that feeds a vast network of criminal and Islamist groups. In the latest incident on Friday night, 10 people were reportedly killed, while more than 160 villagers were kidnapped in Kuchi village, located in Nigeria’s central Niger state. From July 2022 to July 2023, at least 3,620 people were abducted in Nigeria. Mass abductions are also common, with an average of six people taken for every kidnapping incident. Various groups are involved in the kidnapping business in Nigeria. Firstly, there are the violent criminals and armed gangs, known as bandits, who have emerged across northern Nigeria. The northern region, and in particular the northeast, is also plagued by Islamic militants, such as the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram. Several armed groups are also active in the oil-rich Niger Delta. These often have their roots in the militant groups that formed in the 1990s to pressure the government to address oil pollution and endemic poverty as a result of ruined farmlands. Many of the abductions are driven by economic desperation and used as a way of raising funds. Kidnappers mostly ask for money as ransom, although at times, they have demanded foodstuffs, motorcycles and even petrol in exchange for the release of those abducted. Sometimes, however, the kidnappings have a political motivation. Many see the abductions carried out by Boko Haram as a way of signaling its strength to both the government and the Nigerian population.
A crack-down on illegal lithium mining
Nigeria’s government is cracking down on illegal mining, making dozens of arrests since April for unlicensed miners allegedly stealing lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and power systems. The crackdown comes as Nigeria seeks to regulate its mining operations, curb illegal activity, and better benefit from its mineral resources. The global demand for lithium has surged due to the clean energy transition. However, corruption and minimal government presence in remote areas have led to rampant illegal mining, which has fueled militia groups in the north. President Bola Tinubu has blamed illegal mining for worsening conflicts in the north and called for international help to stop it. Nigeria is emerging as a significant lithium source in Africa, but illegal mining denies the government substantial revenues. Emeka Okoro from SBM Intelligence highlighted the exploitation of vulnerable workers from conflict-affected regions. The government estimates that resource theft causes annual losses of $9 billion.
SIERRA LEONE
A synthetic drug ravages youth in Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, a cheap, synthetic drug is ravaging youth. Trash-strewn alleys are lined with boys and young men slumped in addiction. Healthcare services are severely limited. One frustrated community has set up what it calls a treatment center, run by volunteers. But harsh measures can be used. The project in the Bombay suburb of the capital, Freetown, started in the past year when a group of people tried to help a colleague’s younger brother off the drug called kush. After persuasion and threats failed, they locked him in his room for two months. It worked. He has returned to university and thanked them for setting him free. “The only time I left the room was when I went to the bathroom,” Christian Johnson, 21, recalled. He said he was motivated to kick the drug by thoughts of his family, the fear of becoming a dropout and the abandonment by many of his friends. The volunteers then expanded the effort and took over an abandoned building. They seize people at families’ request and sometimes chain them to prevent them from escaping — an echo of a practice the West African country’s only psychiatric hospital previously used. Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio this year declared a war on kush, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. He has launched a task force on drug and substance abuse, promising to lead a government approach focused on prevention and treatment involving law enforcement and community engagement.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
Elections 2024:
Political killings rock South Africa as it heads into elections
As South Africans head into national elections Wednesday, the country’s politics have been rocked by an epidemic of assassinations, including 40 recorded since the start of last year. While they have largely targeted local officials, politicians and activists, the killings appear set to impact the outcome of the national vote. The killings have fostered a climate of lawlessness and government paralysis that has fueled voter anger, and the failure of the ruling African National Congress to stem the violence has been eroding the party’s popularity. The ANC has grown so concerned about the hijacking of local administrations by violent criminals that it warned in a document at its last party conference that “entrenched gangs and extortion networks have sought to establish criminalized forms of governance.” Many of the political killings are linked to disputes over corrupt government contracts for basic services such as sewage, security, water, trash collection, electricity and road repairs…166 political killings — which is defined as the murder of individuals holding political or administrative positions, candidates for local municipal positions, activists and whistleblowers — have been recorded since 2019. The killings have reached across the country’s political spectrum. In September, Police Minister Bheki Cele said 348 suspects had been charged in 233 cases of political violence, but it’s unclear how high the arrests reach.
South African polls: ANC is weaker, opposition fragmented
With unemployment, power outages, and crime spiralling out of control, South Africa, one of Africa’s most affluent and influential nations, faces a pivotal election on May 29. An estimated 28 million registered voters in South Africa are set to participate in the country’s seventh democratic general election. The upcoming ballot could mark a new era in the country’s politics. The African National Congress (ANC), led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, has been the dominant political force since overthrowing the apartheid regime. However, its electoral support has declined, with surveys suggesting a potential need for a coalition government as the ANC’s vote share may dip below 50 percent for the first time. Mcebisi Ndletyana, professor of political science at the University of Johannesburg, has identified a potential plateau in the support for the ANC’s primary competitors, namely the Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). “The opposition is fragmented because, despite the ANC losing support, the DA and the EFF are not experiencing significant growth,” explained Ndletyana. This is attributed to a multitude of new political entrants attracting pockets of support within the constituencies of established political parties. “They are supposed to be consolidating, but there is further fragmentation among the opposition,” he said. The DA, the closest rival to the ANC, has been labelled “a white party” after ousting its black leaders in the lead-up to the highly anticipated 2024 elections. A centre-right political movement in South Africa, DA originated from the former apartheid parliament and it has traditionally been seen as representing the interests of white, Asian, and coloured individuals, although it has sought to broaden its appeal. On the other hand, the EFF, which is the third largest party in parliament, has proposed radical economic solutions to tackle unemployment and inequality…advocates for the nationalisation of mines, banks, and other key sectors of the economy, arguing that this would allow the country’s wealth to benefit the majority of the population.
Julius Malema could be kingmaker in South Africa election
Julius Malema, who quit the ruling African National Congress to form a radical leftist party, could potentially become a kingmaker or even deputy president if the ANC loses its majority in Wednesday’s election as polls suggest. The prospect of the ANC co-opting Malema and his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to stay in power strikes fear into investors and the white upper-middle class he rails against. The EFF’s promises to nationalise the country’s gold and platinum mines and seize land from white farmers are among proposals they fear threaten not just their privileges but also Africa’s most industrialised economy. Malema’s pledge to redress persistent racial and economic disparities resonates with his constituents which include tens of thousands of unemployed, disenfranchised urban Black youths and middle class students struggling to afford fees or graduates unable to find decent jobs in a stagnant economy…The EFF, reminiscent of socialist movements of the past with its trademark red shirts and berets, captured more than 10% of the vote in national polls in 2019 and 2021 local ones. However, Malema’s wealth and lifestyle have attracted criticism from political rivals who deride his penchant for flashy cars, gold watches, champagne and luxury mansions in leafy suburbs. He sold one such mansion, complete with a cinema and a cigar lounge to pay off $1 million in tax arrears.
Opposition leader warns of ‘doomsday’ ANC coalition with radicals
he leader of South Africa’s biggest opposition party urged voters to back his party in Wednesday’s election to avoid a “doomsday” scenario of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) forming a coalition with radical parties. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen, said the election would go down in history as the most consequential day for South Africa since the dawn of democracy in 1994. Steenhuisen said there would be a dire outcome if the election resulted in a coalition between the ANC, the ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters and the new uMkhonto WeSizwe, aligned with former president Jacob Zuma. “The NHI (National Health Insurance Bill) will be implemented, property will be expropriated without compensation, corruption will engulf us, and the economy will collapse,” he said. “It will be Doomsday for South Africa.” Meanwhile the DA has formed a pact with some smaller parties to try to capture the more than 50% of the vote needed to form a government, including the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party and ActionSA, a party led by a former mayor of Johannesburg, the country’s economic hub.
Kenyatta leads AU election observation mission
The head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), former President Uhuru Kenyatta, has kicked off a series of high-level meetings in Johannesburg, South Africa, to assess the country’s preparedness for the upcoming General Elections scheduled for this Wednesday. On Monday, Kenyatta met with the Commissioners of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, led by Chairman Mosotho Moepya, at the Gallagher Convention Centre. During the meeting, the commissioners provided a comprehensive briefing on the commission’s readiness. The discussions focused on measures implemented to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible election process. He also met with Nelson Muffuh, the resident coordinator of the United Nations in South Africa, as well as representatives from the National Observer Group. “Through these engagements, the AUEOM aims to support and enhance the credibility of the electoral process, reinforcing democratic principles and fostering a peaceful and fair election environment,” Kenyatta stated.
South Africa elections 2024 explained in maps and charts
ZAMBIA
‘Crippling’ drought in Zambia threatens hunger for millions, says minister
Severe drought in Zambia is threatening hunger for millions of people, cutting off electricity for long periods and destroying the country’s social fabric and economy, the environment minister has warned, in a harbinger of what is in store for the region as the climate crisis worsens. Collins Nzovu said the “crippling drought” his country was experiencing hammered home the message that developing countries were facing catastrophe from the climate crisis, even as richer countries failed to muster financial help for the most afflicted. “What has happened this year is that we received well below the normal rainfall. This has been a crippling drought,” he said. “We’ve had a huge crop failure. A lot of people who depend on maize, who depend on agriculture for their very survival, face starvation and hunger.” The rains failed in February, when maize, the country’s staple crop, reaches the “tasselling” stage, when the grains start to fill. A lack of rainfall at that time means there is little prospect of saving most of the crop. “That period we had basically almost no rainfall at all, so that made things very, very bad,” Nzovu said.
NORTH AFRICA
MOROCCO
Morocco accused of using Israeli weapons to kill civilians in Western Sahara
The French daily L’Humanité published an investigation revealing that Morocco killed dozens of civilians, including children, in Western Sahara using Israeli weapons. Morocco controls 80 percent of the disputed territory of Western Sahara, and proposes an autonomy plan under its sovereignty. The Sahrawi independence movement of the Polisario Front, supported by Algiers, demands a self-determination referendum as recommended by the UN. The UN considers Western Sahara a “non-self-governing territory”. The US recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the territory in 2020 in exchange for Rabat’s normalisation of ties with Israel. Israel recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara last year. In 2020, Rabat launched a military operation against the territory to “put an end to the serious provocations” of the Polisario Front. According to L’Humanité, Morocco in October used Israeli-made drones from the military base at Smara airport, a city of over 66,000 inhabitants under Moroccan control. The drones, the newspaper said, are Hermes 900 strategic reconnaissance drones and Hermes 450 tactical drones, capable of being equipped with air-to-ground missiles. The two models are developed by the Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems…”The gridlock of the areas under the control of the Polisario Front by these killer aircraft has resulted in emptying the liberated territories of the nomads who lived there,” L’Humanité reported. It added that drones target both humans and animals, and since 2021, 170 civilians have been hit, including 86 killed, among them two children. Since the normalisation of relations between Israel and Morocco in 2020, the two countries have concluded cooperation agreements, particularly in defence. In 2023, Shai Cohen, head of the Israeli liaison office in Rabat, announced the opening of two drone factories in Morocco by Elbit Systems.
30 UK parliamentarians urge support of Morocco’s control over Western Sahara
Dozens of British parliamentarians, predominantly from the ruling Conservative Party, have called on the government to recognise Morocco’s proposal to govern the disputed Western Sahara region. The so-called Moroccan Autonomy plan for Western Sahara gives Rabat control over the area’s national security and foreign relations while allowing the Sahrawi people limited autonomy. “The autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco for Western Sahara, balanced with respect for local traditions and democratic aspirations, offers a viable path toward lasting peace and stability,” said the letter. Written less than six weeks before a UK general election that is widely forecast to see the governing Conservatives lose power, it was addressed to the UK’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, and signed by 30 people, including former defence secretary Liam Fox and Rehman Chishti, both Conservative MPs, and House of Lords member Stuart Polak. Initially proposed in 2006, Rabat created Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara to provide the region with self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty. The United States and France are amongst the countries that have supported the Moroccan plan, viewing it as a potential basis for negotiations. But the Polisario Front, which fought a war of independence with Morocco from 1975 to 1991, and many Sahrawis have criticised the plan, arguing that it undermines their right to self-determination.
EGYPT
Aid Deliveries From Egypt Resume Going Into Gaza
Aid trucks from Egypt entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday under a new U.S.-brokered agreement to reopen a vital conduit for humanitarian relief, the Israeli military and the Egyptian Red Crescent said. Egypt had blocked aid from entering the enclave via its territory since Israel’s seizure of the Rafah crossing — which provides access to southern Gaza — in early May. The two sides have traded blame over that crossing’s closure, even as aid has piled up on the Egyptian side. After U.S. pressure, Egypt announced on Friday that it had agreed to divert trucks through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, which is roughly two miles from the Rafah crossing, as a temporary measure. Some 126 trucks from Egypt containing food, fuel and other necessities entered the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom on Sunday, the Israeli military said in a statement. The trucks were inspected by Israeli officials, said Ahmad Ezzat, an Egyptian Red Crescent official…It remains unclear when the Rafah crossing will reopen for aid. U.S. officials are expected to head to Cairo this week to “support efforts to reopen the Rafah crossing,” according to the White House.
Second Egyptian soldier dies after Rafah border shootout with Israeli forces
A second Egyptian soldier has died after being wounded in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops near the Rafah crossing with Egypt’s Sinai on Monday. Ibrahim Islam Abdelrazzaq, a 21-year-old infantry soldier deployed in Rafah after 7 October, was critically wounded and taken to hospital on Monday. His family is now due to hold his funeral on Tuesday. The first Egyptian soldier has been identified online and verified as 22-year-old Abdallah Ramadan, though the military has yet to confirm his identity. Ramadan’s funeral was held on Monday in his home village of al-Ajamiyyin, near Faiyum, 110km south of Cairo. It was attended by family and members of the local community. No senior military officers were present. Egyptian media, including state-linked outlets, only cited anonymous sources making vague statements about the incident. Daily News Egypt, an independent English-language Egyptian newspaper, cited unnamed sources as saying Egyptian soldiers had been “affected” by the Rafah massacre on Sunday, in which an Israeli bombing killed 45 Palestinians at a displacement camp. Israel’s decision to take control of the crossing for the first time since its disengagement from Gaza in 2005 has triggered a rare diplomatic spat with Egypt, which has since refused to open its side, saying it was a Palestinian-Egyptian terminal and should remain as such.
Egypt jails former presidential hopeful for one year with labour
An Egyptian court sentenced former presidential hopeful Ahmed Tantawy on Monday to one year in prison with labour on charges of forging election documents, and barred him from standing in elections for the next five years, his lawyer Khaled Ali said. Tantawy was the most prominent politician to challenge President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as he sought a third term last year. Tantawy halted his campaign saying state-linked groups had impeded him from gathering the required number of public endorsements to register as a candidate, and that dozens of his family members and allies had been arrested. Authorities denied foul play, and charged him with violations linked to his campaign’s move to distribute their own copies of endorsement forms. Tantawy was found guilty of the charges in a lower court in February and given a suspended sentence that was upheld by on Monday. He was detained in court and transferred to a correctional facility, joining more than 20 members of his campaign who were also sentenced in the case, Ali said.
Luxury perfumes linked to child labour
Children have picked ingredients used by suppliers to two major beauty companies according to an investigation. A BBC investigation into last summer’s perfume supply chains found jasmine used by Lancôme and Aerin Beauty’s suppliers was picked by minors. All the luxury perfume brands claim to have zero tolerance on child labour.
L’Oréal, Lancôme’s owner, said it was committed to respecting human rights. Estée Lauder, Aerin Beauty’s owner, said it had contacted its suppliers. The jasmine used in Lancôme Idôle L’Intense – and Ikat Jasmine and Limone Di Sicilia for Aerin Beauty – comes from Egypt, which produces about half the world’s supply of jasmine flowers – a key perfume ingredient. Industry insiders report that the handful of companies that own many luxury brands are squeezing budgets, resulting in very low pay. Egyptian jasmine pickers say this forces them to involve their children. The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, said he was disturbed by the evidence, which includes undercover filming in Egyptian jasmine fields during last year’s picking season…It is the perfume companies – which include L’Oréal and Estée Lauder – which hold all the power. Known as “the masters”, they set the brief and a very tight budget for the fragrance houses, said an insider. “The masters’ interest is to have the cheapest oil possible to put in the fragrance bottle,” and then to sell it at the highest possible price.”
TUNISIA
Kais Saied dismisses two of his ministers amid factional struggles
Against all expectations, Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed two of his close associates: Interior Minister Kamel Feki and Social Affairs Minister Malek Ezzahi. The announcement, made by the Tunisian president shortly before 11 pm on Saturday, May 25, was not followed by any explanation. Khaled Nouri, the governor of Ariana – in the Greater Tunis region – was appointed to replace Feki as interior minister. Kamel Maddouri, a former senior civil servant, was appointed to succeed Ezzahi, a member of the president’s political and ideological inner circle. The replacement of the two ministers comes against a backdrop of strong protests after a dozen leaders of civil society organizations, lawyers and journalists suffered a new wave of arrests. Backed at the time of his July 25, 2021 coup by a large majority of the population (around 90% of favorable opinions, according to various polls), the Tunisian president must now face growing criticism and rarer or less active support. With just a few months to go before the presidential election, constitutionally scheduled for October 23, he has broken with most of the close collaborators who have accompanied him since the revolution. Meanwhile, on Friday, a rally against Saied brought together several hundred young activists from left-wing collectives and civil society organizations – some of whom were close to the dismissed ministers. They denounced a return to a “police state” and described Saied as a “dictator.” These criticisms were brushed aside by the president, who justified the recent arrests, and, speaking that same evening at a meeting with the justice minister, asserted that core freedoms were guaranteed.
AFRICA – GENERAL NEWS
Post-COVID, China is back in Africa and doubling down on minerals
China’s flagship economic cooperation program is bouncing back after a lull during the global pandemic, with Africa a primary focus. Chinese leaders have been citing the billions of dollars committed to new construction projects and record two-way trade as evidence of their commitment to assist with the continent’s modernisation and foster “win-win” cooperation. While new Chinese investment in Africa increased 114% last year, according to the Griffith Asia Institute at Australia’s Griffith University, it was heavily focused on minerals essential to the global energy transition and China’s plans to revive its own flagging economy. Those minerals and oil also dominated trade. As efforts falter to boost other imports from Africa, including agricultural products and manufactured goods, the continent’s trade deficit with China has ballooned. Chinese sovereign lending, once the main source of financing for Africa’s infrastructure, is at its lowest level in two decades. And public-private partnerships (PPPs), which China has touted as its new preferred investment vehicle globally, have yet to gain traction in Africa. The result is a more one-sided relationship than China says it wants, one that is dominated by imports of Africa’s raw materials and that some analysts argue contains echoes of colonial-era Europe’s economic relations with the continent.
‘Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power’ UNSG
“Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power,” [UN Secretary-General António Guterres] said, opening a debate on its critical role in addressing global security and development challenges, convened by Mozambique, the Council president for May…Mr. Guterres outlined three steps to strengthen Africa’s peace leadership, both on the continent and on the global stage…Secondly, African participation and leadership must be embedded across “the global peace and security architecture”. He stressed the need to reform the UN Security Council and other global institutions that were established following the Second World War, which are now outdated. Structural inequalities have resulted in African states suffering disproportionately from the effects of conflicts, an unjust global financial system, and the climate crisis…The Secretary-General insisted that Africa deserves a voice in the global peace and security architecture.
Intelligence Advantage: Profiling African Leaders’ Meetings with U.S. Presidents
Former White House Africa director Judd Devermont went back over 60 years to find out how the CIA’s “visit piece” intelligence briefing for American presidents has evolved and influenced policy for meetings with African leaders. In a paper for Center for Strategic and International Studies — ahead of Kenyan President William Ruto’s state visit — Devermont reviewed declassified intelligence assessments, policy memos, and press reports from 1961 to 1987. He found that these visit pieces evolved to include important personal details beyond the geopolitical or transactional diplomacy: “The declassified assessments, for example, stressed Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie’s “unusual personal vigor and determination” and Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda’s tendency to become “highly emotional.” The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s “visit piece” is one of the intelligence community’s secret weapons. By revealing what foreign leaders want and analyzing their personality, the CIA delivers decision advantage when the U.S. president is meeting with an African counterpart. The CIA expertly assessed how African leaders sought to navigate geopolitical competition during the Cold War, and it succeeded in deciphering what underpinned specific attitudes toward engagement with U.S. presidents, judging from a review of declassified intelligence assessments, policy memos, public statements, and press reports from 1961–1987.
Foreign brands dominate consumer tastes in Africa
Despite 64% of Africans expressing confidence in the continent, they remain loyal to non-African brands, which have retained their lowly 14% of the most admired brands in Africa, Brand Africa revealed in its 14th annual Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands research and rankings. African nations account for 64% of the Top 50 most admired countries, with South Africa, Nigeria, United States, China and Kenya the top 5 countries perceived to contribute to a better Africa. African brands have retained a 14% share of Top 100 most admired brands in Africa for the second year in a row. African brands, led by South African telecommunications group, MTN, Nigerian conglomerate, Dangote, Zambian consumer group, Trade Kings, Nigerian telecommunications group, Glo, South African media group, DStv and Ethiopian Airlines retain their respective positions as the Top 5 most admired African brands spontaneously recalled. South Africa (5) and Nigeria (5), with Ethiopia (1), Zambia (1), Zimbabwe (1) and Tanzania (1), are the only 6 African nations that make up the 14% share of the Top 100. Europe retained its 37% share of the Top 100, while North America declined 12,5% to 28% as Asia grew its share by 23,5% to capture 21% of the African market.
UN RELATED NEWS
UN Peacekeepers Day remembers the lives lost
For the past 75 years, UN peacekeepers have served in peace operations in conflict-affected areas in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The blue helmets help countries torn by conflicts create conditions for lasting peace. However, they operate under strict guidelines and are often unable to stabilize volatile situations or even protect civilians. The May 29 commemoration revolves around the theme “Fit for the Future: Building Better Together.” Nicholas Haysom, head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said he observes the day by remembering peacekeeping soldiers who died during deployments. Africa’s youngest nation, South Sudan has the highest number of UN troops with 14,200 military personnel, police officers, and civilian workers as well as small contingents of experts, staff officers and volunteers. Although the UN peacekeeping missions strive for peace in the countries they serve, they have clashed with some administrations in Africa. In countries like the DRCongo, Mali, CAR, and even South Sudan, the UN troops have had little success. In October 2023, UN soldiers evacuated their camp in the volatile north of Mali amid jihadist and separatist fighting. Mali’s military rulers, who took over in 2020, had ordered the UN to leave, saying the peacekeepers had failed.
AFRICA CALENDAR
Week Ahead
May 27 — Bank of Ghana is expected to announce its prime interest rate decision following a meeting of its monetary policy committee.
May 27-31 — The annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank and its concessional arm African Development Fund will be held in Nairobi.
May 29-31 — The 17th edition of the eLearning Africa annual conference and exhibition will take place in Kigali, Rwanda.
May 29 — South Africa will hold its general election, in which nearly 30 million South Africans will elect 400 parliament members, who will in turn select the president. The ruling African National Congress, which has held power since the end of apartheid in 1994, has slipped in the polls, plagued by scandals and a suffering economy.
May 30 — The World Bank’s board will meet to decide on Kenya’s funding under development policy financing which would lead to release of between $900 million and $1.2 billion for budget support.
AFRICA – ANALYSIS, EDITORIAL/OPINION
African Standby Force turns 20: has it helped keep the peace? The pros and cons
Eritrea
Eritrea a hidden gem that defies gloomy narratives
Horn of Africa droughts: how a network of groundwater bores could help – study
Kenya
Time to end ethnic jingoism; we thrive or die together
South Africa
South Africa Is Becoming Something New, and It’s Not Good
Hate speech and disinformation in South Africa’s elections: big tech make it tough to monitor social media
Mayibuye! The 100-year-old slogan that’s stirred up divisions in South Africa’s elections
Uganda
Hazy geopolitics mean Sudan’s war rages largely unseen.
The Africa Edition ©️ 
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