News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Some people die at 25…and aren’t buried until they’re 75.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Sudan-US talks in Jeddah stall ahead of Geneva
Nigerian businesses count losses from inflation protests
Mozambique ex-finance minister convicted in US
Killings and injuries in Tripoli clash
Africa’s next vaccine headache
Kenya leads Africa in Olympic medals haul, while Nigeria leaves with zero.
TOP NEWS
Eastern Africa
Congo issues death sentence to leader of rebel coalition & others
UN mission in Congo could stay beyond December
Who are the ‘new’ arrivals in eastern Congo?
Ethiopian Airlines signs deal for design of ‘biggest airport in Africa’
Sidestepping deployed Kenyan Forces, Haiti gangs continue reign of terror
Kenya still politically uneasy
What next for Gen Z’s digital revolution?
Section of Azimio leaders slam Raila for aligning with Ruto’s Gov’t
Ruto finally gets to fly out – but only as far as Kigali for Kagame Inauguration
Risk-averse investors shun Kenyan local debt, deepening fiscal woes
Video: Is real change possible in Kenya?
OpEd: Why MPs vetting of CS nominees needs overhaul to raise integrity bar
OpEd: Cabinet rich list: Please show us how to invest
Rwanda’s Kagame sworn in for another new term after landslide victory
As South Sudan’s oil revenues dwindle, even the security forces haven’t been paid in months
Sudan-US talks in Jeddah stall ahead of Geneva negotiations
Unruly RSF fighters sow chaos in Sudan’s farming heartland
Death toll from landslide at Uganda garbage dump rises to 13
West Africa
Gambia arrests ex-general linked to Jammeh’s death squad
Ghana opens first gold refinery after centuries of mining
Op-Ed: A Petro-Hub landgrab in western Ghana stirs anger
Swedish ambassador expelled from Mali over ‘hostile’ comment
Russia says it is working to free Niger hostages
Nigerian businesses count losses from inflation protests
Dangote Refinery says Nigeria must enforce crude supply for local refiners
WhatsApp may exit Nigeria over $220m fine
Miss Universe Nigeria invites former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina to contest
Sierra Leone court sentences soldiers to long jail terms for failed coup
Southern Africa
Malawi President Chakwera secures his party’s support for second term bid
Mozambique ex-finance minister convicted in US over ‘tuna bonds’ scandal
First deaf Miss SAfr crowned after divisive competition
Cervical cancer breakthrough in SAfr using heat therapy
OpEd: UK’s deadly, destructive right-wing extremism a warning for SAfr
Zimbabwean parents beg US diplomat for apology over fatal crash
Mnangagwa pledges to respect Zimbabwe’s two-term limit
North Africa
Nine killed, 16 wounded in clashes in Libya’s Tripoli
Tunisia’s electoral commission accepts just three candidates for presidential election
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
AFRICA AT OLYMPICS
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
UN mission in Congo could stay beyond December
The UN Security Council this week authorised the peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo to aid the ground forces in pacifying the restive eastern parts of the country, in what could prolong the mission’s mandate beyond the December 2024 exit timeline. Known by the French acronym Monusco, the mission will be required to provide aerial support to the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), which has been battling rebels in the east. The resolution was adopted on August 6, and Monusco said it signalled “the international community’s commitment to support security and stabilisation efforts in the DRC.” Its support for SAMIDRC should be without prejudice to the UN mission’s existing mandate, including the protection of civilians, support for the Luanda Process and the strengthened ad hoc verification mechanism, and support for the national security forces, said Monusco in the press release. The adoption of Resolution 2746 comes at a time when Kinshasa has opened talks with the UN to reconsider the plan to draw down from the DRC.
Congo issues death sentence to leader of rebel coalition & others
A military court in Congo on Thursday sentenced 25 people, including the leader of a rebel coalition, to death after a high-profile televised trial that started late last month. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo, or AFC, was found guilty of war crimes, participation in an insurrection and treason. Naanga and 19 other defendants sentenced to death were absent from the trial as they are currently on the run. “This nauseating judicial saga reinforces our struggle for democratic normality in Congo,” Nangaa responded in a text message from an undisclosed location. The AFC is a political-military movement launched by Nangaa in December with the aim of uniting armed groups, political parties and civil society against Congo’s government. One of its most renown members is the M23, an armed group accused of mass killings in eastern Congo’s decadeslong conflict. The death sentence against Nangaa might be a way to have more leverage in possible future negotiations with Rwanda or the armed groups themselves, Yvon Muya, a conflict studies researcher at Saint Paul University, said.
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Airlines signs deal for design of ‘biggest airport in Africa’
Ethiopia has signed an agreement for the design of a new four-runway airport that will be Africa’s biggest when construction is completed in 2029, the head of state-owned Ethiopian Airlines said on Friday. Located near the town of Bishoftu, around 45 km (28 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, the airport will have capacity to handle 100 million passengers a year and provide parking for 270 aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO Mesfin Tasew told a news conference. Mesfin said Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, the current main hub for Africa’s biggest airline, will soon reach its capacity of serving 25 million passengers per year. “It is a five-year project (that) will be finalised in 2029. It will be the biggest in Africa,” Mesfin said. “Phase one alone will cost at least $6 billion… The money will come through loans and there are already companies that already showed interest.” Ethiopian Airlines carried 17 million passengers in the 2023/2024 financial year, and expects to carry 20 million passengers in the financial year that started in July.
KENYA
Sidestepping Deployed Kenyan Forces, Haiti gangs continue reign of terror
Weeks after the arrival of a United Nations-backed international security force in Haiti, the gangs who have brought the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other regions in the country to their knees show no signs of letting up. The international effort to reinforce the Haitian police and a transitional government has alleviated conditions in some sections of Port-au-Prince, experts say, but gang members have refocused their attacks on the outskirts, marauding towns that had escaped their campaign of killings, kidnappings and rape. The attack on Ganthier, a town of 60,000 people on a major highway linking the capital to the border with the Dominican Republic, is emblematic of the persistent security problem Haiti’s government faces as it tries to rebuild the shattered country, which has seen three years of violence, mass migration and economic ruin. The first wave of Kenyan police officers to deploy in Haiti as part of the multinational force lacks the numbers or the armaments to dismantle the powerful gangs, experts said. The Kenyan force is equipped with armored vehicles, but has no air or sea assets, limiting its ability to respond to gang attacks, experts said, adding that the 400 officers already in Haiti need significant beefing up. “It’s a small force under any account of what is needed,” said Keith Mines, the vice president of the Latin America program at the United States Institute of Peace, who follows Haiti closely. “It’s a restraint on what they can do,” he added. “We just have to accept that’s what’s there.” The health care situation in the capital also remains dire, with most hospitals closed after being looted by gangs. “It’s a catastrophe,” said Dr. Ronald LaRoche, who runs the Jude-Anne Hospital, part of a private health network. “I haven’t even been able to visit our buildings to evaluate the damage. The government surely has good intentions, but they have no power to take on the job.”
Kenya still politically uneasy:
What next for Gen Z’s digital revolution?
Anew generation of activistsis emerging In the heart of Nairobi. They are armed with smartphones and TikTok accounts rather than the megaphones and placards preferred by their predecessors to drive political and social change. As Kenya grapples with soaring living costs and controversial government policies, Generation Z — the term generally used to describe people born during the late 1990s and early 2000s — has dug into the digital trenches, harnessing the power of social media to fuel a wave of protests and political activism against Kenyan President William Ruto’s two-year-old administration. What started out as peaceful youth-led rallies against proposed tax hikes ballooned into wider action against Ruto and what many see as wasteful government spending and corruption. Ruto, while asserting his belief in freedom of expression and press freedom, has so far acknowleged the temptation to shut down the internet but chosen not to, maintaining a delicate balance between governance and civil liberties. TikTok, the short-form video platform beloved by Gen Z, has become the unlikely epicenter of Kenya’s political awakening. Its bite-size videos, often infused with humor and cultural references, have proven to be a potent tool for young Kenyans to express their discontent, share their experiences, and connect with like-minded individuals. The government’s response to this digital uprising has been a mix of veiled threats and cautious engagement. Ruto’s acknowledgment of the power of social media, coupled with a warning that he could shut down the internet, has created a climate of uncertainty and fear. The fear of being tracked and targeted has led many activists to adopt a range of security measures, including the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent online restrictions, and the encryption of communications. As the battle for hearts and minds rages online, the spread of disinformation has also become a major concern for activists.
Section of Azimio leaders slam Raila for aligning with Ruto’s Gov’t
The Azimio coalition, led by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, launched a scathing attack on ODM leader Raila Odinga, accusing him of siding with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government and contradicting opposition principles. Musyoka, along with Eugene Wamalwa and Jeremiah Kioni, spoke to congregants at AIC Church in Makongeni, Thika, accusing ODM of abandoning the Kenyan people’s struggle by aligning with the current administration. The former Vice President expressed his dissatisfaction with Odinga’s decision to support Ruto’s government, calling it a betrayal of the principles that the opposition coalition represents. You are either with the Gen Zs and the people of Kenya, or with Zakayo. It is as simple as that. I Want to invite all the Kenyans of the goodwill, we unite and save our country, we do not have another country,” Musyoka said. He emphasised that ODM’s support for the government undermines the sacrifices made by those who have fought for justice.
Ruto finally gets to fly out – but only as far as Kigali for Kagame Inauguration
President Ruto seems to have gotten his wings to fly again, as he tasted the runway again Sunday, when he flew to Kigali, Rwanda, to attend President Paul Kagame’s inauguration to his fourth term in office. A statement posted on X by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said Ruto had been invited to the event, noting that under President Kagame, Kenya-Rwanda relations have blossomed, with commercial and people-to-people ties further consolidating for the mutual benefit of both countries and the region. Ruto who was among 23 other heads of state and government who graced the event held at Amahoro stadium, was seen interacting with other presidents at the event, most of whom he had only talked to on the phone or virtually. Prior to this trip, the head of state is said to have skipped several other global engagements, including the sixth mid-year coordination meeting of the African Union (AU) in Accra, Ghana.
Risk-averse investors shun Kenyan local debt, deepening fiscal woes
Nervous investors are avoiding long-dated Kenyan Treasury bills and bonds, central bank data showed, putting more strain on the government’s plans to pivot to domestic borrowing after scrapping controversial tax hikes. The latest debt sale, on Aug. 1, saw the benchmark 1-year Treasury bill get less than a tenth of demand for the amount on offer. That weak demand is making it even more expensive – and complicated – to fund the debt-burdened government’s budget. “It is going to be a problem and it feels like they are just kicking the can down the road,” said Kenneth Minjire, senior associate for debt and equity at AIB-AXYS, a Nairobi-based brokerage. President William Ruto abandoned tax hikes worth more than 346 billion shillings ($2.67 billion) after protests that killed more than 50 people. The U-turn forced the finance ministry to hike local borrowing targets by 42% to 404.6 billion shillings ($3.12 billion), even as securities, apart from 91-day Treasury bills, were already underperforming at auction. Demand for Kenyan debt instruments at the central bank’s weekly auction fell precipitously as domestic disruptions and violence engulfed major urban centres, data from the central bank showed. Investors offered to buy just a third of what the central bank offered in Treasury bills during the week of June 24, when the turmoil erupted, while the subscription rates for that week’s bond auction were just 2.4%. Before the protests, the subscription rates for Treasury bills was 94.7%, while bonds were oversubscribed. Central Bank governor Kamau Thugge downplayed concerns over local financing, noting it was early in the financial year, and that even the revised borrowing target was lower than the previous financial year. “I really don’t see that we will not be able to meet the domestic financing requirements,” he told a news conference on Wednesday.
Is real c possible in Kenya
Tens of thousands of protesters call for end to what they say is corruption and mismanagement. Kenya is on the edge again. Protests against a finance bill have become a nationwide movement, challenging the foundations of President William Ruto’s government.
OpEd: Why MPs vetting of CS nominees needs overhaul to raise integrity bar
OpEd: Cabinet rich list: “Please show us how to invest”
SOUTH SUDAN
As South Sudan’s oil revenues dwindle, even the security forces haven’t been paid in months
The recent rupture of a crucial oil pipeline has sent fresh pain through the economy of South Sudan, where even the security forces haven’t been paid in nine months. Some soldiers and civil servants are turning to side hustles or abandoning their jobs. South Sudan’s economy largely depends on the oil it exports via neighboring Sudan. But war in Sudan has created widespread chaos, and the pipeline in an area of fighting ruptured in February. The drop in oil revenues has compounded South Sudan’s long problem of official mismanagement. Now the already fragile country is seeing protests in the capital over lack of pay, with more expected. And its people are under pressure to make up the gap in salary payments in unexpected ways. The government of President Salva Kiir, who has led South Sudan since independence and is under international pressure to prepare the country for delayed elections, has struggled in the economic crisis. The finance ministry has had six ministers since 2020, with the latest fired in July. In recent weeks, The Associated Press visited government ministries and other offices in Juba and found them mostly empty during working hours. Remaining employees said colleagues had left after getting tired of working without pay since October.
SUDAN
Sudan-US talks in Jeddah stall ahead of Geneva negotiations
Consultations between the Sudanese government and U.S. officials in Jeddah have ended without an agreement on the government’s participation in upcoming peace talks in Geneva, casting a shadow over the negotiations scheduled to begin in three days. The Sudanese delegation, led by Minister of Minerals Mohamed Bashir Abu Nommo, sought assurances that the talks would focus on implementing the existing Jeddah Agreement, signed in May and that the government would be represented not just by the military but by all its components. However, the U.S. side, led by Special Envoy Tom Berriello, reportedly insisted that the Geneva talks were primarily military in nature, aimed at achieving a ceasefire and facilitating humanitarian aid delivery. They also maintained that the invitation was extended to the military leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This disconnect in expectations led to the breakdown of the Jeddah consultations, with the Sudanese delegation returning to Port Sudan on Sunday. Military sources told Sudan Tribune that the U.S. did not adequately address the government’s concerns, particularly regarding the implementation of the Jeddah Agreement and the representation of civilian stakeholders in the negotiations. The failure to reach an agreement in Jeddah raises questions about the prospects for the Geneva talks, scheduled to start on August 14th.
Unruly RSF fighters sow chaos in farming heartland
When fighters from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces began seizing vehicles from people in Sharafat Alhalaween village, local elders complained to commanders of the paramilitary group. They assured the village during a March visit that the RSF would protect civilians, according to four residents. Soon afterward, the RSF posted a video on social media claiming to have dealt with unspecified “rogue actors” in the area. But the next morning, dozens of fighters stormed in on motorcycles and pickup trucks, firing guns in the air. The fighters, some in uniforms, went door to door grabbing money and valuables, prompting an exodus of thousands of people, they said. The residents’ accounts echo ones from across Sudan’s central El Gezira state, a key farming region and strategic crossroads just south of the capital, Khartoum. Residents said the paramilitary group relies on a mix of irregular fighters, many motivated by bounty, and it often struggles to control them. The Sudanese Armed Forces, has few ground forces there, according to residents and local activists. The military mobilised civilians to defend their communities, triggering deadly retribution, they said. The violence has driven over 850,000 people from their homes, the United Nations says, disrupted farming critical to Sudan’s food production and raised questions about the RSF’s ability to enforce any truce after nearly 16 months of war.
UGANDA
Death toll from landslide at Uganda garbage dump rises to 18
The death toll from a landslide at a vast garbage dump in Uganda’s capital Kampala has risen to 18, police said on Sunday, as rescue personnel continued to dig for survivors. After torrential rain in recent weeks a chunk of garbage from the city’s only landfill site broke off late on Friday, crushing and burying homes on the edge of the site as residents slept. On Saturday, the Kampala Capital City Authority had put the death toll at eight. The landfill site, known as Kiteezi, has served as Kampala’s sole garbage dump for decades and had turned into a big hill. Residents have long complained of hazardous waste polluting the environment and posing a danger to residents. Efforts by the city authority to procure a new landfill site have dragged on for years. There have been similar tragedies elsewhere in Africa from poorly managed mountains of municipal garbage. In 2017 at least 115 people were killed in Ethiopia, crushed by a landslide at a garbage dump in Addis Ababa. In Mozambique, at least 17 people died in a similar 2018 disaster in Maputo.
WEST AFRICA
GAMBIA
Ex-general linked to Jammeh’s death squad is arrested
The Gambian military has arrested former Brigadier General Bora Colley, who is alleged to have been a member of a notorious ‘death squad’ during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh. Colley is accused of being part of the ‘Junglers,’ a paramilitary unit long implicated in extrajudicial killings and torture by the United Nations and various human rights organisations. According to a statement released by the Gambia Armed Forces on Saturday, Colley was arrested around midnight on August 9, 2024, after voluntarily surrendering to the Military Police at Yundum Barracks, near the capital, Banjul. Intelligence services had been conducting surveillance around his residence in Banjul prior to his arrest. The Gambian government has taken steps to address the human rights violations that occurred during Jammeh’s 22-year rule. In 2022, the government endorsed the recommendations of a commission tasked with investigating these atrocities, agreeing to prosecute 70 individuals, including Jammeh himself, who came to power in a 1994 coup.
GHANA
First gold refinery opened after centuries of mining
Ghana opened its first commercial gold refinery in Accra, the capital, on Thursday as part of an effort by Africa’s leading gold producer to add value and earn more from the precious metal, which has been mined for centuries. The Royal Ghana Gold Refinery, with capacity to process 400 kilogrammes (kg) of gold per day, will source gold dore from small-scale and artisanal miners before acquiring licences to process gold from large-scale miners. The refinery is a partnership between Rosy Royal Minerals of India and Ghana’s central bank, with a 20% stake. Speaking at the opening, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said the launch of Royal Gold Refinery marked “a new era” that would help contain gold smuggling and raise national earnings from the precious metal. “With the ability to refine our gold, we will be able to sell it at the appropriate price, enabling us to retain its economic value within our borders while creating numerous jobs for the youth,” he said. Ghana’s gold from licensed producers is exported in raw form while a sizeable amount of output from unregulated artisanal miners, locally called galamsey, is smuggled outside the country. Ghana retained its spot as Africa’s biggest gold producer last year, as increased production from small-scale and artisanal miners pushed output to 4.03 million ounces. The West African nation, which is also the world’s number two cocoa producer, is on track to beat its 2024 gold output target, with production seen between 4.3 million and 4.5 million ounces. The Bank of Ghana launched a gold purchase programme in 2021 to build reserves through domestic purchases and cushion the cedi currency.
Op-Ed: A Petro-Hub landgrab in western Ghana stirs anger
MALI
Swedish ambassador expelled over ‘hostile’ comment
Sweden’s ambassador to Bamako, Kristina Kuhnel, has been ordered to leave the West African Sahel nation within 72 hours, Mali’s foreign ministry said on Friday, because of what it called a “hostile” statement by a Swedish minister. The diplomatic spat underscores the broader geopolitical shift occurring in the region as three junta-led states – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – pivot away from traditional Western allies towards Russia. Sweden’s minister for international development cooperation and trade, Johan Forssell, said on Wednesday that the government had decided to phase out aid to Mali due to its ties to Moscow. “You cannot support Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and at the same time receive several hundred million crowns each year in development aid,” Forssell said, commenting on a post on X which said Mali was cutting ties with Ukraine. Forsell’s spokesperson said on Friday the decision to halt and out phase development aid was taken in December and that humanitarian assistance would continue. The Swedish foreign ministry had no immediate comment. Last week, Mali cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine over a diplomat’s comments suggesting that Kyiv had provided help to Tuareg rebels who claimed to have killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers.
NIGER
Russia says it is working to free hostages
Russia’s foreign ministry said on Friday it was working to free two geologists employed by a Russian company who were taken hostage by an Al Qaeda affiliate in western Niger last month. A video released by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) earlier in August showed two captives, who said they were taken hostage in the insurgency-hit Tillaberi region while working there. It was not clear when the video was filmed or where. It did not include a ransom demand. In emailed comments, the Russian ministry said that one of the hostages, Oleg Gret, was reportedly a Russian citizen while another, Yuri Yurov, had Ukrainian citizenship. Overall, JNIM kidnapped four people and killed several Nigerien soldiers during the incident on July 18, the ministry said. Russia has sent an official request to the Niger authorities and Malian partners to ask for assistance, it said. “We intend to continue our efforts to free the hostages,” it said, adding that its cooperation with Sahel states will continue to grow despite insecurity in the region. Since seizing power in a coup last year, Niger, like the military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso, has kicked out Western forces, and forged closer military and business ties with Russia.
NIGERIA
Nigerian businesses count losses from inflation protests
Days after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Nigeria to protest against inflation and other economic hardships, clothing seller Michael Nwankwo is still counting the cost of the business he lost. At least 22 people died, according to Amnesty International, in the demonstrations that started on Thursday last week and ebbed over the weekend after a crackdown by security services. Rallies were largely peaceful in the commercial hub of Lagos. But many businesses rolled down the shutters and customers stayed home as a precaution, traders said. “I don’t even really know how to quantify the loss, because each day you do not open you lose prospects to make money,” Nwankwo said at his shop in the city’s Marina market. Doris Nkiriuka Anite, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said on Saturday the unrest was costing the economy more than 500 billion naira ($324.68 million) a day. Adewale Oyerinde, head of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association, said the protests would have a longer-term impact. “When you stall the production process, businesses can’t produce, they can’t sell, and the shock feeds back into the economy. If things are destroyed, they will still have to find resources to repair them,” he added.
Dangote Refinery says Nigeria must enforce crude supply for local refiners
The Dangote Oil Refinery has called on Nigeria’s upstream oil regulator to force producers to abide by a law that stipulates they supply local refineries, saying that lax enforcement was raising its operational costs. The 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity refinery, built by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote on the outskirts of Lagos for $20 billion, has struggled to get sufficient supplies from Nigeria, where vandalism and low investment impede oil production. In a statement issued on Friday, Dangote Refinery accused the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) of failing to enforce the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO), a provision that requires crude oil producers to supply domestic refiners with a portion of their production. The refinery said it was expecting to receive 15 cargoes for September out of which NNPC had allocated them six. In a statement, the NUPRC said some producers were experiencing operational challenges while others had pledged most of their output to oil traders who financed drilling. It also said forcing them to raise their supply would violate their contracts. Dangote Refinery requires 325,000 bpd of supply, but since it started operating in January, it has received nearly half of that amount, data from the regulator shows. The Dangote Oil Refinery has also had a row with the downstream regulator over fuel imports, as it scrambles to compete in a challenging environment.
WhatsApp may exit Nigeria over $220m fine
In a significant development, WhatsApp might withdraw its services from Nigeria following a $220 million fine and stringent data-sharing orders imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). This potential move by WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, was reported by tech news outlet TechCabal, citing sources familiar with the situation. A Meta spokesperson expressed concerns about the feasibility of continuing WhatsApp services in Nigeria under the current FCCPC directives. ‘This order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how WhatsApp works. WhatsApp relies on limited data to run our service and keep users safe, and it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally without Meta’s infrastructure. We are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users,’ the spokesperson stated. In July, the FCCPC levied a substantial fine of $220 million on Meta, accusing the company of exploiting Nigerian users’ data without proper consent. The commission alleged that Meta leveraged its market dominance to enforce unfair privacy policies. Consequently, the FCCPC ordered WhatsApp to stop sharing user data with Meta companies and third parties without explicit user consent and mandated the restoration of user control over data usage. This decision followed a comprehensive three-year investigation into Meta’s practices from May 2021 to December 2023. Meta has firmly disputed the FCCPC’s claims and the fine, launching an appeal that includes 22 arguments challenging the judgment.
NIGERIA/SAFRICA
Miss Universe Nigeria invites former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina to contest
As the controversy around former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adeteshina continues to unravel, organizers of the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant have extended an invitation for the model to participate in the 2024 edition. South Africa-born Adetshina has been embroiled in an extensive nationality row, following an uproar when she rose to the finals of the Miss SA contest. Following a probe into Adetshina’s citizenship, the national Department of Home Affairs earlier this week announced it has uncovered, prima facile evidence that the Miss SA hopeful’s mother might have committed identity theft. It was revealed that Adetshina’s father was ostensibly Nigerian while the 23-year-old law student’s mother was believed to be from neighbouring Mozambique. Just days before the Miss South African pageant, Adetshina has withdrawn from the glitzy competition. In the latest turn of events, the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant said it believes Adetshina’s journey in the world of pageantry is nowhere near its end.
SIERRA LEONE
Court sentences soldiers to long jail terms for failed coup
A military court in Sierra Leone has sentenced 24 soldiers to lengthy prison terms for their roles in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio last November. The sentences were read out in court late on Friday with the judge handing out prison terms ranging from 50 and 120 years on those convicted. They were among 27 men court-martialled for participating in the attempted coup on Nov. 26 that saw gunmen attack military barracks, two prisons and other locations, freeing about 2,200 inmates and killing more than 20 people. The sentencing follows the jailing in July of 11 civilians, and police and prison officers for their role in the insurrection. A seven-member military jury found most of the court-martialled soldiers guilty by unanimous verdict after hours of deliberations. The men faced a total of 88 charges including mutiny, murder, aiding the enemy and stealing public or service property. All but one of those arraigned were rank and file soldiers. A lieutenant colonel was found guilty and received the longest prison term of 120 years. Of the remaining three, one was found not guilty, another sentenced earlier due to pleading guilty, and the third’s trial will conclude at a later date.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
MALAWI
President Chakwera secures his party’s support for second term bid
Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has secured his party’s support to run for a second term in next year’s election, but his chances of retaining power may depend on his Malawi Congress Party finding a strong alliance partner. The MCP, which had been in an electoral alliance with the United Transformation Movement since 2020, now lacks a formidable ally after the UTM said it would pull out of the partnership after the death of former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima in a plane crash in June. Chilima was the leader of the UTM and his party helped Chakwera secure an absolute majority in the 2020 election. Malawi’s political system requires a presidential candidate to secure more than 50% of the votes to be declared winner.
Chakwera told delegates at an MCP convention that endorsed his bid for a second term that he believed support for his party has grown since the last election. The MCP, founded by the country’s first president Hastings Kamuzu Banda, returned to power in 2020 after 26 years in opposition as it promised to deal with corruption and grow the economy. But opposition parties say the MCP has failed to deliver on its promises as the economy remains fragile. Chakwera’s leading challenger is former President Peter Mutharika, who is expected to be endorsed by the main opposition Democratic Progress Party’s convention later this month.
MOZAMBIQUE
Ex-finance minister convicted in US over ‘tuna bonds’ scandal
A former Mozambique finance minister was convicted on Thursday on U.S. criminal charges over his alleged involvement in a fraud involving $2 billion in loans to three state-owned companies to develop the African nation’s fishing industry. Jurors found Manuel Chang guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in the “tuna bonds” case, following a three-week trial in federal court in Brooklyn, New York. Chang plans to appeal the verdict, defense lawyer Adam Ford told reporters outside the courtroom. Prosecutors said shipbuilding firm Privinvest paid Chang $7 million in bribes in exchange for approving a Mozambique government guarantee for loans to three state companies to develop the African nation’s fishing industry and improve maritime security. The loans came from Credit Suisse and Russian bank VTB. Chang received the funds in a Swiss bank account controlled by a friend and had other Mozambican officials communicate with Privinvest about the payoffs in an attempt to cover his tracks, prosecutors said.
The projects eventually collapsed and the state-backed companies defaulted on their loans, leaving investors with millions of dollars in losses. Donors such as the International Monetary Fund temporarily halted support, triggering a currency collapse and financial turmoil.
SOUTH AFRICA
First deaf Miss South Africa crowned after divisive competition
Mia le Roux has become the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa following a divisive competition which saw one finalist withdraw after being trolled over her Nigerian heritage. In her acceptance speech, Ms Le Roux said she hoped her victory would help those who felt excluded from society to achieve their “wildest dreams, just like I am”. She said she wanted to help those who were “financially excluded or differently abled”. Last week 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adetshina pulled out of the competition following allegations that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman. Ms Adetshina was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican origin. She had been at the centre of a social media storm for several weeks, with many people, including a cabinet minister, questioning her right to represent the country. She said she had been the victim of “black-on-black hate”, highlighting a particular strain of xenophobia in South Africa known as “afrophobia”, which targets those from other African countries.
Cervical cancer breakthrough in South Africa using heat therapy
Researchers at which university have successfully enhanced the effectiveness of heat therapy to help treat cervical cancer. With 10,702 new cases diagnosed and 5,870 deaths annually in South Africa, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in the country. They explored the addition of Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia (mEHT) to standard treatment protocols for locally advanced cervical cancer and monitored participants for five years post-treatment. This decade-long study is groundbreaking as it is the first phase III trial on mEHT, the first hyperthermia trial conducted in Africa, and the first to include HIV-positive participants. The recently announced results are promising. Dr. Minnaar says; “We have had positive results for certain tumour types in our practice. But the best evidence is the 10-year trial which found it’s possible to increase the five-year disease-free-status of cervical cancer patients by more than 200% when we add this treatment to chemoradiotherapy. “It also found that adding mEHT to chemotherapy and radiation can cost-effectively improve a patient’s quality of life and chances of achieving a five-year disease-free survival status”
OpEd: UK’s deadly, destructive right-wing extremism a warning for SAfr
ZIMBABWE
Parents beg US diplomat for apology over fatal crash
The family of an 11-year-old girl allegedly killed by a US diplomat in Zimbabwe in a road accident in June have said they want him to return to the country and apologise to them in person. Ruvarashe Takamhanya is believed to have been run over by a vehicle driven by the diplomat as she was on her way to school in Dema, a town 40km (24 miles) south-east of the capital, Harare. Her parents say they realise the US diplomat has diplomatic immunity but an apology might help them recover from the pain and give them a sense of closure. Ruvarashe was heading to school with her best friend on a Monday morning when she was hit as she crossed the main road that runs through Dema. Her mother, Juliana Vito, said she found out about the accident from neighbours and ran to the scene. She said that the driver of the car was not there when she got to the crash site – and had not reached out directly to the family since. His colleagues apologised on his behalf, she said, and told her that that he left the scene because he was “affected by the accident”. The girl’s father, Silvester Takhamanya mentioned they were given $2,000 (£1,575) by the US embassy to cover funeral arrangements. Police spokesman Paul Nyathi reported that the diplomat had initially said he wanted to rest after the accident, which happened on 3 June, and that he would then make contact with investigators. But investigations had stalled as the diplomat left Zimbabwe not long after the accident, according to Mr Nyathi. Zimbabwe’s presidential spokesman George Charamba has expressed outrage at his conduct.
Mnangagwa pledges to respect Zimbabwe’s two-term limit
President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has assured the nation that he will not seek to extend his presidency beyond the two five-year terms allowed by the constitution. However, some remain sceptical about his commitment to stepping down after his second term. Supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party gathered at the party headquarters, chanting slogans suggesting Mnangagwa would remain in power until 2030—two years beyond the constitutional limit. Addressing the crowd, Mnangagwa emphasised his adherence to the constitution, stating, ‘I am a constitutionalist. We must abide by the provisions of our constitution to the letter.’ In Shona, his native language, Mnangagwa added, ‘When time comes to go home, I will go! Let’s follow the principles of the party,’ further energising the crowd. While some Zimbabweans fear he may seek to amend the constitution to run for a third term in 2028, Mnangagwa’s recent statements seem aimed at dispelling those concerns…critics like lawyer Brighton Mutebuka remain unconvinced, suggesting that Mnangagwa’s public statements are an attempt to mislead both his party and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Concerns have grown after the 2021 Constitutional Court decision allowing Chief Justice Luke Malaba to extend his tenure, raising fears of potential constitutional amendments.
NORTH AFRICA
LIBYA
Nine killed, 16 wounded in clashes in Tripoli
At least nine people were killed and 16 wounded on Friday after clashes erupted between two armed factions in Tajoura, an eastern suburb of the Libyan capital Tripoli, the ambulance and emergency authority said. A resident from Tajoura said that he heard heavy shooting before Friday prayers, adding it was unsafe to leave his house. The shooting lasted for a couple of hours before calm was restored, said the resident, who wanted to remain anonymous for security reasons. The ambulance authority posted two short videos showing its teams retrieving a body. There was no immediate indication of who had taken part in the violence or why they were fighting. Tajoura is a coastal district about 25 km (15 miles) east of Tripoli. Libya has had little peace since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, and it divided in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions.
TUNISIA
Electoral Commission accepts just three candidates for presidential election
Tunisia’s electoral commission said on Saturday it had preliminarily accepted only three presidential candidates, including incumbent Kais Saied, amid widespread criticism of what the opposition says are moves to exclude serious contenders. The commission said it had accepted the candidacies of Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui, who is seen as close to Saied, and Ayachi Zammel for the Oct. 6 election, while rejecting 14 others. Zammel is the head of the Azimoun party, and has not previously been regarded as an influential politician. Prominent politicians, including Mondher Znaidi, Imed Daimi, Abdel Latif Mekki, Karim Gharbi, Safi Said, Kamel Akrout and Nizar Chaari, said the interior ministry refused to provide them with the criminal record details required by the commission as a new condition to run. They accused the authorities of seeking to return Tunisia to the years of dictatorship and sham elections that were the norm before a revolution in 2011. The head of the commission, Farouk Bou Asker, told reporters that the candidates were rejected due to a lack of citizens’ endorsements and not because they did not have a criminal record card.
Tunisian opposition parties and human rights groups have accused the authorities of using “arbitrary restrictions” and intimidation in order to ensure the re-election of Saied. A Tunisian court this month sentenced four potential presidential election candidates to eight months in prison and banned them from running for office on a charge of vote buying.
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
Mpox: Africa’s next vaccine headache
African countries thought the insidious Covid-19 pandemic is behind them, having ridden one of the most vaccine inequalities the world has ever seen. Now Mpox is bringing that episode back. Experts have this week admitted that access to tests, treatments, and vaccines for ongoing African active outbreak for Mpox is inadequate, signaling another round of scorpion fight to survive…Mpox cases have increased by more than 160 percent compared to last year, with the most significant share of new cases reported in Africa, according to the Africa Centre of Diseases Convention (CDC) data. So far, 15 African countries, including Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya, have reported most of the cases. However, even with the highest deaths and cases in DRC, their efforts to contain Mpox have been hampered by a lack of vaccines. While wealthy countries, including the United States, quickly stockpiled Mpox vaccines, only 50,000 doses of vaccines were released to DRC with over 99 million people, where the spread of Mpox clade I is countrywide and affecting people of all ages, leading to the deaths of children. There is also the difficulty of getting and paying for the vaccines, with African countries having no equitable access to vaccines and therapeutic agents for emerging diseases on the continent. This was the same story with Covid-19 when Africa struggled to get vaccines even when it was ready to pay for them.
Ukraine struggles to implement its ‘African Strategy’
After the revelation of its aid to independence fighters in Mali, who are fighting against the Malian army and its Russian ally Wagner, Kyiv is suffering a series of diplomatic setbacks in West Africa. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba embarked on a tour of Africa for the fourth time in two years on Sunday, August 4. After visiting Malawi on Monday, he will visit Zambia and Mauritius next. The stated aim is the “development of bilateral relations” with African countries, according to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, and involve them “in global efforts to restore a just peace for Ukraine and the world.” This “African Strategy” is intended to counter Russia’s growing influence, but Kyiv is struggling to implement it. Just as Kuleba set foot in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Mali announced the termination “with immediate effect” of diplomatic relations with Kyiv. The day before, Senegal, although not as close to Moscow as Bamako is, indicated that it had summoned the Ukrainian ambassador posted in Dakar. These reactions follow revelations of Ukrainian involvement in recent fighting in northern Mali. Following the heavy defeat inflicted by separatist rebels on the Malian army and its Russian ally the Wagner Group at the end of July, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov suggested on national television that Ukrainian services had played a role in the fighting. Eighty-four mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers were killed, according to the rebels – the first time this had happened since the Wagner Group arrived in Mali in 2021. “That the rebels received the necessary data to successfully carry out an operation against Russian war criminals has been observed by the entire world. Of course, we will not disclose details. More information to come,” Yusov said.
China courts developing nations in its push to build a new world order
Beijing is forging ties in the “Global South” not just with money but also by lending political support based on antipathy toward the American-led order. Increasingly alienated by developed countries allied with Washington and Brussels, Beijing has pursued a deliberate campaign to court nations in the developing world or what is sometimes called the Global South — not just by funding infrastructure projects but by providing security assistance and geopolitical backing at international forums. These efforts are gaining traction, say analysts studying China’s foreign policy. “In a lot of the capitals around the world, they’re now thinking first of Beijing, and then of Washington,” said Oriana Skylar Mastro, a center fellow at Stanford University…Along with Russia, China is seeking to create a multipolar world, offering an alternative order to one led by the United States. While scaling back on its controversial Belt and Road Initiative — generous loans and investments that used to be the linchpin of its efforts to build influence abroad — it has ramped up political and security engagement with countries that have felt neglected by or at odds with the U.S. strategic agenda. This also includes various middle- to low-income countries — which South Africa has called “bystander countries” — that blame soaring food and energy prices on Western sanctions on Russia. China has sent high-level officials on repeated visits to these countries. It backed a bid by the African Union to be admitted as a member of the Group of 20 countries and has called for more seats on the U.N. Security Council to go to developing nations.
Putin’s influence surges in Africa after 25 years in power
President Vladimir Putin’s 25-year grip on Russia has seen his influence spread to Africa. Once minimal, Russia-Africa relations have shifted, with Moscow now closer to many African hearts.
Op-Ed: Reforming Africa’s debt: a path to sustainable growth
AFRICA AT PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS
Botswana declared half-day holiday to mark first Olympic gold
The president of Botswana declared Friday afternoon a public holiday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo taking the country’s first Olympic gold medal by winning the 200-metres sprint in Paris on Thursday. Tebogo triumphed over U.S. sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles to claim Africa’s first 200m title and become the fifth-fastest man in history over the distance. The 21-year-old ran in spikes bearing his mother’s date of birth, saying he carried her with him, in a tribute after she passed away in May. “His Excellency President Masisi wishes to state that, on behalf of all of the citizenry, he applauds Letsile and gives thanks unceasingly to his late mother,” President Mokgweetsi Masisi wrote in a statement posted on X. Masisi said Letsile’s achievement was “deserving of the nation to pause and celebrate him in a most unique, appropriate and responsible manner that will be etched in the annals of the history of the Republic”. Masisi had posted on Thursday that his voice was “completely gone” from shouting encouragement at the television as he watched Tebogo storm to the win in 19.46 seconds.
Kenya leads Africa in medals haul
Kenyan athletes’ sterling performance at the Olympics has once again earned the country the number one position in the continent after garnering a total of 11 medals. Kenya with four gold medals, two silver medals and five bronze medals was ranked position 17 out of the over 180 nations which participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The performance was an improvement from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was held in 2021, where Kenya ranked 19th after winning four gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals.
Nigerian athletes say mismanagement by the country’s officials cost them the Olympics
Nigeria had a terrible showing at the Olympics. Its athletes say they were failed by corruption and mismanagement by the nation’s sports officials.
How war has hurt Ethiopia’s Olympic hopes
Redae Gebreyesus could have been representing Ethiopia at the Paris Olympics, but his life was cut short by civil war. The talented middle-distance runner was killed in late 2020, not long after the conflict in Tigray broke out in November of that year. Tigray, the East African nation’s northernmost state, has always been a vital part of Ethiopian athletics, with a third of the country’s track team currently competing in the French capital hailing from the region. According to his coach, Gebreyesus had the potential to be part of that squad – had it not been for the bloody two-year battle between Ethiopia’s government and forces in the region…Teenager Belaynesh Yaya was another athlete who had a bright future on the track. Her brother Habtamu Yaya described athletics as a “culture” in their district, Endamekoni, explaining that Belaynesh “learned it from her ancestors”. “I strongly believed she could represent her country,” he said. She joined the regional military – against her father’s wishes, and was involved in fighting around her family’s home village…The runner was eventually killed fighting alongside the Tigrayan forces. Her family are yet to see her burial site.
Kenya’s Kipyegon wins third successive Olympic Gold in the 1500m
Faith Kipyegon underlined her status as the queen of the 1500m, bagging her third successive Olympic title at the distance at the Paris 2024 Games on Saturday, becoming the first woman to win three Olympic golds in a single track discipline. Each stride the 30-year-old made on the purple track of the packed Stade de France took her closer to her legendary status. “When I was on that start line, I was just thinking, what happened in the 5000m. It took a lot of energy in my mind and I was thinking a lot, you know. But to come out and execute, after that dramatic race, it was just amazing. So for me, I really thank all the people who supported me, my team, my management, my coach, my family for talking to me, like, ‘just calm down, and just run your race over the 1500, and you will see, you will do it.’ So, it was good. I really thank God,” said Kipyegon. Three-time world 1500m champion and world record-holder, Kipyegon produced a fearless run on the last lap to clock 3:51.29, taking two seconds off the Olympic record she set in Tokyo three years ago.
Kenya’s Wanyonyi becomes youngest athlete to win 800m Olympic gold medal
Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi won gold in the men’s 800 metres final on the penultimate evening of the Olympics on Saturday. Wanyonyi claimed a personal best 1:41.19 ahead of world champion Marco Arop of Canada with the bronze going to Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati. Speaking to journalist after the race, Wanyonyi said he was inspired by the former 800 metres champion David Rudisha who told him that he must win a gold in the Olympics final. “This race was a lot of pressure for me for this Olympics. I talked with (David) Rudisha yesterday and Rudisha told me ‘you’re supposed to defend this title because Kenyans (won) the event last time in Tokyo (Games). So, I feel it’s a lot of pressure for me so I thank God that I can get it,” said Wanyonyi.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif wins gold to cap an Olympics amid scrutiny
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has won a gold medal Friday at the Paris Olympics, emerging a champion from a tumultuous run at the Games where she endured intense scrutiny in the ring and online abuse from around the world over misconceptions about her womanhood. Khelif beat Yang Liu of China 5:0 in the final of the women’s welterweight division, wrapping up the best series of fights of her boxing career with a victory at Roland Garros, where crowds chanted her name, waved Algerian flags and roared every time she landed a punch. After her unanimous win, Khelif jumped into her coaches’ arms, one of them putting her on his shoulders and carrying her in a victory lap as she pumped her fists and grabbed an Algerian flag from the crowd. “For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medalist,” Khelif said through an interpreter. Asked about the scrutiny, she told reporters: “That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks.”
Sensational Sifan Hassan wins marathon gold to complete Paris Olympics triple
Sifan Hassan’s endurance gamble at the Paris Games finally paid off after she sprinted away for Olympic gold in the French capital on Sunday. The Ethiopian-born Dutch athlete came into the marathon on the back of two bronze medals won in the 5,000m and 10,000m in an astonishing bid for podium placings in three events. And Hassan did not disappoint, holding off Ethiopian Tigst Assefa for victory in an Olympic record of 2hr 22min 55sec. It mirrored Hassan’s efforts in the Covid-hit Tokyo Games three years ago when she also won three medals: two golds (5,000, 10,000m) and a bronze (1500m). Hassan, who won the 2023 London Marathon on her debut at the distance and then produced the second best time ever in winning the Chicago Marathon in October in 2:13.44, said the Olympic gold was a crowning glory.
Ethiopia’s Tola wins Olympic men’s marathon
Tamirat Tola completes the tough Paris course in an Olympic record time of two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds. Tola delivered a masterclass in solo front running to win the Olympic men’s marathon in Paris as Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge, who had been bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic crown, has failed to finish. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi took silver, improving on his bronze from the Tokyo Games, and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto claimed bronze. The 32-year-old Ethiopian had an 18-second lead by the 35km (21.7-mile) mark, which he extended as the Eiffel Tower came into sight and crowds lining the streets roared him on. He became the first Ethiopian winner of the Olympic men’s marathon in 24 years. Tola’s victory was all the more sweet given he was not initially on the team, having been called up after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to a hamstring injury.
Egyptian Olympic wrestler released from French police custody without charge
An Egyptian Olympic wrestler arrested in Paris on sexual assault charges has been released from police custody with all charges dropped, French prosecutors said Saturday. Tokyo bronze medal-winning wrestler Mohamed Ibrahim el-Sayed was arrested early Friday after allegedly groping a woman from behind outside a Paris cafe. A statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office said Saturday that the police custody order for a 26-year-old Olympic wrestler from Egypt, who was not named, “has been lifted and all proceedings (against him) have been terminated without further action because the offence is insufficiently serious.” The Egyptian Olympic Committee said in a statement Saturday the investigation into sexual harassment allegations against el-Sayed has been shelved. It said the wrestler’s release came after reviewing CCTV video of the alleged incident. El-Sayed is a Greco-Roman wrestler who competes at 67 kilograms. He wrestled in one match in Paris, a 9-0 loss to Azerbaijan’s Hasrat Jafarov, on Wednesday. He is a five-time African champion and a two-time under-23 world champion.
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