News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Some people will never like you, because your spirit… irritates their demons”
HIGHLIGHTS
Americans say Islamic State doubles size in Somalia
Nigeria’s independence anniversary is marked by protests
SAfr economy rides coalition’s positivity wave
Tunisian presidential candidate gets 12 years
Africans in Lebanon: ‘Everyone is nervous.
TOP NEWS
Eastern Africa
UN says Congo rebels generating $300,000 monthly in seized mining area
DRC’s basketball hero, Dikembe Mutombo, dies at 58
Ethiopia: OLA denies split following reports of Central Zone Command defection
UN approves renewal of Haiti police mission
Kenyans ‘stuck’ in Lebanon under Israeli hail of fire
Kenya lawmakers plan impeachment move against deputy president
Inside Ksh.5.2B Wealth DP Gachagua Allegedly Amassed In 2 Years
Uproar as Kenyan activist in court over cyber-crime
Op-Ed: Kenya’s anti-corruption protests are a wake-up call for Washington
OpEd: Kenyans stand to lose from Adani airport deal – finance guru explains why
Film: The Battle for Laikipia – brutal impact of British land ownership in Kenya
Ex Doctor on trial in Paris for genocide in Rwanda
OpEd: Are Rwandan troops becoming Cabo Delgado’s main security provider?
AFRICOM Chief says Islamic State doubles size in Somalia
Analysis: Egypt’s Security Pact with Somalia and Its Regional Implications in the Horn of Africa
Sudan becoming ‘fertile ground’ for Jihadists says ex-PM
UAE, Sudan blame each other over bombing of ambassador home
Uganda receives first batch of pipes for crude oil project
West Africa
Burkina Faso calls out foreign powers at UN for “deliberately exacerbating suffering” of Sahelians
Cameroon farmers turn to vigilantes and amulets to stop cocoa theft
FIFA bans Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o for six months over misconduct
Ghana: Detention conditions of ‘StopGalamseyNow’ protesters spark controversy
Equatorial Guinea tells World Court Gabon’s claim on islands is untenable
Mali arrests Barrick Gold employees
Nigeria’s independence anniversary is marked by protests and frustration over economic hardship
Nigeria claims it should get a UN Security Council permanent seat
Cocoa producers ask EU to delay antideforestation law
OpEd: Rethinking responses to coups in West Africa
Southern Africa
Angola’s Isabel dos Santos loses appeal against freezing order over assets
Botswana: Four to compete for Presidency
LGBTQ advocates struggle for visibility in Eswatini
Why boarding schools for toddlers are gaining popularity in Lesotho
Mozambique: Who are the presidential candidates?
OpEd: Climate, conflict and aid: three-pronged solution needed for Mozambique
SAfr economy rides coalition’s positivity wave
Johannesburg considers naming a street after a Palestinian woman who hijacked a plane
Video: What Is South Africa’s Foreign Policy?
How secondhand clothes took Zimbabwe by storm and hammered retail
North Africa
Egypt assumes presidency of African Union Peace and Security Council
Libya’s Parliament approves new Central Bank chief
Tunisian presidential candidate sentenced to 12 years
OpEd: A second presidential term for Kais Saied … at what political cost?
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
THE WEEK AHEAD
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
UN says Congo rebels generating $300,000 monthly in seized mining area
Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have consolidated control over the Rubaya coltan-mining region, imposing a production tax estimated to generate around $300,000 in monthly revenue, the United Nations security council heard on Monday. The M23 movement seized the area which produces minerals used in smartphones and computers, following intense fighting in April. Bintou Keita, head of the U.N. mission in Congo, told the Security Council that trade from minerals in the Rubaya area accounts for over 15% of global tantalum supply. Congo is the world’s top producer of tantalum which is considered a critical mineral by the United States and the European Union. The majority of Congo’s mineral resources are situated in the east, a region plagued by conflict over land and resources between several armed factions. The situation has deteriorated since the resurgence of the M23 rebellion in March 2022. Thousands have been killed and over 1 million displaced since the resurgence in fighting. Manufacturers are under scrutiny to ensure that metals used in products such as laptops and batteries for electric vehicles are not sourced from conflict zones like eastern Congo.
Dikembe Mutombo dies at 58 says NBA
Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58 from brain cancer, the NBA said on Monday. Beloved by fans, the Congolese centre was selected as an NBA All-Star eight times, using his tremendous, seven-foot, two-inch frame to become one of the league’s most fearsome shot-blockers and earn defensive player of the year honours four times. “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. Mutombo’s gregarious personality – with a trademark finger-wag celebration – made him a fan favourite as he played 18 seasons with six different teams in the league, averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He reached the NBA Finals twice. After retiring in 2009, he became NBA’s first global ambassador and helped promote the sport in Africa.
ETHIOPIA
OLA denies split following reports of Central Zone Command defection
The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed group engaged in conflict with government forces in the Oromia region, has denied reports of an internal split following claims that the central zone command, led by Sagni Nagasa, has broken away from the group. Last week, Sagni told the media that his faction would no longer operate under the OLA, claiming that the group lacks “bylaws and a constitution” and accusing its leader, Kumsa Diriba, also known as Jaal Marroo, of authoritarianism. “The individual appointed as the leader of the OLA effectively became the law and constitution of the organization, embodying its entire authority. For years, efforts were made to align his personal ambitions with organizational principles, but each attempt only led to further failure. Consequently, the armed OLA forces fighting in different regions fell into disarray,” Sagni declared to media. However, according to the OLA’s Public Relations Office, Sagni Nagasa was dismissed from the group months ago “on account of treasonous sabotage.” “There has been incontrovertible evidence indicating his links with ENDF officers and operatives,” the office reported. “[There is no split within the OLA], not in the slightest. Sagni is merely a disgruntled former member of the organization whose actions are unanimously condemned by all commands of the OLA across Oromia,” the office added. The group rejected allegations of authoritarianism against its leader, Kumsa Diriba, clarifying that the army is led collectively by the chief commander, deputy chief commander, a seven-member executive committee, and 57 individuals in various roles, functioning as the organization’s general assembly.
KENYA
UN approves renewal of Haiti police mission
The U.N. Security Council on Monday approved a one-year renewal for a multinational police force to help Haiti’s embattled national police subdue gangs in the violence-plagued Caribbean nation, and it will now consider turning the mission into a full-fledged U.N. peacekeeping operation…Kenya is leading the mission and its president, William Ruto, visited Haiti about a week and a half ago to meet with officials and Kenyan and Haitian police forces. Ruto said at the U.N. General Assembly last week that he plans to deploy another Kenyan contingent to Haiti by January. So far only about 500 police have been deployed, the majority from Kenya and the rest from Jamaica and Belize. Diplomats say they expect other countries will also be deploying. Kenya’s U.N. envoy pointed to some initial progress in the capital, Port-au-Prince, including their securing important infrastructure, such as the airport and National Hospital, and several major road intersections.
Kenyans ‘stuck’ in Lebanon under Israeli hail of fire
Hundreds of Kenyans are currently stranded in Lebanon, feeling abandoned as a violent conflict escalates in the region between Israel and Hezbollah militant group. Their story of fear under hellish bombardments and gunfire has become their constant reminder of how far they are from the safety of home. But it also pokes holes on the government’s strategy of sending labourers abroad with no fallback safety measures when those countries become warzones. On Thursday, the government insisted all Kenyans were safe in Lebanon, but didn’t clarify whether there were plans for evacuation or at least relocate them to safer parts of Lebanon. Halima Mohamud, Kenya’s non-resident Ambassador to Lebanon, who is based in Kuwait, said her embassy was in touch with all Kenyans stranded in Lebanon and that they had been provided with information on who to call in case of danger. “No Kenyan has died or been injured. We are in communication with them,” she said. But those stranded in Lebanon give a different experience. They argue they had provided the information needed but haven’t heard from authorities since. Those trapped are migrant workers, most of them women, who came to Lebanon to work in the domestic and hospitality sectors.
Kenya lawmakers plan impeachment move against deputy president
Lawmakers plan to launch impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of undermining the government, parliament’s majority leader said, reflecting a widening rift between President William Ruto and his deputy. The move could add to the government’s challenges after deadly months-long protests over a disputed finance bill forced Ruto to shelve the legislation in June and fire almost his entire cabinet. “It is true there is an impeachment motion against the deputy president and as the member of parliament for Kikuyu, I have already appended my signature to it,” majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah said. “I will support that impeachment motion to stop a process where government is being undermined and sabotaged from within government,” he said. In recent days he (Gachagua) has spoken of being sidelined and denied accusations linking him and associates to the unrest, calling it “a futile attempt to soil my name and hopefully create grounds for the mooted impeachment proceedings against me.” On Sunday, he told reporters that any impeachment motion would require Ruto’s assent. “Without the president’s go-ahead, the motion cannot reach parliament. If it reaches parliament, it is the president who has authorised it.” Gachagua commands support in Kenya’s populous central region, and efforts to unseat him could stir up discontent there, adding to Ruto’s headaches.
Uproar as Kenyan activist in court over cyber-crime
A Kenyan lawyer and activist has appeared in court in connection with alleged cyber-harassment a day after he was dramatically arrested in the capital, Nairobi, sparking public anger. David Morara Kebaso has attracted a huge following on social media for his posts about alleged corruption and the misuse of public funds through fictitious or stalled projects. The 28-year-old was arrested on Monday evening by masked police, who confiscated his phones and laptop before driving him away, local media reported. He is accused by the state prosecutor of tarnishing the reputation of businessman, David Langat, in an X post that also mentioned President William Ruto. His arrest comes nearly three months after youth-led anti-government demonstrations against controversial proposed tax hikes, which turned deadly. Mr Kebaso, who describes himself on social media as “bold and fearless”, has in recent months rattled government officials through his nationwide campaign of documenting stalled government projects and demanding accountability for wasted public funds. He has been doing so by recording short videos and sharing them on social media, attracting sharp reactions. His online activism has attracted more than 200,000 followers on his X account, with some fundraising to support his activities. He was picked up by police from his office in the Kahawa Sukari area, on the outskirts of Nairobi, and spent a night in a cell before appearing in court on Tuesday. Several activists and lawyers who rushed to the Nairobi regional police headquarters to see him said they were denied access to Mr Kebaso and then tear-gassed. The hashtag #FreeMoraraKebaso has been trending on social media since his arrest as Kenyans online called for his release.
Inside Ksh.5.2B Wealth DP Gachagua Allegedly Amassed In 2 Years
Deputy President (DP) Gachagua is faced with allegations of abuse of office and gross violation of the Constitution. Inside the bulky document the mover of the motion, Kibwezi West lawmaker Mwengi Mutuse, says bears evidence to support the grounds upon which the impeachment motion is based. These include accusations of accelerated wealth creation, alleging that in two years, DP Gachagua has acquired Ksh.5.2 billion ($40m) worth of wealth, which the mover says is impossible for a public servant to amass in that time frame. They include the purchase of Outspan Hotel at the Aberdares at a cost of Ksh.535 million, bought in September 2023, one year after he was sworn into office. Other properties associated with the DP are Olive Gardens Hotel in Nairobi, Queens Gate Serviced Apartments in Nairobi, Vipingo Beach Resort in Kilifi, and Treetops Hotel in Nyeri. The mover has also listed Gachagua’s sudden purchase of 40 acres of land in Kamburaini, Nyeri, where he is said to have constructed a helicopter landing facility. Also on the list are 80 acres of land purchased in Meru, a dairy farm in Nyandarua, and land in Embakasi, Nairobi, bought through proxy companies. He is also facing accusations of using proxy companies to take part in the Ksh.3.7 billion mosquito nets purchase, a tender that was marred by corruption…The DP is also facing allegations of gross violation of the Constitution by making inciteful remarks, violating national unity, and propagating ethnic profiling against his oath of office.
Op-Ed: Kenya’s anti-corruption protests are a wake-up call for Washington
OpEd: Kenyans stand to lose from Adani airport deal – finance guru explains why
Film: The Battle for Laikipia review – brutal impact of British land ownership in Kenya
Illuminating documentary examines the tensions between indigenous pastoralists and commercial ranchers as resources become more scarce during a drought.
RWANDA
Ex-Doctor on trial in Paris for genocide in Rwanda
Eugene Rwamucyo, 65, is accused of aiding his country’s authorities in disseminating anti-Tutsi propaganda and of participating in mass murder in an attempt to destroy evidence of genocide. The former doctor, who practiced medicine in France and Belgium after leaving his country, has been charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity, complicity in crimes against humanity and conspiring to prepare those crimes. If found guilty he could face life in prison. Rwamucyo’s trial is the eighth in France relating to the genocide in 1994, when an estimated 800,000 people – mostly ethnic Tutsis – were slaughtered. Rwamucyo, who grew up in a Hutu family, was approached by anti-Tutsi militants in the late 1980s after his return from studying in Russia, according to prosecutors, who accuse him of then spreading anti-Tutsi propaganda. While teaching at university, he also participated in the execution of wounded patients and helped bury them in mass graves “in a final effort to destroy evidence of genocide,” the prosecution said, quoting witness statements.
OpEd: Are Rwandan troops becoming Cabo Delgado’s main security provider?
SOMALIA
AFRICOM Chief says Islamic State doubles size in Puntland
Islamic State in Somalia has approximately doubled in size over the past year, says the chief of U.S. Africa Command. “I am concerned about the northern part of Somalia and ISIS growing in numbers,” AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley said in an exclusive interview, using an acronym for the terror group. Langley declined to provide the United States’ estimate of how many Islamic State fighters are in Somalia, other than to say that the group’s had grown about “twofold” in the past year. Previous estimates have put the number of Islamic State fighters in north Somalia at about 200 fighters. The AFRICOM commander also warned about the possibility of Islamic State increasing its foreign fighter presence in Somalia. Somali Brigadier General Abdi Hassan Hussein, the former intelligence and police commander of Puntland, where Islamic State is located in the north, estimated this year that the number of Islamic State foreign fighters there alone is estimated in the hundreds. This figure has yet to be confirmed by local authorities. A U.S. official told media in June that Abdulqadir Mumin, the leader of Islamic State in Somalia, had been targeted in an American airstrike in May. Mumin appears to have survived the strike. The increase in Islamic State fighters in northern Somalia comes as the al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabab has exploited diplomatic disagreements between Somalia and Ethiopia to raise its recruitment numbers. Landlocked Ethiopia and Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland region signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year to use its Red Sea port of Berbera, a deal that Somalia has rejected.
Analysis: Egypt’s Security Pact with Somalia and Its Regional Implications in the Horn of Africa
SUDAN
Sudan becoming ‘fertile ground’ for Jihadists says ex-PM
Sudan’s last civilian prime minister warned the country’s brutal civil war risks turning it into “fertile ground” for the spread of regional terrorism at a time when several African countries are struggling with an onslaught of jihadist violence…Abdalla Hamdok, prime minister between 2019 and 2022 who now leads the Taqaddum, or Progress, coalition of democratic forces, said Sudan’s descent into violence risks bolstering jihadis across the region. “I really feel quite frightened about this,” he told the Financial Times. “With Sudan bordering seven countries, it will become fertile ground for terrorism in a region that is very fragile.”…Hamdok fears the descent into violence in Sudan, which hosted Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, could also connect groups allied to al-Qaeda in the Sahel to jihadis such as Somalia’s al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa, which is linked to Yemeni Houthis. Analysts and officials in neighbouring countries have echoed Hamdok’s concerns. The country was long on the US’s list of state sponsors of terrorism before it was removed under Hamdok in 2020.
UAE, Sudan blame each other over bombing of ambassador home
The United Arab Emirates on Monday blamed the Sudanese armed forces for bombing the home of its ambassador in Khartoum. The UAE’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the attack on its ambassador’s residence in the Sudanese capital had caused extensive damage to the building. The Sudanese army rejected the accusation, putting the blame instead at the door of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary outfit Khartoum says has been backed by the UAE amid Sudan’s civil war that has engulfed the country for the last 17 months. In January, a UN Security Council report found “credible” evidence that the UAE had supplied weapons to the RSF via Amdjarass in northern Chad. More than 14,000 people in Sudan have been killed, some 33,000 injured, and almost 25 million people — half of the country’s population — are “in need,” according to the UN. Most of Khartoum has been controlled by the RSF for several months now. The Sudanese army recently launched a renewed offensive trying to retake the capital.
TANZANIA
A soldier and a police officer are among 4 men sentenced to life in prison for gang rape
Four Tanzanian men, including a soldier and a police officer, were sentenced Monday to life in prison for gang raping an underage girl in a case that caused national outrage. The four were sentenced in magistrate court in the capital, Dodoma. The court also ordered each man to pay 1 million Tanzanian shillings ($366) to the rape victim. All four had pleaded not guilty to charges of gang rape and sodomy at trial. The attack took place in August and a video of the violence was widely circulated online prompting police to urge the public to stop sharing it so as not to further victimize the 17-year-old girl. Dodoma police commander Theopista Mallya was transferred after she linked the rape video to sex work. The suspects were charged in court on Aug. 19 after calls from women rights groups for justice to be served.
UGANDA
First batch of pipes delivered for crude oil project
Uganda on Monday received the first batch of coated line pipes for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which was delivered to the main camp and pipe yard in Kyotera District, signalling the project developers’ intent to fast track the laying and construction of the cross-border pipeline in both Uganda and Tanzania. China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd (CPP), the construction contractor for Eacop, received nine trucks of insulated line pipe from the coating plant in Nzenga, Tabora Region, Tanzania. With the arrival of the insulated line pipes in Uganda, CPP is expected to start laying of the pipeline in Uganda as the developers race against time to export the first barrels of crude oil by the end of next year, a statement from Eacop Ltd said. The planned 1,443-kilometre pipeline, linking oil fields in the Albertine Basin in Uganda to the Tanga port in Tanzania, has already received 800 kilometres of line pipes, which are currently being coated and insulated at the Nzega Coating Yard. The project, estimated to cost $5 billion, is being developed by the Eacop Company, with Uganda and Tanzania as shareholders, each holding a 15 percent stake, while French supermajor TotalEnergies holds 62 percent and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Uganda Limited owns eight percent.
Video: Francophone activist warns East Africans about French ties
“Beware! The French are coming! After being kicked out of the Sahel, France is seeking a redeployment in the eastern and southern parts of the continent, Pan-African leader Nathalie Yamb warns. Video in English with french subtitles.”
WEST AFRICA
BURKINA FASO
At UN Burkina Faso calls out foreign powers “deliberately exacerbating suffering” of Sahelians
Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed Monday the UN General Assembly High-Level Debate in New York. As his country still fights a terrorist group in the north-east, he said nearly 70% of the territory was now under control from 40% in 2022. Foreign Minister Traore also called out what he termed as propaganda against Burkinabe Defence forces. He highlighted “the professionalism and the stellar conduct” of the country’s Defense and Security Forces (FDS), “that is demonstrated through their participation in peacekeeping operations and recognize it time and time again at this very podium, the ongoing training and examination of our defense forces and volunteers in International humanitarian law guarantee that our professional conduct is unimputable in respecting human rights.” Karamoko Jean Marie Traore added that the populations of the Sahel have suffered from the security and humanitarian crisis…deliberately enforced to further exacerbate their suffering.” In that regard, he reiterated his country’s accusation against Ukraine, as a “sponsor” of terrorists in the Sahel.
CAMEROON
Farmers turn to vigilantes and amulets to stop cocoa theft
Rising cocoa prices driven by global production shortfalls have led to increased thefts of the commodity in farms in Cameroon, farmers and authorities say, forcing farmers to turn to machete-armed vigilantes, and amulets to stop thieves. While farmers in Ivory Coast and Ghana sell their beans at a fixed farmgate price regulated by authorities, farmers in Cameroon, where the market is liberalized, get a higher market-related price backed by global prices. Data from Cameroon’s cocoa regulator, the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, show that prices have sometimes tripled from 1,500 francs CFA ($2.56) per kg, the floor price at the start of the 2023/24 season. This has made cocoa a lucrative target for thieves, causing concern among farmers in the country’s cocoa production basins. Pascal Mani, who farms seven hectares in Endaba village near the town of Ntui in central Cameroon, patrols his farm armed with a machete every day intermittently and before going to bed. To tackle the problem, some farm communities have formed vigilante groups armed with whistles, reflective jackets, bows and arrows, machetes and spears to keep watch and send out alerts. Some farmers have been seen resorting to unorthodox methods to protect their crops, including planting amulets in their farms, with the hope that it would trap thieves or cast a spell on them if they dare steal their cocoa.
FIFA bans Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o for six months over misconduct
Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) chief Samuel Eto’o has been banned from attending the national team’s matches for six months after violating FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, football’s governing body said. The former Barcelona striker has been president of Fecafoot since 2021 and will now be barred from all men’s and women’s games across various age groups. “The sanction was imposed in connection with the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup round-of-16 match between Brazil and Cameroon played in Bogota, Colombia, on 11 September 2024,” FIFA said in a statement on Monday. Details regarding the incidents were not disclosed by FIFA’s disciplinary committee. The statement said Eto’o was deemed guilty of “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” and “misconduct” involving officials. The charges relate to Cameroon’s last-16 game against Brazil, which the South Americans won 3-1 after extra time. Eto’o and the Cameroon delegation saw red over a penalty that led to Brazil’s equaliser in the match. In July, Eto’o was fined $200,000 for a brand deal with an online gambling firm ruled to be an ethics violation by the Confederation of African Football. Eto’o was also in conflict with his country’s sports ministry, calling their appointment of Belgian Marc Brys earlier this year as the men’s team coach “illegal”.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA/GABON
Equatorial Guinea tells World Court Gabon’s claim on islands is untenable
Equatorial Guinea asked judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday to reject Gabon’s claim to several islands in potentially oil-rich waters in the Gulf of Guinea. The African neighbours, both significant oil producers, have asked the United Nations’ top court to settle a dispute centring on the tiny island of Mbanié, less than a kilometre (about 1,000 yards) long, off the coast of Gabon. “Gabon’s position is factually and legally untenable,” said Equatorial Guinea’s representative at the court, Domingo Mba Esono. The conflict has been going on since 1972, when Gabon’s army drove Equatorial Guinea soldiers from Mbanié. Gabon has since set up its own military presence on the virtually uninhabited island of just 74 acres (30 hectares). But the dispute lay dormant until the early 2000s, when the prospect of oil rekindled interest in the Gulf of Guinea. In 2016, after years of mediation by the United Nations, the countries signed an agreement that would ultimately let the ICJ, also known as the World Court, settle the dispute. Equatorial Guinea bases its claim on the islands on a 1900 convention dividing up French and Spanish colonial assets in West Africa. Gabon, meanwhile, says the ICJ should base its judgment on another agreement, from 1974. Equatorial Guinea says the document Gabon has offered as proof for the 1974 agreement is unsigned and not an original. Hearings will last a week. Gabon presents its case on Wednesday. The court is expected to give its final and binding ruling sometime next year.
GHANA
Detention conditions of ‘StopGalamseyNow’ protesters spark controversy
The convenor of the ‘StopGalamseyNow’ protest, Oliver Mawuse Barker Vormawor, alongside 11 other protesters, has been remanded into custody until October 8. This brings the total number of remanded protesters to 52, sparking widespread public outcry. Heavy police presence filled the Accra Circuit Court as the accused, all in handcuffs, made their appearance. Barker Vormawor, still recovering after collapsing in police custody earlier in the week, was escorted by officers from the police hospital directly to the courtroom. Defence lawyers argue that the protesters have suffered inhumane treatment, including denial of food, water, and basic hygiene during their initial detention. Despite their bail plea, the judge, Kwabena Obiri Yeboah ruled to keep the group in custody, with a court date set for October 8. “Why do you think the supreme court did the non-bailable decision? It’s because of this same kind of abuse. Am telling you that what I witnessed in court, there was no need for a remand,” Martin Kpebu, private legal practitioner said. This decision to remand a total of 52 protesters has drawn strong public condemnation.
MALI
Govt arrests Barrick Gold employees
Mali’s military-led authorities have arrested four employees of Canadian miner Barrick Gold, two sources said on Friday. All four are senior Malian employees, one of the sources said. Barrick is the world’s second-largest gold miner and one of Mali’s top gold producers, but like other international miners it has been under growing pressure in the West African country since a junta seized power in 2020. A government official based in the region and speaking on condition of anonymity said four Barrick employees had been arrested for alleged financial crimes…Mali is one of Africa’s biggest gold producers and the junta has sought to channel a greater share of gold revenue to state coffers including via a new mining code that allows the government to increase its ownership of gold concessions. Its shake-up of the sector is part of a wider policy shift that has seen the authorities cut off long-standing ties with Western allies such as France and seek closer diplomatic, security, and commercial relations with Russia.
NIGERIA
Independence anniversary is marked by protests and frustration over economic hardship
Nigerians on Tuesday staged protests against economic hardship as the West African nation marked its 64th independence anniversary with its president calling for patience. Police fired tear gas to disperse some of the protesters, resulting in clashes. Dozens of people in a few states waved placards and the green-and-white national flag, demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people, in a country that has some of the world’s highest poverty and hunger levels despite being a top oil producer on the continent. It was the second protest in two months in Africa’s most populous country amid worsening hardship caused by government reforms introduced to save money and shore up dwindling foreign investments. During the last protest in August, at least 20 protesters were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested. The government has defended the reforms even though they have helped push the inflation rate to a 28-year high and the local naira currency to record lows against the dollar. In the capital city of Abuja where government officials and the military attended an independence anniversary parade, some protesters in another part of the city were dispersed with tear gas. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who has been in office since May last year after an election campaign forged on “renewed hope,” defended the reforms as necessary and said they were already yielding results, such as $30 billion in foreign direct investments attracted in the last year.
Nigeria claims it should get a UN Security Council permanent seat
The United States envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield announcedthat “the United States supports creating two permanent seats for Africans on the Council.” Yet, she dismissed the veto power going to new permanent members. In a wide-ranging interview, Nigerian Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, asserted that his West African country is the most populous state in the continent with 220 million people. It is also one of its biggest economies, so it is poised to be a major candidate to benefit from a permanent Council seat. He went on to express hope to see even further reform of the G20, for Nigeria to become a member of the G20. Because if you look at the spread, Africa is the only continent with one — but if you look at the other four continents, they are represented by more than one country. On the ongoing Sudan crisis, Tuggar said: “Nigeria has an interest in Sudan, because it’s our largest diaspora. We have close to eight million Nigerians, Sudanese, of Nigerian extraction. So, you can see where the linkage is there, and if the crisis continues unabated, we risk facing a refugee crisis. It’s very important to us. The historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Sudan go all the way back to the seventh century.”
Cocoa producers ask EU to delay antideforestation law
In a joint declaration signed last week at the headquarters of the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) in Côte d’Ivoire, cocoa-producing countries said that implementation deadlines set by the EU were “unrealistic in view of the requirements of the regulation, which range from the geolocation of plots to the establishment of an exhaustive traceability system”. The EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is due to come into force from 30 December 2024, and requires companies seeking to sell designated products to prove they have not been sourced from land deforested or degraded since 2021. With less than three months to go, the ICCO said a traceability system wasn’t yet operational, while the European Commission still had not shared all the necessary documents or activated a data-processing platform involved in implementing the rules. Cocoa producers warn that hasty implementation of the deforestation regulation could prove detrimental, particularly for small producers who risk finding themselves barred from the European market…Despite the mounting opposition, the Commission said earlier this week that the goal of implementing the EUDR as early as 30 December 2024 is still in place.
OpEd: Rethinking responses to coups in West Africa
SOUTHERN AFRICA
ANGOLA
Isabel dos Santos loses appeal against freezing order over assets
Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos on Monday lost an appeal to overturn an order freezing up to 580 million pounds ($778 million) of her assets as part a lawsuit at London’s High Court. Dos Santos – Africa’s first female billionaire, whose father Jose Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years until 2017 – is being sued by Angolan telecoms operator Unitel. Unitel was granted a worldwide freezing order over dos Santos’ assets in December and the Court of Appeal on Monday rejected her appeal against that decision. Dos Santos has faced corruption accusations in Angola for years. She denies the allegations and says she is the target of a long-running political vendetta. She is being sued by Unitel over loans it made to separate Dutch company Unitel International Holdings (UIH) in 2012 and 2013, when she was a Unitel director, to fund UIH’s acquisition of shares in telecoms companies. Dos Santos owns and controls UIH, the Court of Appeal said in its ruling. Unitel and UIH are not related despite bearing the same name, and dos Santos resigned as a director of Unitel in 2020. The loans were not repaid and around 300 million pounds is outstanding, Unitel’s lawyers argued at the High Court.
BOTSWANA
Four to compete for Presidency
Botswana’s High Court has confirmed four presidential candidates will run in the country’s general elections next month. Among them is incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is seeking a second and final term. By law, presidential candidates in Botswana must provide proof to the chief justice that they have the required number of supporters to be eligible to run. The High Court verified four out of five possible candidates had the required support. The presidential candidates will be Masisi; Duma Boko, leader of the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC); Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP); and Mephato Reatile from the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), according to Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane. Biggie Butale, from a smaller opposition group the Botswana Republican Party, failed to meet the requirements…The president is elected indirectly by parliament in Botswana, with recent efforts to introduce direct voting rejected following nationwide consultations.
ESWATINI
LGBTQ advocates struggle for visibility in Eswatini
Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities, an LGBTQ advocacy group, was denied registration by authorities in 2019, and even after seeking relief from the Supreme Court, which had ruled the group must be registered, its efforts have been unsuccessful. Human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said the harsh legal environment for LGBTQ individuals in the southern African kingdom causes significant problems. “There is denial that they exist, so they do not have any form of protection as a group,” Nhlabatsi said. “They only rely on protection from the law or enjoyment of any rights from the law as human beings under Chapter 3 of our Bill of Rights of our Constitution. So I can say it’s quite challenging, because there’s no instrument that seeks to protect them. There’s no instrument that seeks to recognize them as a group of people that exist. I don’t think there’s any progress that has been made.” Besides the lack of legal recognition, LGBTQ individuals in Eswatini often face discrimination in gaining access to services, high rates of intimate partner violence, and exclusion from public discussions. Sisanda Mavimbela, executive director of Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities, said the idea of LGBTQ rights is considered contradictory to traditional African values and religious beliefs, perpetuating a climate of exclusion and marginalization. “The community cannot equally enjoy rights like all Swazis do, as per their birthright,” Mavimbela said. ESGM has been denied “a right to associate, which is a right to all Swazis as per the Constitution.” In refusing to register Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities, the government cited the country’s colonial-era laws, which still have a profound influence on the country’s legal framework. Eswatini is also known by its former official name, Swaziland.
LESOTHO
Why boarding schools for toddlers are gaining popularity
As many parents migrate to South Africa for job opportunities, children are left with relatives, nannies, and more recently at schools. Child Guidance Center (CGC) is one of several boarding schools – some formal, others informal – that have sprung up across the landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa in recent years. But unlike traditional boarding schools for older children, these admit toddlers and preschoolers and provide a more affordable choice for working-class parents who feel like they have few options. “These schools [are] … particularly helping parents eager to seek employment in foreign lands but cannot take their children along,” said an April report published in the Lesotho Times. They take in children from an age range of two years to 12 years. CGC’s fees are 2,500 South African rand ($144) a month, which pays for classes, lodging, food and general care. Being entirely surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho’s economy is also largely dependent on its neighbour. It is also one of the most migration-dependent countries in the world, a report prepared for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted. Many people from Lesotho – particularly lower-skilled and informal sector workers, including supermarket cashiers, domestic helpers and factory workers – migrate to South Africa in search of economic opportunities and leave their children behind, NGOs note. According to Integral Human Development, “43% of the households in Lesotho have at least one of its members living away from home…”In general, people leave Lesotho and their children to look for better jobs in South Africa,” said Thapelo Khasela, the general manager at Action Lesotho, an anti-poverty NGO that has worked to support orphans and other vulnerable people.
MOZAMBIQUE
Who are the presidential candidates?
Mozambique will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Oct. 9, marking the end of President Filipe Nyusi’s two-term tenure. There are four candidates vying to succeed Nyusi. Daniel Chapo, 47, is the candidate from Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo party that has governed the country since its independence in 1975. He is widely expected to win due to the party’s dominance, despite his relatively low profile in national politics. Ossufo Momade, 63, is the leader of Mozambique’s main opposition party and former rebel movement, Renamo. Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane is seen as a rising star in Mozambican politics who is popular among the youth. Lutero Simango is the leader of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), the country’s third-biggest party, which was founded by his brother Daviz Simango in 2009.
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SOUTH AFRICA
The economy rides coalition’s positivity wave
Cyril Ramaphosa smiled broadly while telling business leaders about his plans to transform South Africa into an investment hub. The country’s president, speaking at a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, had every reason to be happy. South African stocks are on a tear, while the coalition government has buoyed hopes that the country’s debilitating power and transport problems can be fixed. “The business community is responding very positively to our reforms,” he said at the meeting, a roundtable event bringing together executives, bankers, and officials from a variety of governments and finance institutions. “We are pointing in the right direction and our reforms are starting to gain traction,” said Ramaphosa, adding that his government’s policies “will improve the business operating environment and attract investment.” Ramaphosa’s positive message has been matched by investor sentiment around South Africa. The country’s stocks have had their strongest third quarter for 11 years, and quarterly index measuring consumer sentiment compiled by the Bureau for Economic Research has also ticked up to pre-covid levels. South Africa has not endured the rolling nationwide power cuts that throttled the economy — known as “loadshedding” — for around six months, which analysts cite as a key factor in the country’s resurgence. That has been helped by the central bank cutting its main interest rate last month for the first time since 2020 amid slowing inflation, days after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate cut signaled a shift in global monetary policy. The relative stability of the coalition has been a pleasant surprise and is a positive factor for business, which need a predictable environment. The reduction in interest rates could provide a boost to consumer confidence, further generating positivity in the economy.
Johannesburg considers naming a street after a Palestinian woman who hijacked a plane
Officials in South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, proposed renaming a major street after a Palestinian woman who was involved in a hijacking more than 50 years ago, sparking criticism from several political parties and the city’s Jewish community. The city council is considering naming the street in its financial district of Sandton after Leila Khalid, a Palestinian militant and member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine group. Khaled, who is now 80 years old, gained infamy in 1969 when she was part of a group who hijacked a Trans World Airlines flight on a journey from Rome to Tel Aviv, Israel. She became known as the first woman to hijack a plane.
She was also one of two people who attempted to hijack an Israeli Airlines flight from Amsterdam to New York City the following year, which resulted in the other hijacker being fatally shot by air marshals. Israel considers Khaled a terrorist, but she is widely seen as a hero and freedom fighter by Palestinians and by some in South Africa who support the Palestinian cause. Khaled has previously visited South Africa. The street renaming controversy dates back to 2018, when it was first proposed and reportedly sparked a brawl among Johannesburg city officials, according to local media coverage at the time. It was initially proposed by Al Jama-ah, a pro-Palestinian minority party in the Johannesburg council, and supported by the African National Congress, South Africa’s largest political party. The name change is being considered again and members of the public have until mid-October to register their objections. The South African Zionist Federation said the proposed change was partly aimed at the fact that the U.S. consulate in Johannesburg is located on the same street, which is currently called Sandton Drive.
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ZIMBABWE
How secondhand clothes took Zimbabwe by storm – and hammered retail
A multitude of Zimbabweans have turned their backs on home-grown fashion brands, opting for the booming market in secondhand – or “pre-loved” – imports from overseas instead. Imported used clothing sold in Zimbabwe is, according to the authorities, brought into the country illegally through the porous borders or official border posts with the collusion of customs, immigration and law enforcement officials after it is brought off ships from Europe and North America. While it is possible to apply for a licence to bring used clothes into the country for re-sale, nobody does this as it is expensive and the import duties are high…While consumers are clear winners due to the explosion of the secondhand foreign clothes market, the influx of used clothing sold at low prices has hit Zimbabwean clothing manufacturers and retailers. Issues such as high unemployment, mass emigration of skilled people to countries like South Africa, and Zimbabwe’s decades-long general economic malaise have also contributed to the industry’s downturn. In 2015, Zimbabwe banned imports of secondhand clothes for resale in an attempt to boost the clothing manufacturing sector. However, the government relented to pressure from people dealing in used clothes and introduced new import taxes on used clothing instead in 2017.
NORTH AFRICA
EGYPT
Egypt assumes presidency of African Union Peace and Security Council
Egypt has today assumed the presidency of the African Union’s (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the month of October, as announced by Mohamed Gad, Egypt’s ambassador to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the AU. The presidency comes at a critical time, with rising security challenges across the continent. During its presidency, Egypt aims to strengthen the role of the PSC in addressing these issues. “Egypt’s upcoming presidency comes within a complex regional and international context marked by growing security challenges, requiring concerted efforts and transparent consultation,” said Gad. The goals align with the AU’s Agenda 2063, which focuses on promoting peace, security and sustainable development. Egypt’s presidency will also feature the PSC’s first visit to Port Sudan since the outbreak of the Sudan crisis in April 2023. Cairo’s assumption of the presidency comes at a time when the North African country has enhanced its defence ties with East African state Somalia. Other focus areas will include consultations with the UN on peacebuilding, financing African peace operations, combating terrorism and addressing the impact of climate change on security. Egypt was elected unanimously to the PSC for a two-year term in February 2024, representing the North Africa region. The PSC is composed of 15 non-permanent members elected by the AU Executive Council, with ten members serving two-year terms and five serving five-year terms.
LIBYA
Parliament approves new Central Bank chief
Libya’s eastern parliament on Monday agreed to appoint Naji Mohamed Issa Belqasem as the new central bank governor after the former governor, Sadiq al-Kabir, was fired last month by the presidential council in the capital, Tripoli. Parliament spokesperson Abdullah Bliheg said Monday that all 108 lawmakers voted in favor of appointing Belqasem, who previously was the central bank’s director of banking and monetary control. The parliament also appointed Mari Muftah Rahil Barrasi as his deputy. Belqasem and Barrasi are expected to form a new board of directors for the central bank within 10 days. The decision came as part of a U.N.-facilitated agreement between the parliament and the High Council of State to appoint new leadership for the country’s central bank.
TUNISIA
Presidential candidate sentenced to 12 years
A Tunisian court sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to 12 years in prison on Tuesday on charges of falsifying documents, his lawyer said. It was the third prison sentence imposed on Zammel in two weeks, and was announced five days before the presidential election.
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AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
Africans in Lebanon: ‘Everyone is nervous on campus’
Since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October last year, there has been near-daily cross-border fire between Israel and Hamas’s ally Hezbollah, the Iran-backed military group which is based in Lebanon. This last week has seen the deadliest days of conflict in Lebanon in almost 20 years. As many as one million people have been forced from their homes across Lebanon, the country’s Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, has said. The US, UK, Australia, France, Canada and India have all issued official advice for their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible. African students have said they now face a dilemma – whether to remain in Lebanon as Israel continues to attack or return home to countries such as Uganda, Zimbabwe and Cameroon…The scholarship programme funding African students at AUB has given international students the option to go home and finish their course online. But some say that will not be possible. Sharon Atyang, a 27-year-old student from northern Uganda, is currently completing her master’s in community development at AUB. She says electricity and internet issues at home will make it almost impossible to complete her studies online. The Mastercard Scholarship Program finances dozens of African students in Lebanon. Mastercard Foundation said it is closely monitoring developments and working with AUB to support students.
How the AU’s African credit rating agency plan could work
The African Union’s planned credit ratings agency could unlock the necessary capital to develop the digital infrastructure needed to transform countries across Africa, said two of the continent’s top bankers. The AU planned to launch the agency this year but confirmed in July that it would not be fully operational until 2025. African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, noted that the cost of raising capital in Africa is “three to four times” higher than in other parts of the world. “This is based on risk, but mainly in terms of perceived risk,” he said. “Well, I’m sorry, your perception is not my reality.” Adesina said the AU’s agency would “actually provide a counterfactual to existing credit agencies so that Africa’s risk is properly addressed — whether it’s market risk, financial risk, political risk — is properly addressed.” Like other credit ratings agencies, AfCRA’s primary role will be to evaluate the financial health of African institutions, companies, and governments, and their ability to repay debt. The global ratings sector is currently dominated by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch who have 95% of the market by some estimates.
Credibility of elections under threat globally
Twenty-one African countries experienced significant declines in the credibility of elections between 2020 and 2024, Stockholm-based intergovernmental organisation, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. One in three voters this year is casting a ballot in countries where election quality is worse than five years ago, according to a report by the International IDEA. Between mid-2020 and mid-2024, one in five elections was challenged in at least one legal proceeding, with voting and vote counting emerging as the most-litigated aspects of the electoral process. During the period, one in five elections saw a losing presidential candidate or losing party in parliamentary elections publicly reject the outcome of the election, and opposition parties boycotted one in 10 elections. When 79 of 114 armed conflicts worldwide are concentrated in one region, Africa, all aspects of democracy, representation, rights, rule of law, and participation, are hit. These factors combine to challenge public confidence in political processes. According to the ‘Global State of Democracy 2024 Report’, the decline is a threat to democracy globally. Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA secretary-general, noted that “The single-worst area of decline is credible elections in Africa, where 21 countries (40 percent) performed at a significantly worse level than they had five years before (in 2018).” Examples of the declines in representation and rights can be seen mostly in Africa, where coups have clear impacts on both representation and rights, especially as leaders come to power in the absence of polls, and many then suspend rights in order to maintain their new grip on power. Africa has experienced nine coups since August 2020 in Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Gabon, Chad and Mali.
Global South risks becoming victim to ‘AI’ divide
Speaking at Semafor’s ”The Next 3 Billion” event in New York, Google SVP of technology and society James Manyika said the world should work to ensure “the existing digital divide doesn’t also turn into an AI divide in a way that leaves out the Global South.” He warned that progress on AI may stall or even turn toward harmful outcomes if all nations weren’t engaged in the transformation — which, in turn, requires significant infrastructure investment, and may require more than a billion dollars annually…Manyika is the co-author of a new United Nations report, Governing AI for Humanity, published this month that examines the best course forward for how to regulate the technology on a global scale. The report found that there are few international AI regulation efforts, and that many countries in the Global South have not signed on to any of these. ..The report called for an AI-focused international policy meeting to take place during the UN’s biannual meetings and a global fund for AI development to fill the gap, with an estimated $350 million to $1 billion needed annually on top of existing financing.
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Things Fall Apart’ on a small screen near you soon
Hollywood star Idris Elba is working on a TV series adaptation of “Things Fall Apart,” the classic novel by the late Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe. Elba will play the novel’s central character, Okonkwo. He will also executive produce the series alongside British-Nigerian actor/director David Oyelowo. The Achebe family will be among executive producers on the project.The adaptation of the novel, which has been translated into more than 60 languages and sold over 20 million copies, is underway with A24 studio in New York, according to a Variety report. The novel has previously been adapted, notably in 1987 when it was made into a miniseries and broadcast in Nigeria by the Nigerian Television Authority. In 2021, the Achebe family announced the production for Achebe’s trilogy; Things Fall Apart, No Longer At Ease, and Arrow of God, into a TV series. Critics say that collaborating with local actors in the latest adaptation will ensure cultural authenticity as well as expand Nigerian actors’ global networks. London-born Elba, who is of Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian heritage, has supported a wide range of African and African diaspora projects over the last decade, including Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation.
THIS WEEK AHEAD
Oct. 1 — The Eastern Africa Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Humanitarian Action event will take place in Mombasa, Kenya.
Oct. 2-3 — The 2024 Joburg Indaba, will bring together mining executives, investors, and government officials.
Oct. 2-3 — The Angola Oil & Gas conference and exhibition will return to Luanda to facilitate deal-signings and drive projects forward.
Oct. 3 — Tanzania’s central bank will announce its latest lending rate decision.
Opportunities
Oct. 29 — The application process for the 2025 United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Africa is now open. The course will be held in Addis Ababa, from Feb. 20-Mar. 14, 2025.
Nov. 8 — The 2025 Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship is seeking candidates from the Global South who have between five and 10 years career experience with demonstrated accomplishments at a regional, national, or international level.
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