News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“When small men cast big shadows, the sun is about to set.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Female Sudanese refugees say they’re being ‘exploited’ to survive
Gabon votes on new constitution
South Africa says it will now rescue trapped miners
Smugglers and miners running gold on the Egypt-Sudan border
CAR has embargo on diamonds lifted
Africa calls for climate solutions not symbolic agreement
A future vision for UN peacekeeping.
TOP NEWS
Eastern Africa
Video: Mountain collapses in DR Congo revealing tonnes of copper
Who is Fano? Inside Ethiopia’s Amhara rebellion
Ethiopia vows continued fight against al-Shabaab ‘in any way possible’
19 million of the 21 million Kenyans who took the Hustler Loan have Defaulted
TikTok takes down 360,000 videos in Kenya
Kenyan man reports wife’s kidnapping, but she’s found with second husband
Rwanda plans church tax to stop ‘rogue’ pastors
OpEd: Somalia is changing. The humanitarian system must as well
Peaceful elections in Somaliland await final count
Western diplomats urge Somaliland leaders to accept election results
Somaliland elections declared free and fair
Somaliland: Two days of mourning for Ahmed Silanyo
Cholera suspected as cause of mystery deaths in besieged Sudan town
Warring parties target local aid volunteers as fighting escalates in Sudan
Female Sudanese refugees say they’re being ‘exploited’ to survive
Audio: What will stop the fighting in Sudan?
West Africa
Gabon votes on new constitution, key step towards democratic rule
Phony X accounts are meddling in Ghana’s election
Four-time champions Ghana out of AFCON 2025 after draw with Angola
Activists plant trees in Mali but residents strip them for firewood
Niger: Thousands march in Niamey to denounce “destabilization plots”
Nigeria and India agree deeper ties in maritime security, counter-terrorism
Uncovering an African master (again)
Former Miss South Africa contestant wins Miss Universe Africa after entering as Miss Nigeria
Senegal votes for lawmakers in test for new president
Erdoğan wins again with Senegal deal
Southern Africa
Mozambique: A presidential guide to stashing dodgy cash
Volunteers mobilise as South Africa says it will rescue trapped miners
Families gather at SAfr mine shaft where hundreds are feared stuck underground
Wits unveils pan-African AI center
Church of England ‘directly responsible’ for John Smyth abuse in Zimbabwe
North Africa
Immediate ceasefire needed in Gaza, South Africa’s Foreign Minister says in Egypt
The smugglers and miners running gold on the Egypt-Sudan border
Central Africa
CAR’s bid to lift embargo on its diamonds successful
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
THE WEEK AHEAD
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
Video: Mountain collapses in DR Congo revealing tonnes of copper
Video shows a mountain collapsing in Katanga, DR Congo, revealing massive quantities of copper.
ETHIOPIA
Who is Fano? Inside Ethiopia’s Amhara rebellion
For the past 20 months, Ethiopia’s Amhara region has been torn apart by a bloody conflict between federal forces and a coalition of militia known as Fano, who demand full Amhara control of all territory they regard as part of their homeland…The name “Fano” loosely translates as freedom fighter, and stretches back to the successful campaign by a volunteer army against the Italian fascist occupation of Ethiopia in the 1930s. The Fano of today are an ethno-nationalist group that claims to represent the Amhara, Ethiopia’s second-biggest community, and seem to have widespread popular support…The Amhara have historically dominated economic, cultural, and political life in Ethiopia: Ethno-nationalists see their community as the embodiment of Ethiopianess”. The stated goal of the insurgency is to end the “oppression” of the Amhara, and the “balkanisation” of Ethiopia under the current federal constitution, which divides the country into 12 states based on language and ethnicity. But critics suspect Fano’s approach is an attempt to restore Amhara dominance under the guise of national unity. Fano fought alongside the federal government during the Tigray war in 2020 against the TPLF. Since then, Fano has grown into a more effective guerrilla force. Between July and September, attacks on govt armed forces tripled compared to the previous year – despite Addis Ababa drafting in fresh troops and equipment. Fano has resisted repeated pushes by the Government. There has also been an increasing number of strikes by Ethiopia’s Turkish and Chinese-made drones, which in the past year have reportedly killed more than 300 civilians. Some Amahara civic groups claim the real death toll is far higher…
Ethiopia vows continued fight against al-Shabaab ‘in any way possible’
Ethiopia announced that its efforts to “weaken al-Shabaab will continue in any way possible” to ensure the group does not pose a threat to national security and that “the victories achieved thus far are not reversed.” In a weekly briefing, Ambassador Nebiat Getachew, spokesperson for the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted Ethiopia’s pivotal role in reducing al-Shabaab’s threat to the region. “Al-Shabaab remains a concern for our national security, and efforts to counter it will continue in all circumstances to prevent it from becoming a threat or allowing any footholds to resurface,” the spokesperson emphasized. The statement from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs followed an announcement by Somalia’s Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, on Saturday, declaring that Ethiopia will not participate in the upcoming African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), scheduled to commence in January 2025.
KENYA
19 million of the 21 million Kenyans who took the Hustler Loan have Defaulted
President Ruto pledged a Hustlers’ Fund which would dispense microloans straight to mobile phones “at single-digit interest”. The intention was that the loans would be used to start businesses and help “hustlers” make their way out of poverty. They were primarily aimed at women and young people. The significance of the Hustler Fund was that the government became a micro-lender. This controversial new role was applauded by the financial inclusion lobby as a way to correct failures in the credit market. To qualify for a loan, all the applicant requires is a valid national identity document and a registered mobile number. A person can borrow a small amount (500-50,000 shillings or roughly US$4-400) for 14 days. After its launch in November 2022, Kenyans took up the hustler loan in large numbers. As at August 2024, there were roughly 21 million borrowers. The Hustler Fund has the most active loans in the market, taking a 45% share of the active loans in the digital lending industry. M-Shwari has 28% of all active loans…Most borrowers haven’t repaid their loans. The government reported that 19 million of the 21 million Kenyans who took the hustler loan have defaulted. This has left only 2 million borrowers who continue to borrow regularly. The government has ramped up debt tracing measures, including a proposal to raid the M-Pesa accounts of defaulters.
TikTok takes down 360,000 videos in Kenya
TikTok is deleting more videos in Kenya for violating community guidelines, as the company looks to avoid government scrutiny over content moderation. TikTok pulled down 360,000 videos in Kenya in the three months to June, according to its newly published Q2 enforcement report. It took down 296,000 videos in all of 2023 in Kenya. The videos removed in the three-month period accounted for 0.3% of videos uploaded in Kenya in that quarter. The platform was compelled by Kenya’s government in April to share quarterly compliance reports because it faced a petition that threatened to see it banned in the country. The proliferation of sexual content in particular on TikTok in Kenya fueled the push for stricter moderation. Videos featuring ethnic incitement and violence are also often pulled down for violating guidelines.
Kenyan man reports wife’s kidnapping, but she’s found with second husband
A police report revealed that a man made a report at a Police Station, on Nairobi’s outskirts, on November 9, that his wife was kidnapped by unknown people who had promised her a job opportunity. The man was said to have received a shocking demand of Ksh.150,000 in ransom from an unknown phone number. This then prompted the indulgence of police authorities who launched a probe and soon arrested a suspect whose number was believed to have been used, without his permission, for the ransom demand. Officers then extended the probe which led them to Narok town on November 16 where the woman’s number was last located. It was here that the woman was found with whats now recognised as another husband and two other children. Preliminarily investigations have established that the incident was a case of a complicated love triangle and not kidnapping.
RWANDA
Plans for church tax to stop ‘rogue’ pastors
President Paul Kagame has accused some churches of “squeezing money” from poor Rwandans. Authorities have closed thousands of churches for non-compliance. Every Sunday in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, smartly dressed Christians gather at their respective churches to attend services. Singing, praying, listening to sermons and giving offerings — mostly cash — are integral to these worship sessions. Whatever amount is raised from the offerings is typically used to pay bills for running the church and salaries for those who serve the congregation. Until now, churches in Rwanda have been exempt from paying taxes. However, if a plan by Rwanda’s government goes through, churches could be mandated to pay tax on the offerings. The Rwanda Governance Board, the country’s agency tasked with regulating religious organizations, has reportedly finished drafting a bill that could soon be tabled in parliament. According to Rwanda’s 2022 census, more than 90% of the country’s population identify as Christian. However, the mushrooming of Pentecostal churches, which man critics have accused of targeting the poor by preaching the “prosperity gospel,” led to Kagame’s crackdown. The Rwanda Governance Board has shut down nearly 8,000 churches and mosques following an evaluation process. It said many churches had failed to meet infrastructural standards, such as safety protocols, while some were allegedly operating illegally.
SOMALIA
OpEd: Somalia is changing. The humanitarian system must as well
‘Humanitarians are a nightmare to work with.’
SOMALILAND
Peaceful elections await final count
The counting of votes is underway for the presidential elections held on November 13, 2024, in Somaliland. A significant event for this region that declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991, although it is not yet internationally recognized. These elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were postponed for two years due to internal economic and political challenges. According to local sources, “among the strengths of these democratic elections, the great spirit of participation emerges”. Turnout at the polls has been high, demonstrating a strong democratic participation of the population, eager to exercise their right to vote. Outgoing President Muse Bihi Abdi of the Kulmiye Party has sought re-election against key opponents such as Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of the Waddani Party and Faisal Ali Warabe of the Justice and Development Party (UCID), who have run campaigns aimed at reform and national cohesion. The chairman of the Somaliland Electoral Commission, Muse Hassan Haji Yusuf, has stated that polling stations have closed peacefully and that the counting of votes is continuing without incident. Although there are already celebrations in Berbera by supporters of Muse Bihi Abdi, the chairman of the electoral commission has urged citizens to wait for the official results, expected on November 21, to avoid premature speculation. This year’s elections have taken place in a context of regional tension, in particular over the dispute over control of the port of Berbera, a crucial resource for Somaliland. Recently, Ethiopia has tried to gain exclusive access to the port through a preliminary agreement that would allow it a corridor to the Indian Ocean. This agreement has sparked reactions from the Somali government, which considers Somaliland to be part of its territory and accuses Ethiopia of undermining its territorial integrity.
Western diplomats urge Somaliland leaders to accept election results
Western diplomats have urged Somaliland’s three presidential candidates and their supporters to accept the election results, expected in the coming days, as vote counting continues. The diplomats said they have visited 30 polling stations in different cities in Somaliland to “reaffirm their support for the democratic process.” The foreign diplomats from nine European countries and the United States, who were in Somaliland to witness the elections, said they commend Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission for conducting a “transparent voter registration and candidate nomination process.” In a statement read by the U.K. ambassador to Somalia, Mike Nithavrianakis, the diplomats said they stand ready to work alongside Somaliland to further strengthen democracy and accountability in the future…Tim Cole, who is leading a team of 28 international observers said the tallying starts when the ballot boxes are brought from all six regions of Somaliland. He said the results will take days to be released. “It will be sometime next week before we know the final results,” he said. “So, I’m not sure exactly which day that could be, because all of those things can take time or could be done very quickly depending on logistics, cars breaking down, all those sorts of things. That can happen in any country. So, it will be a few days yet before we get the final result.”
Somaliland elections decared free and fair
The Brenthurst Foundation Observer Mission has declared the 2024 Somaliland Elections, held on November 13, 2024, free, fair, and credible, as detailed in their report released on November 14.
This election highlights the country’s commitment to democratic principles despite financial and logistical obstacles. Historically, Somaliland gained independence from British rule in 1960, merged with Somalia, and declared independence in 1991 after a civil conflict. Although its sovereignty is not internationally recognized, Somaliland has established a multi-party democracy with successful power transitions in previous elections. The Brenthurst Foundation deployed 20 international observers across four districts—Hargeisa, Borama, Burao, and Berbera—monitoring 635 polling stations, or 24% of the total. The 2024 elections were significant as they included both presidential and party elections within Somaliland’s three-party system. Over 1.2 million voters registered across nearly 2,700 polling stations, utilizing a biometric identification system to ensure secure voting. Observers noted high voter participation, especially among women. Key findings included: elections proceeded smoothly, with most polling stations opening on time; the IRIS biometric system improved voter verification and public ballot counting, and the presence of party agents fostered trust in the electoral process; women played significant roles as voters, polling staff, and observers, indicating progress in inclusivity; and the election was largely peaceful, with well-managed polling stations and effective voting procedures.
Two days of mourning for Ahmed Silanyo
Somaliland authorities have announced a two-day mourning period, starting Sunday, November 17, and ending Monday, November 18, to honor the late former President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo. Silanyo passed away on Friday in Hargeisa, at the close of his country’s elections.The national mourning includes lowering the Somaliland flag to half-mast. Silanyo’s most significant role came as a founding member and leader of the Somali National Movement (SNM). Agmed Silanyo led the SNM from 1984 to 1990, making him the longest-serving chairman in the movement’s history. Following Somaliland’s declaration of independence, Silanyo continued his public service, serving as Minister of Finance under President Mohamed Ibrahim Igal’s administration from 1997 to 1999. In 2001, he founded the Kulmiye Party, which would go on to become one of Somaliland’s most influential political parties, maintaining power for 14 years.
His political journey reached its peak when he was elected President of Somaliland in 2010, a position he held until 2017. Under his leadership, Somaliland made significant strides in development and state-building efforts. Silanyo’s passing marks the end of an era in Somaliland politics, leaving behind a legacy of revolutionary leadership, dedicated public service, and political transformation that helped shape modern Somaliland.
SUDAN
Cholera suspected as cause of mystery deaths in besieged town
Dozens of escaped residents of the besieged town of al-Hilaliya in Sudan’s El Gezira state have tested positive for cholera, in a development that provides a likely explanation for the reported deaths of hundreds there. While local activists say that more than 300 people have died, a group of Hilaliya residents in the diaspora provided a list of more than 400 fatalities, a number they say is increasing by the hour. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began a siege of the town, home to tens of thousands of locals and displaced people, on Oct. 29 as part of a campaign of attacks in east Gezira in revenge for the defection of a top RSF commander to the army. At least 15 were killed by gunfire in the RSF raid that started the siege, according to activists. As reports of mass fatalities trickled out, rumours swirled about the cause of the deaths and whether RSF soldiers had intentionally poisoned people. But an increasing number of those who have escaped from the town have tested positive for cholera, the medical source said. Other medics from the town said that after the soldiers drove people from their homes, stealing money, cars, and livestock, most inhabitants sought refuge in the courtyards of three mosques.
Warring parties target local aid volunteers as fighting escalates
A humanitarian volunteer detained for weeks without their family knowing their whereabouts; another shot in the abdomen by a fighter angry that the food they were handing out to locals had run out; a third beaten for simply taking photographs. These are stories shared by Sudan’s emergency response rooms, neighbourhood-based mutual aid groups whose members are risking their lives and liberty to assist people made hungry and destitute by 18 months of grinding war. Despite increased recognition for the groups in recent months – topped off by a Nobel Peace Prize nomination – volunteers say they are facing repeated attacks by the country’s warring factions: the regular army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Local responders are the main lifeline for residents of Khartoum and other conflict-affected cities, where few international aid groups are present. Agencies have been constrained by fighting and access obstacles imposed on them by both forces. Still, despite their critical job, more than 50 volunteers have died during the war. Some have been targeted by the warring parties, while others have been caught in crossfire or died from illnesses that could have been treated if the right medicine was available. In interviews, volunteers said both sides accuse them of being informants, distrust them for their anti-militarist views, and see them as cash cows to be ransomed and exploited. They described facing arrests, interrogations, beatings, and robberies.’
Female Sudanese refugees say they’re being ‘exploited’ to survive
The war in Sudan has a devastating impact on women and girls. For an easier access to assistance, jobs and promises to receive money, some female Sudanese refugees say they have been sexually exploited in Chad. Such sexual exploitation is a crime in the Sahelian nation. The women and girls interviewed in Adre camp, near the border with Sudan asserted the men who exploited them included humanitarian workers and local security forces. A 19-year-old refugee said she saw many of her own family members killed in front of her before fleeing. She arrived with her mother at the Aboutengue camp. “In the camp, living conditions were difficult for us, so I went to work in the sex trade with the intention of covering our domestic expenses,” she said. She also gave birth to a child after engaging in sex work. “Now I regret what happened.” Ali Mahamat Sebey, the prefect for the area called the allegations against security forces false. The majority of Sudanese refugees in Chad are women. Aid groups struggle to support them in growing displacement sites.
Audio: What will stop the fighting in Sudan?
The internationalisation of the conflict is such that Sudanese actors are not necessarily in full control.’
WEST AFRICA
GABON
Vote on new constitution, key step towards democratic rule
Gabon held a referendum on a new constitution on Saturday, a major step towards establishing democratic rule after a coup ousted the Bongo dynasty last year, but some observers fear that the ruling junta may use the process to remain in power. The proposed new constitution introduces two-term limits on the presidency, each lasting seven years, removes the position of prime minister and recognises French as Gabon’s working language. General Brice Oligui Nguema, the interim president who seized power in a coup last year, has said that the vote reflects the government’s commitment towards the transition, and urged voters to participate. On Saturday, he praised the transparency of the process. “This is something that I note, and it’s positive. A huge step for the transition,” he said after casting his vote in the capital. Posters in Libreville have been plastered in the capital in the run-up, with the majority urging voters to pass the proposed legislation. On Saturday, voting stations were quiet in the morning, but activity picked up as the day wore on.
GHANA
Phony X accounts are meddling in Ghana’s election
As Ghana approaches its presidential election on December 7, researchers have uncovered a network of 171 bot accounts on X that use ChatGPT to write posts favorable to the incumbent political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). According to new research conducted by NewsGuard, a website that offers tools to assess the accuracy and reliability of news outlets, the bot accounts have uniformly been promoting NPP candidate Mahamudu Bawumia and his right-wing talking points, often using the hashtags #Bawumia2024, #NPP, and the NPP slogan #ItIsPossible. The accounts appear to have been active since February. The accounts — which appear to have AI-generated profile photos, and have names such as “Glenn Washington,” “Netflix Series&Movies,” and “Patriot” — also disparage John Mahama, the presidential candidate from the rival left-wing party National Democratic Congress. NewsGuard’s director of research and development, said in an interview that the bot accounts tend to post at “regular” and “predictable” intervals, often ten or more times per day. These regimented patterns in timing and style tipped the researchers off that the accounts may be fake…Pangram Labs, which assesses the likelihood of text being generated by AI, concluded that it was “highly likely” that all of the accounts were posting AI-generated content created by ChatGPT.
MALI
Activists plant trees in Mali but residents strip them for firewood. They say there’s no choice
After years of serving as Mali’s minister of the environment, Aida M’bo now spends her time planting trees in a fight that many in the arid West African country acknowledge they are losing.
“Deforestation is an important issue in Mali,” she said, standing in front of the Zamblara forest. For decades it has been classified as protected, but like many forests in the vast Sahel, it could be wiped out. “It is mainly due to the excessive wood-cutting,” M’bo said. Even some of her fellow tree-planters that day were to blame. Salimata Diabate, who took part in the ceremony last month, lives nearby and sells firewood from the forest in the Sikasso region, long considered Mali’s breadbasket. While Diabate expressed concern about the threats to Mali’s forests, she said people like her in the countryside have no choice but firewood for cooking. The loss of forests has become a pressing issue across Africa as the Sahara Desert continues to creep southward. Over the last three decades, nearly 7,722 square miles (20,000 square kilometers) of forest have been lost in Mali, according to the environmental nonprofit Tree Aid…A 2019 study by the African Energy Commission found that 64% of Mali’s total fuel consumption was of biomass, primarily firewood and charcoal for household use. Their sale remains legal. Despite being one of Africa’s top gold producers, Mali ranks among the world’s leaast developed nations, with almost half of its 23 million population living below the national poverty line.
NIGER
Thousands march in Niamey to denounce “destabilization plots”
Thousands of Nigeriens marched Saturday (Nov. 16) in the streets of Niamey in support of the ruling CNSP and to denounce foreign destabilization attempts. A coalition of civil society organizations had called for a protest after authorities said they arrested a French ‘spy’. Many protesters also voiced their support of Burkinabe and Malian authorities. Niger with these two countries form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Members of the junta ruling under the name CNSP attended the march including Colonel Ibro Amadou Bacharou, the President’s Chief of Staff. The demonstration took place amid broader accusations of French plots to overthrow the regime which deposed Mohamed Bazoum and oversaw the withdrawal of French and US troops. The march comes days ahead of an international conference set to take place in Niamey in support of the AES states. The 3-day event kick off in Niamey on Tuesday (No. 19).
NIGERIA
India and Nigeria agree deeper ties in maritime security, counter-terrorism
Nigeria and India on Sunday agreed to deepen collaboration in maritime security, intelligence and counter-terrorism during a state visit to the West African country by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi is the first Indian premier to visit Nigeria in 17 years after an invitation by President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking investments from some of the world’s biggest economies.
Modi arrived in the capital Abuja on Saturday night and met Tinubu at the presidential villa on Sunday where the two leaders also discussed economic development, defence, healthcare and food security, a joint statement said. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is seeking to woo more Indian investment and cheaper lines of credit to boost its economy and create jobs. On the sidelines of the G20 summit last year, Nigeria said it had secured nearly $14 billion of pledges from Indian investors, including Jindal Steel and Power which committed to pump $3 billion into Nigeria’s steel sector. There are more than 200 Indian companies operating in Nigeria.
Uncovering an African master (again)
A previously unknown World War II-era water color painting by legendary Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu has been discovered in the UK’s National Archives. “Yams” was uncovered among posters commissioned by the UK’s information ministry during the war as part of a propaganda effort aimed at colonial Nigeria to encourage self-sufficiency. The print shows people transporting yams by boat and is signed by “BChas Enwonwu, 1942.” The print, created when the artist was just 25, has been verified by international auction house Bonhams and Enwonwu’s biographer. While Enwonwu (1917-1994) has long been respected for his visionary work by art lovers, there has been a resurgence in broader awareness of his impact on modern African art over the last decade. In 2018, his most expensive work “Tutu” sold for $1.6 million. “Christine,” another of his works which was discovered in a Texas attic in 2019, sold for $1.4 million.
Former Miss SAfr contestant wins Miss Universe Africa after entering as Miss Nigeria
After a turbulent year in which she attempted to win the Miss SA crown, Nigeria’s Chidimma Adetshina landed in the top 30 of the Miss Universe pageant to eventually place second to Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig who won the crown. She withdrew from the ten finalists of Miss South Africa in August after facing xenophobic attacks following questions on her parents immigration status – even after proving her South African birth. As the highest placing African contestant, Adetshina took the African title and Oceania. “As someone who has persevered with grace I believe I have fought for not only myself but for Africa,” she said. This comes with the history-making run that saw Adetshina become the first Nigerian title-holder to place in the top five with Agbani Rivers in 2001 in the top 10 who would go on to win Miss World that same year. Speaking to her followers on Instagram, she said: “Many wonder why I didn’t stop. Many asked, ‘Why not let it be for now? Your life might be at risk.’ Some questioned, ‘Why isn’t she giving up? Does she crave the clout?’ I sat back, overwhelmed with so many unanswered questions as life moved faster than I could process. But do you know what? My dreams have kept me afloat.
SENEGAL
Nation votes for lawmakers in test for new president
Senegal headed to the polls on Sunday to vote in legislative elections that the president hopes will give his party a clear majority and the means to implement an ambitious agenda for reforms. The heated campaign period has revived concerns about unrest as political rivals clashed, sometimes violently. The West African nation saw some of the worst political violence in recent history ahead of the presidential election in March. More than 7 million registered voters will have the chance to vote for candidates for the 165-seat assembly, choosing between 41 registered parties or other entities. Top priorities for Senegalese voters are jobs and the economy, as inflation has squeezed livelihoods and the nation’s growing youth population struggles to find employment. Many are impatient for change. The new president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has promised to help, but his government is grappling with slower-than-projected growth and a worsening budget deficit. In September, a government audit revealed that Senegal’s debt and budget deficit were much wider than the previous administration had reported, causing the fiscal crisis to spiral. A $1.9 billion IMF programme agreed in June 2023 has been on hold since the discovery. To implement reforms, Faye’s government is hoping to win a clear majority in the national assembly.
Erdoğan wins again with Senegal deal
As the West’s influence on the continent has faded, Russia and China’s reach has come into focus. Türkiye, however, has been quietly positioning itself as the alternative choice – and its strategies of soft and hard power are paying dividends. The latest big win for Ankara has been an oil and gas deal signed between Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Senegal is one of the world’s newest oil producers. Ankara’s “energy diplomacy” has led to energy and mining deals with Niger, Egypt, Somalia, Morocco and Algeria. Türkiye is a net importer of oil and gas, spending around $40-billion each year for both. While the invasion of Ukraine caused some European countries to stop buying oil and gas from Russia, Türkiye continues to buy both commodities from there. This agreement with Senegal could go a long way in tempering this dependency on Russian oil and gas. Since launching its “Year of Africa” agenda in 2005, Erdoğan has worked hard to ensure his country is received as Africa’s reliable partner rather than yet another coloniser. Armed with cultural and diplomatic programmes, scholarships, weapons and business deals, Türkiye is now a major player.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
ANGOLA
China-US rivalry in Angola
China and the United States are investing in land and sea infrastructure in Angola as a way to access critical minerals in sub-Saharan Africa. While Beijing has been in the southern Africa nation for more than two decades, the US entry with significant investments in the Lobito Corridor is a bold move to secure crucial supply chains while keeping Chinese influence in check. From railways and highways to ports and power dams, China has bankrolled most of Angola’s post-war reconstruction over the past two decades. Chinese presence in the South African country became apparent in 2002, when former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos invited Beijing to invest following the end of the 27-year Angolan civil war that devastated the country’s infrastructure and economy. Now, the United States is challenging the dominant Chinese foothold in the region, by betting on a trans-Africa railway that would run from the Atlantic coast of Angola through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia- the Lobito Corridor – eastward to the Indian Ocean.
MOZAMBIQUE
A presidential guide to stashing dodgy cash
The biggest corruption scandal in Mozambique’s history happened before Filipe Nyusi became president. Nonetheless, he benefited. The “tuna bond” scandal, a scam concocted by Swiss bankers, ruling elites and a handful of dubious middlemen, diverted billions of dollars intended for development into the pockets of individuals. Bribed Mozambican individuals got at least $200-million from it. Nyusi’s cut was around $1-million, which he received as “campaign donations”, according to court documents in both the United Kingdom and United States. Some of the officials have been and will be tried. But lawyers argued that presidential immunity protected Nyusi from prosecution for the scam, which left Mozambique’s exchequer was crushed under the weight of crippling debt, and has stunted the country’s economic growth. Outside court, the sheer brazenness of the corruption displayed in the “tuna bond” scandal cemented public perceptions that Frelimo, the country’s liberation party, was deeply and possibly irredeemably corrupt. Those sentiments are playing a major role in ongoing anti-government protests – sparked by allegations of a stolen election – which have been repressed with deadly force by Nyusi’s security forces.
SOUTH AFRICA
Volunteers mobilise as South Africa says it will rescue trapped miners
Dozens of local volunteers have stepped up to help rescue what could be thousands of miners feared trapped underground in an abandoned gold mine in the town of Stilfontein in South Africa.
Local campaigners say as many as 4,000 miners entered the gold mine in the town in North West province, and some are feared to now be physically too frail to exit the mine. Some of the miners had initially refused to come up because they were working illegally and were concerned about arrest or possible deportation. The authorities earlier closed the entrance shaft of the mine, saying the move aimed to “smoke out” the miners in an operation called Close the Hole amid efforts to clamp down on the use of the mines without government permits. “We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped,” said Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, a minister in the presidency, on Wednesday. But the government changed its approach and announced it has put together a team, including mine rescue experts, to draw up a plan to bring the trapped people back to the surface.
Families gather at mine shaft where hundreds are feared stuck underground
Desperate relatives of possibly hundreds of illegal miners stuck underground in a disused mine shaft in South Africa waited outside the site on Friday in the hope that their loved ones would emerge safely. The miners are in a standoff with police, who have blocked their supplies of food and water to force them out and arrest them for illegally entering the abandoned mine in search of leftover gold – a common problem in South Africa. More than 1,000 illegal miners have already resurfaced in recent weeks as the police have cracked down, and at least one dead body has been brought up. Hundreds are believed to be still underground. It was unclear if those remaining in the mine in Stilfontein, North West province, were unwilling or unable to get out of the shaft, which descends vertically for more than 2 km (1.2 miles) underground. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who visited the site on Friday, said that authorities would work together to get them out. A cabinet minister had previously said the government would not send help because they were “criminals”. Illegal mining has plagued South Africa for decades through small-time pilfering and organised criminal networks. Many of those who do the risky work of breaking into old industrial mines are immigrants from neighbouring countries. They are referred to as zama-zamas – a local term that comes from the Zulu expression for “taking a chance”.
Wits unveils pan-African AI center
South Africa’s Wits University is set to unveil its first dedicated artificial intelligence institute this week to help drive the technology’s development across the continent. It comes amid growing concerns that AI may widen the existing digital divide between wealthy countries and poorer nations. Known as the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute, the program aims to publish impactful research, develop talent, and help to foster innovative applications of AI. Its remit includes informing policy-making on the governance and ethics of AI in Africa. It is backed by an initial 60 million rand ($3.3 million) investment from Wits, with further funding expected from various technology companies it is in talks with. Wits is also working with other African universities to develop a pan-African MIND fellowship to launch in 2025. The institute will be inaugurated on Nov. 19, starting with a cohort of 34 research fellows selected in October. It aims to welcome academics from other African universities in 2025.
ZIMBABWE
Church of England ‘directly responsible’ for John Smyth abuse in Zimbabwe, says victim
When John Smyth gave a presentation at their school about his Christian holiday camps in 1993, Rocky Leanders and his school friends were “blown away”. “This is Zimbabwe in the early 90s; the technology wasn’t great. These guys set up a projector with colour videos of speed boats … abseiling, golf, tennis, paddle boarding, swimming pools, diving boards,” recalled Leanders, who was 15 at the time. “We insisted we needed to go.” Justin Welby resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury on Tuesday after a review into the Church of England’s handling of claims of abuse against Smyth found he could have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally reported the abuse to police a decade ago. Welby says that when he was informed about Smyth in 2013, he was told that police had been notified and believed that an appropriate resolution would follow. However, questions are still being raised about why senior church leaders in the UK and southern Africa did not stop Smyth from abusing boys in Zimbabwe and possibly South Africa. Smyth, who left the UK for Zimbabwe in 1984, was accused of beating boys and young men and forcing them to strip naked. He died in Cape Town in 2018 with a UK police investigation against him still ongoing…“It was horrendous,” Leanders said. “The church is directly responsible for my abuse as a 15-year-old boy.”
NORTH AFRICA
EGYPT/SOUTH AFRICA
Immediate ceasefire needed in Gaza, SAfr’s Foreign Minister says in Egypt
An immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza, South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Ronald Lamola, said on Thursday after political consultations with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, in Cairo. “An immediate, durable ceasefire is needed in Gaza and efforts should be made to find a concrete peace settlement on the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution,’’ Lamola told reporters. He commended Egypt’s attempted efforts to broker a truce in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 43,000 people since the 7 October, 2023 Hamas attacks. Egypt, along with the US and Qatar, has mediated for a deal to end the war in Gaza, but the efforts have yet to be materialised. South Africa filed a case against Israel in December, accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Hague-based Court has, so far, issued three rounds of emergency measures, ordering Israel to halt its attacks in Rafah and open more land Crossings for aid into the enclave. Pretoria submitted more evidence to back its case late last month.
EGYPT/SUDAN
The smugglers and miners running gold on the Egypt-Sudan border
Egyptian and Sudanese smugglers detail the tactics used to take gold and people through the border. Egypt has around 125 traditional mining areas in the Nubian region of southern Egypt. Gold can be found in the Eastern Desert, a 223,000-square kilometre stretch of the Sahara located east of the Nile river, along the Red Sea coastline and in the triangle border region between Egypt, Sudan and Libya. British, Russian, Australian and other international players are all involved in the rush for gold in the region, with Egypt recently opening other new gold mining zones in the Eastern Desert in the “golden triangle” area. Ahmed Hussein, a Sudanese miner who arrived recently in Aswan, said that more than 10 new gold mining areas have been opened in Aswan province recently by local miners acting on their own initiative and without government monitoring. On the other side of the border, Sudanese mining patches have been opened or expanded in Red Sea, Northern and River Nile states since the war broke out in April 2023. “There are new mining areas opened or old areas expanded in the Red Sea state near the desert that runs between Egypt and Sudan,” the miner, Ibrahim, said. Dozens of Sudanese gold miners come to Aswan’s gold markets to sell the gold they have to buyers, but because the activity is illegal the gold has usually been smuggled into Egypt by organised gangs and smugglers. According to multiple sources, huge amounts of gold have been smuggled from Sudan to Egypt, while cheap fuel, arms and other goods go back the other way.
CENTRAL AFRICA
CENTRAL AFRICA REP. (CAR)
CAR’s bid to lift embargo on its diamonds successful
The Central African Republic (CAR) said Friday it has convinced the regulatory body for global diamond trading to end a decade-old export embargo. Authorities in Bangui said the Kimberley Process (KP) regulatory body had accepted its request at its plenary assembly in Dubai. The decision came towards the close of the four-day meeting being hosted under the presidency of the United Arab Emirates. The KP has agreed to the “total lifting of the sanction,” CAR’s mining ministry said on its official Facebook page. The embargo to prevent the export of “blood diamonds” mined in conflict zones had decimated a trade worth around $50 million in 2011. There had been a partial relaxing of the ban in 2015 and 2018 but only benefiting around one third of 24 diamond mining zones in the country. Gem quality diamond deposits make up – together with gold – one of the CAR’s most precious resources. Mining and research permits have been issued to Chinese, American, Rwandan and also Russian groups linked to the Wagner mercenary group backing the ruling regime.
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
Africa calls for climate solutions, not symbolic agreement
Africa has held that the ongoing climate talks must offer meaningful outcomes, not just an agreement. African Group of Negotiators (AGN) chairperson at COP29 Ali Mohamed on Saturday expressed both hope and concern in response to the release of the third draft text on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) framework at the ongoing talks. “While recognising the progress made, we feel the need to emphasise that the talks must result in more than just an agreement; they must lead to meaningful outcomes that address the unique challenges faced by Africa and the Global South,” Ali said. Ali said the African continent has repeatedly said the ongoing talks at Baku, Azerbaijan, are of immense importance to the continent as it faces the most severe impacts of climate change despite contributing the least to global emissions. The Africa Group negotiator, who is also Kenya’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, said the lack of significant progress at the technical negotiator level during the first week raises significant risks moving into the second week. “However, at the end of the day, Africa is clear about the objectives it requires. For Africa, simply reaching an agreement for the sake of agreement is not good enough,” Ali said. Ali reiterated that the new climate finance goal must offer confidence that developed countries will support the delivery of real-world outcomes in the response to climate change by developing countries. “Africa stands resolutely behind its call for $1.3 trillion per year as a mobilisation goal, underpinned by the provision of at least half of this in grants and concessional finance.”
The latest African states to be ‘Grey-listed’
Algeria, Angola and Côte d’Ivoire were added to the Financial Action Task Force’s “grey list” after falling short in their financial regulatory and legal regimes, while Senegal was removed from the list after making improvements. The FATF, an intergovernmental organisation, sets international standards for anti-money laundering; countering the financing of terrorism; and countering the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction . The “grey list” identifies countries that are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in those areas. The FATF, an intergovernmental organisation, sets international standards for anti-money laundering; countering the financing of terrorism; and countering the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction . The “grey list” identifies countries that are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in those areas. According to the FATF, the limitations found for the three countries included insufficient risk-based supervision and lacking transparency in beneficial ownership information. In the new action plan, Algeria was tasked with improving risk-based supervision; developing a more effective framework for basic and beneficial ownership; enhancing its regime for suspicious transactions; and establishing an effective legal and institutional framework for targeted financial sanctions for terrorism financing. Angola was asked to enhance its understanding of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing risks; improve risk-based supervision of non-financial banking entities and designated non-financial businesses and professions; ensure access to beneficial ownership for competent authorities; increase money laundering investigations and prosecutions; demonstrate the ability to identify, investigate and prosecute terrorism financing and provide an effective process to implement targeted financial sanctions.
How a rising dollar could hurt African economies
Donald Trump has vowed to raise US import tariffs and introduce a raft of new tax cuts when he returns to the White House for a second term on January 20. The plans, along with falling US interest rates, are expected to fuel a further rise in the US dollar, which surged to a one-year high when Trump was reelected. The dollar’s rise will have far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world, stoking producer import costs and fueling inflation. It will also make debt servicing among many low-income countries much harder, especially dollar-denominated loans payable from weaker local currencies. Africa is one place where the effects of a stronger dollar are expected to be felt most harshly, where nine countries are already in debt disttess and 10 others are at “high risk” of insolvency, according to the World Bank…the rising dollar would “make it even harder [for some African countries] to regain access to global capital markets.”
Several African governments, including Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia, are currently blocked from raising capital on the world’s financial markets due to their heavy indebtedness.
The Death of French Imperialism in Africa
Since 2020, there have been eight coups in African countries living under French neo-colonial rule. Yet, this historic victory for people power is framed in the West as “democratic backsliding.”
AFCON 2025
Four-time champions Ghana out of AFCON 2025 after draw with Angola
Ghana have failed to reach the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004 after drawing with Angola 1-1 in their qualifying match. The Black Stars needed a win in their penultimate group game on Friday to keep alive their slim hopes of qualifying for the 2025 tournament in Morocco. Ghana remained bottom of qualifying Group F with just three points from five games. They needed two wins from their final two games while hoping group rival Sudan (seven points) lost both of their games. Zambia, Mali, and Zimbabwe also secured their qualification on Friday, while Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon clinched their spots on Thursday. Morocco, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Algeria, DR Congo , Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Angola had already qualified before this round of games. There are still five places available in the 24-team tournament with qualifying continuing through Tuesday.
UNITED NATIONS
New study offers future vision for UN peacekeeping
An independent study has outlined what future models of UN peacekeeping are needed to address new and evolving global threats. The study, commissioned by the UN’s Department of Peace Operations, is intended to inform a ministerial meeting in May next year in Berlin on the future of peacekeeping. The report found that UN peacekeeping remains an “effective multilateral tool for preventing and limiting armed conflict, sustaining peace, as well as responding to a broader range of threats to international peace and security”. But it does recognise that “fresh thinking” is needed about what roles peacekeeping can and should play. It acknowledges a backdrop of intensifying geopolitical competition and diverging perspectives on global issues that are dividing the Security Council, as well as the growing financial pressures that demand more from already overstretched missions. New thinking is especially necessary as UN field missions “have recently encountered a worrying degree of political resistance and a trust deficit among some governments [and] local populations”, the study says. It also notes that a “capability-expectations gap” has contributed to a growing cynicism over what UN peacekeeping can achieve.
Study: The Future of Peacekeeping, New Models, and Related Capabilities
THIS WEEK AHEAD
Nov. 17 — Some 7 million registered voters were expected to go to the polls today in Senegal to elect legislators. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye hopes his party wins a clear majority in the National Assembly to implement his promised economic reforms.
Nov. 18 — South Africa’s third biggest mobile operator, Telkom, is set to release interim results.
Nov. 20 — Southern Africa regional bloc SADC will hold a summit to discuss the post-electoral crisis in Mozambique.
Nov. 20 — Kenya’s finance ministry is expected to launch hearings to prepare the 2025/26 (July-June) fiscal budget. Protests against tax hikes led to the dropping of the 2024/25 finance law.
Nov. 20-22 — Africa Food Show Morocco, the B2B platform for global food and beverage suppliers trying to increase their footprint in Africa, will take place in Foire Internationale de Casablanca, Morocco.
Nov. 20-23 — The Aké Arts and Book Festival will take place in Lagos featuring Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and authors including Nnedi Okorafor, and Nnamdi Ehirim.
Nov. 21 — South African discount fashion retailer Mr Price will report full-year results.
Nov. 23 – 25 — The 2024 African Economic Conference will be held in Gaborone, Botswana, to explore ways to secure Africa’s economic future.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Open call for applications for funding early-stage, open source technology that can benefit children
Dec. 23 — Early-stage, for-profit technology start-ups leveraging AI or blockchain technologies that have the potential to create radical change for children are invited to apply for the UNICEF Venture Fund. The UNICEF Venture Fund is looking to invest in Open Source frontier technology solutions that have the potential to create radical change for children. We are offering up to US$100K in equity-free funding for early-stage, for-profit technology start-ups that can improve the lives of children. If your company is leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), or blockchain, we want to hear from you!
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