The Malian junta that seized power in a military coup in August has granted the country’s interim presidency to a civilian, part of conditions set by regional bloc Ecowas. The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), led by Col Assimi Goita, announced on Monday that it was...
Category: Politics
West African Bloc Fails to Mediate in Mali
West African mediators failed to persuade leaders of a military coup in Mali to immediately hand over power to a civilian government during talks on Tuesday, the chairman of the regional bloc said. Leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met the heads of a junta...
Fresh Protests in Ivory Coast as Court Allows Ouattara’s Bid for Third Term
Ivory Coast's top court on Monday cleared the way for President Alassane Ouattara to run for a contentious third term in the upcoming presidential election as several cities saw violent protests. The Constitutional Council barred some of Ouattara's opponents, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and former rebel leader turned prime minister, Soro Guillaume,...
Somaliland Snubs China, Opens Office in Taiwan
The breakaway territory of Somaliland opened a representative office in Taipei on Wednesday in a move that has already drawn Beijing’s ire. The territory’s representative to Taipei, Mohamed Hagi, said trade, security and development corporation were key aspects of “this very special relationship.“ The two are “members of the same...
President Kenyatta Apologises For Police Brutality
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has apologised for violence by the police following the enforcement of a nationwide curfew last week. The police have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics to enforce the dusk-to-dawn curfew since its introduction on Friday to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, with tear gas,...
Uganda Begins 14 Day Coronavirus Lockdown
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Monday ordered an immediate 14-day nationwide lockdown in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus which has so far infected 33 people in the country. Uganda last week banned public transport and sealed its borders and urged the population to stay home, but...
Kenya Wants 50 MP’s Tested For COVID-19
Kenya’s lower parliamentary chamber wants some 50 lawmakers to be tested for coronavirus amid fears they may have contracted the virus from a member who recently tested positive, the Daily Nation newspaper reports Local media reports say the parliament has submitted the names of MPs and parliamentary staff it wants...
Magufuli: ‘Elections Will Be Held As Planned’ Despite COVID-19 Outbreak
Tanzania will go ahead and hold its general elections as earlier planned despite the coronavirus scare that has seen many countries go on lock down, suspend services and issue travel restrictions across the globe. On Thursday, President John Magufuli said the country’s October 2020 general elections will be held as...
World Bank, IMF Call For Debt Relief
With immediate effect and consistent with national laws of the creditor countries, the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are calling on all official bilateral creditors to suspend debt payments from International Development Association (IDA) countries that request forbearance. This follows a joint statement to the...
Public Distrust Hinders Fight Against Virus Misinformation
African nations fighting the novel coronavirus face a foe as stealthy and dangerous as the microbe itself: misinformation and apathy, fuelled by deep distrust of government. Bogus news and indifference to official warnings are emerging as giant obstacles in a region where poor healthcare infrastructure, sanitation and overcrowded slums provide...