🇱🇾 More than 70 migrants feared dead after shipwreck
At least 73 migrants are reported missing and presumed dead following a shipwreck off the Libyan coast on Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
Only seven survivors made it back to shore in "extremely dire conditions" and have been admitted to hospital, it added.
The vessel was reportedly heading to Europe, the IOM said.
#Libya
@africaintel
At least 73 migrants are reported missing and presumed dead following a shipwreck off the Libyan coast on Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
Only seven survivors made it back to shore in "extremely dire conditions" and have been admitted to hospital, it added.
The vessel was reportedly heading to Europe, the IOM said.
#Libya
@africaintel
🇬🇭 Inflation in Ghana falls for first time in 19 months
Ghana's inflation rate has fallen - albeit slightly - for the first time in 19 months, official statistics show.
The inflation rate in January was 53.6%, compared with 54.1% in the previous month.
But food inflation rose slightly to 61.0% in January, while non-food inflation was down to 47.9%, Ghana Statistical Service figures showed, Reuters news agency reports. This means that prices are still rising, just not quite as quickly as before.
#Ghana
@africaintel
Ghana's inflation rate has fallen - albeit slightly - for the first time in 19 months, official statistics show.
The inflation rate in January was 53.6%, compared with 54.1% in the previous month.
But food inflation rose slightly to 61.0% in January, while non-food inflation was down to 47.9%, Ghana Statistical Service figures showed, Reuters news agency reports. This means that prices are still rising, just not quite as quickly as before.
#Ghana
@africaintel
🇧🇫 The UPC is challenging the ban on its activities in court in Burkina Faso
The Union for Progress and Change (UPC), one of the main opposition parties in Burkina Faso, has taken legal action to challenge the ban on it's political activities.
The UPC had announced that it wanted to organize a meeting of its political bureau on February 18. But last week, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security reminded the UPC by letter that the text "suspending the activities of political parties" was still in force. The minister refers to a communiqué signed by the president when he seized power on September 30, 2022.
The UPC said it had "decided to seize the competent courts so that they rule on the question", considering the minister's response as "a ban on the party from holding its activity".
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
The Union for Progress and Change (UPC), one of the main opposition parties in Burkina Faso, has taken legal action to challenge the ban on it's political activities.
The UPC had announced that it wanted to organize a meeting of its political bureau on February 18. But last week, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security reminded the UPC by letter that the text "suspending the activities of political parties" was still in force. The minister refers to a communiqué signed by the president when he seized power on September 30, 2022.
The UPC said it had "decided to seize the competent courts so that they rule on the question", considering the minister's response as "a ban on the party from holding its activity".
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe creditors to meet over arrears clearance
Zimbabwe's creditors will meet on February 23 as the country takes steps towards clearing more than $6 billion of arrears on its foreign debt, finance minister Mthuli Ncube told.
About 17 countries from the Paris Club of creditor nations will attend, as well as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and European Investment Bank, to discuss progress on economic and governance reforms, including compensation to white former farmers, Ncube said.
Ncube said in October the government had begun making "token payments" to the multilateral lenders and planned to do so to its Paris Club creditors as well.
The IMF said after a visit to Zimbabwe in December that the country would need durable reforms and a clear path to restructuring its debt, including clearing the $6 billion of arrears, before it could receive Fund money.
#Zimbabwe
@africaintel
Zimbabwe's creditors will meet on February 23 as the country takes steps towards clearing more than $6 billion of arrears on its foreign debt, finance minister Mthuli Ncube told.
About 17 countries from the Paris Club of creditor nations will attend, as well as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and European Investment Bank, to discuss progress on economic and governance reforms, including compensation to white former farmers, Ncube said.
Ncube said in October the government had begun making "token payments" to the multilateral lenders and planned to do so to its Paris Club creditors as well.
The IMF said after a visit to Zimbabwe in December that the country would need durable reforms and a clear path to restructuring its debt, including clearing the $6 billion of arrears, before it could receive Fund money.
#Zimbabwe
@africaintel
🇧🇮 4 Burundi rights activists arrested
4 human rights activists have been detained in Burundi while trying to travel to Uganda for a meeting with civil society organizations. There was no immediate statement from Burundian authorities.
The reason behind the arrests is not known. Such arrests have been common in recent years in Burundi, where watchdogs have accused the current and previous administrations of targeting critics and stifling dissent.
On a recent visit to Burundi, the European Union special representative for human rights, Eamon Gilmore, expressed concerns about “human rights challenges” there.
#Burundi
@africaintel
4 human rights activists have been detained in Burundi while trying to travel to Uganda for a meeting with civil society organizations. There was no immediate statement from Burundian authorities.
The reason behind the arrests is not known. Such arrests have been common in recent years in Burundi, where watchdogs have accused the current and previous administrations of targeting critics and stifling dissent.
On a recent visit to Burundi, the European Union special representative for human rights, Eamon Gilmore, expressed concerns about “human rights challenges” there.
#Burundi
@africaintel
Forwarded from Sahel Intel
🇳🇬 Nigerian presidential contender calls for new naira notes to circulate with old for one year
Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the APC party headed into this month's federal election, has called for the naira currency redesign project to extend for an entire year to ease the transition.
The redesign plan, which would have originally seen the old naira notes cease to be legal tender this month, has caused a major crisis in Nigeria. Nigerians complain of limited supplies of the new notes as many try to exchange them at banks, having their old notes turned away by businesses, and fearing losing all their savings.
Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the APC party headed into this month's federal election, has called for the naira currency redesign project to extend for an entire year to ease the transition.
The redesign plan, which would have originally seen the old naira notes cease to be legal tender this month, has caused a major crisis in Nigeria. Nigerians complain of limited supplies of the new notes as many try to exchange them at banks, having their old notes turned away by businesses, and fearing losing all their savings.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia commission accuses Oromiya rebels of killing 50 people
At least 50 people were killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region this month in an attack by a banned rebel group, the state-appointed human rights commission said.
The killings on February 2 mainly targeted internally displaced persons in the town of Ano, about 380 km west of the capital Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said. The report blamed the attack on the Oromo Liberation Army.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
At least 50 people were killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region this month in an attack by a banned rebel group, the state-appointed human rights commission said.
The killings on February 2 mainly targeted internally displaced persons in the town of Ano, about 380 km west of the capital Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said. The report blamed the attack on the Oromo Liberation Army.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast reopens land borders closed since 2020
Ivory Coast reopened its land borders on Wednesday night the government spokesman announced. "The Council adopted a decree opening the land borders of Ivory Coast," said spokesman, adding that they would be reopened "at midnight".
Ivory Coast had closed its land, sea and air borders on 22 March 2020, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the sea and air borders reopened after a few months, the land borders remained closed.
Ivory Coast had been relatively spared by the Covid-19 pandemic with about 800 deaths, according to official figures.
#IvoryCoast
@africaintel
Ivory Coast reopened its land borders on Wednesday night the government spokesman announced. "The Council adopted a decree opening the land borders of Ivory Coast," said spokesman, adding that they would be reopened "at midnight".
Ivory Coast had closed its land, sea and air borders on 22 March 2020, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the sea and air borders reopened after a few months, the land borders remained closed.
Ivory Coast had been relatively spared by the Covid-19 pandemic with about 800 deaths, according to official figures.
#IvoryCoast
@africaintel
🇨🇲 Sahara dust storm threatens half of Cameroon
An enormous plume of dust from the Sahara desert threatens to sweep through half of Cameroon, the transport minister said.
If the forecast wind conditions are maintained the dust could cause road accidents due to reduced visibility. The dust could also cause respiratory diseases, the minister added. The minister has urged people to drive carefully and protect their eyes and noses appropriately.
Each year Cameroon experiences dust storms from the Sahara that cross the country from north to south.
#Cameroon
@africaintel
An enormous plume of dust from the Sahara desert threatens to sweep through half of Cameroon, the transport minister said.
If the forecast wind conditions are maintained the dust could cause road accidents due to reduced visibility. The dust could also cause respiratory diseases, the minister added. The minister has urged people to drive carefully and protect their eyes and noses appropriately.
Each year Cameroon experiences dust storms from the Sahara that cross the country from north to south.
#Cameroon
@africaintel
🇪🇹 Ethiopian church says row resolved after talks
A row within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been resolved after a group of breakaway clergy held discussions with representatives from the main church, according to a statement from the church's leadership.
Senior government officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are said to have participated in the talks alongside elders appointed to reconcile the rival groups.
The breakaway clergy have now submitted a letter of apology to the synod and they are expected to be welcomed back.
According to the agreement, the three archbishops who had broken away from the church will keep their titles and reunite with the synod. The 25 clergy they had appointed will lose their recent titles and retain the ones they were holding before.
A consensus has been reached regarding the use of Afaan Oromo language during church rituals.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
A row within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been resolved after a group of breakaway clergy held discussions with representatives from the main church, according to a statement from the church's leadership.
Senior government officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are said to have participated in the talks alongside elders appointed to reconcile the rival groups.
The breakaway clergy have now submitted a letter of apology to the synod and they are expected to be welcomed back.
According to the agreement, the three archbishops who had broken away from the church will keep their titles and reunite with the synod. The 25 clergy they had appointed will lose their recent titles and retain the ones they were holding before.
A consensus has been reached regarding the use of Afaan Oromo language during church rituals.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Nigerian government extends validity of old banknotes
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the country's central bank to release the old 200 naira banknotes back into circulation and run concurrently with the new ones till 10 April.
The old 200 naira banknotes will then cease to be valid. Meanwhile, the old 500 and 1,000 naira banknotes are no longer valid and must be taken to the central bank through designated channels, he says.
The deadline to hand in old notes had been extended once to 10 February, after which the old notes would become invalid. The deadline was however suspended by the supreme court last week.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the country's central bank to release the old 200 naira banknotes back into circulation and run concurrently with the new ones till 10 April.
The old 200 naira banknotes will then cease to be valid. Meanwhile, the old 500 and 1,000 naira banknotes are no longer valid and must be taken to the central bank through designated channels, he says.
The deadline to hand in old notes had been extended once to 10 February, after which the old notes would become invalid. The deadline was however suspended by the supreme court last week.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇪🇹 6 killed during water shortage protest in Ethiopia
Ethiopian security forces killed at least 6 people when they fired at people protesting against water shortage of water in the southern town of Wolkite. 15 other people sustained injuries during the protests on Wednesday.
The residents were angered by worsening water shortage in the town and held a protest in front of the city’s water management office.
“We have waited long to hold demonstrations. We came out today hoping we would get solutions. But things have turned into guns and blood,” residents told.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Ethiopian security forces killed at least 6 people when they fired at people protesting against water shortage of water in the southern town of Wolkite. 15 other people sustained injuries during the protests on Wednesday.
The residents were angered by worsening water shortage in the town and held a protest in front of the city’s water management office.
“We have waited long to hold demonstrations. We came out today hoping we would get solutions. But things have turned into guns and blood,” residents told.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
🇨🇩 Voter registration starts in eastern DR Congo
The electoral body in the Democratic Republic of Congo says it has started voter registration in seven provinces in the eastern part of the country where the fights between the army and rebels are still going on. It's the last round of voter registration ahead of general elections scheduled for December this year.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said voters will be registered in the volatile provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, as well as in the US and Canada.
#DRC
@africaintel
The electoral body in the Democratic Republic of Congo says it has started voter registration in seven provinces in the eastern part of the country where the fights between the army and rebels are still going on. It's the last round of voter registration ahead of general elections scheduled for December this year.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said voters will be registered in the volatile provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, as well as in the US and Canada.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇿🇲 Zambia aims to double power generation by 2030
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema says the country needs to double its power generation to grow the economy. A recently released National Development Plan and Green Paper hopes to achieve the feat by 2030.
Zambia has an electricity generation capacity of 3,500 megawatts and last month signed a $2bn deal with the United Arab Emirates to build solar plants.
The head of Zambia's power supplier, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, said the country has potential to become a hub for regional power trade.
#Zambia
@africaintel
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema says the country needs to double its power generation to grow the economy. A recently released National Development Plan and Green Paper hopes to achieve the feat by 2030.
Zambia has an electricity generation capacity of 3,500 megawatts and last month signed a $2bn deal with the United Arab Emirates to build solar plants.
The head of Zambia's power supplier, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, said the country has potential to become a hub for regional power trade.
#Zambia
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Nigerian police promise presence at every poll site
Police officers trained in election security will be present at every voting centre in Nigeria, says the head of the force, who is promising to do what he can to ensure a "peaceful and secure atmosphere" next Saturday.
Inspector General also says the more than 310,000 police officers deployed will be supported by more than 90,000 additional security agents, and will be given air and marine assistance.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Police officers trained in election security will be present at every voting centre in Nigeria, says the head of the force, who is promising to do what he can to ensure a "peaceful and secure atmosphere" next Saturday.
Inspector General also says the more than 310,000 police officers deployed will be supported by more than 90,000 additional security agents, and will be given air and marine assistance.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇿🇦 Ramaphosa asks deputy to delay resignation President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked his deputy, David Mabuza, to remain in his position until a transition is finalized. Mabuza is reported to have told on Saturday that the president had “accepted” his resignation…
🇿🇦 South Africa's deputy president resigns
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the resignation of his deputy, David Mabuza, thanking him for his "unwavering support" over the last five years.
Local reports say it comes as no surprise because Mabuza had already announced earlier this month that he would be stepping down.
He will stay in the post until Ramaphosa announces his successor, widely expected to be new ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
A cabinet reshuffle is expected next week once South Africa's annual budget is announced.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the resignation of his deputy, David Mabuza, thanking him for his "unwavering support" over the last five years.
Local reports say it comes as no surprise because Mabuza had already announced earlier this month that he would be stepping down.
He will stay in the post until Ramaphosa announces his successor, widely expected to be new ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
A cabinet reshuffle is expected next week once South Africa's annual budget is announced.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel