🇹🇼🇸🇿Taiwan president to visit last African ally Eswatini
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Eswatini, the island's last African ally, early next month, the government said on Friday, looking to shore up ties.
She will attend celebrations to mark the country’s independence day and King Mswati III’s birthday during the visit.
Her trip, between 5 and 7 September, will also mark 55 years of the countries’ bilateral relations.
#Taiwan #Eswatini
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Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Eswatini, the island's last African ally, early next month, the government said on Friday, looking to shore up ties.
She will attend celebrations to mark the country’s independence day and King Mswati III’s birthday during the visit.
Her trip, between 5 and 7 September, will also mark 55 years of the countries’ bilateral relations.
#Taiwan #Eswatini
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🇺🇸🇨🇩🇷🇼 US sanctions six in DR Congo and Rwanda for alleged role in DR Congo's eastern conflict
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on six Congolese and Rwandan members of the armed forces or militias over their alleged part in fuelling the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said the people included one Congolese and one Rwandan senior officer, and four senior members of rebel armed groups that have been destabilising Congo's eastern borderlands for decades.
"Today's sanctions reflect the United States' commitment to advancing efforts to resolve the crisis and address the dire humanitarian situation," the treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence said in the statement.
#USA #DRC
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The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on six Congolese and Rwandan members of the armed forces or militias over their alleged part in fuelling the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said the people included one Congolese and one Rwandan senior officer, and four senior members of rebel armed groups that have been destabilising Congo's eastern borderlands for decades.
"Today's sanctions reflect the United States' commitment to advancing efforts to resolve the crisis and address the dire humanitarian situation," the treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence said in the statement.
#USA #DRC
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🇸🇩 Darfur residents trapped and used as human shields reported MSF
Markets and residential areas in the city of Nyala in the Sudan’s Darfur region have turned into battlegrounds in the last few days, staff working for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) say.
"We have also been told that armed fighters have stormed homes and hidden inside, effectively using civilians as human shields and leaving them with no protected spaces," MSF said.
On Wednesday, shelling caused the death of 27 people, mostly women and children, who were caught in the crossfire while hiding under a bridge, the organisation said.
Elsewhere in South Darfur state, Kas Hospital was now controlled by armed groups, “leaving civilians with little to no options for medical care”, MSF added.
#Sudan
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Markets and residential areas in the city of Nyala in the Sudan’s Darfur region have turned into battlegrounds in the last few days, staff working for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) say.
"We have also been told that armed fighters have stormed homes and hidden inside, effectively using civilians as human shields and leaving them with no protected spaces," MSF said.
On Wednesday, shelling caused the death of 27 people, mostly women and children, who were caught in the crossfire while hiding under a bridge, the organisation said.
Elsewhere in South Darfur state, Kas Hospital was now controlled by armed groups, “leaving civilians with little to no options for medical care”, MSF added.
#Sudan
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇳🇪 Floods leave 27 dead, more than 70,000 affected in Niger Floods and landslides caused by the recent torrential rains in the Republic of Niger have claimed the lives of 27 people and affected more than 70,000 people since last July. The Nigerien Ministry…
🇳🇪 Floods kill 32 in coup-hit Niger in recent months
Floods kill 32 in coup-hit Niger in recent months. "Tahoua in the South is the most bereaved with 12 dead, followed by Maradi with 10 and Zinder with six," the report said.
"Two deaths were reported in Tillaberi in the West, one in the capital city of Niamey and one in Diffa in South-East."
According to the report, nine were killed after the houses they were staying in collapsed, while 23 perished by drowning.
Deadly torrential rains hit landlocked Niger every rainy season, which generally lasts between three and four months, from mid-June to mid-October.
#Niger
@africaintel
Floods kill 32 in coup-hit Niger in recent months. "Tahoua in the South is the most bereaved with 12 dead, followed by Maradi with 10 and Zinder with six," the report said.
"Two deaths were reported in Tillaberi in the West, one in the capital city of Niamey and one in Diffa in South-East."
According to the report, nine were killed after the houses they were staying in collapsed, while 23 perished by drowning.
Deadly torrential rains hit landlocked Niger every rainy season, which generally lasts between three and four months, from mid-June to mid-October.
#Niger
@africaintel
🇷🇼 Kigali warns Rwandan Catholics over "cult-like" rituals
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has warned Catholic believers against engaging in practices that he says glorifies poverty and which a government spokesperson described as "cult-like" behaviour.
He was alluding to a Catholic pilgrimage that took place in June.
"If I ever hear about this again, that people travelled to go and worship poverty, I will bring trucks and round them up and imprison them, and only release them when the poverty mentality has left them," Kagame said. "No-one must worship poverty. Do not ever do that again," he added.
"President Kagame did not at any point mention a specific pilgrimage site, and certainly not Kibeho," spokesperson Yolande Makolo clarified Kagame words. Makolo added that the president was likely referring to "an informal pilgrimage-type event that takes place in Rutsiro district".
#Rwanda
@africaintel
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has warned Catholic believers against engaging in practices that he says glorifies poverty and which a government spokesperson described as "cult-like" behaviour.
He was alluding to a Catholic pilgrimage that took place in June.
"If I ever hear about this again, that people travelled to go and worship poverty, I will bring trucks and round them up and imprison them, and only release them when the poverty mentality has left them," Kagame said. "No-one must worship poverty. Do not ever do that again," he added.
"President Kagame did not at any point mention a specific pilgrimage site, and certainly not Kibeho," spokesperson Yolande Makolo clarified Kagame words. Makolo added that the president was likely referring to "an informal pilgrimage-type event that takes place in Rutsiro district".
#Rwanda
@africaintel
🏴🇱🇾 Islamic State leader behind 2018 deadly attacks in Tripoli captured in Libya
A leader of the jihadist group Islamic State, the "planner and sponsor" of three deadly attacks in 2018 in the capital Tripoli, has been captured, the head of Libya's Government of National Unity announced on Thursday evening.
"Our forces apprehended on Tuesday a leader of the terrorist organization IS, involved in the planning and command of terrorist acts that targeted our country's institutions and their fallen officials," Abdelhamid Dbeibah, head of Tripoli government, said.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Radaa Force and the Rahbat al-Dourou Brigade from Tajoura (an eastern suburb of Tripoli), according to the government's media office, which gave no further details on the identity or nationality of the jihadist.
#Libya
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A leader of the jihadist group Islamic State, the "planner and sponsor" of three deadly attacks in 2018 in the capital Tripoli, has been captured, the head of Libya's Government of National Unity announced on Thursday evening.
"Our forces apprehended on Tuesday a leader of the terrorist organization IS, involved in the planning and command of terrorist acts that targeted our country's institutions and their fallen officials," Abdelhamid Dbeibah, head of Tripoli government, said.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Radaa Force and the Rahbat al-Dourou Brigade from Tajoura (an eastern suburb of Tripoli), according to the government's media office, which gave no further details on the identity or nationality of the jihadist.
#Libya
@africaintel
🇳🇪🇫🇷 Niger junta expels French ambassador
Niger's junta said on Friday it has ordered French ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours.
In a statement, the military government's foreign ministry said the decision to expel the ambassador was a response to actions taken by the French government that were "contrary to the interests of Niger."
It said these included the envoy's refusal to respond to an invitation to meet Niger's new foreign minister.
#Niger #France
@africaintel
Niger's junta said on Friday it has ordered French ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours.
In a statement, the military government's foreign ministry said the decision to expel the ambassador was a response to actions taken by the French government that were "contrary to the interests of Niger."
It said these included the envoy's refusal to respond to an invitation to meet Niger's new foreign minister.
#Niger #France
@africaintel
🇳🇬🛢 Nigeria seeks to restart four state oil refineries by end 2024
Nigeria expects its four oil refineries to be operational by the end of next year, its new oil minister said on Friday, with the southern Port Harcourt plant seen starting as early as December.
Last year, the government said the Port Harcourt refinery will start processing crude at the end of 2022. However, successive oil ministers and NNPC Ltd executives have announced a series of unsuccessful plans to restart, revamp or expand the refineries.
Heineken Lokpobiri, who this week resumed as Nigeria's minister of state for petroleum, inspected ongoing refurbishment at the two-unit 210,000 Port Harcourt refinery today.
"From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt refinery will come on board by the end of the year," he said.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Nigeria expects its four oil refineries to be operational by the end of next year, its new oil minister said on Friday, with the southern Port Harcourt plant seen starting as early as December.
Last year, the government said the Port Harcourt refinery will start processing crude at the end of 2022. However, successive oil ministers and NNPC Ltd executives have announced a series of unsuccessful plans to restart, revamp or expand the refineries.
Heineken Lokpobiri, who this week resumed as Nigeria's minister of state for petroleum, inspected ongoing refurbishment at the two-unit 210,000 Port Harcourt refinery today.
"From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt refinery will come on board by the end of the year," he said.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇸🇱🇮🇱 Sierra Leone is ready to open embassy in Jerusalem
Sierra Leone's government has said that it is ready to "establish an Embassy of Sierra Leone in Jerusalem".
This follows other countries like the US, Guatemala and Honduras who have already opened embassies there.
Israel considers Jerusalem to be its capital - including East Jerusalem which it annexed in 1980.
#SierraLeone #Israel
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Sierra Leone's government has said that it is ready to "establish an Embassy of Sierra Leone in Jerusalem".
This follows other countries like the US, Guatemala and Honduras who have already opened embassies there.
Israel considers Jerusalem to be its capital - including East Jerusalem which it annexed in 1980.
#SierraLeone #Israel
@africaintel
🇪🇹 Amhara region president resigns amid violence
The head of the restive Amhara region in north-western Ethiopia has resigned amid ongoing violence that prompted a six-month state of emergency to be declared.
Yilkal Kefale's tenure has been marked by violence as a brutal civil war that broke out in neighbouring Tigray later expanded to Amhara resulting in civilian deaths, accusations of sexual abuse and a humanitarian crisis.
Since April, the region has seen sporadic clashes which earlier this month morphed into widespread unrest.
#Ethiopia
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The head of the restive Amhara region in north-western Ethiopia has resigned amid ongoing violence that prompted a six-month state of emergency to be declared.
Yilkal Kefale's tenure has been marked by violence as a brutal civil war that broke out in neighbouring Tigray later expanded to Amhara resulting in civilian deaths, accusations of sexual abuse and a humanitarian crisis.
Since April, the region has seen sporadic clashes which earlier this month morphed into widespread unrest.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
🇸🇴 Somalia army captures major stronghold from al-Shabaab
Somalia's army has captured a major stronghold from the Islamist militant group, al-Shabab.
The town of El Bur, in central Somalia, had been held by al-Shabab since 2017.
Although the army have taken over, there were no reports of clashes and local correspondents say the jihadist fighters appear to have made a tactical withdrawal.
#Somalia
@africaintel
Somalia's army has captured a major stronghold from the Islamist militant group, al-Shabab.
The town of El Bur, in central Somalia, had been held by al-Shabab since 2017.
Although the army have taken over, there were no reports of clashes and local correspondents say the jihadist fighters appear to have made a tactical withdrawal.
#Somalia
@africaintel
🇲🇿 Mozambique insurgency leader Omar killed by armed forces
Mozambique's armed forces have killed the alleged leader of an Islamic State-linked insurgency concentrated in the gas-rich northern Cabo Delgado province, the defence ministry said on Friday.
Bonomade Machude Omar, also known as Abu Sulayfa Muhammad and Ibn Omar, who "has led operations since the outbreak of terrorism in Mozambique," was killed along with two associates, a ministry statement said.
Separately, Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi told on Friday that Omar had been killed on Tuesday, but cautioned that the fight against the insurgency was not over.
The insurgency, which has been raging since 2017, has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted multi-billion dollar energy projects.
#Mozambique
@africaintel
Mozambique's armed forces have killed the alleged leader of an Islamic State-linked insurgency concentrated in the gas-rich northern Cabo Delgado province, the defence ministry said on Friday.
Bonomade Machude Omar, also known as Abu Sulayfa Muhammad and Ibn Omar, who "has led operations since the outbreak of terrorism in Mozambique," was killed along with two associates, a ministry statement said.
Separately, Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi told on Friday that Omar had been killed on Tuesday, but cautioned that the fight against the insurgency was not over.
The insurgency, which has been raging since 2017, has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted multi-billion dollar energy projects.
#Mozambique
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Boko Haram frees 49 women kidnapped in Nigeria's Borno state
49 women kidnapped by Boko Haram earlier in the week near Maiduguri, in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, regained their freedom early on Friday after a state official paid a ransom for their release.
The women were abducted on their farms on Tuesday morning in Shuwaei Kawuri village on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
"We were all released at midnight after Boko Haram said our families secured our release after meeting their demands," one of the victims said.
While the Islamists had demanded a 3 million naira ($3,891.86) ransom, the women, who are mostly poor peasant farmers, were released after a state official paid 1 million naira to the assailants following negotiations to secure their freedom.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
49 women kidnapped by Boko Haram earlier in the week near Maiduguri, in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, regained their freedom early on Friday after a state official paid a ransom for their release.
The women were abducted on their farms on Tuesday morning in Shuwaei Kawuri village on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
"We were all released at midnight after Boko Haram said our families secured our release after meeting their demands," one of the victims said.
While the Islamists had demanded a 3 million naira ($3,891.86) ransom, the women, who are mostly poor peasant farmers, were released after a state official paid 1 million naira to the assailants following negotiations to secure their freedom.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇺🇸🇳🇪 US says Niger has not told US ambassador to leave the country
Niger's Foreign Ministry has told the U.S. government that images of letters circulating online calling for the departure of certain American diplomatic personnel were not issued by the ministry, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said.
"No such request has been made to the U.S. government," the spokesperson said after AFP reported that Niger had given the U.S. ambassador 48 hours to leave the African country.
The new U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen Fitzgibbons only arrived in the capital, Niamey, earlier this month.
#US #Niger
@africaintel
Niger's Foreign Ministry has told the U.S. government that images of letters circulating online calling for the departure of certain American diplomatic personnel were not issued by the ministry, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said.
"No such request has been made to the U.S. government," the spokesperson said after AFP reported that Niger had given the U.S. ambassador 48 hours to leave the African country.
The new U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen Fitzgibbons only arrived in the capital, Niamey, earlier this month.
#US #Niger
@africaintel
🇨🇳🌍 China's Xi vows to support Africa's integration
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and China's leader Xi Jingping co-chaired a China-Africa roundtable in Johannesburg on Thursday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
Xi praised the joint statement between China and Africa.
“It reflects our firm support on African integration and will send strong voice to the international community for solidarity and cooperation between China and Africa on international affairs and justice,” said Xi.
The Chinese leader said China will release initiatives and plans on supporting Africa on industrialisation, agricultural modernisation and education.
“We are convinced that solid African integration and modernisation of China and Africa will provide new engines to the world economic growth and will contribute positive energy to the international fairness and justice,” Xi said.
#China #Africa
@africaintel
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and China's leader Xi Jingping co-chaired a China-Africa roundtable in Johannesburg on Thursday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
Xi praised the joint statement between China and Africa.
“It reflects our firm support on African integration and will send strong voice to the international community for solidarity and cooperation between China and Africa on international affairs and justice,” said Xi.
The Chinese leader said China will release initiatives and plans on supporting Africa on industrialisation, agricultural modernisation and education.
“We are convinced that solid African integration and modernisation of China and Africa will provide new engines to the world economic growth and will contribute positive energy to the international fairness and justice,” Xi said.
#China #Africa
@africaintel
🇱🇾🇹🇩 Libya's LNA launches operation near southern border after Chad clashes
Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) said it launched air strikes against "foreign armed groups" near the border with Chad on Friday, after fighting near the area between the government of Chad and a rebel group.
Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby said on Sunday that the army was again fighting the Libya-based Chadian Front for Change and Concord (FACT) group, which quit a ceasefire last week amid clashes.
FACT had fought alongside the LNA as one of many mercenary groups involved in Libya's civil war, but they were on opposing sides during fighting two years ago when Deby's father was killed.
LNA spokesperson Ahmad Mismari said it had carried out strikes against foreign forces on the border with Chad after having earlier announced an operation to secure the frontier.
#Libya #Chad
@africaintel
Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) said it launched air strikes against "foreign armed groups" near the border with Chad on Friday, after fighting near the area between the government of Chad and a rebel group.
Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby said on Sunday that the army was again fighting the Libya-based Chadian Front for Change and Concord (FACT) group, which quit a ceasefire last week amid clashes.
FACT had fought alongside the LNA as one of many mercenary groups involved in Libya's civil war, but they were on opposing sides during fighting two years ago when Deby's father was killed.
LNA spokesperson Ahmad Mismari said it had carried out strikes against foreign forces on the border with Chad after having earlier announced an operation to secure the frontier.
#Libya #Chad
@africaintel
🇬🇦 Gabon to vote as president Bongo seeks to extend his tenure
Gabonese voters head to the polls on Saturday for presidential, legislative, and local elections that the opposition hopes will foil President Ali Bongo's bid for a third term and end his family's 56-year grip on power.
Voting kicks off across Gabon with 19 candidates on the presidential ballot, although six of the main opposition parties have backed a joint nominee in an effort to narrow the race to unseat Bongo.
On Friday, large crowds attended the final rallies of Bongo and Ondo Ossa in the capital Libreville.
Vote-counting will start after polls close at 1700 GMT. It is not yet clear when preliminary results will be announced.
#Gabon
@africaintel
Gabonese voters head to the polls on Saturday for presidential, legislative, and local elections that the opposition hopes will foil President Ali Bongo's bid for a third term and end his family's 56-year grip on power.
Voting kicks off across Gabon with 19 candidates on the presidential ballot, although six of the main opposition parties have backed a joint nominee in an effort to narrow the race to unseat Bongo.
On Friday, large crowds attended the final rallies of Bongo and Ondo Ossa in the capital Libreville.
Vote-counting will start after polls close at 1700 GMT. It is not yet clear when preliminary results will be announced.
#Gabon
@africaintel