Africa

Photo: Protesters in Algiers on 1 March 2019. CC BY-SA 4.0

Corruption Trials in Algeria – No More Facebook for Museveni – Nobel Laureate Denounces Rise of Armed Groups

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – While corruption trials continue for Algerian officials ousted in nation’s ‘Arab Spring’ 2010-2012, on the eve of elections, social media leader Facebook has barred Ugandan President Museveni, and the Nigerian Nobel Laureate has decried the rise of armed groups as a threat to sovereignty.

Responding to the recent rise in student kidnappings and massacres, Wole Soyinka said in an interview, Nigeria’s sovereignty has been taken over by armed groups. He asked President Muhammadu Buhari to do more to stop terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 11 January 2021

Image: A collage of SDG3 and SDG16 logos from the UN Website.

UN Chief Points to Fragility and Conflict as Major Obstacles to Sustainable Development Goals

By Santo D. Banerjee

NEW YORK (IDN) – “Challenges of Maintaining Peace and Security in Fragile Contexts” were the focus of Secretary-General António Guterres' remarks at the Security Council virtual open debate on January 6. The debate was organized by Mr Kais Saied, the Security Council's Presidency for the month of January.

He called for a Global Ceasefire, which he said, goes hand-in-hand with a flagship initiative of the African Union. The United Nations also remains committed to supporting the African Union’s ambitious Agenda 2063.

: Santo D. Banerjee; SUSTAINABILITY; Poverty; 08 January 2021

Photo: In the DRC, the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade has taken measures to boost hygiene to help slow the spread of the virus. CC BY-SA 2.0

Most Africans Will Not Receive Corona Vaccine This Year

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Countries across Africa are hunting for deals to obtain COVID-19 vaccines at affordable prices, but their limited funds will cover less than half of their citizens. One estimate places access to a vaccine at one person out of 10.

According to a report in The Hill, a U.S. news website, 9 out of 10 people in nearly 70 poor countries will not get a COVID-19 vaccine this year due to government funding shortfalls.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 04 January 2021

Photo: NUM general secretary David Sipunzi. Picture: Nokuthula Mbatha/African News Agency (ANA) Archives

Unionists Grieve the Demise of South African Labour Leader

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – The family of comrade David Kolekile Sipunzi has confirmed the passing of the leader of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The announcement was made by William Mabapa, deputy general secretary of the black workers union.

Mabapa called Sipunzi a unionist dedicated to fighting for the rights of employees.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 04 January 2021

Photo: Chinese UNAMID peacekeepers (file photo) Credit: UNAMID/Albert Gonzalez Farran

Unease as UN Peace Mission in Sudan Ends and Ethiopian Soldiers Return Home

Compiled by EEPA

BRUSSELS (IDN) – The TPLF is keeping control of mountainous areas in Tigray. As many analysts predicted when Mekelle was taken, the ENDF has had difficulties driving the TPLF out of well entrenched mountain positions.

The ENDF has launched an offensive towards Samre, East of Mekelle.

Meanwhile, cruelties against civilians are reported. These include forcing relatives to commit incest on women and girls under the threat of arbitrary execution.

: Africa & ME Editor; THE WORLD; Horn of Africa; 03 January 2021

The Guest, Corona, Didn’t Come to Play

Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene

The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine based in Abuja, Nigeria.

ABUJA (IDN) – It’s true that Coronavirus is not among the top five most deadly diseases in Africa today. But it’s also correct that at this time, we know far less about the COVID-19 pandemic than we know about malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, Ischaemic heart diseases, meningitis, tuberculosis, or HIV/AIDS.

Yet, we’re fooling around with COVID-19 and making convenient excuses as if ignorance or malicious defiance is a remedy.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 31 December 2020

Photo: Desert Locusts in Isiolo County, Kenya. Source: FAO

Desert Locust Upsurge Continues to Threaten Food Security in the Horn of Africa

FAO Needs Funds To Safeguard Agricultural Production and Livelihoods

By FAO

ROME (IDN) – A new generation of Desert Locust swarms is threatening Agricultural and pastoral livelihoods and the food security of millions of people in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, despite intense efforts to control the pest throughout 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

With international support and an unprecedented large-scale response campaign coordinated by FAO, more than 1.3 million hectares of locust infestations have been treated in ten countries since January 2020.

: UN Bureau; SUSTAINABILITY; Food security, nutrition & sustainable agriculture; 23 December 2020

Photo: A view of the Mabwepande Green Village. Credit: Kizito Makoye.

Mabwepande Green Village: Model for a Sustainable Future

The Watumishi Housing Company’s model estate harnesses clean energy technologies to improve lives and reduce the carbon footprint.

By Kizito Makoye

MABWEPANDE | Tanzania (IDN) – As a warm breeze blows from the Indian Ocean, two men in dazzling outfits show up on the balcony of a home with flower-filled pots to convey a message to their community members about the future plans of their green village.

“In order to achieve our goals of establishing a successful green village, it is important to come together and exchange our ideas,” says Reeves Ngalemwa, the chairman of the Mabwepande green village in Tanzania’s largest commercial city.

: Kizito Makoye; THE WORLD; Africa; 22 December 2020

Photo: Pierre Buyoya, African Union Special Representative, Mali and the Sahel; President of Burundi (1987-1993, 1996-2003). Credit: African Union

Ex Burundi Leader Convicted of Murder Dies in Paris of COVID

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Ex-President Pierre Buyoya of Burundi died December 18 in Paris where he was seeking medical treatment for Covid-19, according to relatives. He was 71. Prior to contracting the illness, Buyoya had been living in Mali, where he served as a special envoy of the African Union to Mali and the Sahel from 2012 until November of this year.

An official at the Clinique Pasteur in the capital city of Bamako told Reuters that Buyoya had been treated there before being evacuated to Paris overnight. He gave no further details.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 21 December 2020

Photo: Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolboys. Source: 24x7news

More Nigerian Schoolchildren Seized in Second Mass Kidnapping

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Schoolchildren were again the targets of unknown assailants who seized the youngsters as they returned from a religious ceremony in the Nigerian town of Dandume, near Kankara where a similar kidnapping had taken place.

According to published police sources, between 39 and 84 schoolchildren were abducted by the kidnappers after a gun battle between the abductors, security forces and local vigilantes. They were released after 10 days in captivity, press reports say.