AFRICA

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | THE INDEPENDENT | President of the Republic of South Africa and African Union (AU) COVID-19 Champion Cyril Ramaphosa has today announced the start of monthly shipments of vaccines acquired by the AU / African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to the AU Member States. Target is to …

  Liberalization of air services in the EAC region will increase traffic volumes, improve connectivity and lower air transport fares Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The East African Business Council (EABC), a regional trade lobby, on Wednesday urged the East African Community (EAC) partner states to liberalize the air transport services …

Gaborone, Botswana | Xinhua | Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Tuesday appealed to his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden to assist the southern African country with COVID-19 vaccines. Masisi made the appeal during a closed-door meeting with visiting U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland in Botswana’s capital city, press secretary …

Abidjan, Ivory Coast | THE INDEPENDENT |   The African Development Bank (AfDB), through its Financial Sector Development’s Trade Finance operations, has launched a Transaction Guarantee instrument designed to provide up to 100% cover for non-payment risk to regional and international banks, for trade transactions initiated by local banks in Africa. The …

Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | Over 2,700 attacks on healthcare workers and patients have been recorded in 17 countries or territories affected by conflicts since Dec. 2017, killing 700 people and injuring more than 2,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. Presenting the findings of the WHO’s latest “Attacks …

Juba, South Sudan | THE INDEPENDENT | A faction of the South Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement/Army in opposition (SPLM/A-IO) have declared a coup, and declared First Lieutenant General Simon Gatwech dual interim chairman and commander in chief. According to EyeRadio in Juba, the group issued a statement after a three-day meeting of …

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Xinhua | Tanzania’s Minister of Defense and National Service, Elias Kwandikwa, has died at the age of 55 in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam on Monday night. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan confirmed the death on Tuesday on her Twitter account, saying that she …

Kampala, Uganda | Ronald Musoke | Rosemary Mukami Kariuki has taken over from Tony Thompson as the World Bank Country Manager for Uganda effective Aug.01. According to a statement from the World Bank, Kariuki, a Kenyan national will now lead an active portfolio which, at the moment, stands at US$3.9 bn …

Antananarivo, Madagascar | Xinhua | Madagascar authorities have arrested 21 suspects over an assassination attempt on President Andry Rajoelina, local media reported on Monday. Berthine Razafiarivony, general attorney of the court of appeal of Antananarivo, told a briefing on Sunday that based on tangible, material evidence in the hands of investigators, the …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | As the effects of climate change such as scarce rains and drought unfold in Kenya, the east African nation is warming up to alternative crops that were initially neglected to boost food security, with traditional staple crops facing increased threats. Maize and rice are among Kenyan …