AFRICA

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The African Union (AU) Commission on Thursday launched a flagship campaign to intensify the continental fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic toward protecting African economies and livelihoods amid the easing of lockdowns. The newly launched continental initiative, dubbed “Africa Against COVID-19: Saving Lives, Economies, and …

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | African leaders have strongly condemned the Tuesday military coup in Mali during which President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was seized by mutinying soldiers. The leaders who included Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his counterparts from South Africa, DR Congo, Rwanda and Mozambique among others also demanded …

Beijing, China | XINHUA | Experts have voiced concerns over the U.S.’ inaction in joining the international community to help Africa amid the pandemic, the continent hit hardest by COVID-19. “The U.S. has basically been missing in action on the global front, which is very heartbreaking for me to see,” …

Harare, Zimbabwe | XINHUA | The Zimbabwe government on Wednesday summoned the Pope’s envoy to Zimbabwe as it escalated its feud with the Catholic Church to diplomatic level after Catholic bishops wrote a stinging pastoral letter last Friday accusing the government of human rights violations. In the fourth response by …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The African Union (AU) Commission said the “unconstitutional change” of government in Mali further complicates the situation on the ground, particularly the implementation of the peace and reconciliation agreement as well as the current efforts in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime …

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged African countries to put solid COVID-19 prevention measures in place before embarking on reopening of learning institutions. WHO said in a statement released in Nairobi that reopening of schools in the Sub-Saharan African region should be accompanied by …

  Johannesburg | THE INDEPENDENT | Chief Financial Officer of MTN Group Ralph Mupita will on September 1 take over from Rob Shuter as president and CEO. “After a rigorous and extensive search process, we are pleased to have appointed someone of Ralph’s calibre, experience and ability to fill the group president …

United Nations | XINHUA | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali after the country’s president was arrested. “The secretary-general is following with deep concern the unfolding developments in Mali, including the military mutiny which culminated in the …

The virus has since moved from high density urban areas to the congested slums Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Aug. 14 marked six months since COVID-19 was first detected on the continent. While the virus has accelerated in many other regions of the world, the pandemic’s evolution on the …

  Bamako, Mali | XINHUA | Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, currently detained by mutinous Malian soldiers in a military camp, announced late Tuesday his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse’s government. “I have decided to quit my functions, all my functions from this …