AFRICA

Juba, South Sudan | Xinhua | South Sudan said on Thursday that it’s seeking support from the European Union to help lift the arms embargo and sanctions imposed by the United States following the outbreak of conflict in December 2013. Deng Dau Deng, deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation …

Dar es salaam, Tanzania | Xinhua | Tanzanian authorities mull over declaring Kiswahili as the official language of the laws and the language used in the administration and dispensation of justice instead of English. A bill that proposes to amend the Interpretation of Laws Act to declare Kiswahili the language of …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The number of COVID-19 related deaths in Africa has spiked as the continent grapples with local transmission of highly contagious strains of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said the death toll from the pandemic …

Kinshasa, DRC | Xinhua | A second positive case of Ebola virus disease was confirmed on Wednesday evening in the health zone of Butembo, North-Kivu province, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The response team said the second confirmed case is a 60-year-old farmer, who died on February 10, …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The East African Business Council (EABC), a private sector investment lobby on Wednesday called for prioritization of infrastructure development at border posts to facilitate seamless flow of goods and movement of persons as cross border business rebounds. Peter Mathuki, CEO of EABC, particularly stressed the improvement …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The African grey parrot that is renowned for its beauty is facing a huge threat to its survival amid illegal hunting to meet growing demand in the traditional medicine markets, conservationists said on Wednesday. Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection African office said …

Maputo, Mozambique | Xinhua | The Manhica Health Research Center in Mozambique announced on Wednesday that it will start a survey to assess the efficacy of the Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) tuberculosis vaccine against COVID-19. According to the scientific director of CISM, Francisco Saute, research on the BCG vaccine …

Kigali, Rwanda | Xinhua | Rwanda on Tuesday received three disinfectant robots to help in cleaning and disinfecting areas such as treatment centers and hospitals as means to limit the spread of the COVID-19. The robots, each of which can disinfect up to 15 rooms in an 8-hour shift will improve …

Juba, South Sudan | Xinhua | South Sudan’s central bank on Tuesday introduced a new banknote of 1,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) as the east African nation continues to struggle with hyperinflation amid a shortage of foreign reserves. Dier Tong Ngor, governor of the Bank of South Sudan, said the bank …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | Zambia has submitted the instruments of ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to the African Union (AU) Commission. The Southern Africa country deposited its instrument of ratification to the AU Commission through its envoy, making it the 36th AU member to …