AFRICA

Evaluating and learning from the best | THE INDEPENDENT | The COVID-19 pandemic is testing health care and disaster management systems of countries and the agility of policy responses to effectively handle a public health catastrophe. Since the first reported case in Africa on February 14, countries in the region …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Five European states and five African countries agreed at a meeting on Monday to work closer together to curtail human trafficking in Europe and at source and to establish legal pathways for migrants to reach Europe, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said. Johansson …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHAU | As tributes continued pouring in following the death of South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark Zindzi Mandela, President Cyril Ramaphosa said her passing was saddening. Zindzi died at age of 59 in a Johannesburg hospital after a short illness. She was Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela’s …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nigerian-based United Bank for Africa Plc. has appointed Oliver Alawuba as deputy Managing Director in charge of Africa businesses. The lender operates in 20 African countries including Uganda. Also appointed is Ayoku Liadi as deputy managing director in charge of UBA Nigeria. The lender …

Khartoum, Sudan | THE INDEPENDENT & XINHUA | Sudan’s Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari has announced a series of far-reaching judicial reforms that include abolition of death penalty for apostasy, ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and permission for Christians to drink alcohol. The justice minister confirmed that the new Sudan government …

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | Greater uptake of cleaner energy technologies is key to hasten inclusive economic recovery in Africa after devastations caused by COVID-19 pandemic, said a report launched in Nairobi on Friday. The continent’s ability to jump-start economies after a downturn linked to the pandemic hinges on investments …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | A new report launched has urged Africa with its development partners to design new business models for infrastructure development to meet the needs of the growing population on the continent. The report launched by the Development Center of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development …

  Paris, FRANCE | THE INDEPENDENT | Eversend, a Neobank for Africans led by Ugandan entrepreneur Stone Atwine, has closed its oversubscribed equity crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs for just over $1 million. The startup Eversend had planned to raise $613,000 in return for 7.67% equity, but ended up raising ($1.015 million). …

Luanda, Angola | XINHUA |  Angola on Thursday suspended charging school fees in all public, co-financed and private education institutions during a period of national emergency due to COVID-19. The policy, which applies to all subsystems of education and vocational training, will be in force until classes are resumed in …

Khartoum, Sudan | XINHUA |  Sudan’s Council of Ministers on Thursday announced a cabinet reshuffle in response to the public demand for correcting the path of revolution. “All ministers of the transitional government have turned in their resignations to give the opportunity for reshuffling the government,” the council said in …