Border closures, quarantines and lockdowns. These strict measures to fight the pandemic nearly brought domestic and international travels to a standstill in 2020. But despite the economic pressures felt by African airlines, there was a resolve for survival. Ethiopian airlines, Africa’s largest commercial airline, quickly diversified to cargo. It avoided seeking bailouts and laying-off full-time…
Unkept Promises in a Marginalised Region Hundreds went on strike on Thursday taking to the streets of Gafsa, Tunisia to demand the provision of infrastructure and jobs promised by several governments in this region — rich in phosphate and one of the most marginalised in the country. “Recruitment is a priority and not a favour,”…
Botswana and China Strengthen Ties Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his local counterpart Dr Lemogang Kwape in Botswana on Thursday to reinforce bilateral and diplomatic relations — which the two nations consider to be based on mutual respect, trust, and support. The talks were also to promote continued cooperation in anti-pandemic efforts…
There was chaos on the floor of Ghana’s parliament on Wednesday as legislators voted to choose the next speaker of the 8th parliament of the 4th Republic. Some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress disrupted the election of the speaker of the 8th parliament, leading to several commotions in the house since the inauguration…
Youths protesting a coronavirus curfew fought with security forces in the Senegalese capital Dakar overnight Wednesday, burning tyres and erecting barricades as police fired tear gas. The main clashes were in the city’s Ngor district, while other incidents were reported in the Medina and Yoff areas and suburban Pikine, Guediawaye and Thiaroye. The violence erupted…
China has waived some of the debt owed to it by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to help the central African country overcome the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Congo’s foreign affairs ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry did not say how much was forgiven. The deal was announced during a visit to Kinshasa…
AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna SECURITY operatives have killed bandits in 17 locations in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi and Chikun local governments of Kaduna State. Internal Security and Home Affairs Commissioner Mr. Samuel Aruwan said in a statement yesterday that the operation was carried out on Monday at Albasu, Rahama, Sabon Birni, Rikau, Fadama Kanauta, Galadimawa, Kaya,…
A company led by American-Senegalese R&B singer Akon has signed a deal to finance a copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a joint venture with a state miner, according to a contract published by the mines ministry. The Grammy-nominated singer, known for hit songs like “Don’t Matter” and “Smack That,”…
Senegal President Macky Sall on Tuesday announced a new state of emergency in response to record cases of coronavirus sweeping parts of the West African nation. Starting Wednesday, a nighttime curfew will be enforced in the regions of Dakar and Thies, which Sall said are home to more than 90% of cases. Mask-wearing will be…
Electoral Discord in the Central African Republic Tuesday in the Central African Republic saw ten candidates in the presidential race call for the “outright cancellation and resumption” of the December 27 presidential and legislative elections in light of perceived electoral fraud. This comes after the re-election of the incumbent Faustin Archange Touadéra in the first…