Africanews

Kenyan protest: Is youth led activism effective in influencing government policies ?

Join us live in this discussion. We'll explore how young activists are shaping politics and driving change. Hear from youth leaders, policymakers, and experts on their successes and challenges. Be part of the conversation!

Rwanda’s first female rally driver ‘Queen’

Meet Rwanda's beauty queen turned rally driver! Her journey from the runway to the racetrack is a reminder that dreams know no gender boundaries. #Africanews #InspireAfrica #Rwanda

Ghana: opposition led demonstration denounces economic crisis

Several hundred opposition protesters rallied in Ghana's capital Accra on Tuesday to denounce the country's lingering economic crisis, blaming it on the central bank governor's policies. Dubbed "OccupyBoGProtest", the opposition leadership says the Bank of Ghana governor Ernest Addison must resign for overseeing an economy where inflation has hit 40 percent. "If the whole country needs 1 billion from the IMF every year for three years to fix our problem and Addison (ed note: Ernest Addison the Governor of the Bank of Ghana) in one year can superintend the loss of 5 billion. Who's our problem?" points out Samuel Nartey George, MP for Ningo- Prampram. "This government, they know that they are losing power. They have nothing to lose. If the BOG destroys Ghana, they don't care. If Addison runs Ghana down, they don’t care. But we, the people, must care," adds Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, MP for Madina Constituency, Greater Accra Region. Led by the opposition National Democratic Congress or NDC Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson, protesters chanted patriotic songs while others blew vuvuzeles, drummed and danced near ranks of heavily armed police. #Africanews #Ghana #OccupyBOG

Libya: Vaccination campaign launched in flood-ravaged Derna

One week following torrential rain in eastern Libya and the collapse of two dams which caused the most destruction, survivors face new challenges. Local officials, aid agencies, and the World Health Organization "are concerned about the risk of disease outbreak, particularly from contaminated water and the lack of sanitation", the United Nations said Monday. The health minister of the divided country's eastern administration announced on Sunday (Sep. 17) the launch of a vaccination campaign in flood-ravaged Derna. "Vaccination has a health aspect, in order to protect those who are working on the ground and prevent any possibility of them getting infected," Othman Abdeljalil said. "At the same time, we also want to reassure citizens that the ministry of health is following up on the matter and the process will be organised." The minister said workers in rescue operations, workers in the health sector, and children will be prioritized. Traumatised residents are badly in need of clean water, food and basic supplies amid a growing risk of cholera, diarrhoea, dehydration and malnutrition, the UN warned. Emergency response teams and aid have been deployed from France, Greece, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Can BRICS+ de-dollarize the global markets? [Business Africa]

In a world where economic stability and global markets are constantly evolving, the BRICS nations are making significant strides towards reshaping the global financial landscape. During their 15th annual summit, held recently, discussions on de-dollarization and the creation of a new currency took center stage. The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has long been seen as a rising force in the global economy. As of March 2023, they collectively represent a substantial 31.5% of the world's GDP. However, their ambitions don't stop there. In a historic expansion move, the BRICS welcomed six new member countries into their fold. This expansion aims to bolster the bloc's influence and capabilities, giving it more weight on the global stage. One of the most significant aspects of this expansion is the concerted effort to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar. The BRICS nations are exploring new currency arrangements that could potentially lessen their reliance on the dollar-dominated global financial system. This shift signifies a move towards a multipolar world economy, one where the influence of the United States is not as predominant. But can the BRICS nations truly reshape the world's economic landscape? To gain a better understanding of the situation, Africanews spoke with Mr. Jean Joseph Boillot, an economist and advisor on emerging countries at IRIS. He shed light on the BRICS+ initiative, stating that it has the potential to bring about substantial changes in the global economic order. #Africanews #BusinessAfrica

Italy suspends Pogba after doping accusations

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended by Italy's national anti-doping tribunal after returning an adverse sample. The France international tested positive for testosterone in a random drugs test following Juventus' Serie A game against Udinese on August 20, when he was an unused substitute. After the Italian anti-doping body issued a statement on Monday evening confirming Pogba's suspension, Juventus said the club would now consider "the next procedural steps". If found guilty of doping, a suspension of between two and four years could be handed out to Pogba. "Juventus Football Club announces that today, September 11, 2023, the footballer Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the results of tests carried out on August 20, 2023," a statement from the Serie A side read.

Hundreds feared dead after Mediterranean storm Daniel lashes Libya

Flooding caused by torrential rains has left at least 150 people dead in eastern Libya, which has been hit by storm Daniel after Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria, an official source said on Monday. Speaking on the Almasar channel, the head of the executive in eastern Libya, Osama Hamad, put forward figures of "more than 2,000 dead and thousands missing" in the city of Derna alone, but no medical or rescue service source confirmed this death toll. While the media in eastern Libya widely echoed Mr. Hamad's statements, the separate figures they reported from different localities were far lower than those he put forward. "At least 150 people were killed due to flooding caused by storm Daniel in Derna, in the Jabal Al-Akhdar regions and in the suburbs of Al-Marj", Mohamed Massoud, spokesman for the head of the eastern Libyan executive, told AFP earlier. Described by experts as "extreme in terms of the amount of water falling", storm Daniel has already claimed at least 27 lives in recent days in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. #Libya #Africanews #floods

Kwabena Danso's Vision for Rural Development: The Pampro Bamboo Bicycle Project

Discover the inspiring journey of Ghanaian social entrepreneur, Kwabena Danso, as he shares his vision behind the Pampro Bamboo Bicycle project. Witness how this innovative initiative is not only providing sustainable transportation but also contributing to the development of rural communities. . . #Africanews #InspireAfrica

Morocco's earthquake survivors ask for more help from authorities

A woman in tears. Not much is left of the village of Imine Tala, in Morocco's southwest, following Friday's earthquake. With little aid from authorities, villagers on Sunday (Sep. 10) only rely on themselves for search and rescue operations. The bodies of the bridegroom, his wife, his sister are under the rubble, Hada, a resident laments. "There was no one there to recover the bodies. We ask you to make our voice heard by the authorities. We ask for the road to be opened." According to official figures updated late on Sunday, quake killed at least two thousand 2,122 people. The 6.8-magnitude quacked wiped out entire villages in the hills of the Atlas Mountains. "People are very depressed here, the village of Imine Tala is completely demolished," one unnamde villagher reveals. "There is no one left to help. The cliff fell on them. The people are still under the rubble and no one can remove the stones, and the authorities haven't yet sent the equipment to remove them, as they haven't done so for three days. You can smell the corpses everywhere. It's a shame the authorities haven't helped these people."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in New Delhi in the Republic of India on Friday (Sep. 08); where he will attend the G20 annual summit which begins on Saturday (Sep. 09). He was welcomed by the Indian Minister of State for Rail, Coal and Mines, South Africa's International Relations minister, and South Africa’s High Commissioner to India. The Leaders of the world's largest economies will convene under the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. President Ramaphosa will have bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Government on the margins of the G20 "to strengthen South Africa’s diplomatic, economic and cultural ties", the Department of International Relations and Cooperation writes. South Africa will assume the G20 Presidency in 2025. At the end of August, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his wish for the AU to become a member of the G20, which currently counts only one African nation: South Africa. . . . . . #Africanews #southAfrica #Ramaphosa

In Harare, a rusty caravan helps brides and grooms in a hurry. It's the local Las Vegas for lovers in a hurry to get married, or for long-standing couples married according to tradition but not yet in front of the mayor: a khaki caravan awaits them in front of the courthouse in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. In this southern African country plunged for years into deep economic crisis, Daphne Siwardi, face framed by short dreadlocks, leads this flourishing operation designed to "make women prettier on the big day". "Young or old, they all come here," enthuses this elegant 37-year-old in a forest-green frock coat over a burgundy dress. For over ten years, she has been running this wedding dress rental boutique out of her rusty white-topped van, offering fiancées in need not only white lace dresses but also bouquets, decorations and quick make-up and hair services. Up to six clients drop by each morning to get ready before accompanying their future groom to court," she explains, as she reviews a row of white dresses hanging from a rod. Most of them come before the big day to choose a dress, have it washed and fitted. The dresses all come from China. . . . . . . #Africanews #Zimbabwe #weddingplanning

An appeals court in Nigeria rejected two out of the three petitions Wednesday challenging the legitimacy of President Bola Tinubu's victory in the February election, with the last petition still under deliberation in a case that has put Africa’s most populous country on edge. Three opposing parties challenged the election results which they said was illegally announced and argued that Tinubu was not qualified to run for president because he was a citizen of Guinea and allegedly did not have the required academic credentials. The opposition has hinted at possible protests if the court rules in his favor. In the Court of Appeal in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, a five-member justice panel ruled that the third-place finisher Peter Obi and his Labour Party were not able to prove his claims that the Nigerian election commission did not follow due process in announcing the results of the vote nor that the voting was marred by irregularities and that he — not Tinubu — won the election with a majority of votes. The court also rejected witness statements called by Obi, saying they were “incompetent” and ruled that he failed to prove his claim that Tinubu was once indicted on drug charges in the United States, thereby disqualifying him from running for president. “It is clearly evident that the petitioners have failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by law,” said Haruna Tsammani, head of the panel. “They have not been able to leave any cogent, credible and acceptable evidence.” It also rejected a petition by the Allied Peoples Movement which sought to nullify Tinubu's victory on the ground that his running mate — Vice President Kashim Shettima— was not legally nominated to contest. It said Shettima met the minimum constitutional provisions allowing him to run. . . . . . #Africanews #Nigeria #Tinubu

Gabon's former president Ali Bongo, who was ousted in a putsch, is free to leave the country and travel abroad the leader of the coup that toppled him said on Wednesday. "He has freedom of movement... and can travel abroad if he wishes," general Brice Oligui Nguema said in a statement read on state television. Bongo, in power for 14 years, had been under house arrest since the military coup of August 30, carried out without bloodshed less than an hour after his party proclaimed his re-election in a vote described as fraudulent by the putschists. "Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba has freedom of movement. He can travel abroad if he wishes to carry out his medical checks," Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi said, reading a press release signed by Oligui took his oath as transitional president on Monday. Bongo suffered a serious stroke in October 2018 which left him physically impaired, with particular difficulty moving his right leg and arm. Bongo took office in 2009, succeeding his father Omar, who ruled the country for some 41 years, gaining a reputation for iron-fisted rule and kleptocracy. . . . . #Africanews #AliBongo #Gabon

Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos on Monday began the first of commercial operations for its Blue Rail Line project. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, joined fellow Lagosians and state officials in celebrating the official launch of commercial operations for the Lagos Blue Line rail. The long-awaited commencement date, which had been postponed multiple times, is expected to provide significant relief to the people of Lagos. One passenger who had the opportunity to ride on the train exclaimed, "It was a very smooth experience, everything was organised and there was, I like it, it was very organized actually”. An engineer Joseph Akinpelu said “it will allow people to be able to reach their destination faster and reduce the environmental pollution because it’s run by electricity" . Akinpelu added that "it will make transportation more seamless, and more comfortable”

Can Africa count on an expanded BRICS?

GET READY for a seismic shift in global power dynamics! In January 2024, the BRICS group expands from five to eleven nations, commanding nearly 30% of the world's GDP and 37% by PPP. With the addition of countries like Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE, they now control 43% of global oil production. This monumental development has analysts buzzing and has caught the attention of African nations seeking closer ties. Join us for an exclusive interview with Zemedeneh Negatu, Global Chairman of the Fairfax Africa Fund, as we delve into this game-changing transformation. . . . . #BusinessAfrica #brics #Africanews

Gabon's new military leader was sworn in as the head of state Monday (Sep. 04) less than a week after ousting the president whose family had ruled the Central African nation for more than five decades. Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, took the oath in the presidential palace in front of a packed, boisterous room of government officials, military and local leaders in Gabon's capital, Libreville. Oligui is a cousin of the ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba, served as a bodyguard to his late father and is head of the republican guard, an elite military unit. Speaking to applause and standing ovations Monday, Oligui said the military had seized power without bloodshed and promised to return power to the people by organizing free, transparent and credible elections. "With the new government, made up of experienced people, we’re going to give everyone a chance to hope," he said. The mutinous soldiers who toppled Bongo last week said he risked leading the country into chaos and they then "unanimously" designated Oligui president of the transitional committee. Bongo, who had been president for 14 years, was ousted hours after being declared the winner of a vote that was widely seen as rife with irregularities and lacking transparency. . . . . . . #Africanews #Gabon

Thousands of demonstrators in Niger on Sunday held a third day of rallies calling for former colonial ruler France to withdraw its troops, as sought by the junta which seized power in July. "Down with France! France get out," the demonstrators chanted, repeating slogans heard at various rallies in Niamey since the coup d'etat on July 26. Niger's military regime had fired a new verbal broadside at France on Friday, accusing Paris of "blatant interference" by backing the country's ousted president. Since then, tens of thousands of people have joined in the protest at a roundabout, close to the Niger military base where French soldiers are stationed. Relations with France, the country's former colonial power and ally in its fight against jihadism, went swiftly downhill after Paris stood by ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, On August 3, the regime announced the scrapping of military agreements with France, which has about 1,500 soldiers stationed in the country. Niger's military rulers have also announced the "expulsion" of the French ambassador Sylvain Itte and said they are withdrawing his diplomatic immunity. They said his presence constituted a threat to public order. . . . . #africanews #Niger #D#demonstration

START your week with a dose of inspiration from the brilliant Dr. Lungile Mhlongo @drlu_ the visionary behind Numa Medical Aesthetics. 💫 Watch this interview as we dive into her incredible journey in medically supervised skincare and cosmetic practices. 🌿💄 . . . . . . #InspireAfrica #Africanews #southAfrica #cosmetics

Deadly Johannesburg fire "a wake-up call for us" - President Ramaphosa

South Africa's President visited Thursday (Aug. 31) evening the site of a Johannesburg fire that killed at least 74 people, earlier in the day. 12 children, the youngest a one-year-old, lost their lives in the country's deadliest blaze in recent years. 61 injured people were transported from the deprived area of what used to be the business district to the hospital. President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his government's shock and deep sadness. "Early in the morning I heard about this tragic event, we are very sad as the government about the passing of so many people, here in Johannesburg. This is unprecedented, Johannesburg has never had an event like this where so many people died as a result of fire in the centre of the city. So this is tragic." Ramaphosa made the visit after cancelling a Thursday evening television address on the BRICS economic summit held in Johannesburg last week. #Africanews #SouthAfrica

The death toll from a fire that engulfed a five-story building Thursday morning in the central Marshalltown neighborhood, Johannesburg, South Africa has risen to at least 73. Johannesburg emergency services in an update said 52 people were also injured and have been "transported to various healthcare facilities for further medical care". The building in the Marshalltown neighborhood was being used as ‘informal’ housing for some 200 homeless people according to the city's authorities. . . . . . #Africanews #SouthAfrica #Fire