Southern African bloc to withdraw troops from Congo in phases
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced on Thursday that a summit of regional heads of state had terminated the mandate of its troop deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo and decided on a “phased withdrawal”. “Summit terminated the Mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the commencement of a phased...
Federal judge rules reduction in staff and funding is legal at African development agency
USADF last week tried to keep staff from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from entering their offices in Washington. DOGE staff managed to gain entry after returning with US Marshals.
Special Climate Envoy of President of Kenya lobbies Russia to support Africa’s quest for climate justice
During the visit, Mohamed held talks with Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues, Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa.
Former Congolese President Kabila’s allies questioned by pro-Tshisekedi military prosecutor
The military prosecutor’s office had sent about 10 invitation letters to members of Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, although only three appeared for questioning in the capital Kinshasa on Monday.
US, Europe aid cuts jolt AFC chief into pushing to free up billions from African pension funds
Pension funds had also placed money in the Infrastructure Climate Resilience Fund, boosting a $52 million commitment from the European Investment Bank, he said. Investors from the Gulf and Europe are also looking to place money in other AFC projects, such as ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms which designs and finances industrial projects.
South African artist hopes vibrant sculptures make parks more welcoming in unsafe Johannesburg
Authorities in Johannesburg have encouraged public art to improve safety and environmental conditions in the city of some six million people whose downtown has a reputation for crime and degradation. Johannesburg is considered one of the world’s most dangerous cities, based on crime data.
South Africa’s towering playwright Athol Fugard, who challenged apartheid, returns to the pavilion
Fugard told an interviewer that the best theatre in Africa would come from South Africa because the “daily tally of injustice and brutality has forced a maturity of thinking and feeling and an awareness of basic values I do not find equalled anywhere in Africa.”
Africa faces ‘deadlier’ test as malaria season sets in against backdrop of Trump’s US aid cuts weaken the fight against it
Uganda in 2023 had 12.6 million malaria cases and nearly 16,000 deaths, many of them children under 5 and pregnant women, according to WHO. Opigo said the US has been giving between $30 million and $35 million annually for malaria control. He didn’t say which contracts have been terminated but noted that field research was also affected.
South Africa says Zelenskiy will visit in April as part of its ongoing talks with Ukraine and Russia
Ramaphosa is due to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa next week in Cape Town at an annual European Union-South Africa summit.
UN: Whereabouts of 181 migrants unknown, at least two dead after boats capsize off Yemen and Djibouti
Over the past decade, at least 2,082 people have disappeared along the route, including 693 known to have drowned, according to the IOM. About 380,000 migrants are currently in Yemen.
