World Bank revises downwards sub-Saharan Africa growth forecast for 2024 over Sudan
The sub-Saharan Africa region grew at a robust annual average of 5.3 per cent in 2000-2014 on the back of a commodity supercycle, but output started flagging when commodity prices crashed. The slowdown was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Beasts of burden: Young African women duped into working in Russian drone factory work like slaves with low pay
In addition to dangers from chemicals, the complex itself was hit by a Ukrainian drone in April, injuring at least 12 people. A video it posted on social media showed a Kenyan woman calling the attackers “barbarians” who “wanted to intimidate us.”
How Kenyan, Ugandan, Rwandan and South Sudanese women were duped with job offers in Russia only to end up building drones used in Ukraine war
Russia and Iran signed a $1.7 billion deal in 2022, after President Vladimir Putin invaded neighbouring Ukraine, and Moscow began using Iranian imports of the unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, in battle later that year.
Kariba Dam: World’s largest man-made lake strips Zambia of electricity, grounds economy to a halt
Less than half of Zambia’s 20 million people had access to electricity before Kariba’s problems. Millions more have now been forced to adjust as mothers find different ways to cook for their families and children do their homework by candlelight. The most damaging impact is during the daylight hours when small businesses, the backbone of the country, struggle to operate.
Nigerians in Borno State who escaped Boko Haram’s bloodbath are forced to return to hopeless villages
Borno State alone has nearly 900,000 internally displaced people in displacement camps, with many others absorbed in local communities. So far this year, at least 1,600 civilians have been killed in militant attacks in Borno State, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a US-based nonprofit.
Three suspects accused of stealing cash from South African president’s farm appear in court
Cyril Ramaphosa denied wrongdoing and said the cash was from the legitimate sale of buffaloes at his Phala Phala game farm. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the reserve bank and a public watchdog. However, an independent report raised questions over the cash and Ramaphosa survived an impeachment vote in Parliament in 2022 when his African National Congress party used its majority to block the motion.
Jihadist insurgency-scarred Mozambique to elect new president against backdrop of drought-induced hunger
Some 1.3 million people were forced to flee their homes. Around 600,000 people have since returned home, many to shattered communities where houses, markets, churches, schools and health facilities have been destroyed, the United Nations refugee agency said earlier this year.
Senegal’s budget deficit, weaker fiscal and debt position prompts Moody’s to lower it to B1 rating
Ratings agency Moody’s on Friday downgraded Senegal’s long-term ratings to B1 from Ba3, citing significantly weaker fiscal and debt position than expected. Senegal is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for corrective measures after an audit ordered by newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye revealed the 2023 budget...
Solar power companies are growing fast in Africa, where 600 million still lack electricity
The International Energy Agency, in a report earlier this year, said small and medium-sized solar companies are making rapid progress reaching homes but more needs to be invested to reach all African homes and businesses by 2030.
Going back to the roots: Senegalese ditching French for Wolof as ‘language nationalism’ sweep west Africa
There are 25 languages in Senegal. Six of them have the status of national languages, but Wolof is largely dominant. Out of the population of 17 million people, over 12 million speak Wolof, compared to around 4 million French speakers.
