Recalcitrant China expected to listen more to mineral-rich African countries, give others a short shrift
China unveiled a $60 billion financing package at the 2015 FOCAC and repeated that in 2018. By the summit in Dakar in 2021, Beijing pivoted to trade and investments – a shift largely due to domestic financial pressures, the onset of Covid-19 and a commodities crash that hurt African economies.
Families, rights groups and EU question death of inmates in Congo prison as state promises to build facility prison
The European Union on Wednesday called on Congolese authorities “to quickly shed light on these tragic events in order to establish the various responsibilities, including with regard to respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
South Africa: Fake railway engineer handed 15 years in prison, ordered to refund $323,000 salary
Investigators have said there was rampant corruption and mismanagement at some of South Africa’s biggest state-owned businesses between 2009 and 2018. A report last week by a special unit that is investigating high-level corruption said that more than $7 billion may have been lost to graft at some of those state-owned companies, including PRASA.
Criminal justice in Congo tested as 129 die as 12,000 inmates attempt jailbreak to protest inhuman prison conditions
Inmates had increasingly grown frustrated with the poor conditions in the facility, including inadequate beds, poor feeding and poor sanitation. However, authorities failed to act despite warnings, said Cole, president of the local Bill Clinton Peace Foundation, which has in the past visited the prison.
Nigerian protesters accused of acting ‘with intent to destabilise Nigeria’ face death penalty
The protesters were charged under Nigeria’s Penal Code, which critics have described as one of the country’s harshest laws and one used by authorities to clamp down on dissent. The treason charge carries a death penalty.
Why SAF, RSF factions in Sudan’s 30-month civil war are averse to peace despite 16,000 people massacre
Furthermore, the various mediators’ strategies follow a predictable incremental logic, starting with a humanitarian ceasefire and aiming for a power-sharing arrangement. All parties can anticipate the steps in this process and are hesitant to engage in processes that could result in outcomes similar to the failed pre-conflict setup.
Congolese authorities say attempted jailbreak by over 12,000 inmates aborted, prisoners killed
There was no public comment on Monday’s incident yet from Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who is in China on an official visit. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba called the attack a “premeditated act of sabotage” that was carried out against efforts to improve the condition of prisons.
Mechanics of moving wildlife with large body mass evolves, saves lonely African elephants
The mechanics of moving an elephant to a new life are complex. Khalil doesn’t dart and tranquilise elephants, mainly because it’s not good for such a big animal. Also, four tonnes of tranquilised elephant is hardly any easier to move.
In Senegal’s thriving hip-hop scene, female beatmaker insists women have a seat at the table
The question of accessibility looms over much of the House of Urban Culture’s work in Senegal. Amadou Fall Ba was the centre’s coordinator for 10 years, and now works with the city of Dakar on an initiative to create more public spaces for young people in an aim to make hip-hop more accessible.
Boston University study: China’s loans to Africa rise by $4.6 billion for the first time seven years
The new data comes as Beijing prepares to host African leaders next week for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which takes place every three years. There were 13 loan deals last year involving eight African countries and two African multilateral lenders, the study found.
