Kenyan and Nepalese Quick Reaction Forces train in eastern Congo as rebels step up attacks
The QRF training forms part of a series of inter-contingent exercises under the MONUSCO flag, all aimed at countering the threat of armed groups in eastern DRC.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan announces renewed probe into crimes in war-torn eastern Congo
The ICC previously convicted three rebels of crimes in Congo’s eastern Ituri region, including a notorious warlord, Bosco Ntaganda, known as “ The Terminator ” who was found guilty of crimes including murder, rape and sexual slavery.
When travellers in eastern Congo aren’t being killed by rebels, they die in overcrowded and rickety ferries
The roads are often caught up in the deadly clashes between Congolese security forces and rebels that sometimes block major access routes. Hundreds have already been killed or declared missing in such accidents so far this year.
Africa set to transform from relative clean-energy laggard to world energy sector leader
Kenya and Ethiopia are both exploiting their relatively easy access to geothermal sources and are constructing the lion’s share of geothermal capacity. And around 15,000 MW of hydro is being planned across Ethiopia, Egypt, Angola, Nigeria and Tanzania, while Nigeria also has a 4,800 MW nuclear plant in pre-construction.
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.
