African Development Bank approves $1billion loan to South Africa’s rail and ports company
The African Development Bank said on Thursday it had approved a $1 billion loan to South Africa’s state-owned rail and ports company, Transnet. The 25-year loan was wholly guaranteed by the South African government and will help finance the first phase of a $8.1 billion investment plan for Transnet to...
‘Tuna bond’ scandal that spurred $2 billion debt crisis in Mozambique economy lands ex-finance minister in US court
A key prosecution witness was on the stand on Wednesday as Chang followed along closely via a Portuguese language interpreter. Between 2013 and 2016, three Mozambican-government-controlled companies quietly borrowed $2 billion from major overseas banks – and the government, with Chang’s signature, assured repayment.
Panic reigns in Democratic party as top guns rule out replacing Biden as calls for him to quit 2024 race
Top Democrats on Sunday ruled out the possibility of replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee after a feeble debate performance and called on party members to focus instead on the consequences of a second Donald Trump presidency. After days of hand-wringing about Biden’s poor night on stage debating...
How Rwanda’s pluralist democracy pits ‘Kagame against Kagame’ in upcoming presidential poll
Rwandans vote on Monday in an election that will almost certainly extend the long rule of President Paul Kagame, who is running virtually unopposed after three decades in power in the eastern African nation. Kagame has been met by crowds of admiring supporters at campaign rallies that evoke the apparent...
South Africa’s largest political party ANC plots expulsion of its former leader and president Jacob Zuma
MK’s surprising share of the vote was a prime factor in the ANC losing its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994 in an historic result for South Africa, leading to the formation of an unprecedented multi-party coalition government.
‘New era’ in malaria control begins with vaccination of children in Ivory Coast
In 2021, WHO endorsed the first malaria vaccine, known as Mosquirix, made by GSK. But that vaccine requires four doses and protection fades within months. GSK also previously said it would only be able to make about 15 million doses.
Out of Zimbabwe: How African grandmothers mental health therapy is being embraced by the world
Older people are at the centre of a homegrown form of mental health therapy in Zimbabwe that is now being adopted in places like the United States. The approach involves setting up benches in quiet, discreet corners of community clinics and in some churches, poor neighbourhoods and at a university. An older woman with basic training in problem-solving therapy patiently sits there, ready to listen and engage in a one-on-one conversation.
South African political parties share cabinet slots to seal deal on new coalition government
The power-sharing coalition is unprecedented for South Africa. The country briefly had a coalition government at the end of apartheid, but that was under different circumstances. The ANC held a clear majority then after the first all-race election, but new President Nelson Mandela invited others into his government in an act of reconciliation.
As African nations focus on HPV vaccination against cervical cancer, hesitancy persists
Across Africa, an average of 190 women died daily from cervical cancer in 2020, accounting for 23 per cent of the deaths globally and making it the leading cancer killer among women in the WHO Africa region of 47 countries. Eighteen of the 20 countries with the highest rate of cervical cancer cases in the world are in Africa. Yet the region’s HPV vaccination rate has been low.
US struggles with shaky relations and troop cuts in African nations as military leaders meet
Niger’s ruling junta ordered US forces out of the country in the wake of last July’s ouster of the country’s democratically elected president by mutinous soldiers. French forces had also been asked to leave as the junta turned to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for security assistance.
