Year: 2023

Liberia’s new president Joseph Boakai on Wednesday called for unity and unity behind him in his first speech since being officially elected on Monday by a very narrow margin.

Mr Boakai, 78, a veteran of Liberian politics, won with 50.64% of the vote, compared with 49.36% for his opponent George Weah, the former football star and incumbent president.

“The elections are now over and we must unite as one people to rebuild our country”, he declared in a speech to the press.

“I implore all Liberians, regardless of ethnic origin, country, religion or political party affiliation, to join us on this journey to save our country,” he said.

On Friday evening, Mr Weah, who was elected in 2017, acknowledged his opponent’s victory in the light of the almost final results, winning praise for favouring a non-violent transfer of power.

“We all won. What has happened in our democracy over the last four days is a victory for Liberia and will be a legacy for us as a people and will mark posterity forever”, said Mr Boakai.

Over and above the choice of the person called upon to lead this country in search of stability after years of civil war and the Ebola epidemic, one of the issues at stake in the election was the peaceful and regular conduct of the ballot.

At a time when democracy in West Africa has been battered by a succession of coups d’état in recent years (Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger), the acceptance of the results was also at stake.

The new president promised to “extend development to the whole country”, in particular by building roads in the south-east region, which has been “neglected for years”. As during his campaign, he reiterated that the fight against corruption would be one of his priorities and indicated that he would be putting in place a plan for a “smooth and peaceful” transition in the next few days.

He also said that he would carry out a “radical” reform of the security and justice systems and ensure respect for the rule of law.

Finally, he offered his condolences to all the victims of the accident that plunged his supporters’ celebrations into mourning on Monday evening after a car ploughed into the crowd for an unknown reason, killing at least three people.

In a remote southeastern region of Zimbabwe, approximately 140 volunteers participated in a crucial annual wildlife census, monitoring the state of the nation’s wildlife resources amid a concerning regional drought.

The volunteers, operating in shifts, observed the positive impact of recent rains on the greenery of Gonarezhou National Park, known as the “place of elephants.” However, the park’s landscape tells a tale of desperate elephants damaging baobab and acacia trees while searching for sustenance in the wake of the drought.

While Gonarezhou’s animals are deemed “fortunate,” other wildlife reserves in Zimbabwe have suffered even more due to the adverse effects of climate change-induced drought conditions. Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, expressed distress over the increasing reports of animal anguish this year.

Farawo highlighted the unprecedented challenge posed by climate change, leading to unpredictable weather patterns and prolonged dry spells across the country. He noted that the agency is still compiling statistics, but alarming numbers of elephant and buffalo deaths have been reported in Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest park. The severity of the situation has prompted the park’s agency to install 100 solar-powered boreholes to provide water for animals.

The impact of climate change extends beyond Zimbabwe, affecting national parks across Africa. Studies reveal that extreme weather events are causing the loss of plants and animals struggling to adapt to extended dry periods and rising temperatures. Zimbabwe’s response includes initiatives like solar-powered boreholes, but animals are still compelled to travel longer distances, often crossing national borders, in search of essential resources.

The Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, the world’s largest multi-country conservation area, witnesses animals traversing vast distances. Farawo humorously noted that animals can “eat breakfast in Zimbabwe, lunch in Botswana, and supper in another country.” However, the parched environment poses multiple challenges for animals, as demonstrated by a recent study linking heat, drought, and population density to a bacterial infection that killed elephants in Hwange National Park.

The consequences of climate change are far-reaching, affecting not only elephants but also birds relying on specific trees for breeding. The escalating conflict between humans and animals adds another layer of concern, with communities near national parks experiencing heightened clashes as wildlife encroaches on human settlements in search of scarce resources. Farawo emphasized the increasing human-animal conflict, with the park’s agency receiving a rising number of distress calls in recent years.

The Kenyan authorities are to privatise 35 state-owned companies and are considering opening up the capital of 100 others, President William Ruto said on Thursday, as the East African country faces liquidity problems and economic difficulties.

The Kenyan economy, the locomotive of East Africa, has been seriously shaken by Covid, followed by the shockwaves of the war in Ukraine and a historic drought in the Horn of Africa.

Public debt in the country of some 53 million people stood at more than 10,100 billion shillings (64.4 billion euros) at the end of June, according to Treasury figures, representing around two-thirds of gross domestic product.

“We have identified the first 35 companies that we are going to offer to the private sector, and we have nearly 100 others”, the Kenyan head of state told investors.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently urged the Kenyan authorities to reform state-owned companies, citing in particular the national electricity supplier Kenya Power and the airline Kenya Airways, which posted record losses in 2022.

Last month, the president signed a law facilitating the privatisation of public companies.

“We have very lucrative (public) enterprises, but they are stifled by government bureaucracy, whereas the services they offer can be better provided by the private sector”, Mr Ruto also asserted.

On 16 November, the IMF announced that it had reached an agreement for a $938 million loan for the country, which is due to repay a $2 billion Eurobond next year. On 20 November, the World Bank announced plans to provide Kenya with $12 billion in support over the next three years.

In an attempt to reduce its debt, William Ruto’s government has prepared a budget – which is very unpopular with the population and has led to sometimes violent demonstrations – including a number of new taxes expected to bring in 289 billion shillings (2 billion euros) to top up the 3,600 billion shillings (24 billion euros) budget planned for 2023-24.

Morocco’s Under 17 football squad clinched a historic spot in the quarterfinals on Tuesday (Nov. 21).

The lion cubs played Iran at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, east of the capital Jakarta.

Iran’s Esmaeil Gholizadeh opened the scoring sheet in the 73rd minute but Nassim Azaouzi hope for Morocco when he scored in the 90+4 minute.

Morocco eventually won the fixture 4-1 on penalty shoot-outs.

The November 25’s fixture will be Morocco’s first ever quarter-final in the U-17 World Cup.

Morocco will play against Mali on 19:00 (UTC+7) Manahan Stadium.

The Eaglets trounced Mexico 5-0 on November 21 to reach the quarters.

Concacaf champions Mexico couldn’t stop Soumaila Coulibaly’s squad.

Midfielder Barry scored twice (8), (13), Striker Diarra scored in the 15th minute, fellow forward Kanate score a penalty in the 37-minute. Midfielder Martial Tia scored the last goal in the 50th minute.

If Mali seems more experienced than Morocco in this competition with a 2015 runner-up place, Saturday’s fixture will not be easy.

Morocco beat 6-5 Mali during the U-17 AFCON semi-final in March.

Morocco will look to further make history as Mali seek to play its second final in the competition.

One thing is for sure, an African team will be in the semi-finals of U-17’s 19th edition.

The remaining African team, Senegal which is also AFCON champion will play France on Wednesday (Nov. 22).

The match will kick off at 19:00 (UTC+7).

Most South African lawmakers on Tuesday (Nov. 21) backed a motion calling for the closure of the Israeli embassy and the cutting of diplomatic ties until Israel agrees to a cease-fire in Gaza. The government will decide whether South Africa cuts all ties with Israel.

The vote on the motion supported by the ruling African National Congress party came as President Cyril Ramaphosa in a meeting with other world leaders accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza with its military offensive in the beseiged territory in search of its Hamas militant rulers.

The motion tabled by the opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters received the support of 248 parliament members while 91 lawmakers opposed it.

The vote came after Israel’s foreign ministry said it had recalled its ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotserkovsky, back to Jerusalem “for consultations.”

The two countries’ diplomatic relations have witnessed a rise in tensions over the war in Gaza.

Ramaphosa previously said his country believes Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed.

South Africa announced last week that it had referred what it called Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza to the International Criminal Court for an investigation.

Its cabinet has called on the ICC to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Earlier this month, South Africa withdrew all its diplomatic staff from Israel.

Ramaphosa’s new comments Tuesday (Nov. 21) came in a virtual meeting of BRICS countries attended by leaders of the bloc including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a joint statement, the BRICS bloc said they called for “an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.”

Tensions between Israel and Hamas flared again after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attacks on Israel on Oct.7 killed about 1,200 people.

Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza have killed more than 12,700 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.

During an interview to broadcaster SABC News the former South African ambassador to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, commended the “voice of the people of South Africa” that was expressed “through parliament”.

After the symbolic vote, it is now up to the South African executive to decide whether the country will cut ties with Israel.

After nearly two decades in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations stabilisation mission in Congo (MONUSCO) has signed a deal to withdraw its 15,000 peacekeepers.

The Congolese foreign minister Christophe Lutundula and MONUSCO’s head signed the agreements on Tuesday.

Speaking on national television, Lutundula said the deal marked the end of a collaboration “which has proved its limits in a context of permanent war, without the longed for peace being restored to eastern Congo.”

Violence in eastern Congo

Eastern Congo is in the grip of a decades-long conflict fought by dozens of armed groups, some backed by DRC’s neighbours.

With presidential and parliamentary elections coming up on December 20, the conflict has taken centre stage.

In September, incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi called for an accelerated withdrawal of the UN peacekeepers.

The UN mission in the region has often caused tensions amongst the local population, with protests against MONUSCO and others at times turning deadly.

At the end of August, a crackdown by Congolese troops on anti-UN demonstrations resulted in nearly 50 deaths.

Failed missions

With the Congolese frustrated at what they feel to be a lack of protection from the rebel groups, the Congolese government last month also directed the East African regional force to leave the country by December.

The force, composed of troops from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda, has been deployed in the area since late 2022 to help end the fighting. The government alleges a “lack of satisfactory results on the ground”.

The withdrawal of MONUSCO’s forces was not given a firm timeline in Tuesday’s announcement, with observers saying that any acceleration is unlikely before the end of the current election cycle.

A desperate crush to get through a stadium gate for an army recruiting event saw at least 31 people trampled to death in the Republic of Congo capital, officials said Tuesday.

A prosecutor said he had opened an investigation into the disaster when several thousand youths descended on the Michel d’Ornano stadium on Monday night hoping for one of 1,500 army posts.

Security officials said the dead were left after people tried to push through one gate.

They said some tried to force the gate open while others tried to jump over a wall into the stadium.

The government revised down a toll of 37 dead to 31 but officials said many of the 145 injured were in serious condition.

A 24-year-old man, who declined to be named, told Africanewsguru.com how people were pushing to get through the gate, sparking a stampede. “There were people injured far worse than me,” said the survivor, who dislocated his foot.

Another survivor, who also requested anonymity, said: “There was a row of people in front of me. The people fell. I fell on top of them and other friends fell on top of us.”

He said he lost conscious and only woke up in an ambulance.

Several videos on social media appeared to show dozens of bodies in a city morgue.

Others showed injured people being admitted to hospitals in Brazzaville.

The army said in a statement read on national television that the recruiting drive had been indefinitely suspended.

Tresor Nzila, head of local rights NGO, called for a full investigation and to hold the Congolese government responsible for not evaluating the risks of a call-up.

“The Congolese government is incapable of creating other employment opportunities,” he said. “The defence and security forces have become the main job providers”.

The Republic of Congo, which is also known as Congo-Brazzaville to distinguish it from its larger neighbor the Democratic Republic of Congo, is an impoverished country of about five million people — despite its rich oil and gas reserves.

Youth unemployment is about 42 percent, according to the World Bank.

Congo-Brazzaville’s state prosecutor Andre Ngakala Oko said he had launched an investigation.

Congo has witnessed similar disasters. Seven people died in a stampede at a music festival in Brazzaville in 2011.

And at least 150 people were trampled to death in the capital in 1994 when worshipers crammed into a church to avoid a storm.

The Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (ZIBAWU) reports that 75% of jobs in the sector have been lost since the beginning of the millennium. This decline is attributed to a combination of accelerated digitization and socio-political challenges facing the nation over the past two decades.

In discussions with NewZimbabwe.com about the outcomes of a high-level convention that brought together workers from the country’s banking sector, trade unionist Peter Mutasa expressed concern about the diminishing workforce.

He remarked, “The congress coincided with extremely difficult operating conditions, which have constrained our ability to effectively serve our members. The economy, experiencing stagnation for decades, has taken a significant toll on trade unionism.”

Mutasa highlighted the decline in membership from a peak of 12,000 in the late 1990s to approximately 3,000 at present. He pointed out significant transformations in the banking sector, such as digitalization and automation, as the main culprits.

The unionist noted that high unemployment has adversely affected collective bargaining, with traditional methods like strikes becoming less effective. Mutasa criticized the restrictive nature of labour laws, further complicated by a toxic political environment in which the government views every union with suspicion, treating them as enemies of the state.

Mutasa shared that the convention revealed bankers facing various mental health problems due to economic and social crises, work demands, and interpersonal conflicts at both work and in society. Additionally, the convention shed light on the inadequate social security in the country, with many workers retiring without meaningful financial security and pensions.

“We noted that most of the problems we face are not emanating from the labour market but from politics. We agreed that we have a governance crisis affecting the economy, society, and public services. Therefore, we resolved to build an active citizenry through massive civic and political education for our members and communities,” he concluded.

Sheynnis Palacios made history when she became the first Nicaraguan to wear the Miss Universe crown.

Palacios who holds a degree in social communication succeeded late Saturday night to R’Bonney Gabriel, Miss USA.

The 23-year-old beauty pageant said she wants to work to promote mental health after suffering debilitating bouts of anxiety herself.

Palacios appeared to secure the win in El Salvador, when she confidently answered the question of which woman’s shoes would she like to spend a year in by saying Mary Wollstonecraft.

The 18th-century English writer and philosopher was an advocate of women’s rights.

Palacios said she wants to work to close the gender pay gap so that women can work in any area.

Miss Thailand, Anntonia Porsild, was first runner-up and Miss Australia, Moraya Wilson, the second runner-up.

The last African contestants, Miss Cameroon Issie Princesse, Miss Namibia, Jameela Uiras, and Miss South Africa Bryoni Govender, didn’t make it past the top 20.

Eighty-four women competed for the crown in the 72nd edition of the competition.