Month: November 2024

Senegal’s parliamentary elections this weekend will see former presidential rivals, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and ex-President Macky Sall, compete for control of the 165-seat National Assembly. This follows their showdown in the March 2024 presidential election.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolved parliament in September, citing opposition obstruction, and called for snap elections. Four major coalitions dominate the race, including the opposition Takku Wallu, backed by Sall.

Senegalese voters traditionally grant the president a parliamentary majority, but economic challenges like unemployment, inflation, and recent flooding have fueled discontent.

Former President Sall, now campaigning remotely from Morocco, accuses Faye’s administration of reversing his economic progress. In response, Faye’s government blames the opposition’s prior mismanagement and lack of parliamentary support for delays in delivering reforms.

Tensions have also flared during the campaign, with reports of harassment against Sonko’s supporters. Despite this, analysts suggest Faye’s Pastef party has a strong chance of securing a majority, given Sonko’s active engagement with voters nationwide.

The elections will determine whether Faye can implement his agenda or face continued opposition in parliament.

South Africa’s beauty beauty queen has withdrawn from the Miss Universe pageant citing concern over her health.

Mia Le Roux’s withdrawal means South Africa will not be represented at the 73rd Miss Universe competition taking place in Mexico on Saturday.

Le Roux was among 120 beauty queens vying for the crown. She was already in Mexico City and had participated in various events and rehearsals ahead of the finale.

In a statement, Le Roux said the decision to quit the race was challenging, and acknowledged the support of her fans.

“I am profoundly thankful for the unwavering support from South Africa during my time at Miss Universe”, she said.

Le Roux did not disclose the nature of the health problem.

The 28-year-old made history in August by becoming the first hearing-impaired woman to be crowned Miss South Africa in the pageant’s 66-year history.

Le Roux was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and has an implant to help her perceive sound.

South Africa has an impressive track record at the Miss Universe pageant, winning the crown thrice in 1978, 2017 and 2019.

A French military task force with a festive name — “Champagne” — is wrapping up a mission that’s no party: training a whole new brigade of several thousand Ukrainian troops who will be joining the fight against Russia’s invasion armed with France-supplied tanks, artillery canons and other heavy weaponry.

The approaching return to Ukraine of the “Anne of Kyiv” brigade, after more than two months of intense military training in eastern and southern France, comes at another critical juncture in the almost three-year war.

Russian forces are driving westward in an effort to capture all of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

The reelection of Donald Trump is also keeping Ukraine and its allies guessing about the impact he’ll have as U.S. president on the war’s future trajectory, following his campaign pledges to swiftly end the fighting and suggestions that Kyiv should cede territory to Moscow in return for peace.

When deployed, the French-trained and equipped brigade named after a Kyiv princess who became a queen of France could prove to be a formidable force on the battlefields.

It will eventually be made up of 4,500 troops, formed of infantry battalions, plus engineers, artillery teams and other specialists, French authorities have previously said.

The more than 2,000 soldiers who have been training in France are being put through final paces before their return to Ukraine.

The majority of them were recently mobilized and previously had just a few weeks of basic training before their arrival in France in September, the French military says.

The Ukrainian military is also training other troops for the brigade back in Ukraine, according to French authorities.

The French military dedicated around 1,500 of its own soldiers to the “Champagne” task force that has been teaching the Ukrainians how to fight effectively together and how to use and maintain their France-supplied weaponry.

The French military says the brigade’s arsenal will include 18 AMX 10 light tanks, 18 truck-mounted Caesar artillery pieces, 128 armored troop carriers, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems, plus other weaponry and equipment.

With observation drones buzzing overhead and amid clouds of smoke and bursts of gunfire and explosions, the Ukrainian soldiers conducted exercises this week at a French military training camp, showing how they have learned to defend and storm a complex of trenches like those on the battlefronts in Ukraine.

The French military wouldn’t allow visiting journalists to interview the Ukrainians.

French officers involved in the training said the troops are now better prepared for combat that they’ll likely experience in months ahead.

In this edition of Business Africa, we explore the dynamic evolution of Mali’s mining sector, where the government is implementing bold reforms to strengthen its sovereignty over gold resources and rebalance relations with multinational companies.

We also examine Tanzania’s national study to boost its share in the mining industry and promote local transformation. Finally, we look at the booming real estate market in Zimbabwe, where investors are increasingly turning to property as a safe haven to protect their wealth amid economic instability.

Mali Tightens Its Grip on Gold: A Clash Between the State and Mining Giants

Mali, one of Africa’s largest gold producers, is undergoing a radical transformation in its mining sector. The Malian government is intensifying its efforts to recover between 300 and 600 billion FCFA in unpaid taxes and dividends, particularly from foreign mining giants like Barrick Gold. The recent arrest of Resolute Mining’s CEO, Terence Holohan, in November 2024 symbolizes this drive to reclaim control over the country’s natural resources. Increasing the state’s share in mining projects is part of this strategy, but it has sparked concerns among economists and industry professionals.

“The first obvious risk is a decrease in foreign investment. This could discourage investment if the state’s share increases too much,” warns Kouadio Justin Kouassi, an expert in extractive industries. He argues that a too-rapid increase in the state’s share could erode investor confidence and destabilize the sector.

However, Mali also sees opportunities in this ambitious approach. Economist Boubacar Malal Bâ notes, “As long as both parties find mutual interest, they will always find common ground.” He advocates for revising agreements and fostering the emergence of “national champions” that can manage the country’s resources with greater sovereignty and efficiency.

The Malian government, firmly committed to breaking away from past practices, is determined to reshape its relations with multinationals operating within its borders. With abundant natural resources and a strategic vision, it seeks to strengthen national control over key sectors like gold while attracting new investments in a more equitable and transparent framework.

With gold production supporting the national economy and promising reform projects, the country may very well pave the way for a more fair and sustainable mining model.

Tanzania’s Mining Future: Aiming for 50% of the Country Explored by 2030

Tanzania is embarking on an ambitious exploration of its mineral resources, aiming to map 50% of its territory by 2030 to boost the economy and create more local jobs. With plans to establish transformation facilities, the country seeks to add value locally and enhance its mining sector’s impact.

This report by Daniel Kidjo delves into this strategic shift, which could significantly transform Tanzania’s economic future.

Real Estate: The New Gold Rush in Zimbabwe?

In Zimbabwe, despite inflation and the instability of the local currency, real estate is emerging as a cornerstone for securing and growing wealth. With a housing deficit of two million units and rising demand, property prices are soaring, attracting funds from the diaspora, who see the sector as a safe bet.

In this report, Keith Baptist explores the mechanics of this “rush for bricks,” reshaping the Zimbabwean real estate market with a blend of speculation and sustainable opportunities.

Nigeria has inked a $1.2 billion deal with a Chinese firm to revitalize a gas processing facility, a move that officials say could propel the African country to a leading position in aluminium production.

The deal between the Chinese state-owned CNCEC and the BFI Group, a major investor in the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, is expected to revive the 135 million standard cubic feet gas processing facility plant at the smelter. Nigeria’s minister of state for gas announced it Tuesday via a post on the social platform X.

Minister of State for Gas Ekperikpe Ekpo expressed optimism about the “significant investment,” stating that it would position the smelter “back on the path to becoming a leading aluminium producer for both domestic and international markets.”

Nigeria and China’s economic relationship deepened in 2016, when the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari visited Chinese President Xi Jinping and signed several agreements. Since then, Chinese companies have been contracted to build railways and provide infrastructure in Africa’s most populous country.

Despite being a major oil producer in Africa, Nigeria has some of the world’s highest poverty and hunger levels.

President Bola Tinubu, who took office last year, initiated reforms to reduce government spending and attract foreign investment. However, the country continues to face economic challenges, including a 28-year high inflation rate. Its currency, the naira, is at record lows against the dollar.

Many Nigerians have taken to the streets in recent months to protest against the economic hardship caused by the reforms. In August, at least 20 protesters were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested.

Mike Tyson wasn’t in the mood for talking in the final news conference before the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion faces YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Tyson had terse answers for all the questions Wednesday night, two nights before the fight against Paul, who is 31 years younger, at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

The issue of Tyson’s health didn’t come up in a small concert venue about 20 miles from AT&T Stadium. A bout originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed to Friday night after Tyson had to be treated for a stomach ulcer when he fell ill on a flight.

Tyson said in a documentary promoting the fight that he lost 26 pounds while recovering, but Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder with Paul of Most Valuable Promotions, said Tyson had been cleared medically for weeks.

Bidarian also said Tyson was going through the same regular medical checkups of any sanctioned pro fight in Texas.

Several states wouldn’t sanction the bout. Texas agreed to a fight that was eight rounds instead of 10 or 12, with two-minute rounds instead of three, and heavier gloves designed to lessen the power of punches.

“It’s cute,” Paul said of the terse Tyson. “I fear no man, so I want him to be that old savage Mike.”

Paul couldn’t even get Tyson to respond by wearing what the 27-year-old said was a “diamond-spiked ear cover.” It was Paul’s jab at Tyson over the Hall of Famer infamously biting the ear of Evander Holyfield in a 1997 fight.

Tyson did get briefly riled up when somebody asked twice what he would do if he lost. His last sanctioned bout was in 2005. Tyson fought Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition four years ago.

“I am not going to lose,” Tyson said, his voice rising the second time it was asked. “Did you hear what I said?”

Tyson was 50-6 with 44 knockouts before retiring 19 years ago. Paul is 10-1 with seven knockouts in less than five years as a pro, facing mostly mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.

The fight is the first combat sports event to be streamed on Netflix. It will be available at no additional cost to the more than 280 million Netflix subscribers globally.

South Africa’s government says it will not help an estimated 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country’s North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining.

The miners in the mineshaft in Stilfontein are believed to be suffering from a lack of food, water and other basic necessities after police closed off the entrances used to transport their supplies underground.

It is part of the police’s Vala Umgodi, or Close the Hole, operation, which includes cutting off miners’ supplies to force them to return to the surface and be arrested.

North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said information received from those who recently helped bring three miners to the surface indicated that as many as 4,000 miners may be underground. Police have not provided an official estimate.

In the past few weeks, over 1,000 miners have surfaced at various mines in North West province, with many reported to be weak, hungry and sickly after going for weeks without basic supplies.

Police continue on Thursday to guard areas around the mine to catch all those appearing from underground.

Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters on Wednesday that the government would not send any help to the illegal miners because they are involved in a criminal act.

“We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. Criminals are not to be helped. We didn’t send them there,” Ntshavheni said.

Illegal mining remains common in South Africa’s old gold-mining areas, with miners going into closed shafts to dig for any possible remaining deposits.

The illegal miners are often from neighboring countries, and police say the illegal operations involve larger syndicates that employ the miners.

Their presence in closed mines have also created problems with nearby communities, which complain that the illegal miners commit crimes ranging from robberies to rape.

Illegal mining groups are known to be heavily armed and disputes between rival groups sometimes result in fatal confrontations.

A doctor accused of criticizing Russia’s fighting in Ukraine in front of a patient was convicted Tuesday of spreading false information about the Russian military and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison, part of an unrelenting Kremlin crackdown on dissent.

Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova, 68, was arrested in February after Anastasia Akinshina, the mother of one of her patients, reported the pediatrician to authorities.

Akinshina alleged that Buyanova told her and her son that his father, a Russian soldier who was killed in Ukraine, was a legitimate target for Kyiv’s troops and had blamed Moscow for the conflict.

A video of the outraged Akinshina complaining about Buyanova was widely publicized, and chief of Russia’s Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin personally demanded a criminal case be brought against the doctor.

Buyanova, who was born in western Ukraine, denied the accusation, insisting she never said what she was accused of saying.

In a tearful closing statement last week, she had urged the court to acquit her.

Her defense argued that the prosecution failed to present evidence that the purported conversation took place, including any recordings of it, and alleged that her accuser fabricated the story out of animosity toward Ukrainians, according to the independent news site Mediazona, which reported all of the hearings in the trial.

In her closing statement to the court, Buyanova said it was “painful” to read the accusations in the indictment, and broke down.

“A doctor, especially a paediatrician, is not capable of wishing harm to a child, his mother, or traumatizing the child’s psyche. Only a monster is capable of this — and of the words that I allegedly said to them,” Mediazona quoted her as saying.

“Spreading false information” about the army has been a criminal offense since March 2022, when Russia adopted a series of laws prohibiting any public expression about the fighting that deviated from the official narrative.

Authorities started actively using them against critics and protesters.

According to OVD-Info, one of Russia’s leading rights groups that tracks political arrests, more than 1,000 people have been implicated in criminal cases on charges related to speaking or acting out against the fighting in Ukraine

Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, a non-government agency focused on cutting federal waste and streamlining operations.

Musk and Ramaswamy will collaborate with the Office of Management and Budget to drive reforms and bring an entrepreneurial approach to government.

Musk, who has promoted the agency nicknamed “Doge” after Dogecoin, plans to document all actions publicly for transparency, including a leaderboard to highlight inefficient spending of tax dollars. Ramaswamy expressed his commitment to the initiative on social media.

Since they are not government employees, Musk and Ramaswamy are exempt from federal disclosure requirements and aim to complete their work by July 4, 2026. Trump envisions a smaller, more efficient government as a gift for the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Musk, who has advocated for a $2 trillion cut in government spending, has received mixed reactions. Supporters believe his involvement will drive meaningful change, while critics argue that his businesses have a history of clashing with regulations he may now seek to reform.

Two Ugandan men have been detained for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and the president’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on TikTok.

David Ssengozi, also known as Lucky Choice (21), and Isaiah Ssekagiri (28) appeared before Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis, who ordered their detention at Kigo Prison until November 13 for an initial court hearing.

The two men, along with a third defendant, Julius Tayebwa (19), face charges of hate speech and spreading “malicious information” against the president’s family and musicians associated with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Prosecutors claim the content they shared on TikTok was intended to “ridicule, degrade, demean, and promote hostility” toward the first family and others linked to the NRM.

While both Ssengozi and Ssekagiri denied the charges, their detention follows a recent government crackdown on criticism of state officials.

In September, a police spokesperson cautioned the public against “abusing” the president, calling it an offense. This follows a similar case in July, when a 24-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison for a TikTok video critical of the president and his family.

This incident highlights ongoing criticism of Uganda’s approach to internet freedom and freedom of expression. Rights groups frequently report on the government’s restrictive stance, with the U.S. government recently noting limitations on internet freedom.

In 2022, Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija fled the country after being detained over Twitter comments about the president and his son, alleging he was tortured in detention.