Côte d’Ivoire President Says French Forces to Withdraw in January
Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara said in an end-of-year speech that French forces will withdraw from the West African nation in January, making it the latest country to weaken military ties with the former colonial power. “We can be proud of our army, whose modernization is now effective. It is in this context that we have decided on the concerted and organized withdrawal of French forces” from Côte d’Ivoire, Ouattara said Tuesday, December 31. He added that the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion at Port-Bouët in Abidjan – where French troops are currently stationed – “will be handed over” to Ivory Coast’s armed forces as of January 2025. France has been preparing for years what it called a “reorganization” of military relations after the forced departure of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where governments hostile to the ex-colonial ruler have come to power. Last month, within hours of each other, Senegal and Chad announced the departure of French soldiers from their soil. Le Monde
Senegal President Says No More ‘Foreign Military Presence from 2025’
Senegal’s President Bassirou Dioumaye Faye said that 2025 would see an end to all foreign military presence in the West African country, in a speech on Tuesday, December 31, to mark the new year. “I have instructed the minister for the armed forces to propose a new doctrine for cooperation in defense and security, involving, among other consequences, the end of all foreign military presences in Senegal from 2025,” said Faye, who was elected in March. Faye’s statement came a month after he announced that former colonial master France would have to close its military bases in Senegal. This is the first time he has set a date for the closure of foreign military bases. “All of Senegal’s friends will be treated like strategic partners, within the framework of open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation,” said Faye. Le Monde
Spike in Russian Flights from Syria to Libyan Desert Base as Moscow Eyes New Mediterranean Hub
In the weeks since Bashar al-Assad was ousted as Syrian leader, Russia has launched multiple flights to an airbase in the Libyan desert. Moscow’s goal appears to be to find an alternative stopover for its growing military involvement in Africa – and a way to retain its military presence in the Mediterranean. For nearly a decade, the Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval facility on the Syrian coast have served both purposes. Now the conflict-riven North African nation of Libya is central to Russian efforts to project power into the Mediterranean. Flight-tracking data analyzed by CNN show more than one flight a day since mid-December – by Moscow’s giant Antonov AN-124 transport planes, as well as Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft – from Hmeimim to al-Khadim, a base near Benghazi in eastern Libya. … Geolocated video shows at least one of the planes that recently arrived at al-Khadim flew on to Bamako in Mali… CNN
The Song, and Rapper, Inspiring Mozambique’s Youth Uprising
“People in Power,” as the song’s title translates in English, has become the unofficial anthem of a mass uprising that has consumed this southern African nation over the past few months, with the phrase showing up on protest placards, in chants and on clothing. Tens of thousands of Mozambicans have taken to the streets to reject a presidential election that they believe was rigged by the long-governing party, Frelimo. Daniel Chapo of Frelimo was declared the winner with 65 percent of the vote, but protesters denounced the result as fraudulent. Many have rallied behind the top opposition candidate, Venâncio Mondlane. … Born Edson Amândio Maria Lopes da Luz, Azagaia stood out for lyrics that bluntly criticized the government — a risky move in a nation where the state has been known to crush the slightest whiff of dissent. (His music has been censored on state media.) That fearlessness is what inspires many to push through the danger and chaos of the current upheaval, activists say. New York Times
Mozambique Opposition Leader Calls for Unity Ahead of Renewed Protests
Mozambique’s main opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane has called for unity ahead of a fresh round of protests against the outcome of presidential elections. In a live broadcast on his Facebook page, Mondlane – who is in self-imposed exile – urged citizens to join hands in their neighbourhoods at 11.45pm and sing the national anthem until 2025 kicks in. … A local monitoring group, Plataforma Decide, said that 179 people died in riots last week, after the country’s highest court confirmed that the ruling party candidate, Daniel Chapo, won the election. This brought the death toll to 278 people since demonstrations began after the electoral commission declared Chapo the winner of elections in October, extending Frelimo’s 49-year rule. The fatalities include protesters, children and members of the security forces. Mondlane fled Mozambique, saying his life was in danger after two of his aides were shot dead in October. In his latest address, he urged people to “cook and socialise” in their neighbourhoods, before a new wave of protests begin on 2 January. BBC
Chadian Opposition Says Elections Should Be Canceled, Calls for New Transition
An uneasy calm hangs over Chad, where the opposition is calling for an immediate end to the country’s transitional government and the cancellation of the Dec. 29 general elections, which the opposition says were highly boycotted. Chad’s elections management body has pledged to count the votes and declare the results, saying irregularities cannot influence the outcome. … Avocksouma Djona is spokesperson for Chad’s Political Actors Consultation Group, or GCAP, a coalition of several dozen political parties. At a press conference on Monday in the capital, N’djamena, said more than 90% of about 8.3 million registered voters adhered to GCAP’s boycott calls. They did so, he said, because civilians learned from Chad’s May 6 presidential elections that Deby wants to extend his late father’s long rule. VOA
Twenty Missing After Falling from Boat in Rough Seas off Libya’s Coast
Twenty people are missing after falling into the sea from a tilting boat after it started to take in water in rough seas about 20 miles off the coast of Libya, according to survivors. Carrying 27 passengers, the six-metre boat had left Zuwara in Libya at 10pm on Monday. Despite the waves, seven people managed to continue the journey on the rickety vessel before being found by an Italian police patrol boat on Tuesday night close to the southern island of Lampedusa. Guardian
Somalia Formally Takes UN Security Council Seat
As of 1 January 2025, Somalia is officially a member of the United Nations Security Council, having been elected for a non-permanent seat for the 2025-2026 term. The country will serve for two-year terms. It will be the first time Somalia, which descended into civil war more than 30 years ago, has held the position since the 1970s. The country was elected along with Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, and Panama. The elected countries secured the required two-thirds majority of Member States present and voting in the 193-member General Assembly through a secret ballot. The selected countries will replace Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland, whose terms end on 31 December 2024. AllAfrica
Kenyan President Acknowledges Police Abuses at Protests
Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday acknowledged abuses by Kenya’s security forces, in the wake of demonstrations against a recent wave of alleged kidnappings that have sparked outrage in the country. Security forces in the East African nation have been accused of carrying out dozens of illegal detentions since youth-led anti-government demonstrations in June and July were harshly repressed. … “It cannot be denied that there have been instances of excessive and extrajudicial actions by members of the security services,” Ruto said in his new year’s address, without specifying what those actions may have been. … But he also urged parents to take responsibility for their children. The latest disappearances have by and large involved young people who have criticized Ruto online. … “These are clear signals that our moral fabric is at risk of decay, exacerbated by various factors, including the manipulation of digital technology, particularly social media, to amplify anti-social behavior and erode moral values,” Ruto said in his end-of-year address. AFP
Kenya’s Bus Fleets Want to Go Electric, but Manufacturers Can’t Meet Demand
Today, Njoka is one of about 40 electric bus drivers in Kenya. The groups that run the country’s public bus transport — savings and credit cooperatives, called SACCOs — are trying to increase the number of EV buses on the roads — but the supply has not kept up. Industry experts believe the lack of capital available to the few local startups making EV buses, such as BasiGo, and high tariffs on imports of electric buses are responsible for the supply shortage. “EV startups can’t meet and probably won’t be able to meet demand for the next couple of years,” Tom Courtright, research director at Africa E-Mobility Alliance, an organization promoting electric mobility, told Rest of World. “It certainly doesn’t help that BasiGo is one of the only companies. There needs to be more companies operating in the sector.” … With few foreign-made buses entering the country, domestic EV bus companies must meet the current demand. The Kenyan government has removed duties on the import of bus parts to incentivize local assembly of EVs. The country’s treasury is discussing a proposal to completely ban the import of fully built vehicles. Rest of World
What Was ‘Disease X’ and What Can We Learn from It?
In early December, international alarm bells went off because of a mysterious disease circulating in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dubbed it “Disease X.” … On December 27, WHO announced the results from 430 samples: The outbreak was caused by a familiar enemy — or, more accurately, multiple familiar enemies. Patients had acute respiratory infections — think COVID, flu or rhinoviruses — complicated by malaria as well as widespread malnutrition. … “If there’s a main message here it’s strengthening primary health-care systems. That’s the key,” says Dr. William Moss, a deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and a professor in the departments of Epidemiology, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “If we can strengthen the primary health-care system in settings like this, then you’re much better positioned to not only provide preventive care or treatment care but also to respond to outbreaks.” NPR
Ghana Scraps Visas for African Passport Holders in Landmark Shift
The decision follows through on a promise made by Akufo-Addo at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues a year ago to enhance regional integration and ease movement across the continent. Previously, Ghana provided visa-free access to citizens of 26 African nations and visas on arrival for travellers from 25 others. Only visitors from two African countries required a visa before entering Ghana. “This is about building stronger ties across Africa,” Akufo-Addo said in a statement, adding that “Ghana’s future is tied to a united continent.” Ghana joins Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin in offering visa-free entry to all African passport holders. RFI