Congo Basin Forests Shrink Due to Illegal Logging
As the [Congo Basin] has lost 30 percent of its forest cover since 2001, the “rapid degradation… poses a threat to the livelihoods of millions who rely on the forests’ resources and the regulating role the forests play for African rain patterns and carbon sequestration”, according to a report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, published in November…Criminal rings exploit “gaps in the regulatory framework” with the complicity of corrupt officials to plunder the dense forests, which cover about 200 million hectares– the size of a country like Saudi Arabia…To save the forests, the report recommends improving and strengthening security cooperation between the affected countries to fight criminal networks and “increasingly sophisticated” armed groups. Nations should also expand satellite imagery to improve surveillance, the center said. AFP
In the Central African Republic, a Former Propagandist Lifts the Veil on the Inner Workings of Russian Disinformation
Journalist Ephrem Yalike took part in the relentless disinformation regime Russia employs in the Central African Republic. After narrowly escaping death while under interrogation by his case officer, he fled his country…The information he shared with Forbidden Stories and its ten media partners reveals the inner workings of an unofficial Russian organization called Africa Politology. His testimony sheds light on the existence of disinformation campaigns disseminated through Central African media, to the presence of invisible intermediaries, cash payments, brutal methods of intimidation, and to a pervasive cult of secrecy. Together, these revelations paint the picture of a propaganda machine which, despite the August 2023 death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the reorganization of the Wagner Group in Africa, continues to operate in the Central African Republic. Forbidden Stories
Mali’s Junta Replaces Civilian Prime Minister With One of Its Own
The ruling junta of Mali appointed its spokesman as the country’s new prime minister on Thursday, after his civilian predecessor was fired for criticizing the administration. The spokesman, Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, replaced former Prime Minister Choguel Maiga — the two are not direct relatives — after Choguel Maiga told reporters that the junta was making decisions about the postponement of elections in “total secrecy.” He condemned the administration for failing to transition the country back to democracy within two years, as it had promised after seizing power in 2020…The appointment of a military man to a position previously held by a civilian fuels uncertainty over Mali’s presidential election, which was scheduled for February but has been indefinitely postponed. The New York Times
British Mining Executives Held in Mali Freed after $160m Deal to Settle Tax Dispute
Resolute Mining, an Australian company, said on Thursday its chief executive, Terence Holohan, and two other employees, who had been held in the country since 9 November, have been freed. The three executives were in Mali’s capital, Bamako, to hold discussions with mining and tax authorities…Mali, which is one of Africa’s biggest gold exporters, rewrote its mining laws last year to increase state and local ownership in the industry and extract more money from international companies. Negotiations with international mining companies have been fraught. In September, the government detained four local employees of Barrick Gold, the world’s second largest goldminer by market capitalisation, for four days. The Guardian
Sudan: Darfur Joint Force Seize Weapons Convoy, Accuse UAE of Arming RSF
The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) said on Thursday its fighters participating in Darfur Joint Force had intercepted a convoy smuggling weapons from Chad to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur, accusing the United Arab Emirates of backing the paramilitary group. The SLM, led by Minni Minawi, said in a statement that the weapons were seized during an operation by a Joint Force in the desert region bordering Chad and Libya. The statement, seen by Sudan Tribune, claimed the RSF uses the vast desert area to transport military equipment to Darfur for distribution to its elements across the country. Sudan Tribune
Heavy Gunfire Erupts in South Sudan Capital of Juba
Heavy gunfire erupted in South Sudan’s capital Juba on Thursday evening after security forces moved to arrest the former head of the intelligence service, according to Reuters reporters and an alert sent to United Nations staff…In early October, President Salva Kiir dismissed Akol Koor Kuc, who had led the NSS since the country’s independence from Sudan in 2011, and appointed a close ally to replace him. Army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said Akol Kuur had not been arrested and had stayed in his house throughout the shooting…Analysts said the sacking of Akol Koor reflected a power struggle at the highest levels of government. It came weeks after the transitional government that Kiir leads announced that elections expected in December would be postponed for a second time. Reuters
Senegal’s Ruling Party Secures Majority in Parliament, Paving the Way for Ambitious Reforms
Senegal’s ruling party, PASTEF, secured a resounding victory in the country’s legislative elections, winning 130 of 165 seats, according to provisional results announced Thursday by the national vote counting commission. The win grants newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye a clear mandate to carry out ambitious reforms promised during the campaign, which include fighting corruption, revamping the fishing industry, and maximizing the country’s natural resource benefits. The main opposition coalition led by the former President Macky Sall won 16 seats. Sall congratulated PASTEF in a post on X on the election day, and two other major opposition leaders had already conceded defeat hours after the polls closed on Sunday. AP
Illegal Mining Threatens Ghana’s Economy as Election Looms
A surge in illegal mining that has reduced Ghana’s cocoa production, contaminated water supplies, and stoked food inflation looks set to be among the biggest challenges awaiting the winner of next month’s presidential election. Illegal gold mining, known locally as “galamsey,” has spread across Ghana this year, driven by a historic rise in global gold prices. But, with much of the gold smuggled out of the country, Africa’s top gold exporter isn’t benefiting from the boom…The Ghana Water Company in August warned that parts of the country faced water shortages due to pollution caused by illegal mining. That warning spurred hundreds of campaigners to stage street protests in a bid to make galamsey a campaign issue ahead of the Dec. 7 presidential election. Semafor
Uganda Targets 2027 Start for World’s Longest Heated Oil Pipeline
Uganda is set to become an energy producer by 2027, allowing the landlocked nation to export oil from two oilfields via a $4bn, 1,443km-long pipeline that would run through Tanzania to the port of Tanga…TotalEnergies alongside China’s Cnooc is leading the project alongside the Ugandan and Tanzanian national oil companies to develop the Kingfisher and Tilenga fields close to Lake Albert…Once fully operational, Uganda expects to produce 230,000 barrels a day of oil…The pipeline will cross nature reserves along the basin of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest, while displacing households and wildlife across Uganda and Tanzania, say activists who are sceptical the projects will benefit local communities. Financial Times
Refugees in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region Continue to Face Almost Daily Attacks
Thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese refugees are demanding to be relocated from unsafe camps in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit Amhara region, where they say they lack basic services and are subject to almost daily attacks from local militiamen and armed bandits. Amhara, Ethiopia’s second-most populous region, has since August 2023 been gripped by a full-blown rebellion, pitting a loosely organised constellation of ethno-nationalist militia groups called Fano against government forces…Eritrean refugees at Alemwach camp in Amhara’s North Gondar Zone told The New Humanitarian they face constant robberies, kidnappings, and physical attacks from local armed men who regularly come into the camp, which is administered by the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) and Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS)….In a letter sent to UNHCR on 6 October, refugee leaders said: “Currently, there is no authority responsible for protecting or ensuring the safety of refugees at our site.” The New Humanitarian
Acute Hunger Stalks One in Four People in DR Congo, Warn Aid Agencies
UN humanitarians warned on Thursday that one in four people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo suffers from “crisis or worse” levels of hunger that affects a staggering 25.6 million people…The alert from the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme follows a new dire assessment from UN-partnered food insecurity experts has shown the hunger crisis is affecting much of the vast central African nation. The embattled east is a particular concern, where the situation is deteriorating after decades of fighting involving around 100 armed groups – including the M23 militia – who vie for control of vast natural riches, threatening regional security. UN News
G20 Summit Ticks Most of the African Union’s Boxes
The African Union (AU) appears to have had a good first G20 Summit this week. The 86-point G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration ticked most of the boxes of the AU’s key priorities…The six priorities were inclusive growth, reforming the global financial architecture, ensuring food security and agriculture adaptation to climate change, facilitating a just transition, promoting trade and investment, and enhancing health…The G20 Rio Summit addressed African priorities by committing to work towards low-cost financing for developing countries to support their transitions to low-carbon emissions. It endorsed the voluntary Principles for Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions adopted by the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group. Premium Times / ISS Today
Heroin Destroying Lives in Kenya: Trafficking to Europe Fuels Rising Local Addiction
[VIDEO] Kenya has long been a transit country for heroin smuggled from Afghanistan to South Africa and back up towards Europe. In recent years, the drug has spilled over into some communities, fueling addiction. France 24
How Kenya’s Evangelical President Has Fallen Out with Churches
Over the last two years, taxes on salaries have gone up, the sales tax on fuel has doubled and people are also paying a new housing levy and a health insurance tax that is yet to benefit many Kenyans. When momentous anti-tax protests erupted in June, the young people who led them…also called out churches for being too close to politicians and allowing them to preach from their pulpits. Their anger forced the government to retract a controversial finance bill that had included more tax increases – and it woke up the churches, whose clergy began to openly criticise [President William Ruto] and his policies. The most hard-hitting criticism was last week’s statement from Catholic bishops, who carry more weight because of the respect and influence they command in Kenya. They accused Ruto’s government of perpetuating a “culture of lies”, citing unfulfilled campaign promises. BBC
Zambia’s Catholic Bishops Raise Concern over Rights Violations
In Zambia, Catholic bishops raised the alarm this week about increased arrests and prolonged detentions of opposition leaders. In a letter signed by all 11 of the country’s Catholic bishops, they lamented what they called significant restrictions on democratic freedom, illustrated by charges being brought against at least six opposition leaders, as well as journalists and civil society activists, for political activities…In August 2024, senior United Nations human rights officials issued a report that concluded the restrictions and arrests of political opponents in Zambia has had a chilling effect on freedom of opinion, association and assembly in the country and has stunted the building of democratic institutions. VOA
China’s Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince
Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state media from both countries…Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit. China has stepped up investments in Morocco’s infrastructure and rail sector in recent years. Morocco’s geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and U.S. markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers. Reuters