China’s Deepening Ties to Africa in Xi Jinping’s Third Term
China’s efforts to enlist African support can be expected to intensify during Xi’s third term. The CCP views the United States as its most formidable opponent with the capacity to upend its grand strategy. Hence, Beijing will double down on expanding its “circle of friends” in Africa to counter the United States, validate China’s endeavors, and “preserve the power to shape,” a phrase Xi used in his political report to the National Congress. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
US, Allies Announce Plans for Second Democracy Summit
The Biden administration on Tuesday announced plans for a second Summit for Democracy next year, this time to be co-hosted by the governments of Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea and Zambia. The summit will be held March 29 to March 30 in a virtual format and will be followed by hybrid gatherings in each of the host countries with representatives from government, civil society and the private sector participating. AP
Mozambique Court to Rule on ‘Hidden Debt’ Graft Scandal
A Mozambique court is Wednesday expected to start handing down its verdict in the country’s biggest corruption scandal, which triggered an unprecedented financial crisis after the government tried to hide its huge debts. Judges will over the next five days, issue verdicts for the 19 high-profile defendants who include the son of a former president. The scandal arose after state-owned companies in the country, ranked among the poorest in the world, illicitly borrowed $2 billion (1.9 billion euros) in 2013 and 2014 from international banks to buy a tuna-fishing fleet and surveillance vessels. The government masked the loans from the country’s parliament. AFP
South Africa: Ramaphosa Says $580,000 Was Innocently Hidden in Game Farm Sofa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa disclosed full details of how foreign currency he earned from the sale of buffalo was stolen from his game farm in 2020, saying he followed due process in reporting the crime and denied breaking any laws. The animals were sold for $580,000 in cash to Sudanese national Mustafa Mohamed Ibrahim Hazim in late 2019, Ramaphosa said in a 138-page submission made to an advisory panel that parliament set up to probe whether he had done anything untoward. Bloomberg
Namibia’s Ruling Party Aims to Gain Ground with Female Presidential Candidate in 2024
In power since independence in 1990, Namibia’s South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) will for the first time put forward a woman as its presidential candidate in 2024. By then, President Hage Gottfried Geingob will be done with his two terms. In his place, one of the country’s leading female politicians since pre-independence, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will seek to extend the party’s rulership. The former independence movement at the weekend elected Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is the country’s deputy prime minister and minister of international relations, to become the party’s vice-president at the recently ended 7th congress. News24
Killer of South African Anti-Apartheid Leader Stabbed in Prison
Janusz Walus, the killer of South African anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, has been stabbed in prison and is receiving treatment after news of his parole sparked widespread anger, authorities said. Walus, 69, a far-right Polish citizen who fatally shot Hani nearly three decades ago, was granted parole by South Africa’s Constitutional Court last week and was expected to be released soon. The decision was met with fierce criticism and protests across the country. Al Jazeera
Russian Fertilizer Heads for Africa as Part of UN Export Deal
A shipment of 20,000 metric tons of Russian-produced fertilizer was sent from the Netherlands to Malawi as part of a United Nations-brokered deal to keep agricultural commodities flowing to global markets despite an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, United Nations (U.N.) officials said Tuesday…The U.N. said the donation “will serve to alleviate humanitarian needs and prevent catastrophic crop loss in Africa, where it is currently planting season.” The Hill
Illegal Logging, Charcoal Burning, and Gum Tapping Threatens Sudan’s Woodlands
The environmental dangers of deforestation in Sudan have been highlighted by experts. Yet, not much has been done in practice to protect woodlands and forests. Those supposed to enforce legislation, such as the army and local governments, reportedly benefit from illegal logging and charcoal trade. As Radio Dabanga reported in its climate change feature, Sudan is also witnessing changes in its climate, especially higher temperatures and changing rainfall, which leaves the country more prone to droughts and floods. On top of these climate changes, environmental pollution, illegal logging, and irrigation problems all put more stress on Sudan’s ecosystems and make the country less resilient. Dabanga
Nigeria Police Chief: General Usman Alkali Baba Sentenced
The high court in Nigeria has sentenced the country’s police chief to three months in prison for disobeying a court order. The ruling followed a lawsuit by a police officer who was fired in 1992. The officer challenged his forced retirement, and his dismissal was later quashed in court. The high court ruled that Inspector General Usman Alkali Baba should serve the jail sentence, unless he reinstates the police officer. So far the police force has failed to comply. BBC
‘No Timeline’ for Restoring Internet to Tigray: Ethiopia Minister
Tigray’s internet service will be restored along with its phone and electricity services, though no timeline has been set for those goals, Belete Molla, Ethiopia’s minister for innovation and technology, said on Tuesday at the UN’s annual Internet Governance Forum in Addis Ababa. Tigray, home to more than 5 million people, has been mostly without internet, telecommunications and banking since war broke out between federal government troops and forces led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2020. Al Jazeera
East African Military Force Met with Scepticism in DR Congo
The mission – which plans to “enforce peace” in eastern parts of DRC – is not yet fully deployed and there are lingering questions about funding, safeguards for civilians, and how it will coordinate with a long-running UN peacekeeping operation. The East African force has also raised concerns among Congolese activists and civil society groups mindful of past interventions that have seen neighbouring countries sponsor militias, hoover up mineral wealth, and engage in widespread rights abuses. New Humanitarian
Inter-Congolese Dialogue Opens as East Africa Community Seeks to End DRC Rebel Activity
A ceasefire between Congolese government troops and M23 rebels appears to be holding in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo despite some clashes reported between rival militias. Under the ceasefire agreement that came into force on Friday night, the March 23 rebel group – which has seized swathes of territory – was to withdraw from “occupied zones” failing which an East African regional force would intervene. This comes as a third Inter-Congolese dialogue got underway in Nairobi at the beginning of the week, with the talks being facilitated by Kenya’s former president Uhuru Kenyatta. RFI
‘Touch the Stars’ – Joy in Senegal as Team Reach World Cup Last 16
Joyous crowds celebrated in Senegal’s capital Dakar on Tuesday as cheers and car horns rang out in gridlocked streets after the West African country qualified to the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar with a 2-1 victory over Ecuador. “IMMENSE! What a match! What players!” Senegal President Macky Sall said on Twitter. “Now go and touch the stars.”…”It is joy… We have done it,” screamed supporter Youssouf Niang. “It was so stressful after they equalized, but this is deliverance,” he exclaimed. A large crowd gathered under the African Renaissance Monument was nervously quiet until Ismaila Sarr scored a 44th-minute penalty that gave Senegal a 1-0 halftime lead against Ecuador. Ecuador equalised through Moises Caicedo before Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly netted a second goal for the Lions of Teranga. Reuters