Mozambique: Government Faced with Fresh Protests
Mozambique might be facing an escalation of the unrest that has rocked the southern African country since the election of new President Daniel Chapo in October. This Thursday (November 8), demonstrations organized by the opposition in the streets of the capital Maputo are set to culminate in a big rally. Observers fear increasing violence and riots…Since the first multi-party elections were held in 1994, each election result in Mozambique has been highly contested — not only by opposition figures but also by independent analysts…This year, however, the sense of discontent among Mozambicans is palpable everywhere in Maputo and beyond. Heavy protests broke out right after the election results were published on October 24, with the opposition disputing the results and accusing FRELIMO of electoral fraud during the October 9 elections. DW
SADC to Discuss Mozambique Crisis in Mid-November
Maputo is under lockdown, and protests over the 9 October election have disrupted trade between Mozambique and South Africa. But the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will only address the crisis in about 10 days, at a meeting in Harare…Zimbabwe assumed the annual rotational chairmanship of the regional bloc in August this year. Since then, there have been disputed elections in Mozambique, a historic transition of power in Botswana, and a general election in Mauritius. Namibia is also due for general elections on 27 November. News24
Nigeria’s Army Chief, Who Led the Country through One of Africa’s Longest Conflicts, Dies at 56
Nigeria’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who led soldiers through a critical period in the fight against Islamic extremists in the West African nation’s hard-hit northeast, has died after an illness, President Bola Tinubu said Wednesday. Lagbaja was 56…Lagbaja’s death comes at a crucial time as Nigeria continues to fight one of Africa’s longest wars on militancy in its northeastern region, where Boko Haram extremists launched an insurgency nearly 15 years ago. AP
Darkness in Major Cities as Nigeria’s Electricity Grid Collapses Again
Nigeria’s electricity grid collapsed again, on Tuesday, throwing several cities into darkness. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, on Tuesday announced that the grid experienced a partial disturbance at about 1:52 p.m. Ms Mbah explained that this followed a series of lines and generator trippings that caused instability of the grid and, consequently, the partial disturbance of the system…In recent years, the power sector has experienced many challenges in areas of electricity policy enforcement, regulatory uncertainty, gas supply, transmission system constraints, and significant power sector planning shortfalls. Premium Times
Sudan Accuses Chad of Aiding RSF in Complaint to African Rights Commission
Sudan filed a complaint with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on Tuesday, accusing Chad of providing weapons, ammunition and mercenaries to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Justice Minister Moawia Osman told reporters in Port Sudan that Sudan had presented material evidence to the ACHPR, which is based in Banjul, Gambia. He said Chad’s actions obligated it to pay reparations to Sudan…He accused Chad of violating the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and international law. He called on Chad to immediately cease all support to the RSF…The ACHPR, which meets twice yearly, received Sudan’s complaint on November 1. Sudan Tribune
RSF Attacks Empty Hundreds of Villages in Sudan’s Al Jazirah State
Hundreds of villages in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state have been emptied by residents fleeing retaliatory attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), raising fears of forced displacement and demographic change. The RSF campaign, which began after an RSF commander defected to the army on Oct. 20, has triggered a wave of violence and looting, driving civilians from their homes…Concerns are growing that the RSF may attempt to alter the region’s demographics by bringing in new residents…The RSF has reportedly brought in new residents to villages near al-Hasahisa and Wad Madani, raising further concerns about demographic engineering. Sudan Tribune
South Sudan: Sudan War Keeps Reaching across Borders, Security Council Hears
In addition to driving a regional refugee crisis, the brutal war in Sudan is exacerbating instability in the contested region of Abyei, a senior UN peacekeeping official said on Tuesday, highlighting escalating challenges. Rich in oil resources, the Abyei area straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan and is claimed by both sides. These setbacks have left already stretched resources in South Sudan under greater strain, with thousands of refugees enduring extreme shortages of clean water, food, and healthcare services. UN News
COP29: Meet Ilham Aliyev, the Autocrat Who Wants to Kick France Out of Africa
When it was confirmed that Beninese activist Kemi Seba had been arrested in Paris on 14 October, the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) in Azerbaijan was among the first to react, saying: “We consider this arrest to be a manifestation of the neo-colonial policy that France has been pursuing in Africa for many years.”…The BIG is the brainchild of the all-powerful Ilham Aliyev, the 62-year-old authoritarian who has been president of Azerbaijan for 20 years. From 2019 to 2024, he was also secretary-general of the Non-Aligned Movement, the forum of 120 countries not formally aligned with any major power bloc, before handing it over to Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni. With COP29 shortly to be held in Baku, from 11 to 22 November, Azerbaijan’s support for Seba, via the BIG, is casting a harsh light on the tensions between Baku and Paris – and on the development of an Azeri-African policy. On 3 October, just before he visited France, Seba was invited to Baku at BIG’s expense to headline a conference on “French neo-colonial policy in Africa”. Before an audience of Azeri officials and a handful of African sovereignty activists, he described Azerbaijan as a “sincere” ally in his fight against “Emmanuel Macron and his mother Brigitte [sic]”. The Africa Report
With Little Progress at Cop16 Biodiversity Summit, Africa Demands More Action
Most analysts admit that not enough came out of Cop16 – held in Cali, Columbia last month – and hope to see biodiversity issues taken more seriously. Africa is also home to one third of the world’s biodiversity, harbouring eight of the 34 critical biodiversity reserves listed by the NGO Conservation International. But its biodiversity remains in grave danger…[Mamadou Diallo of the International Union for Conservation of Nature] emphasised that Africa had hoped Cop16 would secure stronger protection for 30 percent of its land and seas, but achieving this requires political commitment, especially from northern hemisphere countries that, he argued, prioritise resource extraction over equitable conservation. RFI
Floods in Chad: Tens of Thousands of Livestock Drowned
[VIDEO] Since the end of July, nearly 2 million people have been reported as disaster victims due to widespread flooding in Chad. This year’s rainy season, running to the end of November, has been particularly fierce, with the UN and local authorities reporting over 570 deaths from torrential rains. Beyond the striking images of capital city N’Djamena submerged in water, there are more subtle damages with longer-lasting consequences on agricultural land. Thousands of hectares have been lost, along with tens of thousands of livestock drowned or dead from illness. France 24
In Eastern Senegal, ‘unprecedented’ Floods Devastate Harvests
The floods that have displaced more than 56,000 people in the Senegal River valley are jeopardizing the country’s food security by drowning crops for almost a month…The region of Podor, which alone supplies 46% of the country’s onion production, is the hardest hit by flooding in the Senegal River valley, in the northeast of the country, since October 12…”In absolute terms, the damage caused by the losses may seem relatively low, with 197 million CFA francs [€301,800] up in smoke,” said Mbargou Lo, [national company for the development and exploitation of land in the Senegal River delta (SAED)] director in Bakel. “Behind this figure, thousands of households will be tipping into extreme poverty, with associated health risks, such as an expected rise in cases of malaria and pneumonia, as the floods drowned fertilizer storage warehouses. Ammonia and urea have been released into the environment.” Le Monde
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Says Slavery Reparations Not about Cash Transfer
Britain’s foreign secretary said Monday that reparations for the U.K.’s role in the slave trade are not about the “transfer of cash” and reiterated his country’s position that leans toward focusing on the future. There have been calls from some of Britain’s former colonies for a reckoning over its role in the transatlantic slave trade, including at the recent 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting where leaders called for a “ meaningful, respectful and truthful ” discussion of reparatory justice…Lammy said Britain is pursuing a new approach to relations with African nations that will deliver on “respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long-term growth rather than short-term solutions and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent.” AP
Prince William Meets President Ramaphosa on South Africa Trip
Britain’s Prince William paid a visit to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday in Cape Town after taking a nature walk with rangers and conservationists at Table Mountain National Park. The Prince of Wales is on a four-day trip to South Africa for the annual awards ceremony of his Earthshot Prize, which will be held on Wednesday. He will also attend a global wildlife summit and hold other climate-focused engagements…The presidency said South Africa was pleased to host this year’s Earthshot Prize awards because it highlights the impact climate change and environmental degradation have in Africa. Reuters
Zimbabwe Bans Police from Using Mobile Phones while on Duty
Zimbabwe’s government has banned “with immediate effect” police officers from using mobile phones while working. The ban is contained in a memo, ordering police officers to abandon their private communication gadgets while on duty. All officers are required to surrender their mobile phones to their supervisors once they get to their stations and only use them during their break time. No reasons were cited for the ban in the memo but it is widely believed this could be part of efforts to curb police corruption. It comes a few days after two traffic enforcement officers were arrested in the capital, Harare, after a viral social media video exposed them taking bribes from public transport vehicles…Police are perceived to be among the most corrupt institutions in Zimbabwe because of low salaries and poor working conditions. BBC
Algeria Opens Book Fair Opens Without Winner of Top French Language Literary Prize
As one of the Arab world’s largest book fairs opens in Algeria on Wednesday, there is one conspicuous absence. French-Algerian author Kamel Daoud, who won France’s most prestigious literary award earlier this week, was not invited to this year’s event. This year’s Prix Goncourt winner and his French publisher Gallimard — a regular participant — are among those who won’t be welcomed at the Algiers International Book Fair. The exclusion of several prominent authors and publishers from this year’s event reflects the ongoing limitations on freedom of expression in Algeria…[Daoud’s] Goncourt-winning third novel Houris (Virgins, in English) centers on the memories of victims of Algeria’s “Black Decade.” After Islamists won the first round of legislative elections in 1990, Algeria descended into civil war after the second round was canceled by the military-backed government. AP