The Head of Mali’s Military Junta Appoints Himself to the Highest Rank in the Army
The head of the military junta that seized power in Mali in 2020 promoted himself Wednesday to the rank of army general with special title: Colonel Assimi Goita of the land army, the highest military distinction held only by two former heads of state in the country’s history…Five other highly influential colonels of the Malian military junta were also promoted “exceptionally” to the rank of four-star generals. “This is another indication that junta leaders will continue to position themselves as the only rulers, and have no intention of having a democratic transition into civilian rule anytime soon,” said Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the Morocco-based Policy Center for the New South. AP
Nobel Economics Prize Goes to 3 Economists Who Found that Freer Societies Are More Likely to Prosper
The Nobel memorial prize in economics was awarded Monday to three economists who have studied why some countries are rich and others poor and have documented that freer, open societies are more likely to prosper. The work by Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson “demonstrated the importance of societal institutions for a country’s prosperity,” the Nobel committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said at the announcement in Stockholm…Acemoglu said the research honored by the prize underscores the value of democratic institutions. AP
Kenya’s Senate to Vote on Removal of Deputy President
Kenya’s Senate opened a second day of hearings on Thursday ahead of a vote on whether to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office over charges he embezzled public funds, stirred ethnic hatred and undermined the government, which he denies. The National Assembly voted last week to impeach Gachagua, who helped President William Ruto win an election two years ago but has been assailed by allies of the president over alleged disloyalty and a series of provocative public comments. Reuters
Egypt’s Sisi Replaces Head of Powerful General Intelligence Agency
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi named Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad as head of the powerful general intelligence agency on Wednesday, appointing the outgoing chief Abbas Kamel as an adviser to the presidency. The agency has played a leading role under Sisi, handling foreign-policy matters including conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and Libya, as well as domestic-security issues linked to a long-running crackdown on political dissent. Rashad previously served as a deputy to Kamel, and according to two security sources, had taken over management of important files, including warming relations between Egypt and Iran. Reuters
Fuel Tanker Explosion Leaves at Least 150 Dead in Nigeria
More than 150 people were killed in northern Nigeria on Tuesday after an overturned fuel tanker exploded, according to a police spokesman, in one of the deadliest road disasters ever recorded in Africa’s most populous country…The tanker overturned near Majia, spilling fuel onto the roadway. Local residents rushed to scoop it up in what seemed like an easy way to collect an increasingly expensive commodity in Nigeria. Fuel prices have more than tripled over the last year as Mr. Tinubu’s administration has moved to abandon a costly government fuel subsidy that for decades gave Nigerians access to some of the cheapest gasoline in Africa. The New York Times
Equatorial Guinea: Dozens of Islanders Locked up as Grim History Continues for Annobón
Earlier this year, residents of the small island of Annobón began noticing withering plants on their farmland and large cracks in their houses. They attributed the damage to years of dynamite explosions linked to mining operations on the island, a province of Equatorial Guinea…In July, 16 people on the island wrote to the authorities in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, expressing concern about the deterioration of the environment and demanding an end to the use of dynamite…[W]ithin a few days soldiers arrested the letter’s signatories and dozens of activists sympathetic to their cause in raids. Cellular service and internet access were also shut down…Human rights activists and members of the Equatoguinean diaspora say Annobón’s roughly 5,000 or so inhabitants have endured a particularly grim recent history of human rights abuses and exploitation. The Guardian
Netherlands Explores Plan to Send Rejected African Asylum Seekers to Uganda
The conservative Dutch government is weighing a plan to send rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda, the country’s trade and development minister said late on Wednesday. Reinette Klever unveiled the idea during a visit to the East African country, but it was not immediately clear whether such a plan would be legal or feasible, or whether Uganda would be amenable to it. “We are open to any discussions,” Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo said in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. Reuters
EU Announces €30 Million Package to Prevent Irregular Migration from Senegal
The European Union on Wednesday, October 16 announced a €30 million ($32.6 million) package to prevent irregular migration from Senegal, as scores risk their lives every year in a bid to reach Europe. Thousands die or disappear departing the West African country on the perilous Atlantic crossing every year, battling strong currents on overloaded and often unseaworthy boats…The European Commission already funds a €5.75 million project strengthening the capacity of Senegalese security forces to combat irregular immigration, trafficking and migrant smuggling. Senegal’s coasts are one of the main departure points for thousands of migrants hoping to reach Europe, many heading for the Spanish Canary Islands. Le Monde with AFP
Biden to Travel on Thursday to Germany; Angola Trip Set for December
President Joe Biden will depart on Thursday for a trip to Germany, after rescheduling a visit last week because of Hurricane Milton striking the U.S., the White House said on Wednesday. Biden had been originally scheduled to travel to Germany and to Angola. Speaking during a regular press briefing, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Angola visit had been rescheduled for the first week of December. Reuters
Peacekeeper Sex Abuse Rife in Central African Republic as Survivors Stay Silent
Women and girls in the Central African Republic are continuing to have their lives ruined by sexual abuse and exploitation committed by UN peacekeepers, and many are not reporting cases to the mission on the ground because they fear reprisals, don’t know who to contact, or lack faith that action will be taken. A public UN database has recorded allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation against over 730 peacekeepers working for the UN mission in CAR (known by its acronym MINUSCA) since 2015, yet The New Humanitarian spoke to 19 women who have not reported abuse as well as civil society groups that said they are also not sharing claims despite recording a “constant” flow of new cases…Though the mission is credited for saving lives, its blue helmets have committed egregious cases of sex abuse that have destroyed lives and severely tarnished the mission’s reputation. The New Humanitarian
Zimbabwe to Compensate White Farmers Who Lost Land in Seizures 20 Years Ago
Zimbabwe says it will compensate local and foreign white farmers who lost land and property more than 20 years ago in farm seizures meant to redress some of the wrongs of colonialism. About 4,000 white farmers lost their homes and swathes of land when the Black-majority country’s then-president, Robert Mugabe, launched the often-chaotic redistribution program in 2000, which turned violent at times. Mugabe, who died in 2019, said it was aimed at addressing colonial-era land inequities after the southern African nation gained independence from white minority rule in 1980. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced Wednesday at a meeting with diplomats that his government approved 441 applications for compensation worth $351.6 million from local white farmers and 94 applications from foreigners worth $196.6 million, but only 1%, or $3.5 million, will be paid in cash to local farmers who lost land. The balance, Ncube said, will be paid through the issuance of treasury bonds. AP
Ex-ANC Spokesperson Charged with Fraud
Seven suspects – including local government officials and a former African Nation Congress (ANC) spokesperson – have been charged with fraud in a South African court. The defendants appeared in court following an investigation into a 27 million rand (£1.2m; $1.6m) government tender. The investigation found that five years ago the provincial government in Gauteng signed a contract with a company named Enviro-Mobi for waste management services. Enviro-Mobi did not disclose that it had links to ex-ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe, who was an MP at the time, a police statement said…Outside the courthouse, Mabe told local media he was stepping down from the ANC’s executive committee. BBC
South Africa Mulls Tax Rebates, Subsidies to Boost Local EV Industry
South Africa is considering introducing tax rebates or subsidies for consumers to boost buying of electric vehicles, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday, as Africa’s most industrialised economy transitions its automotive industry. Global automakers like Ford, Volkswagen, BMW and Toyota, manufacture models in South Africa for both the local and European markets. Britain and the European Union jointly consume 46% of the vehicles the country produces…Last year, the minister for trade, industry and competition published a white paper outlining steps to support the transition such as government incentives and a temporary reduction on import duties for batteries in vehicles produced and sold in the domestic market. Reuters
Afcon Qualifying Wins Bring ‘pride’ to War-torn Sudan
Sudan’s victory over Ghana in qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will have brought pride and joy to a country affected by civil war, according to forward Abobaker Eisa. Sudan beat the Black Stars 2-0 in a home game played in neutral Libya on Tuesday and need just one point from their last two qualifiers next month to secure a place at the finals…”With the things that are going on in Sudan right now, the civil war, we’re playing a much bigger game,” Eisa told Newsday on the BBC World Service…Sudan have only featured once at the Afcon finals since 2013, and reaching the 2025 edition in Morocco would be all the more remarkable given the ongoing conflict in the country and the fact the side have been forced to hold their home qualifiers at neutral venues. BBC