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Cote d’Ivoire: Côte d’Ivoire’s National Day

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I warmly wish the Ivoirian people a happy 62nd National Day. On this celebratory occasion, we reaffirm our enduring partnership and friendship with the people and government of Côte d’Ivoire. I look forward to further strengthening the close cooperation between our governments and peoples […]

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Malawi: Finance Minister Upbeat On IMF Facility

Finance minister Sosten Gwengwe says he is upbeat Malawi will get the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) saying talks with the IMF are on track. Government hopes the ECF will bring back to life the ailing economy. Gwengwe has expressed optimism that Malawi will get the facility, saying discussions are at advanced stage. Recently, as demanded […]

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Africa: The Battle to Re-engage with Africa – Anthony Blinken’s Visit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, from August 7 to 12. It is an African visit primed with geopolitical agendas as the US strives to boost its influence on the continent amidst the resurgence of old powers and the entry of new […]

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West Africa: Nigeria Threatens to Quit ECOWAS Over Recruitment Scandal

Nigeria has threatened to withdraw its membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if the regional body does not suspend the ongoing recruitment exercise as recently directed in the 2022 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja. Nigeria’s representatives at the ECOWAS Parliament issued the threat when some principal officers […]

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Nigeria: Ex-President Jonathan Leads Election Observation Mission to Kenya

“The observers will be deployed in all the regions and specifically in ten counties, across Kenya.” Former President Goodluck Jonathan departed Abuja for Nairobi on Friday leading a team of observers to Kenya’s general elections scheduled to hold on August 9. Mr Jonathan would serve as the Head of the Electoral Observation Mission of the […]

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Kenya Will Have Free and Fair Election, Incoming U.S. Envoy Says

Nairobi — Incoming US Ambassador to Kenya Margaret Whitman on Friday evening expressed confidence that the August 9th general elections will be free and fair. Speaking when she presented her credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ambassador Whitman said Kenya will also have a peaceful transition. “… I have no doubt Kenya will showcase for the […]

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Malawi: Exposed – Top UTM Officials Named in Demo Funding

Top UTM officials have been named in a serious funding scandal towards the spate of violent protests aimed at forcing President Dr Lazarus Chakwera to resign. This follows Vice President Saulos Chilima’s call to his boss, President Chakwera to remove presidential immunity from prosecution of crimes. The violent protesters, who have been damaging property and […]

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Zimbabwe: Zim Seals Forestry Protection Policy

Maputo, Mozambique — Zimbabwe is committed to the protection of its vast forestry resources, with Government implementing interventions geared to restore degraded forest areas and safeguard the integrity and biodiversity of woodlands, President Mnangagwa has said. Addressing a high-level regional meeting on the protection of indigenous woodlands at Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre in Maputo, […]

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South Africa: Vacuum of Ideas At ANC Policy Conference Bodes Ill for South Africa’s Governing Party

South Africa is in the throes of an unprecedented, multifaceted socio-economic crisis requiring substantive, impactful policy interventions. Yet, having attended the governing African National Congress’s recent five-yearly national policy conference, which was supposed to show how the party intends to steer the country forward, I wonder if it actually appreciates the enormity of the problems […]

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Africa: The U.S. Is Revisiting Its Trade Relations With African Countries – Key Issues On the Table

Last year, the US’s Biden administration announced plans to increase two-way trade and investment between the US and Africa. The starting point was a revamp of the Trump-era “Prosper Africa initiative”. As American secretary of state Antony Blinken visits three African nations – South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda – Kefa Otiso and […]

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Liberia: Let’s Choose Democracy Over Violence

Editorial: Liberia seems to be gradually detouring from the path of political tolerance and democratic cohesion to a culture of intolerance and violence that threatens to push this country back to total collapse. Such posture led us to unimaginable consequences in the past where our citizenry particularly, women and children, suffered the brunt of a […]

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Kenya: No, Kenya’s Star Newspaper Didn’t Report That Narok County Governor Candidate Is Broke

“Ole Ntutu is broke WHAT NEXT,” reads the headline on what seems to be a clipping of an article in the Star, a Kenyan newspaper. Patrick Ole Ntutu is the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate for governor of Narok county in Kenya’s 9 August 2022 elections. The article has been circulating on Facebook since 1 […]

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Senegal: Setback for Sall as President’s Allies Lose Absolute Majority

Senegalese President Macky Sall’s coalition has lost its absolute majority in parliament by a single seat, despite finishing first by a narrow margin in last Sunday’s polls, according to provisional results published on Thursday. This is the first time since independence in 1960 that the ruling party has lost an absolute majority in Senegal. The […]

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Mauritius: Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Calls On Minister Toussaint

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, accompanied by a delegation, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Mr Stephan Toussaint, today, at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex. In a statement, the Secretary-General lauded the good work being undertaken by the Sports Minister and […]

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Liberia: Hundreds Join Cummings Support Team

Monrovia — Hundreds of supporters and well-wishers in collaboration with a local women auxiliary, the Determined Women in Battery Factory, on Thursday, August 4, gave a rousing welcome to the Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Mr. Alexander Cummings. The well-organized ceremony which formed part of a cultural and traditional Grebo dance performance […]

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Nigeria: At Last, Atiku, Wike Meet, Move to Resolve Their Differences

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the embittered Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike yesterday met in Abuja, in a move aimed at resolving the differences in the main opposition party ahead of the 2023 general elections. A reliable source told THISDAY that the […]

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Nigeria: Buhari Confirms Tafa Balogun’s Death, Mourns

“President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with family, friends and associates mourning the death of former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mustapha Balogun,” Mr Adesina wrote. The former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, is dead. Mr Balogun’s death was confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement by the president’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina. “President Muhammadu Buhari condoles […]

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Kenya: IEBC Administers Oath of Secrecy to Presiding Officers in Readiness for the Election

Nairobi — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has administered oaths of secrecy to Presiding and Deputy presiding officers, in readiness for the general election. Presiding and Deputy Presiding officers play a major role in Kenya elections, as they are mandated with the management of electoral activities in polling stations. A Presiding Officer will […]