The Kremlin-backed private military contractor is using shady business ventures for unofficial Russian diplomacy across the African continent, researchers say. At first, their presence is often just a rumor. Later, it’s an open secret. Thousands of mercenaries with Russia’s Wagner Group are active in several African countries. In the Central African Republic, for example, 1,890 […]
Tag: travel
Nairobi — Kenya is set to host the National Cassava Conference and Expo 2023 (NCCE), aimed at enhancing cassava production, productivity, and value addition. The trade fair themed ‘Spearheading Innovation and Technology for Cassava Sector’ will aid in creating positive public awareness of cassava’s importance in food and nutrition security and socio-economic development across the […]
Manicaland — For most urban dwellers in Zimbabwe the current water crisis is all about failure to use their taps and cisterns, the longing for a shower, or at worst a 200m walk to a community borehole where, despite the hustle, they do fill up 20-litre containers and head home. For pregnant women in rural […]
The Senate yesterday confirmed Ola Olukoyede as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The appointment of Muhammad Hammajoda as secretary of the anti-graft agency was also confirmed. The confirmation of both men followed their screening by the upper chamber, about a week after they were appointed by President Bola Tinubu. Responding […]
Kampala, Uganda — The Constitutional Court struck down a portion of an internet law frequently used to arrest and jail those critical of the president. Meanwhile, battles against similar provisions continue. On Jan. 10 Uganda’s Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional a section of an internet law that journalists and critics of President Yoweri Museveni say was […]
As President William Ruto met with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People this week in Beijing during the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the enduring friendship between China and Kenya came to the fore. Their discussions were not merely symbolic but rather a blueprint for fostering stronger ties […]
Religion shapes some of the most controversial decisions that governments need to make: access to abortion, same-sex marriage, the death penalty and the legal status of sex work. Indeed, it is likely that most voters across the world consider religion to be essential to their lives. Yet research on religion and political parties remains surprisingly […]
The number of South African internet users has nearly doubled in the past decade. One 2023 study of 45 developed countries suggests that South Africans even lead the world when it comes to the amount of time spent in front of screens, at 58.2% of the day. This digital transformation has significant implications for the […]
It is illegal to buy or sell sex in South Africa. But this may soon be a thing of the past if a recently published draft bill to decriminalise sex work is passed. Researchers and activists Marlise Richter and Monique Huysamen set out what’s in the new law, what’s good about it and what still […]
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the weekend, stated that Nigeria could overcome its foreign exchange (forex) crisis and dwindling value of the naira by shifting from a mono-economy marked by dependence on oil and to non-oil exports, particularly agribusiness. Obasanjo made the assertion in Abeokuta at the closing ceremony of a week-long intensive “Agribusiness Export […]
Mr Tinubu fuelled the disunity by romancing grudging members of the PDP overtly and covertly and wooing them to his side. Nothing is more interesting than seeing your enemies exchange blows, raining curses on one another and breaking apart. Bola Tinubu, a renowned Nigerian politician, is a testament to the political maxim that says a […]
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Tuesday, called for the repositioning of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for effective and efficient fight against corruption in Nigeria. CISLAC pointed out inadequacies affecting the commission’s performance. The advocacy group made reference to the 2002 Establishment Act, the National Assembly repealed and re-enacted in 2004, during […]
***Insists 10 million pupils in over 66, 000 public schools across Nigeria being fed daily The Federal Government disclosed yesterday that 1, 940, 004 vulnerable Nigerians are currently receiving N5,000 cash gifts each, every month. Speaking Thursday in Abuja at a One-Day Stakeholders’ Retreat On National Social Investment (Establishment) Bill organised by Senator Yusuf Yusuf, […]
Brussels — Director of Ceremonies;Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah; Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen; Honourable Ministers; Ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus; Distinguished Industry Leaders and Panellists; Ladies and Gentlemen; Members of the Media I am excited to stand before you to witness the evolution of a remarkable partnership between Namibia and the European Union. This partnership, grounded in the common interests […]
Washington — The three neighboring countries of Somalia are to send new troops to support Somali forces against al-Shabab in the next phase of military operations, the national security adviser for the Somali president said. In an interview with VOA’s Somali Service on Wednesday, Hussein Sheikh-Ali said Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya will be sending troops […]
I am aware of the public sentiments, for and against the reported action taken against the owner of Freedom FM regarding the critical broadcast of the station about the Army and its Chief of Staff. Permit me not to restate that commentary, but the reported mistreatment of the station’s owner by the joint security is […]
A Cabinet minister accused of drawing a pistol during an argument with a woman has resigned, Radio Uganda announced Wednesday. President Yoweri Museveni accepted the resignation of Internal Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire “because the National Resistance Movement government will not tolerate any indiscipline displayed by anybody regardless of his position, such as shown by Otafiire, […]
Similarly, in order and security, Nigeria is the second worst country in the sub-Saharan region as it is ranked 33rd out of 34 countries. Nigeria is ranked 120th of the 142 countries in terms of adherence to rule of law, according to the latest global Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project […]