NEWS - The African Mirror

Feb

24

2023

Tunisia detains more dissidents amid growing crackdown

NEWS

TUNISIAN police detained two prominent dissidents and surrounded the home of a third, part of an escalating crackdown on critics of President Kais Saied, who has labelled his opponents traitors and criminals. The arrests, along with others this month, have targeted some of Saied's most important critics along with other politicians, judges and media figures. Issam Chebbi, head of the Republican Party, was detained near a shopping centre while he was out with his wife, his family and lawyers told Reuters. Police later searched his home. Chaima Issa, an activist who took part in the 2011 revolution, was detained after…

Mar

21

2023

By The African Mirror

Kenyan opposition politicians arrested, tear-gassed during protests

NEWS

HUMPHREY MALALO and AYENAT MERSIE KENYAN police tear-gassed the leader of the opposition and arrested senior lawmakers in his parliamentary faction, as protesters took to the streets to march against President William Ruto and the high cost of living. The convoy of Raila Odinga, who was defeated by Ruto last year in his fifth straight election as the runner-up, was repeatedly sprayed with tear gas as he addressed supporters from the sunroof of his car. Odinga has called for nationwide protests as he attempts to harness dissatisfaction with the president. At least four members of parliament were arrested during protests…

Mar

22

2023

By The African Mirror

One student killed, over 200 people arrested in Kenya protests

NEWS

HUMPHREY MALALO A university student in Kenya was killed and more than 200 people were arrested in nationwide protests against President William Ruto's government over high living costs, police said. Protesters took to the streets of the capital, Nairobi, and several other cities in response to a call for demonstrations by opposition leader Raila Odinga. Some lit fires in the streets and threw rocks at police. Police fired tear gas and water cannons, including at Odinga's convoy as he addressed supporters from the sunroof of his car. Police said 24 officers were injured in the clashes. They gave no figure for injuries…

Mar

21

2023

By The African Mirror

Cyclone Freddy teaches deadly lessons on storm warnings, city sprawl

NEWS

FRANK PHIRI, MANUEL MUCARI and CARIEN DU PLESSIS DAYS before Cyclone Freddy struck Mozambique on March 11 for the second time, cars with loudhailers moved through the streets of the port town of Quelimane warning residents to move to shelters on higher ground with stocks of food and water. Most people heeded the warnings, knowing from bitter experience the damage such storms could inflict: 600 people died in Cyclone Idai in 2019. "Local authorities came around my neighbourhood to alert us of the imminent danger. They blew the whistle," recalled 31-year-old Quelimane resident Amelia Antonio. Those preparations helped save lives…

Mar

21

2023

By The African Mirror

EU observers say 21 killed in Nigeria election violence

NEWS

EUROPEAN Union election observers said on Monday at least 21 people were killed during Nigeria's regional elections, which were marked by intimidation, violence and a low turnout. Nigerians voted for state governors in 28 of 36 states on Saturday. Results were still expected from several states on Monday, including northeastern Adamawa, a conservative and Muslim state, which could elect its first female governor. Barry Andrews, European Union Observer Mission Nigeria chief observer told a news conference that Lagos, which re-elected the ruling party's governor, was among several southern and central states that witnessed poll-related violence. "Polling on election day was again disrupted…

Mar

21

2023

By The African Mirror

French journalist Dubois freed in Mali – Liberation

NEWS

FRENCH journalist Olivier Dubois, who has been held hostage in Mali for nearly two years, has been freed, the newspaper Liberation director told Reuters. Dubois, who disappeared in Mali's northern city of Gao in April 2021, appeared in a video in early May 2022, appealing to authorities to do everything they could to free him from Islamist militants holding him. "We are deeply relieved and happy about this outcome," Liberation director Dov Alfon said. Dubois worked for Liberation and Le Point magazine. France's foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the news of his release. French civilians have long been favoured…

Mar

22

2023

By The African Mirror

Egyptian startup turns millions of bags into tiles

NEWS

AN Egyptian startup is aiming to turn more than 5 billion plastic bags into tiles tougher than cement as it tackles the twin problems of tonnes of waste entering the Mediterranean Sea and high levels of building sector emissions. "So far, we have recycled more than 5 million plastic bags, but this is just the beginning," TileGreen co-founder Khaled Raafat told Reuters. "We aim that by 2025, we will have recycled more than 5 billion plastic bags." At the company's factory, on the outskirts of Cairo, workers carry large barrels loaded with mixed plastic waste to be melted down and…

Mar

21

2023

By The African Mirror

Content moderators sue Meta over alleged ‘union-busting’ in Kenya

NEWS

FACEBOOK content moderators in Kenya are suing the social media site's parent company Meta and two outsourcing companies for unlawful redundancy, a rights group said. The 43 applicants say they lost their jobs with Sama, a Kenya-based firm contracted to moderate Facebook content, for organising a union. They also say they were blacklisted from applying for the same roles at another outsourcing firm, Majorel after Facebook switched contractors. Last month Meta filed an appeal in Kenya challenging a ruling which said it could be sued in a separate lawsuit brought by a moderator over alleged poor working conditions, even though it has no…

Feb

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Man builds micro power station for DR Congo, using spare parts

NEWS

ROSE NGOY MUMBI, BIRD STORY AGENCY GEMMY Musati is trimming a client's beard at his barbershop in Mushaki village, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) province of North Kivu, Two customers sit on a bench, awaiting their turn on the barber's chair. Above the hum of electric clippers, Musati explains how his business and his life have changed since a regular power supply became available in the village, thanks to the efforts of a socially-minded local mechanic. "I started working in this barbershop with a generator, and it was so difficult because fuel was costly, and sometimes…

Mar

21

2023

By The African Mirror

Russia sets grain deal conditions, Putin suggests free grain for Africa

NEWS

RUSSIA laid out conditions for agreeing to any further extension of the Black Sea grain deal, and President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow could send free grain to African countries if those conditions were not met. The deal, allowing the safe export of grain from Ukrainian and Russian Black Sea ports, was renewed on Saturday for 60 days - half the intended period - after Moscow said any further extension beyond May 18 would hinge on the removal of some Western sanctions. Russia's foreign ministry, in a statement posted on its website on Monday, said Moscow had decided to limit the extension…