NEWS - The African Mirror

Feb

21

2023

A carbon fund means village women in Kenya can protect the country’s only tropical rainforest

NEWS

NATHAN OMBUNI, BIRD STORY AGENCY FOR Brenda Luhombo, a resident of Ivakale village in Western Kenya, living close to Kakamega Forest meant unlimited access to firewood and charcoal. She could easily buy it from the illegal loggers who walked right past her door - to and from the forest. But all that changed in 2019 when she finally installed an energy-saving stove. "I used to spend 200 shillings (US$1.60) per day on firewood and 2,000 shillings (US$16) on charcoal every week, but since the stove installation in my kitchen, I spend only 100 shillings on firewood which lasts up to…

Feb

22

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigerian elections 2023: How the youth is being wooed

NEWS

MACDONALD DZIRUTWE and TEMILADE ADELAJA FIRST-time voter Amanda Iheme has made up her mind on her choice for Nigeria's next president - and it won't be a candidate from the two main political parties. Like many younger Nigerians, the 30-year-old clinical psychologist sat out previous elections because she thought the candidates were out of touch and assumed the vote would be rigged. She was tired of facing the same choice year after year, between two rich men who had been in politics for longer than she has been alive. On Saturday, that choice is on the table again. But this…

Feb

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigeria’s Atiku promises unity, economic bounce in final campaign rally

NEWS

NIGERIA'S presidential hopeful Atiku Abubakar said he would bring peace and unity to the country and improve its economic fortunes as he made his final campaign stop. Economic hardships, including the highest inflation in nearly two decades, unemployment and shortages of cash, and widespread insecurity from a long-running insurgency and secessionist violence are among the top concerns for voters going into the Feb. 25 election. The 76-year-old candidate from the main opposition People's Democratic Party is among the top three contenders vying to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, who steps down after next week's presidential and parliamentary elections. Despite Atiku's national appeal, at…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

LaLiga acts to kick racism out of football

NEWS

LALIGA - one of the biggest football leagues in the world - has kicked off its campaign against racism. Many African football players, starting with the great Samuel E’to of Cameroon and Yaya Toure of Senegal, have been subjected to racist chants by soccer fans, leading to the start of the campaign. The campaign started on March 14 and ends on March 21, the World Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The aim of the campaign, launched in partnership with EA SPORTS TM, is to raise awareness of the importance of eradicating racism in all areas of society. It…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Museveni’s son wants to be president

NEWS

THE son of Uganda's ageing leader, Yoweri Museveni, has said he intends to stand for the presidency in 2026, the first time the outspoken general has given a timeline for replacing his father, who has ruled the east African country for 37 years. Uganda's opposition has long accused Museveni of seeking to impose a monarchy on Uganda and claimed he was grooming his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to take over from him. Museveni has denied such accusations. Currently, a special presidential advisor for special operations, the 48-year-old general is known for firing off controversial tweets that have earned him reprimands from…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Europe eyes Africa as ‘future source of cheap green hydrogen’

NEWS

CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY AFTER Russia's invasion of Ukraine in March 2022 set off a rush for gas resources worldwide, Europe picked Africa as an alternative supply market for natural gas, European energy ministers and other political leaders toured North African countries and gas initiatives in both East and West Africa received renewed support. Now, Europe is setting its sight on Africa’s yet-to-be-developed green hydrogen industry, in what appears to be an early race to build up clean energy resources, part of a major, continued transition away from fossil fuels. European Union and individual countries and companies have begun…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Senegal rocked by more unrest as police quell protests

NEWS

BATE FELIX and NGOUDA DIONE POLICE fired tear gas at stone-hurling protesters in Senegal's capital ahead of a court case involving a prominent opposition politician that has triggered anger among youth. Demonstrators in Dakar burned tyres and set fire to buses and a large supermarket, the latest outbreak of violence has shaken Senegal's reputation as a bastion of stable democracy ahead of next year's presidential election. Thursday's clashes began when supporters of presidential hopeful Ousmane Sonko were blocked from accompanying his motorcade to a courthouse where he faces trial for libel. The trial was postponed until March 30 after Sonko's…

Feb

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Debt-laden African countries charged ‘extortionate’ rates, U.N. chief says

NEWS

DAWIT ENDESHAW AFRICAN countries are getting a raw deal from the international financial system which charges them "extortionate" interest rates, the U.N. chief said, as he announced $250 million in crisis funding, including for famine risk on the continent. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants far-reaching reforms to the structure of international finance to serve the needs of developing countries more efficiently, he told the opening ceremony of the annual African Union summit in Ethiopia. "The global financial system routinely denies (developing countries) debt relief and concessional financing while charging extortionate interest rates," he said. The U.N. will spend $250 million…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Police return a silver medal stolen from Salah’s home in Cairo

NEWS

EGYPTIAN police said they have recovered a silver medal which was stolen from the home of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. The theft took place on March 2 and police were able to identify the two thieves, including a former security guard in the residential complex, the Ministry of Interior added in a statement. All the stolen goods were seized, which include a silver medal, a number of sports shoes and TV receivers. A security source confirmed to Reuters that the player intended in the statement is Salah. The photo, published by the police on Facebook, showed that the silver medal…

Mar

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Gabon transport minister resigns in wake of ferry accident

NEWS

GABON'S transport minister stepped down, the presidency said, one week after more than 20 people were killed in a ferry accident that sparked outrage across the West African nation. The presidency's statement did not say why Brice Paillat handed in his notice. But it followed widespread calls for his resignation over the sinking of the Esther Miracle ferry close to the coastal village of Nyonie on March 9. The boat was carrying 161 passengers from Libreville to Port-Gentil, although there are unconfirmed reports more people were on board and that it was overloaded with merchandise. The government has not responded…