NEWS - The African Mirror

Feb

27

2023

NIGERIAN ELECTIONS: Results starts trickling in

NEWS

FELIX ONUAH NIGERIA'S electoral commission began announcing state-by-state results from national elections, though it is not expected to name a victor in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari for several days. The presidential vote is expected to be the closest in Nigeria's history, with candidates from two parties that have alternated power since the end of army rule in 1999 facing an unusually strong challenge from a minor party nominee popular among young voters. Votes in presidential and parliamentary elections are collated in each of Nigeria's 36 states before the count is transmitted to the electoral commission's central tallying centre in the capital…

Feb

27

2023

By The African Mirror

US-Russia in battle for Africa

NEWS

THE United States is "exerting unprecedented pressure" on African countries, including attempting to disrupt a planned Russia-Africa summit, Russia's deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying late on Saturday. President Vladimir Putin will host the second Russia-Africa summit in July in St. Petersburg, an event intended to underline his attempts to curry favour in African nations after being shunned by the West over his invasion of Ukraine a year ago. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, quoted by the state TASS agency reiterated Moscow's accusations of the "collective West" staging a campaign to isolate Moscow. "The United States and its allies are…

Mar

12

2023

By The African Mirror

Too little too late, says victims of sex abuse

NEWS

RODOLPHE MUKUNDI and ROBERT FLUMMERFELT NEARLY two dozen survivors of the UN’s largest known sexual abuse scandal say the World Health Organization has been slow to make good on promises of support, and that when assistance has come it has been too little to rebuild their lives. After suffering abuse during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, many women who were promised support in 2021 received one-time payments of $250 – the rough equivalent of two days’ worth of per diems for UN staff. “I was happy, but this is a very small amount,” said one woman…

Feb

27

2023

By The African Mirror

3 peacekeepers die in chopper crash in Somalia

NEWS

THREE people died and eight others were injured when a helicopter operated by the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia crashed in the country's Lower Shabelle region, the mission said in a statement on Sunday. In the statement, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said the helicopter, carrying eleven passengers including soldiers from Somalia military, was participating in training drills for casualty evacuation when the crash occurred. "Regrettably, three of the eleven passengers on board lost their lives. Eight injured officers have been evacuated to Mogadishu for urgent medical attention," ATMIS said in the statement. It did not…

Feb

27

2023

By The African Mirror

19 athletes wounded after blasts at race in Cameroon

NEWS

AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG NINETEEN athletes were being treated for blast injuries after multiple small explosions during a running race in part of western Cameroon where English-speaking separatists are fighting government forces, a local doctor said. There was no immediate comment from authorities in the town of Buea in the South-West Region, where 529 athletes were running up the highest mountain in West and Central Africa as they competed in the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope. The armed wing of Ambazonia Governing Council, one of the separatist militia groups, claimed responsibility for the blasts. "Our primary target was the Cameroon elite…

Feb

21

2023

By The African Mirror

U.S. raises concern over arrests of prominent critics in Tunisia

NEWS

KANISHKA SINGH and SIMON LEWIS THE United States was "deeply concerned" by the reported arrests of political figures, business leaders and journalists in Tunisia in recent days, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price. In recent days, Tunisian police have detained a number of leading figures with links to the opposition or to critics of President Kais Saied, including prominent politicians, two judges, the head of Tunisia's main independent news outlet and a senior UGTT labour union official. U.S. officials were engaged with Tunisia's government at all levels in support of human rights and the freedom of expression, Price said in a press briefing. "We…

Feb

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Africa’s hydropower to almost double by 2037 – IRENA

NEWS

CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD, STORY AGENCY SEVERAL African countries are ramping up the construction of new hydroelectric projects and expanding the capacity of old plants to tap into the world's largest source of renewable energy, hydropower. According to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), planned and ongoing hydropower projects across Africa in the 2022-2037 period will realise 60.8 gigawatts (GW) once complete, nearly double the current 34.3 GW installed capacity. The report dubbed, The changing role of hydropower: Challenges and opportunities, shows that Ethiopia will account for 25 per cent of the total pipeline capacity, reflecting the…

Feb

26

2023

By The African Mirror

Congolese flee on foot towards Goma as rebels advance

NEWS

DJAFFAR AL KATANTY SAFARI Hangi walked for hours with a baby strapped to his back and six young children in tow trying to find safety as apparent gains by rebel forces in eastern Congo sparked a fresh exodus of people towards the provincial capital Goma. The family was among hundreds of Congolese fleeing through the town of Sake, which they no longer saw as secure after the M23 rebel group appeared to gain control of the frontline hotspot of Mushaki around 15 km (9 miles) to the west. "If it weren't for this war, we would be in our village without any…

Feb

27

2023

By The African Mirror

African Union criticises Tunisia over ‘racialised hate speech’ against migrants

NEWS

THE African Union (AU) has criticised Tunisia and urged it to avoid "racialised hate speech" after President Kais Saied ordered the expulsion of undocumented migrants and said immigration was a plot aimed at changing his country's demographic makeup. Tunisia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it was surprised by the AU statement issued late on Friday, and rejected what it called "baseless accusations" that it said misunderstood the government's position. The AU voiced what it said was "deep shock and concern at the form and substance of the statement" issued by Tunisian authorities and reminded Tunisia of its obligation within the…

Feb

14

2023

By RACHEL SAVAGE

Explainer: What is at stake for investors in Nigeria’s election?

NEWS

VOTERS in Nigeria go to the polls on February 25 and international investors are cautiously hopeful that whoever is elected as the next president of Africa's largest and most populous economy will be more market-friendly than the current government. While there are also parliamentary elections, the focus is on the presidency. With incumbent Muhammadu Buhari not on the ballot, the main contenders are ruling party veteran Bola Tinubu, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, and third party candidate Peter Obi. WHAT ARE MAIN ISSUES FOR INVESTORS? Multiple exchange rates, widespread insecurity and low oil production due to massive crude theft are all problems that worry…