NEWS - The African Mirror

Mar

07

2023

Two guards killed in gunfire as four break out of Mauritania jail

NEWS

FOUR detainees escaped from the central prison in Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott, during a breakout in which two soldiers were killed in the gunfire, the interior ministry said on Monday, describing the four as "terrorists". The ministry did not identify the escapees or say why they were in prison but it said an exchange of gunfire followed their late Sunday breakout and two national guard members were killed and two were wounded. The national guard had secured the prison and was in pursuit of the four, the ministry said. The arid West African country has been spared the kind of violence…

Mar

07

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian president rejects racism accusation after migrant crackdown

NEWS

TUNISIA'S president denounced racism and pointed to possible legal consequences for perpetrators 10 days after announcing a crackdown on illegal migration using language the African Union condemned as "racialised hate speech". During a statement on February 21 telling security forces to expel all illegal immigrants, President Kais Saied called migration a conspiracy to change Tunisia's demographics by making it more African and less Arab. Police detained hundreds of migrants, landlords summarily evicted hundreds from their homes and hundreds of others were fired from work, rights groups say. Many migrants said they had been attacked, including being pelted with stones by gangs of youths…

Feb

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Botswana warns of dangers in dash for African minerals

NEWS

AFRICAN governments must be wary of the risks created by rising global competition for the continent's minerals, Botswana's mines minister said, as world powers seek new sources of metals needed for the transition to a lower carbon economy. "When there is a rush, people come in, take whatever they want to take, and go, leaving gaping holes in Africa," Lefoko Moagi, whose remit also includes energy and "green technology", said in an interview with Reuters. "If you want to push production because there is money that is being dangled, you start compromising on how you legislate, how you do your…

Mar

07

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Ramaphosa adds electricity minister, allies ahead of 2024 election

NEWS

BHARGAV ACHARYA and CARIEN DU PLESSIS SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a new electricity minister in an effort to try to solve the worst power cuts on record in the country, and he added several other allies to his cabinet ahead of a general election next year. Cabinet changes had been widely expected since Ramaphosa was re-elected leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) at a party leadership contest in December, paving the way for him to run for a second term in 2024. Ramaphosa's ANC is set to face its toughest electoral test yet in just over…

Feb

10

2023

By MACDONALD DZIRUTWE

Fuel and cash shortages rile Nigerian voters heading into election

NEWS

AT a fuel station in Nigeria's commercial capital, tempers flare and harsh words are exchanged as motorists wait in line for hours to fill up their tanks at one of the few outlets with petrol left in the vicinity. Across the road, young men drenched in sweat from the sweltering Lagos heat sell petrol in plastic containers at more than double the regulated pump price. Recurring fuel shortages in Africa's top oil producer are adding to voter frustration as Nigeria prepares to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on February 25. They are a stark example of the economic hardships that…

Mar

07

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigeria’s Atiku, supporters march to protest presidential election results

NEWS

CAMILLUS EBOH NIGERIAN presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar led hundreds of supporters in a peaceful protest over the electoral commission's handling of last month's disputed vote which the commission says was won by ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu. Atiku and senior members of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) led placard-holding supporters during a march to the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the federal capital Abuja where they handed in a petition. INEC's results showed that Tinubu won the Feb. 25 election with 37% of the vote against Atiku's 29%, while Labour Party's Peter Obi polled 25%. Atiku…

Mar

06

2023

By The African Mirror

SA president to reshuffle cabinet

NEWS

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce changes to the national executive at 7:00 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Monday, presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya said. A cabinet reshuffle has been widely expected since Ramaphosa was re-elected leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) at a party leadership contest in December, paving the way for him to run for a second term in 2024. "The president is finalising his reconfiguration of the national executive," Magwenya said at a news briefing, adding that he was taking into account the swearing-in of some members of parliament before announcing the reshuffle. Ramaphosa is expected…

Mar

06

2023

By The African Mirror

2 red cross workers abducted in Mali

NEWS

TWO workers for the International Committee of the Red Cross have been kidnapped in northern Mali, the ICRC in Mali said on Twitter. It said the abductions took place between the northern cities of Gao and Kidal - long a hotspot for jihadist and militia violence. "We confirm the kidnapping of 02 of our colleagues this morning ... We ask for no speculation about the incident so as not to hinder its resolution," the ICRC in Mali said. It did not disclose the names or nationalities of those kidnapped. Mali has faced instability since 2012 when Islamists hijacked an ethnic…

Feb

17

2023

By The African Mirror

African internet speeds leap in global rankings

NEWS

CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY A number of African countries have surged in global rankings that gauge internet speeds at telcos and internet service providers, as investments into network infrastructure and deployment intensify. By the end of 2022, seven African countries had moved up by more than five positions in the global ranking of median mobile internet download speeds. Seven others upped their fixed broadband speed rankings by a similar number of spots, according to Speedtest Global Index by Ookla, a global network intelligence and connectivity research firm. “Internet connectivity continues to speed ahead for people around the world, especially…

Mar

06

2023

By The African Mirror

Solar energy takes off in Africa

NEWS

BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY AFRICA is unlocking its vast solar energy potential to provide affordable and sustainable electricity not only to rural communities but also to commercial and industrial segments. According to the Africa Solar Industry Association's Solar Outlook 2023 report, the commercial and industrial segment registered a year-on-year growth of 61.5% in the previous year. Overall, nearly 1 GW (949 MW) of additional solar energy was installed across the continent in 2022, a 14% year-on-year increment from the 833MW added to the grid in 2021. With 284 MW, Angola had the most installations in 2022. The top five…