NEWS - The African Mirror

Feb

15

2023

SA declares national state of disaster over floods

NEWS

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive response to widespread flooding that has affected seven of the country's nine provinces. Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape have been most affected by the floods, which were brought on by heavy rainfall as a result of the La Nina weather phenomenon, according to a statement from the office of the presidency on Monday. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and North West have also experienced flooding. Invoking the national disaster act gives the government additional powers, including in the procurement and delivery of goods and services…

Feb

09

2023

By NQOBILE DLUDLA

SA energy crisis: high consumer prices loom

NEWS

SOUTH African manufacturers and retailers of food and other essential products warned that consumers will face much higher prices unless the government urgently finds solutions to the power cuts that are crippling the economy. Food, consumer goods companies and retailers in South Africa are cranking up diesel generators and spending more on backup power supplies, adding to the pressure from soaring costs for raw materials, transportation and packaging. South African businesses and households are spending between six and ten hours a day without electricity as state-owned utility Eskom implements some of the harshest blackouts in living memory owing to breakdowns…

Feb

09

2023

By The African Mirror

Cash repatriation gets a boost as new treaties eliminate double taxation in Africa

NEWS

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY FAVOURABLE new tax treaties among African states are tipped to spur investment across the continent as governments move to eliminate burdensome tax barriers. Trends show that non-double taxation agreements or DTAs could become more commonplace in Africa as AfCFTA, the ambitious single market for goods and services, begins to take shape. Madagascar-Morocco Income Tax Treaty, applied from 1 January 2023 for withholding and other taxes, is the latest example of African states' push to restructure their tax regimes. The treaty, established between the two countries in 2016, entered into force in November 2022, following the…

Feb

09

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigerian rights panel, underfunded and overmatched, begins probe of powerful military

NEWS

LIBBY GEORGE A special panel named by Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission launched an investigation into recent Reuters reports on rights abuses by the country’s army. Those familiar with the commission’s past work say it faces stiff challenges. The state-funded NHRC does its best to press officials to act in the interest of citizens whose rights have been violated, eight sources with knowledge of the commission said. But they said the NHRC, whose inquiry was supported by the government amid an international outcry, is hobbled by a lack of authority to compel military leaders and other officials to prosecute or…

Feb

09

2023

By The African Mirror

Children accused of witchcraft find solace in east Congo shelter

NEWS

CRISPIN KYALA AFTER Ornella lost several family members within three years, relatives and neighbours in her east Congo village of Kabare began suspecting the 14-year-old girl of witchcraft. The hushed rumours and purifying rituals that ensued prompted one of Ornella's brothers to take her to the police, concerned about the consequences that the allegations could have on his sibling. It is not uncommon in some African countries for frail children like Ornella, who suffers from a genetic form of anaemia, to be considered a bad omen and blamed for the mishaps that befall isolated and impoverished communities. Hundreds of thousands…

Feb

09

2023

By The African Mirror

U.N. concerned over Cameroon press safety after second journalist killed

NEWS

THE United Nations said it was concerned about the safety of journalists in Cameroon after a radio presenter was killed last week, days after the murder of another journalist that shook the central African nation. Radio presenter Jean-Jacques Ola Bebe was found dead outside his home in the capital Yaounde on February 2, allegedly gunned down by unknown assailants, U.N. Human Rights spokesperson Seif Magango said in a statement. His killing occurred 11 days after the mutilated remains of prominent journalist Martinez Zogo, an outspoken critic of suspected state graft, were discovered near Yaounde. Both used their media outlets to denounce alleged…

Mar

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian Judges Assoc. says president suspended judge for not imprisoning suspect

NEWS

THE Tunisian Judges Association said in a statement that Tunisian President Kais Saied had suspended a judge because he had not sent a suspect to prison, accusing the government of a crackdown on opponents. "The Association warns of the great and unprecedented pressures on the judiciary, after arrests and prosecutions that included political activists, judges, lawyers, trade unionists, journalists and media professionals," the statement said. A spokesperson for the president was not immediately available. Thomson Reuters Foundation

Mar

05

2023

By The African Mirror

Macron ends Africa tour with wish for fair reset of ties

NEWS

ELIZABETH PINEAU EMMANUEL Macron shared his vision of a renewed partnership with Africa in which it stands equal with France, as he concluded a tour where he has sought to dispel France's image as an arrogant former colonial power whilst bidding for future influence. The French President held talks on Saturday with President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which this week saw several small-scale protests - signs of rising anti-French sentiment in parts of Francophone Africa. At a joint press conference, Macron acknowledged France was among foreign powers jostling for influence in Africa but said he…

Feb

08

2023

By The African Mirror

Ghana footballer pulled out of earthquake rubble

NEWS

Ghana international winger Christian Atsu has been found alive after being buried under rubble in the earthquake that hit Turkey, the vice president of his club Hatayspor told the media. Atsu was reported missing in Turkey's Hatay province following the 7.8 magnitude quake that brought down thousands of buildings, killing some 5,000 people, in several Turkish and Syrian cities on Monday. "Christian Atsu was pulled out injured. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble," club vice president Mustafa Ozat told Radyo Gol. 🎙️ Doç. Dr. Hatayspor Yöneticisi Mustafa Özat:“Christian Atsu yaralı olarak çıkarıldı. Sportif direktörümüz Taner Savut, maalesef hala…

Feb

08

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigeria probes army violations

NEWS

A special Nigerian human rights panel began investigating Reuters reports that the army massacred children and ran a secret abortion programme when fighting Islamist insurgents and said it would refer for prosecution those it considered guilty of rights violations. The Nigerian military has denied the reports and said it would not carry out an investigation because they were not true. Anthony Ojukwu, executive secretary of the government-appointed National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), publicly launched the seven-member investigation panel led by a retired Supreme Court judge in Abuja. Ojukwu said the investigations followed "allegations of gross human rights violations contained in the three-part…