NEWS - The African Mirror

Dec

01

2021

Omicron travel curbs spell more economic misery in SA

NEWS

KIM HARRISBERG SOUTH African tourism was just getting back on its feet when local scientists' discovery of the new Omicron coronavirus variant prompted a slew of travel curbs that threaten to bring more pandemic gloom to the country's fragile economy. At least one billion rand ($61.9 million) in bookings have been cancelled in recent days as various countries reimposed travel restrictions including flight bans, and tourism industry leaders said they feared a new wave of job losses. "South Africa is being punished for its brilliant work in the field of science," Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, head of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), said…

Dec

01

2021

By The African Mirror

The “dream maker” ensuring African animation makes it big

NEWS

GABRIELLA OPARA, BIRD AFTER a brief stint as a microbiologist, an HIV scare and a bout of depression, Ayodele Elegba quit his hospital job and embarked on an entirely new career as a creative. Now a full-time comic artist, 2D animator and founder of Lagos Comic Con, Elegba might not have made the move if not for a small but scary accident. “I was depressed for four months. I had mistakenly pricked my finger with the syringe used for an HIV test patient. I was so scared I had got the virus. I immediately had an existential crisis. Thankfully, the…

Dec

01

2021

By The African Mirror

No cruise ship cheer for Cape Town tourism amid Omicron alarm

NEWS

WENDELL ROELF THE docking of the Europa passenger liner in Cape Town on Tuesday was meant to be a ribbon-cutting celebration marking the official start of the cruise ship season in South Africa's top tourist hub, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But international travel curbs on southern Africa, where the new Omicron coronavirus variant was first identified, have blown expectations of a bumper tourist season out of the water. The multi-storey, white luxury liner is the first to dock at Cape Town since South Africa imposed a total ban on all cruise ships entering local ports in March…

Dec

01

2021

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia’s PM, on frontline, urges troops to ‘destroy’ enemy

NEWS

ETHIOPIAN Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his foes had been defeated and promised to recapture territory in the region of Amhara from rebellious Tigrayan forces after praising military victories against the Tigrayans in the region of Afar. Footage from the front that aired on state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting on Tuesday showed Abiy wearing military jungle fatigues and cap and scanning the horizon with binoculars. "The East Command secured an unimaginable victory in just one day of planning and a day and a half long fighting," he said. "Now we will repeat that victory in this front." Fana said he was addressing…

Dec

01

2021

By The African Mirror

Uganda and Congo attack Islamist militia in joint operation

NEWS

ERIKAS MWISI KAMBALE UGANDA and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have mounted air and artillery strikes in a joint operation in eastern Congo against an Islamic State-linked militia, both countries said. Three witnesses also said that Ugandan troops crossed the border into DRC at Nobili in the afternoon. DRC's government spokesman Patrick Muyaya denied Ugandan soldiers had crossed but Ugandan army spokeswoman Flavia Byekwaso said they had. The strikes targeted the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia, which has been based in the DRC since the late 1990s and is blamed for killing hundreds of villagers in raids after it pledged…

Dec

01

2021

By The African Mirror

Thousands of Sudan protesters tear-gassed

NEWS

SUDANESE security forces deployed tear gas on tens of thousands of protesters gathering in central Khartoum to oppose military rule following last month's coup. Neighbourhood resistance committees called the protests despite an agreement last week that reinstated civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and brought the release of most top politicians detained since the coup. The October 25 takeover ended a partnership with civilian political groups since the toppling of Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and drew condemnation from Western powers who have suspended aid. While bridges between the capital's sister cities were left open, heavily-armed police forces took to central Khartoum…

Dec

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Ethiopian forces recapture two strategic towns

NEWS

ETHIOPIAN forces have recaptured the strategic towns of Dessie and Kombolcha from rebellious Tigrayan forces, the government said on Monday, the latest sign of the government retaking territory. Forces aligned with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) had taken control of the towns, in the Amhara region, just over a month ago, and then threatened to march on the capital Addis Ababa. TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda could not be immediately reached for comment on the government's statement. Reuters was unable to verify the statement. Phone lines are down in the towns. The government's communication service that announced the victory has…

Dec

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria criticises addition to UK travel “red list” as unjust

NEWS

FELIX ONUAH NIGERIA has criticised Britain's decision to add the country to a travel "red list" due to coronavirus concerns as unjust and not driven by science. Nigeria joined South Africa and nine other Southern African countries on the list as of 0400 GMT on Monday after the British health ministry said most of its cases of the new Omicron variant had clear links to overseas travel from Nigeria and South Africa. The addition means only UK citizens and residents travelling from Nigeria are allowed entry to Britain and they must quarantine for 10 days in a hotel upon arrival.…

Dec

07

2021

By The African Mirror

20 charged with plotting to kill Madagascar president

NEWS

TWENTY people, including two French nationals, were charged on Monday with plotting to kill Madagascar's president and other offences as their trial began in the Indian Ocean island nation. Madagascar has a history of political violence. Former coup leader Andry Rajoelina, 44, was sworn in as president in 2019 after a hard-fought election and a constitutional court challenge from his rival. The suspects, all of whom were present in court, were formally charged with counts including criminal conspiracy, criminal association, rebellion against the president and possession of illegal weapons. They have all denied the charges. The lawyer for Paul Rafanoharana,…

Dec

07

2021

By The African Mirror

U.S. blacklists DRC businessman linked to graft

NEWS

THE United States has imposed sanctions on a Democratic Republic of Congo national accused of providing support to Israeli investor Dan Gertler in action aimed at targeting corruption linked to the mining magnate blacklisted by the United States. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement it designated Alain Mukonda, accusing him of making payments into proxy bank accounts for Gertler following his designation in 2017. The Treasury said Mukonda made cash deposits totalling between $11 million and $13.5 million into accounts of companies he incorporated that ultimately belong to Gertler's family. The Treasury also blacklisted 12 companies linked to…