Algeria: Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Kherrata (300 kms East of Algiers) to protest against the government of Pres. Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the 2nd anniversary of demonstrations against former Pres. Abdelaziz Bouteflika. (Al Jazeera English) 12 pro-democracy activists released from prison after Presidential pardon. (BBC) Pres. Abdelmadjid Tebboune dissolved Parliament and called early elections . (France 24)
Cameroon: 8 soldiers detained after torture video. (Reuters)
Central African Republic: 2 men accused at ICC of leading Christian-dominated militias attacks on Muslims. (Reuters)
Chad: at the G-5 Sahel meeting in N’djamena France’s Pres. Macron ruled out French troop withdrawals for the time being. (Reuters) Pres. Deby is to stand for 6th term as President in April 2021. All anti-Government protests are banned before this election. (BBC)
Egypt: plans to re-open embassy in Libya 8 years after its closure. (Reuters)
eSwatini: King Mswati the Third has recovered from Covid-19 and thanks Taiwan for snding vaccinations. (Al Jazeera English)
Ethiopia: Sudan accuses Ethiopian troops of crossing the border. TPLF (Tigray) leaders have issued a list of demands as a preamble to peace talks. These include withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara forces, an independent inquiry and access to humanitarian aid. (BBC) Ethiopian Pres. Sahle-Work Zewde acknowledged “significant delays… in reaching people in need” and “The needs are tremendous”. (Al Jazeera English)
Guinea; 10 suspected cases of Ebola and 5 deaths. (Potential contacts are being tracked. (Reuters) WHO pledge urgent aid. (France 24) 11,000 shots of anti Ebola vaccine sent by WHO. Innoculation campaign to start Monday 22nd February. (Al Jazeera English)
Ivory Coast: Lost 47,000 hectares of forest in cocoa-growing regions in 2020. (Reuters)
Kenya: Traffic problems have increased for the moment in Nairobi whilst the Nairobi Expressway (27 km between Jomo Kenyatta Airport and Nairobi-Nakuru highway is being built. (BBC)
Mali: Despite objections by France, Mali has created a body to open talks with Islamic insurgents. (Reuters)
Niger: Sunday 21 February 2021 second round presidential elections. First democratic transition of power in Niger since Independence (1960). (Reuters) Mohamed Bazoum (ruling party candidate and member of outgoing Pres. Mahamadou Issoufou’s govternment) in the first vote received 39.3% and (a former president) Ousmane polled 17%. Niger is facing Islamic insurgents from both the West and the South. (France 24)
Nigeria: A boys school was attacked and boys, 4 staff members and their families were kidnapped in Kagara, Niger State. (BBC) (Reuters) Bandits release video of more than 20 people abducted for commercial bus near, Zungeru, Niger State (AlJazeera English) Obinwanne Okele (formerly cited as one of Africa’s most influential businessmen under 30) has been jailed for 10 years in US for cyber fraud. (BBC) Abdulrasheed Bawa nominated as head of anti-corruption agency to replace Ibrahim Magu, who was dismissed after accusations of corruption. (BBC) Negotiations have begun between the Government and the kidnappers of the staff and boys in the school in Kagara. (Al Jazeera English)
RDC: Barge crash on Congo River. 60 killed, 300 survived, 240 unaccounted for. (Reuters) Ebola vaccination campaign begun in Butembo, East Congo. (Reuters) Suspected Islamists killed 3 soldiers, 13 civilians and burnt down a church in a raid in Ituri Province. (Reuters)
Rwanda: The trial of Paul Rusesabagina (Hotel Rwanda Hollywood film “hero)” has begun in Kigali. He is a critic of Pres. Paul Kagame. He was arrested in August 2020 in UAE and is accused of supporting terrorism, kidnap and murder. (BBC) (Reuters) EU calls upon Rwanda to ensure fair trial for Rusesabagina. (France 24)
Senegal: Dust cloud over much of West and Central Africa disrupts fishing in Dakar.
Sierra Leone: Land border with Guinea to be re-opened after 4 months despite Ebola outbreak. Guinea had closed it during elections. (BBC) UK High Court dismissed Sierra Leone’s challenge against SL Mining. (Reuters)
Somalia: US warship intercepted 2 dhows transporting illicit shipments of arms in international waters off the coast of Somalia. (BBC) There was heavy gunfire in Mogadishu when, despite a ban, opposition leaders marched to protest against delayed elections. There were claims that militias attacked army positions near the President’s palace. The President’s term of office expired last week. He has announced talks with regional 5 regional leaders, but as yet the leaders have not met. (BBC) (Reuters)
South Africa: Ex-Pres. Jacob Zuma defied an order to appear at a hearing in Johannesburg concerning corruption. (Reuters) 3 more people to face charges in Ace Magashule (ANC official) fraud and money laundering case. (Reuters)
South Sudan: WFP claim highest level of food insecurity since Independence 10 years ago. Covid-19, weather patterns and outbreaks of violence are cited as causes. (BBC) 75% of the country affected by “staggering levels of violence” according to UN Human Rights Council. (BBC) The Government has (after 2 years) agreed to establish a court to prosecute human rights violations. (BBC) 27 members of Pres. Salva Kiir’s staff have tested positive for Covid-19. (BBC) The violence in South Sudan is estimated to be far worse than during the Civil War with gender and ethnic targeting of civilians rampant. Civil war deaths of 400,00 people and millions still struggling to recover have been surpassed by recent violence, it is claimed. (Al Jazeera English)
Sudan: Sudan accuses Ethiopian troops of crossing the border. (The border area is claimed by Sudan but Ethiopian farmers are settled there. (Reuters) Ethiopia has accused Sudan of provoking a border conflict between them. An AU envoy has arrived in Sudan to defuse the situation. (BBC) Increased cost of bread, fuel and medicines. (BBC)
Tanzania: Zanzibar 1st Vice President dies of Covid-19. (BBC) At the Vice-president’s funeral, Pres. Magufuli claimed Tanzania beat the virus last year and will do so again. Chief of Staff John Kijazi died of an undisclosed sickness. (BBC) WHO requests Tanzania to publish the number of Corona-19 cases. At present the country is claiming to be Covid-19 free and so there are no plans for vaccinations. (BBC) The Catholic Church in Tanzania has spoken out encouraging people to take precautions because “Covid is still here.” There has been a noticeable increase of deaths in urban parishes. (BBC)
Uganda: Bobi Wine (aka. Robert Kyagulanyi) wants 3 supreme court judges to recuse themselves from hearing his petition challenging the re-election of Pres. Yoweri Museveni on grounds of bias because of their alleged close association with the President. (BBC)