Algeria: Street signs named after Thomas Bugeaud, first colonial governor of Ageria have been defaced in Paris. Members of SOS Racisme added Butcher to the name. Accusing him of war crimes. (BBC)
Thousands protested for press freedom and judicial independence 19thMarch. (France 24)
Cameroon: Danish warship to patrol Gulf of Guinea against pirate attacks. (BBC)
Congo-Brazzaville: Pres. Denis Sassou Nguessou (77) who has ruled for a combined total of 37 years to contest election Sunday 21st March. The elections have been criticised by the Catholic Church and rights activists. (Reuters)
Democratic Republic of Congo:
12 villagers killed with machetes and pickaxes by ADF in Eastern DRC. (Reuters)
According to the UN there has been an “alarming increase” in attacks by ADF (an extremist Islamic group from Uganda) since January 2021. Over 100 militia groups are operating in D R Congo. (BBC)
Egypt: Human rights activist Sanaa Seif gaoled for 18 months for spreading false news concerning handling of Covid-19 in Egyptian prisons (BBC)
Equatorial Guinea:
Hospitals still overwhelmed by number of injured from blast. Many had no health cover, but treatment has now been made free. Israeli Defence Forces are providing some medical help in Bata. Pres. Mbazogo has blamed careless farmers lighting fires near the military barracks for the explosions. (BBC)
Ethiopia: Houthi officials have apologised for the fire which killed 44 and injured 193 mainly Ethiopian migrants in Sanaa earlier this month. The migrants were demonstrating against conditions in the migrant centre where they were being held, they were herded into a hangar and the hangar was accidentally set on fire. (BBC)
Fire in Sanaa caused by Houthi projectiles during skirmish with detainees, according to Human Rights Watch. (Reuters)
US to send Senator to meet PM Abiy Ahmed about grave concerns over humanitarian crisis in Tigray (Reuters)
Ivory Coast:
Ruling party win peaceful parliamentary polls (France 24)
Kenya: Kenya Police Service defends recruitment of officers with lower academic grades since those with higher grades have too high expectations of promotion. (BBC)
High Court ruling on decriminalising FGM for adult women due Wednesday 17th March. (BBC)
Doctor calls for FGM to be retitled Female Circumcision which she claims is a minor operation when performed by a qualified medical practitioner and adult women should be allowed to do what they want with their own bodies. (KTN News)
Grain millers flag up concern about high level of aflatoxin still in maize delivered for processing despite import ban on Tanzanian and Ugandan maize. (KTN News)
Wednesday 17th March the High Court refused to allow to allow FGM. (al Jazeera English)
Libya: UN report that arms embargo imposed in 2011 is totally ineffective. (BBC)
15 handcuffed bodies found dumped in Benghazi. (BBC)
Mali: The Court proceedings against Amadou Sanogo. He was accused of killing 21 elite soldiers during 2012 coup. Amnesty was given to him and 15 others under 2019 reconciliation law. (Reuters)
5-month siege of Farabougou village in Central Mali temporarily lifted. Defended by Dogon hunters and besieged by Jihadists, there will be a ceasefire of one month free movement. (Reuters)
Attack on military post near Ansongo 15th March. 31 dead. (France 24)
Morocco: Government backs legalising medical use of cannabis (France 24)
Mozambique:
Children as young as 11 beheaded by so called Al Shabbab (apparently not related to Somali Al Shabbab). (BBC) (Reuters)
According to National Commission on Human Rights 20,000 albinos still face discrimination in Mozambique. 114 have disappeared aover the last 7 years. (BBC)
Namibia: 10th March. First Lady speaks out against misogynistic verbal violence on International Women’s Day (France 24)
Niger: 3 days national mourning have begun for the 58 people killed in 2 separate attacks near the Mali border . The attacks were on 4 vehicles filled with traders returning from market in Tillaberi region. (BBC) (Reuters)
Nigeria: Fighting in Kwara State schools concerning the wearing of the hijab by Muslim pupils. 10 schools had been closed because of fighting and attempts to reopen them were thwarted by angry protesters. The schools had been founded by Baptist missionaries but were taken over by the Government. The Christians are against the wearing of the hijab in school and the Muslims are for it. (BBC)
27 soldiers and 10 Civilian Joint Task Force members killed by Islamic militants in NE Nigeria. (Reuters)
February food prices increase by 20%. Inflation is at 17.33%. Oil prices have slumped. (Reuters)
Italian court acquits Eni and Shell of corruption charges concerning Nigerian oil field (BBC)
Governor of Kaduna stated that the nearly 40 students kidnapped last week are safe and negotiations are ongoing for their release. No ransom will be paid. In a separate incident in Kaduna State last Monday, 3 primary school teachers were abducted. (Reuters)
Nigeria cabinet approves $1.5billion upgrade of Port Harcourt refinery. (Reuters)
Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, a car salesman and activist famous for calling for resistance to insurgents (particularly Fulani herdsmen), has put out a video calling for Yoruba secession from Nigeria. This has come after increasing violence in South Western Nigeria. (BBC)
Senegal: Total denial of participation in protests by traditional wrestlers after Justice Minister blamed some protests on wrestlers letting off steam during coronavirus restrictions. (BBC)
South Africa: Former Pres. FW de Klerk (85) and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner with Nelson Mandela. diagnosed with cancer. (BBC)
Ex-Pres. De Klerk diagnosed with mesothelioma (cancer of the lung’s lining) (Reuters)
$340 billion fund (Agri-Industrial Fund) set up by state-owned Industrial Development Corporation to help Black farmers gain access to capital to increase their role in commercial farming. (Reuters)
King Goodwill Zwelithini (72) leader of 12 million Zulus buried in traditional “ukutshalwa kweNkosi” Thursday 18th March after a reign of over 50 years. (al Jazeera English)
South Sudan: Human Rights Watch urged South Sudan to set up joint court with AU concerning human rights violations. (BBC)
Fourth Vic-Pres. Rebecca Nyandeng (widow of John Garang) has tested positive for Covid-19. (BBC)
Sudan: PM Abdalla Hamdokhas formally written to UN, AU, US and EU asking for them to mediate in Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute. (Reuters)
Tanzania: Still no sign of Pres. Magafuli since 27th Feb. (BBC)
Pres. John Pombe Magufuli died 17/03/21 14 days of national mourning announced. VP Samia Suhulu Hassan should be sworn in quickly as next president to complete Magufuli’s term of office. (BBC)
Pres. Magufuli dies of heart disease (Reuters)
Samia Suhulu Hassan sworn in as new president of Tanzania 19th March 2021. She urges no finger pointing (BBC)
Head of WHO congratulated new president of Tanzania and hopes to work with her on tackling Covid-19. (BBC)
Ex-Pres. Magafuli’s body will be viewed in Uhuru Stadium Dar es Salaam on Sunday, in Dodoma on Monday, in Mwanza on Wednesday, then buried in home town of Chato on Thursday 25 March 2021. (BBC)
Tunisia: Pres. Kais Saied is visiting Libya to show solidarity with new interim government. (BBC)
Hamed Bakayoko (deceased PM who died of cancer in Germany) was buried after Friday prayers in his family farm. (BBC)
Uganda: Pres. Yoweri Museveni claims not to have been vaccinated yet against Coronavirus. He is being careful and thinking it over. (Reuters)
Launch of rapid Covid-19 antibody test (Reuters)