Democratic Republic of Congo:
US Biden administration re-impose anti-corruption sanctions and remove licence of Dan Gertler, Israeli businessman, for mining in DRC. Mr. Gertler is alleged to have made a fortune together with ex-`pres. Joseph Kabila when US Trump administration removed sanctions. (BBC)
Egypt: The container ship wedged in the Suez Canal (Ever Given) has been freed (BBC)
Nawal El Saadawi, doctor, feminist and writer dies at 89. (BBC)
Container lines reported as saying backlog caused by ship stuck in Suez Canal may take months to clear. (Reuters)
2 trains collide in southern Egypt 32 dead, 100 injured 285 miles south of Cairo. (France 24)
Eritrea: After months denying the presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia, PM Abiy Ahmed announced 23 March that they were fighting in Tigray. He admitted, without comment, that there had been human rights violations. 26 March he announced that the Eritrean troops would be withdrawing from Tigray. (France 24) Ethiopia: Mr. Bolton, supposed UN official and political analyst who has tweeted repeatedly about the “brutal” Tigrayan leadership has been shown to be “fake”. Other tweets showing destroyed Tigrayan church has also been shown to be “fake news”. (BBC)
After months denying the presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia, PM Abiy Ahmed announced 23 March that they were fighting in Tigray. He admitted, without comment, that there had been human rights violations. 26 March he announced that the Eritrean troops would be withdrawing from Tigray. (France 24)
Medecins Sans Frontieres claim rape and killing of civilians by Ethiopian troops. (France 24)
Gambia: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Ghana: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Guinea-Bissau: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Ivory Coast: Border post on Burkina border (Kafolo) attacked for 2nd time in 8 months. 2 or 3 killed. (France 24)
Patrick Achi (close confidant of President Ouattara) named PM. (France 24)
Kenya: 3 DJs sacked after supposedly blaming women for being attacked. (BBC)
Pres. Uhuru Kenyatta has restricted trave from 25th March and introduced a stricter curfew in Nairobi and 4 surrounding districts. (Reuters)
Government to allow private sector health services to import vaccines and inoculate. No limit will be put on charges. (Reuters)
Sarah Onyango Obama (99) step-grandmother of Barack Obama died in hospital. (France 24)
Liberia: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Malawi: MTN to donate vaccine doses (Reuters
Mali: French (Barkhane) airstrikes north of Gao killed 6 men. Islamic militants according to France, innocent civilians according to the mayor of Talataye (nearby town). A similar strike from 3rd. January is being investigated by UN. French military claim they killed 30 Islamic fighters, locals claim it was a civilian wedding party. (Reuters)
Mauritius: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Mozambique: Concern over escalation of violence in Northern Mozambique. Private militias from South Africa and Russian Wagner Group contacted by the Government to counteract Islamic Insurgents have been accused of implication in violence against civilians. US advisors have been accused of approaching the problem in a simplistic manner. (BBC)
Hundreds of Islamic militants attacked Palma (shops, banks, barracks). Dozens dead. Reports of headless bodies on the beach. (BBC)
During a suspected Islamic insurgent attack 24th March 2021, 200 people hid in a hotel. Some were rescued, some were caught in an ambush whilst trying to escape. A convoy of civilians and foreign workers was attacked. (Reuters)
Islamic State group claims control of Palma after days of fighting. 6 – 10000 people waiting for rescue. Thousands have fled to Pemba the regional capital. (24th March)
Hours after Total announced it would recommence operations on huge gas project suspended after attacks in January. (France 24)
Niger: 10 people killed in attacks on 2 villages in Tillaberi region 24thMarch.
Nigeria: Subsidies at petrol pump no longer tenable. (Reuters)
MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Rwanda: Commission of historians’ report submitted to Pres. Macron on 26th March claims France “not complicit” in Rwandan genocide but “blind” and bearing “overwhelming responsibility” (France 24)
Senegal: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Sierra Leone: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Somalia: Abdirashid Janan, Security Minister of Jubbaland has defected with hundreds of troops to support Pres. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed whose 4 year term of office ended in February 2021. £ regions are supporting him but Jubbaland and Puntland no longer recognise him as President. (Reuters
South Africa: Cameras in Balule Nature Reserve stream picked up by over 55,000viewers throughout the world who report on poachers. (Reuters)
Plan for Chinese-backed coal-powered industry in Limpopo Province praised for bringing local jobs and attacked as a climate/health disaster. (Reuters)
Launch of TB mobile clinics. (Reuters)
South Sudan: MTN to donate vaccine doses (Reuters)
Sudan: Government has signed a declaration of principles separating religion and state and calling for freedom of religion and cultural identity. (BBC)
0.5M doses of Sinopharm vaccines due to arrive 26th March. (Reuters
Tanzania: Ex-Pres. Magufuli buried in home town, Chato. (BBC)
Pres. Samia Suluhu Hassan’s first decision has been to sack the DG of the ports authority for embezzlement. (BBC)
Togo: MTN has donated vaccine doses to 9 African countries (Reuters)
Zambia:Resumption of talks with IMF to begin 29thMarch onwards to stabilise debt-burdened economy. (Reuters)