The budget assumes a deficit of 1.52 percent of estimated GDP, to be financed with foreign and domestic debt.6 hours ago Nigeria’s parliament passed a record 10.59 trillion naira ($35bn) budget for 2020 on Thursday, paving the way for the country’s likely return to the international debt market next year as it struggles to shake off the impact of a recession…. Read more »
At least 62 people, including children, drown while 83 others swam ashore after the overcrowded boat capsized.5 hours ago At least 62 people, including children, were killed after a boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized in the Atlantic Ocean off the West African nation of Mauritania, the UN’s migration agency said. The perilous sea passage from West Africa to Europe was once a major route… Read more »
BANJUL (Reuters) – The genocide case brought against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the first of its kind initiated since the 1990s – may not have happened at all but for a scheduling conflict. In May last year, Gambia’s foreign minister pulled out at the last minute from the annual conference of the Organization of Islamic… Read more »
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Landslides in Burundi have killed at least 26 people and injured seven, while 10 more people remain missing, the Security Ministry said on Thursday. All the victims were living on a hillside which gave way after heavy rains on Wednesday, a local government official in the northwestern province of Cibitoke told Reuters by phone. “They are still… Read more »
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Uber launched in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital Abidjan on Thursday, part of its expansion into African markets with low levels of car ownership and limited mass transport. The ride-hailing firm is facing competition from Estonia-based Bolt, which takes a smaller cut from drivers and plans to double its service in South Africa. Although Uber, which is also… Read more »
ATHENS (Reuters) – Pirates have kidnapped 19 crew members from a crude oil tanker off Nigeria in an area where acts of piracy are on the rise, an official with the ship’s operator said on Thursday. The loaded vessel, the Nave Constellation, was attacked 77 nautical miles off Bonny Island on Tuesday and 18 Indians and one Turk from the… Read more »
The US ambassador to Zambia has said he has been threatened over his comments on the sentencing of a gay couple, deepening a diplomatic row. Daniel Foote said he was “horrified” by the jailing of Japhet Chataba and Steven Samba. A judge quashed an appeal against their conviction last week, sentencing them both to 15 years in prison. Same-sex relationships… Read more »
In our series of letters from African writers, journalist Waihiga Mwaura asks whether Kenya’s divides can ever be bridged. Twenty-one months ago, Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga and his bitter rival President Uhuru Kenyatta kissed and made up – metaphorically. In fact they shook hands for the cameras – in what became known as “the Handshake”. Image copyright Getty Images… Read more »
Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has been re-elected for a second term, the country’s electoral commission says. Mr Geingob polled 56.3% in Wednesday’s election, well ahead of his nearest rival Panduleni Itula with 29.4%. However, Mr Geingob’s tally was well down from the 87% with which he won his first term in 2014. He went on social media to thank Namibians… Read more »
In Daura, Nigeria the Koranic and Rehabilitation Centre was recently raided revealing the institution to be more of a “torture house”. The private Islamic boarding school was home to troublesome children, drug addicted young men, or men who have committed petty crimes. The center’s accommodation was made up of six cells where up to 40 “students” were chained inside each… Read more »