🇪🇺🇨🇩 EU releases funds, prepares aid flight for eastern DR Congo

The European Union said on Saturday it is releasing over 47 million euros for humanitarian aid for Congo's North Kivu and plans to send a flight with medical supplies and food to the conflict-stricken eastern province.

“The EU stands ready to mobilise all the necessary means to support humanitarian workers, including logistics and air, to meet the needs of the population in Democratic Republic of Congo," European Commissioner said.

"With this Humanitarian Air Bridge operation organised with the support of France and the new fund mobilisation, we reaffirm our support to the most vulnerable,” the commissioner for crisis management said in a statement.

#EU #DRC

@africaintel

🇺🇸🇬🇭 U.S. Special Forces launch counter-terrorism drills with African armies in Ghana

The United States began its annual counter-terrorism training program for African forces in Ghana on Wednesday, aiming to strengthen border defences in the fight against Islamist insurgents who are spreading south into new territories.

The program, known as Flintlock, started at a military base in the dusty northern town of Daboya where U.S. and European trainers drilled soldiers from across Africa on first aid and firing drills in the heat.

"Flintlock intends to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, collaborate across borders, and provide security for their people," U.S. Africa Command said in a statement.

#USA #Ghana

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🇫🇷🇨🇩 Macron ends Africa tour in DR Congo

The French President Emmanuel Macron held talks on Saturday with President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo.

During press conference he said that "France will remain faithful to its role as an unfailing ally of the DRC in defending its integrity and sovereignty. The Democratic Republic of Congo must not be the spoils of war. The pillaging of the DRC must stop."

Tshisekedi asked France to back sanctions against Rwanda, but French President said he consider such a step after some observation of situation.

Macron also shared his vision of a renewed partnership with Africa in which it stands equal with France, and the image of France as an arrogant former colonial power whilst bidding for future influence would be dispelled.

#France #DRC

@africaintel

🇲🇱🇹🇳 Malian migrants prepare to flee Tunisia after president's crackdown

Some 300 Malian migrants were set to leave Tunisia on repatriation flights Saturday, fearful of a wave of violence since President Kais Saied statements earlier in February.

In his February 21 speech, Saied ordered officials to take "urgent measures" to tackle irregular migration, claiming without evidence that "a criminal plot" was underway "to change Tunisia's demographic makeup".

A first group of 50 Guineans were flown home on Wednesday, while Ivory Coast and Mali prepared to repatriate a combined 295 of their citizens on special flights on Saturday, diplomats and community organisers said.

#Mali #Tunisia

@africaintel

🇰🇪 Kenya hit by nationwide power outage

Kenya was hit by a nationwide power blackout on Saturday evening caused by a "system disturbance", electricity distributor Kenya Power said.

"We are working to restore normalcy within the shortest time possible," Kenya Power said in a statement.

Kenya Power is the country's sole electricity distributor and the bulk of its power comes from Kenya Electricity Generating Company, which is the main producer.

#Kenya

@africaintel

🇸🇩 Sudanese Foreign Minister named 3 countries that are blocking the lifting of Security Council sanctions

"The USA, with the support of Great Britain and France, refuse to lift the UN Security Council sanctions imposed on Sudan," said Ali Al-Saddiq. The minister added that Arab and African countries, Russia and China support the cancellation of the resolution.

According to him, the time has come to lift the sanctions imposed in 2005 because of the war in Darfur against rebels. The resolution includes a ban on the supply of arms and related materiel, technical and professional assistance to organizations in Darfur.

"There is no longer a war in Darfur, and most of the refugees have returned to practicing their normal lives, and those who were fighting the Sudanese army are now members of the Sovereignty Council, and therefore there is a complete change in political life,” added Foreign Minister.

#Sudan

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🇰🇪 Power restored to parts of Kenya after nationwide blackout

Power was restored to parts of Kenya after a nationwide blackout lasting several hours which was thought to have been caused by a fault on a transmission line, electricity distributor Kenya Power said on Saturday.

"Initial reports indicate that the outage was caused by a fault that occurred on the Suswa-Loyangalani high-voltage power transmission line," Kenya Power said in a statement.

The power supply was restored to parts of Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru, the distributor said. Electricity had also returned to at least one part of the capital Nairobi.

#Kenya

@africaintel

🇲🇱 Two International Red Cross workers kidnapped in Mali

Two workers for the International Committee of the Red Cross have been kidnapped in northern Mali, the ICRC in Mali said.

It said the abductions took place between the northern cities of Gao and Kidal - long a hotspot for jihadist and militia violence. "We confirm the kidnapping of 2 of our colleagues this morning. We ask for no speculation about the incident so as not to hinder its resolution," the ICRC in Mali said.

#Mali

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🇨🇲 Cameroonian businessman charged with complicity in torture

A Cameroonian businessman has been charged with complicity in torture, a spokesperson for his business group said on Saturday, after he was arrested last month in connection with the murder of a journalist, Martinez Zogo.

Businessman Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga was transferred from a detention centre and officially charged in Kondengui prison in the capital Yaounde on Saturday, said spokesperson for his business group Groupe L'Anecdote.

Zogo's mutilated remains were found near Yaounde in January. The case has roiled Cameroon, with some government and security officials cited by media as suspects.

#Cameroon

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🇹🇳 Tunisian Judges Association says president suspended judge for not imprisoning suspect

The Tunisian Judges Association said in a statement on Saturday that Tunisian President Kais Saied had suspended a judge because he had not sent a suspect to prison, accusing the government of a crackdown on opponents.

"The Association warns of the great and unprecedented pressures on the judiciary, after arrests and prosecutions that included political activists, judges, lawyers, trade unionists, journalists and media professionals," the statement said.

#Tunisia

@africaintel

🇱🇾🇹🇳 Departments of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli and Benghazi held a meeting in Tunis

A meeting was held in Tunis on Friday between the departments of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli and Benghazi.

The bank said that the meeting came to enhance cooperation and continue the unification process between the Central Bank of Libya, Tripoli and Benghazi, where views were exchanged and many issues of common interest were discussed, in a positive atmosphere between the two parties.

The bank indicated that it had agreed to hold more joint meetings in Libya within the headquarters of the Central Bank.

#Libya #Tunisia

@africaintel

Main Events in Africa on February 26 - March 04

🇳🇬 Bola Tinubu won Nigeria's presidential election. PDP and Labour party called for cancellation of results.

🇫🇷 French President went to 4 Africa nations on a working visit. Macron visited Gabon, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, DR Congo. Before his working visits French President announced a strategy shift towards Africa, which bases on the reduction of French troops in Africa. DR Congo citizens protested the visit of French leader.

🇨🇩 M23 rebels seize more territory in eastern DR Congo. U.N. suspended flights in DR Congo's North-Kivu province. President said unrest in east could disrupt elections. Members of parliament push for talks with M23 rebels. EU released funds, prepares aid flight for eastern DR Congo. Meanwhile. US offered $5m bounty for DR Congo jihadist militia leader.

🇹🇳 Political crisis in Tunisia. Civil society groups protested the anti-migrant rhetoric, while Tunisian union held protest against president. Tunisia Foreign Minister seeks to reassure migrants after President's remarks.

🇧🇫🇫🇷 Burkina Faso denounced the military-technical assistance agreement with France

🇺🇸🇸🇴 US put $5 million bounty on al-Shabaab spokesman. After that several Al-Shabaab commanders were killed in Somalia operation; US increased military support for Somalia against al-Shabaab.

🌍🛢 Increased activity of energy companies in Africa. Baker Hughes signed supply contract with Angola's Azule Energy. Saipem to restart Mozambique LNG project for Total. French court rejected lawsuit brought against TotalEnergies on Uganda pipeline project.

🇪🇹 Police quashed parallel Adwa Victory Day celebrations in Ethiopia. Human Rights Commission in Ethiopia strongly criticised the actions of security forces.

🇺🇬🇺🇳 Ugandan leader defends move to shut UN rights office.

🇪🇹 The results of the referendum in Ethiopia were announced.

#digest

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🇷🇺🇱🇾 Russian Foreign Minister accused G20 countries of ignoring Libya's problems

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that G20 countries have not mentioned the situation in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, or Yugoslavia since their founding, which were victims of military intervention by Western countries. But "now that Russia has begun to defend itself, they are only talking about Ukraine," he added.

Lavrov pointed out that Libya is still unable to restore its statehood and that the Libyan crisis is destabilizing the region.

#Russia #Libya

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🇪🇬 Egypt non-oil activity shrank for 27th month as prices surge

Egypt's non-oil private sector activity shrank for the 27th month in a row in February as surging inflation and obstacles to importing from abroad extended business travails.

"After hitting a four-and-a-half-year high in January, the rate of purchase price inflation softened to the lowest since October, as firms suffered to a lesser extent from weaker exchange rates and rising import costs," S&P Global economist said.

"Amid the bleak outlook, non-oil companies opted to reduce their purchasing activity sharply in February," S&P Global added.

Headline inflation in Egypt surged to a five-year high of 25.8% in January.

#Egypt

@africaintel