🇸🇾🇹🇳 Syria to reopen embassy in Tunisia

Syria is to reopen its diplomatic mission in Tunisia after more than a decade. The decision follows an announcement by Tunisia’s President Kais Saied that his country would reopen its embassy in Damascus.

Syria’s relations with Arab states have recently improved. President Bashar al-Assad has visited both the United Arab Emirates and Oman and has held talks with Saudi Arabia.

Later this week nine Arab countries are due to meet in Riyadh to discuss moves to end Damascus’s isolation since the start of Syria’s long civil war.

#Syria #Tunisia

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🇨🇩 Rebel fighting reported near DR Congo's city of Goma

There are reports from the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo of fighting involving M23 rebels near the city of Goma.

This week the rebels have been withdrawing from towns they had seized in recent months.

Correspondents say Wednesday's violence does not appear to have involved Congolese government troops, but involved pro-government militia.

#DRC

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🇪🇹 Businesses reopen after Ethiopian militia protests

Businesses have been reopening in towns and cities across Ethiopia's Amhara region following six days of violent protests over plans to reorganise the armed forces.

At least five people have died in the demonstrations.

People took to the streets after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he intended to integrate the country's regional forces into one national army in order to improve security and unity.

Some in Amhara fear that without its own special forces the region would be more vulnerable to attacks.

#Ethiopia

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🇷🇺🇿🇦🧱 ICC arrest warrant for Putin a big dilemma for South African government ahead of BRICS summit

South Africa said on Wednesday that an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin had complicated matters for the country ahead of a BRICS summit it is due to host in August.

"All heads of state would be expected to attend the summit. But now we have a spanner in the works in the form of this ICC warrant," said President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson.

South Africa faces a diplomatic dilemma following the issuing of the arrest warrant. As a member of the ICC, it would be expected to arrest if Putin steps foot in the country.

The leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has called for the Russian president to be arrested if he does come to South Africa and for the ICC to force the government's hand. But leftist parties have urged the government to welcome Putin and instead pull out of the ICC.

#Russia #SouthAfrica #BRICS

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🇺🇳🇲🇱 The UN urges Mali to "accelerate" the pace of transition to civilians

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges Mali's government to "accelerate" the pace of returning power to elected civilians by early 2024 as it has pledged to do.

Guterres is also concerned about the persistence of violence and its impact on the populations, and the "impasse" in which an important peace agreement between the Malian state and armed groups in the north.

Guterres notes the "progress" made on this path, such as the drafting of a Constitution and the creation of an electoral management authority. But, he adds, "delays have been made in the execution of certain essential activities" . “With less than a year to go before the planned end of the transition, it is incumbent on the Malian authorities to do everything in their power to expedite this process so that constitutional order is restored within the agreed timeframe."

#UN #Mali

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🇲🇼 Cyclone Freddy death toll jumps to over 1,000, Malawi president says

The death toll from Cyclone Freddy has risen sharply to more than 1,000 people, Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera said on Wednesday. He did not give an explanation as to why the death toll had jumped from an estimate of more than 500 people on March 20, but hundreds of people were still missing in Malawi in late March.

Cyclone Freddy left a trail of destruction in its wake after ripping through Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar, first in late February before circling back in March.

#Malawi

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🇿🇲 Zambia reforms could go to waste if restructuring delayed further said Treasury Secretary

Zambia could lose gains achieved so far from macroeconomic reforms if its ongoing debt restructuring is further delayed, Treasury Secretary Felix Nkulukusa said on Wednesday.

The nation defaulted on its overseas debt in 2020 and is working on a restructuring with both bilateral creditors and private bondholders, but talks have been dragging on amid a lack of consensus on how to provide debt relief.

"We have an economic programme that is an important element for the reform we are undertaking, but the second component, the restructuring, is delayed," Nkulukusa said.

#Zambia

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🇬🇶 11 deaths from Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea

A new provisional death toll from the Marburg virus outbreak that has been raging for nearly three months in Equatorial Guinea has risen to 11 confirmed deaths, according to a new Health Ministry report Tuesday.

The ministry also mentions 15 positive cases, none of which are hospitalized, and 385 contact cases "followed" against 604 last week, said the ministry.

WHO announced the deployment of "additional experts" and said it was "also helping Gabon and Cameroon to strengthen preparedness and response to the outbreak.

Tanzania also announced on March 21 the beginning of a Marburg epidemic, with five deaths.

#EquatorialGuinea

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🇸🇩 Sudan's army warns of RSF movements in Khartoum and other cities

The Sudanese army early on Thursday warned of what it described as a "mobilisation of forces and redeployment" by the powerful Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital Khartoum and other cities. The army in a statement said the RSF's movements represent a "clear violation of law".

The statement represents a rare public rebuke to the RSF, a paramilitary group that operates in Sudan under a specialised law and with its own chain of command.

The RSF said in an earlier statement that it deploys across the country as part of its normal duties.

This week leaders failed to meet a deadline to form a civilian-led government. One of the disagreement remained is the integration of RSF into the Sudanese army.

#Sudan

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🇬🇭🇬🇧 Ghana is the first to approve Oxford's malaria vaccine

A malaria vaccine from Oxford University has secured its first approval, in Ghana, as the country ramps up efforts to combat the mosquito-borne disease.

The effort is one of several focused on addressing the disease that kills over 600,000 each year, most of them children in Africa.

The Oxford vaccine, which has secured regulatory approval in the age group at highest risk of death from malaria - children aged 5 months to 36 months - has a manufacturing advantage thanks to a deal with Serum Institute of India to produce up to 200 million doses annually.

#Ghana #UK

@africaintel

🇲🇼 17 people are missing in central Malawi boat incident

Seventeen people, including three children, are missing after a boat they were using capsized in a river on Wednesday in central Malawi.

Police said the group of 22 people was crossing the Rusa River while heading to a funeral ceremony in Mchinji district. Five people managed to swim ashore.

A local police commander told that the boat was small for that number of passengers. More rescuers are on Thursday expected to start a search mission for the missing people.

Meanwhile, authorities in the district are advising community members to avoid sailing in flooded rivers.

#Malawi

@africaintel

🇲🇱 Jihadist group takes over village in northern Mali

Mali jihadists affiliated to the Islamic State group have taken over a village in Ménaka. The Islamist militants seized another village - Tidermene.

A local official who fled to the regional capital Ménaka confirmed the capture and said the insurgents were moving around the village with weapons.

Since early last year, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has launched a major offensive in the area as well as in Gao - another region of northern Mali.

#Mali

@africaintel

🇱🇷 Liberia Supreme Court rejects bid to halt voter listing

Liberia's Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the opposition's request to halt the ongoing nationwide voter registration ahead of October's presidential and legislative elections.

The Collaborating Political Parties claimed listing voters without first demarcating constituencies according to the recent national census was unconstitutional.

But in a unanimous verdict, the court said it saw no basis for "disturbing" the voters' registration exercise since the National Elections Commission's was not in violation of the constitution as alleged. According to the court, the case did not constitute an election matter.

Liberia’s population has grown by 50.4% to 5.2 million people, according to 2022 provisional results released in February. Opposition fears the new numbers might be manipulated to favour President George Weah.

#Liberia

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🇳🇬 Nigeria says Tinubu to be sworn in despite court cases

Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed says president-elect Bola Tinubu will be sworn in on 29 May despite court cases challenging his victory.

Groups dissatisfied by the outcome of the 25 February presidential election are agitating for an interim government as outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari officially leaves office in May.

Mohammed said there was "no basis" for the constitution of an interim government. He said the opposition political parties have the right to challenge the presidential election in court

#Nigeria

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🇪🇬🇪🇹 Egypt accuses Ethiopia of "buying time" in Nile dam row

Egypt’s deputy foreign minister on African affairs has accused Ethiopia of “buying time” through negotiations while continuing to fill its disputed Nile dam without an agreement.

In a statement on Wednesday, the minister condemned statements by Ethiopia that had accused Cairo of “politicising” the Nile dam dispute.

Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been embroiled in a years-long dispute over the dam, which Sudan and Egypt fear would reduce their shares of water from the River Nile.

#Egypt #Ethiopia

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🇪🇺🇹🇩🇩🇪 EU condemns Chad's “regrettable” expulsion of German ambassador

The decision of the Chadian government to expel the German ambassador is "regrettable" and constitutes "a particularly hostile gesture," a spokeswoman for the head of European diplomatic service said.

"The decision of the transitional authorities of Chad to expel the German ambassador is regrettable. It is a particularly hostile gesture in view of the long-standing partnership and commitment of the EU and its member states to Chad, including in the context of the ongoing transition," EU diplomatic service spokeswoman said.

#EU #Chad #Germany

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