🇫🇷🇵🇸🇮🇱🇪🇬 France sends naval aid to Gaza as Egypt urges ground invasion avoidance
President Emmanuel Macron of France announced on Wednesday that his country would dispatch a naval vessel to assist Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals in the face of Israel's ongoing bombardment and blockade.
Macron revealed that the ship would depart from Toulon within the next 48 hours, with the primary mission of providing vital support to Gaza's healthcare facilities. He shared this decision during a joint press conference in Cairo, held alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Moreover, France would also be sending a plane loaded with essential medical supplies to Egypt, which would then facilitate the transport of these crucial materials into the embattled Palestinian territory.
At the same conference al-Sisi expressed the urgent need to prevent a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that such an incursion would inevitably result in a high number of civilian casualties.
#France #Palestine #Israel #Egypt
@africaintel
President Emmanuel Macron of France announced on Wednesday that his country would dispatch a naval vessel to assist Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals in the face of Israel's ongoing bombardment and blockade.
Macron revealed that the ship would depart from Toulon within the next 48 hours, with the primary mission of providing vital support to Gaza's healthcare facilities. He shared this decision during a joint press conference in Cairo, held alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Moreover, France would also be sending a plane loaded with essential medical supplies to Egypt, which would then facilitate the transport of these crucial materials into the embattled Palestinian territory.
At the same conference al-Sisi expressed the urgent need to prevent a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that such an incursion would inevitably result in a high number of civilian casualties.
#France #Palestine #Israel #Egypt
@africaintel
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🐓🇱🇸🇿🇦 KFC shuts Lesotho stores over South Africa bird flu
KFC has announced it is closing all its restaurants in Lesotho amid a severe outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring South Africa.
Lesotho's government has banned all poultry imports from the country, which KFC says has "severely impacted" its supply of chicken.
KFC says its chickens come from farms in South Africa which are certified as being free of bird flu.
Lesotho is a mountainous country entirely surrounded by South Africa.
#Lesotho #SouthAfrica
@africaintel
KFC has announced it is closing all its restaurants in Lesotho amid a severe outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring South Africa.
Lesotho's government has banned all poultry imports from the country, which KFC says has "severely impacted" its supply of chicken.
KFC says its chickens come from farms in South Africa which are certified as being free of bird flu.
Lesotho is a mountainous country entirely surrounded by South Africa.
#Lesotho #SouthAfrica
@africaintel
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🇪🇬🇮🇱🇵🇸 Missile strikes buildings in Egyptian Red Sea town of Taba near Israeli border
At least six people were wounded when a missile struck a healthcare facility and residential building in the Egyptian resort town of Taba near the Israeli border early Friday.
It was a missile launched as part of fighting between Hamas militants and Israel that struck an Egyptian resort town about 220 km from the Gaza Strip early on Friday, Egypt's Al Qahera News reported.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility after Friday morning's blast.
The Israeli military said it was aware of a security incident around Taba, noting that it unfolded "outside our border." Israel also said a rocket claimed by Hamas hit an area outlying Eilat, opposite Taba on the Israeli side of the border this week.
#Egypt #Israel #Palestine
@africaintel
At least six people were wounded when a missile struck a healthcare facility and residential building in the Egyptian resort town of Taba near the Israeli border early Friday.
It was a missile launched as part of fighting between Hamas militants and Israel that struck an Egyptian resort town about 220 km from the Gaza Strip early on Friday, Egypt's Al Qahera News reported.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility after Friday morning's blast.
The Israeli military said it was aware of a security incident around Taba, noting that it unfolded "outside our border." Israel also said a rocket claimed by Hamas hit an area outlying Eilat, opposite Taba on the Israeli side of the border this week.
#Egypt #Israel #Palestine
@africaintel
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Africa Intel
🇸🇳 Senegal opposition leader is in intensive care unit, according to his lawyer Opposition leader in Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, who has been denouncing his detention since the end of July and who resumed his hunger strike eight days ago, is in a "very weak"…
🇸🇳 Senegal opposition leader Sonko regains consciousness
Ousmane Sonko, a detained Senegalese opposition figure who has been on hunger strike, has regained consciousness after falling into a coma on Monday, according to one of his lawyers Juan Bronco.
But he remains "very weak" and in a critical state. Bronco said his client had undertaken two hunger strikes to demand his release but that these had “weakened him” and that he will remain in hospital.
“It’s very uncertain that he will maintain his consciousness,” Bronco added.
#Senegal
@africaintel
Ousmane Sonko, a detained Senegalese opposition figure who has been on hunger strike, has regained consciousness after falling into a coma on Monday, according to one of his lawyers Juan Bronco.
But he remains "very weak" and in a critical state. Bronco said his client had undertaken two hunger strikes to demand his release but that these had “weakened him” and that he will remain in hospital.
“It’s very uncertain that he will maintain his consciousness,” Bronco added.
#Senegal
@africaintel
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🇬🇭 Ghana hit by major power outage due to lack of gas
Most parts of Ghana have been plunged into darkness due to a lack of gas to power machinery used to generate electricity in the country.
Power distribution firm Ghana Grid Company Limited says the situation has caused "a supply gap of 550MW at peak time" at Tema power plant, near the capital, Accra.
The major outage started on Thursday evening.
In a statement on Thursday, GRIDCo, the power operator, said electricity supply to consumers in some parts of Ghana would be curtailed as a result of "limited gas supply" to Tema power plant.
The power utility firm did not say what had caused the problem with gas supplies, or say how long it would take for normal supplies to resume.
#Ghana
@africaintel
Most parts of Ghana have been plunged into darkness due to a lack of gas to power machinery used to generate electricity in the country.
Power distribution firm Ghana Grid Company Limited says the situation has caused "a supply gap of 550MW at peak time" at Tema power plant, near the capital, Accra.
The major outage started on Thursday evening.
In a statement on Thursday, GRIDCo, the power operator, said electricity supply to consumers in some parts of Ghana would be curtailed as a result of "limited gas supply" to Tema power plant.
The power utility firm did not say what had caused the problem with gas supplies, or say how long it would take for normal supplies to resume.
#Ghana
@africaintel
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Africa Intel
🇿🇦 Death toll from building fire in Johannesburg rises to 73 The death toll from a fire that engulfed a five-storey building Thursday morning in the central Marshalltown neighborhood, Johannesburg, South Africa has risen to at least 73. Johannesburg emergency…
🇿🇦 Witnesses testify at Johannesburg blaze inquiry
The judicial commission of inquiry in South Africa into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 77 people in a Johannesburg fire in August has opened.
The commission has been given six months to complete its work. Three witnesses have already testified so far.
South Africans are anxiously waiting to find out who should be held accountable for the tragic fire.
Most of the victims were burned beyond recognition and surviving family members are expected to testify about the traumatic night.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the scene shortly after the inferno and expressed shock for the enormous loss of life.
The first part of the inquiry will focus on the circumstances which led to the fire while the second part will investigate why many buildings in the inner city have been taken over - or hijacked - by criminal syndicates.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
The judicial commission of inquiry in South Africa into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 77 people in a Johannesburg fire in August has opened.
The commission has been given six months to complete its work. Three witnesses have already testified so far.
South Africans are anxiously waiting to find out who should be held accountable for the tragic fire.
Most of the victims were burned beyond recognition and surviving family members are expected to testify about the traumatic night.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the scene shortly after the inferno and expressed shock for the enormous loss of life.
The first part of the inquiry will focus on the circumstances which led to the fire while the second part will investigate why many buildings in the inner city have been taken over - or hijacked - by criminal syndicates.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
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🇿🇲 Zambia civil society organisations say freedom of expression under threat
Thirteen civil society organisations in Zambia have expressed concern at what they describe as the "shrinking space for freedom of expression and assembly in the country".
In a joint statement, the organisations say there is a “growing intolerance for dissent”.
The statement cites a number of violations, including the forcible arrest on Wednesday of vocal opposition figure Sean Tembo, who had his house broken into by police officers.
The statement says despite President Hakainde Hichilema repeatedly expressing commitment to safeguarding human rights and the rule of law, they are taken aback by some actions coming from his appointees.
#Zambia
@africaintel
Thirteen civil society organisations in Zambia have expressed concern at what they describe as the "shrinking space for freedom of expression and assembly in the country".
In a joint statement, the organisations say there is a “growing intolerance for dissent”.
The statement cites a number of violations, including the forcible arrest on Wednesday of vocal opposition figure Sean Tembo, who had his house broken into by police officers.
The statement says despite President Hakainde Hichilema repeatedly expressing commitment to safeguarding human rights and the rule of law, they are taken aback by some actions coming from his appointees.
#Zambia
@africaintel
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🇨🇩 In DRC fuel price hike impacts transportation
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the eastern provinces are grappling with a steep rise in fuel prices at the pump.
In Goma, North Kivu, and Bukavu, South Kivu, the cost of public transportation has exponentially increased. Taxi drivers and motorcyclists have tripled or even quadrupled fares. As a result, the majority of commuters have resorted to walking.
On the other hand, taxi drivers argue that there is no solution. Despite the planned meeting to set prices, many fuel resellers are breaking the rules.
Despite consumer protests, petroleum companies in South Kivu claim not to be responsible for the price hikes.
#DRC
@africaintel
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the eastern provinces are grappling with a steep rise in fuel prices at the pump.
In Goma, North Kivu, and Bukavu, South Kivu, the cost of public transportation has exponentially increased. Taxi drivers and motorcyclists have tripled or even quadrupled fares. As a result, the majority of commuters have resorted to walking.
On the other hand, taxi drivers argue that there is no solution. Despite the planned meeting to set prices, many fuel resellers are breaking the rules.
Despite consumer protests, petroleum companies in South Kivu claim not to be responsible for the price hikes.
#DRC
@africaintel
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🌍🇩🇪 Energy-hungry Germany's Scholz will travel to Africa in an attempt to diversify energy sources
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this weekend makes his third visit to sub-Saharan Africa in two years, as conflicts in Ukraine and Israel highlight the growing importance of an energy-rich region in which Berlin has traditionally had little involvement.
He will visit major energy producer Nigeria, as well as Ghana, with migration flows and instability in West Africa also on his agenda.
Much of the impetus for the trip has come from the realization that Germany needs Africa more than it thought, said Greens legislator Anton Hofreiter.
"People realized we needed allies against Russia's invasion of Ukraine," he said. The war between Israel and Hamas has leant new urgency in particular to the energy aspect of the trip.
Ghana and Nigeria would be first in his trip to increase the import of energy resources, including gas and oil. He will also raise the topic of migration.
#Africa #Germany
@africaintel
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this weekend makes his third visit to sub-Saharan Africa in two years, as conflicts in Ukraine and Israel highlight the growing importance of an energy-rich region in which Berlin has traditionally had little involvement.
He will visit major energy producer Nigeria, as well as Ghana, with migration flows and instability in West Africa also on his agenda.
Much of the impetus for the trip has come from the realization that Germany needs Africa more than it thought, said Greens legislator Anton Hofreiter.
"People realized we needed allies against Russia's invasion of Ukraine," he said. The war between Israel and Hamas has leant new urgency in particular to the energy aspect of the trip.
Ghana and Nigeria would be first in his trip to increase the import of energy resources, including gas and oil. He will also raise the topic of migration.
#Africa #Germany
@africaintel
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🇺🇸🇺🇬 US warns businesses of risks in Uganda, citing anti-LGBTQ law
The United States issued a business advisory for Uganda, saying that businesses faced potential risks in the African country, citing an anti-LGBTQ law condemned by many Western countries and the United Nations.
The advisory was issued by the U.S. Departments of State, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Commerce, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
"Firms including media and non-governmental organizations that knowingly promote LGBTQ activity will incur harsh fines," the law says.
"Uganda's enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act further increases restrictions on human rights, to include restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, and exacerbates issues regarding the respect for leases and employment contracts," the U.S. government's business advisory said.
#USA #Uganda
@africaintel
The United States issued a business advisory for Uganda, saying that businesses faced potential risks in the African country, citing an anti-LGBTQ law condemned by many Western countries and the United Nations.
The advisory was issued by the U.S. Departments of State, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Commerce, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
"Firms including media and non-governmental organizations that knowingly promote LGBTQ activity will incur harsh fines," the law says.
"Uganda's enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act further increases restrictions on human rights, to include restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, and exacerbates issues regarding the respect for leases and employment contracts," the U.S. government's business advisory said.
#USA #Uganda
@africaintel
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🏴🇧🇫 Two rival Jihadists groups clashed in eastern Burkina Faso
People in social media reported clashes in the village of Ganta in the eastern Burkina Faso between the IS-Sahel and Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, both of which claim this territory as their own.
Apparently, on 23th of October IS invaded Al-Qaeda-held village of Ganta, killing "dozens" of people, and captured it.
Later, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group returned in an attempt to recapture the village. As a result around 50 militants were killed, according to social media.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
People in social media reported clashes in the village of Ganta in the eastern Burkina Faso between the IS-Sahel and Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, both of which claim this territory as their own.
Apparently, on 23th of October IS invaded Al-Qaeda-held village of Ganta, killing "dozens" of people, and captured it.
Later, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group returned in an attempt to recapture the village. As a result around 50 militants were killed, according to social media.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
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🇺🇸🌍 US-Africa duty-free programme needs changes said the U.S. trade official
The United States should make changes to its flagship trade initiative with Africa that would increase its impact as part of a potential reauthorisation by Congress, a senior U.S. trade official said on Thursday.
Launched in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) grants exports from qualifying countries duty free access to the US market. It is set to expire in September 2025, but discussions are already under way over whether to extend it and for how long.
"We need to do better," Assistant United States Trade Representative for African Affairs Constance Hamilton told.
"Some countries have benefited greatly from AGOA, but the majority have not," she said.
Over three quarters of duty-free non-petroleum exports to the United States under the programme during 2014-2021 came from only just five countries: South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar and Ethiopia.
#USA #Africa
@africaintel
The United States should make changes to its flagship trade initiative with Africa that would increase its impact as part of a potential reauthorisation by Congress, a senior U.S. trade official said on Thursday.
Launched in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) grants exports from qualifying countries duty free access to the US market. It is set to expire in September 2025, but discussions are already under way over whether to extend it and for how long.
"We need to do better," Assistant United States Trade Representative for African Affairs Constance Hamilton told.
"Some countries have benefited greatly from AGOA, but the majority have not," she said.
Over three quarters of duty-free non-petroleum exports to the United States under the programme during 2014-2021 came from only just five countries: South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar and Ethiopia.
#USA #Africa
@africaintel
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🇰🇪 Kenyan currency hits all-time low against the dollar
Kenya's currency hit an all-time low of 150 shillings to the dollar on Monday, worsening the economic situation in the heavily indebted Kenya plagued by inflation, according to central bank data.
The depreciation of the Kenyan shilling has accelerated over the past year, losing almost 24% of its value against the dollar.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, a dollar was selling at 150 shillings on Monday, while some commercial banks and bureaux de change had already reached this price, or even higher, in recent weeks.
According to the chief economist at research firm Mentoria Economics, this new low is mainly due to the strengthening of the US currency, because of the recent crisis in the Middle East "which is pushing investors towards safe havens" and the high yields on US Treasury bonds.
#Kenya
@africaintel
Kenya's currency hit an all-time low of 150 shillings to the dollar on Monday, worsening the economic situation in the heavily indebted Kenya plagued by inflation, according to central bank data.
The depreciation of the Kenyan shilling has accelerated over the past year, losing almost 24% of its value against the dollar.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, a dollar was selling at 150 shillings on Monday, while some commercial banks and bureaux de change had already reached this price, or even higher, in recent weeks.
According to the chief economist at research firm Mentoria Economics, this new low is mainly due to the strengthening of the US currency, because of the recent crisis in the Middle East "which is pushing investors towards safe havens" and the high yields on US Treasury bonds.
#Kenya
@africaintel
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