🇳🇬 Shell confirms Nigeria withdrawal of oilfield claim

Shell confirmed that Nigeria withdrew civil claims totalling $1.1 billion against it in relation to allegations of corruption in a 2011 oilfield deal.

"We are pleased that this claim has been withdrawn. It brings to an end to all legal cases against Shell on OPL 245 in Italian courts," a Shell spokesperson said in a statement.

In 2021, an Italian court acquitted Shell, Eni, the operator of the OPL 245 oilfield, and company executives of corruption allegations in the acquisition of the field a decade earlier.

#Nigeria

@africaintel

🇸🇩 Two Darfur rebel groups threatened RSF to join Sudanese army

The former Darfur rebel movements took a step toward entering the war, announcing that they are no longer neutral and warning they are ready to fight on the side of the Sudan Armed Forces against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

At a press conference in Port Sudan headed by the Sudan Liberation Movement leader Minni Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement leader Jibril Ibrahim accused the RSF of carrying out ethnic killings, looting, rape, burning villages, occupying houses, and abducting women.

Jibril Ibrahim told that they "want to defend their civilians" from the RSF, which he says has been burying people alive. He said the decision to join forces with the army was not an easy one.

The statement also proposed an “immediate and permanent ceasefire.”

#Sudan

@africaintel

🇳🇬 Nigerian ex-central bank chief remanded in custody pending bail hearing

A Nigerian court on Friday remanded former central bank governor Godwin Emefiele in custody on charges of procurement fraud, pending a bail hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

Emefiele applied for bail after pleading not guilty to six new graft charges that accused him of "conferring corrupt advantage". Prosecutors cut the charges from a previous 20-count indictment, which he faced along with two others, so he could be tried separately and quickly.

"The matter is hereby adjourned to Wednesday, November 22, for ruling on the bail application. Meanwhile, the defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on his bail," Justice Hamza Muazu said.

The main trial is set to start on November 28, the judge said.

#Nigeria

@africaintel

🇿🇦 South African petrochemical company Sasol names new CEO

South African petrochemical company Sasol on Friday said Simon Baloyi will take on the role of President and CEO from April 1, 2024.

Baloyi succeeds Fleetwood Grobler, who will continue with the company as an executive advisor until December 31, 2024 to ensure a seamless handover.

Baloyi, currently Executive Vice President of Energy Operations and Technology, was selected from both internal and external candidates and has served in various management positions since joining the company in 2002.

#SouthAfrica

@africaintel

💰🇪🇬🇵🇸 IMF may need to augment Egypt program amid Gaza war impacts, IMF managing director told

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told the Fund was "seriously considering" a possible augmentation of Egypt's $3 billion loan program due to economic difficulties posed by the Israel-Hamas war.

Georgieva told in an interview on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit that the conflict is "devastating" Gaza's population and economy and has "severe impacts" on the West Bank's economy and is also posing difficulties for neighboring countries Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan through the loss of tourism and higher energy costs.

#IMF #Egypt #Palestine

@africaintel

🇸🇩 Sudanese warring parties trade blame for damaged dam south of Khartoum

The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces blamed each other for a strike that damaged a bridge over the Jebel Awlia dam south of Khartoum.

The extent of the damage to the dam was unclear but serious damage to the dam threatened major flooding of the White Nile.

Fighting has raged in recent days in the Jebel Aulia area, an impoverished district in southern Khartoum state. The RSF said earlier this month that it had seized an army base in the area.

RSF need the Jebel Awlia dam to have a logistics route between left and right banks of Nile river, since the only bridge between banks that RSF controlled (Shambat bridge between Omdurman and North Khartoum) was destroyed.

#Sudan

@africaintel

🇹🇿🇵🇸🇮🇱 Tanzania says one of two citizens missing during Hamas-Israel war confirmed dead

A Tanzanian citizen missing since the October 7 raid by Hamas militants on southern Israel has been confirmed dead while a second remains unaccounted for, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dar Es Salaam said.

In a statement it said the family of farming student Clemence Mtenga had been notified of his death and talks were under way on repatriating his body. Searches continue for the second Tanzanian, Joshua Mollel, it added.

#Tanzania #Palestine #Israel

@africaintel

🇲🇿 Environmental groups urge funding halt for TotalEnergies' Mozambique project

Banks and other financiers should withdraw their support of TotalEnergies' $20 billion liquefied natural gas terminal in Mozambique, environmental lobby groups urged in a letter sent to more than two dozen project funders.

The letter comes at a crucial juncture for the French energy company as it prepares to relaunch Africa's largest foreign direct investment project.

Activists said the project may worsen climate change and fuel human rights abuses in Mozambique.

Last month, lawmakers in the Netherlands said they would insist on being consulted on safety and human rights concerns before they can approve a 1 billion euro loan guarantee for the project, stalled since April 2021.

#Mozambique

@africaintel

💰🇲🇼 IMF board approves $178 mln loan for Malawi, frees $35 mln immediately

The International Monetary Fund's executive board has approved a loan of about $178 million for Malawi, with an immediate disbursement of about $35 million, the IMF said.

Malawian authorities reached a staff-level agreement with the fund on the four-year Extended Credit Facility in September.

Earlier this month Malawi devalued its currency by about 30% as it battles severe shortages of fuel, medicines and fertilisers linked to foreign-currency shortages.

"The decision is a big breather for us and our economy," Finance Minister said.

"Two major benefits expected are the resumption of budgetary support from our traditional donors and the easing of foreign currency supplies," minister added.

#IMF #Malawi

@africaintel

🇰🇪🌍 Kenya's President Ruto one of four Africans on Time climate leaders list

Kenya's President William Ruto has been named by Time Magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential leaders shaping global climate action.

The listing comes in the week he led a national holiday aimed at planting 100 million trees in a single day.

Time said it selected those listed for "making significant progress in fighting climate change by creating business value".

These "environmental actions" by Ruto are done to increase his prestige in the eyes of the international community, where there is a trend for climate stuff, and his credibility in his own country, where he is faced with criticism. For the same reasons he tries to involve himself into the Sudan peace initiatives.

#Kenya #Africa

@africaintel

🇪🇹💰 Ethiopia sets 2026 deadline for WTO accession

The Ethiopian government has set 2026 as a deadline for its decades-old effort to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Official documents say that around half of the preparations necessary for accession have been finalized, with officials planning to go two-thirds of the way by the end of this year.

The preparations include 181 separate queries and demands from WTO member countries. According to the report from the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, the federal government is re-aligning legislation based on the requests.

Officials are “revising avenues for goods and services” and “finalizing negotiation documents”, according to the document.

#Ethiopia #WTO

@africaintel

🌍 Main Events in Africa on November 13 — 18

🇲🇱 Malian Armed Forces alongside Wagner forces finally entered the improvised capital of Tuareg rebels in north-eastern Mali. Local citizens were happy with the presence of army and Wagner PMC. In Bamako, Malians celebrated capture of rebel stronghold. Burkina Faso and Niger congratulated Mali government on "liberation of Kidal".

🇸🇩 Two Darfur rebel groups threatened RSF to join Sudanese army. At the same time, Sudanese warring parties trade blame for damaged dam south of Khartoum. Earlier, Kenya in talks with the Sudanese leader criticized Jeddah talks and try to establish new dialogue format between warring sides in Sudan war.

🇨🇩 Islamists and M23 movement continue to pressure DR Congo's government. M23 rebels recaptured Kishishe. Meanwhile, DR Congo electoral panel promised fair presidential poll but some candidates see flaws. Opposition parties discussed joint election candidate.

🇳🇪 Niger's junta chief finally set up anti-corruption body. Meanwhile, UN to resume humanitarian flight operations in Niger.

🇿🇦🇮🇱🇺🇳 South Africa has referred Israel to the International Criminal Court. Meanwhile thousands marched in Cape Town in solidarity with Palestinians.

🇲🇬 Madagascar held president elections. The day before a curfew was imposed in Madagascar's capital. Opposition called for poll boycott. Madagascar president takes huge lead in early results of low turnout vote.

🇱🇷 Liberia held runoff election. Weah and Joseph Boakai were in neck and neck race. But in the end Liberia president George Weah conceded election defeat to Joseph Boakai.

🇩🇿🇨🇳 Algeria’s army chief of staff visited China, seeks to diversify sources of military supplies.

🇸🇴🇪🇹🇰🇪 Heavy floods continue in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Somalia floods death toll rose to 31, president warned that people are going hungry. Kenya's rail operator halts cargo services to Mombasa port after floods. Overall, at least 111 dead and 700,000 were displaced in the Horn of Africa due to floods.

🇷🇺🌍 Russia said first free grain shipments to Africa are on their way.

#digest #Africa

@africaintel