🇸🇩🇺🇸 RSF seize Sudan army base in Wad Madani while the US calls for the end of violence

Residents of the Sudanese city of Wad Madani say the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have attacked a hospital and have taken over an army base.

The area is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians who have fled the violence further north in the capital, Khartoum.

Meanwhile, over the weekend, the US State Department called on the RSF to cease its advance on Wad Madani.

Washington said the group's actions were inconsistent with its stated aim of protecting Sudanese civilians.

There are also reports of renewed fighting in the city of Nyala in Sudan's western Darfur region.

#Sudan

@africaintel

🇷🇼🇩🇪 BioNTech aims to start mRNA vaccine output in Rwanda in 2025

COVID-19 vaccine maker BioNTech aims to start production at its mRNA vaccine factory site in Rwanda in 2025, company officials said. It would be the first foreign company mRNA vaccine manufacturing site on the continent.

The German company's first modular factory elements, based on shipping containers, were delivered to the Kigali construction site in March and were then assembled into so-called BioNTainers.

“Africa will have one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the world," BioNTech co-founder and chief executive officer, said.

The company said in a statement it had fully funded the facility, committing a total of $150 million.

#Rwanda #Germany

@africaintel

🇪🇹💰 Ethiopia aims to get $3.5 billion under IMF programme

Ethiopia is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to borrow around $3.5 billion under a reform programme.

A group of Ethiopia officials and their advisors told international bondholders in a call last Thursday that the country aims to reach a staff level agreement on an IMF loan by the first quarter of 2024.

Ethiopia has been requesting "exceptional access" to IMF funding of more than 100% of its allowance since 2022, but so far hasn't disclosed how much exactly.

Ethiopia's agreement with its bilateral creditors, other than China, to suspend debt payments until 2025 could be voided if the country does not secure an IMF loan by March 31.

#Ethiopia #IMF

@africaintel

⚡️🇪🇬❗️Egypt has stated that it will not join any military or security coalition/organization directed at military action against the Houthis.

This is in line with Egyptian policy of de-escalation through diplomacy and civil discussions.

@themediterraneanman

🇪🇬 Egypt's Sisi delivers victory speech after securing third term

During a televised speech on Monday after wining in elections, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi expressed his sincere appreciation and immense gratitude to every Egyptian who participated in the elections, while the state grapples with a multitude of challenges across all levels.

Al-Sisi also expressed his joy at the sight of Egyptians' lining up at polling stations, "which demonstrates that the will of the Egyptian people is affirmed with the voice of every Egyptian man and woman," he said.

Many world leaders and political parties and figures in Egypt have already congratulated Sisi on his win.

#Egypt

@africaintel

🇺🇸🇨🇫 US PMC Bancroft arrived in CAR for talks with the government

Employees of the American PMC Bancroft are currently in the Central African capital, where they are preparing the establishment of the group with a view to offering training and investing in several sectors of CAR.

According to the RFI security source, Bancroft officials are beginning to look for a suitable location to "deploy equipment and particularly drones" near the capital Bangui. The Bancroft units are planned to be deployed in areas where armed groups are active.

The CAR government has so far declined to comment, citing the fact that the agreement has not yet been signed.

#USA #CAR

@africaintel

🇬🇳 Guinea warns of power cuts after blast destroys fuel stocks

An explosion at an oil terminal in Guinea's capital Conakry, which killed 14 people and injured 190, could lead to electricity outages as the majority of the terminal's fuel tanks are out of service, the government said.

The government, which has launched an investigation to determine what caused the explosion, said 13 fuel tanks at the Kaloum depot were out of service as a result of the incident while five tanks were not affected.

"The government informs the population that due to the destroyed fuel stocks, the electricity supply may potentially be affected by outages," it said, adding that the fire was under control as of Monday evening.

#Guinea

@africaintel

🇺🇳🇨🇩 The UN prepares the early departure from DRC

The UN Security Council is expected to launch on Tuesday an early but gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers from the DR Congo from the end of 2023, as requested by Kinshasa.

Despite this situation in the east, the Congolese government has been calling for months for an "accelerated" withdrawal of Blue helmets, from the end of 2023 and not the end of 2024. It considers the UN force ineffective in protecting civilians against armed groups and militias that have been raging for three decades in eastern DRC.

Several members of the Council, notably the United States, have expressed doubts in recent months about the fact that the Congolese forces are ready to replace MONUSCO to ensure the security of the population.

From May 2024, MONUSCO will only be present in North Kivu and Ituri. From July 1, its workforce will be reduced by some 2,350 people.

#UN #DRC

@africaintel

🇧🇫🏴 Authorities accuse jihadist groups of massacres of civilians in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso's military government accused jihadist groups of carrying out massacres against civilians in the north of the country, urging people to "give no credence" to images of abuses committed by armed men portrayed as Burkina Faso soldiers.

Since the beginning of December, several videos have been widely posted on social networks accusing the army of committing acts of violence against civilians in the Djibo area.

These videos "attempt to make people believe that massacres of civilians have been perpetrated by Burkina Faso's fighting forces", government spokesman and Minister for Communication said, denouncing a "communication campaign fuelled by the terrorists".

#BurkinaFaso

@africaintel

⚡️🇳🇪 The United Nations has announced that the military junta that took power in Niger after ousting the president is now the real legitimate government of Niger.

The UN Credentials Committee recognized Niger's ruling military junta as the sole representative of the Nigerien authorities to all UN bodies.

@themediterraneanman