🇬🇳 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

🇳🇪🌍🇺🇸🇷🇺 Well, the trade between the new Nigerien military government and the West is over, as it seems.

Especially considering how the US are ready to resume cooperation with Niger if the junta is willing to negotiate some terms. Most likely, the USA are aiming at expanding their military presence in the region (they already have an Air Force base in Agadez).

In this situation Russia have to move quickly to take the initiative in the military field not only in Niger, but also in Africa. Washington already tries to slowly, but steadily win over CAR from Russia. It is too early to say something, since there are still a lot of Wagner PMC fighters in the country, but this trend is starting to grow.

Moscow have to accelerate the establishment of an African corps and to advertise it in the best way possible, if it wants not to loose to America in Africa.

One thing we can say for sure. The USA since the beginning of 2023 is getting more and more involved in Africa. They have already conquered many French assets on the continent, Russian ones are next, as it seems.

2024 is going to be a very interesting year for Africa. Well, the race for the continent have already begun. It's time to start betting on who's gonna win it. Maybe China or even Turkey will try to involve themselves more, who knows. Only time will show us.

#Niger #Africa #USA #Russia

@africaintel

🇰🇪🇷🇼 Kenyan minister called Rwanda an "autocracy" sparking controversy

A Kenyan minister has stirred controversy after saying that Rwanda was an "autocracy" where "whatever the president says is the law".

Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said Kenya, unlike Rwanda, was a democracy with legal processes.

He was responding to criticism that unfavourably compared Kenya's transport system to that of its near neighbour.

Rwanda, which has in the past enjoyed good relations with Kenya, is yet to respond to the minister's comments.

Kenyans urged Murkomen to retract the remarks fearing that they would unnecessarily provoke Rwanda.

#Kenyna #Rwanda

@africaintel

🇸🇴 Commercial ship still hijacked off Somali coast

A commercial vessel hijacked by unknown assailants remains off the coast of Somalia raising fears of further instability for global shipping as attacks escalate in the Red Sea, maritime security sources said.

A Spanish navy ship was dispatched at full speed on Friday towards the Maltese-flagged Ruen vessel, which sources said had been hijacked.

British maritime security company Ambrey said the vessel had reached nine miles offshore from Bander Murcaayo in Puntland, Somalia on December 17.

"This was assessed likely to be the first hijacking of a merchant vessel by Somali pirates since the ARIS 13 in 2017. Ambrey assessed the event was likely partly a consequence of political instability in Puntland," Ambrey said.

#Somalia

@africaintel

🇸🇩 At least 250,000 flee fighting in Sudan's El Gezira state

At least 250,000 to 300,000 people have fled Sudan's El Gezira state since December 15 as a result of clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and Sudan's army, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday.

The RSF, at war with the army for the past eight months, has been advancing on El Gezira's state capital, Wad Madani, and its fighters entered the city earlier on Monday, witnesses said.

#Sudan

@africaintel

🇿🇦🇵🇸🇮🇱 South African president condemns Gaza crisis as genocidal, calls for ceasefire

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has strongly condemned the ongoing crisis in Gaza, describing it as a "genocidal onslaught and slaughter of the people of Palestine."

In a press statement, he drew parallels between the struggles faced by Palestinians and those experienced by South Africans during their own tumultuous history.

"As we have looked at the sufferings of the Palestinians, we have seen similar features of what the Palestinians are going through as what we, as South Africans, went through," Ramaphosa said.

"What is unfolding now, in Gaza, is beyond being unjust. It is genocidal, and that is why we are dubbing it as a genocide against a people and a collective punishment against innocent people," he declared.

President Ramaphosa called for an immediate ceasefire and emphasized the urgency of halting what he perceives as a genocidal onslaught.

#SouthAfrica #Palestine #Israel

@africaintel

🛢🇫🇷🇳🇬 TotalEnergies pledges $6 billion in Nigeria oil, gas investments

TotalEnergies reaffirmed its commitment to business interests in Nigeria, the French company said, adding that its head Patrick Pouyanne had met Nigeria President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

TotalEnergies said it had signed a co-operation agreement with Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC Ltd to carry out methane detection and measurement campaigns using its advanced drone-based AUSEA technology on oil and gas facilities in Nigeria.

TotalEnergies pledged to "invest $6 billion in the coming years," with focus on offshore oil projects and gas production across all terrain, Tinubu's office said.

Tinubu's meeting with Pouyanne follows similar talks with oil majors Shell and Exxon Mobil as part of moves to attract capital to Nigeria.

#France #Nigeria

@africaintel

🇲🇦 Morocco to hit record tourism arrivals despite headwinds

Morocco's tourism industry looks set to have had a record year despite September's earthquake and what sector professionals see as some disruption to winter bookings due to the war in Gaza.

Tourism accounts for 7% of gross domestic product and is a key source of foreign currency. The Tourism Ministry expects 2023 arrivals to reach 14 million by year end, with 13.2 million visitors by the end of November.

In 2022, 11 million tourists visited Morocco and in 2019, the last year before the COVID pandemic hit foreign travel, there were 13 million arrivals.

"All signs point towards hitting the 14 million milestone by December," said Tourism Minister.

Morocco aims to reach 17.5 million visitors by 2026 with the launch of new airline routes, and 26 million by 2030, when it will co-host the World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

#Morocco

@africaintel

🇲🇦 Moroccan central bank keeps benchmark interest rate at 3%

Morocco's central bank said it left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3% on Tuesday to keep prices stable.

Inflation, driven by food prices, would stand on average at 6.1% this year, down from 6.6% last year, the bank said.

In 2024, inflation would further drop to 2.4%, on the back of an expected fall in prices of imported goods and stability of food prices.

Assuming an average cereals harvest, growth would improve to 3.4% next year, after 2.1% expected this year.

An increase in car exports, tourism receipts and remittances of Moroccans abroad would keep foreign exchange reserves at $35.8 bln in 2024 and $36.8 bln in 2025, enough to cover five months of import needs.

#Morocco

@africaintel

🇿🇦🇮🇱 Pretoria warns South African citizens that they risk punishment for joining Israeli forces

"Such action can potentially contribute to the violation of international law and the commission of further international crimes, thus making them liable for prosecution in South Africa," the South African Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Naturalized citizens are at further risk of being stripped of their South African nationality for engaging in a war that the country "does not support or agree with," the ministry added.

In a separate statement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the events in Gaza a "genocide and slaughter" of the Palestinian people and reiterated his call for a ceasefire.

💰🇪🇹 African Development Bank to withdraw international staff from Ethiopia

The African Development Bank (AfDB) will withdraw its international employees from Ethiopia following what it said was an assault on its staff members by government security forces.

The AfDB lodged a formal complaint with Ethiopian authorities last month, calling the physical assault and hours-long detention of two of its employees on October 31 a "very serious diplomatic incident".

Reuters sources were not aware of a timetable for the withdrawal of the Ethiopia-based employees, nor did they provide details on how the decision might affect the AfDB's operations in Ethiopia.

#ADB #Ethiopia

@africaintel

🇸🇩 Sudan's army announces withdrawal from key city as civilians flee

Sudan's army said on Tuesday that its forces had withdrawn from positions in Wad Madani after the advance of its paramilitary rivals on the city triggered a mass exodus of civilians.

Wad Madani is a major city about 170 km southeast of the capital Khartoum that has served as an aid hub and refuge for internally displaced people. It is the capital of El Gezira state, an important farming region in a country facing worsening hunger.

The RSF's entry into the city has caused up to 300,000 people to flee the area, the International Organization for Migration said.

#Sudan

@africaintel