Authorities in Angola must hold police officers accountable for killing, injuring or traumatizing dozens of people during protests between November 2020 and June 2023, Amnesty International said in a new report. Police must also stop attacking protesters and respect and uphold everyone’s right to freedom of assembly.  The report, Broken promises: protesters caught between tear gas, bullets and batons in Angola, reveals a pattern of excessive and unnecessary use of force by police […]

 The Joburg Film Festival (JFF) in partnership with the MultiChoice Group (www.MultiChoice.com) is proud to announce the theme for the highly anticipated seventh edition of the festival - ‘The Golden Thread – Connected Through Stories’. Set to take place from 11 – 16 March 2025, the festival will explore the profound interconnectedness of our shared human experiences and the timeless value of storytelling. Guided by the festival's tagline, ‘Our Stories. […]

 Responding to the Ivorian authorities’ decision to suspend eviction operations in the Autonomous District of Abidjan, Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said: “Amnesty International welcomes with relief the Ivorian authorities’ decision to suspend the eviction operations that began in January 2024. These evictions were carried out without adequate consultation or notification, sometimes accompanied by violence, and left many people homeless and without compensation The […]

 Responding to the Ethiopian authorities’ suspension of three prominent human rights organizations — Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), Center for Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) — Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said: “Amnesty International condemns the suspension of AHRE, CARD and LHR based on vague and unsubstantiated allegations of ‘lack of political neutrality’ and ‘engaging […]

 Low credit ratings for African countries are leading to high borrowing costs and liquidity challenges. This is according to panellists at a plenary session on harnessing sovereign credit ratings power for Africa’s economic transformation, organised by the Economic Commission for Africa at the 2024 African Economic Conference (AEC) in Gaborone, Botswana. Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of the ECA’s Macroeconomic, Finance and Governance Division at the ECA said low credit ratings contribute […]

 In a significant step towards strengthening financial inclusion and economic empowerment, the MSME Financing Gateway was officially launched at a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Bankers Association (TBA) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre, (ITC) through the second phase of the European Union (EU) funded, EU-East African Community (EAC) Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) launched the Gateway. The MSME Financing Gateway is a digital platform that will improve access […]

  Youth unemployment in Kenya poses a significant challenge, with nearly 75% of the population under 35 facing limited job opportunities. By equipping young people with the skills and resources to start their own businesses, the nation can create jobs and drive local economic growth. A youth employment program in Kenya has benefited over 155,000 young people, allowing them to launch 86,000 businesses, creating 125,000 jobs, and increasing incomes by […]

 The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the nation must stand united towards ensuring that every child regardless of their background has access to the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to achieve their fullest potential and contribute to building a prosperous Ghana. Interacting with various professional groupings drawn from across the Ashanti region as a precursor to the President’s three-day tour of the Ashanti Region, President […]

 The Minister for Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi has unveiled government plans to extend internet connectivity to all sub-counties through a loan acquired from the Exim Bank of China. Baryomunsi said that with the US$150 million, government will go beyond its ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs) and district headquarters) to connect all sub-counties to the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI). “This is vital for ensuring that all regions […]