insert_link Africa Moody’s Downgrades Kenya’s Sovereign Rating Amid Fiscal Challenges Moody's downgraded Kenya's sovereign rating to "Caa1" from "B3" on Monday, citing reduced ability to manage its debt burden through fiscal consolidation. Reuters says, This downgrade affects the country's local- and foreign-currency long-term issuer ratings and foreign-currency senior unsecured debt ratings. In June, Kenyan President William Ruto withdrew planned tax hikes following mass protests that resulted in at least 24 deaths. todayJuly 9, 2024 6
insert_link Africa Rwanda’s Tutsi minority has been in power for 30 years – but study finds ethnicity doesn’t matter to people if their needs are met By Réginas Ndayiragije, University of Antwerp and Marijke Verpoorten, University of Antwerp Thirty years ago, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, a predominantly Tutsi armed group, took over Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city – and soon after, the country’s governance. This victory occurred amid a horrific genocide masterminded by a Hutu-dominated regime. Rwanda’s main ethnic groups are the Hutu, who make up a majority of the population, and […] todayJuly 9, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Senegal’s president urges dialogue with Sahel military juntas Senegalese President and West Africa's ECOWAS "facilitator" Bassirou Diomaye Faye called Monday for dialogue and peaceful reconciliation with three countries that recently split from the bloc. The military leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso broke away from the Economic Community of West African States earlier this year and formed a confederation of their own on Saturday. ECOWAS heads of state met in Abuja on Sunday […] todayJuly 8, 2024 11
insert_link Africa DR Congo military court sentences 22 soldiers to death A military court in the volatile east of DR Congo sentenced 22 soldiers to death on Monday for "fleeing the enemy", a lawyer told AFP, as Congolese armed forces fight against M23 rebels. Sixteen soldiers were handed death sentences in one case in the North Kivu province, and six others in a separate case. sm/at/keo/cw AFP (NAMPA / AFP) todayJuly 8, 2024 56
insert_link Africa Ecowas summit: 6 steps the leaders can take to restore stability and growth in west Africa By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University This year’s summit of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) takes place against a challenging environment for the regional bloc. Recent developments in the region have included coups, insecurity and economic instability. Climate change also poses challenges. Six successful and two attempted coups in the region since 2020 were followed by the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina […] todayJuly 8, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Kenya’s protests are different this time: 3 things that make it harder for government to crush them By Awino Okech, SOAS, University of London On 25 June 2024, a youth-led protest primarily composed of Gen Zs, as they are popularly referred to, stormed Kenya’s parliament. Legislators voted to pass the Finance Bill 2024 in its third and last reading ahead of presidential assent. This was the second countrywide protest over the proposed taxes in the draft law and excesses in government […] todayJuly 8, 2024 15
insert_link Africa Sudan is now confronting its most severe food security crisis on record By Rob Vos, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Khalid Siddig, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) After 14 months of escalating internal conflict, Sudan is now confronting its most severe food security crisis on record. The latest situation report, released on 27 June, reveals a grim picture: more than half the population of 47.2 million is facing acute food insecurity. This signifies […] todayJuly 8, 2024 27
insert_link Africa Rival Sudanese Political Factions Begin Reconciliation Talks in Cairo On Saturday, rival Sudanese political factions participated in formal reconciliation talks in Cairo, marking the first such meeting since the country's conflict began nearly 15 months ago. Reuters has it that they acknowledged that prospects for a swift resolution to the war were minimal. During the conference, the Democratic Bloc, aligned with the army, declined to engage in joint sessions with the Taqaddum faction, accusing them of sympathizing with the […] todayJuly 8, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Kenyans Gather for Concert in Nairobi to Honor Protest Victims Hundreds of Kenyans attended a concert in the nation's capital, Nairobi, on Sunday, chanting slogans and dancing to remember more than three dozen people killed in recent anti-government protests according to a report by Reuters. The demonstrations, which began on June 18, sought to halt planned tax hikes and call for President William Ruto's resignation. Activist Boniface Mwangi, present at the event, expressed mixed emotions adding that the government is […] todayJuly 8, 2024 12
