insert_link Africa Zambia gets funds from IMF as drought takes toll The International Monetary Fund has agreed to immediately disburse $569.6 million to Zambia, boosting the country’s foreign exchange reserves as it deals with its worst drought in almost 60 years. Bloomberg reports that the money includes an augmentation of $385.7 million. The funds will assist Zambia’s drought relief measures. todayJune 27, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Demonstrators in Kenya prepare to resume protests Protestors in Kenya are preparing to resume demonstrations despite President Ruto declining to sign the finance bill into law. They aim to 'occupy State House,' insisting only Ruto's resignation will satisfy them. Isabel Nakirya reports. Analysts said that while the finance bill initially triggered the protests, they have now expanded to reflect broad dissatisfaction with the government. Protesters in Nairobi told Al Jazeera they are demanding the president's resignation. […] todayJune 27, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Kenyan farmers turn to WhatsApp & AI tools to combat crop diseases Farmers in Kenya and other countries are using online chat groups and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help combat crop losses due to pests and diseases. New research shows chat groups modeled on those used in human health care can offer benefits to farmers and enhance their communication with plant doctors. Organizations such as PlantVillage and CABI are using such digital tools and chat groups to expand their […] todayJune 27, 2024 34
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s cholera outbreaks: why they happen and are so hard to control By Stella Ifeanyi Smith, Mountain Top University On 9 June 2024 the Lagos State government declared a cholera outbreak. Three days later, it announced that 324 suspected cases had been reported in the state, including 15 people who died and 40 who were discharged after treatment. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of 11 June, 1,141 suspected cholera […] todayJune 27, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Kenya protests: Ruto pulling the finance bill is unlikely to satisfy angry young protesters – here’s why By Kathleen Klaus, Uppsala University In a move that shocked observers, Kenya’s President William Ruto announced on 26 June he was withdrawing his government’s highly controversial finance bill. This followed two days in which tens of thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets in nationwide rallies against the proposals contained in the country’s 2024 budget. Kathleen Klaus, who has studied […] todayJune 27, 2024 66
insert_link Africa Rapid Support Forces Advances on Sennar Amid Ongoing Conflict Paramilitaries from Sudan's Rapid Support Forces have advanced on the southeastern trading hub of Sennar, aiming to expand their territorial gains more than 14 months into a war with the army, residents and officials reported on Wednesday. Reuters reports that families fled the city on the banks of the Blue Nile after hearing the sound of fighting on Tuesday evening. todayJune 27, 2024 6
insert_link Africa AHIF holds talks on powering investment into hospitality The Africa Hospitality and Investment Forum is currently underway in Windhoek. The event brings together the who's who of the hotel investment community that drives investment into tourism projects, infrastructure, and hotel development. We spoke to Gitta Paetzold, CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia after she participated in a panel discussion on Powering Investments into Namibian Hospitality Today’s agenda also featured government initiatives to support the hospitality industry. todayJune 26, 2024 8
insert_link Africa Death toll rises in Kenya tax hike protests Protesters in Kenya have been shot dead and fires started inside parliament after politicians voted in favour of a controversial tax bill. The Kenya Medical Association said at least 13 people had been killed and dozens more injured. Following reports that Namibians were near Kenya’s Parliament at the time of the incident, we spoke to the Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Penda Naanda. Kenya is […] todayJune 26, 2024 23
insert_link Africa Sudan warring sides using starvation as weapon: UN experts Both sides in Sudan's brutal civil war are using starvation as a weapon of war, UN experts said Wednesday, charging that foreign governments providing them military support were "complicit" in war crimes. War has raged for more than a year between the regular military (SAF) under army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. […] todayJune 26, 2024 11
