South Africa increases renewable energy capacity

South Africa increases renewable energy capacity

South Africa currently has over 7,000 megawatts of renewable energy connected to the grid, with an additional 20 gigawatts planned for future development, according to Jacob Mbele, the director-general of Mineral Resources and Energy. SA is leading sub-Saharan Africa with nearly 40% of the region's new capacity. Mbele said it is important to continue exploring, developing, and producing the country's natural resources.

October 21, 2024 13

Africa

UN condemns killing of Mozambique opposition officials

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the killing of Elvino Dias, an opposition lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, a senior official from the Podemos party, who were shot and killed by gunmen in their car in Maputo, Mozambique. Guterres urged all Mozambicans to reject violence as the country awaits the official announcement of electoral results.

October 21, 2024 13

Africa

Tanzania faces media crackdown ahead of November elections

Tanzania has seen an increase in disappearances and media crackdowns since June, leading up to local elections on November 27. Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about increasing restrictions on media, extrajudicial killings of political activists, and arbitrary arrests. The organisation is calling on President Samia Suluhu Hassan to address these issues before the elections, where Tanzanians will vote for local government representatives.

October 21, 2024 9

Africa

Kenya’s Impeached Deputy President Gachagua Claims Security Withdrawn, Blames Ruto

Kenya's impeached deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, claimed on Sunday that his security detail had been withdrawn, placing his safety at risk as per Reuters. Gachagua, who has dismissed the charges against him as politically motivated, stated that President William Ruto would be held responsible if anything happened to him. He expressed frustration, calling it "the most unfortunate thing" that Ruto, whom he supported in the 2022 elections, would allow such […]

October 21, 2024 3

Africa

Mozambican Opposition Lawyer and Official Killed in Maputo Attack

Elvino Dias, the lawyer for prominent Mozambican opposition figure Venâncio Mondlane, and Podemos party official Paulo Guambe were shot dead in Maputo. BBC Africa indicates that the two were attacked by gunmen while traveling in their car. Dias had represented Mondlane, who ran for president with Podemos in an election 10 days prior. The Center for Democracy and Human Rights condemned the killings as a "cold-blooded murder

October 21, 2024 10

Africa

UN Envoy Suggests Dividing Western Sahara to Resolve Longstanding Conflict

The U.N. envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, has proposed the potential division of the territory between Morocco and the Polisario Front as a solution to the nearly 50-year-old conflict, says Reuters. The dispute, dating back to 1975, involves Morocco's claim over Western Sahara and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front's push for an independent state.

October 18, 2024 5

Africa

Rwanda’s Marburg Virus Outbreak Eases After Vaccinations With Mpox Still Spreading

Rwanda’s Marburg virus outbreak is showing signs of improvement following the vaccination of high-risk groups, including healthcare workers as per Reuters. However, Mpox cases continue to spread to new African countries, according to Rwanda's health minister and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. In early October, Rwanda initiated vaccinations to curb the Ebola-like Marburg virus outbreak in the country.

October 18, 2024 7

Africa

DRC faces hunger crisis

The World Food Programme says more than a million people are facing hunger in the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeastern province of Ituri. The UN agency says women and children displaced by the conflict between tribal militias have been the hardest hit.

October 17, 2024 17

Africa

140 Die in petrol tanker explosion in Nigeria

About 140 people who died after a petrol tanker exploded in Jigawa state, northwest Nigeria have been buried. Tesem Akende reports. According to Reuters, the fuel tanker overturned late on Tuesday after the driver lost control of the vehicle, spilling petrol which exploded and killed at least 147 people, police and state emergency services said on Wednesday. The accident is one of the worst in recent times in […]

October 17, 2024 15