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Articles by Bernard Akede
Nigeria: SSANU, NASU Begin Nationwide Strike Today – Officials
The Leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff unions of universities says it will proceed with its nationwide strike on February 5. The industrial action is meant to force the Federal Government to address their pressing demands, a statement from the unions has said. The non-teaching staff of the Joint Action Committee are made up of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of the Universities (NASU).
20% of the Ethiopian population to receive COVID-19 vaccine.
Ethiopia has commenced plans to inoculate 20% of the Ethiopian population against the COVID-19 pandemic by the end of 2021, the country’s top health experts have said. While speaking to reporters, Muluken Yohannes, a senior adviser to the Health Ministry, said in order to achieve the require vaccination process, a national coordinating committee and a task force have been set up by the government.
UN Mission Chief Vows to Support Sudan’s Democratic Transformation, Economic Recovery
Volker Perthes, who heads the United Nations Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), has promised support for Sudan’s bid to achieve democratic transformation, peace and economic recovery. UNITAMS early on Tuesday, reported Perthes’ arrival in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital to resume his functions as Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Sudan and Head of the UNITAMS.
The ban on alcohol sale and distribution in South Africa has been lifted.
The African Union (AU) has expressed concern over the rising tensions at the common border between Kenya and Somalia, where there was sporadic violence in Bula-Hawo. It called for dialogue to deescalate tension. Fighting broke out between Somalia National Forces and regional Jubbaland fighters, which Somalia says were trained in Kenya. On the Somali side where the battle occurred on Monday morning, at least nine people, including civilians, were killed.
South Africa to exclude millions of undocumented immigrants from Vaccine
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 1,883 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, bringing the total number of infected people in the country to 130,557. The NCDC disclosed this on its website late Saturday. The country has so far tested 1,270,523 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded in Nigeria on Feb. 27, 2020. The health agency also confirmed one coronavirus-related death in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 1,578 in Nigeria.
New COVID-19 variant; Rwanda plans to upgrade its testing capacity.
Rwanda is planning an upgrade of its testing capacity to enable the country to trace the new COVID-19 variants in the country. The Covid-19 variants which were first identified in South Africa and the United Kingdom are believed to be more transmissible than the original Covid-19 virus, raising concern that the new strains may be more deadly.
Cabinet reshuffle sees Tunisia's Prime minister name 11 new members.
A protester in Tunisia who got injured in recent clashes with police died on Monday night. The protester’s death occurred ahead of a Cabinet meeting which is focused on the previously announced reshuffle and the country’s ongoing political crisis. Calls from activists, several political parties and the major trade unions have been made to thousands of followers to protest the death of the 20-year-old protester, Haykel Rachdi.
Kenya and Somalia boarder clashes have drawn concerns from the AU
The African Union (AU) has expressed concern over the rising tensions at the common border between Kenya and Somalia, where there was sporadic violence in Bula-Hawo. It called for dialogue to deescalate tension. Fighting broke out between Somalia National Forces and regional Jubbaland fighters, which Somalia says were trained in Kenya. On the Somali side where the battle occurred on Monday morning, at least nine people, including civilians, were killed.
Tunisia Cabinet Meet to Confirm Reshuffle as Tension Rises on Death of Protester
Finland’s Office of the Prosecutor says a man from Sierra Leone has been charged with crimes against humanity, over his role in Liberia’s civil war two decades ago. Gibril Ealoghima Massaquoi is accused of killing civilians and soldiers who had just been disarmed when he was a senior member of a rebel group – the Revolutionary United Front – that fought in Liberia.
The Somali government investigates the source of illegal weapons
No fewer than 11 people have died and 14 others injured in heavy fighting that broke out overnight in a Somali town near the Kenyan border. The incident in Bulo-Hawo town – between Somali forces and those from the state of Jubbaland, northern Somalia – continued till Monday morning.
Somali Government Intercept Smuggled Weapons, Ammunition
The Somali government has commenced investigations into the source and origin of certain sophisticated weapons and ammunition which it intercepted while they were being smuggled into the country. The country’s minister of information said there had been an attempt by Somali and foreign entities, to illegally import high caliber weapons and ammunition into the country without government knowledge and permission.
Cyclone Eloise renders hundreds homeless in Mozambique.
Thousands of people have been displaced following the tropical Cyclone Eloise which hit central Mozambique over the weekend. The cyclone also caused severe flooding in an area battered by two deadly cyclones in 2019, response teams and aid agencies said. In the early hours of Saturday, Cyclone Eloise made landfall bringing high-speed winds which were followed by torrential rain over the port city of Beira, capital of Mozambique’s Sofala province, as well as the adjacent Buzi district.
Six Soldiers Killed in Twin Attacks by Suspected Extremists in Mali
The Malian military said on Sunday, that six of its soldiers have been killed in twin attacks that occurred overnight while some 30 suspected extremists were also left dead in response. The attacks ocurred near the country’s border with Burkina Faso at army positions that have been targeted in the previously been targeted, with a deadly extremist offensive having begun in northern Mali in 2012 before spreading to other regions.
Tunisia's foreign minister tested positive for COVID-19.
Nigeria health agency has confirmed 964 new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the country’s lowest single day infection since January 3. The additional cases takes total confirmed infections in the country to 121,566. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this on its official website on Sunday. It said that the country has so far tested 1,258,534 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded on Feb. 27, 2020.
Heavy Fighting Breaks Out in Somali Town Near Kenyan Border
Heavy fighting has broken out between Somali forces and those from the state of Jubbaland in a Somali town near the Kenyan border In a statement early on Monday, Somalia’s information ministry accused Kenya-funded rebels of crossing into the town of Bulo Hawo and attacking Somali forces.
The Political Party Funding Act has been signed by President Ramaphosa.
The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Political Party Funding Act which will compel political parties to disclose their funders from April 2021. The law had been passed by parliament two years ago and on Friday, president Ramaphosa announced that the law will come into effect on April 1. By the signing of this act, all parties represented in Parliament and provincial legislatures would have to disclose who their funders are.
new unified transitional government leadership to be nominated in Libya.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) says nominations for leadership of a new unified transitional government must be made in a week, and voting on candidates would take place in early February. Plans for the new unified transitional government has raised fears that powerful figures who stand to lose influence could attempt to sabotage the process.
State of emergency has been declarer in the Central African Republic.
The Central African Republic has declared a 15-day state of emergency all over the country, as violent attacks continue, following attempts of a coalition of armed groups seeking to overthrow the newly re-elected President Faustin-Archange Touadera. Albert Yaloke Mokpeme, spokesperson for the presidency, made this announcement, Thursday, on national radio. He disclosed that the state of emergency will last until Feb. 4.
Central African Republic, UN peace mission seek more peacekeepers
One peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed and another injured in an attack by armed rebels on the outskirts of the city of Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR). A statement by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) in the CAR condemned the attack, noting that the rebels directly targeted the peacekeepers who were deployed in several cities across the country.
Abuja-Kaduna rail e-ticketing will be concession and will cost N900 million.
The Nigerian Federal Government has announced, the concession of the e-ticketing service of the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor to SecurID for a period of 10 years at the cost of N900 million. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi made the announcement at the official inauguration of the e-ticketing service at a virtual event in Abuja.
Digital Covid-19 certificates will now be used by AU member states
From the month of January, all member states of the African Union (AU) will start using digital Covid-19 certificates as one way of eliminating travel restrictions that were occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. The new digital Covid-19 certificates will assist travellers to comply with Covid-19 travel protocols and share vital information to end double testing across the continent.
Covid-19 vaccine roadmap for Kenya is in its final stages,
Months after Ethiopia’s final offensive, the offensives have hardly ended as the war-hit people of Tigray continue to struggle to recover from the ruins of the conflict. The conflict between Ethiopian and Tigrayan forces, although relatively short, has created long-lasting and excruciating consequences. Many Tigrayans still flee from the North of the country, with a refugee camp set in Sudan, where a storm is also brewing.
Armed Men Attempt to Storm Governor’s House in Darfur, Sudan
A provincial governor in Sudan’s restive Darfur region was attacked last night. Armed men opened fire overnight, trying to storm his residence but were repelled by guards, officials said. The attempted attack on West Darfur Gov. Mohammed Abdalla al-Douma’s residence in the provincial capital of El Geneina, heightened tensions in the restive region where tribal violence has led to the death of about 230 people since last week.
Militant Attacks in Mozambique Continue to Fuel Aid Crisis - UN
The United Nations on Wednesday, disclosed militant attacks in northern Mozambique have created a “worsening humanitarian crisis,” estimating that over half a million people had now fled their homes. A shadowy militant group that calls itself Ahlu Sunnah Wal-Jama has terrorized residents in gas-rich Cabo Delgado province since 2017, ransacking villages in a campaign to establish an Islamist caliphate.
Ramaphosa Insists Funds Will be Available for Covid-19 Vaccines
The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has insisted that there will be funds made available for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they start arriving in the country. The president’s statement comes a day after the Deputy Minister of Health Joe Phaahla, confirmed the first consignment would be delivered later this month. On Tuesday, the South African President and other top six officials had a meeting with black business to discuss the Covid-19 crisis.
Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Dies After Contracting COVID-19
Zimbabwe’s foreign minister, Sibusiso Moyo, has reportedly died after contracting COVID-19, presidential spokesman George Charamba announced Wednesday. Sibusiso Moyo, a former army general, was the person who announced the military coup that led to the removal of the late long-serving leader Robert Mugabe in November 2017. “The nation will be kept apprised of further developments regarding this untimely demise of the late minister, himself a decorated soldier and freedom fighter,” Charamba said.
Ghana to Decide on COVID-19 Vaccines Soon
The UN and regional bodies have urged all political actors in the Central African Republic (CAR) to respect the country’s Constitutional Court decision on the Dec. 27 general elections. Senior officials of the UN, European Union, African Union and the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) made the appeal in a joint communique on Monday evening.
Kenya Revenue Authority announced the introduction of new taxes
Nigeria’s first cargo of the newest crude oil Anyala is on its way to Northwest Europe, according to trading and shipping sources. This development is coming less than three months after the announcement of the commencement of oil production from the Anyala West field in Oil Mining Leases 83 and 85.
Strict Lockdown Re-imposed by Rwandan Government in Capital Following Surge in Covid-19 Cases
Four tertiary institutions in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria have announced plans to reopen for studies despite a surge in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country. The institutions – Kaduna State University (KASU); Ahmadu Bello University (ABU); Federal College of Education, Zaria; and Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic – made their plans known at a stakeholder’s meeting on the reopening of schools in Kaduna.
The Tunisian President showed up at a rally where people were protesting
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly will visit parliament on Monday to deliver a statement on the implementation of his government’s two-year-old “Egypt Kicks Off” programme, parliamentary sources announced on Sunday.
Ugandan Security Forces Stop U.S. Ambassador from Gaining Access to Bobi Wine’s House
Joel Ssenyonyi, the spokesman for Uganda’s biggest opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP), has accused the military of raiding offices where agents were gathering material for an election petition. Ssenyonyi said the party was in the process of collecting election results forms that show evidence of irregularities in Thursday’s election.
Ancient temple discovery in Egypt. Archaeologists uncover 54 new coffins
In a bid to hasten up recovery from the impact of Covid-19, Tanzania has set up a National Convention Bureau to promote conference tourism as a way of speeding up the industry’s recovery. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Dr Aloyce Nzuki, recently said that Tanzania’s diplomatic offices in various countries around the world will be used to appeal for more international conferences to be held in Tanzania.
Debt repayment by Kenya to China has been suspended due to COVID-19
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it recorded a trading surplus of ₦28.38 billion in September 2020. The Corporation disclosed this in its Monthly Financial and Operation Report (MFOR) for the month of September, released in Abuja, on Sunday. It said that the amount was slightly lower than the ₦29.60 billion surplus in August 2020.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health confirmed 890 new coronavirus cases
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population confirmed on Sunday, 890 new coronavirus cases, up from 887 on Saturday and 879 on Friday. The ministry also confirmed that 56 more people had died of virus-related issues while 701people had recovered so far. The total number of COVID-19 cases reported in Egypt has now risen to 156,397, recovered cases are at 122,993, and 8,583 deaths.
Egypt’s PM to Deliver Statement on Policy Programme on Monday
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly will visit parliament on Monday to deliver a statement on the implementation of his government’s two-year-old “Egypt Kicks Off” programme, parliamentary sources announced on Sunday.
COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria have not been approved by NAFDAC
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says the agency has not approved any COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria just yet. NAFDAC’s DG Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Nigeria’s capital Abuja. She stated that no application from vaccine manufacturers had been received by the agency “and therefore, no vaccine had been approved by NAFDAC.
A survey on remittances will be conducted by the Central Bank of Kenya
Kenya will next month commission a survey on remittances from its citizens in the diaspora as it seeks to increase the inflows’ support in development and economic growth. The first-ever survey of its kind will be conducted in February and March and will be spearheaded by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). Kenya’s apex bank will work closely with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and other stakeholders.
South Sudan Ready to Mediate Between Sudan, Ethiopia to end Border Conflict
The chairman of Uganda’s electoral commission, Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, has hailed the fiercely contested presidential and parliamentary as a success. At a news conference in the capital Kampala, he said Ugandans had turned up in large numbers and voted peacefully in spite of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 related deaths in Zimbabwe hit forty-seven in 24 hours
Nigeria recorded 23 fresh COVID-19 related deaths and 1,479 new cases of COVID-19 on Jan. 14. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Thursday said 23 new deaths brought the nation’s death toll to 1, 405. The agency stated that 1,479 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours across the country, adding that the nation’s confirmed cases now stand at 105, 478. NCDC said the 1, 479 COVID-19 new infections were reported from 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The island country of Seychelles re-opened to vaccinated visitors foe now.
The island country of Seychelles on Thursday re-opened its doors to visitors from anywhere in the world as long as they have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination, a top tourism official said. The Minister for Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde told a press conference that in addition to receiving the vaccine, the traveller must also produce a negative PCR test taken within the prior 72 hours.
EU Grants Zambia 23 Million Euros for Increased Access to Electricity
Amid the Covid-19 global pandemic, China’s total exports to Egypt reached 12.06 billion U.S. dollars during the first 11 months of 2020, registering an annual increase of 12.2 percent. Meanwhile, the total trade volume between the two countries during the same period hit 12.895 billion dollars, with a 10 percent annual increase, according to Han Bing, minister counselor for commercial affairs of the Chinese embassy in Egypt.
One peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed and another injured
One peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed and another injured in an attack by armed rebels on the outskirts of the city of Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR). A statement by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) in the CAR condemned the attack, noting that the rebels directly targeted the peacekeepers who were deployed in several cities across the country.
Sudan Army Seized 9 Ethiopia Camps
The Ethiopian Ambassador to Sudan Yibtalal Amero yesterday accused the Sudanese army of seizing nine camps inside Ethiopian territory, according to media reports.
United Nations peacekeepers have been killed by a road bomb in Mali
At least 18m registered voters are expected to exercise their franchise in Uganda on Thursday, amid an internet shutdown by the government. On Wednesday morning, Ugandans woke to see that their internet access had been scuttled after the sitting government ordered the Ugandan Communication Commission to break internet access. In a national address on Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni said the internet had to be shut down to check foreign influence on the electios.
Ethiopian military plane breached the Sudanese airspace, Sudan says.
Sudan claims an Ethiopian military plane breached the Sudanese airspace, raising tensions between the two neighbouring African countries that are embroiled in a territorial dispute. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday in a statement on Twitter, that the move is a “dangerous and unjustified” escalation. Ethiopia’s army spokesman and the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed didn’t respond to calls seeking comment.
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya met Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister
In a bid to hasten up recovery from the impact of Covid-19, Tanzania has set up a National Convention Bureau to promote conference tourism as a way of speeding up the industry’s recovery. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Dr Aloyce Nzuki, recently said that Tanzania’s diplomatic offices in various countries around the world will be used to appeal for more international conferences to be held in Tanzania.
We Don't Need Lectures from Anyone, Museveni Tells Foreign Critics
Facebook users in Uganda have reported the inability to access the social media app as the country braces for a tense election that has been marred with violent campaigns. On Tuesday morning, just two days to the general elections, users said they could only access the social media site through a virtual private network (VPN).
Egypt’s Health Ministry on Tuesday recorded 970 new coronavirus cases
The World Health Organisation (WHO) in partnership with other UN agencies and humanitarian organisations have announced the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile to help fight against the deadly virus. WHO, in a statement posted on its website, announced that the vaccine stockpile would help to control future epidemics by ensuring timely access to vaccines for populations at risk during outbreaks.
Facebook users in Uganda have been unable to use the app
Facebook users in Uganda have reported the inability to access the social media app as the country braces for a tense election that has been marred with violent campaigns. On Tuesday morning, just two days to the general elections, users said they could only access the social media site through a virtual private network (VPN).
Zimbabwe has placed a ban on families transporting dead relatives
The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Nigeria rose to 101,331 in 24 hours with additional 1,244 cases on Monday night. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on its website late Monday night, also reported three coronavirus-related deaths for the period. Available data show that last week the country recorded more than 9,833 cases, a sharp increase from the 5,681 cases recorded in the previous week of Dec. 27, 2020, and Jan. 2, 2021.
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