AFRICA

Arusha, Tanzania | THE INDEPENDENT |  The East African Community (EAC) will not participate as an observer in the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due on Wednesday, December 20. The secretariat said in a brief statement that the DRC authorities had declined the EAC application to have …

CAIRO | Xinhua | Egypt’s National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with 89.6 percent of valid votes. At a press conference in the capital Cairo, the NEA said the turnout reached 66.8 percent of the total 67 million eligible …

Somali security forces take over key installations from ATMIS troops MOGADISHU | Xinhua |  Somali security forces have officially taken over security responsibilities for the presidential palace, State House, and Parliament from the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) troops. ATMIS said the handover took place Sunday afternoon in Mogadishu, the …

An expert unpacks the reactions of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda ANALYSIS | MICHAEL BISHKU | The reactions of some east African countries to the ongoing conflict in Gaza have been less dramatic than South Africa’s. South Africa’s parliament has passed a resolution calling for the closure of its embassy in Tel …

  Mogadishu, Somalia | THE INDEPENDENT |  The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Federal Government of Somalia have said the lifting of the 31-year UN arms embargo on Somalia would give fresh impetus to the fight against the Al Shabaab and other armed groups in Somalia. …

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA | Xinhua | Nine people were shot dead and eight others injured while they were drinking liquor Saturday night outside Rustenburg, North West Province of South Africa, local police said Sunday. At around 9:15 p.m., local time, Saturday, five males and four females were shot dead at …

KIGALI, RWANDA | Xinhua | Rwanda has secured 268 million U.S. dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to confront climate shocks, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday. The funding, approved on Thursday under the new Standby Credit Facility, will also be used to boost balance of payments, the …

Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Federal Republic of Somalia moved a step closer to full integration into the East African Community (EAC), following this week’s signing of the Treaty of Accession at State House, Entebbe, Uganda. Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and EAC Heads of States Summit Chairperson …

CAPE TOWN | Xinhua |  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday asked 10,000 new police officers, who were  deployed nationwide since Dec. 15, to help ensure a safe holiday period in the country. He made the remarks when speaking at a passing-out parade of 1,400 newly trained officers in …

NAIROBI, KENYA | Xinhua | Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday launched construction of the Riruta-Ngong Commuter Rail line that aims to ease traffic congestion in the capital city of Nairobi. Ruto said that the 12.5-km meter gauge railway line, to be constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) …