AllAfrica

Mozambique Gears for General Elections ‍[SANF] A carnival atmosphere has characterised election campaigns in Mozambique as political parties woo the electorate for votes in the 9 October general elections. Over 14 million people have registered to vote in the polls in which Mozambicans will elect a new president, parliamentarians and provincial representatives. More than 36 political parties are participating in the polls at different levels according to Mozambique's National Electoral Commission (CNE). The election campaign season opened on 24 August, Read More

South Africa's Central Bank Cuts Rates for First Time in Four Years ‍[Daba Finance] TLDR South Africa's central bank reduces benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 8% in response to global easing expectations. Governor Lesetja Kganyago announces the rate cut during a press briefing, aligning with most economists' predictions. Inflation in South Africa has moderated below the central bank's target range of 4.5%, allowing policymakers to commence easing after keeping rates high for 15 years. South Africa's central bank lowered its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 8%, Read More

Ethiopia: Deadly Attack At Mosque Leaves Six Dead in Somali Region ‍[Addis Standard] Six individuals were killed on 18 September, 2024, in an attack on a mosque in Werder town, Werder zone of the Somali region, according to residents who spoke to Addis Standard. A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Addis Standard that the incident occurred around 4:00 AM at a mosque located in 04 Kebele of Werder town. According to the source, six students were present at the mosque when the attack by an "unidentified armed assailant" took place. "The area has experienced clashes over the Read More

Africa: President Obama Introduces New Cohort of 34 Obama Foundation Leaders from Africa ‍[The Obama Foundation] This year’s Leaders Africa cohort is part of new class of over 200 Obama Foundation Leaders who were selected from a competitive pool of more than 6,000 applicants from around the world Today, President Obama proudly introduced a new cohort of 34 emerging changemakers from Africa as part of The Obama Foundation’s Leaders program. They are part of a larger class of 205 individuals that comprises 35 Leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, 36 from Europe, and 100 from the United States. Chosen from Read More

Africa: AGOA, Agoing, Agoner? Risks of U.S. Trade Policy for Africa ‍[ISS] AGOA expires in 2025, and Washington's political climate suggests a 'business-as-usual' approach is unlikely to suffice. The future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is increasingly uncertain as United States (US) industrial policy becomes more nationalistic and securitised, particularly in response to shifting geopolitical, trade and domestic priorities. Established in 2000, AGOA offers duty-free access to the US market for certain products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries, to Read More

Sudan: UN Urges Immediate Action to Stop Fighting in El Fasher ‍[UN News] A sharp escalation in fighting in Sudan's El Fasher, along with ongoing clashes between rival military factions across the country, is heightening the risk of atrocities, including violence against women, and worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis, senior UN officials warned on Wednesday. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with their allied militias, continue to flout international humanitarian and human rights laws, said Martha Pobee, Read More

South Africa: Thabo Bester and Hundreds of Other Prisoners Kept in Unlawful Conditions, Says Inspectorate ‍[GroundUp] Report argues that solitary confinement is a form of torture Hundreds of prisoners at Kgosi Mampuru II C-Max and Ebongweni Super-Maximum Correctional Centre are held in isolation for 23 hours a day, the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) has found. JICS says these conditions amount to solitary confinement and have serious effects on prisoners' mental and physical health. The conditions are in violation of national and international norms and prisoners' constitutional rights, JICS says. Read More

Africa: Women in Low-Income Countries Bear the Brunt of Ovarian Cancer ‍[allAfrica] "But conversely, when it comes to healthcare dollars spent per capita on ovarian cancer, middle- to lower-income countries spend significantly more." "Current estimates suggest that by 2040, 70% of all cancer mortality will occur in lower and middle-income countries. These numbers serve as a call for action. We cannot let it stand," said Jeff Dunn, President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) at the opening of the 2024 World Cancer Congress in Geneva. Read More

Africa: Communities at the Center - Leading the Fight to End HIV ‍[allAfrica] The choice is clear, and the time to act is now: Trust, empower, and follow the lead of the communities we serve. The 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich highlighted a critical strategy for ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030: putting communities at the forefront. While the global HIV response has long been a collaborative effort with significant progress, deeper community engagement is now vital to address persistent challenges. As we approach our 2030 goal , we must refine Read More

Kenya: Employment Court Halts Strike By University Staff in Urgent Suit By Councils ‍[Capital FM] The Employment and Labour Court has suspended a strike called by the University staff under the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) that kicked off on Wednesday. Justice Jacob Gakeri ordered suspension of industrial by the university staff under the two unions following an urgent suit filed by the Inter-Public Universities' Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF). "Upon considering the Notice of Motion, Supporting Affidavit and annexures, it is hereby ordered Read More