Africa

Mogadishu [Somalia] (ANI/Sputnik): Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble condemned the terrorist attack targeting a car with the Federal Government Spokesperson Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, the Office of the Prime Minister said on Sunday.Earlier on Sunday, Somalian news portal Garowe Online reported that a suicide bomber attacked a vehicle with the Federal Government Spokesperson in the Somalian capital city of Mogadishu, which resulted in the latter being injured. “The PM H.E Mohamed Roble strongly condemns the odious terrorist attack targeting Government Spokesman, Mr Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu who sustained injuries today but is in stable condition. The PM wishes Mr Moalimuu a quick recovery,” the office tweeted.According to Garowe Online, the radical Islamist al-Shabaab movement, affiliated with al-Qaeda (terror group banned in Russia), has claimed the responsibility for the attack, threatening to carry another attack next week.The Al-Shabaab group is engaged in an armed conflict against the central government of Somalia and prevents UN humanitarian activities in the country.Somalia collapsed as a unified nation in 1991 with the downfall of Siad Barre’s dictatorship. The international community recognized the federal government as the only legitimate authority in the country, which controls the capital Mogadishu and several other areas. The rest of Somalia is controlled by unrecognized state entities or self-governed, including the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland in the north and the autonomous Puntland region in the east. (Image source: Instagram)

Abuja [Nigeria] (ANI/Xinhua): Eight people were killed and another severely injured after a bus lost one of its tyres in motion and somersaulted several times on a highway in Nigeria’s eastern state of Taraba, said the police on Friday.Usman Abdullahi, a spokesman for the police in Taraba, told reporters that seven passengers were confirmed dead on the spot but another died while receiving treatment at a local hospital following the lone accident on Thursday along the Iware-Wukari highway in the state. The ill-fated passenger bus was en route Enugu, in the southeast region of the country, travelling from Jalingo, the state capital of Taraba, when the unfortunate incident occurred, Abdullahi said.The official blamed the incident on overspeeding, calling on drivers never to exceed their speed limits and ensure that their vehicles are in good condition at all times.Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad road conditions, and reckless driving. (Image source: Instagram)

Bamako [Mali] (ANI/ Sputnik) – The number of soldiers who died as a result of a Wednesday attack in the western part of Mali increased to eight, and seven more were injured, the Malian Armed Forces said.On Wednesday, the military said that four army personnel were killed in the attack in the area of the village of Nara and about ten were injured. “Yesterday’s number of soldiers died increased from 4 to 8 people, 7 soldiers were injured and 3 vehicles destroyed. The enemy lost 31 people, weapons and ammunition were seized,” the military said in a press release, published on the website.The armed forces added that because of airstrikes, carried out by the Malian air force, the total number of terrorists’ casualties is still to be clarified, for which a search operation was launched.Despite the presence of UN and French troops in Mali, the country continues to struggle to contain the Islamist insurgency that erupted in the northern region in 2012. The conflict has spread to central Mali, as well as neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. (Image source: Instagram)

Abuja [Nigeria] (ANI/Xinhua) — The Nigerian government on Wednesday ended its suspension of Twitter, seven months after it halted the operation of the California-based microblogging platform in Africa’s most populous country.The lifting of the ban in Nigeria would take effect from 12 a.m. local time on Thursday (2300 GMT Wednesday) after the U.S. company had agreed to meet all the conditions set by the Nigerian government, Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency, said in a statement. “The Federal Government of Nigeria directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria,” said Abdullahi, who also participated in the government’s negotiations with Twitter.The official noted that Twitter is a platform of choice for many Nigerians to communicate, “therefore, our engagement will help Twitter improve and develop more business models to cover a broader area in Nigeria.”The Nigerian government suspended the operations of Twitter on June 5, 2021, two days after it accused the social networking company of double standards and supporting secessionists in the west African country.Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said in a statement at the time that the suspension was indefinite, citing “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”Nigerian and Twitter representatives have been in negotiations since then over a number of key issues including national security […]

New York [US] (ANI/Sputnik): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the release of members of the opposition in Ethiopia and called on the parties to build on this significant step by reaching a lasting ceasefire.“I welcome today’s release from prison in Ethiopia of numerous detainees, including key opposition figures,” Guterres said in a statement. “I call upon the parties to build on this significant confidence-building step by agreeing a cessation of hostilities and a lasting ceasefire, as well as launching a credible and inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation process.” Guterres also said he looked forward to meaningful progress in humanitarian access to all areas in Ethiopia affected by the war following his last contact with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.In December, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which has been fighting the government forces since the military conflict broke out in November 2020, said it would pull back to bring forth an end to the bloodshed.The government said it would not send troops into TPLF-controlled Tigray region to conserve resources and avoid further accusations of genocide but noted that it stands ready to order its forces to go into the region, whenever deemed necessary. (Image source: Unsplash)

Gaithersburg [US] (ANI): Novavax, a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, and Serum Institute of India (SII), on Monday, announced a regulatory submission to the South African Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAHPRA) for emergency use authorization (EUA) of Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate with Matrix-M adjuvant.“If authorised, the vaccine (known as NVX-CoV2373) will be manufactured by and commercialized by SII in South Africa under the brand name Covovax,” said Novavax in a statement on Monday. “Novavax is thankful for our long-standing history of partnership in South Africa to advance much-needed vaccines. This is exemplified by the country’s vital role in the Phase 2b clinical trial and booster study of our protein-based COVID-19 vaccine,” said Stanley C Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax.“Novavax and Serum Institute remains focused on delivering the COVID-19 vaccine – built on well-understood technology – where it is needed most. We look forward to SAHPRA’s review and, if authorized, delivering the vaccine to help South Africa control the pandemic,” Erck added.In total, Novavax’s vaccine has received authorizations of the vaccine in over 170 countries, including conditional marketing authorisation for its vaccine in the European Union and emergency use listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO).The Novavax/SII vaccine (Covovax) recently received EUA in India, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as WHO EUL and is also currently under review by multiple […]

Nairobi [Kenya] (ANI): World-renowned paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey, who unearthed evidence that helped prove humankind evolved in Africa, died on Sunday at the age of 77, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed in a statement.“I have this afternoon, Sunday 2nd January 2022, received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing away of Dr Richard Erskine Frere Leakey, Kenya’s former Head of Public Service,” CNN reported citing Kenyatta’s statement. “On behalf of the people of Kenya, my family and on my own behalf, I send heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the family, friends and associates of Dr Richard Leakey during this difficult period of mourning,” the statement added.Leakey is perhaps best known for his discovery of fossils, particularly the 1984 excavation of the bones of “Turkana Boy,” a nearly complete skeleton of a young male Homo erectus dating to 1.6 million years ago. He also became a leading force in the effort to stop the poaching of elephants and rhinos in Kenya, according to the Royal Society, as per CNN.Besides his work as a scientist, he held a number of official positions in Kenya, including director of the National Museums of Kenya and Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service, it added. (Image source: Instagram)

Addis Ababa [Ethiopia](ANI/Xinhua): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 10,028,508 as of Saturday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.The specialized healthcare agency of the African Union said the death toll across the continent stands at 231,157 and some 8,916,469 patients have recovered from the disease so far. South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Libya are among the countries with the most cases on the continent, said the Africa CDC.South Africa has recorded the most COVID-19 cases in Africa with 3,513,813 cases. It is followed by Morocco and Tunisia, with 990,057 and 738,442 cases respectively.In terms of the caseload, southern Africa is the most affected region, followed by the northern and eastern parts of the continent, while central Africa is the least affected region in the continent, according to the Africa CDC.According to the Africa CDC, African countries have acquired 547 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far. About 9.6 percent of Africa’s population have been fully vaccinated. (Image source: Free Range)

Washington [US]: United States is not pushing for countries in Africa to choose between a relationship with the US or China, the State Department has said after reports emerged that Beijing was appointing its own special envoy for the Horn of Africa.“We are committed to promoting peace, security and prosperity in the Horn and we’ll work with all partners who share our objectives in that,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a briefing on Thursday (local time), The Hill reported. “We don’t ask our partners to choose between the United States and any other country, that includes the PRC (People’s Republic of China). What we seek is not to make them choose but to give them choices,” he added.Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday announced the appointment of a US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, to take over for veteran diplomat Jeffrey Feltman, who held the inaugural position since April, according to the publication.“I look forward to welcoming Ambassador David Satterfield in the coming days as the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa once Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman ends his appointment,” Blinken said in a statement via Twitter.

Washington [US]: Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that he looks forward to welcoming David Satterfield as US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa as the current diplomat in that position finishes his appointment in the next several days.“I look forward to welcoming Ambassador David Satterfield in the coming days as the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa once Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman ends his appointment,” Blinken said in a statement via Twitter. Blinken noted that the Biden administration invited Feltman to this position in early 2021 but intended his appointment to last less than a year.“However, the ongoing instability in the Horn of Africa and the region’s interlinked political, security and humanitarian challenges demand sustained focus by the United States,” he said.Blinken also said he is confident Satterfield will help to promote a peaceful and prosperous Horn of Africa.Feltman will continue working at the State Department in an advisory capacity, Blinken added.

Dodoma [Tanzania]: At least nine people were killed in a shipwreck off the Tanzanian coast near Pemba Island, with the boat said to be carrying around 30-40 people on the way to a funeral, media reported on Wednesday citing local police.Pemba South police commander Richard Thadei said the boat heading to Panza Island from Pemba’s city of Chake-Chake on Tuesday evening did not reach its destination, overturning in the middle of the journey, as Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen reported. “So far nine bodies have been recovered and taken to the Regional Hospital for a medical examination so that the process of handing them over to their families can go ahead,” the police commander said.Ten people are missing and six others were rescued, according to the news outlet.Thadei added that the cause of the accident is was unknown, but ruled out bad weather conditions. Rescue operations have been postponed until the early morning due to poor weather and darkness.

Johannesburg [South Africa]: A South African opposition leader has implicated the ruling African National Congress in a fire at the national houses of parliament that erupted two days before the planned release of a damning report on a probe into government corruption.A commission was set up in 2018 to investigate allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the country’s public sector. It submitted its findings to President Cyril Ramaphosa in late December and was to make a part of the report public on Tuesday. “I suspect that information in there shows government corruption… I rise to say government itself led by Ramaphosa and his ministers and people deployed there might want this information to be destroyed,” Willie Madisha, of the Congress of the People, told Sputnik.The fire erupted early on Sunday in the oldest wing of the sprawling parliament complex in Cape Town, used by the National Council of Provinces as well as for committee meetings. A blaze was later reported in the so-called New Wing, where the lower house National Assembly sits. That fire has not been extinguished yet.Madisha, who sits on the National Assembly, told Sputnik he was surprised by the fire given that security at the complex was very tight. But he argued that the place was prone to mishaps “whenever serious issues are raised.”There were copies of the commission’s report locked up in the offices of certain officials in […]