15 September 2022
Mozambique: In Gaza province (south of the country), fishers are worried about foreign trawlers illegally fishing and reducing their catches. Maputo being “unable to effectively inspect fishing activities on its waters” is planning to join SADC’s surveillance system to better combat illegal fishing.
BBC Africa Live 15 September 2022. 7:48
Nigeria: 700,000 USD have been paid out by the National Human Rights Commission to 58 victims of police brutality or their relatives (extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests, prolonged detentions, illegal seizure of properties). Remember that, “(i)n October 2020, police brutality and violation of human rights by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) police unit triggered a nationwide protest with a hashtag #EndSars.”
BBC Africa Live 15 September 2022. 7:14
Zambia: The chief state prosecutor Lillian Siyunyi has been suspended by President Hakainde Hichilema who said he was acting on a recommendation of the Judicial Complaints Commission. Appointed by the previous government, her professional conduct has been questioned. She says she will have a lot to say to defend herself “once a presidential waiver is granted on the oath of secrecy.”
BBC Africa Live 15 September 2022. 9:34
Niger: More than 130 have been killed by floods this year, twice as many than in last year’s rainy season, with the regions of Maradi, Zinder and Diffa worst affected. Almost 150,000 were forced from their homes in these regions.
BBC Africa Live 15 September 2022. 18:21
14 September 2022
South Africa: According to the article’s author’s calculations, overweight and obesity cost the country’s health system 33 bn Rand per year (1.9bn USD) – 15.38% of government health expenditure or 0.67% of GDP. There is thus “an urgent need for preventive, population-level interventions to reduce overweight and obesity rates”.
https://theconversation.com/obesity-costs-south-africa-billions-we-did-the-sums-188768
Tunisia: The government and the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) have reached an agreement to increase public sector workers’ wages by 3.5% over the next three years. A multi-billion-dollar loan from the IMF for the country is conditioned on a deal between authorities and the union. The short article does not state whether that condition is now fulfilled.
BBC Africa Live 14 September 2022. 15:09
Ethiopia/Tigray: A second day of drone strikes has killed ten in Mekele, the capital of Tigray region.
BBC Africa Live 14 September 2022. 11:28
Kenya: New president William Ruto said food and fuel subsidies would be ended because they were expensive and ineffective. In another reversal of his predecessor’s policies, he had six judges sworn in today Wednesday – nominated by the Judicial Service Commission three years ago, ex-president Kenyatta had blocked their taking office claiming that “they were ‘tainted’.”
BBC Africa Live 14 September 2022. 6:33
Ghana/Environment: The tree cover has decreased by 20% since 2000. The main reasons for deforestation are logging, illegal mining and unsustainable farming practices. “The current forest restoration strategy adopted by the government through the Youth in afforestation Programme is unsustainable.” Political interference needs to be reduced and the necessary human, logistical and financial resources need to be made available. Ideally, “(t)he current approach should shift to a community-based and voluntary approach”.
https://theconversation.com/ghanas-efforts-to-employ-young-people-and-regrow-forests-could-work-better-190012
Ghana: Inflation has reached 33.9% year-on-year in August. “The cost of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels shot up by over 46%.” And transport fares are to go up by 30% next week.
BBC Africa Live 14 September 2022. 18:55