05 July 2022
Nigeria: Shortly after “a devastating attack on a mining site” where 20 security forces were killed and 4 Chinese miners kidnapped, the government of Niger state has suspended all mining activities with immediate effect. All mining in the state will from now on be screened as some of the mining proceeds are thought to have financed armed gangs some of whom at times team up with Islamists.
BBC Africa Live 05 July 2022. 5:51
Lesotho: It has been clear since the mid-2010s that the country is in dire need of constitutional reforms. Most governments have been trying to get this done, but little has happened so far. Now, finally, an Omnibus Bill is before Parliament which deals with the main problems: “the excessive powers of the prime minister, a judiciary that is controlled by the executive, politicised security agencies and a weak parliament.” But it is unlikely to be voted – there is no consensus on it in its entirety and making the changes will take time – before the imminent (mid-July) dissolution of Parliament ahead of new elections in October. The new government will then have to get serious about the Omnibus Bill.
https://theconversation.com/lesotho-due-to-hold-elections-despite-lack-of-progress-on-key-political-reforms-185542
Kenya: The devolution of power to county governments contained in the 2010 constitution has not had the hoped for effects on food security – logically, this should be an issue that can be dealt with locally much better than by a far-off centre. Though some progress has been achieved, “inadequate resource allocation, weak governance systems, and skewed political-administrative priorities” hinder success. Concerning financial resources, the country only spends 3% of the national budget on agriculture – despite, in 2003, committing to increase agriculture’s share to 10%.
https://theconversation.com/why-kenyas-experiment-in-giving-local-governments-the-power-to-manage-food-security-hasnt-worked-185789
Somaliland: Parts of Gacidh Forest (Sanag region/north-east of the country, not far from Dallo Mountain National Park) has fallen prey to a large forest fire which began on Sunday and grew worse yesterday Monday. The whole region is suffering from a severe drought.
BBC Africa Live 05 July 2022. 14:01
South Africa: Power utility Eskom and striking workers have reached a deal (salaries +7%, the workers had demanded +10%). Because of the strike, power cuts (“load shedding”) had increased to sometimes 6 hours a day. This should now be over, though getting back to the status quo ante will take some time.
BBC Africa Live 05 July 2022. 17:13
Nigeria: Lately, the authorities of Zamfara state (north-west of the country) have publicly stated that they wanted citizens – and first of all farmers – to arm themselves to better be able to defend themselves against armed gangs, the so-called “bandits”. But the national government is against this: “Asking individuals to arm themselves is a recipe for anarchy”, they believe.
BBC Africa Live 05 July 2022. 16:38
04 July 2022
South Africa: Nelson Mandela Bay municipality with its capital Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is fast approaching “Day Zero” when there will be no water in the taps at all. Poor neighbourhoods are already suffering, where communal taps – that supply water to households – mostly do not work. Town residents have for some time only been allowed to use 50 litres of water maximum per person per day.
BBC Africa Live 04 July 2022. 8:48
Congo-Kinshasa/Ebola no.14 over: It took only 3 months to contain the country’s 14th Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka (on the river Congo, north-east of Kinshasa). 4 have died (3 confirmed cases and 1 probable one). According to WHO, it was the outbreak response’s swiftness and robustness that ensured the quick containment.
BBC Africa Live 04 July 2022. 12:27
Egypt: The Suez Canal earned the country a record 7bn USD July 2021 through June 2022, 20% more than the previous record. Around a 10th of all maritime trade passes through the Suez Canal.
BBC Africa Live 04 July 2022. 13:12
Morocco/Spain/Drug trafficking: 6 unmanned submarines – thus “underwater drones” – built to transport 200 kg of drugs across the Gibraltar strait have been seized by Spanish police.
BBC Africa Live 04 July 2022. 15:38
Ghana: Teaching and non-teaching personnel of primary and secondary schools will go on strike because their cost of living allowances (20% of their salaries) have not been paid – at the same time inflation is at an 18-year-high.
BBC Africa Live 04 July 2022. 17:27