18 May 2021
Mozambique: Former Finance Minister Manuel Chang, arrested in South Africa at end 2018 “allegedly signed off loans that were taken out between 2013 and 2016 which pushed Mozambique into a debt crisis in what has become known as the ‘tuna bond’ scandal.” He is wanted in the US for charges of corruption and financial fraud and also by Mozambique which has now renewed its push for his extradition. South Africa's justice minister was told to decide whether to extradite Mr Chang to the US or his home country in November 2019 but apparently still has not made up his mind
BBC Africa Live 18 May 2021. 238:23
Mozambique/Tanzania: People fleeing violence in Cabo Delgado are being refused asylum in Tanzania and are being forcibly returned. According to the UNHCR, 1.500 have been turned back in May and several thousand since January 2021.
BBC Africa Live 18 May 2021. 13:10
Mali: The Malian National Workers Union (UNTM) representing teachers, gold miners, health workers and various essential services is happy with the four-day strike it started on Monday – key sectors of the economy had successfully been paralysed. And more trouble lies ahead for the government: “Several other strike notices have also been issued and the opposition movement that galvanised protests that topped former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta also intends to resume demonstrations.”
BBC Africa Live 18 May 2021. 10:11
Somaliland: The country is marking the 30th anniversary of its secession from Somalia – it is still waiting for international recognition of its independence, but has been successful in maintaining peace. The country holds parliamentary and local elections in two weeks time.
BBC Africa Live 18 May 2021. 16:00
17 May 2021
Rwanda: Emergency situations like the 1994 genocide create a backlog of education. Second chance opportunities for formal education need to be on offer. The author’s research, based on life-story interviews, “shows that this needs to be accessible, flexible and inclusive.” She provides examples from Rwanda where the post-genocide government took the problem very seriously.
https://theconversation.com/conflict-kills-education-rwandan-experiences-show-how-lost-years-can-be-recovered-158314
Sudan: 7 soldiers have been arrested and will be tried for the killing of 2 demonstrators last Tuesday outside army HQs in Khartoum. But there is still no prosecution for those who killed many more two years ago – who “were from the much-feared Rapid Support Forces - headed by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo who today is the deputy head of the military council.”
BBC Africa Live 17 May 2021. 5:10
Sudan: France has promised to lend Sudan 1.5bn USD so that it can pay off its arrears to the IMF – a precondition for debt forgiveness under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
BBC Africa Live 17 May 2021. 10:55
Zimbabwe: The Justice minister, of all people, said “we do not accept the decision of the High Court. We have a serious situation of a judiciary that has been captured by foreign forces in this country”. On Saturday, the court had ruled that Luka Malaba, who the President wanted to stay on for another term, had ceased to be chief justice.
BBC Africa Live 17 May 2021. 4:37
Zambia: For the 12 August elections, reigning president Edgar Lungu has chosen another woman as candidate for the vice-presidency, Prof. Nkandu Luo, a microbiologist. Since 2015, Inonge Wina had been vice-president, the first woman to hold that position.
BBC Africa Live 17 May 2021. 12:36
Tanzania: The Covid task force, formed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, amongst its 19 recommendations advises the government to start a mass vaccination programme, to make information about the virus public and to prepare for a third wave.
BBC Africa Live 17 May 2021. 16:15