30 December 2022
My two main sources for the article summaries, BBC Africa and The Conversation, are in holiday mode since 19th of December, BBC Africa has switched off its “Africa Live” programme and does only “Latest Updates”, The Conversation republishes articles from its archives. As I do not invent news: sorry for the dearth of them for the time being…
Côte d’Ivoire: 200,000 children in the country are said to “have escaped hazardous work and exploitation (…) in the cocoa industry” – such work is prohibited by a 2017 Ivorian law for under 18-year-olds. But 790,000 children are thought to be still working in the industry. Besides explaining the legal situation and the state’s activities against child labour and trafficking, this Guardian article presents a centre for victims of child labour in Soubré (south-west of the country, north of San Pedro), where 486 children between 5 and 18 years old have been welcomed since the centre’s opening in June 2018.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/dec/27/how-ivory-coast-is-winning-the-fight-to-keep-its-children-out-of-the-cocoa-fields
Eritrea: Catholic bishop Fikremariam Hagos and parish priest Abba Mihretab Stefanos have been released from prison. The bishop had been in detention since mid-October without any reason given for his imprisonment or any trial held. Only 4% of Eritreans are Catholic. The church, which “has repeatedly called for an end to one-party rule in Eritrea, and for democracy to be embraced”, is one in “four religious groups allowed to operate in Eritrea, along with the Eritrean Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran, and Sunni Muslim groups.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64110849
Botswana: Because of possession of illegal firearms and because he did not “appear for trial earlier this year”, an arrest warrant has been issued for ex-president Ian Khama who has been residing in South Africa for a year – and also for the ex-heads of intelligence and police services. Beyond the possession of illegal firearms, the 14 charges Ian Khama is facing include money laundering and the handling of stolen property. Khama denies the charges.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64124882
29 December 2022
My two main sources for the article summaries, BBC Africa and The Conversation, are in holiday mode since 19th of December, BBC Africa has switched off its “Africa Live” programme and does only “Latest Updates”, The Conversation republishes articles from its archives. As I do not invent news: sorry for the dearth of them for the time being…
Nigeria: While driving home from mass on Christmas Day with family members, 41-year-old Bolanle Raheem was shot dead by police officer Drambi Vandi. She was a lawyer and she was pregnant with twins. She leaves behind a husband and a 5-year-old daughter. The “Nigeria Bar Association(…)’s Lagos branch said it would institute legal action against the police to demand $10m in compensation for Ms Raheem's family.” Police brutality is notorious in Nigeria – the #EndSars movement in 2020 led to the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64110848