08 December 2022
Pastoralism in support of conservation: Instead of arming rangers and militarising conservation while excluding all others from wildlife areas, “pastoralists can be partners in biodiversity conservation efforts”. In Kenya, for example, there is a plan that “pastoralists alert the authorities to commercialised poaching and protect water sources for joint use by wildlife and livestock”. Excluding pastoralists can increase the risk of fires as more dry biomass is left around to fuel wildfires. While some livestock production systems are harmful for nature and biodiversity, others have positive effects. They should be judged on a case-by-case basis.
https://theconversation.com/how-pastoral-farming-can-help-to-avoid-a-biodiversity-crisis-195274
South Africa/RET: A faction of the ruling ANC, the Radical Economic Transformation is not really radical – its objective is the end of white racial domination in the economy. While white monopoly capital is attacked, it is not “capital” but “white” that is the enemy. E.g., compulsory expropriation of (white) land is advocated. RET is against privatisation – because it is thought it would benefit the whites. The RET faction overlaps with Jacob Zuma’s support base in Kwa-Zulu Natal and is supported by “black business lobbies doing business with the state, notably at provincial and local government levels”.
https://theconversation.com/what-is-ret-and-what-does-it-want-the-radical-economic-transformation-faction-in-south-africa-explained-195949
Congo-Kinshasa: An investigation by the United Nations has found that at least 131 civilians were killed in the M23 attacks end of November on Kishishe and Bambo villages (Rutsuhuru district/North Kivu province). The M23 attacks seem to have been “a reprisal to the current government offensive”.
BBC Africa Live 08 December 2022. 7:28
Uganda/Ebola: Since the September Ebola outbreak, 142 cases and 56 deaths have been registered. With no new cases registered in over three weeks, the outbreak may be under control. Today Thursday, “a shipment of Ebola vaccine candidates set to be used in a clinical trial” from WHO will be received by the health ministry.
BBC Africa Live 08 December 2022. 6:48
São Tomé and Príncipe: In this article, ISS consultant Peter Fabricius ponders what was behind the so-called coup attempt of 25th of November. Things are not as clear as the Prime minister makes them out to be. Anyhow, the coup attempt was not the country’s first, there had been two in the past, in 1995 and 2003 – so maybe the country’s reputation as one of the most “democratic” in Africa has got it wrong?
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/sao-tome-and-principes-hidden-turbulence
Islamic State: In Africa, at least 20 countries “have directly experienced the group’s activity” and at least 20 more “are used for logistics and to mobilise funds and resources”. ISS warns the UN Security Council “that Africa could be the future base of a caliphate” for IS. What is needed is a comprehensive continental strategy – and one that goes well beyond military measures.
https://issafrica.org/impact/spotlight-africa-could-become-an-islamic-state-caliphate-base-iss-warns-security-council
Ghana: Over 8 million Sim cards have been blocked because they had not been registered by the final (after several extensions) deadline on 30th of November. Over 20 million Sim cards have been registered. Many Ghanaians have no national identity cards – linking these to the Sim cards is the first step for Sim card registration.
BBC Africa Live 08 December 2022. 14:29
07 December 2022
Kenya: Around 28% of primary school pupils are in boarding facilities – Nairobi now plans to ban boarding up to grade 9, for primary and junior secondary school pupils. This is “to allow children to be under the care of their parents or guardians”. The rule will not hold for children from nomadic pastoralist communities.
BBC Africa Live 07 December 2022. 4:43
Somalia: Another step in the all-out war against al-Shabaab declared by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud: the strategic town of Adan Yabal in the country’s centre has been retaken by the army “without encountering any resistance”. While al-Shabaab has been losing territory of late, it may be too early to cry victory: “the militant group has been carrying out frequent deadly bombing raids – especially in the capital, Mogadishu.”
BBC Africa Live 07 December 2022. 5:57
Nigeria: From 9th of January onwards, over-the-counter cash withdrawals will be limited to 100,000 naira/225 USD per week for individuals and 500,000 naira for corporates and 20,000 for withdrawals through point-of-sale system. This is in line with the central bank’s “policy to promote cashless transactions”.
BBC Africa Live 07 December 2022. 6:40
Mozambique: For their role in the tuna bond scandal, Ndambi Guebuza, the son of ex-President Armando Guebuza, as well as tow ex-heads of intelligence have been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. Eight others were sentenced to between 10 and 12 years.
BBC Africa Live 07 December 2022. 10:57
Nigeria/Jihadist & bandit cooperation: With the Nigerian security forces as the main enemy, bandits and jihadists have something important in common. They seem to be getting closer to each other. Bandit group personnel could bolster jihadist forces. Closer cooperation or a consolidation of partnerships could prove disastrous for Nigerian civilians.
https://theconversation.com/jihadists-and-bandits-are-cooperating-why-this-is-bad-news-for-nigeria-195619