10 March 2022
Nigeria/Women: A colouring book featuring prominent Nigerian women has been published. A biography about every woman featured is included, focussing on the impact that each woman has had in her respective sector. “A colouring book was a way to make it more accessible to so many different people”.
BBC Africa Live 10 March 2022. 7:32
South Africa: The constitution recognizes customary law (indigenous law) “on an equal footing with common law”. So the recent Zulu kingship dispute could and should have been resolved by the AmaZulu Royal Council and its dispute resolution mechanisms – but it was referred to the High Court in Pietermaritzburg. The article reflects on (individualistic) modern versus (communal) traditional law. “If state laws continue to regulate indigenous conduct and disputes in this manner, indigenous laws will eventually be eradicated.” State laws tend to compel indigenous laws to become like them.
https://theconversation.com/what-the-zulu-kingship-judgment-tells-us-about-the-future-of-south-african-customary-law-178786
Ethiopia: In 2018, Dawud Ibsa and his Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) returned home from exile in Eritrea having signed a peace agreement with the government. But after a rift in the movement, they were accused “of having links with a splinter armed group behind attacks in the Oromia region”. With some of its key officials in jail and some of its offices shut down, the OLF boycotted last year’s elections. It has now been confirmed that Dawud Ibsa has been under house arrest since May 2021, plainclothes security personnel prevent all visits.
BBC Africa Live 10 March 2022. 5:26
Mali: Thousands of ancient manuscripts from Timbuktu have been digitised under a project called “Mali magic” which saw Google partnering with traditional leaders. The project will be unveiled today. “Up to 40,000 pages of the documents will be available online.” On top of that, there are “online interactive tours of some of Mali’s most significant historic sites using Google Street View”
BBC Africa Live 10 March 2022. 6:56
Aid being reduced/Burkina Faso/Somalia: Donors are cutting aid to Africa and reorienting their financing towards the Ukraine. The Norwegian Refugee Council and Oxford have reported 70% less financing for Burkina Faso (where terrorism have caused more than 8% of the population to become IDPs). In Somalia, funding problems have increased for the third of the population affected by a most severe drought.
BBC Africa Live 10 March 2022. 15:19
Kenya/Britain: “British soldiers (have been) accused of starting a wildfire during a training exercise that damaged a wildlife conservancy” in March 2021. A Kenyan court has ordered the matter to be “handled by an inter-governmental liaison committee, according to the terms of a Defence Cooperation Agreement signed by the two countries in 2015.” If British troops are found liable for the claims against them, then the British authorities will have to pay compensation for the 12,000 acres of land destroyed.
BBC Africa Live 10 March 2022. 9:53
09 March 2022
Guinea: The assets of two businessmen of Lebanese descent are to be seized upon a Guinean prosecutor’s order. This “comes after the two were sanctioned by the US Treasury for alleged money laundering and financing of terrorism” because of their links with Lebanon’s Shia group Hezbollah.
BBC Africa Live 09 March 2022. 6:51
Nigeria: After the Monday attacks that had left more than 60 vigilante members dead, gunmen in the same area on Tuesday attacked in Kanya village while deputy governor of Kebbi State, Samaila Yombe Dabai, was visiting. 13 soldiers and 6 other security force members are reported to have been killed.
BBC Africa Live 09 March 2022. 17:23
Nigeria: The country – a major oil producer, but refining hardly any of its crude oil – is suffering severe fuel shortages. Airlines have had to postpone or cancel flights.
BBC Africa Live 09 March 2022. 17:02
Mali/Mauritania: The Malian army is being accused of being involved in the killing of Mauritanians close to the border – seven in January and two more last weekend. Were they suspected of being jihadists? Were they killed by Russian mercenaries? Nothing is clear for the time being.
BBC Africa Live 09 March 2022. 16:45
Uganda: Contrary to Gen Kainerugaba’s social media announcement and according to the army, Museveni’s son has neither retired nor applied for retirement from the army. People had speculated that he had retired from the army to succeed his father at the next elections.
BBC Africa Live 09 March 2022. 16:19
Chad: At least 13 protesters have been killed and at least 80 injured by security forces in Abéché on January 24 and 25 according to Human Rights Watch and Convention Tchadienne de Défense des Droits Humains/CTDDH. The authorities, though regretting the deaths, deny that live ammunition was used.
BBC Africa Live 09 March 2022. 10:03