22 April 2021
Kenya/Gender-based violence: GBV – mainly physical assault, sexual violence and child neglect – have exploded during the pandemic, increasing by 92% according to official data. The first half of 2020 saw the worst rise, with 1.5 million losing their jobs because of corona restrictions
BBC Africa Live 22 April 2021. 17:44
Chad/France: Paris apparently has no problem with the un-constitutionality of the Military Council headed by the late president’s son that has taken power. Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke of “exceptional circumstances” and the priority being the ensuring of stability.
BBC Africa Live 22 April 2021. 11:36
Tchad: The article follows Idriss Déby Itno through his life, mostly the 30 years he spent in power, from promising beginnings to disillusionment, with little attention paid to the support he had from the French and other neo-colonial powers.
https://theconversation.com/idriss-deby-itno-offered-chadians-great-hope-but-ended-up-leaving-a-terrible-legacy-159443
Kenya: Under the guise of its fight against terrorism, Kenya wants – again, in 2017 the high court stopped it – to close the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in the northern part of the country that together hold more than 400,000 refugees. In disregarding the doctrine of non-refoulement (refoulement is the forced repatriation of refugees) Kenya blatantly goes against its international obligations and also its own laws – and puts its standing as a key host country for refugees at risk.
https://theconversation.com/why-kenya-is-on-thin-ice-in-its-justification-for-sending-somali-refugees-back-home-159356
Tanzania/Girls’ SRH: Looking for interventions that improve the sexual and reproductive health of girls and young women aged 11 to 22, the author’s research – not very surprisingly – found two essential interventions: “engaging with and inspiring adolescent boys and young men to make better choices around their sexual and reproductive health” and “empowering adolescent girls and young women”. The first was achieved by soccer-based health programmes for boys, the second by asking female adolescents to set two or three specific strategies to achieve the goal of staying healthy and free of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Concerning the use of contraception, the study found that mere access to free contraceptives has no significant impact – what is needed instead is an altering of norms.
https://theconversation.com/study-from-tanzania-offers-lessons-on-how-to-improve-the-health-of-adolescent-girls-worldwide-156311
Great Britain/Racism: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has found that at least 116,000 and possibly 350,000 WW1 victims, mostly Blacks and Asians, who were fighting for the British Empire have not been properly commemorated. The reason: “pervasive racism”.
Following the publication of the report, “Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered an unreserved apology” and defence minister Ben Wallace “promised new commemorations and efforts to bring what he called this hidden history to life.”
BBC Africa Live 22 April 2021. 6:17 and BBC Africa Live 22 April 2021. 17:50
Mozambique/Cabo Delgado: With Mozambique unwilling to ask for other countries’ help, a military intervention from SADC or the African Union is unlikely. “A multi-dimensional approach is preferable to military action. It should include re-establishing the rule of law, good governance and upholding human rights, along with effective border policing and coastal patrols. Humanitarian efforts are essential to help alleviate poverty and neglect in Cabo Delgado in the short and long term.”
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/limited-legal-options-for-sadc-military-action-in-cabo-delgado
Nigeria: Now for the hospitals! In Idon (Kaduna State), a hospital has been attacked and two female nurses have been abducted by armed men. That a hospital is targeted is a first.
BBC Africa Live 22 April 2021. 17:59
21 April 2021
The Gambia: Trachoma, caused by the chlamydia bacteria, spread by contaminated fingers/flies/towels inflames eyelids chronically and can eventually lead to blindness. The Gambia has eliminated trachoma as a public health threat. Trachoma is still endemic in 29 other African countries.
BBC Africa Live 21 April 2021. 14:46
Nigeria: One member of staff has been killed and an unknown number of students – both male and female – abducted by armed men from Greenfield university on the outskirts of Kaduna city.
BBC Africa Live 21 April 2021. 14:22 and BBC Africa Live 21 April 2021. 10:13
Chad: The borders have been reopened and the curfew slightly relaxed - it now starts at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. “Tanks and heavy artillery are still deployed around the presidency”
BBC Africa Live 21 April 2021. 13:12
Ethiopia: Amhara in 4 districts or more of eastern Amhara region have come under attack between last Wednesday and Monday in what is said to be ethnic violence against Amhara who there form a majority alongside an Oromo minority. The rebel group OLF Shane denies being behind the attacks. At least 20 people are said to have been killed – officials say “many”, without giving an exact number.
BBC Africa Live 21 April 2021. 8:01
Congo-Kinshasa/Uganda: “In June 1999, DR Congo filed a case at the ICJ (International Court of Justice) accusing its neighbours Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi of committing acts of armed aggression, abuse of human rights and looting of resources, in violation of the UN and African Union charters.” DRC in 2001 withdrew its accusations against Rwanda and Burundi. “(I)n 2005, the ICJ ruled that Uganda invaded its neighbour illegally and DR Congo had not consented to the Ugandan military operating in its territory.” In 2015, DRC informed the court that the talks had failed. It is now seeking USD4.3bn in compensation over Uganda’s invasion. The case began on Tuesday.
BBC Africa Live 21 April 2021. 4:31
Tanzania: Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s (the ruling party’s) governance has always had coercive elements. This implies that Magufuli was not as bad as he was made out to be; and that his successor, Samia Suluhu Hassan, may have less room for change than many think. “Real and sustained democratic progress in Tanzania will require not just a new leader, but the emergence of supportive pro-reform factions in the ruling party to support their ideas. President Samia Suluhu Hassan may be able to engineer this over time, but Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s history tells us that doing so will be a long and difficult struggle.”
https://theconversation.com/the-roots-of-repression-and-the-prospects-for-democracy-in-tanzania-159052