12 June 2021
Nigeria: In a move that seemed intended to pre-empt country-wide protests against growing insecurity, president Buhari stated the obvious: that “he has failed to end insecurity in the country, a promise he made when he was elected in 2015” and that “the fight against Islamist militants in the north had had the unintended consequence of spreading violence to other areas”. He – again – promised to do everything he could to end insecurity… No word, it seems, about security forces attacking protesters, trying to prevent criticism and key protest organisers targeted and arrested.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57452166
11 June 2021
Mozambique: Insecurity in Cabo Delgado in the country’s north continues and “thousands continue to flee”. According to UNHCR, “people have reported ‘regular gunfire at night and torching of houses’.” The number of displaced is thought to have reached 800,000 in the meantime – to other parts of Mozambique and also across the border, to Tanzania. For those “stuck in Cabo Delgado”, humanitarian aid access is restricted. UNHCR “was allowed into some of the areas and has distributed relief to 10,000 people.”
BBC Africa Live 11 June 2021. 13:15
Zambia: The Constitutional Court has declared that Edgar Lungu is serving his first term (2016-21) and can thus run for presidency in August’s elections. At his predecessor Michael Sata’s death, he had served as president for the remainder of Sata’s term – but the Constitutional Court has decided that that does not count as a first term.
BBC Africa Live 11 June 2021. 15:21
South Africa/Privatisation: 51% of South African Airways, the struggling national airline, are going to be sold to the Takatso Consortium for around USD220m. Takatso Consortium is made up of Harith General Partners (a “largely black-owned” fund manager that specialises in infrastructure development in Africa and also owns Lanseria International Airport) and Global Aviation, a local airline “that boasts itself as ‘the Uber of airlines’.”
BBC Africa Live 11 June 2021. 9:57
https://swisherpost.co.za/viral/who-is-takatso-consortium-saa-new-owners/
Ethiopia: The electoral board has postponed elections in Somali and Harari federal states to 6th of September, citing “irregularities and problems with the printing of ballot papers”. There is no date set for elections in Tigray. Elsewhere, elections will be held in 10 days’ time.
BBC Africa Live 11 June 2021. 8:23
Kenya/Somalia: In a move that could “could pave the way for normalisation (of) bilateral relations”, Kenya has lifted its month-old ban on flights to and from Somalia. The ban had hurt Kenyan khat farmers for whom Somalia is the biggest market.
BBC Africa Live 11 June 2021. 4:33