21 March 2023
Namibia: Activists have said they’ll go ahead with protests against unemployment today Tuesday – which is the 33rd anniversary of the country’s independence – despite a police ban. Michael Amushelelo of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters “said Namibia would celebrate 33 years of ‘high unemployment, high poverty, corrupt governance, looting and mismanagement of the country’.”
BBC Africa Live 21 March 2023. 6:42
Senegal: Will Macky Sall try to hold on to power beyond the two terms allowed by the constitution? In an interview he said it would not be unconstitutional for him to try for a third term. Political tensions already run high in the country, the government trying to instrumentalise courts to get rid of prominent figures of the opposition.
BBC Africa Live 21 March 2023. 4:33
African Union/LGBTQ+: The African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights – “an independent expert body within the African Union (AU) framework” – has recently refused observer status to three NGOs reasoning that “‘sexual orientation’ was not an ‘expressly recognised right’ in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights” and “that protecting and promoting sexual and gender minority rights was ‘contrary to the virtues of African values’.” This is not the first time the sexual orientation issue has come up with the Commission – in 2018, upon instruction of the AU executive council, it withdrew the observer status of the South African-based Coalition of African Lesbians, the executive council arguing that the Coalition tried “to impose values contrary to African values”. The article’s author explains why the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights, with its decision, “is on shaky ground”.
https://theconversation.com/lgbtq-rights-african-union-watchdog-goes-back-on-its-own-word-197555
Malawi: By the latest count, tropical storm Freddy has killed 499, injured 1,332, displaced 508,244. 427 are still missing. All this mostly in ten districts in the country’s south. More than 500 camps have been set up by the government.
BBC Africa Live 21 March 2023. 8:43
20 March 2023
Nigeria: In elections over the last 30 years, voter turnout has never been as low as 2023 at 28,63% (the highest value was 69% in 2003). According to the article, the reasons are insufficient voter education, logistical problems (voting material being delivered late), lack of trust is INEC (election commission), fear of violence, apathy.
https://theconversation.com/nigeria-had-93-million-registered-voters-but-only-a-quarter-voted-5-reasons-why-201875
Ghana’s new cathedral: After Liberia and Cape Verde, Ghana is the third most Christian country in West Africa with 71.2% Christians. The controversial National Cathedral of Ghana could attract additional tourists and thus create income and help the country earn more foreign exchange.
https://theconversation.com/ghanas-plan-for-a-grand-new-national-cathedral-is-controversial-but-will-it-attract-pilgrims-and-tourists-201568