Eye on Africa

Unemployment reaches 33% of the working population, inflation 17%, the statistics for February 2021 reflect in all their severity the serious economic crisis that Nigerians are going through. Africa's largest economy - in terms of GDP - is facing several crises, food products are rising dangerously and extreme poverty is rising. Pandemic, agricultural crisis and oil rent decline, the picture is bleak…

20 years ago, in February 2001, the "Human Genome Project" resulted in the publication of the first human DNA sequence, the first mapping of our genetic code. Since then, the genome of more than one million people has been sequenced around the world, with so many small mutations and variations. Ambroise Wonkam, professor of medical genetics at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and chair of the African Society of Human Genetics, wants to start a project of unprecedented scale in Africa: the sequencing of DNA…

France will reopen its embassy in Tripoli on Monday, March 29. This was announced by Emmanuel Macron to the representatives of the new Libyan transitional government, which he received at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday 23 March. Libyan President Mohamed al Manfi and Vice President Moussa al Koni welcomed Paris' support for the ongoing reconciliation and stabilization process in Libya. France has offered…

According to the Gambia's Red Cross, more than 250 Senegalese citizens fled the fishing village of Sanyang, about 40 kilometers south of Banjul, after clashes between Senegalese and Gambians last week. It all started with the death of a Gambian, stabbed to death on the night of 14 to 15 March by a Senegalese fisherman who tried to rob him. Unrest broke out in the resort. Senegalese authorities are…

Unmatched attacks on villages and settlements in western Niger have left more than 200 dead in six days. This violence has not been claimed, but it bears the hallmark of the Islamic State group in the Greater Sahara, the only large jihadist group in this area that is well enough organized to carry out attacks of this size. Since the beginning of the year, four attacks have been directed at civilians in…

Historian and human rights activist Maâti Monjib, who was on hunger strike for 19 days, was released on probation on Tuesday, March 23rd. In prison for three months and convicted of "fraud" and "danger to state security", he has repeatedly condemned an "violent" arrest. He and his lawyers intend to drop all charges against him and against other detainees. "The accusations against me are made by the political police. (...) Now that I enjoy temporary release, I will fight for the release of the other detainees ”: these…

After more than four months of fighting in the Tigray region, the government assures us that more than 3 million people - half the population - have been able to benefit from humanitarian aid. But the situation remains extremely uncertain with hundreds of thousands of displaced people arriving in the cities. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to gain access to rural areas, where thousands of people are still trapped in the ongoing struggle. A report by Maria Gerth-Niculescu. They sometimes went for several…

The bar of 100 deaths due to Covid-19 was crossed in Togo over the weekend of 20-21. March. In particular, with the presence of the British variant, pollution cases are increasing and the epidemic is progressing faster. Faced with this situation, the authorities are considering new measures in the next few days. The situation is taken seriously in Togo. The Scientific Council and the President of the Republic, Faure Gnassingbé, are increasing the number of consultations these days. And with good reason: the pollution…

The cashew campaign is in full swing in West Africa, but production forecasts have been revised downwards as in India and Vietnam. As a result, prices are rising and Asia is expected to need African nuts more than usual this year. The misfortune of Asian cashew producers may well make their West African counterparts happy this year. Concerns are confirmed, the cashew nut campaign among the two major producers in India and Vietnam looks less promising this year. Probably for climatic reasons. As a result, Asian…

The demonstrations and riots that shook Senegal in early March were not only concentrated in Dakar. They had broken out after the case of Ousmane Sonko, the leader of the opposition party the Senegalese patriots for work, ethics and fraternity (Pastef), who is accused of rape and death threats. Other regions have been mobilized to "defend democracy", such as Saint-Louis, in the north of the country, a…