Browsing Category
Eye on Africa
Regional reporting and analysis from across Africa, covering diplomacy, security, politics, business, and major developments shaping the continent.
behind the scenes of the release of the hostages, tough negotiations
The release on Thursday night of the four hostages in Mali, Soumaïla Cissé, Sophie Pétronin and the two Italians, Nicola Chiacchio and father Pier Luigi Maccalli, came after long and difficult negotiations with a long uncertain outcome. A ransom would have been paid and many jihadists were released by the Malian authorities. A look back at what we know about the negotiations and the compensation required.
with our correspondent in Bamako,
On April 5, a few days after the kidnapping of Soumaïla Cissé, the then Prime…
Somalia’s presidential campaigns shift to Nairobi ahead
NAIROBI, Kenya - The presidential election scheduled for February 2021 appears to have shifted to Nairobi as leading candidates plan to defeat President Farmajo, whose term has been shaken by major divisions inside and outside the government, with international partners also raising concerns about the alleged human rights abuses.
The country's leadership agreed to hold elections from December this year after a long-running dispute over the election model among other contentious issues settled after months of…
AU forces and SNA promise to crush Al-Shabaab in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army and the African Union Mission Forces has promised to work closely together to coordinate joint military operations against the Al-Shabaab militants, with the liberation of several strategic cities in the country a high priority.
On Thursday, Force Commander Lieutenant General Diomede Ndegeya, SNA Land Forces Commander Brig Gen Abas Amin Ali and AMISOM and SNA sector commands agreed to be important in setting up a Joint Operations Coordination Cell.
The team signed a…
the opposition gathers in Abidjan for a large rally
In Abidjan, a large gathering of the entire front of the opposition is held. This major event worries as sporadic unrest has rocked the country since August between supporters of the outgoing president and opposition activists. Authorities and parties nevertheless ensure that all safety conditions are met.
as reported from…
BD training for professionalization in Antananarivo
They are ten Malagasy comics that have been selected for the first artistic stay on the island since the start of the pandemic. This training aims to enable them to perfect their technique, but also to learn how to sell themselves to publishers.
From our correspondent in Antananarivo,They are between 19 and 33 years old and…
a new step towards a comprehensive peace following a meeting between Hemeti and al-Hilu
Number 2 of the Sovereign Transitional Council, General Hemeti, met in Juba, South Sudan, the leader of one of the country's most important uprisings, Abdelaziz al-Hilu. The latter was not a signatory to the peace treaty signed on 3 October.
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemeti", wore a civilian costume on Thursday in Juba, a purple shirt and a tie, while usually wearing the sand-colored uniform of his rapid support forces instead. But this time the occasion was special.
Abdelaziz al-Hilu agreed to seek an…
Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is fighting for WTO leadership
They are two candidates for the head of the organization: a Korean, Yoo Myung-hee, and a Nigerian, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Portrait of the latter carrying hope on the African continent.
as reported from Lagos, Liza FabbianShe is the first woman to have held the positionMinister of Finance in her country she has been twice. Ngozi…
so far exemplary, Tunisia is sinking in the health crisis
The curfew has been established in several major provinces such as Tunis, Sousse or Monastir. Prayers and weekly markets are now banned and festivities and gatherings are canceled. While in early summer the Tunisian model was praised for its control of the pandemic, the tone has changed.
as reported from Tunis Michel PicardThe…
a Swiss missionary, held hostage, was killed by her captors
Another hostage in Mali, a Swiss woman, was killed by her captors. Bern officially announced it on Friday evening, October 9th. We do not currently know if his death has anything to do with the release of Soumaila Cissé and Sophie Pétronin.
The Swiss authorities have not announced the name of the hostage who would have been…
World Mental Health Day: in Kenya, mentally ill people are locked up by their families
On World Mental Health Day, Saturday 10 October, NGO Human Rights Watch released a report. Globally, 792 million people have a mental health problem - one in 10 people and one in five children. And yet governments spend less than 2% of their health budget on mental health. In Kenya, there are only two psychiatrists per Million inhabitants. As a result, patients find themselves locked up, bound, or…