Africa

Photo: Hotel Rwanda Hero Paul Rusesabegina being released. Source: Vanguard

U.S. Wins Release of Jailed Hero of Hotel Rwanda

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK, 27 March 2023 (IDN) — From the cinematic screen of “Hotel Rwanda” to solitary confinement in a Rwandese jail, Paul Rusesabegina has been there and back.

Now, following a round of quiet diplomacy with two U.S. senior officials of the Biden administration and a final meeting with U.S. Secy of State Antony Blinken, Rusesabegina is free and heading to the U.S. to be reunited with his family in Texas. Thus ends an ordeal of 900 days linked to President Paul Kagame and his war on dissent at home and on opponents abroad.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 27 March 2023

Photo: Northeast of Niger’s capital Niamey, near the city of Agadez, is Air Base 201, one of the world’s largest drone bases that is home to several armed MQ-9 Reapers. Credit: Air Force Reserve Command

Washington Extends Its Long Arm into Africa's Sahel

By Vijay Prashad*

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts, 25 March 2023 (IDN) — On 16 March 2023, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced—during his visit to Niger—that the United States government will provide $150 million in aid to the Sahel region of Africa. This money, Blinken said, “will help provide life-saving support to refugees, asylum seekers, and others impacted by conflict and food insecurity in the region.”

: Africa & ME Editor; THE WORLD; Africa; 25 March 2023

Photo: Mozambican rapper Azagaia. Credit: Africa News 2023

Large Crowds Grieve Death of Mozambican Protest Rapper

A Stricken Nation Recovers from a Deadly Cyclone

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK, 21 March 2023 (IDN) — Chanting “Resistance!” and “Power to the people!”, thousands of Mozambicans bid farewell to popular protest rapper Azagaia, who died suddenly last week at the age of 38.

Planned memorial marches that were expected to fill the streets of the capital, Maputo, with rallies in other cities, were met by a heavy police presence, preventing the procession from taking place.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 21 March 2023

India in the Spotlight Over Cough Medicines Fatal to African Children

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK, 20 March 2023 (IDN) — An epidemic of kidney disease among children in Africa has been linked to deadly toxins in cough medicine imported from India.

Doctors say they see dozens of children under the age of five with kidney failure—a condition they only saw once or twice a year—while mothers demand justice.

: Global Information Network; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 20 March 2023

Photo credit: Nbcnews. Source: TechBuild Africa

Silicon Valley Bank’s Closure Threatens African Startups

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK, 20 March 2023 (IDN) — Silicon Valley Bank, the bank of choice for most startups and venture capitalists, is no more. It was closed after the bank announced it had lost $1.8 billion in the sale of treasuries and securities.

Millions of dollars banked by startups and venture capital funds were at stake until the U.S. Federal Reserve acted to save the day.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 20 March 2023

Image source: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Independent Commission Server and Other Election Day Stories

By Azu Ishiekwene

The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP newspaper based in Abuja, Nigeria.

ABUJA, 16 March 2023 (IDN) — For the third time since 1999, I voted at a general election on February 25 and did so without much hassle. I knew my candidates would lose at the unit where I voted, but that didn’t matter. Voting mattered more.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) processed me so quickly it was almost like magic. I had no reason to suspect my experience would not be the norm that day.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 16 March 2023

Image: Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, U.S. Africa Command commander, provides testimony at a Senate Armed Services Committee posture hearing in Washington, D.C., March 16, 2023. Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. John Wright, DOD

US Command Chief Wants to Help African Nations Find African Solutions

By Jim Garamone, DOD News

This article was issued by U.S. Department of Defense.

WASHINGTON, D.C., 16 March 2023 (IDN) — Africa is a tremendously diverse continent with many cultures, languages, threats and opportunities that U.S. planners need to consider, said Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, the commander of U.S. Africa Command during an interview.

The nations of the continent do have one big commonality: They prefer to solve African problems with African solutions, the general said.

: J C Suresh; THE WORLD; Africa; 16 March 2023

Image: Journalist Pape Ndiaye. Source: DakarMedias.com

Freedom of the Press Suffers a Body Blow in Senegal

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK | DAKAR, 14 March 2023 (IDN) — Journalism is in trouble in Senegal.

On March 3, a reporter with the news service Walf TV was detained and then charged with six crimes, including “spreading false news,” after reporting on the questionable prosecution of an opposition politician.

The legal columnist, Pape Ndiaye, was arrested based on his expose of politician and opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, who was accused of rape.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 14 March 2023

Image: The consul of Mali in Tunis checks a list as Sub-Saharan migrants arrive with their belongings to take a repatriation flight for their countries of origin on 4 March 2023.

Racist Attacks and 'Fake Facts' Spark African Migrant Flight from Tunisia

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK | TUNIS, 14 March 2023 (IDN) — A campaign targeting Black migrants in the north African nation of Tunisia has escalated with misleading videos on social media. The African Union has responded—cancelling a major conference on illicit financial flows due to take place in Tunisia this month.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 14 March 2023

Image: Ms Pamela M. Tremont was nominated as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Zimbabwe | Department of State

Shakeup of US Ambassadors Headed for Africa

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK, 13 March 2023 (IDN) — Following the contentious election exercise in Nigeria, now facing court challenges by at least two of the parties unsuccessful at the polls, President Joe Biden has named new US ambassadors to four African nations where troubles also abound.

The four countries are on the radar of the new US Africa strategy.