Author: Priscilla Agyeman-Duah

Canadian officials have been routinely warned that the nation is consistently losing its relevance within the African continent, despite a history of substantial peacekeeping efforts during the 1990s. This declining influence in Africa comes despite fluctuating aid commitments from Canada amounting to between $2.3 billion and $3.3 billion since the start of 2010.

As local government elections round the corner, South Africa’s far-left opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is poised to take control of key municipalities. Spearheaded by their fiery leader, Julius Malema, the EFF has grown increasingly influential since its establishment in 2013.

ECOWAS, the 15-nation bloc of the Economic Community of West African States, is sounding an appeal for unity and regional stability amidst escalating political upheaval across its member states. The regional body is confronted with a series of political crises, including a surge in anti-government protests in Senegal, the region’s historically most stable democracy.

In a significant gesture that underscores the interconnectedness between the African diaspora in the United States and their African roots, town officials in Ramapo, New York, celebrated Black History Month uniquely this year by raising the Pan-African flag. This momentous event marked the first time this emblem was raised in the town’s history.

The governments of Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, all currently ruled through recent military coups, may potentially withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to a CNBC report. This move could unbalance the region, giving rise to significant economic ramifications as well as instability.

The 30th edition of the illustrious Pan African Film Festival commenced on February 28, 2022, in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. As one of the largest and most prestigious black film festivals globally, the festival is set to feature more than 150 films from over 40 countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, and Somalia.

In an exciting development for the energy sector, Swire Energy Services has successfully finalized the acquisition of South African offshore support services provider, Manifold Offshore. Although the financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed, the move is expected to greatly consolidate Swire’s service offerings in the oil and gas maintenance industry across Africa.

The Director of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) African Department, Abebe Aemro Selassie, expressed significant optimism about Africa’s economic recovery from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic during a recent media roundtable discussion.

A global nature conservation group, African Parks, has committed to investigating allegations of human rights abuses at one of its parks in the Congo. The accusations were held by The Rainforest Foundation UK and Resource Matters, which presented strong claims of unlawful evictions, intimidation, harassing incidents, and misuse of force against park residents.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has sounded a desperate warning over the escalating education crisis in East Africa, resulting from a harrowing combination of climate-related disasters and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.