Author: Alberta Appiah

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.

In a strategic move aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates, in partnership with his charitable foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched an innovative COVID-19 surveillance system. This groundbreaking measure will primarily be focused on sub-Saharan Africa.

South Africa has imposed an 8.5% increase in the national minimum hourly wage, enhancing it to $1.46. Predicted to impact the lives of the country’s 6.44 million workers who earn the minimum wage, the decision comes amidst tracking inflation rates, currently recorded at 5.7% according to the National Department of Employment and Labour.

Facing a sustained threat to national security, the government of Mali has reportedly contracted the services of the Russian private security firm, Wagner, instead of extending its almost decade-long reliance on French troops, causing ripples in the international diplomatic sphere.

South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has embarked on an unprecedented operation to enable prison inmates across the country to participate in the forthcoming local government elections. Taking the constitutional right to vote to another level, the commission registered eligible voters in 147 correctional facilities in a recent drive.

Landing another significant punch for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Niger has pronounced its departure from the bloc, citing the community’s damaging economic sanctions. The president, Mohamed Bazoum, described ECOWAS embargoes as an instigator of economic and social suffering. This follows in the footsteps of Mali and Burkina Faso, two nations that recently broke ties with ECOWAS after facing similar punitive measures following coups.

The African Union (AU) is pressing for dialogue between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and regions in West Africa plagued by military coups, with specific emphasis on Guinea and Mali. This comes in the wake of military authorities in Mali showing intent to delay anticipated elections until 2026, contradicting ECOWAS’ calls for a swift return to constitutional rule.

The United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations was recently in the Central African Republic on an emergency visit amid palpable tension. The visit by such a high-ranking official underscored the UN’s commitment to supporting the people of the Central African Republic during this period of instability.