East Africa

The European Investment Bank and the Rwandan Development Bank have launched an initiative to back new investments by companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The new targeted financing scheme will include support companies in sectors most impacted by the trade, economic and health challenges triggered by COVID-19 and unlock investment …

The United States says it’s encouraged by Sunday’s deal reinstating the Sudanese prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok – but wants more progress before restoring aid, BBC News reported. The State Department repeated calls for all civilian leaders detained after last month’s coup to be released. Sudan’s governing generals have already released …

Kenya’s health authorities have urged people to use other alternatives as the country experiences a shortage of condoms, local media report. Restaurants, hospitals and public facilities have not had free condoms in their toilets as has been in the past. The shortage has been attributed to high taxes imposed on …

At least nine people are known to have died in inter-ethnic revenge attacks in Jonglei state in eastern South Sudan, local media are reporting. According to governor Denya Jock Chagor, the killings were sparked by an ambush of two young men by attackers allegedly from the neighbouring Greater Pibor administrative …

A prominent Somali journalist, Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled, critic of the Islamist group al-Shabab was killed in a suicide bombing in the capital, Mogadishu. Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled, also known as Abdiaziz Afrika, was targeted as he left a restaurant in town shortly after noon, the BBC reports. Two other people nearby …

The government of Kenya has said it intends to introduce a directive next month to prevent citizens who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 from receiving government services. Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said unvaccinated people would be banned from public transport, local airlines and train services. Kenyans will also require …

Some residents of South Sudan’s capital, Juba, have taken to social media to express their anger at the dismissal of the city’s mayor, Kalisto Lado Faustino. Mr Lado was sacked by Central Equatoria state Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony on Thursday evening. Others are however celebrating the sacking saying the demolition …

Special envoys from the African Union and the US have returned to Ethiopia in a bid to revive talks for a ceasefire and find ways to end the year-long conflict. Both the US’ Jeffrey Feltman and Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU’s special representative, arrived in the country on Thursday, Mr Feltman …

The US government on Thursday has removed sanctions placed on Burundi six years ago, crediting elections, a fall in violence, and reforms by President Evariste Ndayishimiye. President Joe Biden revoked the sanctions that targeted 11 people in the East African country, mostly military and security officials including then-public security minister …

Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye has dismissed Commerce Minister Capitoline Niyonizigiye, accused of “undermining government’s aspirations and orientations…and for tarnishing the image of Burundi”. Iwacu news website tweeted a photo of the minister: Capitoline Niyonizigiye, ministre du Commerce, destituée https://t.co/wWmLtBKysc pic.twitter.com/T5koPOswfD— IWACU Burundi (@iwacuinfo) November 18, 2021 Ms Niyonizigiye is the …