East Africa

Nine people died after al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents stormed a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, battling security forces until the early hours of Monday, a police spokesman said. A suicide car bombing on Sunday evening was followed by a shootout between al Shabaab militants and security forces at the …

The Ugandan Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Judith Nabakooba has issued arrest warnings to people spreading false information on plans to shut down the country this week. According to the the minister, the authorities were aware of a plan to cause chaos between the 3rd and 7th February. “I …

Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has asked the country’s media council to “immediately discuss with media who’ve been suspended or banned in the country” so that they may reopen. Among such media is the BBC World Service, which was banned from broadcasting in, and working from, Burundi since March 2019. The …

According to the Ugandan police, three suspected rebels who were allegedly plotting subversive activities were arrested. They were arrested in the distrisct of Luwero about 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) from Kampala. The suspects, two women and a man, according to police, were allegedly planning subversive activities after the election, which …

Mozambique police boss has reshuffled officers previously stationed at the Namaacha border, which neighbours eSwatini and South Africa, for allegedly taking bribes to allow illegal migration. Police chief Bernardino Rafael announced that all members of the border force were facing disciplinary proceedings. Mr Rafael acknowledged that the bribery allegations did …

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has warned health officials against acquiring Covid-19 vaccines saying without giving evidence that they could harm the population. “The ministry of health should be careful, they should not hurry to try these vaccines without doing research, not every vaccine is important to us, we should be …

Hundreds of residents in Mozambique’s Buzi District are waiting at the Guara Guara administrative post to be evacuated after their houses were destroyed by Cyclone Eloise. Some residents who spoke to a local daily Noticias say they have been queuing for three days now. The National Institute for Disaster Risk …

Seychelles’ beaches may not be teeming with visitors now but the country’s hotel owners are getting ready. The Indian Ocean archipelago, whose economy is dependent on tourism, this month began welcoming people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine to visit. Hotel director Terry Sandapin does not expect business to go …

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi has appointed a new chief of staff to replace Vital Kamerhe who is in jail. Guylain Nyembo‘s appointment was made public on Monday evening on national television RTNC. A graduate in economics, Mr Nyembo was the deputy chief of staff in charge …

Soldiers have left the house of the Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine. On Monday a Ugandan court ordered the military and police to leave his house. But, as we reported in an earlier post, soldiers did not leave his house straight away after the court order. He had not left …