In the news

The Ethiopian government has said it will continue its fight against Tigrayan rebel forces, despite growing international calls for a ceasefire. A statement on social media said Ethiopia was fighting an existential war and would not crumble under foreign propaganda. African nations, the European Union and the United States have …

The African Union (AU) special representative in Somalia, Simon Mulongo, has been declared persona non grata and given seven days to leave this country in the Horn of Africa. The special AU envoy is accused of engaging in activities that were incompatible with the mandate of Amisom (African Union Mission …

A group of angry Muslim Malawian youths burnt down a church and a pastor’s house in Mangochi district, in the south-east of the country, raising fears of religious tensions in the area. Malawi is predominantly Christian, but the area along Lake Malawi – including Mangochi – has a significant Muslim …

More than 80 migrants have been rescued off the coast of West Africa by Senegal’s navy, AFP news agency reports quoting Senegal’s armed forces. The migrants’ boat had capsized while they were apparently trying to reach the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain, the report adds. The vessel had …

The Gates Foundation will offer $4 million to address the looming shortage of syringes for Covid-19 vaccination in Africa. This comes amid warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) that the shortage of crucial commodities such as syringes was slowing the rollout of Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the continent. Kenyan …

Nigerian Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum has reopened a major road that was closed nine years ago over insecurity. The Bama-Banki road, in the north-east, connects the country to neighbouring Cameroon and extends to the Central African Republic. It was closed when insurgents attacked and destroyed the historical town of …

Police in Mozambique say they have detained two health workers for their alleged involvement in the forgery, issuing and sale of Covid-19 vaccine cards. The two, a government general medical practitioner and an intern, had been assigned to the Bagamoyo health centre in the capital, Maputo. Police seized the forged …

Ugandan Head of state, Yoweri Museveni has called for a meeting of East African leaders to discuss Ethiopia’s civil war, the Reuters news agency reports. “President Museveni is in touch with Prime Minister Abiy [Ahmed] on the ongoing situation in Ethiopia and has expressed concern at the refusal by the …

Eight new cases of the Ebola virus have been recorded in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports on Wednesday. Of the eight cases, there have been six fatalities, the WHO’s regional office for Africa said on its Twitter account. Some 573 …

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has directed the government to begin its transfer to a new capital city next month. A spokesman for Mr Sisi said the move would be part of a six-month trial period. The so-called New Administrative Capital is being built some 45km east of Cairo. Read …