Politics and society

Several towns in Kenya are suffering from fuel shortages and some petrol stations in the capital, Nairobi, are turning away motorists after running out of fuel, local media reported. Reports say the crisis may have been triggered by reduced imports by big oil marketing companies – who are wary that …

The United States announced the building of a consulate in the Nigerian megacity Lagos, the country’s commercial capital, as Washington strengthens economic and diplomatic relations with Africa’s most populous country, Reuters agency reports. The consulate will be worth $537 million. The U.S. is among the largest foreign investors and donors …

The majority of lawmakers in Ghana’s parliament approved a controversial electronic direct debit bill, which includes taxes on mobile money payments. It has been fiercely opposed by the opposition since it was proposed in November last year, delaying the passage of the national budget. The Minority in Parliament walked out …

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday announced the lifting of the mandatory wearing of wask masks in public citing a steady decline in Covid infections in the country and neighboring countries. Ghana joins dozens of African countries that have eased most Covid containment measures. President Akufo-Addo also scrapped the requirement …

The World Health Organization (WHO), has warned African countries leaders against easing restrictions against the coronavirus pandemic. The WHO is concerned as most African countries are rolling back Covid-19 surveillance and quarantine measures. It says this is especially “worrisome in a continent that still has the lowest rates of vaccination …

Ghana’s government has announced a raft of measures including injecting $2bn into the economy to help prop up its falling currency, and slashing the salaries of government appointees, including ministers and heads of state-owned enterprises, by 30%. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said the measures were to help Ghana cope with …

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has opened a new terminal building at Lagos’ main international airport that has the capacity to process 14 million travellers a year. He said it was part of a larger plan to build five new terminals at five different Nigerian airports, explaining that it was part …

The Nigerian government says fully vaccinated travellers coming into the country will no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR Covid-19 test. This is the first major reversal to the public health safety protocols since Nigeria started seeing a decline in the number of infections. The chairman of the …

Burundi has banned rickshaws, motorcycle taxis and all other forms of two- and three-wheel public transport from the commercial capital, Bujumbura. Private bicycles and motorbikes are also banned. Police are stationed on roads leading to the city to make sure the vehicles remain on the periphery. The government says drivers …

Everyone in Tunisia will have a chance to express their views on plans for a new political system before a panel gives directions for constitutional reforms, President Kais Saied said on Monday. The Tunisian president has said everyone will have a chance to comment on his proposals for political reform. …