Politics and society

Authorities in Ghana have denied introducing a mandatory insurance scheme for all travellers arriving in the country through the country’s main airport, the BBC reports. The National Insurance Commission (NIC) said the scheme popularly known as “Akwaaba” had not been approved and any reports that it had should be disregarded. …

Mistakes made during childbirth lead to the deaths of more than 100 babies in Zambia every week, Sylvia Masebo, the country’s minister of health, has said. Between 10 to 15 women also die each week due to preventable complications from pregnancy or childbirth, the minister is quoted as saying by …

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Chief Executive Gilbert Kibe has announced the lifting of the ban on all flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday. Kenya has suspended all inbound and transit passenger flights from the United Arabs Emirates, two weeks ago. The ban did not affect cargo …

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has sacked his entire cabinet which he has accused of corruption and promised to form a new cabinet in two days. In a televised address to the nation on Monday, the president vowed to “confront all forms of lawless conduct by public officials”. In the aftermath …

Human Rights Watch says hundreds of inmates may have died in last month’s prison fire in Burundi, and is calling for a “transparent investigation”, the BBC reports. The authorities have said no more than 46 people lost their lives. Survivors told Human Rights Watch the blaze engulfed several prison blocks …

Dozens of Sudanese judges and prosecutors have condemned the killing of more than 70 protesters since October’s coup and have called for a criminal investigation, local media report. Frequent protests have been met with live gunfire and tear gas and thousands are once again out on the streets of the …

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called on nationals of the country living abroad to return home. This call is part of an operation called “the Great Return”. The Prime Minister is betting to restore his image, more than a year after the start of the civil war and the …

The Algerian government said in a statement that it has decided to close all schools for 10 days and to tighten control at airports due to the increase in covid-19 cases. The presidency however said that it was up to the universities to determine whether to close or reschedule their …

Schoolchildren over the age of 12 in Angola will be barred from entering classrooms if they do not receive their doses of the covid-19 vaccine, the government warns in a statement. According to the government, these measures are aimed at curbing the spread of the pandemic in the country. “If …

The United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in Mali ( MINUSMA) has suspended its flights amid discussions over sanctions that have shut air and land borders to the West African country. “MINUSMA has to temporarily suspend all flights. We are in discussion with our Malian partners on the new mechanism for approving …