As we wrap up the week, here are the top stories from Africa. The World Bank has approved $150 million to help Ghana improve flood resilience.
Tragically, Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui was found dead near the summit of Mount Everest. In diplomatic news, the U.S. plans to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, and President Biden announced his intention to visit Africa in February if re-elected. Tech giants Microsoft and G42 are set to build a massive data center in Kenya.
Meanwhile, over 40 people were killed by a group of gunmen in central Nigeria. In sports, the Super Eagles will play Bafana Bafana in early June for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Check out all the top stories below:
BIDEN PLANS TO VISIT AFRICA IN FEBRUARY IF HE IS RE-ELECTED
Joe Biden, the President of the United States, announced his intention to visit Africa officially in February, following the U.S. presidential election.
Biden mentioned this while meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto at the White House this week.
“I plan on going in February after I am re-elected,” Biden said.
Biden, the current U.S. president, is running for re-election in the November 5 election against his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
MICROSOFT AND G42 TO BUILD A HUGE DATA CENTRE IN KENYA
Microsoft and UAE-based G42 have partnered on a $1 billion investment to build a geothermal data center in Kenya. This initiative is part of Microsoft’s plan to expand cloud computing services across East Africa through a new region.
G42 will lead the initial investment and construct the green data center, which will use geothermal energy and feature state-of-the-art water conservation technology.
During President William Ruto’s visit to the US on May 25, he and the companies will sign a letter of intent, with the cloud region expected to be operational within two years after final agreements are signed.
The initiative will include four additional pillars that will be pursued with local partners:
- (1) local-language AI model development and research
- (2) an East Africa Innovation Lab coupled with broad AI digital skills training
- (3) international and local connectivity investments; and
- (4) collaboration with the government of Kenya to support safe and secure cloud services across East Africa.
SUPER EAGLES TO PLAY BAFANA EARLY JUNE FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to play against Bafana-Bafana (South Africa) on Friday, 7 June 2024 as both sides look to secure three points to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles are currently in third place, but they aim to take the top spot in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers next June when they face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Benin.
The Super Eagles will begin their camp on June 1st.
The new Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, will take over the team.
OVER 40 PEOPLE KILLED BY GROUP OF GUNMEN IN CENTRAL NIGERIA
More than 40 people were killed late Monday in a village in central Nigeria’s Plateau State by a group of gunmen, local officials and media reported on Tuesday.
On Monday night, dozens of gunmen on motorbikes attacked Zurak village in the Wase Local Government Area, causing chaos and reportedly killing “as many as 40 people,” according to Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, Plateau State’s commissioner of information, speaking to reporters in Jos, the state capital.
Local media reports indicate that the gunmen also set fire to houses during their rampage.
MISSING KENYAN MOUNTAINEER CHERUIYOT KIRUI FOUND DEAD NEAR MT EVEREST SUMMIT
A Kenyan mountaineer, reported missing this week, has been found dead just a short distance below the summit of Mount Everest.
Local officials in Nepal reported that Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, aged 40, and his Nepali guide Nawang Sherpa, aged 44, went missing while trying to reach the summit of Everest without extra oxygen; Kirui’s body was found in the perilous “death zone”.
“With profound sadness, we share the news of Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui’s passing on Mt Everest. His body was found a few meters below the summit point of Mt Everest,” reports Everest Today, which covers mountaineering over the Himalayas and Karakoram with a special focus on 8, 000 metre peaks.
“His indomitable will and passion for mountaineering will forever be an inspiration. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time of sorrow.”
U.S. TO DESIGNATE KENYA AS MAJOR NON-NATO ALLY, REPORT
This week, US President Joe Biden is expected to declare Kenya as a significant non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, during Kenyan President William Ruto’s three-day visit to the U.S, CNBC Africa reports.
This means that Kenya will have a closer relationship with the United States, especially in matters of defense and security cooperation, similar to countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance.
Kenya would become the initial sub-Saharan African nation to acquire this title, highlighting the United States’ aim to strengthen ties with the East African country, which has historically maintained strong relationships with Russia and China.
Biden met Ruto at the White House for discussions with business leaders, revealing plans for his Africa visit in February post-U.S. election. They’ll reconvene in the Oval Office, hold a joint press conference, and attend a state dinner.
MALAWI EX-PRESIDENT PETER MUTHARIKA TO CONTEST IN 2025 ELECTIONS
Former Malawian President Peter Mutharika has officially declared that he will run for president in Malawi’s upcoming 2025 elections.
Mutharika, who will soon turn 84, announced his presidential candidacy at his first political rally since being ousted in 2020.
Mutharika stated that his choice stemmed from the “outcry” of Malawians for his return to “rescue the country” from its current state. He expressed confidence that his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government could revive the economy within two years.
CHINESE COMPANY TO BUILD LITHIUM PLANT IN NIGERIA
President Bola Tinubu praised the opening of Nigeria’s biggest lithium processing facility in Lafia, Nasarawa State, citing it as evidence of the nation’s appeal for foreign investment.
In a statement from presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, it was revealed that Avatar, a Chinese company, constructed the lithium processing plant with a daily output of about 4,000 metric tons.
Additionally, Canmax Technologies, another notable Chinese firm known for its significant contribution to global battery material production, announced a fresh investment of $200 million for a new lithium processing facility in Nasarawa State.
TWO PEOPLE KILLED, FIVE INJURED AS CYCLONE IALY HITS COASTAL KENYA
At least two people, including a four-year-old pupil, were killed as strong winds from Tropical Cyclone IALY hit the Kenyan coast on Tuesday, the police said.
Coast police boss George Sedah reported that property was destroyed as strong winds caused chaos throughout the region.
“The four-year-old is reported to have died after chaos erupted after the strong winds began sweeping across the region,” Sedah said.
The police boss further called on coastal residents to exercise caution.
“The pupil was inside Gogoraruhe Mosque ECD School when the strong winds hit the roof of the mosque, destroying it,” Sedah said.
However, the latest update (May 22) from the Kenya Meteorological Department said tropical storm IALY has weakened.
TANZANIA TO SELL 500,000 TONNES OF MAIZE TO DRC
Tanzania plans to export 500,000 tons of maize to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assist the country, which is currently experiencing a food shortage.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday in the capital Dodoma between the state-run National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) and Quincy Company, based in DRC’s Katanga Province.
The shipment will consist of 200,000 tonnes of maize initially, followed by the remaining 300,000 tonnes, as stated by Gerald Mweri, Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture’s permanent secretary.
SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP COURT RULES ZUMA CAN’T RUN FOR PRESIDENT
On Monday, South Africa’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, declared that former president Jacob Zuma cannot stand for parliament in the upcoming May 29 elections.
After the Independent Electoral Commission appealed the Electoral Court’s decision permitting Jacob Zuma to stay on the candidates’ list nominated by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, the Constitutional Court ruled against him.
“It is declared that Mr Zuma was convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment … and is accordingly not eligible to be a member of, and not qualified to stand for election to, the National Assembly,” the court said.
South Africa is set to hold national and local elections on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.
WORLD BANK APPROVES 150 MILLION TO HELP GHANA IMPROVE FLOOD RESILIENCE
Ghana’s Finance Ministry announced on Tuesday that the World Bank Group will provide $150 million in funding this year for flood mitigation and solid waste management.
The funding, approved by parliament, will support solid waste management, drainage improvements, and other flood mitigation measures under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, according to the statement.
The statement mentioned that repairs on embankments in the Odaw River Basin, which runs from the Akwapim Hills through low-lying areas, will be undertaken to prevent flooding often caused by human activities along the river.
The project includes building storm drains, water retention ponds, a flood warning system, a waste transfer station, and an engineered landfill site.
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