As we wrap up the week, here are the top stories from Africa. Nigerian officials were reported to have received nearly $1.3 billion in bribes in 2023, highlighting ongoing challenges with corruption.
Gambia’s parliament maintained its ban on female genital cutting, a controversial decision amid cultural and religious debates. The UAE lifted its travel ban on Nigerian travelers, marking a significant development in diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, Nigerian politician Tinubu condemned the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, emphasizing concerns over political violence globally.
Check out all the top stories below:
NIGERIAN OFFICIALS RECEIVED NEARLY $1.3 BILLION IN BRIBES IN 2023
In 2023, Nigerians paid approximately $1.3 billion in bribes to public officials, this is according to a survey conducted by the government’s statistics agency and the UN’s drug and crimes office.
Per the survey report, over 25% of the 33,000 Nigerians surveyed admitted to paying at least one bribe to a public official between November 2022 and October 2023, with an average payment of approximately $15 based on the exchange rate during that period.
The report further indicates that:
- Bribery incidents among private sector employees, such as doctors, increased to 14% of respondents, up from 6% in 2021.
- The majority of bribes, over 70%, continue to be paid using cash or bank transfers, a trend that has persisted since the previous survey five years ago, with more than 70% occurring in public offices or on the street, and 5% in the residences of public officials.
MAN FILES FOR DIVORCE AFTER CATCHING HIS WIFE CHEATING IN A DREAM
In a surprising situation, a man from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe decided to file for divorce after repeatedly dreaming that his wife was cheating on him.
According to media reports, Energy Moyo from the Lobenvale suburb has been married to Angela Dube for nine years. He recently filed for divorce at the Bulawayo Customary Court, claiming that vivid dreams of his wife’s infidelity convinced him of her unfaithfulness, despite having no concrete evidence.
In his court application, Moyo detailed how recurring dreams of his wife with a neighbor have caused him significant distress and doubt about her faithfulness.
Moyo alleges that discussing his dreams with Dube led to verbal and physical abuse, prompting his divorce request. He seeks custody of their two children and an equal division of property. The Bulawayo Customary Court has yet to hear the case.
GAMBIA’S PARLIAMENT MAINTAINS BAN ON FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING
Female genital mutilation would remain illegal in The Gambia after parliament dismissed the bill to allow it.
On Monday, 34 out of 53 National Assembly members voted to keep the ban, while 19 voted to overturn it—in March, 42 out of 47 members had voted to overturn the ban.
Female genital cutting, which involves removing part or all of a female’s genitals, affects 73% of Gambian women and girls aged 15 to 49, placing Gambia among the top 10 countries for FGM according to 2024 UNICEF figures.
The reasoning behind female genital cutting is often tied to ideas of purity and control, with religious conservatives advocating for the ban to be overturned, calling the procedure “one of the virtues of Islam.”
However, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) states that no religious texts promote female genital cutting.
National Assembly Member Almameh Gibba introduced the bill, arguing that female genital cutting is a deeply rooted religious and cultural practice in Gambia, but activists expressed concern, stating that it violates women’s rights.
UAE LIFTS TRAVEL BAN ON NIGERIAN TRAVELLERS
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the ban on Nigerian passport holders, allowing them to travel to the UAE starting from July 15, 2014, following a mutual agreement with the Nigerian federal government.
UAE banned travel from 8 African countries, including Nigeria, in December 2021 due to COVID-19, which was later extended to 20 African countries in October 2022.
On Monday, July 15, Minister Mohammed Idris announced that the three-year dispute between the UAE and Nigeria had been resolved, allowing travel to resume on July 15. He mentioned that the new deal includes “updated controls and conditions” for obtaining a UAE visa.
Per the new updated controls and conditions, travelers must provide identity and travel history documents to obtain a verification number for visa applications, except for applicants aged 13 or younger, according to the Emirati government’s website.
TINUBU SEEKS INJECTION OF N6.2TN INTO 2024 BUDGET
President Bola Tinubu has proposed injecting N6.2 trillion into the N27.5 trillion 2024 budget, requesting N3.2 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for capital expenditure.
The proposal was presented to the Senate by its President, Godswill Akpabio, during Wednesday’s plenary session.
The President’s second request seeks to withdraw an additional N3 trillion from the consolidated revenue fund to cover extra recurrent expenses for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
According to the letter, Tinubu is also proposing changes to the Finance Act of 2023 to impose a windfall tax on banks and manage its administration. The Senate has already scheduled these requests as Executive bills for quick consideration. If the proposed N6.2 trillion is added to the N27.5 trillion 2024 budget, the total budget will grow to N33.7 trillion.
PHILIP SHUAIBU REINSTATED AS EDO DEPUTY GOVERNOR
Phillip Shuaibu has been reinstated as Edo State Deputy Governor after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja overturned his removal.
Justice Omotosho in a judgment held said that Shuaibu’s impeachment and removal were unlawful, citing violations of legal provisions.
He further ordered Shuaibu’s reinstatement as deputy governor and instructed the Inspector General of Police to reinstate his security details.
TINUBU CONDEMNS ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF DONALD TRUMP
Following the widely discussed event of the week, Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu condemned the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, emphasizing that violence has no place in a democracy.
In his statement, Bola Tinubu criticized the assault on Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania as “distasteful” and “going beyond the pale of democratic norms. Violence has no place in democracy.”
Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, stands with the US, the families of the victims of the attack, Trump, and others wounded in the attack, said Tinubu, who also serves as chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc.
At a recent campaign rally last Saturday, a bullet grazed the top of his right ear. One person was reportedly killed, and two others were seriously injured during the incident. The suspected would-be assassin was also shot dead.
Trump aims to reclaim the presidency in November.
KENYA DEPLOYS ANOTHER 200 POLICEMEN TO COMBAT HAITI VIOLENCE
Amidst rising gang violence in Haiti, the deployment of 200 Kenyan police officers to join the UN-backed mission comes as a crucial international response.
Since President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in July 2021, armed gangs have gained significant control over Port-au-Prince, contributing to a surge in violence, including killings, kidnappings, and other criminal activities.
This instability has led to a humanitarian crisis, prompting urgent international intervention to restore peace and security.
The Kenyan officers, drawn from specialized units like the Rapid Deployment Unit and General Service Unit, departed for Haiti to support local police efforts. Their mission includes restoring law and order, protecting vital infrastructure, and aiding in humanitarian aid delivery.
This deployment follows an initial contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers sent earlier ( June 25) to address the escalating violence gripping the nation. As Haiti faces ongoing challenges, including political instability and widespread gang control, international support remains crucial in rebuilding stability and safeguarding the well-being of its citizens.
3 DEAD, OTHERS INJURED IN NEW PROTESTS CALLING FOR RUTO TO RESIGN
Violent protests erupted across Kenya on Tuesday, resulting in 3 deaths and numerous injuries as demonstrators clashed with police in Nairobi and other major cities, calling for President William Ruto’s resignation.
Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that two individuals were killed and several others, mostly young people, sustained gunshot wounds.
The new protests followed days after President William Ruto dismissed nearly all Cabinet ministers, pledging to streamline the government in response to the demonstrators’ demands.
However, the protests started on June 18, demanding the removal of Cabinet ministers due to allegations of incompetence, corruption, and lavish lifestyles amidst economic hardships. On June 25, demonstrators stormed parliament in response to a finance bill passage that would increase taxes, resulting in police firing shots that led to casualties.
President Ruto said he would not sign the bill.
KAGAME WINS 4TH TERM IN RWANDA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Rwandan President Paul Kagame secured his 4th term victory in the country’s presidential election, garnering 99% of the vote.
Kagame has secured 99.15% of the vote with around 79% of the ballots counted, according to partial results released by the electoral commission.
At 66 years old, Kagame of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) won over his main competitors, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party with 38,301 votes (0.53%) and Phillipe Mpayimana with 22,753 votes (0.32%).
BURNA BOY BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN ARTISTE TO HIT 2 BILLION STREAMS IN UK
Grammy Award-winning Burna Boy continues to make history and is now certified as the first African artist to reach the 2 billion streams milestone in the United Kingdom.
This comes after Burna Boy’s album ‘Twice as Tall’ was honored with a Brit Plaque.
He was presented with the plaque during his recent sold-out show at Koko Camden in London.
This achievement occurred shortly after he received a Brit plaque for reaching 1 billion streams during his sold-out show at London Stadium in June.
INTERPOL ARRESTS 300 PEOPLE IN WEST AFRICA OVER ONLINE FRAUD
Police have arrested 300 people and seized $3 million while blocking 720 bank accounts in a global crackdown targeting West African organized crime groups across five continents, Interpol announced on Tuesday.
This operation, dubbed Operation Jackal III, spanned 21 countries across five continents from April 10 to July 3, aimed at combating online financial fraud orchestrated by these syndicates.
“The volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing,” said Isaac Oginni, director of Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre.
“This operation’s results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks.”
The operation focused on Black Axe, a prominent West African criminal network involved in cyber fraud, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and various violent crimes globally. They utilized money mules to open bank accounts globally, leading to investigations across more than 40 countries for money laundering activities involving citizens from Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria, and Venezuela.
E-HAILING DRIVERS IN KENYA PROTEST FOR FAIR PAY
Ride-hailing drivers in Kenya began a five-day strike on Monday, July 15, 2024, seeking the removal of value-added tax and improved pay.
They marched to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) office to voice their concerns, responding to the Transport Ministry’s directive for Bolt and Uber to limit their commission to 18% per trip, aiming to safeguard the earnings of many drivers.
In addition to their requests, ride-hailing drivers are advocating to have a say in Uber and Bolt’s pricing decisions, citing their responsibility for costs such as insurance and parking fees.
In a statement to TechCabal, Bolt assured that it’s committed to continuing the ongoing engagement and partnership with drivers.
Despite the ongoing strike, some drivers are still taking rides, giving rise to a surge in pricing.
Share your thoughts on this article and join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.
