As the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protests continue in Nigeria, here are the top stories from Africa. At least 13 people have lost their lives during the protests, where some demonstrators were arrested for waving Russian flags.
President Tinubu has called for an end to the unrest. In Zimbabwe, the government plans to replace the US dollar with its gold-backed currency, ZiG. Meanwhile, heavy rains in Sudan have resulted in the deaths of 32 individuals.
Check out all the top stories below:
AT LEAST 13 KILLED IN NIGERIA PROTESTS
A rights group reported that 13 people lost their lives in Nigeria during protests against the economic crisis, which escalated into violence in various states.
Protests in Nigeria have been ongoing for six days across the nation.
Authorities stated that a bomb killed four individuals and that hundreds were arrested, prompting curfews in several regions.
Over 300 protesters were detained, curfews were enforced in Kano and Katsina, and a police officer was killed with several others injured following the looting of government properties, according to Nigerian police.
NIGERIA PROTESTS: PROTESTERS WAVING RUSSIAN FLAGS ARRESTED
Nigerian police announced on Tuesday the arrest of several demonstrators carrying Russian flags during protests sparked by economic difficulties, a move that highlights concerns about rising Russian influence in West Africa.
The nationwide demonstrations against increasing living costs and poor leadership began on August 1 and expanded throughout the commercial hub of Lagos and various northern cities last week.
Protesters in northern states like Borno, Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina displayed numerous Russian flags and called for a military takeover, prompting the Nigeria Police Force and defense chief to warn that such actions are considered capital offenses under Nigerian law.
The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement from its government or officials.
PRESIDENT TINUBU URGES TO END PROTESTS
On Sunday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called for an end to the ongoing cost-of-living protests and encouraged demonstrators to engage in dialogue with the government.
In a national broadcast on Sunday morning, Tinubu expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and damage to public and private properties during the protests, stating that this outcome contradicts the assurances given by the protest organizers when the demonstrations began on Thursday.
“My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening (to) and addressing the concerns of our citizens,” the president said, calling for an end to the bloodshed, violence, and destruction.
To address citizens’ concerns, Tinubu pledged to pursue reforms that will benefit all Nigerians, enhance national infrastructure, and provide more opportunities for the youth.
ZIMBABWE PLANS TO ABANDON US DOLLAR CURRENCY FOR ZIG
Zimbabwe’s cabinet announced approval of a plan to replace US dollars with a gold-backed currency for transactions, with Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube expected to reveal the details next week.
Zim plans to abandon the US Dollar and use the country’s gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), in economic transactions.
Zimbabwe has used the US currency for the past 15 years.
The southern African nation aims to reduce its reliance on the dollar, which currently constitutes about 70% of all economic transactions, according to central bank data.
When the gold-backed ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold) was launched in April, dollars accounted for 85% of transactions.
FACEBOOK LAUNCHES MONETIZATION PROGRAM FOR CONTENT CREATORS IN KENYA
On Tuesday, Facebook, owned by Meta, launched its monetization program for content creators in Kenya, making it the 12th African nation to receive this initiative.
This feature will serve as a possible income opportunity for all users with personal accounts or pages, regardless of their prior influencing experience as content creators.
In the new model, creators can earn money from in-stream ads that display before, during, or after videos on the platform, as well as from ads featured on reels accompanying short videos.
To qualify for revenue earning, individuals must be at least 18 years old and have 5,000 followers on private profiles or 10,000 on pages, along with 60,000 total watch minutes from organic followers in the past two months.
Page creators need 600,000 viewed minutes, must have five active videos, and comply with Facebook’s monetization policies. Facebook will automatically insert ads into their content, and earnings will be based on user views.
HEAVY RAINS KILL 32 PEOPLE, OVER 100 INJURED IN SUDAN
The Health Ministry reported on Monday that recent heavy rains and flooding in several states in Sudan resulted in at least 32 deaths and 107 injuries.
“Seven states were affected by the rains and floods, and 5,575 homes were damaged,” Al-Fadil Mohamed Mahmoud, director of the general directorate of health emergencies at the ministry, said in a statement.
He noted that the heavy rains and flooding resulted in several cases of watery diarrhea, with 102 reported in Kassala state, four in Khartoum state, and 16 in Gezira state.
While health conditions in other states remained stable, he emphasized the ministry’s commitment to implementing measures to address potential epidemics during the rainy season.
MOZAMBIQUE ROLLS OUT MALARIA VACCINE
Mozambique rolls out the malaria vaccine in its central province of Zambezia as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to combat one of the main causes of hospitalization and death in the country.
The vaccine is given as an intramuscular injection and is aimed at children aged six to 11 months, according to Health Minister Armindo Tiago during the launch ceremony in Quelimane, the capital of Zambezia, on Monday.
Children starting vaccination after six months will receive the second and third doses four weeks apart, with the fourth and final doses given six months later, Tiago explained.
Tiago noted that Mozambique has invested 211 million meticais (approximately 3.3 million U.S. dollars) to acquire 800,000 vaccine doses for distribution across all health units in Zambezia province.
8 SHOT DEAD IN S. NIGERIA GUNMEN ATTACK
Police reported that at least eight individuals were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked a local community in Imo, Nigeria, late Saturday.
The victims, who were village leaders in the Umucheke community of Onuimo Local Government Area, were confirmed by Imo State police commissioner Aboki Danjuma during a media briefing at the scene on Sunday morning.
Danjuma reported that at least six gunmen on three motorcycles attacked the community, targeting the homes of the victims before fleeing into the bush.
He alleged that members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network carried out the assault, and security forces are searching nearby forests for the attackers.
HOME AFFAIRS WEIGHS IN ON ‘MISS SA’ CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA’S NATIONALITY
Following an ongoing debate on the nationality and identity of Chidimma Adetshina, who is part of the Miss South Africa contest, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza confirmed that investigations are underway regarding her eligibility.
So far, the Department of Home Affairs has found initial evidence of fraud by Chidima Adetshina’s mother following an investigation into her citizenship.
Chidimma Adetshina, born at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, has faced criticism and online abuse questioning her right to compete for the Miss South Africa title.
Home Affairs has uncovered the following findings:
- Prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother.
- Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time when the activities took place in 2001.
- An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child.
- The Department has broadened its investigation to identify and pursue any officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme and is obtaining legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina’s citizenship status.
- Upon the completion of the investigation, Home Affairs intends to press criminal charges against all implicated parties.
‘BLACK PANTHER’ ACTRESS CONNIE CHIUME, DEAD AT 72
Connie Chiume, the veteran South African actress who starred in the 2018 Marvel movie “Black Panther,” died aged 72 on Tuesday, 6th August.
Her family confirmed in a short statement on social media that she passed away in a Johannesburg hospital.
Connie Chiume was a celebrated actress recognized for her performances in “Zone 14,” “Rhythm City,” “Black Panther,” “Gomora,” and “Black Is King.”
She earned numerous accolades, including a Best Actress award at the South African Film and Television Awards, a Best Supporting Actress award, and the Living Legend award at the Cultural and Creative Industry Awards in 2024.
AT LEAST 13 KILLED AND 300 EVACUATED AFTER DEADLY LANDSLIDE IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
A landslide in the Wolaita region of southern Ethiopia, caused by heavy rainfall, has resulted in at least 13 deaths, with local officials warning that the toll may increase.
Samuel Fola, the zone chief administrator of Wolaita, reported that over 300 individuals have been evacuated from Kindo Didaye district, and the number of missing persons is still unclear.
The regional government reported that a desperate rescue operation was in progress in the Wolaita area—where Monday’s landslide was less deadly than a previous incident last month that claimed over 200 lives in another part of southern Ethiopia.
KOREA ALLOCATES $1 MILLION TO DROUGHT-HIT ZIMBABWE
Korea will provide $3 million to four African countries to help with severe drought damage, the foreign ministry said Monday. Zimbabwe and Zambia will each receive $1 million, while Malawi and Namibia will each get $500,000.
The aid, provided through the World Food Programme, will assist four countries that have declared a national emergency due to severe drought and worsening food shortages in the South African region.
AFCON QUALIFIER MATCHES SET TO START IN SEPTEMBER
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier matches for Morocco 2025 will kick off in September 2024.
The qualifiers will begin in September 2024 and conclude in November 2024.
The AFCON championship matches will begin from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
See the table below for the groups:
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi
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