As we wrap up the week, and the Mpox continues to spread in parts of Africa, here are the top stories from the continent: Sweden reported its first Mpox case from a man who recently traveled to Africa.
President Kagame unveiled a new cabinet, and Kenya’s police faced court over a serial killer suspect’s escape.
Meanwhile, Uber raised prices by 10% in Kenya, Nigerian citizens expressed outrage over President Tinubu’s newly acquired aircraft, and the last elephant in South Africa’s only national zoo was released into the wild.
Check out all the top stories below:
MPOX CASES SOARING IN AFRICA, SWEDEN REPORTS FIRST CASE
On Thursday (15 August), Sweden reported its first case of the deadly Clade 1B strain of Mpox, identified in a man who had recently traveled to Africa.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control warned of likely new cases due to frequent Europe-Africa travel and urged member countries to enhance preparedness and issue vaccination advisories.
Since the start of 2024, Africa has reported more than 18,000 suspected cases, affecting countries like Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is finalizing the purchase of millions of Mpox vaccines due to a surge in cases.
France and the U.S. are donating Mpox vaccines to African countries, while the WHO and African Union push for increased vaccine production and distribution.
CITIZENS UPSET OVER TINUBU’S NEWLY ACQUIRED AIRCRAFT
Many Nigerians have criticized the purchase of the presidential jet (Airbus A330) when the country is in crisis over economic challenges and most people are facing budget cuts.
Tinubu flew to France on Monday using a newly acquired private jet. The Airbus A330, now registered to the Nigerian Air Force, was bought last month for $100 million, according to Premium Times.
The jet, featuring a bedroom, office space, conference room, dining room, and airline-style first-class and economy seating, is described by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, as “spacious and furnished with state-of-the-art avionics, customised interior and communications system.”
Onanuga stated that the new jet replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) purchased during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Many Nigerians have criticized the purchase of the presidential jet while the country is facing an economic crisis due to the high cost of living.
However, the presidency has responded to these critics by stating that the new jet, bought far below the market price, “saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.”
PRESIDENT KAGAME ROLLS OUT NEW CABINET
Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced his new cabinet of 21 ministers and nine junior ministers as he began his fourth term in office.
Only three new ministers were appointed, with most retaining their previous roles. The new appointees are Prudence Sebahizi for Trade and Industry, Richard Nyirishema for Sports, and Christine Nkulikiyinka for Public Service and Labour.
Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente was sworn in on Friday (16 August), following President Paul Kagame’s inauguration for a fourth term after winning over 99% of the vote.
KENYA POLICE IN COURT OVER SERIAL KILLER SUSPECT’S ESCAPE
Five Kenyan police officers appeared in court on Wednesday, accused of aiding the escape of a man suspected of killing dozens of women from a Nairobi police cell.
The search began Tuesday after alleged serial killer Collins Jumaisi and 12 Eritreans broke out of a police station in an affluent area of the capital.
Jumaisi, 33, labeled a “vampire, a psychopath” by police, was arrested last month after mutilated bodies were found in a Nairobi slum.
He and other detainees escaped by cutting through a wire mesh roof at the station.
Acting national police chief Gilbert Masengeli said Tuesday, “Our preliminary investigations indicate that the escape was aided by insiders.”
Five of the eight officers arrested appeared in a Nairobi court on Wednesday, with police requesting an additional 14 days to complete their investigations after discovering the breakout during a routine cell check around 5:00 a.m. Tuesday.
The police station in Gigiri, near the UN and embassies, was the site of Jumaisi’s escape. After his arrest on July 15, Jumaisi confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, but claimed abuse, his lawyer told AFP last month.
This is the second high-profile escape in six months; Kevin Kangethe, accused of killing his girlfriend in the U.S., fled a police station in February but was recaptured a week later.
UBER RAISES PRICES BY BY 10% IN KENYA
E-hailing commuters in Kenya will pay more as Uber raises fares for all ride categories.
This is in response to driver frustrations, which have led some to set their own rates and refuse service to passengers unwilling to pay higher prices.
Some drivers recently protested against the current pricing models in July. Last month, Uber, Bolt, Faras, and other e-taxi drivers went on strike over low pay and poor working conditions.
On Monday, Uber announced a 10 percent increase in the minimum fare, raising it to Sh220 from Sh200.
Uber Head of East Africa Imran Manji said, “The minimum fare for example Uber Chapchap is Sh220, that’s what the drivers will earn. However, for customers with discounts they may pay lower.”
This change aims to help drivers cope with the high cost of living and ensure they can maximize their earnings while staying affordable for riders.
PETER OBI ASKS TINUBU TO TELL NIGERIANS COST OF NEW PRESIDENTIAL JET
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has asked President Bola Tinubu to reveal the cost and age of the new presidential jet.
Obi made the request in several posts on Twitter (now X), reacting to the new presidential jet purchase, which has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians. Many have criticized the government’s decision to buy the jet amid widespread hunger and hardship in the country.
A presidential jet is a major symbol of national sovereignty and state power. How much it costs to transport the president, is a major issue of public accountability. I hope that Nigerians will not be denied the right of full disclosure on the new presidential jet. -PO
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) August 20, 2024
“Now that the Jet is here, can Nigerian taxpayers whose money was used to purchase it need to be privy to how much it cost and how old the aircraft is and how long it’s been in operation?
“In addition, Nigerians also deserve to know about how the old jets are being disposed, how many of them, how old they are, and why they are being sold. Transparency and Accountability should be the hallmark of any genuine leadership.
“The government will lose nothing but respect, if it fails to provide adequate information about its leadership to the people whose money is being deployed and whose mandate the President is holding.”
Many Nigerians have criticized the purchase of the presidential jet (Airbus A330) when the country is in crisis over economic challenges and most people are facing budget cuts.
ESWATINI COURT ORDERS AKA & TIBZ MURDER SUSPECTS TO FACE TRIAL IN SA
The two men arrested in Eswatini for the murders of Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane will be extradited to South Africa for trial.
However, brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande will have 15 days to appeal the decision to extradite them.
Brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande were apprehended in February, a year after the shooting on Florida Road in Durban.
The two were arrested by the Royal eSwatini Police and Interpol on 24 February.
In February 2023, AKA and TIBZ were shot and killed outside Wish Restaurant on Florida Road in Durban, leading to five men being arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder (Forbes), murder (Motsoane), unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and five counts of attempted murder.
LAST ELEPHANT IN SA’S ONLY NATIONAL ZOO FREED INTO THE WILD
The last elephant in South Africa’s only national zoo (Pretoria Zoo) has been released into the wild after 40 years in captivity.
The elephant, named Charlie, has been relocated to his new home at Shambala Private Reserve in Limpopo province.
Charlie, captured in 1984 from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park at age two, was first taken to Boswell Wilkie Circus in South Africa for training and later moved to the national zoo in the early 2000s. Recently, animal welfare groups advocated for his release due to concerns about his health.
On Tuesday, the EMS Foundation, which advocates for wildlife rights, announced that after “a nail-biting four-hour trip to freedom,” the elephant had arrived at Shambala Private Reserve in Limpopo province, marking a “historic event” that followed years of negotiations with the South African government after the foundation and its partners provided evidence showing that elephants suffer in zoos.
MTN SUFFERS REVENUE DECLINE
MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile operator, reported significant losses for the first half of 2024.
Its interim financial results for the six months ending 30 June show that group service revenue fell by 20.8% to R85.3 billion, down from R107.7 billion in the same period last year.
MTN Nigeria’s EBITDA dropped 68.3% to R7.37 billion, while MTN South Africa’s EBITDA rose 4.3% to R9.56 billion.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) dropped 41.2% to R29 billion, with the margin falling to 32%, and both basic and headline earnings per share decreased significantly to 409 cps and 256 cps, respectively.
MTN reported having 288 million customers across 18 markets, with 150 million active data subscribers increasing data traffic by over a third to 9,054 petabytes.
MERCHANTS IN NIGERIA CAN NOW ACCEPT AMERICAN EXPRESS PAYMENTS
American Express is expanding in Africa by partnering with local financial services, including a new service that lets online businesses using Flutterwave in Nigeria accept American Express payments.
The new feature will be available in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ghana, with plans to expand to Uganda.
This move follows American Express’s earlier launch of four US dollar-denominated credit cards in Nigeria, in partnership with Lagos-based fintech O3 Capital.
MALAWI TO LOCALLY PRODUCE AFFORDABLE SMARTPHONES
Citizens in Malawi struggle with internet access, with 40% lacking coverage. To address this, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) plans to launch locally produced affordable mobile phones in the country.
Daud Suleman, Director General of MACRA, called for teamwork to bridge the digital divide and make technology accessible to all while advising young people to stay away from cybercrime and act ethically online.
Chomola Mikeka announced plans to introduce digital subjects in schools by 2027, while noting that connectivity remains a challenge, with only 34% of primary schools and 82% of secondary schools having electricity.
OVER 1 MILLION VOTERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN BOTSWANA’S 2024 ELECTIONS
The Independent Electoral Commission of Botswana (IEC) announced on Wednesday that over a million voters are eligible for the upcoming October 2024 general elections.
In Francistown, Botswana’s second-largest city, IEC Secretary Jefferson Siamisang informed political party representatives that the commission is now crucially focused on preparing for a transparent, fair, and credible election process.
“A total of 1,037,684 eligible voters had registered to vote, which was 80 percent of the 1.3 million target set against the county’s 1.7 million voting population,” said Siamisang.
He reported that 2,520 registrations were denied due to issues like age eligibility and national identity card problems.
2 CONFIRMED DEAD IN PLANE CRASH IN MALAWI
On Tuesday, a small aircraft crashed into Lake Malawi, killing two people. The plane, which had a crew member and two passengers, went down in the Nkhotakota district, about 200 km northeast of Lilongwe, according to district spokesperson Wongani Mkandawire.
The 50-year-old Zimbabwean pilot and a 29-year-old Dutch passenger died, while 22-year-old Dutch survivor Charlotte Lemstra, rescued by local fishermen, is now in stable condition at Nkhotakota District Hospital.
According to the survivor, “the pilot lost consciousness midair” during the flight from Nkhotakota to Liwonde, causing the crash of the C210 aircraft, registered as 7QPFU, which belonged to Nyasa Express Company, confirmed Malawian government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu.
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