AFRICA

  Can the continent walk the talk? **** The African Union has embarked on one of its most audacious health security missions: Ensuring that the continent manufactures 60% of its own vaccines by 2040. Africa currently manufactures a lowly 1% of the vaccines. However, since April 2021, when the AU …

LUANDA, Angola | Xinhua | Peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, originally set for Tuesday, were called off due to “reasons and circumstances of force majeure,” the Angolan Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday. In the statement, Angola also pledged to …

DOHA | Xinhua | Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda met here on Tuesday during a sit-down mediated by Qatar, during which they voiced support for a ceasefire in the eastern DRC. According to a joint statement released by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, DRC President Felix …

ADDIS ABABA | Xinhua | African youth have been urged to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to tap into broader continental market and economic opportunities. Experts and policymakers made the call on Saturday during a continental youth-themed meeting organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The M23 has withdrawn from the peace talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo that were scheduled for Tuesday, in Luanda, Angola. It follows a series of events on Monday that includes the European Union announcing sanctions against members of the Rwanda Defense …

The intensifying competition between telecoms and Starlink for broadband access marks a new era of connectivity for rural regions, as both strive to bridge Africa’s digital divide. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | As Elon Musk’s Starlink continue to cannibalise small internet service providers in major African cities and telcos …

KIGALI | Xinhua |  Rwanda on Monday severed its diplomatic relations with Belgium and ordered all Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. “The government of Rwanda today notified the government of Belgium of its decision to sever diplomatic relations, effective immediately,” the Rwandan foreign ministry said in …

JOHANNESBURG | Xinhua |  Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s expelled ambassador, has been given 72 hours to leave the United States. Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), confirmed to local media News24 on Saturday that they have received official confirmation from the South African mission …

Boma, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT | The March 23 Movement (M23) has set terms and conditions for direct dialogue with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Early this week, Angolan President João Lourenço’s office announced the start of direct negotiations between Kinshasa and the M23, starting on …

Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The NRM parliamentary caucus, in a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe this afternoon, issued resolutions supporting the deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan amid recent conflicts. In a statement signed by Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua, the caucus said …