AFRICA

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to stimulate investments, growth and pandemic recovery Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The East African Business Council (EABC), a regional trade lobby, will harness opportunities presented by African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to stimulate investments, growth and pandemic recovery, executives said Wednesday at a …

Zimbabwe to introduce 100 ZWL note Harare, Zimbabwe | Xinhua | The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is set to introduce a new 100 Zimbabwe dollar (ZWL) note, following instructions by Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube. The instructions were given by Ncube in a “Statutory Instrument” published in the April …

Juba, South Sudan | Xinhua | South Sudan peace monitors on Tuesday welcomed the launch of public consultations to pave way for the start of truth, reconciliation and healing process under the 2018 revitalized peace deal. The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) said the launch of the consultations demonstrates …

Juba, South Sudan | Xinhua | Three Western nations which are South Sudan peace guarantors Tuesday welcomed the decision by the main opposition, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) to resume participation in the security mechanisms and called for total commitment to resolve the remaining issues. The United States, United Kingdom and …

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Kenya will defend their African Rugby Under-20 Championship crown against neighbors Uganda on Saturday in the country’s capital, Nairobi. The Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy gets underway with eight nations participating, the Kenya Rugby Union said in a statement released on Monday. The tournament will be …

Johannesburg, S.A. | Xinhua | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday congratulated Black Coffee for winning a Grammy Award for the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for his album, Subconsciously. “Congratulations to Black Coffee for being awarded the Best Dance/Electronic Music award for his album ‘Subconsciously’ at last night’s Grammy Award. …

Juba, South Sudan | Xinhua | South Sudan’s main opposition, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), has agreed to resume participation in the security mechanisms after recently opting out due to “unprovoked” attacks on its positions. First Vice President Riek Machar, leader of the SPLM/A-IO, on March 22 announced announced his party’s …

Khartoum, Sudan | Xinhua | Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Sunday called on the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) to keep the same distance from all parties amid the ongoing political crisis in the country. His remarks came during a meeting with the …

Lagos, Nigeria | Xinhua | The Nigerian Navy on Friday launched a special operation to stop oil thieves from further sabotaging the nation’s oil and gas installations. Awwal Gambo, the country’s chief of naval staff, who spoke at the launch of the operation, blamed the nation’s economic downturn on attacks …

Kivu, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT | M23 rebels have declared a unilateral ceasefire to pave way for dialogue with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC. This comes after a week of heavy fighting between the rebels and government troops on Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu province about three kilometers …