AFRICA

NAIROBI, KENYA | Xinhua | Kenyan aviation authorities on Monday assured travelers that contingency measures have been put in place to restore normal operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport following flight disruptions caused by a workers’ strike. The labor dispute between the Kenya Aviation Workers Union and the Kenya Civil …

Sydney, Australia | THE INDEPENDENT | The ordination of Lawrence Zimbe at St Brendan’s Church in Annandale has underscored a growing religious and diplomatic bridge between Australia and Uganda. The Most Rev. Danny Meagher presided over the ceremony, which drew a capacity crowd, including 15 priests and 10 seminarians. Among …

Nigeria’s growing natural hair industry includes enterprising professionals like Happiness Okorie, who recently styled Chimamanda Adichie’s hair. For years, Okorie had suffered from burns on her scalp due to using harsh relaxers. Then one day, she said ‘no more!’. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Happiness Okorie’s dream came true …

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA | Xinhua | Chinese President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message to the 39th African Union (AU) Summit has resonated strongly across the African continent and the wider international community. In his message, Xi announced that China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries having diplomatic relations …

After years of rapid expansion driven by mobile money, Africa’s digital credit market is entering a regulatory phase. Governments across the continent are formalising loan apps through licensing and conduct standards to curb abuses without stalling access to credit. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Regulators are reasserting control over …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | THE INDEPENDENT | African leaders convened at the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa on 14–15 February, launching the AU theme of the year: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve …

GOMA, DR Congo | Xinhua | Vivian van de Perre, acting head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO), met with leaders of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group in Goma on Friday to discuss a ceasefire monitoring mechanism. The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts intensify …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | African sugar giant once courted by Tanzania’s Kagera Sugar and heralded as a possible triumph of a continental sugar business spanning East and South Africa is heading for liquidation. Kagera Sugar was eliminated early in the process to reconfigure Tongaat’s business which also included Zimbabwe’s …

Nairobi, Kenya | BBC |  Kenya’s border with Somalia will re-open in April almost 15 years after it shut because of attacks by Islamist militant group al-Shabab, President William Ruto has announced. Based in Somalia, the group has masterminded a series of deadly assaults in Kenya including one on a …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The cost of mobile telephone call costs in the East African Community have remained high and varying despite the introduction of the One Network Area (ONA) Initiative in 2014. ‎‎ONA was created to make mobile roaming across the EAC simple and affordable, by making …