With the media often being dominated by Western stories and focusing on some of the larger conflicts in the world whether that be the Israel-Gaza conflict or the Russian-Ukraine conflict it often means that many prevalent issues aren’t discussed. Issues in Africa tend to not receive much attention, which is why it is important they are discussed.
Thousands sheltering in hospital as fighting escalates in DRC
- Thousands of people are seeking shelter inside a hospital amid an escalation of fighting in North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bordering Uganda.
- At least 2,500 people, including children, are currently sheltering in Mweso Hospital, around 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the provincial capital Goma
- As the current wave of fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army intensifies, 150,000 people, including 78,000 children, have been forced to flee their homes in the past week
- The M23 group was named after a March 23, 2009, peace deal, which it accused the government of violating. The soldiers, mostly Tutsis, became part of the national army through that accord. The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the group, something the Rwandan government has strongly denied.
- The UN is set to withdraw its peacekeeping mission so there is great uncertainty about peace.
Senegal faces political crisis as President delays polls
- A political crisis is developing in Senegal after presidential polls due to be held in February were postponed, triggering protests and a mobile internet shutdown in the country.
- The news of the election delay, which came as official campaigning for the February 25 elections was due to start, sparked widespread anger in the West African country.
- Opposition politicians took to the streets with their supporters on Sunday and clashed with police, who dispersed the crowd with tear gas
- President Macky Sall, whose second and final term runs out in April, announced Saturday that the vote would not hold as planned, citing disputes over a final list of presidential candidates that excluded dozens of opposition aspirants
Namibia’s President Hage Geingob dies aged 82
- Namibian President Hage Geingob has died at the age of 82 at a hospital in the capital Windhoek, where he was receiving medical treatment
- Acting president Mbumba appealed to the nation to “remain calm and collected” while the government makes state arrangements and preparations, saying further details will be announced at a later date.
African music gets new category at the Grammys
- The recording academy has welcome three new categories one being Best African Music Performance, introduced to celebrate Afrobeats and African music.
Internet blackout hits Sudan
- Internet connectivity was shut down in Sudan due to ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF (Rapid Support Forces) that have left thousands killed and millions displaced in nearly 10 months of fighting
- All three network providers confirmed an outage on Wednesday
- The Sudanese foreign ministry blamed the RSF for the blackout which further complicates the dilemma of millions of locals unable to flee the conflict and who the UN says are in dire need of humanitarian aid