African Development

Opposition in Zimbabwe Demands Fresh Elections Amid Fraud Allegations
Africa, African Development, Corruption, Elections, News, Zimbabwe

Opposition in Zimbabwe Demands Fresh Elections Amid Fraud Allegations

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the opposition party in Zimbabwe, has raised serious allegations of fraud following last week's general election. The party is calling for fresh elections and the disbandment of the electoral commission, accusing the ruling party, Zanu-PF, of manipulating the results. Deputy CCC spokesperson, Ostallos Siziba, addressed the media, stating that his party intended to appeal to the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to exert pressure on the government to organize new elections. The CCC's leader, Nelson Chamisa, secured 44% of the vote, but he maintains that the election results are inaccurate and tainted by manipulation. While Siziba did not directly reveal whether the CCC would pursue legal action to challenge th...
Army Officers Announce Coup in Gabon, Overturn Election Results
Africa, African Development, Armed Forces, Breaking News, Elections, Gabon, News, Security

Army Officers Announce Coup in Gabon, Overturn Election Results

A group of army officers in Gabon has declared a coup, claiming to have taken power and annulling the results of the recent presidential election. The military takeover was announced on national television by twelve soldiers who appeared early on Wednesday morning. The officers disclosed that the election results were being cancelled, and all institutions of the republic were being dissolved. They also revealed that the country's borders had been closed "until further notice." The move comes after the opposition alleged that Saturday's election, which declared President Ali Bongo as the winner, was fraudulent. Bongo was reported to have won just under two-thirds of the votes, an outcome that was met with skepticism from the opposition. If this coup is successful, it will bring an end t...
ECOWAS Condemns Threats to Prosecute Ousted Niger President, Calls for Peaceful Resolution
Africa, African Development, Armed Forces, Mali, News, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone

ECOWAS Condemns Threats to Prosecute Ousted Niger President, Calls for Peaceful Resolution

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has strongly condemned the threats made by Niger's military rulers to prosecute the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. The military leaders, who staged a coup that led to the removal of Bazoum from power, announced their intention to prosecute him for "high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger." In response, ECOWAS issued a statement on Monday expressing its astonishment and concern over the threats. The regional bloc characterized the move as a form of provocation and highlighted its contradiction with the military authorities' stated willingness to restore constitutional order in Niger through peaceful means. See Also: ECOWAS Chair: No Option Off the Table in Niger Republic Crisis Resolution EC...
ECOWAS Chair: No Option Off the Table in Niger Republic Crisis Resolution
Africa, African Development, Armed Forces, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, News, Niger, Security, Senegal, Sierra Leone

ECOWAS Chair: No Option Off the Table in Niger Republic Crisis Resolution

President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has asserted that no option is off the table, including the use of force as a last resort, in the efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis in Niger Republic. The Chairman made these remarks during the closing of an ECOWAS summit held in Abuja, Nigeria. Tinubu, speaking after the summit, highlighted that the communiqué issued at the extraordinary summit explicitly outlines that all options, including the use of force as a last resort, are being considered. He emphasized the significance of ECOWAS taking the lead in finding a solution to the crisis and stated that if the bloc doesn't act decisively, no one else will. Tinubu underscored ECOWAS's unwavering commitment to supporting Niger in its pursuit ...
The U.S to Support Nigeria’s Cocoa Value Chain with a $22million Project
African Development, Agriculture, United States of America

The U.S to Support Nigeria’s Cocoa Value Chain with a $22million Project

The United States and Lutheran World Relief are both in a cooperative agreement to support the cocoa value chain in Nigeria. See Also: World Bank To Fund $900 Million Development Projects In East Congo The Program indicated as the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress is valued at $22 million. The program will be followed through the next five years with roughly 68,000 farmers across Abia, Cross River, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, and Osun State benefiting from the program. It is focused on farmers in high-density and high-producing communities as well as those in low productivity but sited in highly promising areas. The program aims to increase cocoa productivity, improve access to inputs, and improve processing and export markets. Speaking on the program's a...
VP, Yemi Osinbajo Reveals Nigeria will Spend $410 Billion on Energy Transition
African Development, News, Nigeria

VP, Yemi Osinbajo Reveals Nigeria will Spend $410 Billion on Energy Transition

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo reveals that Nigeria will spend over $410 billion to execute its energy transition plan by 2060. Osinbajo spoke on Wednesday at the global virtual inauguration of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, his statement was revealed by his spokesman, Laolu Akande. See Also: NBA Conference: Shettima Had An Agenda – Omokri The Energy transition plan is devised to repress the crises of energy poverty and climate change in the country. According to him, “For Africa, the problem of energy poverty is as important as our climate ambitions." “Nigeria would need to spend 410 billion dollars above business-as-usual spending to deliver our transition plan by 2060, which translates to about 10 billion dollars per year." “The average 3 billion dollars per year...
World Bank To Fund $900 Million Development Projects In East Congo
African Development, Congo, Economy, News, Women Empowerment

World Bank To Fund $900 Million Development Projects In East Congo

The World Bank and Congo have signed two funding conventions of$900 million to boost female entrepreneurship and access to water and electricity in the east and west of the country, the Bank said in a statement. The projects will focus on Congo's central west Kasai province and eastern regions. Read Also: 20 Million Farmers In Africa To Benefit From $1.5 billion Emergency Food Facility "These operations supplement a portfolio of operations focused on reinforcing human capital and protecting the poorest households - including women - against socio-economic hazards," World Bank Congo Director said in a statement dated Tuesday but seen by Reuters on Wednesday. The deal was clinched at the end of a two-day visit to Congo by the World Bank's strategy and operations director for...
Coca Cola Inaugurates Its ‘Mega’ Factory In Ethiopia
African Development, Economy, Ethiopia, News

Coca Cola Inaugurates Its ‘Mega’ Factory In Ethiopia

Coca Cola has inaugurated its new 'mega factory' in Sebta City in Ethiopia. The $100 million factory, located 25 km from the capital, Addis Ababa, is equipped with state of the art machinery and will create 30,000 job opportunities. Senior government officials were in attendance at the inauguration "Coca-Cola is 60-years-old and plays an irreplaceable role as a factory in Ethiopia. Today, the establishment of this factory in this city is a testament to the development activities in Ethiopia," said Melaku Alebel, Ethiopian minister of Industry. The factory has a daily production potential of 70,000 racks of 24 bottles.  This level will bring the group's total manufacturing capacity in the country to 100 million cases per year and will make the country a strongh...
Vietnam Develops ‘World’s First’ African Swine Fever Vaccine For Commercial Use
Africa, African Development, Agriculture, News

Vietnam Develops ‘World’s First’ African Swine Fever Vaccine For Commercial Use

Vietnam said on Wednesday it had successfully developed a vaccine to administer to pigs to fight African swine fever, with the aim of becoming the first country to commercially produce and export it. African swine fever, one of the most devastating livestock diseases, was first detected in Vietnam in February 2019 and forced the country to cull around 20% of its hog herd last year. It originated in Africa before spreading to Europe and Asia and has killed hundreds of millions of pigs globally. African swine fever is harmless to humans. “This is a milestone of the veterinary industry,” deputy agriculture minister Phung Duc Tien said in a statement. “With immunity lasting six months, the vaccine will be a shield for hog-raising industry and pig production globally.” Read ...
World’s Largest Civilian Hospital Ship “Global Mercy” In Senegal
African Development, News, Senegal

World’s Largest Civilian Hospital Ship “Global Mercy” In Senegal

The Global Mercy, the world's largest civilian hospital ship, made its debut in Africa in the port of Dakar where it will stay for four weeks to train health professionals, an AFP journalist noted on Monday. Senegalese President Macky Sall formally welcomed the Global Mercy on Monday morning at a ceremony attended by Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Comoros President Azali Assoumani. The giant ship - measuring 174 meters long and 28.6 meters wide and comprising 12 decks - arrived Friday in the port of Dakar and will stay there for four weeks until the end of June, before returning in 2023 to offer surgical care to poor populations. Its arrival coincides with a new tragedy that has shaken the country and highlighted the shortcomings of Senegal's health system. ...