Know Afrika

  Acoup attempt has thrown Gabon into chaos, with a group of mutinous soldiers appearing on national television to announce the cancellation of recent election results and the dissolution of all state institutions. The announcement followed the re-election of President Ali Bongo Ondimba for a third term, a victory contested by the opposition, who labeled it a “fraud orchestrated” by the ruling party.  The soldiers, identifying themselves as part of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions,” declared the cancellation of the August 26, 2023, general elections and the closure of the country’s borders. Gunfire was heard during the televised announcement, indicating unrest in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. They claimed to be acting to “defend peace” by ending the current regime, dissolving institutions such as the government, Senate, National Assembly, and Constitutional Court. President Ali Bongo Ondimba was reported to be under house arrest, and one of...

  The spokesperson for the ruling party ZANU-PF stated on Sunday (August 27) that the re-election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa “shows that Zimbabweans are democratic” and that “a new confidence is being instilled” in the country. In the wake of yet another contentious election in the southern African nation of Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner of a second and last five-year term late on Saturday (August 26). The results of the election were published far earlier than anticipated. Mnangagwa extended his gratitude to the people of Zimbabwe on Sunday for being calm during the entirety of the election process. Chris Mutsvangwa, a spokesperson for the ZANU-PF party, said that the party had “no quarrel” with the voting system and urged the opposition party to have the same approach. We applaud the performance of the principal advocate for the opposition,  Nelson Chamisa . “He did not make it, but it was a good show, and it shows that Zimbabweans are d...

  According to the Red Cross and a member of the local parliament, a mob stampede that occurred on Friday at a stadium in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar, resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, including seven children. According to opposition MP Hanitra Razafimanantsoa, who was speaking on a local radio station, there have been 107 people injured and 13 people murdered thus far. The Red Cross, who were there at the disaster site, stated that “we do not yet have the final list. Seven children were killed. The original toll was reported to be “12 dead and some 80 injured,” according to Christian Ntsay, the Prime Minister of the republic that resides in the Indian Ocean. A crowd of around 50,000 spectators had gathered at the entrance to the Barea stadium to see the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games when a stampede broke out there. The initial cause of the catastrophe was not immediately revealed, but the Red Cross warned that the number of casualt...

Nigeria’s big banks are entering the financial technology (fintech) space, which is causing competition for existing fintech firms.  The banks are making strategic investments in fintech businesses to secure their future. This move threatens the valuation of top fintech firms like Flutterwave, Interswitch, and Opay, which are currently valued at over $1 billion.  Other fintech companies like Moniepoint and Paga are also establishing themselves in the industry. The big banks, including Stanbic, Access Bank, and GTB, are developing online banking platforms to compete with the fintech firms.  They are starting to see positive results from their investments in fintech. For example, GTBank’s fintech firm, Squad, became profitable in its first month of operations, recording a profit before tax of N926 million in the first six months.  Guarantee Holding Company’s fintech arm generated about N139.3 billion in revenue between June and December.  Wema Bank also ...

  Election officials in Zimbabwe, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa is running for a second and last term in a nation with a history of violent and contentious elections, extended the voting period till Thursday amid delays of up to ten hours in primarily opposition strongholds. Voting was suspended in several polling places in Zimbabwe on Wednesday night due to chaotic situations caused by ballot papers that were delivered up to ten hours late. This was especially the case in large urban areas like the capital, Harare. Voter intimidation and shouting broke out at the Haig Park Primary School polling station in Harare on Thursday morning after voters were advised to return because there were no more ballots available for the local council elections. A group of people who had been waiting since the early hours of the morning exclaimed, “We are not going anywhere; we will sleep here.” Voting was supposed to end at 7 p.m., but some stations still hadn’t received ballots. “These hours...

  Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, has said that his country will not be forced to side with any global powers, ahead of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation. He vowed not to be drawn into a contest between global powers as he readied to host the BRICS summit. South Africa’s president further said that “BRICS needs to build partnerships with other countries that share its aspirations and perspectives.” In a broadcast address to the nation on Sunday evening, he backed the expansion of the membership of BRICS.  The leaders from member countries of  BRICS  will meet in Johannesburg, a city in South Africa, on Wednesday. The member countries will reportedly hold the 15th edition of the BRICS Summit. During the meeting, the leaders will also talk about the expansion of BRICS.  Reportedly, Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China; Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil...

  The Nigerian Presidency has expressed concern over the removal of  fuel subsidy , stating that it has led to increased poverty among Nigerians and a loss of support for the government.  President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy on petrol in May, citing the inability to continue subsidizing petrol for neighboring countries. However, the government is now worried about the negative impact of this decision on the citizens. A close aide of the President, speaking anonymously, revealed that the government is aware of the growing discontent among the people and the possibility of civil unrest.  There are indications that organized labor, civil society, and the opposition are planning protests that could threaten the stability of the government.  The aide also mentioned the ongoing challenge to the legitimacy of President Tinubu’s election, which adds to the potential for unrest. The aide further explained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Lim...

  Bazoum  is still held in detention by the military high command in  Niger . President on the issue of Niger Republic. We want to find a lasting solution, we want peace and harmony to reign, not only in Nigeria, but in  the sub-Saharan region  and in globe as well. “”The Ulama advised Mr. President that we want peace and reconciliation. “That’s why we are here and our able leader and President accepted the offer that he wants us to intervene and to talk to our brothers in Niger Republic, the scholars also there on how we can come together and bring a lasting solution to this problem. ” That is why we are here and Insha Allah, by the grace of Allah, we’re optimistic that Allah will do it for us and we’ll find a lasting solution to this issue. “Other than that, the President deplored coup d’etat in the Sahel region and as a democrat himself, he said he would do everything to ensure that there is d...

  King Mohammed VI   has sent a written message to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The message concerns ways of strengthening and developing bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries, reports the Qatari news agency QNA. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Emir of the State of Qatar, received the royal message on behalf of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during a meeting on Monday at the Princely Cabinet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa. During the meeting, Mr Bourita conveyed the King’s greetings to his brothers Sheikh Tamim and Sheikh Abdullah, and wished their Highnesses good health and well-being, as well as the development and progress of the Qatari people. For his part, the Deputy Emir conveyed to Bourita the greetings of the Emir of Qatar and his own greetings to King Mohammed VI, as well as his wishes for good health and happiness for the Soverei...

  Juan Branco, a French-Spanish lawyer who was arrested in Dakar on Sunday in connection with recent unrest in Senegal, was freed on Monday under judicial monitoring before being deported, according to the authorities and his lawyers. After several days of searching, Mr. Branco was taken into custody on Friday evening in Mauritania. He had unlawfully entered Senegal a few days earlier in order to take part in the defense of opposition politician Ousmane Sonko, despite there being an arrest warrant out for him. On Sunday, he was handed over to the police in Senegal, where he is currently being held on a variety of allegations. “He was taken from prison this morning (Monday) and presented to the judge, who informed him that he had been placed under judicial supervision,” Robin Binsard, one of his lawyers, said in an interview with AFP. According to him, he was subsequently handed over to the police in order to be deported. According to statements made to the press by  Senega...

  The Moroccans, ranked 72nd, scored thanks to a toepoke from Anissa Lahmari after a penalty was saved at the end of the first half, but their passage was only assured after South Korea held two-time champions Germany to a 1-1 draw in the other Group H match. Colombia topped the group with six points, ahead of runners-up Morocco on goal difference, while Germany and South Korea bowed out of the tournament. Morocco, who were thrashed 6-0 by Germany in their opening game before beating South Korea 1-0, meet France in Adelaide and Colombia play Jamaica in Melbourne on Tuesday. Both teams created chances in the first half, but it was not until stoppage time, when Colombia's Daniela Arias clumsily fouled striker Ibtissam Jraidi in the penalty area, that Morocco had a real chance. Las Cafeteras goalkeeper Catalina Perez dived to her left to save Ghizlane Chebbak's penalty kick, but midfielder Lahmari pushed the ball into the back of the net in the ensuing melee. After the break, Colo...

  imothy Simwa a journalist in  Kenya , who linked the protest to a defiance of the new tax by President Ruto’s regime said: « We have seen the finance bill, which was enacted into an act by the president, attracting a lot of controversies, at least from opinion polls. » The media fraternity has also not been spared with government officials claiming they sympathize with the opposition.  The media refute these allegations. « President William Ruto  has the government and the media have had sort of a frosty relationship even before assuming power. The president and his camp felt like he wasn’t being given fair coverage the way the opposition was being given during the campaigns and upon assumption of office, they have not been shy to come out and tell the media that they do not like the way you conduct yourselves. They feel the media has been biased. But the media owners partly feel that the president and his administratio...