Liberia’s Capitol Constructing Fireplace Investigation Reaches New Heights
The Liberia Nationwide Police has summoned a number of lawmakers of the Home of Representatives in reference to an ongoing investigation into the fireplace that gutted the Capitol Constructing – the seat of the Liberian Legislature – in December 2024. In a communication addressed to the Speaker of the Home, Richard Koon, the police requested a “assembly with the Honorable Representatives recognized as individuals of curiosity”. Amongst these invited is former Speaker Fonati Koffa.
Chad Suspends U.S. Visas in Retaliation for Trump Journey Ban
Chad’s President Mahamat Deby suspended all visas to U.S. residents as a matter of “reciprocity”, after studying that it’s one in every of a dozen international locations whose nationals are prohibited from coming into. Within the new U.S. journey ban introduced by President Donald Trump, seven of the 12 international locations on the checklist are in Africa, whereas visa restrictions had been positioned on seven others. Trump claimed the measure was mandatory to guard the U.S. from international terrorists and safety threats. In the meantime, the African Union Fee has warned that the arbitrary journey restrictions imposed on African international locations by the U.S. authorities might pressure decades-long diplomatic relations between the 2 sides.
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu Dies at 68 in South Africa
Former President Edgar Lungu has died whereas receiving medical therapy in South Africa. He was 68. Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 to 2021, a interval that was marked by main infrastructure tasks in addition to rising debt and financial difficulties. He misplaced re-election to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021 and saved a comparatively low profile till not too long ago, when he re-entered politics as an opposition candidate. President Hichilema described Lungu’s demise as a tragic loss for the nation.
World Financial institution Ends Mortgage Ban to Uganda Over Anti-Homosexual Regulation
The World Financial institution introduced that it had lifted its two-year suspension on new lending to Uganda, imposed after the nation enacted one of many world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines in 2023. The Financial institution mentioned it had developed and examined mitigation measures to make sure its funding neither harmed nor discriminated in opposition to LGBTQ individuals, and it permitted contemporary tasks in social safety, schooling, and assist for refugees and displaced individuals. Throughout the suspension, Uganda, already reliant on World Financial institution financing for infrastructure resembling highway upgrades and electrification, had misplaced an estimated $470 million to $1.7 billion in frozen funds. Whereas Ugandan officers argued the Anti-Homosexuality Act mirrored native values, critics contended it diverted consideration from points like unemployment and opposition repression and fuelled violence, evictions, and arrests of LGBTQ people, all of which human-rights teams mentioned the brand new lending safeguards now needed to deal with.
Burundi’s Predominant Opposition Blocked from Elections
The primary opposition, the Nationwide Freedom Council (CNL), was successfully blocked from competing in elections in Burundi, by which voters elected a brand new parliament. The ruling Nationwide Council for the Protection of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) occasion, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, confronted little electoral risk after the CNL was suspended in 2023 over alleged assembly irregularities and later skilled a management ousting extensively considered as orchestrated by the federal government. Former CNL chief Agathon Rwasa and his allies had been additionally blocked from becoming a member of different opposition teams or working as independents. Analysts mentioned that the CNDD-FDD was tightening management amid a deepening socio-economic disaster marked by excessive poverty, inflation above 40%, and rising public discontent. Observers anticipated the vote to additional entrench the ruling occasion’s dominance regardless of mounting criticism of its financial and political file.
AIDS-Associated Deaths Hit Lowest Since 2004, However Progress Fragile Amid Funding Woes
AIDS-related deaths dropped to their lowest stage since 2004, however the progress remained fragile, with the illness nonetheless claiming a life each minute. UN Underneath Secretary-Common Amina Mohammed, talking at a UN Common Meeting overview, mentioned that over 30 million individuals had been receiving lifesaving therapy, calling the worldwide AIDS response a multilateral success. Nevertheless, she warned of fading international dedication, falling funding, and widespread disruptions to HIV providers, particularly affecting susceptible teams like adolescent women and younger ladies. The potential cuts to PEPFAR, the U.S.-led program combating HIV in Africa, posed a severe risk, with UNAIDS projecting 4 million further AIDS-related deaths and 6 million new infections by 2029 with out continued assist. Mohammed mentioned there’s an pressing want to handle the funding disaster, notably as many sub-Saharan African international locations spent extra on debt servicing than on healthcare. She referred to as for debt aid, sustainable HIV financing, stronger nationwide management, and safety of human rights, as punitive legal guidelines and stigma continued to push individuals away from vital providers.
Join free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the most recent in African information delivered straight to your inbox
Success!
Nearly completed…
We have to verify your e-mail deal with.
To finish the method, please observe the directions within the e-mail we simply despatched you.
Error!
There was an issue processing your submission. Please strive once more later.
