Football Fans Head to Lagos Bars for Start of EPL
The Manchester City-Arsenal game may have been played in an empty stadium in north-west England on Wednesday night because of the coronavirus pandemic but 6,500km away in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, there was little sign of any social distancing. As the English Premier League resumed, the Sir T pub, in the mainland part of Lagos […]
Uganda Straddles Preservation vs Production
Conservationists have branded a decision by the Ugandan high court to allow swathes of forest to be cleared for a sugarcane plantation “an unforgivable shame for all people”. Work to clear 900 hectares of Bugoma Forest Reserve, in Hoima, began last month after the court ruled that the land, leased by Hoima Sugar Company Ltd, lay […]
Underground Bars Mushroom in Gabon’s Informal Settlements
In Gabon, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted people’s daily lives. For the past three months, bars, restaurants and nightclubs have had to keep their doors shut. However, behind the scenes, good times continue to roll in the working-class neighbourhoods. In Libreville, illicit bars where friends can get together for a drink or two are beginning […]
Calling All Remote Work Seekers in South Africa
Amazon says it is hiring for 3,000 new virtual customer service jobs in South Africa this year. In a statement on Thursday (18 June), the company said that these roles will range from customer service associates to technical experts who will work virtually and provide 24/7 support to Amazon customers in North America and Europe. […]
First of its Kind Telecos Deal in West Africa
An Orange SA West African subsidiary is issuing debt on the regional market for the first time to take advantage of higher demand for digital services amid the coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns has made a plan by Dakar-based Sonatel’s to raise $171 million particularly timely, Chief Executive Officer Sekou Drame said […]
Domestic Tourists Wait Out COVID-19 in this Egyptian Paradise
Set in the shadow of Egypt’s Sinai Mountains, Dahab is a destination so alluring that some have opted to make it their home soon after visiting. Once a small Bedouin fishing town, it’s now one of the Red Sea’s top diving resorts, attracting thrill-seekers, nature lovers, and located an hour’s drive from Sharm El Sheikh, […]
ECOWAS Discusses Opening Borders
West African government ministers have proposed re-opening borders between their countries in the first half of July and allowing in travellers from other countries with low or controlled levels of coronavirus spread by the end of July. Countries across the 15-country ECOWAS trade bloc have imposed varying levels of travel restrictions in response to the […]
Who Will be Africa’s Next Representative on the Security Council?
Kenya and Djibouti will compete in a run-off vote after an inconclusive first round of voting. The United Nations General Assembly voted on Wednesday on who will occupy the non-permanent seats on the council for the next two years. The vote for Africa’s third seat was pushed back after neither Kenya nor Djibouti managed to […]
Flashbacks of Harare’s Economic Collapse
Zimbabwe raised salaries for government workers by 50 percent on Wednesday, hours after nurses stopped work at a major government hospital in the capital Harare, demanding to be paid in dollars because of soaring inflation. Workers fear the country is returning to the 2008 era when a bout of hyperinflation rendered salaries and savings worthless. […]
Meet Burundi’s New President
Evariste Ndayishimiye was sworn in as Burundi’s new president Thursday at the Ingoma stadium in the capital city, Gitegay, a week after the sudden death of outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza. Ndayishimiye was originally scheduled to be sworn into office in August, but the Constitutional Court ruled last week that Ndayishimiye’s swearing take place as soon […]
