Africa (except North Africa)

30 October 2023; MEMO: South Africa, on Monday, called on the United Nations to deploy a Rapid Protection Force to protect the civilian population in Gaza from further bombardment by Israel, Anadolu Agency reports.

"All countries genuinely committed to a rules-based system underpinned by international law must act immediately" South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, or Foreign Ministry, said in a strongly worded statement.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — An elite Kenyan police unit went on trial Tuesday on charges of wrongful death in the killing of an outspoken Pakistani journalist in Nairobi a year ago. The case was jointly filed by the journalist’s widow and two Kenyan journalists’ unions.

BRAZZAVILLE, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto said on Saturday that Kenya will lift visa requirements for all Africans by the end of 2023 with the aim of boosting trade with African countries.

"By the end of this year, no African will need a visa to enter Kenya. The time has come to understand the importance of doing trade between us," said Ruto, while speaking at the summit of the world's three major forest basins, namely the Amazon, Congo, and Borneo-Mekong Forest Basins, in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.

MOGADISHU, Oct 27 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Somali government on Thursday approved a bill aimed at enhancing efforts to combat maritime crimes such as piracy and kidnapping, with the goal of ensuring the safety of the country’s extensive coastline for economic activities.

The anti-piracy and anti-kidnapping bill, which outlines severe penalties for individuals involved in maritime crimes, was presented to the cabinet by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hassan Moalim Mohamud. The bill will be submitted to the parliament for approval.

27 October 2023; MEMO: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission gave his full support, Thursday, to the UN Chief, for Antonio Guterres’s “principled position and leadership” amid criticism for remarks on Israel’s military actions in Gaza at the Security Council, Anadolu Agency reports.

"I fully support the principled position and leadership of @antonioguterres and the work of the @UN in the Occupied Palestinian Territories" Moussa Faki Mahamat wrote on X.

HARARE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabweans took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the sanctions imposed on their country by the United States and other Western nations more than two decades ago.

During a campaign in the capital of Harare marking Anti-Sanctions Day, which falls on Oct. 25, Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said sanctions have significantly hindered Zimbabwe's economic development.

CAPE TOWN, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille, says the BRICS partnership is enough reason for Tourism Ministers and countries to come together and work in collaboration to grow their sectors and economies.

De Lille made the remarks during the opening session of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Tourism Ministers meeting held in Cape Town on Tuesday.

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A German tourist who went missing in a national park teeming with wild animals in northern Zimbabwe has been found alive and in “good health” along with his rental car three days later, a spokesperson for the national parks agency said Tuesday.

Tinashe Farawo with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said Andreas Hoberg had last been seen buying a drink at the park shop in Matusadona National Park before going for a game drive around 3.30 p.m. on Saturday.

DODOMA (Tanzania), Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A multimillion-dollar deal signed between Emirati maritime giant DP World and Tanzania looks set to further entrench the dominance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Africa’s freight industry.

Reports of the $250m deal first emerged in July, sparking criticism by the opposition that it “violated Tanzania’s constitution and endangers national sovereignty”.

Activists petitioned a court to halt the deal and were briefly detained for planning anti-government protests.

PRETORIA, Oct 24 (NNN-GNA) — South Africa’s third biggest political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, has held a protest outside the Israeli embassy in the capital, Pretoria.

Party leader, Julius Malema once again called for the closure of the embassy after saying Israel’s government had “no respect for humanity”.

Malema also urged retailers in the country to remove Israeli-produced goods from their shelves by the end of October.