Africa in a Week Featured

By Gamal Khattab October 19, 2023 3593

Algeria Stands in Solidarity with Palestinians

Algeria's foreign minister, Ahmed Attaf, recently expressed full solidarity with the Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war. He called on the international community to support the Palestinians and help improve their living conditions in the Gaza Strip. Attaf urged urgent action to end the aggression and restart the peace process. This message was delivered at a meeting of African and Nordic countries in Algiers, where ministers discussed various topics such as migration, climate change, terrorism, and economic cooperation.

Protests in Libya over Gaza Hospital Strike

Thousands of people in Libya protested against the deadly strike on a Gaza hospital. They showed their support for the residents of Gaza and denounced the strike by the Zionist enemy. The strike, which killed at least 200 people, was blamed on Israel by the Hamas-run Palestinian territory's health ministry. The Israeli army, however, claimed that it was a misfired rocket by the Gaza-based militant group Islamic Jihad.

Rafah Crossing to Open in Egypt to Let Some Aid Through

Israel has agreed to let aid enter Gaza through Egypt. This comes after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi blamed Israeli bombardments for the closure of the Rafah crossing. The timeline for the opening of the crossing has not been defined yet.

African Leaders Attend Belt and Road Forum in China

Leaders from Africa, South America, and other emerging markets gathered in China for the third Belt and Road Forum. This forum marked the 10th anniversary of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to boost trade and economic growth through infrastructure projects. However, some observers believe that the Initiative may be losing momentum as China becomes more cautious and its domestic economy faces challenges. The main events of the forum will take place on Wednesday, with global organizations also in attendance.

UN Concerned about Congo-Rwanda Confrontation

The United Nations expressed concern about a potential direct confrontation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Tensions have risen due to the reappearance of the M23 rebellion in eastern Congo. The UN Secretary-General's report highlighted the risk of confrontation, and representatives from Security Council member countries called for restraint, dialogue, and a peaceful solution. The DRC and Rwanda have accused each other of supporting armed groups, worsening the situation in the troubled Great Lakes region.

France Shares Colonization Files with Cameroon Historians

France has delivered classified files to a commission of historians from Cameroon. This initiative aims to uncover the often-ignored aspects of colonization and decolonization in Cameroon. President Emmanuel Macron has taken steps to establish a new relationship with Africa, and this action is part of that effort. The team of historians will focus on France's involvement in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971, particularly in the repression of independence and opposition movements. Talks of reparations have been mentioned, but it is too early to confirm any decisions.

Senegal: Ousmane Sonko to Resume Hunger Strike

Ousmane Sonko, a Senegalese opponent, has announced that he will resume his hunger strike. Sonko, who is a candidate for the 2024 presidential election, accuses President Macky Sall of trying to exclude him from the ballot through legal procedures. Sonko's hunger strike is a way for him to show solidarity with other activists who have been unjustly arrested for expressing their political opinions. He also wants to protest against his own arbitrary detention and demand an end to it.

Close Race Between Liberia's President and Opposition Leader in Presidential Poll

The race for the presidency in Liberia is very close between President George Weah and opposition leader Joseph Boakai. Provisional results show that Weah has a slight lead over Boakai. If neither candidate gets more than 50% of the votes, a run-off election will be held. This is not the first time these two candidates have faced each other in a run-off election. In 2017, Weah won with 61.5% of the votes.

Liberian President George Weah to Face Joseph Boakai in Second Round Run-off

The presidential election in Liberia is heading towards a second-round run-off. President George Weah and opposition leader Joseph Boakai are currently neck-and-neck in the race. If neither candidate receives enough votes to win in the first round, a second round of voting will be held.