Welcome to the Development Diaries weekly roundup of top African stories for Sunday, 06 August, 2023.
Last week, we reported President Tinubu’s long list of ministerial nominees despite concerns over high cost of governance in Nigeria; civil society’s reaction to Nigeria’s palliative plans; why ECOWAS mist tread with caution in Niger; Human Rights Watch (HRW) findings ahead of Zimbabwe’s elections; poor health care in Togo among other top stories.
Must Nigeria Appoint 47 Ministers?
President Bola Tinubu appears unwilling to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria as he has forwarded a list of 19 more ministerial nominees to the senate for screening and confirmation. Read more
Nigeria: Civil Society Reacts to Palliative Plans
A coalition of 17 civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria faulted government’s slow response to the hardship resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy. President Bola Tinubu, in his speech to the nation on 31 July, announced a series of measures aimed at fulfilling his campaign promises and easing the hardship. Read more
Niger: Why ECOWAS Must Tread with Caution
The news report that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is planning military action in Niger is troubling considering the humanitarian condition of the country. Political tensions in Niger started after the head of the country’s Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum and declared himself head of state. Read more
Zimbabwe: ‘Abusive Laws’ Raise Concerns ahead Polls
Recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) findings raised human rights fears in Zimbabwe ahead of the country’s 2023 general election. HRW made the findings in a 44-page report titled Crush Them Like Lice: Repression of Civil and Political Rights Ahead of Zimbabwe’s August 2023 Election. Read more
Central Africa Records Economic Growth
Central Africa experienced a growth rate higher than the African average, according to findings from the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Central African Economic Outlook 2023 report. The region achieved real GDP growth of 5.0 percent in 2022, compared with 3.4 percent in 2021. Read more
Kenya: AECF Launches Cheap Loans for Women
Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) launched a loan programme for women in 11 counties in Kenya. Women-owned small businesses are expected to access funding to grow and boost their ventures. Read more
Togo: ‘Women Give Birth on Floor’
Amnesty International (AI) reported staff shortages, worn equipment, and poor quality of care in most health care facilities in Togo. The human rights-focused organisation released the report based on a study conducted in Lomé, the country’s capital, and Aného, in February and March 2023. Read more
Malawi: MSF Records Impact in Response to HIV
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, reported that it enrolled a total of 55,000 people who tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for its Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) programme in Chiradzulu, Malawi. Malawi has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world with 990,000 people living with the virus, according to 2021 data from UNAIDS. Read more
Zimbabwe: ‘Online Violence Targeting Women’
There were reports of alleged rising political tension and cases resulting in physical and cyber-attacks targeting voters and political activists, particularly women in Zimbabwe. Read more
That is the roundup of some stories that made headlines last week. More headlines are available on Development Diaries.
Photo source: AFP
