Welcome to the Development Diaries weekly roundup of top African stories for Sunday, 05 November, 2023.

Last week, we reported Nigeria’s move to purchase a presidential yacht while citizens endure hardship; the Onitsha jungle justice; impunity for crimes against African journalists; fresh corruption allegations against Tinubu’s minister; ‘policewoman’ reciting Nigeria’s national anthem wrongly; the alleged abduction and torture of an opposition member of parliament in Zimbabwe; and Egypt’s arbitrary detention and prosecution of dozens of citizens carrying out peaceful demonstrations among other top stories.

Presidency Considers Yacht While Citizens Endure Hardship

The idea of the Nigerian presidency proposing a budget for a yacht amidst widespread poverty in the country and an ailing economy raised ethical and practical concerns. The Nigerian government proposed a sum of N5.095 billion in the 2023 supplemental budget for the purchase of a presidential yacht. Read more

Onitsha Jungle Justice: Why Anambra Must Arrest Perpetrators

A video of two men struggling for their lives as they were being burnt to death in the Onitsha area of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria, generated outrage on social media. The men, simply identified as Omaume and Monday, were alleged by traders and residents to be members of an armed robbery gang. Read more

Ending Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in Africa

As Africa joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, reporters across the continent continue to face a daunting task in their pursuit of truth. The 2023 observance of the day sought to raise awareness of the main challenges faced by journalists and communicators in the exercise of their profession and to warn of the escalation of violence and repression against them. Read more

Matawalle: Tinubu Gets another Anti-Corruption Test

Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies have fresh investigations to conduct following recent allegations of misappropriation of state funds against the country’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. In a viral video on social media, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, alleged that the former governor of the state, Matawalle, purchased exotic cars for terrorists and kept them in the government house. Read more

‘Policewoman’ Recites National Anthem Wrongly

If Nigeria’s national anthem were a human being, it would be in a coma by now after receiving some unwarranted uppercuts. The country’s social media space was agog with reactions to a trending video of a singer appearing as police personnel wrongly reciting the country’s national anthem. Read more

Egypt: Why Peaceful Protests Must Be Allowed

Egypt’s arbitrary detention and prosecution of dozens of citizens carrying out peaceful demonstrations is a violation of human rights. Development Diaries reports that at least 72 individuals, including four children, were detained by security forces in Cairo and Alexandria between 20 and 24 October, after they took part in nationwide Palestinian solidarity mass demonstrations, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Read more

Zimbabwe: Disturbing Erosion of Human Rights

The alleged abduction and torture of an opposition member of parliament in Zimbabwe, Takudzwa Ngadziore, raises more questions about the country’s worsening human rights situation in the wake of the contentious 23 August elections. Ngadziore, a 24-year-old member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), was kidnapped at gunpoint and subjected to torture while heading to parliament, as noted in a statement by the CCC. Read more

Ethiopia: Fresh Rights Abuses Recorded in Oromia

There are concerns over the recent escalation of abductions and attacks being carried out by armed groups in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), in a statement, said armed groups have been engaging in disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests, and other forms of abuse. Read more

Congo: Women, Girls Face Protection Crisis

The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become one of the most dangerous places in the world for women, girls and children, following an escalating crisis. There are currently 6.7 million displaced people in the DRC, as the escalating violence pushed the displacement crisis to an alarming level. Read more

Uganda: How Nuclear Project Could Impact 25,000 People

There are fears over how 25,000 community members in more than ten villages in Buyende would cope with new localities after they get displaced by the proposed construction of the Buyende nuclear project at Uganda‘s Kasaato Hill. While the project is expected to greatly benefit the country, the livelihoods and safety of over 25,000 people could be at risk. Read more

That is the roundup of some stories that made headlines last week. More headlines are available on Development Diaries.