Domestic Politics
Several mining companies were accused by labor unions of operating as normal and without complying with safety regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, warned that companies flouting the rules of the 21-day lockdown face penalties. [Mail & Guardian]
International Relations
President Idriss Déby announced Chad’s withdrawal from the Joint Multinational Task Force (JMNTF), a collaborative anti-terrorism operation in the Lake Chad and the Sahel region to fight Boko Haram. The other members are Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin. Déby said that no Chadian soldiers will “take part” in ‘military missions’ outside Chad. Chad is also part of the G5 Sahel operation–which is made up of Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso–to fight Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). [Africa Feeds]
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, invited the Chinese Ambassador to the African Union, Liu Yuxi, to express the continent’s concern at the mistreatment of Africans in Chinese cities during the ongoing pandemic. [Africa Feeds]
With over 70 coronavirus cases, Ethiopia announced a five-month state of emergency, while the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) suspended the August 29 elections. It is likely that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will dissolve Parliament before the end of his term and continue as the caretaker leader until elections can be held. [All Africa]
Over 100 civil society organizations from across the globe are pleading with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to reject Uganda and Tanzania’s request to finance the currently stalled East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), citing environmental, societal, legal, and human rights concerns. The pipeline is set to be the world’s longest heated pipeline and carry upwards of 216,000 barrels of crude oil per day. [The East African]
Health
Africa now has over 13,600 coronavirus cases in 52 countries across the continent, with 742 deaths. [Africa News]
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s plan to declare the recent outbreak of Ebola over was thwarted after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a second death from the disease in less than a week. There have been more than 3,400 Ebola infections and 2,200 deaths in the country since 2018. [Africa News]
Economy
Financial experts from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) warn that Africa requires over $100 billion in support to reduce the impact of decreases in commodity prices, trade, and tourism during the ongoing pandemic. The average amount of stimulus packages announced by African governments is only 0.8% of their GDP, which is roughly one-tenth of what other countries are spending. [The Africa Report]
Image Source: Geopolitical Intelligence Services
Sub-Saharan Africa in Review: April 13, 2020
Read more about the latest events from Sub-Saharan Africa.
April 13, 2020
