Domestic Politics
Guinea's President Alpha Conde is holding a referendum to allow him to seek a third five-year term. Over the weekend, supporters of the opposition party clashed with the police over the proposed referendum and constitutional amendment. [Africa Feeds]
International Relations
South African Wamkele Mene was sworn in as the first Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat after being elected in February 2020. Mene was formerly the Head of Mission for the World Trade Organization's (WTO) operations in South Africa and was employed in South Africa's department of trade and industry. [African Feeds]
Tanzania indicated an interesting setting up a water allocation plan for the Mara River, which starts in Kenya. It is seen as a vital contributor to wildlife conservation and tourism, while also providing a source of livelihood for 1.1 Tanzanians and Kenyans. However, deforestation and farming threaten the river's sustainability. [All Africa]
Economy
South Africa's Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, faces the uphill task of stimulating an already weak economy. He is mulling over a stimulus package; however, South Africa's debt to GDP ratio is now close to 70%. [Mail & Guardian]
After the price of crude oil fell below $30, Nigeria's central bank extended the moratorium on loans, reduced interest rates, created a stimulus package, and provided credit support for the healthcare sector. However, economists believe that this doesn't address concerns regarding local industries' curtailed access to foreign exchange markets. [The Africa Report]
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) estimates that African countries have thus far lost a combined $29 billion due to the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It projects that the continent's annual economic growth will drop from 3.2% in February to 1.8% in March and that Africa's $2.1 trillion GDP will fall by 1.4%. [The East African]
Health
Gambia's Health Minister, Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, confirmed a nationwide manhunt for 14 people who escaped from quarantine. The 14 were part of a group of 32 passengers who arrived from the UK last Wednesday. [Africa Feeds]
Currently, 34 African nations have confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with South Africa and Egypt being the most-affected countries.
Image Source: Reuters
