Tag: AFRICA

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Africa News COVID-19 World

Ramaphosa Seeks BRICS Help to Tame Covid-19

Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday invited scientists from BRICS countries to work alongside South African scientists in further researching the various characteristics of the Covid-19 virus and its mutations…reports Asian Lite News

Ramaphosa made the call when he appointed the Chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Covid-19 Koleka Mlisana to lead a task team of South African researchers in the area of genomic sequencing to work with their scientists from other BRICS countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

This initiative is a contribution to intra-BRICS cooperation to strengthen preparedness and responses to the pandemic as articulated in the New Delhi Declaration, which was adopted at the 13th BRICS Summit in September 2021.

Ramaphosa Seeks BRICS Help to Tame Covid-19

This cooperation takes place within the context of the establishment of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre in a virtual format.

Ramaphosa pointed out that the cooperation would boost the BRICS countries’ preparedness and responses to the pandemic.

“The collaboration among BRICS countries is intended to broaden our knowledge of the Covid-19 virus not only for the benefit of member countries, but for the global community more broadly. Humanity will only overcome this pandemic if the countries of the world work in closer cooperation by sharing information, expertise and resources. This cooperation must be underpinned by the principles of solidarity, partnership and mutual respect,” said Ramaphosa.

He said the team from BRICS countries would share information on laboratory, clinical and epidemiological experiences regarding the pandemic to help clinicians and policy-makers to prepare for future manifestations of the disease.

ALSO READ: African nations join hands against plastic pollution

“The spread of the different Covid-19 variants to all corners of the earth underlines the importance of effective surveillance, scientific transparency and collaborative research. Every country is affected and every country must be able to develop responses based on sound scientific evidence,” Ramaphosa said.

He stated that scientists would conduct research on omicron at the BRICS Vaccine Research Centre which is in the country.

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African nations join hands against plastic pollution

AU Chair urges support for vax, medicine manufacture in Africa

East African countries have banned the use of single-use plastics with Rwanda being a significant success case and Kenya having the highest penalty for non-compliance….reports Asian Lite News

 Four east African countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have joined hands to fight plastic pollution in the region, an official said.

Ana Le Rocha, the executive director of Nipe Fagio, said the four countries have decided to start a Single-Use Plastic Free East African Community (EAC) campaign to advocate against the use of single-use plastics in the region, reports xinhua news agency.

Nipe Fagio is a Kiswahili slogan translated in English as ‘Give me the Broom’.

It is a public advocacy organization that focuses on increasing awareness by facilitating and promoting sustainable development in Tanzania.

Le Rocha told a press conference in the Tanzanian capital of Dodoma that the campaign has been started by a coalition of four organizations of the Center for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), Global Initiative for Environment and Reconciliation (GER), Bio Vision Africa (BiVA) and Nipe Fagio.

She said the campaign pushes for a phase-out on the production of single-use plastics and ending plastic pollution in the region.

East African countries have banned the use of single-use plastics with Rwanda being a significant success case and Kenya having the highest penalty for non-compliance.

“The EAC can become a global example and the first single-use plastic free zone in the world,” said Le Rocha.

ALSO READ: Africa’s Covid-19 cases reach 8.8 mn

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Africa News COVID-19 News

Africa’s Covid-19 cases reach 8.8 mn

Africa’s Covid-19 cases reach 8.8 mn

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 8,797,227 as of Thursday afternoon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said…reports Asian Lite News

The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said the death toll from the pandemic across the continent stands at 224,231 while 8,152,116 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease so far, Xinhua news agency reported.

Africa’s Covid-19 cases reach 8.8 mn

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Ethiopia are among the countries with the most cases in the continent, according to the agency.

ALSO READ: 11 African nations report Omicron cases

According to the latest figures from the Africa CDC, the African continent presently represents 3.3 per cent of all Covid-19 cases reported globally, as well as 4.3 per cent of all Covid-19 related deaths globally.

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Africa News COVID-19 News

11 African nations report Omicron cases

11 African nations report Omicron cases

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that 11 nations across the continent have reported cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant…reports Asian Lite News

Addressing the media here on Thursday, John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa CDC, said that seven additional African countries have reported the Omicron variant during the past week, bringing the overall continental tally to 11, reports Xinhua news agency.

The countries are South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Tunisia, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

11 African nations report Omicron cases

Also on Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the above mentioned African nations currently account for 46 per cent of the nearly 1,000 Omicron cases reported by 57 countries across the world.

Emerging data from South Africa indicates that Omicron may cause less severe illness, said the WHO, adding that the ICU occupancy in the country between November 14 and December 4 was only 6.3 per cent, which is very low compared with the time when the it was facing the peak linked to the Delta variant in July.

Despite the widespread global presence of Omicron, more than 60 countries have imposed travel bans that are mainly targeting southern African countries, some of which have yet to report any Omicron case.

“With Omicron now present in nearly 60 countries globally, travel bans that mainly target African countries are hard to justify,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa.

“We call for science-based public health measures to counter the spread of Covid-19,” said Moeti, noting that the travel restrictions, which come at the height of the end-of-year tourist season, is ravaging Africa’s economies, with a knock-on impact that is potentially devastating to the health of Africans.

ALSO READ: AU calls for rescinding travel bans on African nations

Meanwhile, the world body also said that the weekly Covid-19 cases in the continent has surged by 93 per cent

As of Friday, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 8,797,227 cases, as the death toll stood at 224,231.

According to the WHO, Africa has so far received more than 372 million Covid-19 vaccine doses and administered 248 million.

Although the pace of vaccination has increased in recent months, only 7.8 per cent of Africa’s population is fully inoculated.

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Africa News World

At least 48 people killed in tribal conflict in Darfur

At least 48 people killed in tribal conflict in Darfur

At least 48 people were killed in a tribal conflict in Sudan’s West Darfur state, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News

“Initial reports indicated that there have been 48 deaths from live ammunition and a large number of injuries, some critical, as a result of the bloody conflict in Kirainik area in West Darfur state,” Xinhua news agency quoted the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors as saying in the statement.

In a separate report, the General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced People in Darfur, also an NGO, confirmed dozens of people were killed or wounded as a result of an attack by armed men in Kirainik.

At least 48 people killed in tribal conflict in Darfur

“Violence erupted in the area after armed militias killed and wounded a number of internally displaced people (IDPs), and burned the IDP camp and the market,” it noted.

Sudanese authorities have not released details on the number of fatalities or injured persons in those events.

Meanwhile, Governor of Darfur Region Arko Minni Minnawi said work was underway to put in place decisive measures to prevent tribal mobilisation and division, which would result in the burning of villages and escalation of conflict.

Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, in the meantime, held a regular meeting at the Republican Palace in Khartoum on Monday and reviewed the events in Darfur and Kordofan states.

“The council expressed regret over the occurrence of such events which led to bloodshed and loss of property,” Salma Abdul-Jabbar Al-Mubarak, the council’s spokesperson, said in a statement.

The council further stressed the need to confront the groups which seek to create a state of instability and spark panic among the citizens, according to the spokesperson.

It instructed for ensuring more control over the situation in those areas in order to impose the rule of law, limit the flow of arms from crisis-hit neighbouring countries, and stop illegal trade.

The Darfur region has been witnessing a civil war since 2003 during the rule of former President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in April 2019.

ALSO READ: 43 people dead, 46 villages burned, looted in Darfur

The transitional government in Sudan sought to end the armed conflict in the region through an agreement reached on October 3, 2020, but some armed groups have not yet signed the agreement.

For years, efforts failed to end the tribal conflicts, which have become a nagging concern for the local population and the authorities of the troubled region.

Many factors have contributed to the growing violence in Darfur including security disturbances and the tribes’ access to weapons, while many parts of the region have no effective governance.

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Africa News News World

At least 38 inmates died in prison fire in central Burundi

At least 38 inmates died in prison fire in central Burundi

At least 38 inmates died and 69 others were injured in a fire that happened in Gitega prison, in Gitega province, central Burundi, Burundian Vice President Prosper Bazombanza said at a press conference after a visit to the prison…reports Asian Lite News

“Out of over 1,500 inmates living in Gitega central prison, we deplore the death of 38 prisoners including 12 who were asphyxiated and 26 others who died of deep burns. During the incident which happened at dawn on Tuesday, 69 inmates were injured, 34 of them seriously,” Bazombanza said.

According to him, 35 other inmates were slightly injured and received treatment inside the prison, Xinhua news agency reported.

At least 38 inmates died in prison fire in central Burundi

“Medics at Gitega regional hospital where the 34 inmates have been admitted have ascertained that they will get better soon,” said Bazombanza.

“The origin of the fire is chaotic installations, by inmates, of electric wires inside the prison,” he said.

He took the opportunity to warn Burundian people living in communities like schools, military, or police barracks to avoid making such chaotic installations.

He pledged that the hospital bill for those injured patients will be fully paid by the government.

Bazombanza urged the solidarity ministry to provide food items, shelters like tents and mattresses to the prison to allow inmates to “live in acceptable conditions”.

He also appealed to the infrastructure ministry to identify the needs for the rehabilitation of that prison, currently hosting over 1,500 inmates, but whose hosting capacity is only 400.

ALSO READ: Cambodia removes ban from 10 African countries

The prison of Gitega hosts inmates who were accused of the 2015 failed coup plot against the late President Pierre Nkurunziza who suddenly died on June 8, 2020.

In August 2021, the prison of Gitega caught fire, but the fire was quickly brought under control before causing damages.

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Africa News Travel World

AU calls for rescinding travel bans on African nations

AU calls for rescinding travel bans on African nations

Recent travel and entry bans are imposing an adverse impact on the economy which will negatively affect the lives and livelihoods of populations concerned…reports Asian Lite News

The African Union (AU) warned that travel and entry bans in connection with the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant limit the free movement of people and goods, imposing immediate and significant impact on countries across the continent.

AU calls for rescinding travel bans on African nations

The 55-member pan African bloc, in a statement, called for the urgent rescinding of travel bans placed on African countries following the detection of the Omicron variant, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Current evidence, which underscores global spread and community transmission of the Omicron variant, does not support selective travel bans imposed on Southern African countries,” the statement said.

It added that penalising African countries for ensuring timely and transparent data dissemination in accordance with international health regulations acts as a disincentive for information sharing in the future, potentially posing a threat to health security on the continent and globally.

The AU stressed that recent travel and entry bans are imposing an adverse impact on the economy which will negatively affect the lives and livelihoods of populations concerned.

It further indicated that the travel ban created limited the capacity to access essential medical supplies needed to respond to the ongoing upsurge of cases.

ALSO READ: Cambodia removes ban from 10 African countries

The AU further strongly commended the effective genomic surveillance systems in South Africa and Botswana that have led to early detection of the Omicron variant on the continent, and applauded scientists and public health authorities in both member states for timely and transparent data sharing to alert the international community.

It acknowledged that more time and investigations are needed to adequately assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, the AU underscored the urgent need to strengthen public health and social measures to mitigate the risk of infections.

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Africa News COVID-19

Nigeria confirms three more Omicron variant of Covid-19

Nigeria confirms three more Omicron variant of Covid-19

Nigerian authorities confirmed three more cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases of the variant of concern to six in the most populous African country…reports Asian Lite News

All the cases so far detected in the country were persons with travel history to South Africa in November, said Ifedayo Adetifa, head of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in a statement.

Adetifa said the public health institution will continue to coordinate genomic surveillance activities across the country to sequence all positive Covid samples from international travellers arriving in Nigeria, Xinhua news agency reported.

Nigeria confirms three more Omicron variant of Covid-19

This, he said, includes sequencing of positive samples from international travellers from October to date.

ALSO READ: Rise in Covid cases double as a result of Omicron in S. Africa

“Nevertheless, the Delta variant remains the dominant variant and so far, we have not seen the replacement of this variant by the new Omicron variant as observed elsewhere,” the official added.

Last week, the NCDC detected three imported cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the country for the first time, becoming the first West African nation to detect the variant of concern.

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Africa News India News

Delhi Police apprehends 12 Africans with expired visa

Amid an ongoing crackdown against foreign nationals residing in the national capital illegally, the Delhi Police have apprehended 12 Africans with expired visas…reports Asian Lite News

According to the official, a police team of the Dwarka district apprehended the 12 Africans in two separate operations.

The culprits have been identified as Fidelis Nnadozie Imafidon, Cletus Iweriebor, Saturday Okhale Oligbi, Orakwube Paul Nwachukwu, Kingsley Uche Osuji, Augustine Ogochukwu Okafor, Oumar Diaby, Ogbonna Remigius Nwabuisi, Jude Okeke, Maxwell Obagha, Karim Syylla and Gift Ameze Omoruyi.

Delhi Police apprehends 12 Africans with expired visa

“After verification of their credentials, it was found they were overstaying in India without a valid visa,” the official said.

They were produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRRO) along with their original passports after which the FRRO ordered their deportation on Monday.

Recently, the Dwarka district police launched ‘Operation Varchasva’ in their mission to make the area crime-free.

Since the launch, several gangsters, snatchers and robbers have been arrested in a small period of time. The police are also keeping a tab on illegally staying foreigners in the area.

Pertinently, some African nationals living in and around the national capital are involved in the illicit drug trade and are being regularly caught by the police.

According to a Delhi Police official, the growing number of African nationals are looking for money-earning opportunities in the national capital. Uttam Nagar police station has a mixed population of approx 3.75 lakh.

ALSO READ: Travel bans on S. Africa will affect local economy recovery

A lot of African nationals are residing in the area and some of them are living here with fake/expired visas.

“There are also cases of the NDPS Act registered against them for supplying drugs to locals and people from other areas. In addition, a few cyber fraud cases have also surfaced in which African nationals are involved,” the official added.

Meanwhile, all the 12 foreigners have been sent to the detention centre at Lumpur.

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Africa News News World

Cambodia removes ban from 10 African countries

Cambodia has removed a ban on travellers from 10 African countries after it was imposed nearly a week ago due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19…reports Asian Lite News

With the approval from Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Ministry of Health (MoH) decided to lift the ban on travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and Zambia, he said, adding that the removal took effect immediately on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Cambodia removes ban from 10 African countries

But the travellers from the 10 countries and those who have a history of traveling to the nations in the last two weeks must undergo a rapid test for Covid-19 upon their arrival in Cambodia, he said.

“If the result is negative, they must go into a seven-day quarantine and then take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on the sixth day of the quarantine,” the Health Minister said.

Fully vaccinated travellers must show a medical certificate certifying that they have tested negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Cambodia, he said, adding that unvaccinated passengers will be required to undergo a full 14-day quarantine.

The reversal came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he was deeply concerned about the isolation of southern African countries due to the Omicron variant travel restrictions.

ALSO READ: Cambodia-Philippines joins to broaden cooperation in post-Covid era

The Omicron variant, first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on November 24, has not yet been detected in Cambodia.

Cambodia reported 24 new Covid cases in the past one day, pushing the national total caseload to 120,256, the MoH said, adding that four more fatalities have been confirmed, bringing the overall death toll to 2,960.