Saturday, July 27

Africa

Madagascar Man Freed from 5KG Tumor
  • Madagascar man freed from 5KG tumor after the four-hour surgery, his family, including his wife, daughter, and sister, were all waiting for him outside
  • By age 53, Fidisoa struggled to do the high level of manual labor required from his livelihood
  • He said that the benign tumor, a soft lobular fibroma which weighed 5 kilograms, was now gone for good

A father of three can sleep comfortably on his back for the first time in 15 years after having a massive tumor – weighing 11lbs (5kgs) – removed by surgical charity Mercy Ships.

Malagasy builder and rice farmer Fidisoa was 38 when what appeared to be a tiny pimple on his back started to grow, first into a lump and then into the size of a fist. It continued to grow until Fidisoa looked as if he carried a backpack underneath his shirt.

By age 53, Fidisoa struggled to …

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Women in Africa
  • Only about 50% of women in Kenya and 52% in Uganda feel that they are treated with respect and dignity.
  • In Zimbabwe, 60% of women feel that they are treated with respect and dignity. This is a sharp drop from an estimated 71% of women who reported being treated with respect in 2013.
  • The percentage of people in South Africa who feel this way was even worse at 27% among men and 28% among women.

In Africa’s most advanced economy South Africa, the percentage of people in South Africa who felt this way was even worse at 27 percent among men and 28 percent among women.

The push for equality across Africa appears far from yielding good results with a new report showing that the perceptions that women are treated with respect and dignity have dropped sharply in recent years in Kenya, Uganda South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

According to Gallup

Africa Posts Sharp Decline in Support for Democracy
  • Africa posts sharp decline in support for democracy despite 66 Per cent of the continent preferring democracy over any other system.
  • Opposition to military rule has also weakened by 11 points, notably in Mali and Burkina Faso.
  • Satisfaction with democracy has notably decreased in prominent democracies like Botswana (-40 points), Mauritius (-40 points), and South Africa (-35 points).

Over the past decade, popular support for democracy has declined sharply in several African countries, and opposition to military rule has weakened a new survey by Afrobarometer has shown.

Afrobarometer’s inaugural flagship report  shows that satisfaction with the way democracy works has continued to decline despite that Africans remaining strongly committed to democracy, its norms, and institutions.

The survey covering the period between 2021 and 2023, covers 39 countries, providing data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.

The findings, based on 53,444 face-to-face interviews, show that …

Cyclone Hidaya
  • Kenya and Tanzania, already reeling from nature’s fury, now confront the looming threat of Cyclone Hidaya.
  • Cyclone Hidaya’s trajectory places the eastern coast of Tanzania squarely in its crosshairs as neighbouring Kenya braces for floods.
  • The relentless deluge gripping East Africa originates in the El Nino weather pattern.

Millions of people in Tanzania and Kenya are on edge as Cyclone Hidaya, a formidable tempest, barrels toward the region, exacerbating the havoc wrought by ongoing heavy downpours and catastrophic floods that have claimed hundreds of lives across East Africa.

Kenya and Tanzania, already reeling from nature’s fury, now confront the looming threat of a cyclone poised to unleash further devastation, with forecasts predicting a grim landfall later on Friday, May 3rd.

Cyclone Hidaya’s trajectory currently places the eastern coast of Tanzania squarely in its crosshairs, with fears mounting over its potential impact on neighbouring Kenya. As meteorological projections paint a

President Ruto
  • US Congress members ask Speaker Mike Johnson to invite President Ruto to address the assembly.
  • President Ruto will be visiting the US on May 23 to mark 60 years of US-Kenya diplomatic ties.
  • If invited, President Ruto would become the first Kenyan Head of State to address a joint session of US Congress.

In a historic plan highlighting the deepening ties between the United States and Kenya, House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul (Republican – Texas) and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (Democrat – New York) have jointly sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (Republican – Los Angeles, asking him to extend a formal invitation to President William Ruto of Kenya to address a joint session of Congress during his upcoming visit to the US, slated later in May.

“This year, we are celebrating the historic 60-year anniversary of the U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relationship. Such an invitation …

economic outlook sub-saharan africa
  • The IMF has identified South Sudan, Burundi, and the DRC as East African Community member states poised for significant economic growth in the 2024–2025 period.
  • GDP growth in Burundi is projected to increase from 4.3 to 5.4 percent and in the DRC from 4.7 to 5.7%.
  • Kenya leads regionally with a projected GDP of $104 billion, ranking 7th overall among the continent’s largest economies.

The economic outlook for East African Community member states South Sudan, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is poised for significant economic growth in the 2024–2025 period. This prognosis by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) comes despite these nations grappling with conflicts, marking them as among the most fragile in the region.

In its latest regional economic outlook report for Sub-Saharan Africa, the IMF forecasts a noteworthy 1.2 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for South Sudan, from 5.6 to 6.8 percent, despite …

AGOA extension
  • The proposed AGOA extension signals a commitment to bolstering trade relations between the US and Africa.
  • US Senators Chris Coons and James Risch have introduced the bipartisan Agoa Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024, aiming to integrate AGOA with the AfCFTA.
  • Bill aims to refine AGOA’s eligibility criteria, increase transparency, and hold US agencies accountable for their advice to the president: Senator Risch

AGOA extension proposal

The US Congress has proposed extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) to 2041, covering all 54 African countries. Senators Chris Coons of Delaware and James Risch of Idaho introduced the bipartisan Agoa Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024, aiming to integrate Agoa with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to foster intra-African supply chains.

Originally enacted in 2000, Agoa is set to expire next year. However, the proposed extension signals a commitment to bolstering trade relations between the United States and …

DreamPlay 1 The Exchange Africa

We all know the emergence of blockchain technology has transformed the landscape of finance offering new opportunities for social and economic empowerment globally.  What we fail to realize is that this is especially important in the developing world, where millions are unbanked, unemployed and underserved, yet nothing is being done. In light of this, under the aegis of the Humanity Protocol, a new venture is surfacing that seeks to change this space. Known as the Dream Play, the initiative seeks to provide income opportunities for African and Asian entrepreneurs, setting a new standard for sustainable employment.

A New Horizon for Entrepreneurs

Originally known as the Africa Startup League, the rebranded Dream Play, represents a significant evolution. As a platform for showcasing entrepreneurial skills it has morphed into a comprehensive ecosystem where young innovators will access jobs and create substantial economic impact. This transformation aligns with the broader goals of …

digital economy Internet access
  • Market size of Africa’s digital economy could reach $712 billion by 2050.
  • In 2022 only 36 percent of the African population had access to broadband internet.
  • Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are streamlining adoption of 5G services.

Africa is on the verge of an economic revolution. From the north to the southern part of the Saharan desert, nations are striving to eliminate poverty and gain a strong foothold in global markets.

In the same vein, the continent is banking on the potential held by the digital economy. Reports ping the sector to higher standards, including a report from non-profit Endeavor predicting that the market size of Africa’s digital economy could reach $712 billion by 2050.

The growth is propelled by the massive engagement of the continent’s younger population, rising smartphone adoption and increasing internet penetration.

Read also: World Bank backs Smart Africa’s Digital Academy with $20M grant

Digital economy in

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