• In Gambia, two opposing sides clash over whether to repeal or keep an existing FGM ban.
• This contest pits influential Muslim clerics, who are supporting a new bill seeking to repeal a 2015 law that banned FGM, against women rights activists.
• The Supreme Islamic Council of the Gambia has already issued a strong condemnation of anyone who denounces FGM.

The Gambia, one of the smallest countries in Africa, has been thrust into the global limelight as two opposing sides clash over whether to repeal or keep an existing FGM ban.

This contest pits influential Muslim clerics, who are supporting a new bill seeking to repeal a 2015 law that banned female genital mutilation (FGM) against women rights activists, who seek to have the law stay in place.

In the last week, supporters of the cut have thronged the country’s streets seeking the lifting FGM ban, which has been in place …

• Months after the Military takeover in Niger, the African Development Bank (AfDB) forecasts the country’s GDP to jump by 11.2 per cent in 2024, following growth of 4.3 per cent in 2023.
• Niger has removed its military support agreements with the French and the US, respectively.
• Niger becomes the third country, following Mali and Burkina Faso, to experience a military takeover.

Growth projections after the Military takeover in Niger

“Imperialist France”, “Down with France”, and “Chani (name of the Niger coup leader)” are a few energetic words chanted by the thousands of supporters and demonstrators who demanded the French troops leave Niger.

The latter reflects what is now referred to by the military regime as a people-led democracy. The question that then arises is; Could Africa be experiencing a withdrawal period from the grim historical chains of its colonial era, particularly the Francophone nations, Niger to be exact?

“I have …

• The three-year EU-Egypt strategic partnership aims to facilitate economic reforms and avert a migration crisis within the region.
• The triennial agreement represents the latest endeavour by the bloc to prevent refugees from traversing the Mediterranean.

EU-Egypt strategic partnership

EU leaders have finalised a deal worth $7.4 billion with Egypt to bolster the nation’s struggling economy. This move seeks to foster stability within the “troubled” region and prevent a new European migration crisis.

The three-year EU-Egypt strategic partnership includes $5 billion in soft loans to facilitate economic reforms, $1.8 billion to encourage private sector investments, and $600 million in grants. Of these grants, $200 million is allocated for migration management.

Following months of intense and productive diplomatic engagement between the EU and Egypt, six EU leaders journeyed to Cairo on Sunday, as stated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.”

The visit occurred just days following allegations by members of the European …

• Over a decade since gaining independence, South Sudan continues to be affected by fragility, economic stagnation, and instability.
• South Sudan’s economy is clouded by production bottlenecks in the oil sector, with production dwindling in the face of limited new investment.
• The susceptibility of South Sudan to climate change and natural calamities exacerbates the nation’s economic challenges, threatening the progress of growth and development initiatives.

The Republic of South Sudan emerged as the world’s newest sovereign state and the 54^th country in Africa on July 9, 2011. However, the progress of development post-independence was significantly hampered by civil war outbreaks in 2013 and 2016, which also aggravated the humanitarian crisis.

Over a decade since gaining independence, South Sudan continues to be affected by fragility, economic stagnation, and instability. Pervasive poverty is further intensified by ongoing conflict, displacement, and external shocks.

Crisis facing the oil and energy sector

Oil production is …

• Tanzania’s population is expected to reach 140 million people by 2050.
• The World Bank estimates that Tanzania’s population will double every 23 years.
• Tanzania set to become one of Africa’s and the world’s most populated countries.

Tanzania’s population is expected to reach 140 million people by 2050 given the current high fertility rate of 3.0 per cent. At this rate, the World Bank estimates that Tanzania’s population will double every 23 years henceforth.

In its latest Tanzania Economic Update that was launched in the country’s port city of Dar es Salaam this March, the World Bank says when it comes to population control, the East African country is facing a delicate balance act.

On the one hand, Tanzania has managed to lower its mortality rates and raise its life expectancy but as a result, it is now facing the effects of high birth rates and, they are not all good.…

• Kenya has already enlisted over 107,831 community health workers through the Ministry of Health.
• The target cohort of 25,000 will be trained in the first phase, according to the Resilient and Empowered African Community Health (REACH) initiative.
• REACH will be implemented in phases, aiming to boost skills of the 107,831 community health workers employed by the Government.

Kenya has launched a community health initiative supported by the African Union geared to boosting primary health care at the grassroots, targeting under-served populations.

The programme, under the auspices of the African Union (AU) Member States, is known as Resilient and Empowered African Community Health (REACH) and is geared towards increasing Community Health Workers (CHWs) to over two million in the continent by  2029.

Under the first phase of the initiative, over 25,000 CHWs newly recruited in Kenya will be trained on community health and on the use of Community Health Promotion (CHP) …