• The civil society has opposed Somalia plan to reduce Adult Age to 15 
• Under Somalia’s provisional constitution, a child is defined as a person under the age of 18.
• he proposed amendments also include physical development as the determining factor in a person’s majority.

Somalia’s parliament should reject any proposed constitutional amendments that would weaken rights protections for children, Human Rights Watch has said.

On March 30, 2024, both houses of parliament are expected to vote on the proposed amendments, which would reduce the age of majority – increasing the risk of child marriage and lowered juvenile justice standards – and possibly permit certain forms of female genital mutilation.…

• As millions of people in Africa go to bed hungry today, tonnes of food will end up in landfills, too.
• A UN report identifies gaps in Africa’s retail and food service sectors, presenting a significant hurdle in fully understanding the scope of food wastage.
• The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 identifies critical areas where action is needed to address the challenge in Africa.

An estimated one billion meals go to waste every day in Africa and across the world, the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 reveals. The report, which shows food waste continues to hurt the global economy, adds that 783 million people were affected by hunger. In contrast, a third of the worldwide population suffered food insecurity in 2022.

• Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a former tax collector, is Senegal’s president-elect.
• Faye has promised to embark on a fresh chapter in Senegal’s leadership following months of political violence and arrests of opposition leaders.
• Outgoing President Macky Sall has termed the outcome of Sunday’s vote, which saw his preferred candidate Amadou Ba defeated, a victory for Senegal.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a former tax collector, has promised a new chapter in Senegal’s future following his victory in the bitterly contested presidential election in Senegal held on Sunday.

Bassirou Faye, 44, was declared winner having rode on a wave of frustration among the young voters, who are grappling with a high rate of joblessness as well as deep concerns about the current state of governance in the West African country of 18 million people.

Speaking to the nation as president-elect on Monday, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, promised to embark on a fresh chapter in Senegal’s …

• Tanzania has offered the Uganda National Oil Company (Unoc) to use the Dar es Salaam port for oil importation.
• This presents a strategic alternative amid the ongoing importation stalemate between Uganda and Kenya.
• The legal dispute between Uganda and Kenya over oil importation policies is pending before the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), with indications that Uganda may withdraw the case.

Tanzania has stepped forward with an enticing proposition that Kampala finds hard to ignore, especially regarding the ongoing deadlock in Nairobi-Kampala oil imports.

Tanzania has extended an offer to the Uganda National Oil Company (Unoc) to utilise the Dar es Salaam port for its fuel importation needs. This development comes as Uganda explores alternatives in response to Kenya’s steadfast position on Kampala’s oil importation demands.

Uganda’s grievance at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) remains pending amid these unfolding events, casting a shadow of uncertainty over …

• Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is the worst in recent history, according to the United Nations.
• One-third of Sudan’s population, that is, 18 million people, are facing acute food insecurity, while 730,000 Sudanese children are believed to be suffering from severe malnutrition.
• World Food Programme(WFP) has delivered food to over 5.2 million people within Sudan since conflicts started in April.

Sudan’s humanitarian crisis

The United Nations Humanitarian Office has warned that Sudan is on the verge of facing the worst humanitarian crisis in recent history. Key drivers of this situation include intensified conflict and growing inter-communal violence, an economic crisis, soaring prices of food, fuel and essential goods, and below-average agricultural production.

“By all measures – the sheer scale of humanitarian needs, the numbers of people displaced and facing hunger – Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory,” Edem Wosornu, director of operations at the UN Office for …

• The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) is directly importing petroleum products from Vitol Bahrain, aiming to reduce reliance on Kenyan firms and mitigate high fuel prices. 
• UNOC’s direct importation and sale of fuel to OMCs in Tanzania and Uganda is a significant step towards fostering stronger regional ties, promoting economic growth, and ensuring energy security. 

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has started the sale of petroleum products to oil marketing companies in both Uganda and Tanzania.

This is part of a broader strategy to test the waters before UNOC embarks on a direct importation agreement with the global oil titan, Vitol Bahrain. This maneuver signals a new era in East Africa’s energy dynamics, especially following a cooling of relations between Uganda and Kenya over fuel supply mechanisms.

Breaking New Ground: Uganda National Oil Company Direct Importation Deal

For years, Uganda’s fuel supply chain was heavily dependent on Kenyan OMCs. However, …