http://www.africanews.com/feed/rssReceive free and in real-time all news published by africanews.com, by subscribing to our RSS feeds.Sat, 20 Jul 2019 17:33:52 +0000http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/nigeria-ambush-victim-s-family-grieve/Relatives of the victims of a suspected terrorist attack in Nigeria are reeling in Shock. The attack happened on Friday in Nigeria’s north East Borno state when a convoy of humanitarian workers was ambushed leaving the driver dead and six people missing. “Actually when I heard the news I was truly and totally in shock because this person left home healthy and went to earn for his family then we heard this bad news. I really really was in shock,” said Ali Garba Musa, borther of a missing person. “The killing of my brother is hurting my heart seriously, it’s like my heart has been removed from my body. They just told us he is dead. I’m sad with this news,“said Fanne Abdullahi, sister of killed driver The three-vehicle convoy was returning to Damasak from Layi village where Action Against Hunger NGO runs a clinic when gunmen opened fire. The aid workers were helping the community affected by a decade of Boko Haram militia violence in the region.Sat, 20 Jul 2019 17:33:52 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/nigeria-ambush-victim-s-family-grieve/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/when-beyonce-delivered-a-rendition-of-nigerian-national-anthem/In the wake of the release of “The Gift,” which Beyonce has described as her love letter to Africa, a Twitter post has coughed up her decade-old rendition of the Nigerian national anthem. The American singer, songwriter and global entertainment icon Beyonce Knowles’ praise from Nigerians on Twitter has shot up – again. A Nigerian social media influencer, Japhet Omojuwa, shared a two-minute and 17 seconds clip from MTV Base showing Beyonce’s performance of the anthem at a concert back in 2009. He captioned his post: “Beyoncé hosted the final, Nigeria won!” It has serially attracted praise from Twitter users who showered praise on her performance. Beyoncé hosted the final, Nigeria won! ? pic.twitter.com/iUe3hEEiqv— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) July 19, 2019 In a recent article on “The Gift” album, a writer on the UK Metro portal said: “As a Nigerian, I’ve always been aware of Beyonce’s growing love and respect for the motherland. “Back in 2009, she revealed her ancestors were Nigerian and as a gift to the crowd, she sang the Nigerian anthem for them.”Sat, 20 Jul 2019 16:30:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/when-beyonce-delivered-a-rendition-of-nigerian-national-anthem/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/algerian-champions-land-home/The Algerian squad that defeated Senegal on Friday in the final match of the African Cup of Nations, is back home. The new African champions bearing their medals arrived Saturday in Algiers to a grand welcome. The victory has brought to an end nearly 30 years of loosing. Algeria’s last title in the tournament was in 1990. This victory comes at a time when the country is going through a period of political unrest with anti-government demonstrations across the country. This celebration therefore offered Algeria a moment of reprieve, as football took over from the political protestsSat, 20 Jul 2019 16:00:24 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/algerian-champions-land-home/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/chadians-back-on-social-media-after-16-months-net-blockade/For sixteen odd months, Chadians were cut off social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp – with the main government justification hinged on protecting internal security. No amount of appeals, protestations and even a legal challenge succeeded in getting connection to be restored to internet users. In March 2019, an Appeals Court struck out an application to force the government to restore access to social media but the security consideration argument of the state was upheld. It wasn’t until a week (July 13) that the restrictions was lifted after President Idriss Deby announced the lifting of social media restrictions imposed since March 2018. Network measurement data confirm that previously blocked social media and messaging platforms in #Chad are now available via multiple internet providers that had complied with the censorship order ? pic.twitter.com/V6rKhC8BeT— NetBlocks.org (@netblocks) July 17, 2019 The announcement was made at the closing of the Chad Digital Forum in N’Djamena. Deby reiterated that security requirements prompted the control measure for electronic communications. However a recent review of the situation called for the lifting of the ban. The companies involved were accordingly directed to allow access to electronic communications. By mid-afternoon same day, inhabitants of N’Djamena could access social networks, such as Whatsapp or Twitter according to reports. The March 2018 blockade came as pressure mounted over Deby’s plans to push through constitutional changes that will keep him in office after three decades, access to social media was cut. Access to networks remained possible only through the “virtual private networks”. Despite repeated calls by internet rights groups for the ban to be lifted, the government serially dismissed them. Chad is not the only African country to have switched off the internet for political and security reasons. Gabon did so briefly in the face of a coup attempt early this year. Sudan, in the height of the post-Omar al-Bashir era imposed a similar measure but has since restored the signal. Ethiopia, Mauritania, Zimbabwe are others to have clamped down on connectivity. Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, cut signal after the December 2018 polls. It was only restored after a president was declared in the person of Felix Tshisekedi.Sat, 20 Jul 2019 15:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/chadians-back-on-social-media-after-16-months-net-blockade/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/zimbabwe-makes-brilliant-debut-at-netball-world-cup/South Africa’s narrow semi-final loss A final has eluded South Africa’s Netball team, the Proteas, after they lost in their June 20 semi-final 55 – 53 points to Australia. As it stands now, they will be pushing for Bronze in their last match at the competition. England and New Zealand play in the other semi-final which will determine the finalist who mets Australia whiles South Africa meets the loser. South Africa are the highest performing African side whiles the three other African sides failing to make the top four. The three other African sides are the Gems of Zimbabwe, the Queens of Malawi and the She-Cranes of Uganda. #NWC2019 #AUSvSA | FULL TIME ?? Australia 55-53 South Africa ?? EPIC MATCH! So close for SA! Thank you ladies for ALWAYS giving your best. We will ALWAYS be proud.#SPARProteas #WeAreAllIn— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) July 20, 2019 South Africa vs Australia Africa’s top ranked team, South Africa take on defending champions Australia in Saturday’s first semi-final before hosts England compete against New Zealand in the other semi. ‘‘I think that, on their day, all four are capable of winning the World Cup. But based on what we’ve seen of the teams under pressure, Australia should advance through to the gold medal game, it’ll take a lot for South Africa to get over the top of the Diamonds,’‘ said Northern Ireland’s coach Dan Ryan. The fight for #NWC2019 continues!?AussieDiamonds v Netball_SA ? Bassett v Potgieter ? Watson v Msomi ? LIVE at 11:15 ? #ThisIsNetball pic.twitter.com/wfYgI3UgXl— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) July 20, 2019 July 19: Highlights of Day 8 Malawi 55-44 Uganda Zimbabwe 47 – 77 Jamaica Malawi beats Uganda Malawi defeated Uganda 55-44 to book a slot in the fifth place play-off match. This will be the fourth consecutive time that they are competing for fifth at the World Cup. Malawi will play against Jamaica, while Uganda will face Zimbabwe to determine the 7th and 8th positions. Zimbabwe loses to Jamaica Zimbabwe’s Gems lost to Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls, who will now have a chance to play a decider for the 5th position. The match ended 77-47 in favour of Jamaica. Zimbabwe will now play the loser of the match between Malawi and Uganda to decide who takes the 7th and 8th positions. The penultimate round South Africa will play its semi-final match against holders Australia on Saturday. The other African teams are still in contention for the fifth place, and will participate in play-off matches on Friday. ‘‘It’s amazing to have all of us compete again, and it’s a great procedure that allows us to have a hope of getting to fifth. But all I can say is let the best team win, we are going to come in well prepared,’‘ Uganda’s captain Peace Proscovia said ahead of Friday’s games. Zimbabwe take on Jamaica while Malawi will be relishing the opportunity of taking on Uganda’s She-Cranes.The winners of the two matches will then play the ultimate decider for the the fifth position, while the losers will compete against each other to finish seventh. History for Africa as four sides make the ? eight for the first time ever! Malawi ??Netball_SA ??UGAnetball ??ZimGemsOfficial ??? https://t.co/pvDAXacLat pic.twitter.com/9yJDcAnlOy— Netball World Cup (NetballWorldCup) July 19, 2019 July 18: highlights of Day 8 South Africa 47 – 58 England Uganda 48 – 61 Jamaica Zimbabwe 43 – Malawi 59 South Africa lose to England South Africa lost their group-leader decider match against England, by 58-47, finishing second in Group G. The result means The Proteas will now face defending champions Australia, who topped Group F in the semi-finals while hosts England will take on New Zealand. The other African teams are playing to secure the fifth position. Uganda lose to Jamaica Uganda lost its match to Jamaica on Thursday by 61-48, a blow to their chances of finishing fifth at the Netball World Cup. ‘‘It’s definitely not the result we wanted, but there were lots of positives to take. With Uganda still being an up-and-coming country in netball, we are pleased with our performance, it is a step up,’‘ said Uganda’s captain Peace Proscovia. Jamaica, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Uganda still have a chance of finishing in the top five. Malawi vs Zimbabwe Malawi on Thursday secured a 59-43 win over Zimbabwe, a match that was a first encounter between both sides at the World Cup. ‘‘We are happy because we wanted to beat Zimbabwe. They are a tough team and they have been doing good in their games so far, so we really wished to win this game,’‘ Malawi’s Towera Vinkhumbo said. Malawi now has four wins out of six games, their two losses coming against Australia and New Zealand. Zimbabwe, who are playing in their first ever World Cup, have secured wins against Barbados, Sri Lanka and Northern Ireland, losing to New Zealand, Australia and now Malawi. Malawi will now play the fourth-placed finishers in Group G to determine who will play-off for fifth place. “It was sad when we moved down the world rankings, from number six to number nine. We got the news when we were here, so we need to make sure we beat all of the teams around us. “We have only lost to Australia and to New Zealand, and now we want to maintain our position by winning all the games that are coming up. It would mean a lot to finish in the top six.” A recap of South Africa’s journey to semis July 18: Day 7 fixtures Zimbabwe vs Malawi Uganda vs Jamaica South Africa vs England African team in semis South Africa’s Proteas are the only African side in the last four of the competition. They are joined by England (hosts), New Zealand and Australia (reigning champions). ‘‘It’s great news for the development of netball in Africa generally. For South Africa to push up into the top four is amazing, that is all of Africa performing and we are so proud of it,’‘ said Uganda’s Peace Proscovia. The Vitality Roses (England) go head-to-head with South Africa (Proteas) on Thursday to decide who tops the group. The other African countries in Liverpool are Zimbabwe, Malawi and Uganda. Due to tonight’s final result, we now have our CONFIRMED fab four!AussieDiamonds EnglandNetball Netball_SA SilverFernsNZ But who are you backing to lift the trophy? ? The winner of #NWC2019 will be …..................................................#ThisIsNetball pic.twitter.com/jZ4lIwlTY1— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) July 17, 2019 Day 6: Uganda vs South Africa African teams, Uganda and South Africa clashed on Wednesday with the game going in favour of the southern Africans by 67 – 40. The victory confirms a semi-final place for the winners who have this far won all of their four matches at the tournament. NETBALL WORLD CUP UPDATE FULLTIME: South Africa 67 – 40 Uganda The #SheCranes lose to South Africa. The awesome ladies did their best and made us proud. South Africa advances to the Semi-Finals #NTVNews #NWC2019 #ThisIsNetball pic.twitter.com/9asBxyQnov— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) July 17, 2019 The Proteas now join holders Australia and New-Zealand who on Tuesday qualified for the semis with their fifth victories at the World Cup. Uganda have won three games so far, only losing to hosts England, and are playing to better their 8th place finish at the 2015 World Cup. While many observers believe South Africa’s match against England on Thursday will determine the winner of Group, the Proteas had earlier stressed that they are only focused on tonight’s match against the She-Cranes. ‘‘We have Uganda next, and they’re not just another side, they’re a quality side and we’ll have a big game against them, so we are focusing on that. Whatever happens elsewhere in the group, we have to perform to benefit ourselves,’‘ South Africa’s Bongiwe Msomi said. July 16: highlights of Day 5 Zimbabwe 66 – 41 Barbados Australia 74 – 25 Malawi Zimbabwe’s remarkable journey continues Zimbabwe’s impressive World Cup debut continued on Tuesday with a 66-41 win over Barbados, as they continue to win the hearts of many neutrals with their performances in the competition so far. The Gems, who have now won four games and lost two, kept alive the possibility of earning what would be a historic top-six finish at their first ever World Cup. The Zim Gems are now level with Malawi on four points, and play their African rivals in their final Group F game on Thursday. Another brilliant performance from ZimGemsOfficial! ?Pauline Jani scored 51/53 ?Is the top eight possible?#ThisIsNetball pic.twitter.com/XcTvQmbP6O— Netball World Cup (NetballWorldCup) 16 juillet 2019 Malawi loses to Australia Defending champions Australia booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2019 Netball World Cup, following their 74-25 win over Malawi Queens. While Malawi came into the game riding a high of three consecutive wins, it was the Diamonds who secured their fifth consecutive win of the tournament. The 25 goals scored in a match is the lowest ever World Cup score by Malawi. The win moves Australia on to eight points, level at the top of Group F with New Zealand. The two nations meet on Thursday morning, in the game which will decide the group winners. July 16 fixtures Malawi vs Australia Zimbabwe vs Barbados July 15: highlights of Day 4 South Africa 66 – 38 Scotland Uganda 57 – 54 Trinidad and Tobago Malawi 47 – 43 Northern Ireland Zimbabwe 36 – 79 New Zealand South Africa maintains 100% record South Africa’s Proteas maintained their 100% record at the Netball World Cup, when they defeated Scotland, 66-38. The wins puts the African team in an elite club that includes hosts England, defending champions Australia and New Zealand, who have won all their four matches at the tournament. Uganda wins 3 in a row Uganda defeated Trinidad and Tobago, 57-54 to keep alive their chances of a semi-final berth. The win means the She-Cranes have now lost one game, against hosts England, and won three including against Scotland and Samoa. Who are Africa’s representatives? Malawi gets third win a row Malawi’s Queens won their first game in Group F, defeating Northern Ireland, 47-43. The win is Malawi’s third in a row, and the team ranked 9th in the world, have only lost one match at this year’s World Cup, their opening day loss to New Zealand. ‘‘It was a tough game, it was not easy. Northern Ireland played really well. We worked hard as a team. We have the fighting spirit, and that enabled us to win the game,’‘ said Malawi’s captain Joanna Kachilika. The top two teams in Group F that also includes reigning champions Australia and Barbados, will proceed to the semi-finals. Zimbabwe lose to New Zealand Zimbabwe’s bid for a semi-final berth suffered a setback when they lost first game in Group F to New Zealand. The match that ended 79-36 in favor of the Silver Ferns, means New Zealand have now secured four wins in four games, while Zimbabwe have two wins and two losses so far. ‘‘It was a nice experience to play against New Zealand. We learned a lot, because these girls are good. We are ranked 13 in the world, so we learned a lot from New Zealand,’‘ Zimbabwe’s Pauline Jani said. July 15 Fixtures Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Northern Ireland vs Malawi Trinidad & Tobago vs Uganda South Africa vs Scotland Who’s facing who at stage 2? Following the end of the preliminary stage of the Netball World Cup, 12 teams have now progressed to the next stage. The 12 teams have been placed in two groups to play for a place in the semi-finals, while the remaining four will compete to determine 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th place. The groups competing for the semis are as follows; Group F: Australia, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Malawi and Barbados Group G: Jamaica, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, England, Uganda and Scotland Previous results against teams within their new groups will carry over, ensuring that the teams who secured three wins at the preliminaries stage go into the next phase with an advantage. South Africa, along with hosts England, holders Australia and New Zealand all topped their groups with maximum points. The top two teams in both groups will qualify for the semi-finals, while the remaining eight will contest matches to determine their overall placing (5th-12th) depending on their finishing position in Group F or G. July 14: Highlights of Day 3 South Africa 55 – 52 Jamaica Zimbabwe 51 – 49 Northern Ireland Malawi 65 – 41 Barbados Uganda 52 – 43 Scotland Now THAT was some day of netball! ? All the best moments ??#ThisIsNetball pic.twitter.com/cM4KBXeOqd— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) 14 juillet 2019 South Africa wins against Jamaica South Africa’s Proteas beat Jamaica by 55 goals to 52 to clinch top spot. All four of Africa’s representatives at the Netball World Cup have now qualified for the next stage, where they will play for a place in the semi-finals. Zimbabwe secures second win Tournament debutants Zimbabwe pulled off yet another positive result, when they edged Northern Ireland 51-49 in the last game of Group A. The result means Zimbabwe qualifies for the next stage, having secured the second slot behind defending champions Australia, who won all of their three games at the group stage. South Africa, Zimbabwe in action The other African teams, Zimbabwe and South Africa are also in action on Sunday. Zimbabwe’s Gems take on Northern Ireland while South Africa’s Proteas will be hoping to maintain their 100% record when they take on Jamaica. Malawi qualify Malawi’s Queens defeated Barbados 65-41 in a battle to separate the two sides that had both beaten Singapore and lost to New Zealand. Uganda qualify Uganda’s She Cranes won their second game at the Netball World Cup, beating Scotland by 52-43. The win ensured the East African nation finishes second in Group A, behind hosts England. June 13: highlights of Day 2 South Africa 90-35 Fiji Uganda 69-48 Samoa Malawi 87-38 Singapore Zimbabwe 37-73 Australia South Africa beats Fiji Its two wins out of two for South Africa, who impressed with a 90-35 victory over Fiji. South Africa will be hoping to maintain their 100% record when they face Jamaica, who have also won both of their matches so far, tomorrow. The winner of that game will finish top of Group C. Uganda gets first win Uganda’s She Cranes managed a 69-48 win over Samoa, to ensure that all four African teams at the tournament now have at least one victory. Hosts England who defeated Uganda in the Group A opening game on Friday, recorded a second win at the tournament, beating Scotland by 70-34. Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa have each secured a win at the 2019 Netball World Cup. South Africa, who take on Fiji later this evening, have a chance to make it two wins out of two. Malawi secures win against Singapore Malawi Queens secured their first win at the 2019 Netball World Cup, winning against Singapore by 49 goals. The match which ended 87-38, puts the Malawi Queens in second position behind New Zealand and ahead of Barbados and Singapore in Group B. Malawi, Uganda seeking wins Malawi and Uganda will be playing to secure their first wins of the tournament, having lost against New Zealand and England respectively. The Malawi Queens are set to take on Singapore, while Uganda’s She Cranes will play against Samoa later in the day. South Africa, who won their opening game against Trinidad and Tobago, will play against Fiji on Saturday. Zimbabwe loses to Australia Tournament debutants Zimbabwe lost to Netball giants Australia in their second game, even though they still impressed the cheering crowd. The match ended 73-37 in favor of the defending champions, who now have two wins out of two, having beaten Northern Ireland in their first game. Zimbabwe will hope ti return to winning ways when they take on the European team, that on Saturday secured a 67-50 win against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka have now lost both of their matches at the World Cup, following their opening day loss to Zimbabwe’s Gems. July 12: Highlights of Day 1 New Zealand 64 – 45 Malawi Zimbabwe 79 – 49 Sri Lanka South Africa 76 – 45 Trinidad and Tobago England 64 – 32 Uganda And that’s a wrap for a BRILLIANT opening day at the #Vitality Netball World Cup ? One stunning opening ceremony ? Thousands of superb fans ? Eight ? games All the best moments ?? pic.twitter.com/OpV3Qv91zm— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) July 12, 2019 South Africa wins opening game South Africa’s Proteas got off to a winning start, recording a 76-45 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. ‘‘At first it was a little shaky. But the second quarter, we stepped up. We did not know what to expect, we did not know how they played. Then the second quarter was better, because we could work things out,’‘ South Africa’s Bongiwe Msomi said. South Africa will also take on Jamaica and Fiji in Group C. Uganda loses to hosts England Uganda’s She Cranes were not a match for the dominant host nation, the England Roses, who are playing to win the tournament in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Despite the best efforts of She Cranes shooters Peace Proscovia and Rachael Nanyonga, England ran out 64-32 winners to open their home World Cup in solid fashion. Uganda will also face Scotland and Samoa in Group D. Malawi loses to New Zealand The Malawi Queens put up a brave performance but eventually succumbed to New Zealand’s Sliver Ferns, by a scoreline of 64-45. The action from Group B also saw Barbados kick off its World Cup campaign with an impressive 69-34 win over Singapore. New Zealand take on Barbados tomorrow Saturday, while Malawi will hope for better results in their fixture against Singapore. Zimbabwe’s historic win Zimbabwe has made history, winning their first ever match at the Netball World Cup. The Gems won their match against Sri Lanka by 79-49, kicking off what could be a thrilling journey. ‘‘I have goosebumps, this is a dream come true! We didn’t know we had so many people supporting Zimbabwe, to see the whole arena supporting us like that was so exciting, said Zimbabwe goal shooter Joice Takaidza. Zimbabwe is one of four African teams at the tournament that is being hosted in Liverpool, England. The others are Malawi, Uganda and South Africa. The Zimbabwe Gems are in Group A, along with reigning champions Australia and Northern Ireland. ‘‘Zimbabwe are something of an unknown quality and will look to capitalise on that against higher ranked teams,’‘ Africanews correspondent, Yvonnie Akonda Sundu told us ahead of the tournament. READ MORE: Rooting for African teams at 2019 Netball World Cup In the other Group A game, Australia were leading Northern Ireland at halftime by 45-15. The game eventually ended 88-24 in favour of the Australia diamonds.Sat, 20 Jul 2019 12:05:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/zimbabwe-makes-brilliant-debut-at-netball-world-cup/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/nigerian-man-attempts-physical-travel-on-wings-of-local-airline/There was fear and panic aboard a local flight in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos when a man attempted to make the flight but by being on the wings of the plane. Passengers aboard the Air Azman flight heading to the southeastern Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, were heard begging to be allowed get off the plane for fear of the unknown. The official account said the man (intruder) was sighted trying to climb into and Azman Aircraft waiting for clearance from Air Traffic Controllers. The pilot of the plane reported the incident to the aviation security, Avsec, and the man was arrested. “The aircraft taxied back to the apron for a thorough check” and continued with its trip to Port Harcourt. In narrating the ordeal a passenger, Otto Orondaam, wrote the following account on Instagram: “How it happened!! So our flight was taxing on the runway and about taking off when this man shows up running towards the moving aircraft from the bush. “The pilot and a few passengers spotted him running towards the aircraft and the pilot immediately slowed down and quickly put off the engine. The guy approaches the plane with gloves and starts walking around and under the aircraft holding a bag which he dropped inside the engine. “Thanks to the Pilot of the Azman Airline for quickly observing and taking swift action.. I still have a million and one questions to ask cos anything could have gone wrong! Nigeria will work perfectly someday. This I know.” View this post on Instagram Guys this is an emmergency o. For 30 minutes we have been stuck at the runway at MMIA by an unidentified man who ran to the aircraft with a bag. Security has not showed up and everyone is panicking. I have so many questions to ask but right now I can’t even breathe. Pls share this to all relevant authorities. Dear Nigeria!!!!! Update: He has finally been apprehended and we’ve all disembarked from the flight. FAAN authorities showed up 23minutes into the scene but were scared to approach him. Security eventually shows up after 37mins. ______ How it happened!! So our flight was taxing on the runway and about taking off when this man shows up running towards the moving aircraft from the bush. The pilot and a few passengers spotted him running towards the aircraft and the pilot immediately slowed down and quickly put off the engine. The guy approaches the plane with gloves and starts walking around and under the aircraft holding a bag which he dropped inside the engine. Thanks to the Pilot of the Azman Airline for quickly observing and taking swift action.. I still have a million and one questions to ask cos anything could have gone wrong! Nigeria will work perfectly someday. This I know. ?????? A post shared by Amb. Otto Orondaam (@otto_orondaam) on Jul 19, 2019 at 2:24am PDT In a further statement, aviation operator, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, called the incident a regrettable “airside incursion” and said it was probing the incident. “Following the unfortunate airside incursion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos today, July 19, 2019, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has suspended indefinitely the Aviation Security unit heads who were on duty when the incident occured, pending completion of ongoing investigation into the regrettable security infringement,” a statement said. Four officers in all were affected: the airport chief security, international terminal security chief and heads of two domestic terminals. “The current arrangement is aimed at ensuring an efficient and thorough investigation towards the recovery and sustenance of the airport’s proactive security integrity,” the statement added. Press Release July 19, 2019 FAAN AVSEC APPREHENDS AN INTRUDER. pic.twitter.com/Db9LqpDLOf— FAAN (@FAAN_Official) July 19, 2019Sat, 20 Jul 2019 11:50:00 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/nigerian-man-attempts-physical-travel-on-wings-of-local-airline/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/ethiopia-army-vows-to-combat-extremist-illegal-forces/The Ethiopian National Defense Force, ENDF, has commented on the country’s security situation vowing to do all it takes to keep out entities it described as “extremist and illegal forces.” The meeting of Friday, June 20, was chaired by new army chief, General Adem Mohammed, and was attended by senior military officers. Their deliberations centered on an in-depth discussion on security and internal affairs of the army. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate, FBC, said a Defense Ministry statement disclosed that the ENDF deplored the June 22 high-level assassination of Amhara regional officials and then army chief, Seare Mekonnen. The official government communication said the security crisis in Amhara was a coup plot to overthrow the regional government. A statement said the incident was directly related to the assassination of Mekonnen and a retired general who were working in the capital, Addis Ababa, to thwart the overthrow. The army stressed that it was capable of discharging its constitutional mission of ensuring durable security across the country.Sat, 20 Jul 2019 11:25:07 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/ethiopia-army-vows-to-combat-extremist-illegal-forces/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/zimbabwe-opens-one-stop-clinics-to-help-poor-patients/Zimbabwe has opened 10 one-stop clinics that are becoming lifesavers for its patients. The clinics which are been run on pilot across the country will offer free diagnosis and treatment to those suffering from tuberclosis and diabetes. Blessing Chongwaru, 29, has a chance at life because he was treated in one of the few centers providing free services. “At least you cut on transport costs if you get treated for tuberculosis and diabetes in one place. It’s very different from getting these services in two different places”, Chongwaru said. “If one is on TB treatment and also has diabetes, and diabetes is well controlled, chances of recovering very well are very high”, a nurse at the Rutsanana Polyclinic in Harare’s poor suburb of Glen Norah said. In a country facing economic crisis, with doctors having embarked on strike in the past, many lament they cannot afford healthcare. Dr. Silence Gavi is Health Services Manager at the Zimbabwe Platinum Mines. “You find that, that combination of low TB prevalence and a rock that is low in silica content and the fact that there is no over-crowding, means that our TB figures are almost negligible compared to the national average. You find that we get one or two or up to three cases in a period of 12 months“m he added. The project is expected to reach 46 health facilities across the country with additional funds from the World Diabetes Foundation, the Global Fund Against Aids and the Zimbabwean government. AIDS and Tuberclosis prevalence has significantly declined in Zimbabwe, but it is still among the highest in the world. AFPSat, 20 Jul 2019 09:17:52 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/zimbabwe-opens-one-stop-clinics-to-help-poor-patients/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/senegalese-fans-proud-of-lions-despite-loss/Senegalese football fans express mixed reactions to the outcome of the just ended African Cup of Nations in Egypt. Fans showed a sense of sadness and frustration after the Lions of Teranga were crashed by the Fennecs of Algeria by 1- 0 against in Cairo on Friday. But despite the disappointment, Senegalese football fans say they’re proud of their team. “We’re a little sad, but that’s the law of football. We were a little naive, they robbed a goal from us, but we’re still going to welcome them home. We are proud of our Lions. Okay, we’re going to remobilise for another AFCON, God willing”, Papa Mbaye Kebe said. ‘‘We lost the Cup but we’re not all sad because I say to myself they really gave it everything. Because, knowing the size of a football field and knowing that you also have to run after a ball, it’s not always easy. I say to myself they really fought hard. I say congratulations to them”, Adama Ndiaye said. Baghdad Bounedjah’s goal helped Algeria to their first African Cup of Nations title in 29 years. For Senegal, the wait for a first continental title still continues. AFPSat, 20 Jul 2019 09:01:03 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/senegalese-fans-proud-of-lions-despite-loss/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/kenya-launches-africa-s-largest-wind-farm/Kenya officially launched Africa’s largest wind power plant on Friday. The project is located in Kenya’s north and already provides nearly a fifth of the country’s energy needs. With a 365-turbine sprawling wind farm on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana, the project provides 310 megawatts of renewable energy to the national grid of East Africa’s most dynamic economy. It is the largest private investment in Kenya’s history. “It’s euphoric, you’re start what was a dream, putting together the largest private sector investment in the history of a country that comprises the largest wind farm on the continent. In an area that is what you see here. And finally, you are able to generate and produce the power”, said Rizwan Fazal, Executive Director of the Lake Turkana Project. Kenya already produces most of its energy from hydroelectric power, geo-thermal or wind power. This new plant is part of its commitment to produce 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The $680 million project received a $200 million loan from the European Union and funding from a consortium of European and African companies. “Today, we again raise the bar for the continent as we unveil Africa’s single largest wind farm, the Lake Turkana Wind Project.”, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said. However, environmental activists accused the government of betrayal with a coal-fired power plant project on the Lamu County coast, which has been suspended by the courts and is considered unnecessary by some. AFPSat, 20 Jul 2019 07:27:44 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/kenya-launches-africa-s-largest-wind-farm/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/au-calls-for-int-l-actions-to-address-drc-ebola-outbreak/The African Union on Friday called for urgent international actions to tackle the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The call by the AU’s Director for the Africa Centre for Disease Control comes on the back of the World Health Organization’s declaration of the outbreak as a global emergency Wednesday July 17. “This means the outbreak is serious, unusual, unexpected and is spreading, and carries implication for public health beyond the affected state’s national borders and require international action”, John Nkengasong told a press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nkengasong also said the Union will activate its voluntary corps deployment. “The Africa CDC will activate the African herald voluntary corps deployment. As you may recall, this was a group of individuals that were trained and used effectively by the African Union during the West African Ebola disease outbreak and it turned out to be a ‘game changer’ in defining how much, how quickly we ended that response’‘, he said. So far, 2,522 Ebola cases have been confirmed and 1,705 deaths registered as of July 18 in this Central African nation, the AU said. ReutersSat, 20 Jul 2019 07:10:51 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/au-calls-for-int-l-actions-to-address-drc-ebola-outbreak/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/algerian-fans-celebrate-2nd-afcon-win-as-police-clash-with-paris-fans/A jubilant crowd gathered at the International stadium in Algiers on Friday night to celebrate another African Cup of Nations win. Algerian football fans wore the colors of their national flag, green, white and red to make merry. “We won! Thanks be to God. God willing we will have the same result in 2022. I hope so”, said Algerian supporter, Ayman. Ramadan, a nurse said “congratulations to us all, to the Muslim community, to the Palestinian people and to the orphans. 1, 2, 3, Viva Algeria.’‘ The Fennecs beat the Teranga Lions of Senegal by 1-0 to claim their second AFCON title on Friday. Meanwhile, in Paris, France, police clashed with Algerian fans as they poured unto the streets of the Champs Elysee to celebrate. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion changed the mood as police fired tear gas to control the crowds. The clashes continued until the early hours of Saturday, July 20.Sat, 20 Jul 2019 06:06:36 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/20/algerian-fans-celebrate-2nd-afcon-win-as-police-clash-with-paris-fans/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/lions-of-senegal-vs-foxes-of-algeria-afcon-2019-final-preview/AFCON 2019 Awards: Roll Call AFCON Champions: Desert Foxes, Algeria Man of the Tournament: Ismael Bennacer, Algeria Man of the match (final): Rais M’bolhi, Algeria goalie AFCON Fair Play team: Senegal Young Player of the tournament: Ismael Bennacer, Algeria Top goalscorer: Odion Ighalo, Nigeria (5 goals) How it all happened: Algeria vs. Senegal A goal after just two minutes of play is what settled the 32nd edition of African Cup of Nations, AFCON, final between Algeria and Senegal at the Cairo International Stadium. It becomes the second AFCON victory for Algeria who last won it in 1990 on home soil. The Desert Foxes went the entire competition without losing a game – beating Senegal twice en route. For the Aliou Cisse Senegal side, it’s a second final disappointment. The first was in Mali 2002 when Cisse, as the skipper, led the Lions to the final only to be beaten by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions. It’s all OVER! Algeria are Champions of Africa. 90’ – Four minutes for Algeria to hold on and to secure their second AFCON trophy. 85’ Into the final 5 mins. Algeria playing deep and looking to close shop. Senegal continue to press but they’re running out of time. Still 1-0 82’ Sarr!!! The winger tries a volley but he just can’t keep his effort down. That was a glorious chance gone begging. 80’ Frustration beginning to set in for the Senegalese. They look like they’re losing their cool. They’ve given their all throughout the tournament but Algeria looks to be running away with this one. As at 70’ – Ball possession: Senegal: 65%, Algeria: 35%. 73’ – Algeria nearly double their lead through Belaili. The attacker curls the ball from the right flank but it deflects out for a corner. Nearly a carbon copy of the opening goal. Senegal pressing for the equalizer, Algeria is already in game management mode. Time wasting tactics is right around the corner for the Desert Foxes. #SENALG #AFCON2019— samuel fifi bartels (@sammybartels) July 19, 2019 70’ – It’s been all Senegal in this second half. Algeria haven’t offered much despite taking an early lead. Still 1-0 68’ – Senegal push to secure parity. Sabaly, midfielder, unleashes a fierce shot from the outside of the box but M’Bolhi tips the ball out for a corner. 65’ – CHANCE! Niang dribbles past the goalkeeper but he can’t direct his effort towards goal. He did all the work but the angle was too tight. Senegal getting closer. 59’ – VAR denies Senegal penalty as Guediora handles the ball in the box. Huge decision at this stage. Can the Lions focus from here? 55’ – Saivet floats a good ball into the Algeria box but no one is there to connect. Still 1-0 49’ – Both Mane and Mahrez have been passive so far in the game. Neither have been influential with 40 minutes to go. 45’ – Second half underway as Algeria guns for second title and cosigning Senegal to second AFCON final defeat. 44’ Huge Chance Senegal but for timely intervention by Zeffane to deny Sarr. The Senegal winger was nearly through on goal. 41’ Senegal with a free-kick on the right flank. Saivet’s delivery is cleared by Algeria. 37’ Chance Senegal! Good chest control by Niang but fires a left-footed shot which misses the goal by inches. 30’ – Past the half hour mark, Senegal being more purposeful with the ball going forward but the Algerian defence feeling even more comfortable with the forays. 25’ – Too many wayward passes, both teams being too cautious, goalkeepers rarely tested and too many stoppages. 18’ – Mane – Mahrez moment: Senegalese counterattacking move ends with Mane crossing into the box but Mahrez is there to clear with a header. 13’ Senegal wins a free-kick on the right flank. Saivet delivers a good cross but Kouyate’a header goes wide. 10’ – Jittery first 10 minutes for the Teranga Lions as they look to roar their way back into the fixture. 4’ – Algeria dominating opening exchanges as Senegal looks to settle into the fixture and deal Algeria‘s first attacking attempt produced the goal as Bonuedjah’s deflected shot loops over the Senegal goalkeeper. 1-0 Algeria 2’ – Goal! Algeria have the first goal of the game. It’s Bounedjah!!! Colourful closing ceremony in Cairo SQUAD LIST Algeria vs. Senegal Senegal XI: Alfred Gomis (GK) Lamine Gassama Salif Sané Cheikhou Kouyate © Youssouf Sabaly Papa Alioune Ndiaye Idrissa Gana Gueye Henri Saivet Ismaila Sarr Sadio Mané Mbaye Niang Algeria XI: Rais M’Bolhi (GK) Mehdi Zeffane Aissa Mandi Djamel Benlamri Ramy Bensebaini Adlene Guedioura Ismael Bennacer Sofiane Feghouli Riyad Karim Mahrez © Baghdad Bounedjah Youcef Belaili June 17 – July 19: All set for Algeria vs. Senegal June 17 was the first day of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, which wraps up in Egypt today. Hosts, Egypt, beat Zimbabwe by a lone goal till they were also beaten by same in the round of 16 by South Africa. The winners of the 32nd AFCON will be North Africans Algeria or West Africans Senegal. The stadium in Cairo is packed for tonight’s game as the kings of African football are crowned. The stadium has filled up ?️#SENALG #TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/t5YhACEIHJ— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 19, 2019 Fifth “All African Coaches” AFCON final: Belmadi vs. Cisse Overall, 11 local coaches had won 15 AFCON titles in the previous 31 editions. Ghana’s Gyamfi and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata had each won record three titles, with Nigerian Stephen Keshi being the latest to achieve that in 2013. Either Belmadi or Cisse will join this prestigious list comes Friday night. List of local coaches to win AFCON titles: Mourad Fahmy (Egypt – 1959) Yidnekatchew Tessema (Ethiopia – 1962) Charles Gyamfi (Ghana – 1963, 1965 and 1982) Adolphe Bibanzoulo (Congo – 1972) Fred Osam-Duodu (Ghana – 1978) Abdelhamid Kermali (Algeria – 1990) Yeo Martial (Cote d’Ivoire – 1992) Clive Barker (South Africa – 1996) Mahmoud El Gohary (Egypt – 1998) Hassan Shehata (Egypt – 2006, 2008 and 2010) Stephen Keshi (Nigeria – 2013) Head to head: Managers and goalies One of them is just 1⃣ day older than the other. Both of them are managing their countries' teams. Whoever wins it tonight will create history. It's? #SENALG #TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/VyUpPpcILv— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 19, 2019 The group stages coughed up lots of incidents from the goals, the misses, the blunders and the tactics. Not to forget the fans in the stands, the permutations as to who qualifies for the knockout not forgetting the empty stadia. But with the group stage over, eight out of the 24 teams were eliminated whiles sixteen teams also slugged it out in the round of 16 to secure places in the quarter finals. Quarter-finals brought the list further down to four semi-finalists. Algeria eliminated Nigeria and Senegal knocked out Tunisia. That sets up the Algeria vs. Senegal final of July 19. On July 17, Nigeria’s Super Eagles sored above the Tunisian Carthage Eagles to win the third-place playoff in Cairo. The real deal is on July 19 when Algeria makes a case for their second AFCON trophy and as Senegal chases a first. LIVE: Nigeria wins bronze by beating Tunisia Algeria vs. Senegal Algeria have recorded only a draw in six games at the AFCON. The Fennecs are in a race to go unbeaten in the competition but that will mean having to beat Group B neighbours, Senegal. It will mean beating Senegal for a second time having beaten the Teranga Lions on the second day of action by a lone goal. Algeria, like Egypt and Morocco, ended the group phase without conceding a goal and with maximum nine points – they also beat Kenya and Tanzania by two and three goals respectively. Algeria’s records en route to the final Matches played: 6 Wins / draws / losses: 5 / 1 / 0 Goals scored: 12 Star man: Riyad Mahrez AFCON record: Winners in 1990 Round of 16 (beat Guinea 3 – 0), quarter-final (beat Ivory coast 4 – 3 on penalties after 1 – 1 result), Semi-final (beat Nigeria 2 – 1). Senegal’s Teranga Lions have shown a steely character since their loss on Match Day 2 to Algeria. Aliou Cisse’s charges have used a lone goal victory in all three matches in the knockout rounds, beating Uganda, Benin and Tunisia in the round-of-16, quarter and semi-finals respectively. The final hurdle is with the July 19 match up against Algeria. The Senegalese will be looking to avoid a second defeat at the hand of the Algerians. At close of the day, it would be a case of repeat or revenge but more so for two managers who are linked by their upbringing in a Paris suburb and who have both featured for the teams they are leading today. Senegal’s records en route to the final Matches played: 6 Wins / draws / losses: 4 / 1 / 1 Goals scored: 8 Star man: Sadio Mane AFCON record: Losing finalists in 2002 Round of 16 (beat Uganda 1 – 0), quarter-final (beat Benin 1 – 0), Semi-final (beat Tunisia 1 – 0 in extra time). A list of the winners of the African Nations Cup (host countries in brackets): 1957 – Egypt (Sudan) 1959 – Egypt (Egypt) 1962 – Ethiopia (Ethiopia) 1963 – Ghana (Ghana) 1965 – Ghana (Tunisia) 1968 – Congo-Kinshasa (Ethiopia) 1970 – Sudan (Sudan) 1972 – Congo (Cameroon) 1974 – Zaire (Egypt) 1976 – Morocco (Ethiopia) 1978 – Ghana (Ghana) 1980 – Nigeria (Nigeria) 1982 – Ghana (Libya) 1984 – Cameroon (Ivory Coast) 1986 – Egypt (Egypt) 1988 – Cameroon (Morocco) 1990 – Algeria (Algeria) 1992 – Ivory Coast (Senegal) 1994 – Nigeria (Tunisia) 1996 – South Africa (South Africa) 1998 – Egypt (Burkina Faso) 2000 – Cameroon (Ghana and Nigeria co-hosts) 2002 – Cameroon (Mali) 2004 – Tunisia (Tunisia) 2006 – Egypt (Egypt) 2008 – Egypt (Ghana) 2010 – Egypt (Angola) 2012 – Zambia (Equatorial Guinea and Gabon co-hosts) 2013 – Nigeria (South Africa) 2015 – Ivory Coast (Equatorial Guinea) 2017 – Cameroon (Gabon) 2019 – Algeria vs. Senegal NB: Congo-Kinshasa and Zaire now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 17:20:00 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/lions-of-senegal-vs-foxes-of-algeria-afcon-2019-final-preview/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/ghana-s-ex-first-lady-graduates-from-uk-varsity/Ghana’s former first lady, Lordina Mahama, has graduated with a Masters of Laws from a United Kingdom University, multiple local media portals have reported. The state-run Daily Graphic said Mrs. Mahama was awarded Masters of Laws (LLM) degree in Business Law / International Business Law from the De Montfort University located in Leicester. The former First Lady according to the Daily Graphic report had studied as a long-distance student over the period she was enrolled. She already holds a Master’s Degree in Governance and Leadership plus a first degree in Hospitality Management from one of the country’s prestigious varsities, the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). She had in her time as First Lady championed causes in the interest of women and children and was a key member of the Organization of African First Ladies. The 56-year-old is wife of John Dramani Mahama who served as president from 2011 till 2016. He had previously served as Vice-President to John Atta Mills who died in office. Congratulations H.E. Lordina Mahama (Master of Laws – Business Law) pic.twitter.com/k32rQowsyL— Edward Omane Boamah (@eomaneboamah) July 19, 2019 Mahama served out Mills’ tenure before winning a substantive first term in 2016. He failed to secure reelection in 2016 when incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo defeated him at the polls. Mahama has been chosen by the main opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, to lead the party into the upcoming December 2020 elections. Akufo-Addo will be contesting for a second and final term.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 17:00:21 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/ghana-s-ex-first-lady-graduates-from-uk-varsity/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/trump-meets-persecuted-eritrean-singer-boko-haram-survivor-and-others/As part of his meetings with survivors of religious persecution from across the world, U.S. president Donald Trump, met with a number of people at the White House on July 17. Among the group were two Africans – an Eritrean and a Nigerian with both victims sharing briefly their excitement to be at the White House. Eritrean gospel singer Helen Berhane who currently lives in Asylum in Denmark shared how she lived months in detention in a metal container back in Eritrea. She pleaded with the U.S. administration to also help rescue other victims of government persecution which continues in the country till date. The recent case was a rift with the Catholic Church that led to closing of over 30 health facilities. MS. BERHANE: My name is Helen. I’m from Eritrea. I’m a gospel singer. So I have been, for 32 months, in a metal shipping container because of my faith. “But the reason I am here — all our pastors, they are still in prison in Eritrea, including the patron (inaudible). So that is my message. I am a voice for those voiceless. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Appreciate it. MS. BERHANE: Thank you. We pray for you. Ms. Berhane was only released in 2006 after she felt critically ill. In a 2018 interview with the BBC, she confirmed that the government had asked her to stop singing which she said she could not do. “So I am singing more because of the situation I passed through and what I’m doing now. For me to sing is like before you go to war. So song is the key. So they know when you sing you have the power,” she told the BBC. Trump and Ivanka host two Chibok girls at the White House https://t.co/NTZdaeLBfc— africanews (@africanews) June 29, 2017 Nigeria’s Esther Bitrus on her part had a more brief interaction which entailed thanking Trump for the opportunity to meet him and reiterating how hard it was to have been abducted by Boko Haram. It is the second time Trump has met Boko Haram survivors. In 2017, he met with two girls who were among those that escaped from the infamous Chibok Girls raid in 2014. MS. BITRUS: Thank you, Mr. President — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you. MS. BITRUS: — for the opportunity to see you. I am Esther, from Nigeria. I do three years in (inaudible). I escaped from Boko Haram. So thank you for …. THE PRESIDENT: It’s tough stuff, right? MS. BITRUS: Yes. THE PRESIDENT: That’s a tough one. Thank you. Other persons who were at the White House included Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad of Syria. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize of 2018 along with DR Congo’s Dr. Denis Mukwege. Others were from North Korea, Cuba, China, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Myanmar. “With us today are men and women of many different religious traditions from many different countries. But what you have in common is each of you has suffered tremendously for your faith. “You’ve endured harassment, threats, attacks, trials, imprisonment, and torture. I got to know many of you and helped you get some — get some of you out of the difficult situation that you were in. “I’m very proud of you in the way you’ve reacted to a different life. It is a tremendous thing,” a White House transcript of Trump’s remarks read.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 15:38:50 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/trump-meets-persecuted-eritrean-singer-boko-haram-survivor-and-others/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/burkinabes-alarmed-by-deaths-of-11-people-in-police-custody/The deaths of 11 people in a Burkina Faso police custody on the night of Sunday to Monday this week have raised tensions in the capital, Ouagadougou. The west African Nation is one of the main transit points for drugs arriving from the ports of West Africa, from where it moves north towards the Malian and Libyan desert A relative of one of the victims, Flavien Dima has lots of questions begging for answers. “What happened? What happened? What happened? They caught him for drugs or for what reason? That’s the first thing. Second, why did he die?” It’s difficult, it’s a little difficult. Until now, no one in the family has seen the body. I don’t know how it usually goes, but there wasn’t a report that anyone saw the body before the autopsy began”, he said. Civil society groups have in the past denounced violence by security forces. “This is a general observation in the security services. The conditions of detention, hygiene and sanitary conditions in police custody rooms are not very good’‘, said Police Union Secretary-General, Armiyaho Zongo. The public prosecutor, Maiza Sérémé said Forensic doctors were required to carry out the examinations and autopsies necessary to determine the causes of these deaths. Last June, the authorities burnt 35,300 tonnes of drugs, representing a quarter of all seizures in 2018, according to the permanent secretariat of the National Committee in Combating Drugs. AFPFri, 19 Jul 2019 15:08:10 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/burkinabes-alarmed-by-deaths-of-11-people-in-police-custody/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/license-to-influence-uae-law-regulates-social-media-players/In a bid to regulate the social media marketing industry, the UAE has made licenses for commercialised influencers mandatory. About 1,700 licenses have been issued in the UAE so far. They’re priced at around $4,000 dollars a year and require applicants to be a minimum of 21 years old plus hold a bachelor’s degree. “Before, it was rather chaotic,” says Naser Al Tamimi, the director of media licenses at the UAE National Media Council. “People know what rights they have and what they’re responsible for. Companies know what their right are and what they’re responsible for.” Influencers can bypass some of these requirements and costs, however, by joining a media agency and working under that company’s license. [IME S02E26 MAIN ARTICLE – SECONDARY IMAGE 1] Influencer management agency licensed in the UAE Founder of the brand and influencer management agency Sunday [https://www.sunday.plus], Ashley Cadzow, states that the MENA region is home to some of the most expensive influencers in the world. It’s not uncommon, he says, for social media stars to command anywhere between $3,000-100,000 per deal. Moreover, since the region is considered something of an untapped resource, many companies are willing to pay top dollar to reach potential customers. “I’m constantly sitting in meeting rooms with brands, and they’re sitting there saying, ‘How do we talk to Saudi Arabia? How do we talk to the wider GCC?’ ” says Cadzow. The answer, according to many analysts, is influencers. [IME S02E26 MAIN ARTICLE – SECONDARY IMAGE 2] Influencer and fashion designer Alanoud Badr and Ashley Cadzow from Sunday agency With dynamic, business-minded millennials on social media thought to have the greatest potential reach when it comes to influencing the purchases of young people the MENA region, who are no longer affected by traditional television or print advertising. For Saudi Arabian fashion designer Alanoud Badr it’s all about impact, and that’s what she’s made for more than a decade. First, with her style blog which pushed boundaries in the kingdom early on, and then with the UAE-based clothing label Lady Fozaza which she set up in 2011. [IME S02E26 MAIN ARTICLE – SECONDARY IMAGE 3] Caption: Euronews reporter Salim Essaid takes a selfie with Alanoud Badr amongst her brand’s signature blazers It was her petite size that first pushed her to developed the brand’s signature blazers with their frame-enhancing shoulders. The design quickly attracted the attention of celebrities like Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian, along with nearly 750 thousand Instagram (link: https://www.instagram.com/fozaza/) followers. [IME S02E26 MAIN ARTICLE – SECONDARY IMAGE 4] Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian wearing Lady Fozaza An issue some big brands face is hiring influencers with large followings but low engagement, including fake accounts, or so-called inactive, ghost accounts. Labels became interested in hiring Badr to sell their products when drilling down into the quality of her followers and their level of engagement. “Do you know if she has a special bond with those followers? Because if she does, whatever she speaks about will resonate,” she explains. “They will take it in and they will react to it. That’s the money’s worth.” SEEN ON SOCIAL: INFLUENCER STYLE Abu Dhabi influencer Dana shared this look of the day, saying she finds it awesome to be a modest and modern UAE influencer. View this post on Instagram So confused with the weather these days ?? A post shared by Dana (@dee4dana) on Mar 28, 2019 at 4:30am PDTFri, 19 Jul 2019 14:12:25 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/license-to-influence-uae-law-regulates-social-media-players/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/durban-international-film-festival-underway/African films were the focus at the 2019 Durban International Film Festival which opened on Thursday, July 18. Created in 1978, the Durban International Film Festival is considered the first of South Africa’s film festivals. Its a full house at the DurbanICC for the opening film screening of #knucklecity #diff2019 #diff40 pic.twitter.com/H3kFOdO6pP— Durban International Film Festival (DIFFest) July 18, 2019 This year, the organizers are determined to tell the story of their continent through the arts. “We felt it was time for our African voices to be heard, for our stories to be told from our own perspective. We have been lagging behind the Western world and we thought that this was the moment when we regain power. So we want to unite as a continent to be stronger and bring the strength of the industry to the world”, said Chipo Zhou, Manager of the Durban International Film Festival. For stakeholders the platform is crucial for the growth African storytelling. “Festivals like the DIFF are very important in this country. Not only in this country, but also in the development of African storytelling. There are so many unpublished stories on the continent, in South Africa. And it is festivals like this that highlight our stories and make them known to the world”, said South African actress, Minnie Dlamini- Jones. Nearly 300 films from all over the world will be screened. With an estimated audience of nearly 30,000 viewers, the festival gives pride to African cinema, despite the lack of huge budgets. Desiree Kahikopo is a Namibian Film Director and producer. “People are a little reluctant to believe and invest in African cinema. So the main thing is the funding, but apart from that, we have the stories, we have the talent, it’s just access to that funding that’s the challenge for most of the people I’ve talked to”, Kahikopo noted. The Durban International Film Festival began on Thursday July 18 and will end on Sunday July 28. AFP Photo Credit: Durban International Film FestivalFri, 19 Jul 2019 13:09:36 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/durban-international-film-festival-underway/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/south-africa-zuma-to-face-corruption-inquiry/Zuma to continue cooperation Following a meeting with the commission chair, Zondo said the former president had agreed to continue cooperating with the inquiry via his legal team by providing written statements. “It is contemplated within this agreement that at a certain stage the former president will come back and give evidence,” said Zonda, who then adjourned Friday’s hearing. July 19: Zuma’s lawyers suspend cooperation President Jacob Zuma’s legal team told the corruption inquiry on Friday that their client would not take part in the inquiry further because he felt that he was being questioned unfairly. “Chair, we are here today to say we will take no further part in these proceedings,” lawyer Muzi Sikhakhane told the inquiry. He said Zuma had been subject to ‘relentless cross-examination’ and is being obliged to answer questions put to him by the commission evidence leader Paul Pretorius, yet he was ‘not called in line with any rules’. The former president was invited to offer clarity on the statements made by former ministers and senior government officials which implicated him in the capture of the state. Following Zuma’s withdrawal from the commission proceedings, the chair, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo emphasised the fact that the decision to call Zuma before the commission was his decision and his alone. “I, therefore, do not want Mr Pretorius or the commission’s legal team to be criticised for that decision. I made it alone. I believe it was a correct decision and still believe it was a correct decision.” Zuma cries foul South Africa’s deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo on Wednesday adjourned until Friday morning a public inquiry into state corruption, after lawyers Zuma’s lawyers said he was being questioned unfairly. Zuma’s lawyers have argued that the inquiry’s lawyers should not cross-examine the former president because they say evidence given by other witnesses does not directly implicate Zuma in corruption and fraud. “Chair I hear you, and I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’m really being cross-examined very thoroughly on the details. And I don’t know how come,” Zuma told the chairman of the inquiry. Zuma’s lawyers told Zondo that the former president, who has been testifying since Monday, had been brought to the inquiry under “false pretences” because he was being cross-examined, whereas he thought he would only have to answer straightforward points of clarity. “The former president has expressed certain concerns,” Zondo said. “It has been decided that we should adjourn the proceedings for the day, and we should not sit tomorrow in order to give a full opportunity to the commission’s legal team and the former president’s legal team … to see whether a way can be found in which his (Zuma’s) concerns are addressed.” July 17: Zuma denies interfering in Transnet deal on Day 3 Former president Jacob Zuma on Wednesday denied having interfered with the appointment of a chief executive at transport and infrastructure company Transnet, during his third day testifying at a corruption inquiry. Transnet, which operates railways, ports and fuel pipelines, is one of a handful of state-owned firms that became embroiled in corruption scandals during Zuma’s tenure. Former public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan told the inquiry that Zuma had told her at a meeting in 2009 that Siyabonga Gama was his “only choice” to be CEO of Transnet. Gama was at the time subject to disciplinary proceedings because of procurement irregularities, and Hogan said Transnet’s board of directors wanted to appoint another candidate it deemed better qualified for the job. Asked whether he had told Hogan that Gama was his only choice for Transnet CEO, Zuma told the inquiry: “It couldn’t be like that, we don’t work like that. As I say there was a process. … I would have been undermining the process.” Gama eventually became Transnet CEO in 2015 and was involved in allegedly corrupt contracts worth tens of billions of rands to procure locomotives. Gama, who was fired last year after trying unsuccessfully to halt his removal, was not available for comment. He has denied the allegations against him. A Gupta-linked firm earned huge consulting fees from the locomotives deal. The Guptas, who left South Africa around the time Zuma was ousted, have consistently denied having looted state firms like Transnet. Transnet has sought to recover via the courts money it says was misspent under Gama’s leadership. State prosecutors have said they are following the inquiry and they could open cases if sufficient evidence of wrongdoing emerges. Day 2 of Zuma’s testimony South Africa’s ex-president Jacob Zuma on Tuesday said he had received a death threat after his testimony the previous day to an inquiry on corruption. Appearing for the second day at the commision of inquiry into state capture, Zuma said his personal assistant received a phone call late on Monday from an unknown caller threatening to kill Zuma and his children. The country’s deputy chief justice, Raymond Zondo, who is overseeing the inquiry, said the threats were unacceptable. There was no immediate comment from the police. Zuma’s lawyers then argued that the inquiry’s line of questioning was inappropriate because it amounted to cross-examination. This led to a brief delay before the presiding judge urged those questioning Zuma to bear this in mind. Zuma’s lawyers said the testimony at the inquiry so far had not implicated the former president in corruption or fraud, so he should not be cross-examined but should merely answer questions for clarification purposes. When proceedings finally kicked off, Zuma was asked about an incident where one of the Indian-born Guptas allegedly offered former ANC lawmaker Vytjie Mentor the position of minister of public enterprises. Zuma replied saying; “I know nothing about it”, repeating the same phrase several times and once letting out a chuckle. Mentor told the inquiry that the offer of the ministerial post was conditional on her canceling a lucrative South African Airways flying route to India. She said she refused the offer, which she said was made in 2010 at a time when Zuma was at one of the Guptas’ residences. “No there was nothing of that nature. I was never in some room,” Zuma said when asked whether he was in the Guptas’ home when the job offer was allegedly made to Mentor. Zuma, 77, said he had never discussed ministerial appointments with the Guptas. Several witnesses other than Mentor have told the inquiry that the Guptas were privy to information about senior government appointments. He however confirmed he had met the Gupta brothers to discuss the New Age, the newspaper that he had encouraged them to set up in 2010. Asked whether he met with the Guptas over the newspaper project, he replied: “From time to time they briefed me.” “They were just briefing me on progress they were making in establishing that business, the newspaper, not the financing,” he said. Zuma denied that he knew about alleged harassment of civil servants by Gupta executives demanding that the government’s advertising budget was spent with the newspaper. Zuma also denied on Tuesday that he had issued an instruction to remove Themba Maseko, former head of the government communications service, from his position after Maseko refused to direct state advertising money to the Guptas’ media company in 2011. Zuma, expected to testify until Friday, was supported at the inquiry by his son as well as prominent allies including ex-finance minister Malusi Gigaba. ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule, a close ally of Zuma, addressed reporters during a break in the proceedings on Tuesday and suggested the inquiry’s focus on the Gupta family was misguided. Magashule, who is in charge of the day-to-day running of the ANC, has made comments that have directly contradicted Ramaphosa and his faction in the ANC in recent months. “I don’t know why South Africa is not actually investigating every company which has worked with government, and why we are actually targeting one particular company and family,” Magashule said. “Tell me which company has not met with government.” Magashule declined to answer a question about whether he thought the inquiry was biased, as Zuma’s lawyers have said. July 16: Day 1 of Zuma’s testimony South Africa’s ex-president, Jacob Zuma on Monday defended himself at the commision of inquiry into state capture, where he is accused of having presided over a corrupt government. Over the past year, this commission, chaired by the Vice-President of the Constitutional Court Raymond Zondo, has heard from dozens of ministers, elected officials, businessmen and senior civil servants who have come to expose the shady cases of the Zuma era (2009-2018). The former head of state, 77, is suspected of illegally granting lucrative public contracts and undue advantages to a sulfurous family of Indian businessmen with whom he is close, the Gupta. July 15: Zuma’s testimony Zuma told the inquiry that there was a conspiracy against him and that his enemies had subjected him to a “character assassination” because they wanted him out of power. “This commission, from my understanding, was really created to have me coming here, and perhaps to find things on me,” Zuma said in his opening remarks at the inquiry, looking relaxed and wearing a dark suit. “There has been a drive to remove me from the scene, a wish that I should disappear.” About his controversial links to the Gupta family, Zuma said he had never broken the law with them, describing the businessmen at the centre of an influence-peddling scandal as friends. “I never did anything with them (the Guptas) unlawfully, they just remained friends. … Never, never did I discuss any matter that does not belong to them,” Zuma told the inquiry. “They were businesspeople and successful businesspeople,” Zuma continued, referring to the three Gupta brothers. “I’m not a businessperson, I know nothing about business, I’m a politician, I know something about politics.” He said he could trace this to the early 1990s, when he received an intelligence report that two foreign intelligence agencies and a branch of the apartheid government that was in power at the time had come up with a strategy to get rid of him. He did not name where the foreign intelligence agencies came from, only that they were from “big countries”. “They (my enemies) took a decision that Zuma must be removed from the decision-making structures of the ANC. That’s why the character assassination, that is the beginning of the process that has put me where I am today,” Zuma said. Zuma also hinted that he could spill the beans on ANC comrades who had spoken out against him. “I’ve been respectful to comrades, maybe I’ve reached a point where that must take a back seat.” .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Jacob Zuma was forced by his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, to resign a year and a half ago at the head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and the country. But he has always denied that he was involved in all the scandals that have splashed his reign. Reactions to Zuma’s testimony Asked about Zuma’s comments, ANC spokesman Pule Mabe said the party would give the inquiry space to do its work. “The ANC is not on trial here,” Mabe said. Natasha Mazzone, a senior lawmaker with the opposition Democratic Alliance party, said Zuma was trying to whitewash serious allegations. “The fact that we’ve heard a conspiracy theory dating back to 1990 is proof that the real truth is going to take a long time to extract,” Mazzone said. Rudie Heyneke from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse said the inquiry could find it difficult to pin much on Zuma because he had “always been careful to stay a layer or two away from the action”. Reservations from Zuma’s lawyers In a letter made public last month, his lawyer Daniel Mantsha questioned the impartiality of the commission of inquiry by accusing it of seeking “only one truth” and wanting to “trap and humiliate” his client. Although he did not obtain the list of questions that Judge Zondo plans to ask him, Jacob Zuma agreed to respond to his non-binding summons, in principle until Friday, July 19. But there is still doubt about the attitude he will adopt at the hearing, which will be broadcast live on television. “The committee asked me to come and testify and provide it with any information I may have in my possession,” Zuma told the press this week. “I’m going to go and we’ll see how things turn out.” The case against Zuma Since it launched its hearings, the Zondo Commission has compiled a thick case against the former president. A former minister, Mcebisi Jonas, came to tell how the Gupta brothers had come to offer him in 2015 the morocco Finance in exchange for his help in obtaining contracts and a bribe of 600 million rand (nearly 40 million euros). According to Mr. Jonas, Ajay Gupta then told that “You have to understand that we control everything (...) and that the old man (Zuma) will do whatever he tells us to do”. Another Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene, testified that he was thanked the same year by Jacob Zuma for refusing a lucrative nuclear contract project that would have benefited the same Gupta brothers, owners of a uranium mine. In turn, the current Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan also settled his accounts with Jacob Zuma, accusing him of having “allowed a climate of impunity allowing corruption” and the “capture of the State” by private interests. Gordhan has estimated that 100 billion rand (€6 billion) of public funds have been diverted in recent years in his country. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has been a long-time critic of the turpitudes of the Zuma regime and welcomed its hearing. “There can be no immunity for Jacob Zuma,” said MP Natasha Mazzone, “he must be held accountable for his role in capturing the state. Despite all the accusations against him, the former president has still not been formally charged. He is currently being prosecuted in only one case involving bribes paid on the margins of an arms contract signed… twenty years ago. In defence of Zuma Zuma still has allies and a group of several dozen supporters broke into clapping and chants of “Zuma” as he entered the hearing room. Outside, supporters wearing military clothing emblazoned with the emblem of the former armed wing of the ANC shouted: “Hands off Zuma!” One of them, Bongani Nkosi, said he thought the inquiry was out to get Zuma and that he had enemies because he supported radical economic policies to help poor black people. Ramaphosa, Zuma’s former deputy, has made sweeping personnel changes in government and state-owned companies as part of an effort to curb corruption and revive the stagnant economy. But he has been hampered by the lingering influence that Zuma and his allies exert over the ANC’s top decision-making bodies, as well as by the scale of the problems he inherited. Zuma, expected to give testimony to the inquiry from Monday to Friday, has also been in court on several occasions over the past year to answer corruption charges linked to a deal to buy military hardware for the armed forces in the 1990s. The inquiry is a rare example of an African leader being brought to book soon after losing power. AgenciesFri, 19 Jul 2019 12:40:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/south-africa-zuma-to-face-corruption-inquiry/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/tensions-in-ethiopia-s-southern-hawassa-city-claim-3-lives-injure-dozens/Tensions are high in the Ethiopian southern city of Hawassa where hospital authorities said on Friday that at least three people have died amid a showdown between state security forces and some local activists who want to declare a new region for their Sidama ethnic group. The threat of large-scale violence in Hawassa city centre on Thursday was largely averted after a Sidama opposition party agreed to delay declaring their own region and accept a government offer to hold a referendum in five months. The threat to unilaterally declare a new region was a direct challenge to the authority of the Ethiopian federal government, which oversees nine regions in the nation of 105 million people. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, appointed by the ruling coalition last year, has been widely praised for political reforms in what was once one of the continent’s most repressive nations. But many Ethiopian activists are now using their greater freedoms to demand more rights, sometimes for their own ethnic groups. At least eight other ethnic groups beside the Sidama also want their own regions. The tensions sometimes spark violence. Adamant activists In Hawassa, not all Sidama people accepted the decision to delay the declaration. Some activists were still on the streets on Friday and most shops were still closed. Local police told Fana Broadcasting that relative peace prevailed in Hawassa and nearby areas and they are working to restore peace in areas affected by the violence. “Efforts are underway to put under control the violence which started in Hawassa and later spread to the neighboring Sidama woredas (district),” regional state Police Commissioner Tewodros Woldemichael told Fana. Police arrested individuals who took part in the violence that resulted in loss of life and properties, according to Fana. Hawassa Referral Hospital has received 12 injured civilians in the last two days, three of whom died, said general manager Zinaw Serniso. Some had fractured bones after being hit with batons and others had been shot, he said. One man shot in the head died on Thursday, and two more shot in the leg and abdomen died on their way to the hospital on Friday, he said. “The decision by top Sidama administrators to accept a belated referendum meant the zone didn’t self-declare and so a major confrontation was avoided yesterday,” said William Davison, an analyst from Brussels-based International Crisis Group. “But that decision was not accepted by all of the youthful activists, who complained they were not consulted and were further angered when security forces prevented public meetings being held to discuss the situation.” Organised groups in towns outside Hawassa are ransacking houses, business and also robbing people, said Million Tumato, president of the opposition Sidama Liberation Movement. He confirmed three civilians had been killed in Hawassa and said 15 others had been killed in outlying areas. Reuters could not immediately confirm the deaths or the circumstances surrounding them. “At this moment, we cannot calm our people,” he said. REUTERSFri, 19 Jul 2019 12:23:12 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/tensions-in-ethiopia-s-southern-hawassa-city-claim-3-lives-injure-dozens/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/video-is-poverty-in-africa-man-made/This year as the world marks the historic strive of an African hero, Nelson Mandela, on the theme action against poverty; Africanews Hawa Suleiman Brimah interrogates efforts towards poverty alleviation in Africa. Is poverty in Africa man made? Watch documentary film.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 11:53:00 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Hawa Suleiman Issah)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/video-is-poverty-in-africa-man-made/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/sports-kenya-joins-african-countries-fighting-the-rise-of-betting/This week, Kenya’s interior ministry ordered for the deportation of 17 foreign directors of betting companies. The deportation order is the latest action by the Kenyan government, which in May introduced new gambling regulations, including banning advertising outdoors and on social media. Kenyans who maintain mobile wallets or accounts with betting firms through telecommunications companies have since been given 48 hours to withdraw all their money. Restriction of licensing and operations of betting companies have been implemented in other East African nations including Uganda and Rwanda. Betting over which sports team might win is big business in Kenya, Africa and across the world. By 2022, the global gambling market could be worth $635 billion, according to findings by Dublin-based Research and Markets. In Kenya alone, the industry generates $2 billion every year. In many cities, towns and villages across Africa, one can vividly witness the growth of lotteries, poker, sport bets, slot machines, casino games, and online gambling. Critics of betting say it erodes the urge to work and quickly traps its participants into a destructive cycle of addiction. Authorities in Kenya are also investigating the possibility that betting companies have been facilitating money laundering. Those who support betting on the other hand argue that it is a recreational activity that gives unemployed young people safe spaces to channel their energies, while at the same time providing governments revenue through paying taxes. To help us get perspective on the betting industry across the continent, we spoke to Ayishatu Zakaria Ali, a journalist who has extensive experience in how the sports sector operates in many West African countries. How easy is it to place a bet today? Betting offers an opportunity for young people to make the money that they want. All a youth needs to have is a smartphone or walk in physically into one of these betting company stores, and they can make money. Why is government not happy with betting companies? They think betting is making the youth of their countries lazy because they don’t want to work, and then as a government, if the youth of your country are lazy, its worrying, you have to be worried, because the rate of unemployment is very high. Do you believe betting firms should take more responsibility in mitigating addiction and other negative effects of their activities? I don’t actually blame them. I actually blame the countries, I actually blame the government, lawmakers, and then parents to a certain extent, for actually allowing their children, citizens to be abused in this way. And then, the people themselves, the youth themselves, they have to hold themselves responsible for actually getting addicted to this. You can’t blame the betting companies because they are here to make money, and they have since discovered that the laws in most of these countries don’t work, so they are taking advantage of that to make money. Are there ways in which governments can work towards a win-win approach in the regulation of betting companies? When they work together, they stand a chance. If for example a telecommunications company can send a signal to law enforcers each a time someone who is underage attempts to bet, and that person can be blocked from betting. In this case, government wins because the one who is above 18 years is allowed to bet, while the one who is below 18 can’t bet. So, in this way, government is protecting its citizens from the addiction that we are talking about, from becoming lazy because a child who is below 18 has no business going to bet. At that age, one should be thinking about their education, and drawing a plan for one’s life. @danmumbereFri, 19 Jul 2019 08:52:02 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Daniel Mumbere)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/sports-kenya-joins-african-countries-fighting-the-rise-of-betting/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/afcon-2021-qualifiers-held-in-cairo/The drawings for AFCON 2021 was held on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo on Thursday. It was a fairly balanced draw for some but an exciting challenge for others. “It’s a very balanced draw for us. We are going to meet our neighbours from Mauritania and it is really a real pleasure to meet our Mauritanian neighbours in an official competition for the first time, knowing that we met them in the youth competitions where they took us out in the competition. It must be the U17 or U19, I don’t remember very well. So it’s going to be great games, a great competition’‘, said Moroccan Football Federation VP, Khamza El Hajoui. The Mauritania n team will play without holding back against the Atlas Lions. The team Mourabitounes yearn for a return to the AFCON for a second consecutive time. “Certainly it’s difficult, but we believe in our chances, we believe above all in our abilities and the will we had, the ambition we always have to progress, to continue to grow. We’ll do everything, we’re already getting ready. I wouldn’t say that we’re preparing today, we’ve been preparing since the day we left the AFCON and we’re going to continue to prepare and why not repeat the feat and come back to the AFCON. And why not do better?’‘, Mauritarian Football Federation President, Ahmed Yahya said. Our Wahany Johnson Sambou reports that the balls delivered their verdict with an interesting draw with shocks and many derbies. Cameroon will host the 2021 African Cup of Nations.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 07:51:47 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Wahany Johnson SAMBOU)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/afcon-2021-qualifiers-held-in-cairo/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/uganda-intensifies-surveillance-after-who-reports-new-ebola-incident/Rwanda dismisses Ebola threat Authorities in Rwanda on Thursday refuted reports that the fishmmonger responsible for Uganda’s renewed Ebola surveillance, had crossed into the border town of Gisenyi. “There is no Ebola in Rwanda as far as we are concerned. We have a strong surveillance system in place that helps us to prevent its entry,” Malic Kayumba, Head of Communications at Rwanda Biomedical Centre told The EastAfrican. ‘‘We investigate every day and have a system that informs us of all we need to know, and such news would be coming from us. If there was entry of a suspected Ebola victim we would have known.’‘ There had been reports by the Word Health Organisation (WHO) that the fishmonger who vomited at a popular market in Uganda’s border Mpondwe town, might also have done business in Rwanda before returning to DRC where she died. WHO has since withdrawn the reports which were reportedly published without the knowledge of WHO headquarters in Geneva. “Two situation reports… have erroneously included unverified information,” a statement from WHO said late on Thursday. The statement did not explain what was unverified in the reports, or mention Rwanda, which is on high alert after a confirmed case of a pastor who later died in the Congolese border city of Goma. The city of more than 1 million serves as a regional and international gateway and borders Rwanda, which said on Thursday it was intensifying screening at ports of entry and asked citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Ebola-affected areas. Rwanda has never had a recorded case of Ebola and has trained over 23,000 medical personnel, police officers and volunteers in preparation to fight outbreaks. Uganda on Ebola alert again The World Health Organisation (WHO) will work with authorities in Uganda to vaccinate about 590 fishmongers at the Mpondwe market, following the discovery that one of them vomited at the Ugandan market on July 11 before dying in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “The surveillance teams established that she had four episodes of vomiting on the day she was in the country,” read part of a joint statement on Wednesday. ‘‘We are yet to establish the woman’s movements or who had transported her or her goods,’‘ it added. On July 12, the trader travelled to Beni in DRC and was admitted in the Beni Ebola Treatment Unit on July 13. She died on July 15 after testing positive for Ebola. ‘‘The health ministry and WHO appeal to all Ugandans to remain vigilant and alert. Avoid handshaking, hugging, mass gatherings and observe infection, prevention and control practices such as washing hands with soap and clean water at all times both at health facilities and communities,” the statement continued. Uganda had been previously hailed by WHO for containing the spread of the virus after two people died of the Ebola virus in the Western Uganda district of Kasese. Since then, no other Ebola cases have been reported within Uganda, and authorities reiterated on Wednesday that there are no confirmed Ebola Virus Disease case in Kasese district or any other part of Uganda. The WHO which declared Congo’s Ebola outbreak an international health emergency, has warned that the nearby countries of Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and Uganda are the most at risk, while Central African Republic, Angola, Tanzania, Republic of Congo and Zambia are in a second tier. The global body has however urged countries not to close borders or restrict trade. Ugandan authorities confirmed that all places of economic and social interaction in Uganda such as national parks and tourist sites are open and accessible to the public. Over 6,000 people have been vaccinated in Uganda since November 2018.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 07:07:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/uganda-intensifies-surveillance-after-who-reports-new-ebola-incident/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/thousands-converge-on-the-streets-of-sudan-to-honour-martyrs-of-protests/Thousands of Sudanese gathered in Khartoum on Thursday to pay tribute to the dozens of protesters killed in the crackdown on Sudan’s seven-month protest movement that prompted President Omar al-Bashir to leave. The rallies took place the day after the signing of a power-sharing agreement between the military council that succeeded Bashir and the leaders of the protest, the first step towards a civilian government, the main demand of the protesters. Talks are expected to resume on Friday to finalize points on which both sides remain in disagreement. One of the main leaders of the protest movement, Ahmed al-Rabie, however, told AFP late Thursday that the protesters were thinking of demanding a postponement of negotiations with the Military Council scheduled for Friday. “This possibility is being studied so that there can be more discussion within the protest movement,” he said. Coming from several parts of Khartoum and waving Sudan flags , men, women and children gathered in one of the largest parks in the Sudanese capital, chanting “Civil Regime, Civil Regime!” and “Freedom, peace, justice!”, according to witnesses. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse a rally outside a bus station in central Khartoum, witnesses said. Many of the protesters who arrived near Green Yard Park were in tears and shouting slogans in memory of the killed protesters. “We are here to maintain our demands since the Military Council does not respond,” said Shaima Ahmed, a protester. “We will not give up.” Protesters left the park in the evening, an AFP journalist said, and members of the paramilitary forces deployed around. The Association of Sudanese Professionals (SPA), one of the main protest movements, called for the rally in “tribute to the honorable martyrs of the December Revolution”. Accentuating the pressure The protest movement was triggered on December 19 by the tripling of the price of bread in a poor country with a bloodless economy. The demonstrations quickly turned into a protest against the power of General Bashir, who led the country with an iron fist for nearly three decades before his dismissal and arrest by the army on April 11. Epicenter of the protest, a sit-in of thousands of protesters installed since April 6 before the army headquarters in Khartoum to demand a civilian power, was brutally dispersed on June 3. The crackdown has left 246 dead since December 19, including 127 for the only day of June 3, said a committee of doctors close to the challenge at a press conference Thursday night. In addition, 1,353 people have been injured since the start of the dispute, according to this source. The authorities spoke of 71 dead. According to the agreement signed Wednesday after difficult negotiations, a Sovereign Council of five military and six civilians will be responsible for leading the transition for a little over three years. The military will preside over this body for the first 21 months, and civilians will take over for the remaining 18 months. For Ammar Zubeir, a protester in Khartoum, the protests are intended to accentuate the “pressure before the meeting” on Friday. Among the outstanding issues is the “absolute immunity” demanded by the ruling generals in connection with the suppression of rallies, an unacceptable demand for the representatives of the protest. “Too many concessions” There is also the question of the creation of a transitional parliament and the withdrawal of militia still present in Khartoum and other cities. The Alliance for Freedom and Change (ALC), the spearhead of the protest, “has already made too many concessions,” said Safaa Moudawi, a protester. “We ask them not to do more”. In a joint statement, the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway called on the parties to “quickly conclude the constitutional agreement” and “form a civilian-led transitional government, which the Sudanese people peacefully call for and with courage since December 2018 “. The future civilian government “will work to realize the aspirations of the Sudanese people for peace, justice and development,” they said. AFPFri, 19 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/thousands-converge-on-the-streets-of-sudan-to-honour-martyrs-of-protests/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/managing-the-stakes-in-sudan-s-transition/While Sudan’s military and the alliance of protesters and opposition groups have signed a three-year transition working towards elections, the slow progress and violence in the build up to the deal has many doubting it will work. In this article, we explore some of the key questions about this deal, the transition period and the protesters’ hopes for civilian rule and democracy. How did we get here? In December 2018, protests triggered by an economic crisis swept across Sudan, demanding an end to Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year rule. On April 11 the military toppled and arrested Bashir, announcing the formation of a transitional military council. But protests continued, demanding the transition be civilian-led. The military council and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance began talks, which soon stalled over the make-up of a sovereign council to steer the transition. At dawn on June 3, security forces – led according to witnesses by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – moved to clear a sit-in outside the Defence Ministry in Khartoum. Doctors linked to the opposition said 128 people were killed in the raid and ensuing violence. The government has confirmed 61 deaths. Talks collapsed, resuming after several weeks under pressure from African-led mediators and after massive protests on June 30. Agreement on a power-sharing deal was announced on July 5. Who are the key actors? The military council is formed of seven members, led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Its most prominent member, however, is his deputy General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who also leads the RSF and is widely known as Hemedti. Both Burhan and Hemedti have close ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates due to Sudan’s participation in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The driving force in the FFC has been the Sudanese Professionals Association, which rose to prominence coordinating the protests against Bashir. It has no leader or strict hierarchy, though top members include Mohammad Naji al-Assam and Ahmed al-Rabie. Prominent constituents of the alliance also include the Umma Party led by former prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi and three of Sudan’s five rebel groups. What next? The two sides still need to sign a constitutional declaration that is meant to complete the political deal. That would allow transitional bodies to be formed, including a sovereign council that would include five officers selected by the military council, five civilians chosen by the FFC and another civilian to be agreed by both sides. The initial agreement also provides for a government of technocrats and an independent investigation into recent violence. Why did it take long to get a deal? The deal was meant to be signed days after its announcement, but was thrown into doubt by a demand from the military council for immunity from prosecution. Blanket immunity is strongly opposed by the protest movement, already concerned about how an independent investigation could be guaranteed with the military still in charge. They continue to hold rallies to honour those killed since protests started in December and call for accountability for their deaths. Some members of the FFC have rejected the deal, saying it does not fulfil the expectations of protesters. More broadly, Sudan’s security forces see themselves as the country’s natural rulers and want to protect their sprawling economic interests. “Their natural tendency is to surrender nothing and to maintain …the last word in all matters of the state – which was the situation under Bashir essentially,” said Magdi El Gizouli, a fellow at the Rift Valley Institute. “Upturning this arrangement is a formidable task.” What’s at stake? Sudan has a recent history of civil conflicts including in the western region of Darfur and South Kordofan and Blue Nile in the south. These could flare again if political turmoil continues. Suffering for Sudanese civilians already subjected to a severe economic crisis could also intensify. Of a population of 44 million, more than 5 million people are in need of assistance and nearly 2 million displaced, according to the United Nations. Why is the internal community concerned? Sudan sits in a volatile region in northeast Africa. Instability could have an impact on war-torn South Sudan, where a fragile peace deal was signed last September, and on Libya to the north, where fighting has recently escalated. Wealthy Gulf states have an interest in Sudan because of its agricultural potential and its Red Sea ports. The RSF is contributing troops to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. European powers and Egypt are concerned about potential northward flows of migrants from Sudan, which is on one of the transit routes towards the Mediterranean. REUTERSFri, 19 Jul 2019 06:36:17 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/managing-the-stakes-in-sudan-s-transition/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/pics-of-the-day-july-18-2019/Africanews samples the best pictures of the day’s news.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 06:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/pics-of-the-day-july-18-2019/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/fifa-s-co-administering-caf-infantino-rejects-colonialism-critique/CAIRO (Reuters) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has rejected comments that the global soccer body has taken a “colonialist” attitude towards African football and its governing organisation CAF (Confederation of African Football). FIFA last month took the unprecedented move of announcing it would jointly administer African football with CAF and would send it its Senegalese secretary general Fatma Samoura on a ninth-month secondment to overhaul the African body. The move followed corruption allegations against CAF president Ahmad Ahmad which he has denied. Some African officials have opposed the move while former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, in a recent interview with the BBC, described it as a “new aspect of colonialism”. Blatter has been banned from football for six years for ethics violations during his presidency. He denies wrongdoing. “I have heard about colonialism, that FIFA is colonising Africa again,” Infantino told CAF’s general assembly on Thursday, adding that he was “puzzled” by the remarks. “What does it mean, colonialism? I don’t know. It’s not part of my vocabulary. “I know what it means to work, to team up, to roll up your sleeves, to go on the pitch and help and that is what we are doing,” he added. “(Samoura’s) heart is beating for Africa and we all suffer when we see what is going on here.” Infantino said that it was important that African football had competitions where “people trust the organisation, where the stadium is secure and it is safe, where matches are not manipulated, where people trust the referees — these are some of the issues that African football is facing.” Infantino added that CAF needed to think about growing the sport in the region without depending on FIFA handouts. “The point is to generate revenues for African football from Africa,” he said. Ahmad was reported in March to FIFA’s ethics committee by CAF general secretary Amr Fahmy, who was then fired. Further allegations of fraud have recently been made against Ahmad, who was detained and questioned by French authorities in June as part of a corruption investigation. Ahmad has denied wrongdoing in several media interviews but has not responded to repeated requests by Reuters for comment on the specific allegations against him. The CAF Champions League final, played in May, remains unresolved after one team walked off the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision while the Africa Cup of Nations has been played against a backdrop of empty stadiums in Egypt. Ahmad, in a speech to the assembly, said it was his decision to ask for FIFA’s help. “When I went to ask for help, I found a man (Infantino) well aware of the problems of Africa, I found a man who loves Africa and his behaviour proves it,” he said. REUTERSFri, 19 Jul 2019 04:30:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/fifa-s-co-administering-caf-infantino-rejects-colonialism-critique/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/despite-power-sharing-deal-sudanese-march-for-june-3-martyrs/Thousands of Sudanese took to the streets Thursday to condemn the deadly crackdown by security forces last month, as tensions remain high despite recent progress toward a power-sharing deal with the ruling military council. The Sudanese Professionals’ Association, which has spearheaded months of protests, tweeted that security forces had fired tear gas to disperse some rallies in the capital, Khartoum. There were no reports of serious injuries. Protesters marched toward the Green Yard, an open area in the capital, waving Sudanese flags and beating drums. They chanted “Revolution!” and “The martyr’s blood shall be avenged!” The military overthrew long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April, but the protesters remained in the streets, calling for a swift transition to civilian rule. On June 3, security forces dispersed their main sit-in, killing at least 128 people, according to protest organizers. Authorities put the death toll at 61, including three security forces. The pro-democracy movement and the military signed a document Wednesday outlining a power-sharing deal but have yet to agree on the exact division of powers. They agreed on a Sudanese investigation into last month’s violence, but have yet to outline its scope or agree on whether military leaders would be immune from prosecution. Those issues are expected to be taken up in talks scheduled for Friday. “If signatories agree tomorrow on giving the military council full immunity, we will go back to the street,” said Mohamed al-Neel, a 25-year-old protester. “The street won’t become quiet until a civilian government is formed and martyrs are avenged.” APFri, 19 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/despite-power-sharing-deal-sudanese-march-for-june-3-martyrs/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/death-sentence-for-moroccan-trio-who-killed-european-tourists/Three men were convicted of terrorism and sentenced to death by a Moroccan court Thursday for the brutal slaying of two Scandinavian women hiking in the Atlas Mountains. A fourth suspect who fled the scene was given life in prison. After several hours of deliberation, the court handed 19 accomplices jail terms ranging from five to 30 years. All have 10 days to appeal. Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, were fatally stabbed in December. The slayings were recorded on video and posted online. None of the 23 reacted as the sentences were read out Thursday, but their families rushed out of the crowded courtroom crying. The men claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group. All 23 addressed the court before the verdicts, most begging for leniency. The main defendants, who asked Allah for forgiveness, were carpenters Jounes Ouzayed and Rashid Afatti, and street merchant Abdessamad Al Joud. They were sentenced to death. The man who fled the scene is Khaiali Abderahman, who got life. Morocco only rarely carries out death sentences. The last execution was in 1993 of Mustapha Tabet, a once-powerful Casablanca police commissioner, convicted of raping and abusing hundreds of victims. In closing arguments in June, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence the top suspects to death, and described the three main defendants as “human beasts.” A Swiss-Spanish convert to Islam, Kevin Zoller, who had pleaded innocent, received a 20-year sentence. Prosecutors said he had links to the men who orchestrated the women’s killings and direct contact with IS members in Syria via the encrypted messaging service Telegram. Another Swiss man was sentenced in April to 10 years in prison, convicted on charges including “deliberately helping perpetrators of terrorist acts” and training terrorists, the state-run news agency MAP said at the time. The lawyer for Vesterager’s family said he was “100% satisfied” with the verdicts. Khalid El Fataoui noted that Louisa Vesterager’s mother had asked the court in a letter at an earlier hearing this month to sentence the killers to death. “We obtained what she asked for.” The court also ordered the four main defendants to pay the equivalent of $209,000 in damages to the family of the Norwegian victim, but refused a demand from the Danish victim’s family for the Moroccan state to pay damages. El Fataoui said he would appeal. APFri, 19 Jul 2019 03:30:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/death-sentence-for-moroccan-trio-who-killed-european-tourists/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/ebola-combat-drc-police-soldiers-to-enforce-hand-washing-fever-checks/Congolese soldiers and police will enforce hand-washing and fever checks now that the deadly Ebola outbreak has been declared an international health emergency, authorities said Thursday. Soldiers and police will “force” people who resist taking the key steps to help contain the disease that has killed more than 1,600 people in the past year , said the outbreak response coordinator at Congo’s health ministry, Dr. Aruna Abedi. “It’s not possible that someone refuses to wash their hands and have their temperature checked at a very critical moment in this outbreak,” Abedi told reporters in Goma, the city of more than 2 million people where a first Ebola case was announced early this week. The major regional crossroads is on the Rwanda border and has an international airport. The World Health Organization’s rare emergency declaration Wednesday night for the second-worst Ebola outbreak in history came after a WHO expert committee declined on three previous occasions to recommend it, to the impatience of some health experts who for months had expressed alarm. Congo’s increased use of soldiers and police could bring objections from some residents and health workers in an outbreak taking place in what has been called a war zone. This outbreak is like no other, unfolding in a turbulent part of northeastern Congo where dozens of rebel groups are active and wary communities had never experienced the disease before. Health workers have faced misinformation and even deadly attacks that have hampered the critical work of tracing contacts of infected people and deploying an experimental but effective Ebola vaccine. Wednesday’s declaration quickly led to fears among some Congolese authorities and residents that governments might close borders or take other measures that could hurt the local economy. Congo’s health minister has resisted the characterization of the outbreak as a health emergency. Rwanda’s government said surveillance measures at the border would be tightened, but traffic was flowing normally through the border on Thursday. One Congolese, 25-year-old Clovis Mutsuva, told The Associated Press that while the declaration might bring in needed funds to help contain the outbreak, any border closures would make locals “more unhappy.” A lot of key local merchandise such as fuel comes from Kenya and neighboring Uganda, Mutsuva said. “This scares us because Goma risks becoming isolated from the rest of the world,” added Katembo Kabunga as some people in the city received vaccinations. While the risk of regional spread remains high, the risk outside the region remains low, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said after Wednesday’s announcement. Last month saw the first confirmed cases in Uganda and a case just 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the border with South Sudan, where a recently ended civil war badly weakened the health system. The international emergency “should not be used to stigmatize or penalize the very people who are most in need of our help,” Tedros said. WHO has estimated “hundreds of millions” of dollars would be needed to stop the outbreak. Some aid groups say they hope the declaration will spark a radical shift in Ebola response efforts to help address community resistance. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders said the outbreak is still not under control. This is the fifth such declaration in history. Previous emergencies were declared for the devastating 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa that killed more than 11,000 people, the emergence of Zika in the Americas, the swine flu pandemic and polio. WHO defines a global emergency as an “extraordinary event” that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response. WHO was heavily criticized for its sluggish response to the West Africa outbreak, which it repeatedly declined to declare a global emergency until the virus was spreading explosively in three countries and nearly 1,000 people were dead. APFri, 19 Jul 2019 03:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/ebola-combat-drc-police-soldiers-to-enforce-hand-washing-fever-checks/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/photo-ethiopia-pm-chauffeurs-eritrean-president-on-official-visit/The Ethiopian Prime Minister on Thursday arrived in Eritrea for a two-day official visit with the two leaders discussing issues of bilateral and regional interest, according to Eritrean Information Minister. Abiy opted to drive his host, Isaias Afwerki, when the two leaders inspected some projects as part of his trip. Some Eritreans on Twitter are sharing a photo that showed Abiy in the driver’s seat whiles Afwerki occupied the seat next to him of a white Toyota Landcruiser which was part of a convoy they drove in. Eritrean State TV also showed Abiy and his delegation at a point walking through the streets in a part of the country fraternizing with onlookers who cheered at them. It is not the first time Abiy has undertaken such a gesture. last year he opted to drive the Crown Prince of the UAE, Mohamed Bin Zayed, when he visited Ethiopia. July 18 marked exactly a year since the two countries resumed flights between their respective capitals after 20 years. During the two decades they were in a state of diplomatic standoff over a border town awarded to Eritrea by international arbitration. Only in Eritrea Guess who's driving on Eritrean roads ?#Eritrea?? #Ethiopia?? #Peace ?️☮️ pic.twitter.com/fbUMFz0bIF— ድግሳ ዓባይ ?????? (@EriAsmarino) July 18, 2019Fri, 19 Jul 2019 02:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/photo-ethiopia-pm-chauffeurs-eritrean-president-on-official-visit/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/s-africa-soldiers-deployed-to-counter-surge-in-violence/Hundreds of South African soldiers were deployed on Thursday to crime-ridden suburbs of Cape Town to counter a surge of shootings, gang violence and murders. According to the Western Cape Government, bloodshed has claimed more than 2,000 victims in predominantly black and mixed-race areas over the past seven months. The South African National Defence Force are to be on the streets for at least three months to boost the city’s struggling police force Nasiegh Harris welcomed the move. “I am glad they brought in the army to get these gangsters out of our regions and communities so they could promote more sports and other activities, as they did in the past when we were young.” Famous for its amazing tourist attractions, including Robben Island and Table Mountain, Cape Town is one of the deadliest cities in South Africa with 3,674 murders recorded in Western Cape last year, according to official police statistics. There is a strong gang culture among thousands of young people who belong to street gangs such as “Hard Living” and “Young Americans”.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 22:23:11 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/19/s-africa-soldiers-deployed-to-counter-surge-in-violence/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/us-shoots-down-iranian-drone/Tension is heightening between Washington and Tehran. The United States shot down an Iranian drone on Thursday over the Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. According to US President Donald Trump, the Iranian drone approached within 1000 metres of the USS Boxer, which took “defensive action”. “This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions by Iran against vessels operating in international waters. The United States reserves the right to defend our personnel, our facilities, and interests and calls upon all nations to condemn Iran’s attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation and global commerce. I also call on other nations to protect their ships as they go through the Strait and to work with us in the future. Thank you very much. I thought you should know that.” During a meeting in New York with UN Secretary General Antonio Guteres, Thursday Iranian diplomacy chief Mohammad Javad Zarif said Thursday he had “no information on the loss of a drone”. On June 20, Iran shot down an American drone that it believed was in its airspace. Two days later, Donald Trump claimed to have cancelled reprisal strikes to avoid carnage, while maintaining his threats against Tehran.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 21:43:01 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/us-shoots-down-iranian-drone/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/zimbabweans-react-to-rising-inflation/Zimbabweans are reacting to the further increase in fuel prices as food shortages and inflation bites. After rising to over 175% in June, inflation pushed Zimbabwe to raise prices for some commodities such as fuel once again. The government is struggling to avoid almost inevitable hyperinflation at this stage. A situation that provokes the anger of the inhabitants who declare that they’‘survive’‘ in this economic crisis. Rwanda : encourage coffee consumption In Rwanda, the locals have been called upon to consume more local coffee, a campaign to this end has been initiated by the national office of the National Council for the Development of Agricultural Exports. With a minimum cost of about $2 per cup, coffee is not affordable for all Rwandans. More than half of the population living on less than US$1.25 a day has a strong preference for tea. But the Rwandan National Agency for the Development of Agricultural Exports wants to reverse the trend and increase coffee production. He decided to organize campaigns to popularize this crop among farmers.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 18:20:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/zimbabweans-react-to-rising-inflation/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/equatorial-guinea-seeks-oil-and-gas-investment/Equatorial Guinea is an oil and gas-rich country that wants to attract investors to develop its economy. It is the third largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria and Angola. Equatorial Guinea, also rich in Gas, has embarked on a balanced management of its mineral resources. The country, whose Gross Domestic Product exceeded $13 billion in 2018, has embarked on a major socio-economic transformation plan that will enable it to improve its many indicators, including growth, health and education. César Mba ABOGO, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of Equatorial Guinea, discussed this in detail with Michale DIBIE. Dissecting the Equatorial Guinea’s development through oil revenues, including Equatorial Guinea’s various economic diversification projects.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 18:18:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/equatorial-guinea-seeks-oil-and-gas-investment/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/afcon-2019-action-in-knockout-round-kicks-off-today/After twelve days of group stage action and two days of rest, the journey to African Cup of Nations, AFCON, glory resumes today in the land of the pyramids, Egypt. The group stages coughed up lots of incidents from the goals, the misses, the blunders and the tactics. Not to forget the fans in the stands, the permutations as to who qualifies for the knockout not forgetting the empty stadia. But with the group stage over, eight out of the 24 teams were eliminated whiles sixteen teams also slugged it out in the round of 16 to secure places in the quarter finals. Quarter-finals brought the list further down to four semi-finalists. Algeria eliminated Nigeria and Senegal knocked out Tunisia. That sets up the Algeria vs. Senegal final of July 19. On July 17, Nigeria’s Super Eagles sored above the Tunisian Carthage Eagles to win the third-place playoff in Cairo. The real deal is when Algeria makes a case for their second AFCON trophy and as Senegal chases a first. LIVE: Nigeria wins bronze by beating Tunisia Algeria vs. Tunisia Algeria have recorded only a draw in six games at the AFCON. The Fennecs are in a race to go unbeaten in the competition but that will mean having to beat Group B neighbours, Senegal. It will mean beating Senegal for a second time having beaten the Teranga Lions on the second day of action by a lone goal. Algeria, like Egypt and Morocco, ended the group phase without conceding a goal and with maximum nine points – they also beat Kenya and Tanzania by two and three goals respectively. Algeria’s records en route to the final Matches played: 6 Wins / draws / losses: 5 / 1 / 0 Goals scored: 12 Star man: Riyad Mahrez AFCON record: Winners in 1990 Round of 16 (beat Guinea 3 – 0), quarter-final (beat Ivory coast 4 – 3 on penalties after 1 – 1 result), Semi-final (beat Nigeria 2 – 1). Senegal’s Teranga Lions have shown a steely character since their loss on Match Day 2 to Algeria. Aliou Cisse’s charges have used a lone goal victory in all three matches in the knockout rounds, beating Uganda, Benin and Tunisia in the round-of-16, quarter and semi-finals respectively. The final hurdle is with the July 19 match up against Algeria. The Senegalese will be looking to avoid a second defeat at the hand of the Algerians. At close of the day, it would be a case of repeat or revenge but more so for two managers who are linked by their upbringing in a Paris suburb and who have both featured for the teams they are leading today. Senegal’s records en route to the final Matches played: 6 Wins / draws / losses: 4 / 1 / 1 Goals scored: 8 Star man: Sadio Mane AFCON record: Losing finalists in 2002 Round of 16 (beat Uganda 1 – 0), quarter-final (beat Benin 1 – 0), Semi-final (beat Tunisia 1 – 0 in extra time). A list of the winners of the African Nations Cup (host countries in brackets): 1957 – Egypt (Sudan) 1959 – Egypt (Egypt) 1962 – Ethiopia (Ethiopia) 1963 – Ghana (Ghana) 1965 – Ghana (Tunisia) 1968 – Congo-Kinshasa (Ethiopia) 1970 – Sudan (Sudan) 1972 – Congo (Cameroon) 1974 – Zaire (Egypt) 1976 – Morocco (Ethiopia) 1978 – Ghana (Ghana) 1980 – Nigeria (Nigeria) 1982 – Ghana (Libya) 1984 – Cameroon (Ivory Coast) 1986 – Egypt (Egypt) 1988 – Cameroon (Morocco) 1990 – Algeria (Algeria) 1992 – Ivory Coast (Senegal) 1994 – Nigeria (Tunisia) 1996 – South Africa (South Africa) 1998 – Egypt (Burkina Faso) 2000 – Cameroon (Ghana and Nigeria co-hosts) 2002 – Cameroon (Mali) 2004 – Tunisia (Tunisia) 2006 – Egypt (Egypt) 2008 – Egypt (Ghana) 2010 – Egypt (Angola) 2012 – Zambia (Equatorial Guinea and Gabon co-hosts) 2013 – Nigeria (South Africa) 2015 – Ivory Coast (Equatorial Guinea) 2017 – Cameroon (Gabon) 2019 – Algeria vs. Senegal NB: Congo-Kinshasa and Zaire now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. AFCON third-place playoff: Nigeria soars above Tunisia In the end, it turned out to be an early strike by striker Odion Ighalo that settled the third-place fixture at the AFCON in Cairo. The Super Eagles flew highest above the Carthage Eagles to win the bronze spot of Africa’s biggest soccer showpiece. Ighalo is also in line to be the top scorer of the AFCON after scoring his fifth goal of the tournament. He was, however, subbed in injury time of first half after a suspected strain. #AFCON2019 third-place playoff: The Battle of the Eagles #SuperEagles of Nigeria take early lead over #CarthageEagles of Tunisia in Cairo. 2' Ighalo goal separating the two sides with quarter of an hour to end of first half. pic.twitter.com/4bpjRdkjbu— africanews (@africanews) July 17, 2019 Semi-final results Nigeria lose to Algeria 1 – 2 Senegal beats Tunisia 1 – 0 Senegal vs. Amlgeria final slated for Friday July 19, 2019 Tunisia vs. Nigeria will play in the third-place game on 17 July, 2019 The final is a battle between West and North Africa. Senegal representing the West and Algeria representing the North. Senegal is the only team that has yet to taste AFCON glory in the semi-final teams. Nigeria have won it thrice whiles Algeria and Tunisia have each won it once. Nigeria vs. Algeria updates 90‘ Goal for Algeria. They have won it at the death via a sensational freekick from the winger. 2-1 80‘ Iwobi!!!! The Arsenal man opens space on the edge of the box and shoots but his faint effort is comfortably saved by M‘Bolhi. 74’ Odion Ighalo penalty restores parity for Nigeria. VAR awarded the kick despite Algerian protestations. 50‘ Algeria still enjoying the larger share of possession. Nigeria struggling to get Musa and Ighalo involved in their play. 39’ Algeria takes the lead. Ekong own goal. Mahrez sends in a low cross, it hits Ekong and goes in to give the North Africans the lead just before the HT break. Algeria XI: Rais M’Bolhi (GK) Mehdi Zeffane Aissa Mandi Djamel Benlamri Ramy Bensebaini Adlene Guedioura Ismael Bennacer Sofiane Feghouli Riyad Karim Mahrez © Baghdad Bounedjah Youcef Belaili Nigeria XI: Daniel Akpeyi (GK) Chidozie Awaziem William Troost-Ekong Kenneth Omeruo Jamilu Collins Wilfred Ndidi Ogenekharo Etebo Samuel Chukwueze Alex Iwobi Ahmed Musa © Odion Jude Ighalo Senegal through to finals FT: Senegal ?? 1-0 Tunisia ?? The Teranga Lions are into the final of #AFCON2019 thanks to Dylan Bronn’s own goal in extra time. Aliou Cisse’s men are into their first AFCON final since 2002.#JoyAFCON— Gary #JoyAFCON (@garyalsmith) July 14, 2019 112’ PENALTY!!! Tunisia awarded a penalty as the ball hits Gana’s hand in the box. VAR overrules decision 106’ Senegal with a free-kick just outside the Tunisia box. But Sarr’s cross finds no one. Tunisia recoup and start an attack of their own. 99’ Hassen comes out in an attempt to punch away a cross but his clearance comes off Bronn and into his own net. What an unfortunate way for Tunisia to concede. 1-0 to Senegal It’s been a game of missed big chances, missed penalties, and great goalkeeping saves. Game ends 0 – 0 after 90 minutes. We’re now into need extra time to determine which side qualifies for the final. 89‘ Saivet!!! The Senegal midfielder goes close with a fierce shot but it goes straight into the side net. 81’ Senegal secures a penalty at the other end but fail to convert. Saivet also misses. Question will be why Mane did not take the kick. 75’ Tunisia miss a penalty opportunity as Sassi’s kick is saved by Gomis after Koulibaly blocked a shot with his hand in the penalty area Ferjani Sassi….misses! What was that?!#JoyAFCON pic.twitter.com/mYAUjeEqeZ— Gary #JoyAFCON (@garyalsmith) July 14, 2019 55‘ Nearly a goal for Senegal as Gassama‘s intended cross hits the crossbar. Hassen completely mistimed the ball and it nearly surprised the Tunisia goalie. 51‘ Tunisia look really fired up for the second half. Senegal really struggling to cope with their intensity … 48‘ Chance!!! Khenissi again with a goal bound shot, but Gomis punches the ball out for a corner. Wonderful save by the Senegal goalie. 47‘ What a miss by Khenessi. The winger is put through one-on-one but his attempt lob is way off target. That was poor. Semi-final 1: Senegal vs. Tunisia The second half of the fixture is underway as both teams make a case for the first final slot. Reports indicate that the first half saw a dominant Senegal but their finishing have been quite poor. Tunisia doing what they’ve done throughout the tournament: defend deep and play on the counter. Senegal haven’t made the final of the AFCON since 2002 when they lost to Cameroon. Meanwhile, Tunisia last made the final of the AFCON in 2004, which they eventually won. A goalless first half at #SENTUN makes way for what should be a fiery second half ?#TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/h5Ki1yAdwY— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 14, 2019 Major statistics and facts from Group Stage action Quarterfinal fixtures Senegal vs. Benin – Senegal win 1 – 0 Nigeria vs. South Africa – Nigeria win 2 – 1 Algeria vs. Ivory Coast – Algeria wins 4 – 3 penalties after 1 – 1 score. Madagascar vs. Tunisia – Tunisia wins 3 – 0 to advance Madagascar vs. Tunisia 90’ – Naim seals the result 60’ – Msakni doubles the lead 52’ – Ferdjani Sassi gives Tunisia the lead Tournament debutants Madagascar, who have been impressive in the tournament take on Tunisia, who are also yet to win or lose a match, in the quarter-final on July 11 at the Al Salam Stadium. Madagascar, who shocked fans with a 2-0 group stage victory over Nigeria, will be hoping to continue the fairytale story that saw them qualify for Africa’s biggest football tournament for the first time. This will be the first time the two teams meet at Africa’s biggest football tournament Algeria vs. Ivory Coast underway Algeria are through to the semi-finals of the AFCON after beating Ivory Coast on penalties 4 – 3. The north Africans will face Nigeria in the first semi-final clash. The game was the first quarter-final to have gone into extra time. Senegal beat Benin 1 – 0, Nigeria beat South Africa 2 – 1. The final quarter-final is between Madagascar and Tunisia. Winner faces Senegal in the other semi-final. 62’ – Kodjia restore parity for the Elephants 45’ – Algeria miss penalty. Bounedjah culpable 20’ – Feghouli strike gives Algeria the lead Algeria who have won all their four matches and are yet to concede a goal at the tournament are favourites to go all the way to the final, but they have to overcome Ivory Coast in the July 11 quarter-final in Suez. Algeria beat Senegal, Kenya and Tanzania in the group stages before demolishing Guinea in Sunday’s last-16 match (3-0). “Algeria have shown that they are good at all levels. They are very powerful. They are the best team at the moment,” said Guinea’s losing coach Paul Put. Ivory Coast, who lost to Morocco in the group stages have won matches against Namibia, South Africa to reach this stage. Head to Head record Ivory Coast 3-0 Algeria, group stage in 1968 Ivory Coast 1-1 Algeria, group stage in 1988 Algeria 3-0 Ivory Coast, group stage in 1990 Ivory Coast 3-0 Algeria, group stage in 1992 Ivory Coast 2-3 Algeria, quarter-final in 2010 Algeria 2-2 Ivory Coast, group stage in 2013 Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria, quarter-final in 2015 Quarterfinal 2: Super Eagles vs. Bafana Bafana A semi-final spot is guaranteed for Nigeria’s Super Eagles after beating South Africa in the second quarter-final of AFCON 2019. Nigeria took the lead in the game but were pegged back. A late goal at the Cairo International Stadium meant that the match was not going into extra-time.. 27’ – Chukwuez strike 70’ – Bongani equalize with VAR validation 89’ – Ekong strikes, Nigeria holds on for qualification There are four trophies between the two sides. Nigeria is chasing a fourth whiles South Africa were looking to add onto their 1996 win. Quarterfinal Day 1: Teranga Lions chase out The Squirrels The dream of winning a first AFCON continues for Senegal but it has ended for Benin who beat pre-tournament favourites Morocco to make the quarter-finals. Senegal are looking to make the finals and go a step better than in 2002 when they were losing finalists. A goal ruled out by VAR did not bother Aliou Cisse’s men who were holding on to a Idrissa Gueye lead in a game that they dominated for large portions. 70’ Idrissa Gueye scores for Senegal 73’ Mane doubles lead but goal ruled out by VAR 83’ Benin reduced to 10 men as Verdon gets marching orders But for football, a match up between a lion and squirrel would be laughable but fans in the sparesly populated stadium in Cairo are witnessing that spectacle. The Teranga Lions of Senegal are looking to book a semi-final slot but they first have to dispatch the Benin opposition. The game has turned out to be a dominant display from favourites Senegal whiles the opponents appear to be wary tactically thwarting the onslaught. The winner becomes the first semi-finalist ahead of the second quarter-final later today between Nigeria and South Africa. Senegal vs. Benin – Preview This fixture takes place at the 30 June Stadium in Egypt’s capital, Cairo pitting the Lions of Teranga against the Squirrels of Benin. The two teams, who have never won the prestigious prize, will be hoping to book a place in the semi-finals and take a step towards making history. Sadio Mane’s Senegal go into the match as favourites, but will be wary of a Benin side that is yet to win or lose a match at the tournament, having held football giants like Cameroon, Ghana and Morocco to stalemates. ‘‘We should give every team its right and respect Benin. There are no small teams in Africa, the quality is very similar. While we might be favorites on paper, papers don’t decide anything,’‘ said Senegal’s coach Aliou Cisse. ‘‘Our presence at this stage is not out luck, we worked hard and I believe in my players,’‘ argued Benin’s coach, Michel Dussuyer. Senegal and Benin have not met before in AFCON history. Nigeria vs. South Africa Three-time African champions Nigeria, will take on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana who won the tournament when they hosted it in 1996. The Super Eagles who overcame their nemesis Cameroon in the Round of 16 will be hoping to avoid the fate of hosts Egypt, who were upset by South Africa in the previous stage. ‘‘We’re preparing very well for the game because it will be very difficult and against a strong team,’‘ Nigeria’s star forward Odion Ighalo said ahead of the July 10 fixture at the Cairo International Stadium. South Africa beat Nigeria away in their opening match of the AFCON qualifiers in June 2017, and were held 1-1 in the return fixture. ‘‘Nigeria is one of the best teams in the tournament and it’s going to be a difficult match,’‘ conceded South Africa’s coach, Stuart Baxter. Head to Head record Nigeria 2-0 South Africa, semi-final in 2000 Nigeria 4-0 South Africa, group stage in 2004 Quarterfinals: Five ex-Champions, three non-winners Five teams in the quarterfinals have tasted AFCON glory before as against three others who are chasing it for the first time. Between the five ex-winners there are nine trophies. Nigeria (Three), Ivory Coast (Two), one each for South Africa, Tunisia and Algeria. Three teams are chasing a historic first. Senegal, Benin and Madagascar. Incidentally that number will come down tomorrow as Senegal face Benin in the first quarterfinal. West Africa’s dominance by way on numbers continues. Four teams as against two each from the north and southern Africa. Over two days – July 10 and 11, the last four will be sorted out as the race towards the final heats up. Will it be a former winner taking back the trophy of it will be a virgin winner – for want of a better word. Time will tell. #AFCON2019 Eight teams in quarterfinals – Five former winners and three non-winners. Which of the three would you love to see win it for the first time?#Terangalions #AlefaBarea # #LesEcureuils ??#FootballTogether #TotalAFCON2019— africanews (@africanews) July 9, 2019 Ghana vs. Tunisia decided by spot kicks Whiles Ghanaians expressed skepticism at the team’s penalty history, Tunisia last substitution was to bring on a reserve goalie for the kicks. We have an #Arrizabalaga moment in this #GHATUN match as #CarthageEagles goalkeeper Hassan has been subbed for pens. For a moment he was refusing. Mustapha must make sure he takes them to the Quarter Final. #TotalAFCON2019— stanley kwenda (@stanleykwenda) July 8, 2019 Wakaso goal for Ghana 1 – 0 Naim scores for Tunisia 1 – 1 Jordan Ayew gets Ghana’s second 2 – 1 Khazri draws parity 2 – 2 Ghana misses third 2 – 2 Bronn puts Tunisia ahead 2 – 3 Agbenyenu converts for Ghana 3 – 3 Meriah restores Tunisia’s lead 3 – 4 Ghana vs. Tunisia in Ismailia is final fixture of round of 16. It was a goalless first half but with barely 20 minutes to end, the Tunisians took the lead but an own goal brought Ghana into it. The game was decided via penalty kicks. The third to travel 120 minutes. The first was Benin’s victory over Morocco and Madagascar’s triumph over DRC. 73’ – Khenissi gives Tunisia the lead 90’ extra time – Bedoui equalizes at the wrong end Ghanaian fans are fuming over a disallowed goal scored by captain Andre Dede Ayew in the first half. According to many of them, a Video Assistant Referee would have ruled it as a valid goal. CAF will begin using VARs in the quarterfinals which Ghana is hoping to reach. The Black Stars are chasing a fifth AFCON trophy to equal Cameroon’s titles and put pressure on Egypt’s record seven. ⚡️ “Ghana vs. Tunisia, VAR debate resurrects over disallowed Ayew goal”#AFCON2019 #GHATUN #BlackStars vs. #CarthageEagles https://t.co/kOZFyc0MFz— Alfa Shaban (@AlfaAfrican) July 8, 2019 Ivory Coast beat Mali to secure date with Algeria A Wilfred Zaha strike on the 76th minute was all the Elephants of ivory Coast needed to book their place in the quarterfinals of the AFCON. They eliminated Mali by the result. They will now face Algeria who qualified for the last eight on Sunday after beating Guinea by three goals to nil. Mali had overturned a first half possession dominance by the Ivorians but failed to convert their chances. The final round-of-16 fixture pegs Ghana’s Black Stars against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in Ismailia. Winner of the game faces Madagascar in the last eight. Despite the Ivorian victory, Malian Moussa Marega emerged the Man of the Match. He came, he saw, he scored ⚽️#MLICIV #TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/NUUZrHJ4sh— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 8, 2019 June 8: Mali vs. Ivory Coast updates Mali and Ivory Coast will play in an all West Africa fixture in Suez, whiles Ghana take on Tunisia in Ismailia. Winners of the Suez fixture will book a quarter final clash with Algeria whiles winner in Ismailia faces Madagascar in the next game. Mali vs. Ivory Coast Mali are yet to record a loss having won two and drawn one in the group stages. Wins over Mauritania and Angola and a draw with Tunisia. On the other hand, Ivory Coast qualified to this stage winning two (Namibia, South Africa) and losing to Algeria. It’s a battle of the first place finisher (Mali) and second-place finisher (Ivory Coast). Mali will be chasing their first AFCON trophy with Ivory Coast chasing their third. Suez stadium has a nice spectrum of colorful support ?#MLICIV #TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/RZc09jOYFE— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 8, 2019 Ghana vs. Tunisia Ghana topped their group thanks to a final group F victory against Guinea-Bissau. They had drawn their first two games 2 – 2 against Benin and goalless against Cameroon. Tunisia placed second in Group E after three drawn games with Mali, Mauritania and Angola. They were the only north African country that failed to win a match in the group games. Egypt, Morocco and Algeria won all their group fixtures without conceding in the process. Egypt has since been kicked out by South Africa and Morocco by Benin. The Tunisians will look to being the second North African side after Algeria qualifies on Sunday evening with a 3 – 0 victory over Guinea. So, we've only got 2⃣more sides left to be decided for the round of 8⃣...#TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/mBtyxwOUQT— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 7, 2019 June 7: Algeria vs. Guinea Algeria are the only team yet to concede a goal in the tournament and they have protected that record in their 3 – 0 win against Guinea in the sixth round-of-16 clash at the AFCON. The two other teams with a similar record were kicked out of the competition in upsets. First was Morocco’s loss to Benin on Friday evening and Egypt’s loss to South Africa on Saturday night. 24’ – Youcef Bilaili’s give Algeria the lead. 57’ – Riyad Mahrez doubles the lead. 82’ – Ounas adds a third as Algeria cruises Algeria will now face Madagascar who booked their quarterfinals ticket by beating DR Congo via penalties earlier today. ?‍♂️?#TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/E2Za9Pi2iA— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 7, 2019 June 7: DRC out as Madagascar progresses The Leopards of DRC and the Barea of Madagascar battled for a place in the quarter-finals of the AFCON. Their game ended two all in regulation time. Madagascar twice were in the lead but each time the Congolese pegged them back forcing the game into extra time. The debutants came tops in a shootout banging in four whiles DRC managed only two. The will now wait for the winner of the game between Algeria and Guinea for a quarterfinal clash in the coming week. 90’ – Mbemba restores parity for DRC 71’ – Andriatsima restores Madagascar’s lead 21’ – Bakambu equalizes for DRC 9’ – Amada gives Madagascar an early lead The Malagasy side have extra motivation to make more history with the country’s president Andry Rajoelina and CAF president Ahmad Ahmad watching them from the stands in Alexandria. ?| Andry Rajoelina Madagascar's president and the CAF president Ahmad Ahmad watching #MADCOD from Alexandria's stadium?#TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/mzN3GHGpY1— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 7, 2019 STATS | Check out the full-time stats! Which team had the better overall performance? #TotalAFCON2019 #MADCOD pic.twitter.com/2lAB8b7NEU— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 7, 2019 ⚡️ “AFCON 2019: Benin gets praise on Twitter after eliminating Morocco”https://t.co/Epd1D79CYm— Alfa Shaban (@AlfaAfrican) July 5, 2019 June 6: Day two of knockout [Previews] Egypt vs. South Africa The hosts are back in action against South Africa in the knock out round specifically the round-of-16 stage of the competition. Egypt’s path to this stage was without blemish. Winning all three games and not conceding a goal. They finished top af their group (Uganda, DRC, Zimbabwe). The South Africans were third in their group which had Morocco, Ivory Coast and Namibia. Their only victory came against Namibia. The Bafana Bafana qualified as one of four third-best placed sides. There are eight trophies between the two sides. Egypt have a record seven titles whiles South Africa boasts its 1996 glory when they hosted and won it. Egypt beat South Africa to the hosting rights after CAF stripped Cameroon of the rights in late 2018. Nigeria vs. Cameroon Nigeria and Cameroon also have eight trophies between them. Cameroon with five and Nigeria with three. The stakes a high for a Cameroon side that has failed to get the much needed goals and a Nigerian side that needs to make a strong statement after shock defeat to debutants Madagascar. Both sides were rocked by bonus rows, the Cameroonians just before the tournament whiles the Nigerians staged their protest during the group phase. Senegal up against Uganda Senegal held on to a first half lead to beat Uganda by a goal to nil in their round-of-16 clash in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Friday night. A Sadio Mane strike in the 15th minute means the Teranga Lions have qualified for the quarter finals where they will be meeting the Squirrels of Benin. Uganda finished second in their group behind hosts Egypt. Senegal also finished in the same position behind Algeria. In the first round-of-16 game, Benin shocked Morocco by beating them on penalties after a one-all draw and extra-time. Turns out to be a battle of “losing finalists.” Senegal lost the 2002 final whiles Uganda lost it in 1978. Morocco kicked out by Benin The first round of 16 match between Morocco and Benin ended with victory for the Squirrels of Benin. The game was decide on penalties after a one – all draw led to extra-time in Cairo. The West Africans proved the better composed from the spot scoring four as against one by the North African giants and pre-tournament favourites. The first half ended goalless before Benin took a shock lead on the 54th minute through Adilehou. The Moroccans hit back on the 76th minute through En-Nesyri. It is the first time the north Africans have conceded in the tournament after an unblemished group stage triple victory. Benin, meanwhile qualified after managing a third place finish in Group F. FULL TIME | Morocco – Benin [1-1] 1-4 #TotalAFCON2019 #MARBEN pic.twitter.com/fKmX8yDdA3— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 5, 2019 LIST: Round of 16 pairings July 5: Uganda vs. Senegal in Cairo July 5: Morocco vs. Benin in Cairo July 6: Egypt vs. South Africa in Cairo July 6: Nigeria vs. Cameroon in Alexandria July 7: Madagascar vs. DR Congo in Alexandria July 7: Algeria vs. Guinea in Cairo July 8: Mali vs. Ivory Coast in Suez July 8: Ghana vs. Tunisia in Ismailia Preview: Morocco vs. Benin The Atlas Lions of Morocco are one of three countries that qualified with a perfect record from their group. They won all their games and did so without conceding. The other two are incidentally North African sides – Algeria and hosts, Egypt. Along with Tunisia, all north African sides at the tournament made it out of the groups. The team rode on a one-goal record in beating Ivory Coast and South Africa after struggling to beat Namibia in the first game. In the end it took an own goal to secure full points against the Namibian side. Benin on the other hand made the knockout stage as one of four third best placed teams. They competed in a group that had Ghana, champions Cameroon and Guinea Bissau. They drew all their three games. Two-all against Ghana and goalless draw against Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau but three points was enough to get them through due to favourable goal record. The battle lines are drawn, Morocco are favourites to not just win the tie but to go on and win their second trophy. Time will tell. Preview: Senegal vs Uganda The Teranga Lions of Senegal – one of the pre tournament favourites – lost one game in the group stage, defeat to Algeria. But between the defeat they had beaten Tanzania and then Kenya to guarantee a second place finish and qualify for this stage. They come up against East Africa’s only remaining representatives, the Cranes of Uganda, who also placed second in their group. Beating DR Congo, drawing with Zimbabwe and losing to hosts Egypt. The Cranes will be looking to put behind them a pay row and to qualify for the quarter-finals. They’d first have to deal with Aliou Cisse and his charges. Time will tell. #AFCON2019 REGIONAL BREAKDOWN: TEAMS IN KNOCKOUT North Africa = 4 out of 4 Southern Africa = 2 out of 5 East Africa = 1 out of 4 West Africa = 7 out of 9 Central Africa = 2 out of 2#alefabarea of Madagascar surprise package beat Nigeria to top Group B Up against #LesLeopards pic.twitter.com/ehXfHIQsLr— Alfa Shaban (@AlfaAfrican) July 4, 2019 #AFCON2019 STATS after end of Group Fixtures Total number of fixtures = 36 games / 12 match days Wins (the number is equivalent to losses) = 26 Draws = 10 Goals = 68 Points = 96#TotalAFCON2019 #FootballTogether pic.twitter.com/wAvaAepLXn— Alfa Shaban (@AlfaAfrican) July 3, 2019Thu, 18 Jul 2019 17:03:35 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/afcon-2019-action-in-knockout-round-kicks-off-today/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/ethiopia-eritrea-leaders-meet-in-asmara-bilateral-regional-issues-top-agenda/Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has met with Eritrean Prime Minister Isaias Afwerki in Asmara on Thursday morning. “The two sides will discuss further enhancement of the all-rounded cooperation between the two countries as well as regional and other matters of mutual interest,” the Eritrean Information Minister said in a tweet. The Ethiopian delegation which will be spending two days in Eritrea includes Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam and other government officials. Abiy was received at the Asmara International Airport by Afwerki along with other top government officials including Yemane Ghebremeskel, a presidential advisor. Incidentally, the visit coincides with the one-year anniversary of the resumption of flights between Addis Ababa and Asmara, an offshoot of the July 2018 peace deal that ended two decades of “no peace – no war” standoff. Aside the resumption of flights, other key incidents that followed the peace deal include the reopening of phone lines, the reopening of multiple border points – all of which have been closed unilaterally from the Eritrean side according to reports. Pictorial PM arrives in Asmara #Eritrea #Ethiopia #peace #Africa pic.twitter.com/3bHZ1MB9Op— Ghideon Musa (@GhideonMusa) July 18, 2019Thu, 18 Jul 2019 15:50:34 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/ethiopia-eritrea-leaders-meet-in-asmara-bilateral-regional-issues-top-agenda/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/grieving-father-testifies-in-boeng-crash/Paul Njoroge, whose family was killed in the Boeing 737 Max crash in Ethiopia last March, addressed the US Parliament in witness against the aircraft manufacturer. Njoroge lost of his three children, his wife and mother-in-law in the boeing plane that crashed six minutes after takeoff. In a moving testimony to Congress on Wednesday, Njoroge recounted the last moments that his family experienced before the crash. “My family was my life. It was my life that was taken from me within six minutes,” said Njoroge. Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed 5 months after the Lion Air boeing max crash in Indonesia. Njoroge took legal action against Boeing for negligence, claiming that Boeing was not subjected to any external examination before it returned the aircraft to the market. The aircraft manufacturer has promised to pay $100 million to the families of the victims of crash. But Njoroge thinks its not enough.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 15:28:46 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/grieving-father-testifies-in-boeng-crash/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/madagascar-s-avenue-of-the-baobabs-travel/It is considered one of the most beautiful natural areas in Africa due to its spectacular and imposing ensemble. “The Baobab Alley”, is a group of baobabs that line the dirt road between Morondava and Belon’i in the Menabe region of western Madagascar, a protected area, since 2007. This tourist attraction disappeared, but now an NGO is working to preserve the site and train locals so they can benefit from the resources generated from tourism. Our Cedric Lyonnel Sehossolo has been speaking to the Executive Director of ‘‘Fanamby Global’‘, Ambriamanama Kiana on this week’s edition of Travel on the Morning Call.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 13:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/madagascar-s-avenue-of-the-baobabs-travel/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/afcon-daily-nigeria-wins-bronze-medal-episode-17/We begin to have a clear demarcation on the perking order of the Afcon 2019 thanks for being with us on the final sprint of the competition. Nigeria finished third at the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament after beating Tunisia 1-0 on Wednesday night. The Super Eagles won their third-place playoff for the eighth time in the history of the AFCON thanks to Odion Ighalo’s third minute strike. Both sides were looking to end the tournament on a high following their disappointing semi-final defeats to Algeria and Senegal respectively. Ighalo is currently the top scorer of the tournament with five goals and will win the top scorer award should Adam Ounas, Sadio Mane or Riyad Mahrez fail to score two or more goals in Friday’s final. The strike’s tournament ended just before half time after picking up an injury. He left the pitch before the half time whistle blew and was replaced by Victor Osimhen as the match resumed for the final 45 minutes. When Algeria and Senegal clash at the Cairo International Stadium this Friday to see which country will be crowned as the new king of African football, history will be made by the coaches on the touchline. A local coach would be crowned champion irrespective of the result. Algeria’s Djamel Belmadi and Senegal’s Aliou Cisse will lead their respective sides for the Holy Grail of African football, and one of them will join the prestigious list of African coaches to lead their countries to AFCON glory. It will be the fifth time that two African coaches will be meeting at the AFCON final. In 1962 hosts Ethiopia coached by legend Yidnekatchew Tessema won their first (and only to date) AFCON title, defeating Egypt 4-2 in the final. The Pharaohs were then coached by Mohamed El Guindy and Hanafy Bastan. Ghana won the 1965 edition, beating hosts Tunisia 3-2. The Black Stars coach Charles Gyamfi had his second successive AFCON glory then, defeating Tunisian counterpart Mokhtar Ben Nacef. Another Ghanaian, Fred Osam-Duodu led the Black stars to the 1978 title defeating Uganda 2-0 who were then coached by Pete Okee. In 1998, Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary became the first man to win AFCON as a player (1959) and coach. He guided the Pharaohs to their fourth title in Burkina Faso, defeating South Africa 2-0, who were coached by Jomo Sono. Overall, 11 local coaches had won 15 AFCON titles in the previous 31 editions. Ghana’s Charles Kumi Gyamfi and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata have each won record three titles, with Nigerian Stephen Keshi being the last to achieve this feat in 2013. Mourad Fahmy (Egypt – 1957) Yidnekatchew Tessema (Ethiopia – 1962) Charles Kumi Gyamfi (Ghana – 1963, 1965 and 1982) Adolphe Bibanzoulo (Congo – 1972) Fred Osam-Duodu (Ghana – 1978) Abdelhamid Kermali (Algeria – 1990) Yeo Martial (Cote d’Ivoire – 1992) Clive Barker (South Africa – 1996) Mahmoud El Gohary (Egypt – 1998) Hassan Shehata (Egypt – 2006, 2008 and 2010) Stephen Keshi (Nigeria – 2013) It is often said that a good team is a reflection of the coaching staff and mostly heralded is the coach but we question the role played by team managers in high level competitions like the Afcon. Let’s find out in today’s show. @philemonmbaleThu, 18 Jul 2019 10:27:10 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Philemon Mbale NSONGAN)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/afcon-daily-nigeria-wins-bronze-medal-episode-17/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/sudan-opposition-skeptical-about-power-sharing-deal/Sudan’s opposition has raised skepticism about the recently signed power sharing deal. After weeks of protests following the overthrow of long serving leader, Omar al-Bashir, military rulers finally inked the long-awaited deal. But now, the opposition is raising some questions. “Still in spite or irrespective of what had happened this morning, we are still open-minded to sit with leaders of FFC (Forces of Freedom and Change) to bring the agreement, whatever agreement they signed this morning back to the drawing table, to develop and improve it and make it acceptable to all Sudanese”, said Gibril Ibrahim, chairperson of Justice and Equality Movement. Gibril Ibrahim, who is also leader of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, detailed some demands. “We are not against the agreement in its sense, the purpose, but we are in disagreement with the way it has been done and the content. We were here to develop the content, to make sure that the issues that we consider instrumental, such as issues of peace, marginalization, issues of the vulnerable people in Sudan. FFC (Forces of Freedom and Change) has not yet done so. The agreement reached on Wednesday between the military and the protesters also provides for the establishment of a “sovereign council”. It’s a body responsible for managing the transition for a little over three years, first led by the military and then by civilians. AFPThu, 18 Jul 2019 10:13:35 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/sudan-opposition-skeptical-about-power-sharing-deal/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/afcon-egypt-2019-journalists-visit-the-pyramid-the-morning-call/Journalists covering the African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt were recently given a treat by the African Football Confederation. A visit to the pyramids. And Africanews journalist Wahany Johnson Sambou was also there and he tells us more.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:15:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/afcon-egypt-2019-journalists-visit-the-pyramid-the-morning-call/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/sudan-power-sharing-deal-the-morning-call/A power sharing deal has finally been reached in Sudan between the ruling military council and an alliance of opposition groups, after weeks of negotiations and deadly protests. The two sides signed the document after intense overnight talks in the capital, Khartoum. Media sources indicate the 22-clause accord says an 11-member governing body will rule the country for just over three years, after which elections will be held. This transitional power sharing body will have a total of six civilians, including five from the Forces of Freedom and Change party and five soldiers from the Transitional Military Council.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:11:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/sudan-power-sharing-deal-the-morning-call/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/africa-s-progress-in-the-fight-against-hiv-and-aids-the-morning-call/The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is calling for greater urgency and more funding in the fight against HIV and AIDS. In it’s annual report published on Tuesday on the global response against the disease. It acknowledged that HIV-related deaths in 2018 fell to around 770,000 compared to 2010 which recorded 1.2 million deaths. But what is the case in Africa, the most affected continent? AIDS-related deaths have considerably dropped this decade due to the steady progress made especially in most eastern and southern Africa. The regions recorded a 16% decline since 2010, though the report warns there is still a long way to go. North Africa on the other hand has seen the death toll rise by 9 percent since 2010.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:10:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/africa-s-progress-in-the-fight-against-hiv-and-aids-the-morning-call/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/press-review-of-july-18-2019-the-morning-call/We review the headlines of Africa’s top newspapers on The Morning Call.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:10:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/press-review-of-july-18-2019-the-morning-call/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/will-senegal-join-list-of-african-football-champions/The stakes are as high as they can get when Senegal contest the Africa Cup of Nations final against Algeria, at the Cairo International Stadium, at the Cairo International Stadium. While Algeria will be seeking its second crown, having won the competition in 1990, when they hosted it, the Lions of Teranga will be playing to secure a maiden trophy. The Senegalese, led by Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, will be hoping to do what previous golden generations have failed to do; lift Africa’s most prestigious football prize. ‘‘I have unlimited trust in my players and I felt they want to achieve something. They did all what is needed to win. This generation is better than the 2002 one. My players told me they will be better than us, and they did,’‘ Senegal coach and ex-captain, Aliou Cisse said ahead of the final. Below is a list of previous winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, spanning from 1957 to-date. 1957 – Egypt (hosted by Sudan) 1959 – Egypt (Egypt) 1962 – Ethiopia (Ethiopia) 1963 – Ghana (Ghana) 1965 – Ghana (Tunisia) 1968 – Democratic Republic of Congo (Ethiopia) 1970 – Sudan (Sudan) 1972 – Republic of Congo (Cameroon) 1974 – Democratic Republic of Congo (Egypt) 1976 – Morocco (Ethiopia) 1978 – Ghana (Ghana) 1980 – Nigeria (Nigeria) 1982 – Ghana (Libya) 1984 – Cameroon (Ivory Coast) 1986 – Egypt (Egypt) 1988 – Cameroon (Morocco) 1990 – Algeria (Algeria) 1992 – Ivory Coast (Senegal) 1994 – Nigeria (Tunisia) 1996 – South Africa (South Africa) 1998 – Egypt (Burkina Faso) 2000 – Cameroon (Ghana and Nigeria co-hosts) 2002 – Cameroon (Mali) 2004 – Tunisia (Tunisia) 2006 – Egypt (Egypt) 2008 – Egypt (Ghana) 2010 – Egypt (Angola) 2012 – Zambia (Equatorial Guinea and Gabon co-hosts) 2013 – Nigeria (South Africa) 2015 – Ivory Coast (Equatorial Guinea) 2017 – Cameroon (Gabon) READ MORE: Mane vs Mahrez at AFCON 2019Thu, 18 Jul 2019 08:31:00 +0000editorial@africanews.com (Daniel Mumbere)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/will-senegal-join-list-of-african-football-champions/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/south-africa-state-capture-testimony-adjourned-following-zuma-complaint/A South African judge adjourned until Friday morning a public inquiry into state corruption, after lawyers for former President Jacob Zuma said he was being questioned unfairly. The inquiry is looking into allegations that Zuma, ousted by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party in February 2018, allowed cronies to plunder state resources and influence senior appointments during his nine years in power. Zuma’s lawyers have argued that the inquiry’s lawyers should not cross-examine the former president because they say evidence given by other witnesses does not directly implicate Zuma in corruption and fraud. “Chair I hear you, and I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’m really being cross-examined very thoroughly on the details. And I don’t know how come,” Zuma told the chairman of the inquiry, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo. Zuma, 77, has long denied any wrongdoing. Zuma’s lawyers told Zondo that the former president, who has been testifying since Monday, had been brought to the inquiry under “false pretences” because he was being cross-examined, whereas he thought he would only have to answer straightforward points of clarity. “The former president has expressed certain concerns,” Zondo said. “It has been decided that we should adjourn the proceedings for the day, and we should not sit tomorrow in order to give a full opportunity to the commission’s legal team and the former president’s legal team … to see whether a way can be found in which his (Zuma’s) concerns are addressed.” Zuma has so far ducked and dived at the inquiry, which he agreed to set up during his final weeks in office. On Tuesday he said he could not recall details surrounding an incident where his business friends the Guptas allegedly offered a former lawmaker a ministerial position. On Monday the former president, who still enjoys significant support in rural areas and his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, said he was the victim of a decades-old plot by enemies at home and abroad to get rid of him. Analysts says efforts by Zuma’s successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, to clean up politics could be hurt if the inquiry fails to pin down a case against Zuma. ReutersThu, 18 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/south-africa-state-capture-testimony-adjourned-following-zuma-complaint/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/equatorial-guinea-oil-to-wealth/Not much is mentioned of Equatorial Guinea, one of the oil and gas wealthiest country in Central Africa. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) latest estimate, the Central African nation boasted of a GDP of 13.32 billion US dollars in 2018. The figure which is 4.5 times that of Kenya ahead of all African countries, excluding richer island nations (Seychelles and Mauritius). The nation of 1.2 million is, working to boost the standard of living of its citizens through a socio-economic transformation strategy fuelled by its oil wealth. The country’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons Gabriel Mbaga Obiang at the African and international industry stakeholders, called on African national oil companies to engage with one other constantly to explore joint-venture opportunities and projects across the continent. According to the Finance and Economic Planning minister, Cesar Mba Abogo, oil has been a blessing to the Nation. “The way we have managed the oil resources is through what we call” Economic Conferences” Oil was discovered here in the mid 90s and right after that in 1997, the country organised the first Economic Conference which brought together private sectors, public sector, civil society, international partners and development partners to discuss ways the oil revenue should be used,” he said. Abogo noted that the country was devastated after all that she went through, hence in 1997, the idea was to prepare the basic infrastructures that the country had. A development plan, a vision of President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo together with all the institutions of the Republic and international partners, the idea was for the country to invest in infrastructures and also for the enablement of the development of the private sector and to enhance in the living condition of the people. “You know very well that in 2014, the decrease in the oil prices was a bad news for all of us. So in the last two years, we have been trying to adjust the economy without impacting a lot on the social aspect and then controlling a little bit on capital expenditures, and also working aggressively in changing the business climate of the country,” he said. At the 54th Annual Meeting of the Africa Development Bank held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, President of the Bank, Akinwuni Adesina urged countries on the continent to break down all barriers to trade and investment. Abogo reiterated that a couple of months ago, they organised the third national economic conference with the view of establishing a new development strategy with two huge ambitions: namely how to foster industrialization in Equatorial Guinea and how to consolidate the social gains they have achieved over the last ten to fifteen years. “The idea for all these infrastructures is for them to be the base or foundation of our development because we have invested in schools, hospitals, logistics and infrastructures in general because they are critical components of development,” he added. The small country in the Gulf of Guinea has taken a leading role on the international stage by joining OPEC, assisting in stabilizing the market and leading efforts for pan-African cooperation in the oil and gas sector. The capital, Malabo will host the Oil & Gas Meeting Day for services companies in October this year.Thu, 18 Jul 2019 07:56:22 +0000editorial@africanews.com (DIBIE IKE Michael)http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/equatorial-guinea-oil-to-wealth/http://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/migrants-stranded-at-a-libyan-detention-center-in-hellish-conditions/Migrants at a Libyan detention center are stranded without food and live under unhygienic conditions. Ahmed Saleh Ibrahim, 19, is from Kassala in eastern Sudan. He is among those in the only migrant detention center in Sabha, the largest city in Libya’s south. He’s been living in this hellish condition for four months. “There is a shortage of cleaning materials and food too, there’s little food, and at night there are a lot of mosquitoes, and the place is dirty, and the bathrooms are also unclean”, Ibrahim said. The detention center in Sabha is located on the entrance to the city of Sabha. The center which now houses 45 migrants, is not full as many have been deported. Those left do not want to return for fear of living in conflict. Mohammed Jibril is the Deputy Director of Sabha Detention Center. “The center needs a lot of things, including water supply, (to) provide drinking water supply, provide electric generators, it needs maintenance, it needs a clinic. The center needs an ambulance, of course, to transport patients, and the centre also needs maintenance in the inside, the offices, the bathrooms, all of it”, Jibril said. Jibril believes they can offer better services to migrants living there if they could be given these basic amenities. But for now, there are signs of breakthrough in the living conditions faced by the migrants in Sabha. APThu, 18 Jul 2019 07:55:25 +0000editorial@africanews.comhttp://www.africanews.com/2019/07/18/migrants-stranded-at-a-libyan-detention-center-in-hellish-conditions/