Often the hardest thing is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn – David Russel
Posted in Africa on Aug 6th, 2009
Officials say drought in the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland is putting thousands of families and their livestock at risk. About 100,000 people from Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag regions were displaced by the recent drought and have no support, according to information from government officials. In the Saraar region many water wells have dried up and […]
Posted in Africa on Aug 4th, 2009
Niger will hold a referendum today to decide whether presidential term limits should be abolished. Opposition leaders are boycotting the vote, called by President Mamadou Tandja, saying it is illegal, and the UN and EU have expressed concern. Tandja has ruled Niger since 1999 and has won elections twice. His term is due to expire […]
Posted in Africa on Aug 3rd, 2009
Mozambique has launched a bridge over the Zambezi River, linking the north and south of the country. The 113-million US dollar bridge, launched on Saturday, joins the southern province of Sofala and the northern province of Zambezia. President Armando Guebuza described the long-delayed bridge as a symbol of national unity. Work first began on the […]
Posted in Africa on Aug 3rd, 2009
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says its delivery of aid is being affected by a shortfall in funding. According to the WFP, it has raised only 90 million US dollars out of the 160 million US dollars needed this year for its air service operations. Consequently it may have to close parts of its […]
Posted in Africa on Jul 31st, 2009
Damage to an undersea cable has caused major disruptions to internet access across West Africa. Benin, Togo, Niger and Nigeria are the hardest-hit countries. The disruption is thought to have been caused by damage to the SAT-3 cable which runs between Portugal and Spain to South Africa via West Africa. The 15,000 kilometre long SAT-3 […]
Posted in Africa on Jul 28th, 2009
Delegates from 10 African countries on the Nile River began discussions yesterday to draft a new water-sharing deal. Meeting in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, delegates are hoping to conclude an agreement which will establish a permanent body to govern water allocation along the Nile. Last month talks in Kinshasa broke down after officials […]
Posted in Africa on Jul 24th, 2009
East Africa’s first undersea internet cable went live yesterday, a month after its launch. The optic fibre cables links South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique to international communication networks. Its operators, Seacom say the cable will improve the region’s industrial and commercial prospects. According to news reports five institutions, including two universities and a […]
Posted in Africa on Jul 23rd, 2009
According to a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO), river blindness could be eliminated using drugs. WHO scientists observed three areas in Mali and Senegal where river blindness is widespread, and discovered that after 17 years of regular treatment with the drug ivermectin few infections remained in the community. Subsequent studies showed no further […]
Posted in Africa on Jul 21st, 2009
South Africa has launched clinical trials of an AIDS vaccine created by its own researchers. The vaccine, created at the University of Cape Town, targets the specific HIV strain that has blighted South Africa. Trials are currently taking place in Boston, US, to ensure the safety of the vaccine. However officials at the launch in […]
Posted in Africa on Jul 16th, 2009
In Congo Brazzaville, preliminary results show President Denis Sassou-Nguesso has won another seven years in office. The electoral commission said the president took 78.6 per cent of the vote while his nearest rival managed 7.5 per cent. Opposition leaders told voters to boycott Sunday’s election, saying the government had inflated the electoral figures. They claim the turnout […]
