Africa (except North Africa)

KAMPALA, Jan 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said the country is on high alert as locusts draw close to the common border with Kenya.

All nine ministries have been instructed to work together to collectively heighten the country’s preparedness to prevent or handle the invasion, said Rugunda in a statement issued here.

The locusts have reached Kenya’s Samburu and Turkana areas, which are close to Uganda’s northeastern border, he said, citing relevant reports.

KINSHASA, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) - There’s a risk of proxy wars in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned.

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 22 (NNN-ENA) – The death toll from a sudden collapse of a wooden bench, at a major religious gathering, in northwestern Ethiopia’s Gondar city, climbed to 10, while 250 people were injured, local government officials confirmed.

HARARE, Jan 21 (NNN-XINHUA) – Zimbabwe’s state-owned airline, Air Zimbabwe, took delivery of one of two Boeing 777-200 aircraft, bought from Malaysia as part of efforts to revive its struggling national carrier.

Transport and Infrastructural Development minister, Joel Biggie Matiza, flew in with the new plane which was received at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga.

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Nine people injured in a bomb attack on Saturday in Somalia, including three Turkish nationals, were being flown to Turkey on Tuesday for medical treatment, Turkey’s ambassador to Mogadishu said.

Mehmet Yilmaz told a news conference that Ankara would continue aid work in the country despite recent attacks by Islamist group al Shabaab that have targeted Turkish workers.

“This will not stop us from helping Somalia,” Yilmaz said. “We shall continue work. Somalia and Turkey have good relations.”

KIGALI, Jan 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — About 8,000 Rwandans have so far been vaccinated against Ebola in the western districts of Rubavu and Rusizi bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an official said.

“At least 5,000 people have been vaccinated against Ebola in Rubavu district at two different sites,” William Kanyankole, director of the Gisenyi Hospital in Rubavu district, said while briefing reporters about the district’s vaccination campaign.

Three more vaccination sites are set to open, he said, adding that about 3,000 have been vaccinated in Rusizi district.

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — Ethiopia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education confirmed that unrest in 22 universities have caused 35,000 students to quit class.

The ministry said it has taken various disciplinary measures against hundreds of university staff and students who are suspected of involvement in unrest in tertiary educational institutions across the east African country.

BISSAU, Jan 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protesters in Guinea burned down two police stations in the central region on Tuesday, quoting witnesses and government sources.

The West African country is engulfed in unrest over suspicions that President Alpha Condé wants to change the constitution in order to seek a third term. He has been president since December 2010.

The security ministry released a statement saying protesters pelted the two police stations in the city of Pita with stones before burning them down.

13 Jan 2019; MEMO: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said yesterday that he had asked South Africa’s president to mediate his country’s dispute with Egypt over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam.

Ahmed, who visited South Africa this weekend, said he has asked South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, to lead the mediation efforts in his capacity as the next chairperson of the African Union.

HARARE, Jan 13 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — At least 36 people were killed by wild animals in Zimbabwe in 2019 up from 20 in 2018.

The Zimbabwean further reports that the authorities recorded 311 animal attacks on people last year, up from 195 in 2018.

This increased attack on people has been blamed on the extreme drought in the country which is driving wildlife into human settlments in search of nourishment.