World

Haiti’s PM Ariel Henry has tendered his resignation following an emergency meeting of regional nations and appealed for calm as the country descends into chaos.

Regional leaders of the Caribbean Community have held the emergency summit to discuss a framework for a political transition, which the US had urged to be “expedited” as armed gangs wreaked chaos amid repeatedly postponed elections.

Haiti is facing escalating turmoil as criminal gangs tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince, controlling up to 90% of the capital.

Roman Polanski goes on trial in France on Tuesday over allegations he defamed a British actress who accused him of sexual abuse in the 1980s. A Veteran Franco-Polish filmmaker who is 90-year-old is wanted in the United States over raping 13-years-old in 1977 and faces several other accusations of alleged sexual assault dating back decades and past the statute of limitations though he has rejected all claims. Polanski who won Oscar-winning films “Rosemary’s Baby”, “Chinatown” and “The Pianist” fled to Europe in 1978.

Mr Wamkele Mene has been reappointed as the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA)

Mr Mene got appointed for a second four-year term during the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr Wamkele Mene is the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), His responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating implementation of the AfCFTA agreement among African states. His role are to promote the AfCFTA and undertake activities to enhance intra-African trade.

Today Members of parliament in Senegal will meet to consider the postponement of presidential elections announced by President Macky Sall, a move that has plunged the country into crisis.

Opposition leaders have used the term “constitutional coup” to describe the current situation, which they say is an assault on democracy.

Protesters in Dakar decry Senegal’s Macky Sall for postponing presidential election, saying they will vote.

It is expected that deputies will vote on a proposal to postpone the presidential poll which was previously set on 25th February, 2024 for up to six months.

On 31st January, 2024 a historic milestone to boost trade in Africa has made as South Africa started exporting under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) highlited the results of South African industry and innovation.

“we are forging a path of mutual growth and shared prosperity. This is a powerful instrument to promote meaningful, impactful trade that benefits all corners of our continent.” H.E. Wamkele Mene said.

Voting in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s high-stakes presidential election has been marred by lengthy delays at polling stations.

Voters waited in long queues at many polling stations in the capital, Kinshasa, and other cities as they opened about two hours late.

Ballot papers were delivered at the last minute in an election that has proved to be a logistical nightmare.

In the eastern cities like Goma and Beni, some people struggled to find their names on voter lists, which were only made available at their polling stations on Wednesday morning, according to Reuters witnesses.

A new Commonwealth e-learning course launched on Tuesday 11th December 2023 will improve the ability of small and other vulnerable states to access billions of dollars in climate finance.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, launched the ‘commonwealth climate finance Essential E-learning Course’at an event in Dubai during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

The course builds on the extensive experience of the commonwealth climate Finance Access Hub. The hub has helped 17 small and vulnerable states in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific to access more than US$322 million in climate finance for projects to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

While Rwanda is one of the seven countries that have started to implement the African free trade program, there are some producers who say that they are still facing challenges in finding packaging for their products, such that they find themselves using expensive packaging or not meeting the international standards.

These are what some of the participants of the intra Africa trade fair that was held in Egypt from 9-15 November 2023 had to say:

A large convoy of aid trucks has lined up on the Egyptian side of the the Rafah border crossing between between Egypt and Gaza, on standby for when a truce between Israel and Hamas begins.

Today The Egyptian Government press said that it’s not yet clear what type of aid, or how much aid, will be allowed into the Gaza Strip. 

On Wednesday, Egyptian Government press office director Ayman Walash said a total of 2,222 tons of medical aid had been delivered via the Rafah crossing since the war began, in addition to 6,063 tons of food, 4,625 tons of water, and 1,407 tons of other aid.

The release of hostages under a temporary truce between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants will not happen before Friday, Israel’s national security adviser and the US said, dashing hopes of relatives that some would be freed on Thursday.

Israel and Hamas reached a deal for a four day pause in fighting and the release of at least 50 hostages held in Gaza – but none will be freed before Friday.