Africa

Tunisia relaxes curfew as virus outbreak slows

Tunisia shortened its nightly curfew on Wednesday after three consecutive days without recording any new coronavirus cases and as the government relaxes a general lockdown. The North African democracy imposed…

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Tunisian economy expects steepest contraction in more than 60 years

Tunisia's need for external funding will double to about 5 billion euros this year from about 2.5 billion euros previously expected due to the impact of the new coronavirus pandemic,…

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EU supports job development in Egypt through EIB financing

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a financing agreement of $100 million with Banque du Caire (BDC) to finance the investments of Egyptian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing and services sectors…

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Algeria to lift ban on car imports

Algeria will resume car imports, the government said on Sunday, after a ban failed to reduce the import bill, as the North African member of OPEC tries to rein in…

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Locusts continue to ravage East Africa

East Africa is still battling its worst locust invasion as the COVID-19 crisis continues to spread. This would be an additional blow to food security in East African countries, which…

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Morocco’s central bank asks banks to halt dividends during coronavirus pandemic

Morocco's central bank has asked banks to withhold dividends this year so they are better placed to deal with any fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The request to withhold payments…

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For the first time Tunisia reports no new coronavirus cases

Tunisia recorded zero new coronavirus cases for the first time since early March, health authorities said on Monday, as the government will further relax restrictions on movement and businesses. Tunisia,…

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One person infects 533 others in Ghana

A worker at a fish-processing factory in Ghana's Atlantic seafront city of Tema infected 533 other workers at the facility with the coronavirus, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a broadcast late…

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Turkey labels forces of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar “legitimate targets”

Turkey said on Sunday it would deem the forces of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar “legitimate targets” if what it termed their attacks on its interests and diplomatic missions in Libya…

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Silvia Romano returns to Italy after 18 months in kidnap

UPDATE : Silvia Romano, an Italian aid worker who was kidnapped in Kenya 18 months ago, has been freed and arrived back in Italy on Sunday afternoon. The Italian government announced her…

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European diplomatic feuds on Libya and migration, as clashes and bombing keep going on

Shelling of Tripoli's Mitiga airport early on Saturday, part of an intensified barrage of artillery fire on the capital in recent days, hit fuel tanks and damaged passenger planes, the…

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Egypt sets strict conditions for hotels to re-open amid Covid-19

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled Al-Anani said during a cabinet meeting that hotels will operate at a maximum rate of 25% until the beginning of June after a long…

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Coronavirus cases in Tunisia surpass 1,000

Four more cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in Tunisia as of May 8, 2020, out of 1,453 screenings carried out, bringing the total number of cases of infection since…

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Egypt’s president expands powers, citing the coronavirus pandemic

Egypt’s president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Saturday approved amendments to the country’s state of emergency that grant him and security agencies additional powers, which the government says are needed to combat…

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Warning of escalation in Libya after attacks near embassies

The head of Libya’s U.N.-supported government on Friday warned of an escalation in the battle for Tripoli after rockets struck near foreign embassies in the capital, drawing sharp condemnation from…

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Photo Story: Robot to disinfect the streets of Tunisa

Wajih Bououd one of the inventors of the Atlas robot, steers the Atlas robot disinfecting streets as a measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, in Tunis, Tunisia. The Tunisian start-up…

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Attack near the residence of Italian and Turkish ambassador in Libya

The Italian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned an attack by reportedly by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in the Libya capital Tripoli late yesterday evening close to the residence of Italian ambassador to…

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Tunisia allows landing of Turkish plane with medical aid for Libya

Tunisia allowed a Turkish plane to land at its southern airport of Zarzis to deliver medical aid to Libyans at the Ras Jedir border crossing, the presidency said on Friday.…

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WHO warns up to 190,000 could die in Africa if virus containment fails

Up to 190,000 people in Africa could die of coronavirus in the first year of the pandemic if containment measures fail, the World Health Organisation warned. The UN health agency…

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Occidental Petroleum to continue Anadarko’s investment in Algeria

Algeria has agreed to maintain Anadarko’s contract with state firm Sonatrach, and Occidental Petroleum Corp will continue investment in the OPEC member country, the energy ministry said. Algeria has blocked…

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Libya calls for investigation into EU’s ‘Operation IRINI’

Libya’s prime minister called for a comprehensive investigation Wednesday into the European Union’s military initiative to monitor a UN arms embargo on the country. Fayez al-Sarraj reiterated that his country…

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UN warns about Russian mercenaries fighting in Libya

Mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization seen as being close to Vladimir Putin, are fighting in Libya, UN diplomats said Wednesday, citing an experts' report on the…

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UNHCR begins emergency distributions in Libya to refugees and asylum-seekers

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has begun a series of emergency distributions in the Libyan capital Tripoli, to assist refugees and asylum-seekers during the holy fasting…

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Coronavirus cases in Africa top 47,000

Africa has 47,581 cases of the novel coronavirus and 1,862 deaths, according to data released late Tuesday by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death toll from…

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Tunisia gradually eases coronavirus restrictions

Signs of life are returning to Tunisia after authorities began easing restrictions with the gradual lifting of the comprehensive lockdown imposed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Tunisian authorities indicated…

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Haftar’s forces responsible for 81% of civilian deaths in Libya

A report by UNSMIL has blamed Khalifa Haftar's forces for 81% of the civilian casualties of war in Libya in the first quarter of 2020, adding that the Government of…

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South Africa’s virus cases jump past 5,000

The number of coronavirus cases in South Africa surged past the 5,000 mark on Thursday after it saw the largest single-day jump to date, health ministry figures showed. A total…

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Eastern Libyan forces pause military operations

Libya’s eastern-based forces will cease fire for Ramadan, their spokesman said on Wednesday, after they suffered setbacks during weeks of intense fighting against the internationally recognized government. Libyan National Army…

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Photo Story: Ramadan in Tunisia during coronavirus pandemic

Tunisian cooks pose for a photo after preparing meals for the underprivileged at the Dar Slah restaurant in the medina of Tunis, Tunisia. Dar Slah is one of the best-known…

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Russia disapproves of Haftar’s power grab in Libya

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow did not approve of Libya’s eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar’s move to seize control of the country, the Interfax news agency reported.…

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Nigeria to begin ‘gradual’ easing of lockdown in Lagos, Abuja

Nigeria will begin a “phased and gradual” easing of more than four weeks of lockdowns in the national capital and the largest city on May 4, President Muhammadu Buhari said…

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TikTok, Bill Gates pledge $20 million to help Africa tackle COVID-19

The social media platform TikTok and the philanthropic Gates Foundation donated $10 million each on Wednesday to the vaccine alliance GAVI to help fund efforts to tackle the COVID-19…

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Libya’s government accuses rival Haftar of a coup d’etat

Libya's UN-recognised government accused rival military commander Khalifa Haftar of seeking to stage a new coup after he claimed to have a "mandate" from the people to govern the country.…

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Fight against terrorism and humanitarian response top agenda for today’s EU-Sahel video conference

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, current Chair of the G5 Sahel, will co-chair an EU-G5 Sahel video conference later on today, with the…

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Stop cooperation with and funding to the Libyan coastguard, MEPs ask

The EU should stop channeling funds to Libya to manage migration and to train its coastguard, as the violation of human rights of migrants and asylum-seekers continues. In a…

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Pressure to make face masks compulsory in public in Nigeria

Nigerian state governors have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the compulsory use of face masks in public. as confirmed coronavirus cases rise, according to a letter seen by Reuters.…

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Photo Story: Coronavirus situation in South Africa

Members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) patrol the Denver Mens Hostile during a joint South African Police Services (SAPS) and SANDF patrol on day 31 of the…

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When mankind is away, animals will play

Two African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) cross an empty road during the coronavirus lockdown in the Simonstown suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, 25 April 2020. The date happens to coincide…

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Libya has become an ‘experimental field’ for all kind of new weapons – UN warns

Libya is turning into "an experimental field for all kinds of new weapons systems", the United Nations' acting special envoy said, with foreign supporters of its warring parties shipping in arms…

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Africa dangerously behind in global race for virus gear

As Africa braces for a surge in coronavirus cases, its countries are dangerously behind in the global race for scarce medical equipment. Ten nations have no ventilators at all. Outbid…

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Maltese arms dealer charged with breaching EU sanctions in Libya

The owner of a major weapons supply company and maritime vessel charterer, James Fenech, was charged with breaching EU sanctions by supplying rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) to Libya according to…

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EU, Germany, Italy and France call for humanitarian truce in Libya

The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy and the EU's top diplomat made a joint call on Saturday for a humanitarian truce in Libya, saying all sides must resume…

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WHO warns fight against malaria could be set back 20 years

The WHO is now warning that the battle against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, where it already kills hundreds of thousands of people a year, could be set back by 20…

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Egypt loosening some lockdown restrictions, but coronavirus toll rises

Egypt will ease its coronavirus lockdown for the holy fasting month of Ramadan by allowing more businesses to reopen and shortening a night-time curfew, the prime minister said on Thursday,…

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Fighting and COVID-19 pandemic creates ‘perfect storm’ in Libya

In Libya, ongoing heavy fighting has raised concerns yet further, about the likely devastating impact of the new coronavirus on people there, particularly those repeatedly forced to flee violence. The…

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Over 24,000 Covid-19 cases in Africa

More than 24,000 Covid-19 cases have been reported on the African continent, with over 6,250 recoveries and 1,100 deaths, the World Health Organization reported on Thursday morning. In his press…

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Egypt expands emergency laws to counter coronavirus outbreak

Egypt’s parliament approved amendments to the country’s emergency laws that give expanded powers to the presidency and the military prosecution as authorities try to counter the new coronavirus outbreak. The…

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Total confirmed coronavirus cases in Libya increase to 59

Libya’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced yesterday 8 new positive cases of Coronavirus. The 8 cases had all mixed with a previous case/s. The NCDC revealed that…

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UAE implicated in suspected violation of Libyan arms embargo

United Arab Emirates-based companies shipped nearly 11,000 tonnes of jet fuel to eastern Libya, the stronghold of the renegade general Khalifa Haftar, in a suspected violation of an international…

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Moroccan prison becomes country’s coronavirus hotspot

Sixty-eight people, mostly staff, have come down with the coronavirus at a prison in the southern Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, prison authorities said on Tuesday, without reporting any deaths.…

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UN in Libya warns of possible war crimes

The United Nations warned of rapidly escalating violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Libya, which it said could amount to war crimes. While the U.N. Mission in Libya did…

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New wave of bombings in Tripoli leave two family members dead

Two people were killed and at least six others wounded in the continuation of indiscriminate bombing by Haftar’s militias on residential neighbourhoods, according to Libyan Observer. The report referred to a…

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Deaths due to coronavirus in Africa continue to increase

The number of deaths related to the novel coronavirus cases in Africa rose by 55 in the last 24 hours, with the total at 1,080, according to the Africa Centers…

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Coronavirus tests for Libyans stranded in Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia start today

The high committee to combat Coronavirus in Libya has set April 20 as the start of medical tests for Libyans stranded in Tunisia, Turkey, and Egypt ahead of a flight…

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Ten people, including four children injured as fights intensify in Libya’s Arada neighbourhood

At least ten people were injured including four children when Haftar's militias pounded Arada neighborhood on Saturday, the Volcano of Rage Operation has said. The bombing was intense and severe…

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Morocco extends lockdown by another month

Morocco has extended its lockdown measures by another month. Morocco will extend lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus for another month until May 20, the government said…

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Libya announces 10-day lockdown as infections increase

Libya’s UN-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli, has announced a lockdown that will last 10 days starting on Friday to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the war-torn country.…

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