In a recent article, NAD (Network Africa Germany) seems to present a particularly colourful view!

NAD begins by reporting that Eurowings now flies 3x from Frankfurt to the Victoria Falls with a brief stop in Windhoek and continues to state that: a new 1.5% tax on electronic transfers was introduced in Ghana. Disliked by the population, the government claimed it would need the proceeds to deal with problems of unemployment and the government’s immense debt burden; refugees were returning to the Congo with the support of the UN. They were being settled in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, where they are said to be secure.  It is hoped to repatriate 400 from South Africa this year against 275 in 2021.

The Angolan anti-corruption campaign of President Joao Lorenco led to the conviction and sentencing to nine years imprisonment of Carlos de São Vicente, son-in-law of the first President Agostinho Neto. Vicente’s lawyer will enter an appeal. During the presidency of  Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Vicente held the monopoly over the state controlled oil industry,  in South Sudan the first European, the Italian Christian Carlassare was consecrated as the Bishop of Rumbek. After his nomination he had been shot four times in his leg by robbers, six of whom have been charged. Following several operations, Carlassare announced that he intended to return to South Sudan. 

Uganda activists have begged Pope Franciskus for help. They fear that the construction of the East African Crude Pipeline (EACOP),  a warm raw oil pipeline planned to cover the aa from Hoima in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tansania, threatens Lake Victoria. EACOP would be the longest warm global pipeline and would endanger the livelihood of many and the diversity of the region’s different species. More than 100 000 people would be displaced. Total Energies and China National Offshore signed an agreement in February to  explore oil reserves beneath Lake Albert between Uganda and the DRC Congo.

The military government of Guinea, which in September 2021 had displaced President Alpha Condé had been pressed by ECOWAS to reinstate civilian rule. The Ministry of territorial administration and decentralisation“ has now initiated a national conference to create a new institutional framework”. Different organisations have agreed to participate, while demanding certain conditions. One of these demands the updating of a 2016 report on violence, which has to be taken into account from 1958 onwards;a rare wooden 19th century Ngil Maske of Central Africa has been sold in France for 4,2 Billion Euro. 

Gabon demonstrators had demanded the “return” of “unjust colonial gain” and finally that in Sambia the Central African Renewable Energy Corp turns daily 1,5 tons old tyres and plastic rubbish into 600-700 Liter Diesel and petrol. Manager Mulenga hopes to produce, 20-30 % of currently used energy. As the project requires energy and releases CO2, it is not truly “green”, but Mulenga points out,  it cleanses the environment of rubbish which is turned into energy. 

Together this surely presents an unusual diverse picture of Africa!