🔅 From Controversial Convictions to Ancient Manuscripts: Africa's Engrossing Stories
Senegal's protests, Zimbabwe's new patriot clause, and Ethiopia's spiritual manuscript revival.
Photo of the day: Khartoum, Sudan
Markets — Year to Date:
🟢 Nigerian SE: 112,615.44 (+477.7%)
🟢 Johannesburg SE: 77,126.06 (+5.58%)
🟢 Ghana SE: 2,515.18 (+2.92%)
🔴 Nairobi SE: 103.69 (-18.66)
🟢 US S&P 500: 4,282.37 (+11.98%)
🟢 Shanghai Composite: 3,230.07 (+3.64%)
Zambia's Pension Payouts: A Taxing Situation | In Zambia, citizens have the opportunity to access a portion of their pension savings early. It sounded like a great idea in theory, but the government is now feeling the squeeze. Since the early pension access was allowed in April, the National Pension Scheme Authority has paid out about $300 million—which has taken away from their ability to lend money to the state.
*Data accurate as of the close of markets across the continent
Brief & Bright: Africa's Top Five Highlights
🇸🇳 Senegal Protests After Opposition Leader's Conviction | A heated situation is brewing in Senegal after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted of corrupting youth, leading to a wave of protests throughout the country. His supporters maintain that the conviction is a political ploy to keep him from running in the 2024 presidential election, and it has sparked a heated debate over judicial independence and democratic backsliding. So far, 15 people have been reported dead after authorities cracked down on the protests, and the government has blocked access to several social media platforms in an effort to contain the violence. The cost of the damage caused by months of demonstrations is estimated to be in the millions. Despite the controversy, the government maintains that Sonko can ask for a retrial once he is imprisoned, although it is unclear when he will be taken into custody. Sonko's conviction means that he will spend two years in prison, effectively ruling him out of the upcoming presidential elections. Meanwhile, Macky Sall has yet to publicly declare that he won't seek a third term in office, a demand that Sonko has been making for some time. All eyes are now on the government to see how they will handle this situation.
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe's Got a New Patriot Clause | Zimbabwe’s parliament just passed a controversial bill to punish citizens for “unpatriotic acts”, like meeting with foreign representatives to discuss sanctions against the country. Under the new patriot clause of the Criminal Law Act, offenders could face hefty fines or even the death penalty. Opponents say the law violates freedom of association and free speech, while proponents argue that it will prevent people from taking actions that hurt Zimbabwe’s national interests.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia's Spiritual Script: Ancient Manuscripts Written by Hand | At the Hamere Berhan Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a team of priests and lay worshippers are bringing an ancient tradition back to life. With bamboo ink pens, goatskin parchment, and a whole lot of patience, these folks are hand-copying centuries-old religious manuscripts and sacred artwork. While it's hard work, they feel it brings them closer to God. The work is painstaking. First, the goatskin is immersed in water for three to four days, then stretched over a metal frame to dry. Then, it's scraped and cut to size, before the scribes begin their work. Each color in the text has its own pen and ink, made from local plants. Most of the manuscripts are commissioned by individuals, then donated to churches or monasteries. But it's not just about preserving an ancient tradition. All the work is written in Ge’ez, a dead language that is still the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It's a spiritual experience, and one that Lidetu Tasew, who is in charge of education and training at the institute, is all too familiar with. “We’re talking to the saints and God,” he said. Al Jazeera has a lovely photo essay documenting this special heritage.
🇰🇪 Kenya: No Visas Needed for Africans | President William Ruto has announced plans to remove visa requirements for African nationals travelling to Kenya for business. The move is part of a larger policy to remove barriers to intra-Africa trade, and Kenya has been championing the cause for years. Uhuru Kenyatta, Ruto’s predecessor, allowed any African visiting Kenya to be eligible for a visa on arrival. Kenya has also been selected to participate in the pilot phase of the AfCFTA Initiative on Guided Trade. Africa’s under-developed transport networks have been blamed for raising the cost of goods and services, and the continent’s share of Kenya’s total trade value in 2022 was largely unchanged from the prior year. Ruto says that small, incremental barriers have a big impact on free trade. “They may look small, incremental but their sum total amounts to a reversal of what we are trying to achieve.”
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso Violence: 40 Dead and a 2024 Election in Question | The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso is ruling out negotiations with the jihadist insurgents causing violence in the country. After 40 people were killed in weekend attacks, he’s making it clear that security is the priority. The government is also hoping to double the number of volunteers for the VDP civil defence militia to 100,000. And with the country’s presidential election slated for 2024, the Prime Minister says security concerns could delay the return to civilian rule. “We cannot organise elections without security. If you have a magic wand to ensure we can hold elections as soon as possible, we'd do it,” he said. He also added that “the only negotiations that matter with these armed bandits are those taking place on the battlefield.”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Proverb of the Day
“A bird does not change its feathers because the weather is bad.”
— Kenyan Proverb.
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