🔅 Nodding Syndrome in Uganda: A Tale of Neglect and New Hope
Plus: Africa's First Top 50 Bar, The Continent's Entrepreneurial Hotspots, Kenya-EU Trade Deal, and Kenya-DRC Diplomatic Tension
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🟢 Nigerian SE: 72,404.91 (+0.02%)
🔴 Johannesburg SE: 74,442.47 (-1.13%)
— Ghana SE: 3,063.44 (+0.00%)
🔴 Nairobi SE: 91.17 (-0.90%)
🟢 US S&P 500: 4,745.58 (+0.56%)
🔴 Shanghai Composite: 2,930.80 (-0.40%)
*Data accurate as of the close of markets across the continent
Brief & Bright: Africa's Top Five
Nodding Syndrome in Uganda: A Tale of Neglect and New Hope
Uganda's nodding syndrome, a puzzling and tragic illness affecting thousands of children, is casting a long shadow over the country's northern region. Picture Betty, a 22-year-old whose life has been upended by this condition, characterized by head nodding, seizures, and cognitive decline. Diagnosed in 2008, she's one of the many whose lives have been drastically altered by this mysterious ailment. Originally spotted in Tanzania in the 1960s, this disease hit Uganda in 2007, with an estimated 6,000 cases in the country since 2008. Despite the severity, there's no cure yet, leaving anticonvulsants as the only lifeline to improve patients' quality of life. Adding to the misery, the closure of the only two specialized centres in northern Uganda in 2017 has left families like Betty's grappling with care. The lack of specialized facilities has not only heightened neglect but also exposed patients to abuse and inhumane conditions. The story takes a slightly brighter turn with the opening of the Archbishop John Baptist Odama Care Centre in Kitgum in 2022. This beacon of hope, founded by priest Anthony Nyeko, offers a safe haven for the most severe cases, including those abandoned by their families. However, the challenge is far from over. Limited funding and human resources mean that the centre can't keep up with the overwhelming need. The community continues to struggle with the disease's toll, compounded by funding mismanagement and a lack of government support. The cause of nodding syndrome remains elusive, with theories ranging from neurotropic viruses to the psychological impact of conflict. What's clear is the need for more support, awareness, and research to tackle this devastating condition and provide a better quality of life for those affected.
Meet the Man Behind Africa's First Top 50 Bar
The World’s 50 Best Bars list has been released every year since 2009, and not once has a single bar from Africa made the cut. Until now. Hero Bar in Nairobi, Kenya, has been making waves in the prestigious diplomatic district with its themed menu, bar takeovers, and state-of-the-art cocktail lab. Founder Shamim Ehsani is a local fixture and the creative director of the bar, but he also manages the 5-star hotel next door. How does he do it all? Here's how...
Africa's Entrepreneurial Hotspots: The Top 10 Cities for Business Founders
Africa's bustling cities are brimming with entrepreneurial spirit, with business founders playing a pivotal role in shaping the economic, social, and cultural tapestry of the continent. A recent report by Ondeck highlights the top African cities where these innovative minds are clustered, revealing the hubs of entrepreneurial activity across the continent. The report's methodology involved scouring LinkedIn profiles across 150 countries to measure the number of business founder profiles per 10,000 LinkedIn users in each location. Topping the list is Rwanda's capital, Kigali, hailed as Africa's most entrepreneurial city. Kigali boasts an impressive 116.5 business founders for every 10k LinkedIn profiles, a testament to its vibrant startup ecosystem. This city is also home to the Norrsken Foundation’s Kigali House, acclaimed as the "largest hub for entrepreneurs in Africa." Curious to find out how the rest of Africa's hubs rank? Click here to find out.
Kenya-EU Trade Deal: A Leap Forward for Duty-Free Exports
Kenya and the European Union are on the brink of a game-changing Economic Partnership Agreement. This deal, a culmination of seven months of negotiation, promises to elevate Kenya's export game to new heights by granting its goods duty-free and unlimited access to the EU market. This isn't just a handshake agreement. The European Union Council has given it the thumbs up, and now it's off to the parliaments of both parties for the final stamp of approval. Kenya's Trade Minister Rebecca Miano is buzzing about this new era, envisioning Kenyan products like tea, coffee, and flowers breezing into the European market without the hurdles of duties and quotas. But wait, there's more. European goods will also get a slice of the Kenyan market pie (exporting machines, tractors, etc.), albeit gradually. It's a two-way street of preferential access that's set to rev up trade dynamics. The EU isn't just any trade partner for Kenya; it's a heavyweight, accounting for 21% of Kenya's overall exports. In 2022 alone, the bilateral trade between these two racked up to a hefty 3.3 billion euros. That's not chump change. Remember the 2016 initial trade deal Kenya inked with the EU alongside the then-six member nations of the East African Community (EAC)? That deal kind of fizzled out because most EAC countries didn't sign on. Fast forward to now, and the EAC has grown to eight members, all invited to join this new deal.
Kenya-DRC Diplomatic Tension: Rift Over Congolese Rebel Alliance
Kenya finds itself in a diplomatic pickle with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over a political-military alliance formed in Nairobi by Congolese opposition figures, including rebel groups like M23. The formation of the "Congo River Alliance," which also features former DRC election commission chief Corneille Nangaa, has irked the DRC, prompting it to recall its ambassadors from both Kenya and Tanzania. The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Musalia Mudavadi, is quickly distancing itself from this controversy. Mudavadi’s statement clarifies Kenya's stance, emphasizing that the country does not endorse any actions or statements that might jeopardize the DRC's peace and security. An investigation is underway to identify those behind the alliance and assess the constitutionality of their statements. This alliance, aiming to unify various Congolese armed groups, militias, and political organizations, is raising alarms in a region already grappling with decades of insecurity, ethnic conflicts, and resource disputes. The timing is particularly sensitive given the upcoming presidential elections in the DRC on December 20. The M23 rebels, after years of relative inactivity, resumed armed conflict in late 2021, displacing millions and complicating the electoral process. Nangaa's justification for the alliance – citing the DRC government’s failure to maintain order – has been met with strong criticism. DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya labelled Nangaa's actions as "unpatriotic" and accused him of engaging in "subversive activities."
Food for Thought
“A wise man who knows the proverbs of the land reconciles difficulties."
— Ashanti Proverb