Africa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa canceled a scheduled appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week after a week of rioting against his government that resulted in hundreds imprisoned and rumors of an impeachment attempt potentially organized by his own party.

Contents: South Korea vs Japan military ‘radar lock’ feud continues to escalate; Suspension of daily World View articles; Generational Dynamics development of generational theory

Contents: Ebola outbreak in DR Congo now spreading exponentially faster; Local DRC population giving little cooperation to health officials

Jihadists, mainly members of the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL)-linked Boko Haram, have killed more than 100 soldiers and seized a “huge stock [of] weapons” during clashes in northeast Nigeria raging since December 26, a coalition of United Nations-affiliated aid agencies reported Friday.

Contents: Zimbabwe returns to violence of Mugabe era with police beatings and abductions; It’s possible that Mnangagwa is changing Zimbabwe, making it worse

Pope Francis has condemned Tuesday’s jihadist attack in Nairobi, Kenya, calling it “a senseless act of violence.”

India’s army is expected to participate in military training exercises in March with a few African countries including Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania, various news outlets reported Wednesday, as regional rival China expands its military footprint across the continent.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, citing his recent appearances at campaign rallies as a testament to his vitality, reportedly insisted this week that he is physically fit to rule Nigeria for another four years despite concerns that his health is deteriorating.

The Somali jihadist group behind a deadly terror attack in Kenya said Wednesday their brutal assault was in response to “witless” U.S. President Donald Trump’s support of Israel.

WASHINGTON, DC — North Korea remains at the top of a list of 50 countries where at least 245 million Christians are facing “extreme” persecution” this year, up 14 percent from 215 million at the beginning of 2018, the World Wide Watch List (WWL) released on Wednesday by Open Doors, a group that monitors the mistreatment of Christ followers, revealed.

Reports suggest that at least eight people have died in protests against skyrocketing gasoline prices in Zimbabwe as of this Wednesday, which continued into the day despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly claiming the demonstrations were “fizzling out.”

A survey released on Tuesday found that a third of United Nations employees claim to have suffered sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct on the job in the last two years.

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya announced on Wednesday that a total of 14 people were killed in the terrorist attack on the Dusit hotel in Nairobi.

An American businessman who survived the terror attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, was killed in a Tuesday terror attack in Kenya at a Nairobi hotel.

A member of the British Army’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) reportedly exchanged fire with the Islamist terrorists who attacked a hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya, helping in the rescue operations.

Contents: Somalia terror group al-Shabaab attacks Nairobi, Kenya, hotel complex; Al-Shabaab continues to threaten eastern Africa

Protests against the economic crisis in Zimbabwe, which erupted Monday after President Emmerson Mnangagwa more than doubled fuel prices, reportedly prompted the government to restrict the internet over the alleged use of the social media to incite the demonstrations and sparked rampant looting in the impoverished African nation.

The archbishop of Blantyre, Malawi, has blamed the country’s government for failing to stop a wave of ritual killings of people with albinism, generated by belief in the healing power of the bones of albinos.

Contents: Kenya’s leaked BRI contract reveals shocking China debt trap details; Leaked clauses in Kenya-China BRI contract; Uganda’s auditor warns that Uganda may be in similar China debt trap as Kenya; India pledges $1.4 billion to Maldives to help with China debt trap

China on Sunday inaugurated a research center in Cairo, Egypt, affiliated with Beijing’s ambitious multi-trillion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that the United States believes is being used as a predatory lending practices vehicle to bury nations across the continent in debt and undermine their sovereignty.

China on Thursday agreed to provide assistance and military equipment to the Nigerian armed services to strengthen operations against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

Contents: Malta takes in 49 migrants after deal with EU that infuriates Italy; Malta – EU migrant deal splits Italy’s government

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, during a speech on the Middle East delivered in Cairo Thursday, praised the United States as a “force for good” in the region and blasted previous President Barack Obama’s administration for underestimating Islamic extremism and the Iranian menace.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo announced the results of its presidential election on Thursday, declaring a surprise victory for opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi.

Contents: US military focuses on China and ‘Indo-Pacific’ region; Trump signs Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA), focusing US military on China; China threatens retaliation if US implements ARIA in Taiwan

2018 was a banner year for Israel-Africa relations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a “great change” heralding blossoming ties between the Jewish state and African nations. But while the political elites were enmeshed in a diplomatic drive, another – no less important – effort was being made to forge connections on a cultural level.

Contents: Malaysia’s ‘1MDB scandal’ continues to grow as biggest financial scandal in world history; 1MDB corruption mastermind Jho Low remains hiding out in China; WSJ: China used bribery, corruption and ‘leverage on other nations’ in Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal

Nigeria lost nearly $3 billion in revenue to “oil-related crimes” last year, the United Nations reported Monday, citing figures from the African country.

U.S. troops deployed to the central African nation of Gabon last week in response to prospective violence in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remain committed to their mission of protecting American diplomatic assets in the region despite unrest linked to a reportedly failed coup attempt in the Gabonese capital on Monday.

Contents: Abortive coup attempt in Gabon fails while president it out of the country; Brief generational history of Gabon; US troops in Gabon remain focused on DR Congo mission despite coup attempt