The battle for economic influence in Africa may be heating up, with India saying it expects to complete at least one new trade deal with African countries before the end of the year. Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said Tuesday he was confident New Delhi is close to a preferential trade agreement with the Southern […]
World Food Program Accelerates Horn of Africa Aid
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
The World Food Program says it is speeding up aid deliveries to the Horn of Africa, where more than 12 million people need urgent help to deal with famine and drought. The group said Tuesday it is starting the first of nine airlifts to Mombasa, Kenya, with enough high-energy biscuits to feed 1.6 million people […]
Cape Verde, Sao Tome Voters Pick New Presidents
Posted August 7th, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Voters in two island nations off Africa’s western coast went to the polls Sunday to pick new presidents. In Sao Tome and Principe, voters cast ballots in a second-round run-off between former President Manuel Pinto da Costa and Parliament Speaker Evaristo de Carvalho. Da Costa, who led a one-party socialist state from 1975 to 1990, […]
UN: ‘Alarming’ Measles Outbreak Among Drought-Stricken Somali Refugees
Posted August 6th, 2011 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations and Ethiopia’s government are beginning a massive vaccination campaign against measles for Somali refugee children as fears rise about an outbreak effecting those already weakened by famine. The U.N. refugee agency chief in Ethiopia said in a statement Saturday he was “shaken” by the situation he saw during a visit this week […]
7 Killed in Looting at Somalia Aid Camp
Posted August 5th, 2011 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
Witnesses at a refugee camp in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, say seven people were killed during a looting spree that broke out as food was being distributed to famine and drought victims. People at the scene say the violence began Friday when men dressed as government troops began stealing food at the Badbaado camp, the largest […]
WFP: Ethiopia’s Emergency Food Reserve Near Zero
Posted August 5th, 2011 at 12:20 am (UTC-5)
The head of World Food Program in Ethiopia says the country’s emergency food stocks are almost gone, the latest trouble caused by the drought in the Horn of Africa. Abdou Dieng told reporters Thursday that despite incoming aid, Ethiopia faces a critical shortfall in emergency food supplies. He says a reserve set up by the […]
Urges ‘Unfettered’ Aid to Shabab-controlled Somalia
Posted August 4th, 2011 at 5:25 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling on the al-Shabab militant group to allow aid groups “unfettered” access to bring food assistance to the more than a million people facing famine in the part of Somalia they control. At a press conference Thursday, Clinton said this would allow aid groups to save as many […]
South Africa Diamond Strike Ends
Posted August 4th, 2011 at 4:25 pm (UTC-5)
More than 1,300 diamond miners are headed back to work in South Africa after negotiating raises up to 10 percent. International diamond giant De Beers said Thursday the two-week strike was its first in nearly two decades. The company said in a statement entry-level workers would receive the 10-percent wage hike while more skilled workers […]
WFP: Ethiopia’s Emergency Food Reserve Near Zero
Posted August 4th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
The head of World Food Program in Ethiopia says the country’s emergency food stocks are almost gone, the latest trouble caused by the drought in the Horn of Africa. Abdou Dieng told reporters Thursday that despite incoming aid, Ethiopia faces a critical shortfall in emergency food supplies. He says a reserve set up by the […]
AU Postpones Drought Donor Conference
Posted August 4th, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
The African Union has postponed a conference to raise money for the millions affected by drought and famine in the Horn of Africa. An AU statement Thursday said the conference in Ethiopia’s capital has been moved from August 9 to August 25. The statement did not give a reason for the delay. The Associated Press […]
