Africa (except North Africa)

KIGALI, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to supporting girls and women scientists as well as expanding access to education and training opportunities in science and technology during celebrations to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science which falls on Feb. 11.

The event in the Rwandan capital of Kigali featured discussions centered on women and girls in science and technology, with female role models among the participants.

YAOUNDE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian President Paul Biya has pledged more efforts to support self-employed youths amid a difficult global economic context.

"In a bid to foster your integration into the job market, the state is taking action to promote the requisite entrepreneurial culture for youth empowerment," Biya said in a televised message geared toward the younger generation on Friday evening.

BUJUMBURA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Burundi is highly satisfied with the achievements of the fifth team of Chinese agricultural experts who have ended their mission in the country, a senior Burundian official said here on Friday evening.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — On the packed streets of Nairobi, Cyrus Kariuki is one of a growing number of bikers zooming through traffic on an electric motorbike, reaping the benefits of cheaper transport, cleaner air and limiting planet-warming emissions in the process.

“Each month one doesn’t have to be burdened by oil change, engine checks and other costly maintenance costs,” Kariuki said.

NAIROBI, Feb 10 (NNN-KBC) –Kenya and Eritrea have resolved to permanently abolish visa requirements for their respective citizens.

President William Ruto and his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki said the move will facilitate growth in trade and connectivity between the citizens and business in the two countries. 

“To facilitate growth in trade and connectivity between our people and business, we have agreed to abolish the requirement of visas permanently, effective today,” said Ruto. 

BRAZZAVILLE, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Africa is witnessing an exponential rise in cholera cases amid a global surge, as cases recorded on the continent in the first month of 2023 alone have already risen by more than 30 percent of the total caseload recorded in the whole of 2022, said the World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement released Thursday.

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster on Thursday evening to address the country's electricity crisis.

"The National Disaster Management Center has consequently classified the energy crisis and its impact as a disaster. We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its effects," said Ramaphosa while delivering his 2023 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Widespread tensions caused by a rift within Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christian church have resulted in the suspension of access to social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Telegram.

The internet observatory NetBlocks confirmed social media platforms had been “restricted in Ethiopia amid anti-government protests” as of Thursday evening.

OUAGADOUGOU, Feb 7 (NNN-IRIN) – At least 25 people were killed on Saturday, in a terrorist attack in northern Burkina Faso’s Sahel Region, said a regional government official, last night.

In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Rodolphe Sorgho, who is the governor of the Sahel Region, said, armed terrorist groups perpetrated a violent attack, Saturday afternoon, in the commune of Bani, of the province of Seno, killing 25 people, including 22 civilians and three police officers.

WINDHOEK, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- One of the most flooded regions in northern Namibia is appealing for help after the death of four people in the past two weeks.

The Oshana region, home to more than 170,000 people, together with another affected region - Ohangwena - had by Feb. 6 relocated more than 600 people after floods destroyed more than 49 homes and caused the closure of more than 30 schools, leaving about 20,000 pupils stranded.