News around the World - Africa

Africa is the second largest continent in the world and is home to 54 sovereign states including Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, making up 17% of the worlds population. 

Mozambique is currently holding its 6th general election since the end of the civil war in 1992, with opposing parties Frelimo (lead by President Filipe Nyusi) and Renamo (lead by Ossufo Momade) testing tensions once again. Nyusi, running for second term, is leading the Frelimo party (Mozambique Liberation Front) who have consistently ruled Mozambique since gaining independence from the Portuguese in 1974. Since once adopting a Marxist-Leninist doctrine to now, the Frelimo party have been a constant entertainer of scandals. Nyusi’s rule in the last 5 years have seen economic growth and inequality growth, a difficult disparity for the 29.67 million citizens living in Mozambique. Reports also show that officials in Nyusi’s party have been jailed for an over $2 billion corruption scandal. Nyusi claims that the Frelimo party is focused on creating a country of “peace, security and stability”. The Renamo party (Mozambican National Resistance) has been the anti-communist force to the Frelimo party since 1976, yet has never gained power; previous elections have seen many Renamo casualties. An emotional speech from its leader Ossufo Momade claimed that “all they (Frelimo) know is lying and stealing”. The election will test the peace deal between Frelimo and Renamo - it has been recently reinstated for the 3rd time since peace in 1992.

22 Congolese mine workers were killed in a gold mine collapse on October 3rd 2019. The site was an illegally-run mine in Kampene, Maniema and the initial body count was 14; more were found after workers searched for survivors. This has not been Congo’s first tragedy with mine-related deaths. Reports indicate that such accidents are not uncommon due to the poor safety regulations and standards in such areas. Minerals such as diamonds, copper and gold make Congo one of Africa’s richest countries, yet there is a great disparity as its people are among the poorest.

In September 2019, Nigerian police rescued more than 300 people (mostly children) who were held in inhumane conditions, in a school that was disguised as a “religious institution”. Occuring in the city of Kaduna, many of the children were reported with scars on their bodies, were held in chains and had been sexually abused by the school teachers. The victims had been confined to small spaces with many other people in them. After investigation, police had found no records or licence that the school was an educational institution at all. 7 men were detained. 

Author - Hannah Arain