Ethiopia government claims recapture of key towns

NAIROBI, Kenya

Ethiopia's government said Monday it had recaptured two strategic towns from rebel fighters, the latest in a rapid series of battlefield victories claimed by forces loyal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The announcement marks another dramatic twist in the 13-month-old conflict that has killed thousands of people and triggered a deep humanitarian crisis in the north of Africa's second most populous nation.

The government's communications service said on Twitter that Dessie and Kombolcha had been "freed by the joint gallant security forces" that had also taken control of several other towns on the eastern front.

The two cities, which lie in the Amhara region on a highway about 400 kilometres (250 miles) by road northeast of the capital Addis Ababa, were reportedly taken by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) at the end of October.

Their capture had sparked fears that the TPLF and its ally, the Oromo Liberation Army, would march on the capital, leading alarmed foreign governments to urge their citizens to leave the country as soon as possible.

The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation quoted Abiy as saying the rebels had sustained "heavy losses and (were) unable to cope with the strike by allied forces".

"The enemy will be hit and the victory will continue," he said.

Abiy -- who won the Nobel Peace Prize two years ago -- announced last month he would head to the battlefront following a series of advances claimed by the rebels, as fighting reportedly raged on at least three fronts.

And over several days last week, the government said the military and its allies had retaken the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lalibela, which had fallen to TPLF fighters in August, as well as the town of Shewa Robit which lies only 220 kilometres from Addis Ababa by road.

TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda said on Twitter late Monday that rebel forces had left towns including Kombolcha and Dessie "as part of our plan".

On Sunday, TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael had denied the government was scoring major victories, saying the rebels were making strategic territorial adjustments and remained undefeated.

"The enemy is getting stronger so we also have to be strong and intensify our struggle," he said.

The government declared a nationwide state of emergency in early November after the TPLF fighters claimed the capture of Dessie and Kombolcha as they advanced towards the capital.

But Abiy's administration described the gains by the TPLF as overstated and insisted that the city of more than five million people was secure.

Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to independently verify.

The war broke out in November 2020 when Abiy sent troops into Ethiopia's northernmost region of Tigray to topple the TPLF after months of seething tensions with the group that had dominated politics for three decades before he took office.

He said the move was in response to attacks on army camps by the TPLF, and vowed a swift victory.

But the rebels mounted a shock comeback, recapturing most of Tigray by June before advancing into the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar.

The fighting has displaced more than two million and driven hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions, according to UN estimates, with reports of massacres and mass rapes by both sides.

But intense diplomatic efforts led by the African Union to try to reach a ceasefire have failed to achieve any visible breakthrough.

Last week, the UN undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, Martin Griffiths, warned that Ethiopia risked descending into sectarian violence that could "fracture" the country if the conflict spread to Addis Ababa.

Earlier Monday, the United States and Western allies sounded the alarm over reports the Ethiopian government has unlawfully detained large numbers of citizens on ethnic grounds and called for the arrests to "cease immediately".

"Many of these acts likely constitute violations of international law," Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and Britain, along with the US, said in a statement.

"Individuals are being arrested and detained without charges or a court hearing and are reportedly being held in inhumane conditions."

The statement cited reports by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International, which "describe widespread arrests of ethnic Tigrayans," including the elderly and young children.

Gunmen attack Niger military base, killing at least 12

NIAMEY, Niger

Extremist gunmen attacked a military camp in Niger near its southeastern border with Burkina Faso, killing at least 12 soldiers, the West Africa country’s interior ministry said.

Extremist rebels riding 100 motorcycles attacked the military camp of Fonion, in the Gorouel area, the ministry said in a statement late Sunday.

Soldiers fought back and inflicted “enormous damage to the enemy,″ said the government statement.

“Dozens of terrorists have been killed,” said the press release from Niger’s interior ministry without specifying the exact number. The military is pursuing the rebels through land and air operations with reinforcements from the capital, Niamey, and other military bases, according to the statement.

“The precise assessment will be communicated at the end of the military operations which are still in progress,” the press release concludes.

The Fonion military camp is located near the village of Tera, where protests against the French convoy en route to Gao, in northern Mali, left 3 dead and 18 injured last week.

Uganda, Tanzania currencies ranked top in East Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya

Uganda and Tanzania currencies are the best performing media of exchange in East Africa against the dollar, whereas Kenyan and Rwandan currencies continue to lose value against the greenback.

According to Bloomberg Refinitiv data, the Uganda shilling continues to hold steady against the dollar followed by the Tanzanian currency at 2.45 percent and 0.76 percent, respectively. They are among six African currencies with a positive outlook with the kwacha remaining best performing by end of November, appreciating at 19.64 percent followed by Mozambique’s metical and Angola’s kwanza at second and third respectively.

The Kenya shilling and Rwanda franc were ranked 11th and 12th among top African currencies depreciating at -2.93 percent and -3.48 percent respectively.

Currency policy in most of Africa is characterised as flexible without pegging the currency rate against the dollar.

The Uganda shilling is projected to remain strong to the end of 2021, buoyed by dollar inflows from coffee exports and foreign investors chasing yields.

Uganda is Africa’s biggest coffee exporter and shipments climbed to a record level in June on better yield from new trees, favourable weather and improved prices, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority.

The pandemic has hurt economic output from the net importer but the country remains optimistic the dollar will continue to appreciate post-Covid.

“In 2021 and beyond, the shilling could benefit from a projected dollar depreciation against other reserve currencies. Moreover, the outlook for a post-pandemic rebound in global growth and trade in 2021 and the reduced odds of unpredictable trade wars should lead to a reduction in exchange rate volatility," said Dr Adam Mugume, executive director of research Bank of Uganda.

Mid November, the IMF differed with Kampala, terming the Uganda currency overvalued and urged the authorities to only intervene in moments of “extreme” market distress.

Given uncertainties linked to the pandemic and recent appreciation of the exchange rate, Uganda’s planned fiscal consolidation will help to narrow the current-account deficit. The gap widened to $1.28 billion in the second quarter from a deficit of $702.3 million in the previous three months.

The IMF will visit Uganda this month to evaluate the “reform agenda” and discuss the next tranche of a three-year $1 billion loan. Uganda received $258 million when the loan was approved in June.

In Tanzania, the shilling has continued to gain ground against the dollar in the past few weeks from a steady flow of the greenback from tourism, exports and funds from development partners.

The BoT predicts that the shilling will remain stable in coming months.

The BoT’s latest Monthly Economic Review says Tanzania earned $2.941 billion from gold exports during the year to August 2021, a significant improvement from the $2.735 billion during the same period last year.

Tanzania’s also recorded a 33.2 percent rise in exports of manufactured goods to $1.125 billion in the year to August 31.

In Kenya, the shilling dropped to a new historic low on December 1 where it traded at Ksh112.83 against the dollar.

The shilling, which opened the year at Ksh107.23, has been losing ground against major world currencies despite numerous support by the CBK to iron out volatility.

Analysts say the shilling, just like other currencies, is feeling the heat of global inflation, with economies like the US and UK experiencing the worst cost of living in almost two decades.

The US inflation rate rose to a 13-year high in September as rising costs for food and shelter pushed the rate up to 5.4 per cent. In the UK, annual inflation accelerated to its fastest rate in a decade, hitting 4.2 per cent last month.

This week, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said the cost of living eased to 5.8 per cent in November on reduced cost of petroleum products.

Even so, prices of household products like sugar, maize flour and cooking oil have risen in recent days as importers pass high currency bills to consumers.

The CBK had warned that the weak shilling will not only push up the cost of living but also the debt servicing.

Even so, CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge insists that the shilling is not out of line with other currencies.

Njoroge said while the shilling has shed three per cent of its value against dollar in the year to date, the yen, the Swedish Krona and the euro have lost ground by 10.3, 9.0 and 7.9 per cent respectively.

“The question of whether we have been out of line with other currencies does not arise. Basically, it has to do with the strengthening of the dollar against most currencies,” he added.

The CBK states that it has held its policy on non-intervention in the foreign exchange, only stepping in to stamp out volatility which would leave the economy susceptible to instability.

Since November 9, the shilling has consistently touched record lows against the dollar, with Ksh112.38 of the local unit fetching one greenback at the close of trading on November 26, as CBK data shows.

Banks are selling the dollar at between Ksh114 and Ksh117 in a parallel market.

The CBK documents show that the financial regulator has been in the market for the past five months in a bid to stabilise the shilling. But this has had very little effect.

In Rwanda, the IMF mission, led by Haimanot Teferra has continued with visits to discuss unprecedented policy support, robust remittances, efforts to step up the vaccination rate, and progress in structural reforms is supporting economic recovery in 2021. Growth is projected at 10.2 percent, from a sizable contraction of 3.4 percent in 2020.

The outlook is benefiting from positive spillovers from the global recovery. Policies to attract private sector investment and manage climate change will remain key for more durable, inclusive, and resilient growth.

IMF warns of ‘economic collapse’ in poor nations

WASHINGTON DC

The International Monetary Fund warned of “economic collapse” in some low-income countries unless creditors in the world’s richest nations suspend debt-service obligations and help renegotiate new terms.

About 60% of the world’s poorest countries are at high risk or are already in debt distress, double the share in 2015, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, head of the fund’s strategy, policy, and review department, said in a blog post this week.

With the Group of 20’s debt-service suspension initiative expiring at the end of the year and interest rates poised to rise, “low-income countries will find it increasingly difficult to service their debts,” the IMF officials said. “We may see economic collapse in some countries unless G-20 creditors agree to accelerate debt restructurings and suspend debt service while the restructurings are being negotiated.”

Covid-19 has dealt a major blow to world’s poorest countries, causing a recession that could push more than 100 million people into extreme poverty, according to the World Bank. The challenges are mounting with the discovery of the omicron variant, which is driving a new wave of infections.

At risk

The World Bank says the following nations are at high risk of overall debt distress:

·   Africa: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Zambia

·         Asia: Afghanistan, Laos, Tajikistan

·         Island nations: Haiti, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga, Tuvalu

Afghanistan and Ethiopia are among the 30 nations at high risk of overall debt distress while Grenada, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia are already experiencing it, according to the World Bank’s website.

The G-20 debt plan, which took effect on May 1, 2020, has so far provided more than $10.3 billion in relief to more than 40 eligible countries.

Georgieva and Pazarbasioglu called for the G-20’s so-called common framework — a plan to reorganize loans — to be “stepped up” to help poorer nations. The strategy has been plagued by delays and a lack of interest from debtor countries since its inception in November 2020. Only three of the 73 eligible countries — Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia — have applied for the program.

The expiration of the debt-service relief will force “participating countries to resume debt service payments,” the IMF officials said. “Quick action is needed to build confidence in the framework and provide a road map for helping other countries facing increasing debt vulnerabilities.”

Tribal violence kills 24 in Sudan’s Darfur - Report

CAIRO, Egypt

Tribal clashes between Arabs and non-Arabs killed at least 24 people Sunday in Sudan’s western Darfur region, an aid group said. It was the latest bout of intercommunal violence to rock the conflict-stricken region.

The fighting grew out of a financial dispute late Saturday between two individuals in the Krinding camp for displaced persons in West Darfur province, said Adam Regal, the spokesman for the General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced in Darfur.

Regal said Arab militias known as Janjaweed attacked the camp early Sunday, torching and looting properties. At least 35 others were wounded, he said.

A hashtag that reads “Krinding is bleeding” in Arabic was trending on Twitter on Sunday, with users posting footage purportedly showing burned houses and bodies wrapped in burial shrouds.

The camp is located around four kilometers (some 2.5 miles) east of the provincial capital of Genena, and houses displaced people from the African Masalit tribe, who have been forced to leave their homes during the Darfur conflict.

The violence in Krinding was the latest to rock West Darfur in recent weeks. Last month, a land dispute between Arabs and non-Arabs in the Jebel Moon area led to bloody clashes that left at least 17 people dead and 12 others wounded.

In the nearby South Darfur province, tribal clashes over the past two months have claimed the lives of at least 45 people in the town of Tawila, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee.

Such clashes pose a significant challenge to efforts by Sudan’s transitional authorities to end decades-long rebellions in some areas like war-wrecked Darfur. Sudan is in the midst of a fragile democratic transition since a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.

The Darfur conflict broke out when rebels from the territory’s ethnic central and sub-Saharan African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

Al-Bashir’s government responded with a campaign of aerial bombings and raids by the Janjaweed, who stand accused of mass killings and rapes. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes.

Al-Bashir, who is in prison in Khartoum, faces international charges of genocide and crimes against humanity related to the Darfur conflict. - AP

Gambia President Barrow wins re-election in post-Jammeh vote

BANJUL, Gambia

Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has secured his re-election with a comfortable margin over his opposition in a vote that set the bar for a new chapter in the small West African nation’s democracy.

Supporters of the Gambian President Adama Barrow celebrate the partial results that give the lead to their candidate during the counting ballots in Gambia's presidential election, in Banjul, Gambia, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. Election officials in the West African nation of Gambia have started counting marble votes after polls closed for the first presidential election in decades that does not include former dictator Yahya Jammeh as a candidate.

Barrow won about 53% of the vote in Saturday’s election, according to results from the Independent Election Commission announced Sunday. He easily beat out his main contender Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party who received about 28% of the vote.

This was the country’s first presidential election in decades that did not include former dictator Yahya Jammeh, who now lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea after losing the 2016 election and refusing to accept defeat.

The Chairman of the IEC, Alieu Mommar Njie, announced the results and prayed for peace to prevail in the nation of about 2.4 million people.

“I hereby declare Adama Barrow duly elected to serve as President of the Republic of The Gambia,” he said, after indicating that the National People’s Party (NPP) emerged victorious with 457,519 of the votes cast.

UDP’s Darboe was credited with 238,233 votes, and Mama Kandeh of the Gambia Moral Congress party came in third with 105,902 votes, according to results announced by the IEC.

Demba Sabally, who represented the NPP at Election House, said the presidential election was transparent and fair.

“Gambia is the winner of this election,” he added.

The results, however, have already been contested by four opposition leaders, including Darboe and Kandeh, who on Sunday held a press briefing to challenge the credibility of the vote. According to a statement from the parties, they were concerned about an “inordinate delay” in the announcement of results.

Campaigner Banka Manneh told The Associated Press that he would not deny the opposition leaders their rights to protest. But, he added, “They need provide the evidence of their claims. The courts are here to settle dispute.”

Thousands of people stormed Westfield Youth Monument, located in the heart of Serrekunda, to celebrate Barrow’s reelection.

“President Barrow is a man of peace. We have to give him a chance to continue his development projects,” Modou Ceesay, 36, a resident of New Jeshwang told AP.

Fatou Faal of Kanifing told the AP that Gambians did the “right thing in giving Barrow a chance to complete the development projects he initiated.”

Nearly 860,000 Gambians came to vote on Saturday, a high number that shows a determination for many to exercise their democratic rights as demands for justice in the post-Jammeh era rise.

Barrow emerged victorious in 2016 as the candidate for an opposition coalition that tested the 22-year rule of Jammeh. After initially agreeing to step down, Jammeh resisted, and a six-week crisis saw neighboring West African countries prepare to send in troops to stage a military intervention. Jammeh was forced into exile.

Jammeh’s two-decade rule was marked by arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and summary executions that were revealed through dramatic testimony during Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission hearings that lasted for years.

The other week, the commission handed its 17-volume report to President Barrow, urging him to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations are prosecuted.

Barrow has vowed to fight for justice for the victims. - AP

Group stage of the 2021-22 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup unveiled

BECHAR, Algeria

Record three-time champions CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, 2020 champions RS Berkane of Morocco, Algeria’s JS Saoura and Zambia’s Zanaco qualified on Sunday to the Group stage of the 2021-22 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

The quartet completed a 14-teams pack in the mini-league stage, with the last two seats to be determined between Al Ittihad (Libya) - Enyimba (Nigeria) and JS Kabylie (Algeria) – Royal Leopards (Eswatini).

In Bechar, Algeria’s JS Saoura produced an amazing comeback to beat Ghana’s Hearts of Oak 4-0 and reach the group stage winning 4-2 on aggregate.

After losing the first leg 2-0 in Accra last weekend, JS Saoura responded in style and took the lead after 21 minutes through Abdeldjalil Saad. Oussama Bellatreche doubled the hosts lead and canceled Hearts of Oak first leg win.

Bellatreche completed his brace three minutes after the break to give Saoura an aggregate lead, before Hamro Aziz put the game to bed two minutes from time.

Meanwhile in Bamako, Mali’s Binga couldn’t find a similar comeback, as they fell short to beat Zanaco 2-0, leaving the Zambians to reach the group stage winning 3-2 on aggregate.

Taking a 3-0 lead from the first leg, Zanaco kept their hosts at bay till the 80th minute when Youssouf Diallo gave Binga the lead.

The Malians had a penalty three minutes into injury time, and Youssou Coulibaly scored from the spot to reduce the deficit to a single goal. But it was still not enough as Zanaco reached the group stage winning 3-2 on aggregate.

In Sfax, three-time Confederation Cup champions CS Sfaxien needed a lone goal to beat Kenya’s Tusker and reach the group stage winning 1-0 on aggregate.

Aymen Harzi strike from the spot after 35 minutes was all what the Tunisians needed to win the game, as Tusker had Karlos Kirenge sent off for a second booking four minutes into second half stoppage time.

Tanzanian giants Simba SC, DR Congo heavyweights TP Mazembe and Congo Brazzaville’s AS Otoho have become the first three clubs to progress to the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after picking favourable results from Sunday’s Second Additional Round second leg matches.

In Lusaka, Simba SC lost 2-1 to home side Red Arrows of Zambia on the day but still progressed with a 4-2 aggregate score having won the first leg 3-0 in Dar es Salaam.

Arrows came into the match needing a huge performance to overturn the first leg deficit and were rewarded at the end of the first half with the leading goal.

Ricky Banda broke the deadlock in the first minute of added time as the home side went to the break a goal up. They would double the tally and come to within touching distance of the aggregate score when Yussuf Saddam scored the second two minutes after the restart.

However, Simba resisted all efforts by Arrows to get a third and would set a huge relief for themselves when Hassan Dilunga halved the deficit in the 67th minute.

They kept the score till fulltime to reach the group phase.

In Nairobi, Otoho held Kenyan side Gor Mahia to a 1-1 draw and progressed on a 2-1 aggregate score.

Roland Oukuri who scored the lone goal in the 1-0 victor at home last weekend found the back of the net again, scoring the opener after 10 minutes, reacting quickest to tap home from close range after Faria Ondongo’s freekick was pushed to the bar by the Gor keeper.

K’Ogalo drew level two minutes later when John Macharia hammered a lose ball home from inside the area.

However, the Kenyan side could not score two more goals to turn the game in their favour, Otoho defending well to earn a group stage berth.

In South Africa, debutants Marumo Gallants could not overturn a slim 1-0 deficit from the first leg as they were held to a 0-0 draw by TP Mazembe who progressed with the all-important victory from Lubumbashi last Sunday.

Egypt’s duo Pyramids FC and Al Masry reached the 2021-22 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Group stage, after two home 1-0 wins in Cairo and Alexandria respectively on Sunday.

Meanwhile in Benghazi, there was penalty joy for Al Ahli Tripoli as they joined the group stage, beating Stade Malien on shootout.

In Cairo, Pyramids who reached the semifinals last season - after being losing finalists the season before - repeated their home 1-0 win over DR Congo AS Maniema Union to reach the group stage winning 2-0 on aggregate.

Ibrahim Adel scored the hosts only goal after 36 minutes, as Pyramids cruised to the group stage for the third time in as many CAF Interclub seasons since their debut in 2019-20.

In Alexandria, Al Masry needed to overturn their first leg 2-1 defeat to Nigeria’s Rivers United last weekend. And they did with the slightest of advantages.

Mohamed Abdel Lateef “Grendo” scored what proved to be the game’s lone goal after 14 minutes, to give Al Masry a 1-0 victory on the night, as they reached the group stage on away goals’ rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Meanwhile in Benghazi, Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli reached the group stage on penalties, beating Mali’s Stade Malien 4-2 in the post-match penalty shootout

Mohamed Shtewi scored the game’s lone goal after 69 minutes, as Al Ahli Tripoli canceled their away loss with the same result last weekend in Bamako.

In the shootout, The Libyans prevailed 4-2 to reach the group stage amid wild celebrations from their few supporters in the stands.

Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire giants Coton Sport and ASEC Mimosas reached the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup group stage, as Niger’s US Gendarmerie Nationale rewrote history by being the second ever side from Niger and the first since 2010 to reach the mini league stage of a CAF competition.

Meanwhile Nigeria’s Enyimba achieved home win over Libya’s Al Ittihad, with the first leg being rescheduled to a date confirmed later.

In Luanda, ASEC Mimosas came to Angola leading 3-1 over GD Interclube from the home leg. They eased their nerves as early as the second minute when Serge Poku put them ahead to throw more pressure on the hosts.

Mano Luis restored parity for Interclube just three minutes later to give the hosts some hope. But all hopes were shattered when Kamir Konate (18) and Stephane Aziz Ki (34) made it 3-1 for ASEC before the break, as the Ivorians looked sure of their qualification.

Mano completed his brace with a second consolation goal for the hosts after 62 minutes, but without stopping ASEc from celebrating an aggregate 5-2 win.

Meanwhile in Douala, Souaibou Marou double was all that Coton Sport needed to defeat Mauritanian visitors FC Noaudhibou 2-0 to qualify on the same aggregate score.

Marou broke the deadlock after 22 minutes and doubled his side’s lead seven minutes later from the spot, as Coton reached the group stage of the competition they were semifinalists last season.

In Kinshasa, DC Motema Pembe needed to overturn their away 2-0 defeat last weekend in Niger. But they found it tough against a resolute USGN defense that kept them at bay till the Congolese scored the game’s lone goal 6 minutes from time.

US Gendarmerie Nationale 2-1 aggregate win means they are the second ever side from Niger to reach the group stage, after ASFAN who played the same stage of the Confederation Cup in 2010.

Meanwhile in Aba, Enyimba had the best of the home advantage, beating Libyan visitors Al Ittihad 2-0.

Sadiq Abubakar opened the scoring for The People’s Elephant after 21 minutes, with Victor Mbaoma doubling the lead at the 34th minute.

Al Ittihad ended the game with ten men after seeing one of their players sent off deep into the second half injury time. The return leg date will be confirmed later.

Arrows bow out of Confederation Cup despite home win

LUSAKA, Zambia 

Red Arrows of Zambia have been dumped out of the CAF Confederation Cup despite a 2-1 win over Tanzanian giants Simba SC.

Israel Patrick of Simba (L) challenging Red Arrows' player.

The Airmen bowed out of the competition thanks to a 4-2 aggregate loss having suffered a 3-0 defeat away in Tanzania last week.

The hosts settled quickly and started controlling the match with Alassane Diarra and Edward Tembo combining well in the middle of the park.

Simba had their first chance in the 15th minute as Meddie Kagere who was isolated somehow managed to win a corner.

Alassane Diara had a crack at goal in the 18th minute but his effort went over the bar. Diara was again found unmarked inside the area but his effort was blocked with Arrows shouting for a penalty but the referee was not having any of it.

Chapeshi swung in a brilliant cross but Joseph Phiri’s header went over the crossbar. Another cross from Chepeshi went begging as three Arrows players failed to connect with the ball.

Simba came close shortly after the half hour mark as Bernard Morrison pulled the ball back for Kagere and Patrick Mwenda but they were both late.

Arrows finally found the back of the net in the 45th minute as Ricky Banda struck with a brilliant volley to open the scores.

In the second stanza, Arrows only needed two minutes to score as Saddam Yusuf Phiri scored from close range to double the lead and bring Arrows within a goal of what could have been a very impressive comeback.

It was all Arrows afterwards with with Felix Bulaya taking things personal and tormenting the Simba defense providing two fine crosses but Joseph Phiri and Ricky Banda could not connect.

Simba however pulled one back against the run of play in the 67th minute, Hassan Dilunga with a close range finish.

Arrows pushed for a goal but it never came as the match finished 2-1, 4-2 on aggregate.

Red Arrows 2-1 Simba SC

(Ricky Banda 45′, Saddam Yusuf Phiri 47’| Hassan Dilunga 67′)

Aggregate (2:4)

‘Travel apartheid’ unacceptable – UN Chief

NEW YORK, USA

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that travel restrictions imposed over COVID-19 that isolate any one country or region as “not only deeply unfair and punitive – they are ineffective.”

Speaking to reporters in New York, Guterres said the only way to reduce the risk of transmission while allowing for travel and economic engagement was to repeatedly test travellers, “together with other appropriate and truly effective measures.”

“We have the instruments to have safe travel. Let’s use those instruments to avoid this kind of, allow me to say, travel apartheid, which I think is unacceptable,” Guterres said.

Omicron was first identified in southern Africa and many countries, including the United States and Britain, have announced travel curbs and other restrictions on the region. Africa has some of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates worldwide due to a lack of access to doses.

Guterres has long warned about the dangers of vaccine inequality around the world and that low immunisation rates are “a breeding ground for variants.”

“These travel bans are not justified,” said African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat at the joint news conference with Guterres after the annual meeting between the United Nations and the African Union.

Libya court reinstates Gaddafi presidential bid amid election chaos

TRIPOLI, Libya

A Libyan court ruled on Thursday that the son of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi could run for president, his lawyer said, as arguments intensified over the conduct of an election aimed at ending a decade of turmoil.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi’s appeal against disqualification for the Dec. 24 vote was delayed for days as fighters blocked off the court, one of several incidents that may foreshadow wider election unrest.

In another incident on Thursday, the elections commission said armed men had stormed five election centres in western Libya, stealing ballot cards.

Analysts fear a contested vote, or one with clear violations, could derail a peace process that this year led to the formation of a unity government in an effort to bridge the rift between warring eastern and western factions.

A final list of candidates for the election has not yet been released amid a chaotic appeals process after the election commission initially disqualified 25 of the 98 who registered to run for president.

Gaddafi, who was sentenced to death by a Tripoli court in absentia in 2015 for warcrimes committed during the failed battle to save his father’s 40-year rule from a NATO-backed uprising, is one of several divisive candidates in the race.

He is a figurehead for Libyans still loyal to the former government of his father, whose toppling and death in 2011 heralded a decade of strife. After his lawyer announced the decision, his supporters celebrated in the streets across Sebha, witnesses said.

However, many other Libyans, including in the armed groups that hold the balance of power across swathes of the country, view his presence on the ballot as unacceptable after the bloody struggle to oust his father.

The blockade of the Sebha court this week by fighters allied to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar indicated the potential chaos that the planned election could unleash with armed groups backing or opposing rival candidates.

Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) controls much of eastern and southern Libya, is himself a candidate for the election. The LNA said the units allied to it had been protecting the court rather than blocking it.

Zambia President urged to walk the talk after ‘slow’ start

LUSAKA, Zambia

The August election of Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema, which he won by a landslide, was widely hailed as a milestone for African opposition movements.

But while in his first 100 days in office Hichilema had reassured investors, he has been seen to drag his feet on promises to fight corruption and reduce poverty, fuelling impatience among voters.

Zambians turned out en masse to vote for change on August 12, fed up with growing economic hardship and repression under their former leader Edgar Lungu.

Hichilema inherited a heavily indebted country — the first in Africa to default during Covid — and soured bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Sworn in on August 24, he vowed to revive the economy, root out graft and woo back scarred investors to Africa’s second copper producer.

Much of the international community remains starry-eyed, but some Zambians are beginning to feel disenchanted.

“The president is too slow,” said Martin Nawa, a 30-year-old newspaper vendor in the capital Lusaka.

“These people are hiding whatever they have stolen,” he told AFP, referring to alleged embezzlement by the previous regime.

Critics say Hichilema has been slow to take action against wrongdoers.

So far, only one former state journalist has been charged for acquiring property with public funds. She was freed after surrendering her assets.

“He has only shown the will to fight corruption, but he will not achieve anything with the same officials in the police” and anti-graft bodies, said Zambian rights activist Brebner Changala.

A self-made businessman, Hichilema centred his campaign on economic restructuring.

The 2022 budget he presented to parliament at the end of October was well-received among investors and creditors — reassured by promised fiscal reforms, spending cuts and debt transparency.

These measures “will help the country make progress in debt restructuring” and facilitate negotiations with the IMF that resumed this month, said Aleix Montana of risk analysis firm Verisk Maplecroft.

Hichilema has been critical in international media of the billions of dollars of sovereign debt Lungu accumulated during his six-year rule.

He claims it was grossly underestimated, particularly regarding money owed to China.

The president “is quite popular among investors, especially in the mining sector,” said Montana, pointing to a new policy that will allow companies to deduct mineral royalties from corporate tax.

Zambia’s sovereign bond prices, which jumped after Hichilema’s election, have continued to increase steadily, he added.

Hichilema has sought to shelter citizens from the impact of fiscal reforms, increasing constituency development funds and introducing free access to secondary school.

He also removed bribe-taking political cadres who controlled markets and bus stations under Lungu.

But a “proposed reduction of subsidies for fertiliser, electricity and fuel is likely to have a serious knock-on effect on people’s budgets,” noted South Africa-based political analyst Nicole Beardsworth.

Inflation has remained stuck at a high of over 20 percent, she added, stressing that it was still too early to draw a line.

For his part, the more optimistic Zambian economist Maambo Hamaundu said: “I can confidently say that as a country we are on the right trajectory/”

Politically, Hichilema set off on a positive note, freezing the bank accounts of Lungu’s close aides and filling government positions with technocrats.

And even critics agree the new government is less repressive.

“What 100 days has done to us is give us back our freedom and liberty, and for that we must give him credit,” Changala said.

Beardsworth, however, flagged a “mushrooming of appointments to State House” which he derided as “thank-you appointments”.

Eyebrows have also been raised around a flurry of work trips Hichilema has already made.

Since a first trumpeted visit to the United States for the UN General Assembly, he has travelled to Glasgow for COP26 and attended events in Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.

Lusaka resident Sean Tembo, who leads a small opposition party, described the new president as Zambia’s “Vasco da Gama”, a reference to the 16th-century Portuguese explorer.

“I travelled with a lean delegation” on a commercial flight, Hichilema has tweeted in his defence, distancing himself from Lungu’s controversial presidential jet.

A government spokesman declined to comment on Hichilema’s first 100 days in office, saying an official statement would be issued on the topic.

The high expectations spurred by Hichilema’s victory could be a “double-edged sword”, Montana said.

“Discontent will grow if he is unable to provide some tangible results,” he warned. “The people who voted for him are expecting a real change soon.” - AFP

China citizens instructed to leave eastern Congo after attacks

BEIJING, China

China on Wednesday urged its citizens to leave three provinces in eastern Congo as violence intensifies in the mineral-rich region.

A posting from the Chinese Embassy in Kinshasa on the WeChat online messaging said a number of Chinese citizens had been attacked and kidnapped over the past month in the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu and Ituri, where several anti-government rebel groups have a presence.

It said Chinese residing in the three provinces should provide their personal details by Dec. 10 and make plans to leave for safer parts of Congo. Those in the districts of Bunia, Djugu, Beni, Rutshuru, Fizi, Uvira and Mwenga should leave immediately, it said, adding that any who do not do so “will have to bear the consequences themselves.”

“We ask that all Chinese citizens and Chinese-invested businesses in Congo please pay close attention to local conditions, increase their safety awareness and emergency preparedness, and avoid unnecessary outside travel,” the embassy said.

No details of the incidents were given, although the embassy last month reported five Chinese citizens were abducted from a mining operation in South Kivu, which borders Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.

It warned a the time that the security situation in the area was “extremely complex and grim” and that there was little possibility of sending help in the event of an attack or kidnapping.

No details were given about those kidnapped, who they worked for or who was suspected of taking them.

Several armed groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, known by its French acronym FDLR, the Mai-Mai and the M23 regularly vie for control of eastern Congo’s natural resources.

Despite the danger, Chinese businesses have moved into Congo and other unstable African states in a quest for cobalt and other rare minerals and resources. Chinese workers have also been subject to kidnappings and attacks in Pakistan and other countries with active insurgencies.

Security was a key topic at a meeting Monday in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on Monday, between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Congolese counterpart Christophe Lutundula, according to China’s Xinhua News Agency.

China’s government and ruling Communist Party “attach great importance to the safety and security of Chinese enterprises and Chinese nationals overseas and the Chinese side has been extremely concerned with the recent serious crimes of kidnappings and killings of its citizens in the DRC,” Wang said, using the acronym for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Wang urged Congo to secure the release of those kidnapped and create a “safe, secure and stable environment for bilateral cooperation.”

Xinhua quoted Lutundula as saying Congo would take “forceful measures” to investigate the crimes, free the hostages, punish the culprits severely and safeguard national security and restore stability to the country’s east.

Earlier this week, Uganda said it launched joint air and artillery strikes with Congolese forces against camps of the extremist Allied Democratic Forces rebel group in eastern Congo.

The ADF was established in the early 1990s in Uganda and later driven out by the Ugandan military into eastern Congo, where many rebel groups are able to operate because the central government has limited control there.

At least four civilians were killed less than two weeks ago in Uganda’s capital when suicide bombers detonated their explosives at two locations.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, saying the attacks were carried out by Ugandans. Ugandan authorities blamed the ADF, which has been allied with the Islamic State group since 2019. - AP

Burkina Faso facing a security crisis - UN

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso

If insecurity in Burkina Faso keeps up, the West African nation could spiral into a humanitarian and human rights “catastrophe,” the U.N. human rights chief said Wednesday.

Protestors take to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou Saturday Nov. 27, 2021, calling for President Roch Marc Christian Kabore to resign. The protest comes after the deadliest attack in years against the security forces in the Sahel's Soum province earlier this month, where more than 50 security forces were killed and after an attack in the Center North region where 19 people including nine members of the security forces were killed.

Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, spoke to The Associated Press during her first visit to the war-weakened nation, which has seen an escalation in human rights abuses by its own security forces as it attempts to tackle a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

During her four-day trip, Bachelet visited the hard-hit Sahel region and spoke to key players, including President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, religious leaders, civil society groups and victims of human rights abuses.

“Burkina Faso is in the grip of not one but several major, intersecting crises,” she said. “I stressed with President Kabore, it is essential that all perpetrators of such human rights violations and abuses be brought to justice, regardless of their affiliation.”

Bachelet’s visit comes as accusations of human rights abuses by the security forces and jihadis are increasing. Last week at least 15 people were allegedly killed by the army in the southwest, according to civil society groups.

Michelle Bachelet

Human Rights Watch said it’s investigating allegations that at least 18 women were raped by jihadis in the town of Dablo, said Corinne Dufka, the group’s West Africa director.

“Burkina Faso has been rocked by atrocities by jihadis and pro-government forces alike in violence which has killed hundreds, decimated entire villages, and left untold broken lives in its wake,” said Dufka, urging that Bachelet’s visit bring this suffering into focus and pressure all armed groups to stop waging war on civilians.

As security decreases, the security forces will likely resort to more aggressive and extrajudicial tactics to try and stem the problem, which will lead to a vicious cycle of distrust and the inability to control the situation, said Laith Alkhouri, CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory, which provides intelligence analysis. “Should reports of human rights abuses go unchecked, it will lead to further distrust in the government’s ability to address security concerns.”

Residents are growing increasingly frustrated at the government’s inability to stem the violence. Protesters threw rocks and security forces fired tear gas during a protest last week calling for the president’s resignation. More protests are planned.

Bachelet said Burkina Faso has a tradition of ensuring the peaceful coexistence of its people and called on the government to create a space for meaningful dialogue and for parties to air grievances.

While the government has launched investigations into allegations of human rights abuses by the security forces, no one has been convicted.

Meanwhile, civilians who accuse the army of killing or disappearing their relatives are asking the government to stop the abuse.

“They are arresting and executing anybody and I am against it, even if he is a terrorist,” said Hamadou Diallo, who has not seen his nephew since the nephew was taken by the army two years ago outside of the town of Dori. “If someone is not armed and they arrest him, they can judge and sentence him.”