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Everyone is always looking for that perfect island getaway and most travelers are seeking a destination that offers sun and fun, excellent food and nightlife options, and opportunities for some self-care and pampering. If these are things that motivate your travel decisions, then look no further than the Seychelles. If you are willing to go a […]
The post 3 Reasons Why the Seychelles Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List appeared first on Ebony.
Many people have been killed since clashes began on Monday. Scores too had been killed in the run up to the vote as protestors marched against Conde's bid for a third term.
[Seychelles News Agency] The Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) has recorded an increase of 35 percent in sea cucumber catches on Seychelles' Mahe Plateau for the 2019/2020 season.
There are now more than over 780,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, with a number of African countries imposing a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic.
According to the latest data by the John Hopkins University and Africa Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 in Africa, the breakdown remains fluid as countries confirm cases as and when. As of May 13, every African country had recorded an infection, the last being Lesotho.
We shall keep updating this list largely sourced from the John Hopkins University tallies, Africa CDC and from official government data.
SUGGESTED READING: Africa’s COVID-19 deaths pass 100,000 mark
Major African stats: July 24 at 7:00 GMT:
Confirmed cases = 789,226
Active cases = 325,485
Recoveries = 447,226
Number of deaths = 16,715
Countries in alphabetical order
Algeria – 25,484
Angola – 851
Benin – 1,694
Botswana – 592
Burkina Faso – 1,070
Burundi – 345
Cameroon – 16,522
Cape Verde – 2,190
Central African Republic – 4,590
Chad – 915
Comoros – 340
Congo-Brazzaville – 2,851
DR Congo – 8,720
Djibouti – 5,031
Egypt – 90,413
Equatorial Guinea – 3,071
Eritrea – 251
Eswatini – 2,021
Ethiopia – 11,933
Gabon – 6,588
(The) Gambia – 170
Ghana – 30,366
Guinea – 6,806
Guinea-Bissau – 1,954
Ivory Coast – 15,001
Kenya – 15,601
Lesotho – 359
Liberia – 1,117
Libya – 2,314
Madagascar – 8,381
Malawi – 3,302
Mali – 2,494
Mauritania – 6,067
Mauritius – 343
Morocco – 18,264
Mozambique – 1,582
Namibia – 1,522
Niger – 1,122
Nigeria- 38,948
Rwanda – 1,710
Sao Tome and Principe – 749
Senegal – 9,266
Seychelles – 108
Sierra Leone – 1,752
Somalia – 3,171
South Africa – 408,052
South Sudan – 2,239
Sudan – 11,237
Tanzania – 509
Togo – 828
Tunisia – 1,406
Uganda – 1,079
Zambia – 3,789
Zimbabwe – 2,124
SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa II
There are now more than over 590,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, with a number of African countries imposing a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic.
Major African stats: July 15 at 7:00 GMT:
Confirmed cases = 625,562
Active cases = 297,971
Recoveries = 313,828
Number of deaths = 13,763
Algeria – 20,216
Angola – 541
Benin – 1,378
Botswana – 399
Burkina Faso – 1,037
Burundi – 269
Cameroon – 15,173
Cape Verde – 1,722
Central African Republic – 4,356
Chad – 884
Comoros – 321
Congo-Brazzaville – 2,028
DR Congo – 8,135
Djibouti – 4,979
Egypt – 83,930
Eritrea – 232
Eswatini – 1,434
Ethiopia – 7,969
Gabon – 6,026
(The) Gambia – 64
Ghana – 24,988
Guinea – 6,200
Guinea-Bissau – 1,842
Ivory Coast – 13,037
Kenya – 10,791
Lesotho – 256
Liberia – 1,024
Libya – 1,563
Madagascar – 4,867
Malawi – 2,497
Mali – 2,423
Mauritania – 5,518
Mauritius – 342
Morocco – 16,097
Mozambique – 1,268
Namibia – 864
Niger – 1,099
Nigeria- 33,616
Rwanda – 1,416
Sao Tome and Principe – 732
Senegal – 8,243
Seychelles – 100
Sierra Leone – 1,651
Somalia – 3,076
South Africa – 298,292
South Sudan – 2,148
Sudan – 10,417
Togo – 731
Tunisia – 1,306
Uganda – 1,040
Zambia – 1,895
Zimbabwe – 1,064
There are now more than over 390,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, with a number of African countries imposing a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic.
Major African stats: June 30 at 7:00 GMT:
Confirmed cases = 404,796
Active cases = 202,049
Recoveries = 192,600
Number of deaths = 10,147
Algeria – 13,907
Angola – 284
Benin – 1,199
Botswana – 227
Burkina Faso – 992
Burundi – 170
Cameroon – 12,592
Cape Verde – 1,227
Central African Republic – 3,745
Chad – 866
Comoros – 303
Congo-Brazzaville – 1,087
DR Congo – 7,039
Djibouti – 4,682
Egypt – 68,311
Equatorial Guinea – 2,001
Eritrea – 203
Eswatini – 812
Ethiopia – 5,846
Gabon – 5,394
(The) Gambia – 49
Ghana – 17,741
Guinea – 5,391
Guinea-Bissau – 1,654
Ivory Coast – 9,499
Kenya – 6,366
Lesotho – 27
Liberia – 780
Libya – 824
Madagascar – 2,214
Malawi – 1,224
Mali – 2,181
Mauritania – 4,363
Mauritius – 341
Morocco – 12,533
Mozambique – 889
Namibia – 205
Niger – 1,075
Nigeria- 25,694
Rwanda – 1,025
Sao Tome and Principe – 714
Senegal – 6,793
Seychelles – 81
Sierra Leone – 1,462
Somalia – 2,924
South Africa – 151,209
South Sudan – 2,007
Sudan – 9,257
Togo – 650
Tunisia – 1,174
Uganda – 889
Zambia – 1,594
Zimbabwe – 591
Worried about the economy amidst COVID-19, young people in Seychelles say they want to see the island nation diversify away from its reliance on tourism and grow the island nation's ICT sector and agriculture production to lower its reliance on imports.
SNA spoke to several young people to get their point of view on how COVID-19 has impacted Seychelles, what changes they would like to see as well as opportunities presented.
Echoing the need to diversify the economy, Jade Jules told SNA that though the country is small, Seychelles has a lot of potential.
Angelique Popounneau, another young Seychellois, told SNA that COVID-19 has provided the country with an opportunity to test the 'working from home' concept which most organisations or people were not employing before the pandemic.
Popounneau, who is chief executive of the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), added that whether people will see the working from home concept continue into the future, depends on the willingness of the organisations to create work environments that work for their workers.
Predicting developing trends for international holiday bookings in Seychelles is quite difficult at the moment, a top official of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) said on Monday.
Since Seychelles closed its borders to tourists amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the local tourism industry -- the nation's top economic contributor -- has come to a dead stop.
Francis said that since COVID-19 cases remain high in some of Seychelles' main markets, the country is at a disadvantage when it comes to tourist arrivals.
\"We are considering of course that upon the re-opening of our international airport in June, with the new guidelines provided by the Department of Health, Seychelles will definitely not have the volume of tourists, as the COVID-19 has not impacted the economic power of the world but has had a big psychological impact on people,\" she added.
\"Through data STB is receiving from its partners, for instance, VISA, our team has been able to see that our local people have a decent purchasing power and although disposable income is now limited, our local people are still able to consider a staycation or other leisure activities domestically as an option since travels are still unsafe,\" said Francis.
President Hage Geingob has lashed back at the stinging criticism levelled against his administration when it comes to fighting corruption in the public sector.
While delivering his state of the nation address yesterday in the National Assembly, the head of state said his administration has made significant accomplishments in the fight against corruption and reducing public expenditure at record levels.
Probes
\"We launched investigations into alleged irregularities in the contracts for the National Oil Storage Facility and Neckartal Dam, which exposed government to currency fluctuations,\" Geingob told parliament.
In light of ongoing government measures to reduce public expenditure, Geingob said reforms were undertaken to eliminate wastage, with respect to the conditions of service and benefits for public office bearers.
Geingob attributed this to the introduction of a Public Performance Management System, legislative reforms to strengthen accountability and transparency and aforementioned investigations launched into public tender said the Whistle Blower and Witness Protection Acts would be operationalised during this term, as additional measures to strengthen the fight against corruption.
There are now more than over 150,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, with a number of African countries imposing a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic.
According to the latest data by the John Hopkins University and Africa Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 in Africa, the breakdown remains fluid as countries confirm cases as and when.
As of May 13, every African country had recorded an infection, the last being Lesotho.
Major African stats: June 2 at 13:00 GMT:
\t
\t\tConfirmed cases = 158,030
\t\tNumber of deaths = 4,505
\t\tRecoveries = 67,491
\t\tActive cases = 86,034
\t\tAlgeria – 9,626
\t\tAngola – 86
\t\tBenin – 244
\t\tBotswana – 40
\t\tBurkina Faso – 881
\t\tBurundi – 63
\t\tCameroon – 6,585
\t\tCape Verde – 466
\t\tCentral African Republic – 1,173
\t\tChad – 803
\t\tComoros – 132
\t\tCongo-Brazzaville – 611
\t\tDR Congo – 3,495
\t\tDjibouti – 3,779
\t\tEgypt – 27,536
\t\tEquatorial Guinea – 1,306
\t\tEritrea – 40
\t\tEswatini – 294
\t\tEthiopia – 1,486
\t\tGabon – 2,803
\t\t(The) Gambia – 25
\t\tGhana – 8,297
\t\tGuinea – 3,886
\t\tGuinea-Bissau – 1,339
\t\tIvory Coast – 3,024
\t\tKenya – 2,093
\t\tLesotho – 2
\t\tLiberia – 316
\t\tLibya – 182
\t\tMadagascar – 908
\t\tMalawi – 358
\t\tMali – 1,351
\t\tMauritania – 668
\t\tMauritius – 335
\t\tMorocco – 7,910
\t\tMozambique – 307
\t\tNamibia – 25
\t\tNiger – 960
\t\tNigeria- 10,819
\t\tRwanda – 384
\t\tSao Tome and Principe – 484
\t\tSenegal – 3,932
\t\tSeychelles – 11
\t\tSierra Leone – 909
\t\tSomalia – 2,089
\t\tSouth Africa – 35,812
\t\tSouth Sudan – 994
\t\tSudan – 5,310
\t\tTanzania – 509
\t\tTogo – 445
\t\tTunisia – 1,087
\t\tUganda – 507
\t\tZambia – 1,089
\t\tZimbabwe – 206
[Seychelles News Agency] A UNESCO World Heritage site in Seychelles -- the Vallee de Mai -- has reopened its doors to visitors with a new booking system.
[DW] A latest report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation on African governance shows a decline in overall progress for the first time in a decade. This has been driven by a decline in security and the rule of law in some countries.
Africa is now edging towards a million cases of coronavirus.
Luanda — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States who want to reopen the educational establishments should establish the minimal and basic requirement of prevention including the availability of hygiene, water and sanitation.
This is one of the recommendations from the organization report that ANGOP had access Sunday appealing the members who want to reopen the school classes to have hygiene and screening products as well as to add the teaching staff to ease the school rooms.
The mandatory use of masks, the hygiene and disinfection of the school rooms and common areas having social distance inside the school rooms and in the school bus, are also part of the organization recommendation.
Regarding to this situation, Angola has suspended school classes since last March in the framework of the first Provisional Legislative Presidential Decree reinforced on 25 April with the first Decree of the national State of Emergency in the country history.
Found in 1992, SADC is an organization created and supported by the Southern African countries aiming to promote the socioeconomic, political and security cooperation at the level of its members as well as to foster the regional integration to reach peace, stability and wealth.
[allAfrica] Cape Town -- As Africa marks six months since the first case of Covid-19 was detected, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti went beyond speaking of the more than one million active cases and the 24,278 people who have died of the pandemic.
Death Threats for Civil Disobedience
Tanzanian main opposition leader Tundu Lissu back in exile in Europe following an intense presidential election that saw his civil disobedience in protest of what he perceived as a constitutional coup d’etat, have him once again be the target of death threats.
Nothing to take lightly after surviving a 2017 assassination attempt which nearly took his life.
The fifty-two-year politician explains his return to Europe, \"Immediately after the election was called out, what passes for the election, the security that I had, the security detail that was given to me during the election campaign was removed, and the very next day, I started receiving death threats. The exact words that he used were: 'we are going to deal with you... we have been instructed to deal with you once and for all.'\"
Not Backing Down
Still impassioned and not at all ready to throw in the towel as his beloved home country Tanzania still calls out to him, Lissu states with confidence, \"I'll go back. I don't know when, but I cannot remain in Europe forever, the most important thing right now is to continue the struggle. Obviously, the conditions inside Tanzania are very dangerous for everyone and that is why I had to flee the country but we will continue the democratic struggle.\" John Magufuli was defeated by an overwhelming majority of 84% of the votes, while his party confiscated 97% of the seats in Parliament.
Context
This overwhelming victory is in line with President Magufuli's first term in office — which was characterised by a sharp decline in fundamental freedoms and an increase in attacks against the opposition, according to human rights organisations.
April 18, 2020: Eritrea president likens COVID-19 to sudden war
\tEritrean president Isaias Afwerki has delivered his first public address on the coronavirus pandemic since the country recorded index case on March 21.
As of April 18, the Eritrea COVID-19 situation report had 35 confirmed cases, all currently under treatment – meaning the country had not recorded any recovery or death.
April 14, 2020: Eritrea cases reach 34, diaspora contributions pouring in
\tEritrea coronavirus statistics as of April 14 stood at 34, no death and no recoveries have so far been announced meaning all 34 patients were under treatment.
The country continues to celebrate the financial commitment and contributions of its diaspora in supporting government efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
He wrote: “#Eritrea: Financial contributions to bolster GOE measures on COVID-19 continue to flow from individuals, firms/ commercial enterprises in the country our communities in the Diaspora…Eloquent and veritable testimony that the nation is marching in lock-step in these hard times!”
[Seychelles News Agency] Seychelles' outgoing Chief Justice, Mathilda Twomey, said that clearing backlogs and bringing justice for all citizens have been the highlight of her tenure. Twomey, who was sworn in as Chief Justice in August 2015, is the first Seychellois woman to occupy the post. Twomey's last day in the office is Wednesday 30, and a ceremonial sitting was held for her at the Palais de Justice.
There are now more than over 350,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, with a number of African countries imposing a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic.
Major African stats: June 27 at 09:00 GMT:
\t\tConfirmed cases = 359,606
\t\tActive cases = 177,349
\t\tRecoveries = 172,974
\t\tNumber of deaths = 9,283
\t\tAlgeria – 12,685
\t\tAngola – 212
\t\tBenin – 1,053
\t\tBotswana – 92
\t\tBurkina Faso – 941
\t\tBurundi – 144
\t\tCameroon – 12,592
\t\tCape Verde – 1,027
\t\tCentral African Republic – 3,340
\t\tChad – 865
\t\tComoros – 272
\t\tCongo-Brazzaville – 1,087
\t\tDR Congo – 6,552
\t\tDjibouti – 4,643
\t\tEgypt – 62,755
\t\tEquatorial Guinea – 2,001
\t\tEritrea – 167
\t\tEswatini – 728
\t\tEthiopia – 5,425
\t\tGabon – 5,209
\t\t(The) Gambia – 43
\t\tGhana – 15,834
\t\tGuinea – 5,260
\t\tGuinea-Bissau – 1,614
\t\tIvory Coast – 8,739
\t\tKenya – 5,533
\t\tLesotho – 24
\t\tLiberia – 684
\t\tLibya – 713
\t\tMadagascar – 1,922
\t\tMalawi – 1,005
\t\tMali – 2,060
\t\tMauritania – 3,907
\t\tMauritius – 341
\t\tMorocco – 11,633
\t\tMozambique – 816
\t\tNamibia – 121
\t\tNiger – 1,059
\t\tNigeria- 23,298
\t\tRwanda – 858
\t\tSao Tome and Principe – 712
\t\tSenegal – 6,354
\t\tSierra Leone – 1,394
\t\tSomalia – 2,878
\t\tSouth Africa – 124,590
\t\tSouth Sudan – 1,942
\t\tSudan – 9,257
\t\tTogo – 591
\t\tTunisia – 1,164
\t\tUganda – 848
\t\tZambia – 1,531
\t\tZimbabwe – 561
Windhoek —
Honourable Professor Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly and Madame Katjavivi;
Honourable Victoria Kauma, Vice Chairperson of the National Council;
Right Honourable Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament;
Comrade Sophia Shaningwa, Secretary General of the Ruling SWAPO Party;
Honourable McHenry Venaani, Leader of the Official Opposition;
Honourable Members of Parliament; Special Guests:
Comrade Nangolo Mbumba, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia;
Your Lordship, Chief Justice Peter Shivute;
Madame Monica Geingos, First Lady of the Republic of Namibia;
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished Invited Guests;
Members of the Media;
Fellow Namibians,
2020 - THE YEAR OF INTROSPECTION
During my inauguration on March 21, I took an Oath before God and before you, to strive to the best of my ability, to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution and to obey, execute and administer the laws of the Republic of Namibia.
I congratulate the re-elected Speaker, his Deputy, the leader of the Official Opposition and all leaders, especially the newcomers to this 7th Parliament; an outcome of our peaceful and democratic Presidential and National Assembly elections of November 2019.
Watch on YouTube
Honourable Speaker, Members of Parliament,
While the past five years have been challenging as a result of the global economic downturn and protracted drought, the past four months have been particularly daunting.
Honourable Speaker, Fellow Namibians,
END OF FIRST TERM REPORT
We have come to the end of the first term of this Government and I will present a progress report highlighting key accomplishments and challenges encountered over the term.
At the end of the first term, the Harambee Prosperity Plan recorded an average 70 percent overall execution rate on set goals and outcomes.
Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya are among 15 members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) ready to pilot the Comesa Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO) system.
The eCO which is one of the latest tools developed under the Comesa Digital Free Trade Area (FTA) initiative is expected to facilitate intra-regional trade through reduction in the costs and time required in registration, application and submission of certificates and the post-verification of originating goods.
On June 10, the Comesa Secretariat undertook to collaborate with these countries to develop national piloting plans to ensure electronic certificates are implemented to boost the value of intra-Comesa trade, which has stagnated since FTA instruments were put in place in 2000.
Certificates of Origin are issued to exporters within the Comesa’s FTA to confer preferential treatment to goods originating from an FTA member.
In November last year, the 40th Meeting of the Council of Ministers adopted the draft regulations to implement the Comesa eCO system to facilitate trade for businesses and trade operators.
