Africa Business News

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has dissolved parliament, paving the way for the appointment of MPs from opposing sides in the country's five-year civil war.Activists and civil society groups say the move is long overdue.A peace deal signed three years ago determined that almost a quarter of the MPs would come from the party of Mr Kiir's former foe, Riek Machar.South Sudan's MPs will not be elected but will instead be nominated by different political parties.

The UN says more than 100 former peacekeepers from Ethiopia have sought international protection and have applied for asylum in Sudan.The UN says instead of returning home when their mission ended in the Darfur region, around 120 Ethiopian peacekeepers applied for asylum in Sudan.The head of Ethiopia's Orthodox Church says the atrocities amount to genocide.

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions has described the decision of the federal government to reduce salaries of civil servants as insensitive, provocative and inciting.The General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters A. Adeyemi, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to rethink his government's policy direction.NASU says the recent pronouncement by the federal government to reduce salaries of federal civil servants is an act of insensitivity, provocative and inciting.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the forthcoming Eid celebrations in the country should be limited.He explained that the directive became necessary due to the coronavirus pandemic.The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed that the President would stay behind at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to celebrate the end of this year’s Ramadan.Shehu, however, stated that the celebration would be held low-key and President Buhari would not welcome any Sallah homage as it was the usual practice.

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on local leaders to advise the youths in their various domains against acts that can harm the country in any way.He asked the leaders to warn the young Nigerians against being used to incite violence.He also condoled with all those who have lost family members due to what he described as the madness going on in parts of the country.The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the President would not be travelling to his country home in Daura, Katsina State for Eid-el-Fitr – a day that is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

The Tanzanian government has issued new guidelines on coronavirus, including a 14-day quarantine period for people arriving into the country.The measure will apply to both foreigners and citizens, who will be required to present a test certificate showing negative Covid-19 results.Those arriving from countries with a high number of cases will have to undertake another mandatory Covid test on arrival at their own cost.The directive, signed by the Permanent Secretary for Health Prof Abel Makubi, is effective from Tuesday.Her predecessor, former President John Magufuli, downplayed global warnings on the threat of coronavirus.

The European Union has cancelled its observer mission for Ethiopia's June elections citing a lack of agreement on key parameters.High Representative Josep Borrell says standard requirements like the mission's independence and importation of communication system for their security had been denied.He says It is disappointing that the EU has not received the assurances necessary to extend to the Ethiopian people one of its most visible signs of support for their quest for democracyThe EU urged the Ethiopian government to carry out free and fair elections.It said it had supported the electoral board with €20m.

The Senator representing Ekiti North in the National Assembly, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, has asked Nigerian politicians to forget political activities for the 2023 general elections and address the worsening security situation in the country.Adetunmbi noted that without security, polls cannot hold.He says the country should suspend this issue of focus on 2023 and focus on how to salvage this country so that people have the capacity, knowledge, vision and solution to solve this problem.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami says any moment from now, Nigeria expects the return of £4.2million seized from the associates of convicted former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori.The AGF says the Federal Government of Nigeria is working tirelessly to ensure the return of looted Nigerian assets kept outside the country’s territorial boundaries.He said the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and other relevant government agencies will keep the general public informed once the Ibori loot is received and confirmed.He also added that the Federal Government of Nigeria is in touch with the government of the United Kingdom on the matter.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has promised that the government will ensure the killer of Miss Iniubong Umoren does not go unpunished.A suspect identified as Uduak Frank Akpan has since been arrested by the police in connection with the killing.Governor Emmanuel, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, lamented that the whole state was saddened by the gruesome murder of the young jobseeker.He was, however, confident in the ability and commitment of the police to ensuring that justice was served, adding that the state government would not interfere with the investigations.