East Africa News

[Citizen] The government of Tanzania has on Tuesday April 13 said it has completed payments for the purchase of three new planes.

[Citizen] Diamond Platnumz over the weekend announced he had signed $5 million Distribution deal with African music streaming App, Mziiki, for his record label, WCB.

[Citizen] Russia's Government has on Monday announced the suspension of flights between Russia and Tanzania, with effect from April 15 to June 1, due to the status of the coronavirus pandemic.

[Citizen] Simba SC board chairman Mohammed Dewji aka Mo has expressed disappointment over the Fair Competition Commission's latest move to restart negotiation regarding Simba Sports Club transformation.

[Citizen] Dar es Salaam -- The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) yesterday said it will look into claims made by the Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe on confiscation of his bank accounts to cover over Sh2 billion in taxes due on his companies.

[Monitor] Government through the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has started investigating power distributor Umeme limited on allegations that some of its clients on prepaid vending electricity system, Yaka received less units than expected in March and April this year.

[Egypt Online] Egypt and Kenya held a new round of consultations to address regional files and United Nations issues of mutual concern.

[OHCHR] Geneva -- "We are particularly alarmed by the reports of widespread and continued repression against opposition leaders and their supporters," the experts said. "More than 50 people have been killed as a result of the brutal policing methods, including the use of live ammunition fired without warning, and at least 20 others have lost their lives in incidents linked to the electoral context."

[OHCHR] Geneva -- Arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances have allegedly been carried out by the Tanzanian police and intelligence services in cooperation with the Burundian intelligence services, the experts said.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Abdulkadir Haji has been sworn in as the new Senator for Garissa County.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The Office of the Deputy President has denied claims by the Moroccan envoy in Nairobi that Deputy President William Ruto is supportive of a plan which proposes to grant semi-autonomy to Western Sahara in a bid to deescalate tension over the region's agitation for self-rule.

[New Times] Rwanda's weekly coffee export revenues dropped by 672 per cent in the week ending April 11, after prices on the world markets plunged.

[Daily News] The Minister of Information Culture, Arts and Sports, Innocent Bashungwa has asked media stakeholders to stay calm as his Ministry is closely following the incident of detaining journalists in Dar es Salaam.

[East African] A group of Rwandan refugees living in Zimbabwe are refusing to be repatriated, five years after losing their refugee status.

[Seychelles News Agency] Former President of Seychelles, James Michel, joined other former world leaders of the Club de Madrid in addressing a letter to U.S President Joe Biden to consider giving support for a temporary suspension on patent rules for COVID-19 vaccines.

[Nation] Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki has ordered the suspension of non-essential county services due to a spike in Covid-19 cases.

[FrontPageAfrica] Monrovia -- When Shem A. Z. Donzo landed a foreign postgraduate scholarship from the Liberian government years ago he was elated about starting a master's degree in Sudan, but, however, that dream has turned into a nightmare for Donzo who said he is now living a hand-to-mouth existence and awaiting scholarship funds that have failed to arrive for the last 10 months.

[VOA] Berlin -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday ordered an Army review of an investigation into a January 2020 militant assault on the Manda Bay military base in Kenya that killed three Americans and wounded three others.

[New Times] Kagame highlighted that there is a company that is capable of this technique, citing that it is ready and willing just as Moderna and Pfizer have been doing.

[Nation] The world breathed a collective sigh of relief late last year when British researchers said that over-the-counter mouthwashes could kill coronavirus.

[East African] South Sudanese traders are paying the price of storage, and more transportation charges, days after Kenyan and Uganda truck drivers protested over highway attacks.

[Nation] Kenya has time and again proven to be a resilient economy. Last year, we witnessed locust invasions, heavy rains, floods followed by an absence of rains in agrarian lands.

[Monitor] The Ugandan authorities have continued to restrict the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, with security forces using excessive and unnecessary lethal force to kill Ugandans, a new report released by the Amnesty International states.

[East African] Countries in the region led by Rwanda and Tanzania are drawing benefits from over $142.7 million in debt relief from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

[Monitor] A total of 100 villages in Lamwo District are still practicing open defecation, according to a report released by the district health department.

[Radio Dabanga] Khartoum / Port Sudan / North Kordofan / El Fasher -- Sudanese Police dispersed demonstrations in Khartoum and Omdurman using tear gas as dozens demonstrated in front of the cabinet office in Khartoum and the parliament in Omdurman yesterday denouncing poor living conditions, and the continuous interruption of electricity and water. The protestors blocked a number of main roads and set fire to tyres. In El Fasher, a youth was allegedly shot by police as protesting students broke-down the fence of the North Darfur Governor's residence.

[The Conversation Africa] Climate change effects such as droughts, flash floods, erratic rainfall, disruption to the monsoon seasons, strong winds, cyclones, sandstorms, dust storms and increased temperature are being experienced across Somalia. These effects are affecting livelihoods, and contributing to local grievances and community tensions.

[Seychelles News Agency] Seychelles recorded its first fatality among health workers from COVID-19 after the death of Gerry Govinden on Monday. The Ministry of Health sent condolences to family and friends.

[East African] Lessons from African history show us that when statesmen endeavour to solve national or interstate challenges, they often succeed. But they can also fail. This duality of outcomes best fits summit negotiations and mediation efforts for natural resource sharing on the continent.

[Nation] Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango has retired from international football after over 16 years of service.