*?? Ivory Coast rolls out malaria vaccine drive targeting children*

Health workers in Ivory Coast began vaccinations on Monday against malaria, the leading cause of death of children in the country, as the government added the malaria vaccine to the list of routine vaccinations for children.

The West African country became the first to start rolling out the newest shot targeting malaria in an effort that aims to cover about 250,000 children under two.

"This decision shows the engagement of the government, who make it a point of honor to invest in the health of our children, our most precious treasures,” said Health Minister, Pierre Demba, at a ceremony to mark the launching of the vaccination campaign.

"We want to assure their protection and their well-being, because they are the future of our country,” he added.

The three-dose vaccine known as R21/Matrix-M was developed by Britain's Oxford University and was authorised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last October.

#IvoryCoast

@africaaintel

*?? More than 10 million people displaced by Sudan war, IOM says*

More than 10 million Sudanese, or 20% of the population, have been driven from their homes since the war there began, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday, as the world's largest displacement crisis continues to worsen.

The number is the latest dire figure out of the east African country, devastated by a conflict that began in April 2023. The war has left half the population of about 50 million facing a hunger crisis and in need of humanitarian aid, the most of any country.

More than 2.2 million people have fled to other countries since the war began, while almost 7.8 million sought refuge inside the country, the IOM said in a bimonthly report. An additional 2.8 million people were already displaced by previous conflicts in the country.

Fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that broke out in the capital Khartoum last year quickly expanded across Darfur to the west, with the RSF taking control of most centres. UN experts say hunger has replaced violence as the largest driver of migration from Darfur, where they face difficulty delivering aid.

#Sudan

@africaintel

?? In June, inflation in Nigeria accelerated to 34.19% compared to May (33.95%). This is reported by the National Bureau of Statistics.

In annual terms, the inflation rate in June 2024 increased by 11.4 percentage points.

The indicator has been growing for the 19th month in a row.

Inflation, which has reached a 28-year high, has been boosted by President Bola Tinubu's reforms, namely cuts in petrol and electricity subsidies and a doubling of the naira value within a year.

#Nigeria

@africaintel

*?? Moody's pushes Kenya's rating deeper into junk*

Credit ratings agency Moody's cut Kenya's sovereign rating deeper into junk territory on Monday, citing diminished capacity to implement a fiscal consolidation strategy to contain its debt burden.

Moody's downgraded the country's local and foreign-currency long-term issuer ratings and foreign-currency senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa1 from B3, while maintaining a 'negative' outlook.

#Kenya

@africaintel

?? Terrorists dressed as women attacked a community in northern Nigeria and kidnapped 26 local residents.

A local government official said the police chief has dispatched his officers who, together with soldiers stationed in the area, have launched a rescue operation.

#Nigeria

@africaintel

?? South Africa energy minister vows change with 'aggressive' renewables rollout

South Africa's new energy minister vowed on Monday to accelerate the shift to renewable energy from coal, breaking with a predecessor who opposed swift decarbonision and pledged to keeping burning coal for a long time.

Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who now runs the newly-created Energy and Electricity Ministry, was addressing journalists as Africa's most industrial nation celebrated more than 100 days with no power cuts - a record over years of crippling blackouts.

"I am going to be ultra-aggressive on the ... renewable energy. You are going to see an exponential share," he told a news conference in the capital Pretoria, adding that he wanted to signal to investors "our intention to go that route".

Owing to its reliance on coal-fired power stations run by state provider Eskom, South Africa is among the world's top 15 greenhouse gas emitters - pushing out more than Britain, Turkey or France - and has the highest carbon intensity among the Group of 20 largest economies, according to watchdog Climate Transparency.

"We are going to be the leaders on this continent in relation to renewables," Ramakgopa said.

It cut a very different tone from predecessor Gwede Mantashe, who had repeatedly urged resisting international pressure to rush into green energy, questioning its viability.

With 400,000 square kilometres (about 150,000 square miles) of semi-desert and a vast coastline battered by strong winds, South Africa also has some of the world's most abundant renewable energy potential.

#SouthAfrica

@africaintel

???? Gunmen Attack Tunisian Military Patrol Near Libya Border, Soldier Killed

Unidentified attackers opened fire on a Tunisian military patrol near the Libyan border on Wednesday, killing a soldier, the Tunisian Ministry of Defense said.

The Tunisian Ministry said in a statement published on its official website that a military patrol operating in the Remada, near the border with Libya, was carrying out its regular duties at the border buffer zone when it was suddenly subjected to gunfire from an unknown source. This resulted in the death of a soldier from the military patrol.

The statement added that local authorities, with the permission of the public prosecutor at the Military Primary Court in Sfax, have opened an investigation into the incident.

#Tunisia #Libya

@africaintel

??⚡️ Kenya president backs down on tax hikes after deadly unrest

Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday withdrew planned tax hikes, bowing to pressure from protesters who had stormed parliament, launched demonstrations across the country and threatened more action this week.

The move will be seen as a major victory for a week-old, youth-led protest movement that grew from online condemnations of tax rises into mass rallies demanding a political overhaul, in the most serious crisis of Ruto's two-year-old presidency.

But some demonstrators said on social media that despite Ruto's climbdown they would go ahead with a rally planned for Thursday, with many reiterating demands that he resign.

Ruto announced he would not sign a finance bill including the tax increases, a day after clashes between police and protesters at the assembly and nationwide left at least 23 people dead and scores wounded, according to medics.

#Kenya

@africaintel

Damn, guys. Looks like you have better things to do.

@africaintel

?? Nigeria revokes 924 dormant mining titles, seeks new investors

Nigeria has revoked 924 dormant mining titles immediately and invites investors to freely apply for the affected licences which will be offered on a "first come, first served" basis, its minister of mines said.

The affected titles include 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences, and 273 small-scale mining licences, Mines Minister Dele Alake said in a statement.

In November, more than 1,600 mining titles were revoked for non-payment of statutory fees as part of sweeping reforms in the sector.

#Nigeria

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