Africa – Page 61 – Prologue Journal

Kamala Harris Looks to Deepen Relations With Africa Amid China’s Influence

New York Times In a weeklong trip to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia, the vice president will face a balancing act as she tries to foster a collaborative U.S. relationship. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/27/world/africa/kamala-harris-visit.html

Paul Rusesabagina, ‘Hotel Rwanda’ Dissident, Lands in Qatar

New York Times His release ended more than two and a half years of captivity, during which he was tried on terrorism charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/27/world/africa/paul-rusesabagina-rwanda-qatar.html

Paul Rusesabagina, ‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero, Freed From Prison

New York Times Paul Rusesabagina, a critic of Rwanda’s president, was tricked into entering the country, then sentenced to 25 years after what his supporters called a show trial. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/25/world/africa/paul-rusesabagina-rwanda.html

‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero, Paul Rusesabagina, to Be Released From Prison

New York Times Paul Rusesabagina, whose story inspired a Hollywood movie, was kidnapped by the Rwandan government and jailed. In a deal brokered by the U.S., he is to be set free. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/world/africa/rwanda-paul-rusesabagina-release.html

West African Commandos Train to Battle Terrorists by Land and Sea

New York Times As terrorists move south through the Sahel, the Pentagon’s annual Flintlock exercise reinforced the rule of law in a region roiled by coups. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/us/terrorism-africa-commandos-flintlock.html

Uganda Passes Strict Anti-Gay Bill That Imposes Death Penalty for Some

New York Times The legislation, which now goes to the president, also calls for life in prison for anyone engaging in gay sex. Policies to stifle L.G.B.T.Q. rights have been on the rise in several African nations. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/world/africa/uganda-lgtbq-anti-gay-law.html

American Held Hostage in Africa Is Freed

New York Times Jeffery Woodke, an aid worker abducted in Niger by militants, was released after more than six years in captivity. A second hostage was also released: Olivier Dubois, a French journalist who disappeared in April 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/us/politics/hostage-jeffery-woodke-freed.html

First Official Estimate of Somalia’s Drought Shows 43,000 Dead

New York Times At least half of the deaths were children under the age of 5, according to the report by health researchers, the United Nations and the Somali government. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/world/africa/somalia-drought-death-famine.html

Reuters reveals Ghana suspending debt service payments on its external obligations

Reuters Reuters was first to report that Ghana suspended payments on much of its external debt, effectively defaulting as the west African country struggles to plug its cavernous balance of payments deficit. Prices of Ghana’s sovereign international bonds dropped sharply in the wake of the announcement. Ghana had already announced a domestic debt restructuring and…

Reuters reveals Chad strikes a debt deal under the G20 Common Framework

Reuters Reuters exclusively reported that Chad became the first country to agree to a deal with its creditors, including Swiss commodity house Glencore, under the G20 Common Framework — designed to provide debt relief to developing nations. Reuters was also first to report confirmation of the agreement and exclusively sketched out rare criticism from World…