Gabon’s senate has voted in favour of decriminalising homosexuality, a week after the lower house in the national assembly voted for a similar change.
Go deeper: In 2019, the country criminalised homosexuality and made gay sex punishable with six months in prison and a large fine. Activists said that the move had sent the LGBT community further underground and led to increased discrimination and harassment against the disadvantaged group.
Many African countries impose jail sentences on homosexuals, who are in some cases threatened with the death penalty. If the move is ratified by the president, Gabon will become one of only a few African countries to legally allow homosexuality.
Sub-Saharan countries face $44 billion financing gaps despite huge loans
While coronavirus continues to impact economies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has said Nigeria and other countries in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region would need additional financing needs of over $110 billion.
Go deeper: Of this $110 billion and approved loans, the IMF insisted that the countries still have $44 billion financing gap to fill. The IMF ruled out further considerations of lockdown to check the pandemic, saying that effort complicates the authorities’ hard work to maintain an effective lockdown.
Women occupy 30% of Ndayishimiye ‘s new cabinet
Women make up over thirty percent of Burundi’s new cabinet according to a government release issued over the weekend.
Go deeper: President Evariste Ndayishimiye in a decree nominated a sixteen-member cabinet to help run government business. The cabinet is also inclusive of the Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni and Vice President Prosper Bazombanza.
Portfolios handed to women include Justice, Labour, Tourism and Communication. Ex-president Nkurunziza’s last health minister, Thadee Ndikumana, also maintains her ministerial portfolio.
This makes Burundi the second country after Rwanda to achieve gender parity in its presidential cabinet after Rwanda.
Former first lady granted bail in Lesotho murder case
Lesotho’s former first lady, Maesaiah Thabane, who has been charged with murdering her husband’s estranged wife, has been granted bail despite police objections that she might use it to escape.
Go deeper: The deputy police commissioner, Paseka Moketem, said Thabane had fled before and was likely to do so again. He described her as very dangerous and said she had the resources to interfere with witnesses. Thabane is accused of ordering the killing of her rival as a way to clear her path to the government house.
Coronavirus dashboard
Africa has now recorded 383,747 cases, 9,691 deaths, and 183421 recoveries.
Kenya tourism sector loses about $800 million due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Man, 114, survives coronavirus.
Kenya mask enforcement protest leads to deaths.
A Cuban medical brigade arrived in Guinea-Bissau to assist in the fight against COVID-19.
