- Bobi Wine calls on International community over house arrest
Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), the Ugandan opposition leader has beckoned on the international community to aid in the lifting of his “house arrest”. Bobi Wine was placed on a house arrest the day after the announcement of the disputed results of the presidential election was made. Bobi Wine also called for international sanctions against the President, the release of political prisoners, an international audit of the election, for “all nations to review their relations with Uganda and the restoration of the internet.
2. Nine African nations in debt to the UN lose voting rights U.N. chief Antonio Guterres has said nine African nations and Iran should lose their voting rights after defaulting on payment of their dues to the United Nations’ operating budget. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, On Monday, 18 January 2021, listed the minimum amount that the 10 countries need to pay to have their voting rights restored – Iran topped the list and needs to pay $16,251,298 followed by Somalia, which must pay $1,443,640. Comoros $871,632, Sao Tome and Principe $829,888, Libya $705,391, Congo $90,844, Zimbabwe $81,770, Central African Republic $29,395, South Sudan $22,804, and Niger $6,733 are the remaining countries.
3. COVID-19: Rwanda and Malawi shut schools as cases surge Rwandan and Malawian authorities have shut nurseries and schools on Monday, 18 January 2021 as coronavirus cases surge in respective countries. Rwanda closed schools only in the capital Kigali but the education minister said schools in other regions would also shut if more cases are confirmed there. This is occurring after schools reopened in November after eight months of being closed.
4. Many feared dead over Sudan Militia Crisis Deadly violence has erupted barely a month after the cessation of the UN-AU Peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s Darfur region. On Monday, 18 January 2021, many have been feared dead as militia fighters resumed their daredevilry and continued their violence which has spanned for three days now. The UN-AU Peacekeeping mission stopped patrolling on the 31st of December and they had barely left before armed militia resumed hostilities.
5. Nigerian government approves N10bn targeted for local production of COVID-19 vaccine
Nigeria’s Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, has stated that the federal government has approved the release of N10 billion to support local production of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking on Monday, 18 January 2021 at the press briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19, the minister pointed out that the country is making arrangements to ensure improved access to the vaccine when available.
