COVID-19: Cases in Africa exceed 3.81 Million, Polls open for Niger’s Presidential run-off election | 5 Things That Should Matter Today


Across the 54 Countries in Africa, these are the 5 top stories you may have missed:


COVID-19: Cases in Africa exceed 3.81 Million

Reported deaths in Africa caused by the COVID-19 have reached 100,998 with a total number of 3,372,065 people recovered – All Africa reports

South Africa is said to have the most reported cases – 1,502,367 – and 48,940 deaths. Other most-affected countries include Morocco (480,948 ), Tunisia (227,643 ), Egypt (177,543), Ethiopia (151,857), and Nigeria ( 151,553).


Polls open for Niger’s Presidential Run-off Election

Polls opened nationwide in Niger on Sunday, 21st February, as voters trooped out to pick a new president in a run-off election – Africa News reports

The event is set to mark the first-ever transfer of power through the ballot box in the country. Mohamed Bazoum, the ally of incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou had received 39% of the vote in the first round of votes in December.

Mohammed now faces a single opponent, Mahamane Ousmane who was also president from 1993-1996.


Nigerian Military Aircraft crashed in Abuja

A Nigerian military aircraft has crashed in Abuja on Sunday, 21st February – News Central Africa reports

Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this via a tweet from his official Twitter account.

“A military aircraft King Air 350 has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure enroute Minna. It appears to be fatal. We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military, while we pray for the departed soul/souls if any…” the tweet reads

Tigray crisis: Red Cross warns as crisis continues

The Red Cross has described the Ethiopia Tigray region crisis as ‘overwhelming’ and in need of immediate scaling up – The BBC reports
 
In a report by the publication, ‘the needs of people affected by deadly fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region are “overwhelming” and “humanitarian response to the situation needed to be urgently scaled up”
 
“The people in Tigray… lost the harvest season,” the ICRC’s director of operations, Dominik Stillhart, told the BBC during his visit to Ethiopia.

Libya’s Interior Minister survives assassination attempt
 
Libya’s powerful interior minister, Fathi Bashagha, on Sunday, 21st February, survived an assassination attempt after his motorcade came under fire outside the capital – Aljazeera Africa reports
 
The minister had reportedly finished a meeting with the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation and was returning to Tripoli when the incident occurred.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.