These African countries brace for potential COVID-19 cases
A few countries in Africa which have not recorded any cases of COVID-19 are preparing for the impact. These include Lesotho, South Sudan, Comoros and Sao Tome and Principe
Army brought in to aid illegal evictions in South Africa, several left homeless amid lockdown
The Azania shack dwellers’ settlement of Abahlali baseMjondolo in Durban, was attacked by agents hired by the eThekwini municipality authorities on April 2. 15 shacks were demolished, leaving several people homeless
As South Africa locks down, the homeless left most vulnerable
Soon after the lockdown began in South Africa, security forces patrolling the streets of Johannesburg were seen chasing homeless people with batons. Later in the afternoon, eight shacks were demolished in eThekwini municipality, while 17 have been marked for demolition in Durban
Egyptian government may be concealing extent of COVID-19 spread in army
While official figures from the health ministry state 456 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country as of March 26, there may be at least 550 cases in the Egyptian army alone, say activists
Disease is political! Social justice movements in South Africa call for moratorium on evictions
Shack-dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, along with 26 other social justice organizations, has called for a moratorium against evictions and the stoppage of water and electricity supply to self-laid connections in settlements in South Africa
Unions to appeal against labor court’s refusal to stay closure of South African Airways routes
The unions are appealing to a higher court after a labor court ruled against the their application seeking an interdiction against SAA’s decision to close 11 routes. The unions are arguing that it will lead to retrenchments
3,000 workers in South Africa’s mining and smelting sector may lose their jobs
Samancor Chrome Limited has cited operational reasons for preparing to retrench nearly 3,000 employees. Workers organized by the National Metalworkers Union of South Africa (NUMSA) are preparing to resist the retrenchments
Following mutiny by al-Bashir loyalists, Sudan appoints new intelligence chief
The armed mutiny by military personnel lasted for 15 hours and put into evidence the delicate security situation in the country
Socialist Party of Zambia presidential candidate Dr. Fred M’membe calls for a clear and radical socialist program
The presidential candidate held a rally in the Matero neighborhood of Lusaka where he addressed thousands of supporters and members of the Socialist Party of Zambia
The crisis of South Africa’s energy company and unions’ plan to save it
Union’s solution to the crisis in Eskom is a reversal of the government’s policy of decommissioning Eskom’s power production units and outsourcing the energy requirement to private companies
End to Sudan’s civil war may hinge on formation of legislative council
After the violence in West Darfur which left over 50 dead, Sudan’s civilian forces are pushing for the formation of a legislative council which can revoke the immunity to military generals
Peace in Darfur seems unlikely until dissolution of militias complicit in genocide
The latest bout of violence in Darfur, which is believed to have cost 48 lives, has halted peace negotiations. A sustainable peace process seems unlikely till the militias involved in mass killings are dissolved and those in power who supported them are overthrown
- Australian MPs call for Assange’s release from UK prison
- Two-week ceasefire in Yemen takes effect
- Students’ Struggle Front in Greece demands direct rent allowance for students
- UN, WHO call for unity in the face of COVID-19
- Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign, but “struggle for justice continues”
