Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo Govt, M23 Make Joint Declaration to Work Towards Ceasefire Deal

[RFI] The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have jointly pledged to halt fighting in the east of the country while they work towards a permanent truce. The surprise announcement follows the latest round of talks in Doha mediated by Qatar. Source

Africa: Largely Eradicated Diseases At Risk of Returning Due to Budget Cuts

[UN News] Vaccines have saved around 150 million lives over the past 50 years, but that progress is now under threat. Source

Kenya: Quartet in Illegal Live Queen Ant Trafficking Case to Be Sentenced On May 7

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Three foreigners and Kenyan accused of attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants from Kenya will be sentenced in May. Source

Botswana: Botswana President Says Seeking Presidency Beyond Ten Years Is Only Done By Failures

[New Zimbabwe] Botswana President Duma Boko has labelled leaders who seek extension of their term limits beyond constitutionally mandated 10 years as definite failures. Source

Nigeria: Air Peace Suspends Flight Operations, Gives Reason

[Premium Times] Flight delays and cancellations were recorded in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano airports on Wednesday Source

Kenya: Kidney Probe Launched, Clinic Denies Allegations

[DW] The Kenyan clinic at the center of allegations of organ trafficking has denied any wrongdoing and promised to cooperate fully with a criminal investigation. It follows an investigation by DW and two other German outlets. Source

West Africa: West African Group Ecowas Turns 50 Amid Struggle to Stay United

[RFI] Celebrations marking 50 years of the Economic Community of West African States - known as Ecowas - began in Ghana this week, but the mood was far from jubilant. The region's main political and economic bloc finds itself at a crossroads after losing three key members. Source

South Africa: Finance Minister Suspends VAT Hike

[allAfrica] Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana scrapped the planned 0.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase, which was set to take effect on May 1, keeping the VAT rate at 15%. Source

Nigeria: Nigerian Govt Announces Plan to End Use of Firewood

[Premium Times] "Over 80,000 women die prematurely from the toxic smoke of firewood and traditional cooking stoves." Source

Rwanda: Rwanda Recalls French-Manufactured Aspirin Over Quality Concerns

[New Times] Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority has announced an immediate recall of batch No. B6224 of Aspirine Vitamin C 330mg/200mg (effervescent tablets), manufactured by Union de pharmacologie scientifique appliquée (UPSA), a French pharmaceutical group, due to quality concerns. Source

Lesotho: MPs Oppose New Police Retirement Age Proposal

[Lesotho Times] MEMBERS of Parliament have expressed strong opposition to a proposed legal amendment that seeks to raise the retirement age for police officers from 55 to 60 years. Source

Tanzania: Tanzania Bans Agricultural Imports From South Africa and Malawi

[Daily News] DODOMA: THE government has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of all agricultural produce from South Africa and Malawi, following the two countries' failure to lift trade restrictions on Tanzanian farm products. Source