News24 | 'We will starve': Zimbabwe's national shutdown fails to take off as citizens blame hunger

Zimbabwe's indefinite national shutdown due to start after the Easter weekend - called for by war veterans leader Blessed Geza - failed to take off on Tuesday. Source

Congo-Brazzaville: How Congo-Brazzaville's Illegal Medicine Trade Crisis Can Be Tackled

[Premium Times] The country faces a public health crisis characterised by a poor supply of affordable medicines and too few pharmacies. Source

Zimbabwe: Business As Usual in Harare As Geza's Stay Away Is Ignored

[New Zimbabwe] Residents of Harare ignored war veteran Blesses Geza's call for a stay away on Tuesday, with most businesses operating as usual. Source

West Africa: Ecowas Meets in Ghana Over Exit of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso

[Premium Times] PREMIUM TIMES reports that the three junta-led countries made their official exit from ECOWAS earlier in the year. Source

Congo-Brazzaville: Political Promises Haven't Solved Congo-Brazzaville's Illegal Medicine Trade

[ISS] The country faces a public health crisis characterised by a poor supply of affordable medicines and too few pharmacies. Source

Kenya: Court Sides With DPP, Denies Bond to Terror Suspects

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The Kahawa Law Courts has denied bond to three individuals facing terror-related charges. Source

Liberia: Liberians Vote In Crucial By-election Amid Heavy Security

[Liberian Observer] Huge presence of police and other security apparatuses marred the Nimba's Senatorial By - Election over fear of disruption like what happened in Beo Longatuo in Nimba District near Cote d'Ivoire border, where some disgruntled youth ransacked the polling places and took away ballot boxes. Source

Liberia: 'No Politics' in Fiber Optic Rerouting At PHP Park

[Liberian Observer] The Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL) has announced the start of a major operation to reroute and replace a section of the country's fiber optic cable infrastructure, aimed at improving Liberia's internet resilience and long-term connectivity-- a move the company says is entirely technical and has no political motives. Source

Somalia: U.S.-Africom Airstrikes Target Illegal Weapons Headed for Al-Shabaab in Somali Waters

[Radio Dalsan] In a significant escalation of joint counterterrorism efforts, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), in close coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, has carried out a targeted airstrike in Somali territorial waters, destroying two boats suspected of smuggling advanced weaponry destined for the militant group Al-Shabaab. Source

Ethiopia: WFP Warns of Rising Hunger and Malnutrition in Ethiopia As Humanitarian Needs Outpace Resources

[WFP] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise in Ethiopia as ongoing conflict, regional instability, displacement, drought and economic shocks, leave millions without sufficient nutritious food, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned today. The organization's life-saving response has been severely hampered by critical funding shortfalls as 3.6 million of the most vulnerable are at imminent risk of losing food assistance, including malnutrition treatment for 650,000 women and children. Below is an update on Source

Liberia: NPP Chair Brands Jewel Howard Taylor 'Rebellious' Over Gongloe Weh Endorsement

[Liberian Investigator] Gbarnga -- National Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman George Mulbah has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, branding her "rebellious" and "a product of crisis" for endorsing CDC-backed Edith Gongloe Weh in the Nimba County senatorial race. Source

News24 | What happens if Trump trashes the AGOA pact?

African nations have enjoyed duty-free access to the US market for over two decades under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), up for renewal in September. How prepared are they should Trump refuse to sign it? Source