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Ethiopian forces blocked people from the country's embattled Tigray region from crossing into Sudan on Thursday at the busiest crossing point for refugees, Sudanese forces said.
Their account follows allegations by refugees in previous days of Ethiopian forces stopping people from fleeing the month-old deadly conflict in Tigray.
The Sudanese forces, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the events, said people tried to cross from Ethiopia around 6 a.m. to Hamdayet in Sudan but were stopped, and refugees waiting on the Sudan side became upset and began throwing rocks.
The Sudanese forces then cleared the area, and on Thursday evening they confirmed that the border crossing remained closed.
Tensions have been rising at the border in recent days as the flow of Ethiopians crossing has slowed to hundreds per day from several thousands.
A senior Ethiopian government official who has served as spokesman during the conflict did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
End fighting
The European Union's crisis management commissioner Thursday urged the Ethiopian government to restore communications in its northern Tigray region and called on both sides to cease hostilities.
"I urge... the Ethiopian authorities to lift the communication blockade," Janez Lenarcic said at Um Raquba camp in neighboring Sudan, where he spoke with Ethiopian refugees who had fled their homeland over the last month.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last month ordered military operations against the northern Ethiopian region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), in response to what he said were attacks on Ethiopian federal army camps.
Tens of thousands of refugees have since poured into eastern Sudan, with many complaining that they have not been able to re-establish contact with those left behind or lost on the scramble to leave due to a communications blackout.
"I spoke with a number of refugees in this camp today and what is perhaps most painful to hear is that they have zero information... about their relatives and friends who stayed behind," Lenarcic said.
Abiy on Saturday claimed the conflict was over after federal troops took control of the Tigrayan capital, Mekele, but the TPLF threatened a full-scale counter-offensive on Wednesday.
Lenarcic also urged Ethiopia's government to provide access for humanitarian workers and goods, while calling on both sides to "cease the hostilities".
Ethiopia has formally granted the United Nations access to deliver aid to Tigray.
AFP
He replaces Debretsion Gebremichael, whose immunity from prosecution was removed Thursday.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said Thursday that scores of civilians were killed in a \"massacre\" in the Tigray region, that witnesses blamed on forces backing the local ruling party.
The \"massacre\" is the first reported incident of large-scale civilian fatalities in a week-old conflict between the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize.
\"Amnesty International can today confirm... that scores, and likely hundreds, of people were stabbed or hacked to death in Mai-Kadra (May Cadera) town in the southwest of Ethiopia's Tigray Region on the night of 9 November,\" the rights group said in a report.
Amnesty said it had \"digitally verified gruesome photographs and videos of bodies strewn across the town or being carried away on stretchers.\"
The dead \"had gaping wounds that appear to have been inflicted by sharp weapons such as knives and machetes,\" Amnesty said, citing witness accounts.
Witnesses said the attack was carried out by TPLF-aligned forces after a defeat at the hands of the Ethiopian military, though Amnesty said it \"has not been able to confirm who was responsible for the killings\".
It nonetheless called on TPLF commanders and officials to \"make clear to their forces and their supporters that deliberate attacks on civilians are absolutely prohibited and constitute war crimes\".
Abiy ordered military operations in Tigray on November 4, saying they were prompted by a TPLF attack on federal military camps -- a claim the party denies.
The region has been under a communications blackout ever since, making it difficult to verify competing claims on the ground.
Abiy said Thursday his army had made major gains in western Tigray.
Thousands of Ethiopians have fled across the border into neighboring Sudan, and the UN is sounding the alarm about a humanitarian crisis in Tigray.
June 14: 31 new cases as case load hits 96
\tThirty-one (31) additional patients were diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today in tests carried out for individuals who had completed their quarantine time at Adibara and Molqi Quarantine Centers in Gash Barka Region.
Ministry of Health
Asmara
14 June 2020
June 13: 24 new cases from quarantined returnees
\tTwenty four patients (24) were diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today in tests carried out for individuals who had completed their quarantine time at Adibara Quarantine Center – Gash Barka Region, Forto Sawa Sub-zone.
13 June 2020
June 8: Nationals repatriated as new case is recorded
\tEritrea has repatriated over 250 stranded nationals from across the world, information minister Yemane Meskel disclosed on Tuesday.
The statement continues: “The positive preliminary achievement obtained so far is the outcome of the rigorous efforts undertaken to put in quarantine – within the overall GOE strategy of prevention – all the nationals that returned home in the past two months through air, land and sea travel as well as their immediate contacts in cases where this was necessary.
April 18, 2020: Eritrea president likens COVID-19 to sudden war
\tEritrean president Isaias Afwerki has delivered his first public address on the coronavirus pandemic since the country recorded index case on March 21.
President Donald Trump has decided to reschedule his first rally since the coronavirus emerged from the original date of June 19th to the next day, June 20th, “out of respect” for the Juneteenth holiday according to CNN.
The president took to Twitter to announce the rescheduled date:
We had previously scheduled our #MAGA Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for June 19th – a big deal.
Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2020
…of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents.
I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday, June 20th, in order to honor their requests…
The Republican Governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, has also released a statement regarding the changing of the date of the rally.
“I am thankful President Trump recognizes the significance of June 19 and has chosen to move his campaign rally out of respect to Oklahomans and the important Juneteenth celebrations.”
The Eritrean government says a 2018 peace deal with Ethiopia remains in good shape and was progressing despite efforts by detractors to portray it as a stalled failure.
Information Minister Yemane Meskel posted the general state of the deal which chalks its second anniversary today, July 9. “Overall progress made so far remains significant by all contemporaneous standards,” he said in a tweet.
Today is the 2nd Anniversary of the historic Eritrea-Ethiopia Peace Agreement that was signed in Asmara bringing to an end the state of intermittent wars that existed between the two countries for almost 80 years and ushered in “a new era of peace and friendship” between them pic.twitter.com/V72v3xhYOf— Yemane G. Meskel (@hawelti) July 9, 2020
Adding: “ This is in spite of the desperate, last-ditch efforts of the regressive forces of inertia and darkness – TPLF and its ilk – to scuttle and rollback enduring peace with its dividends to the two countries.”
TPLF is the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, the ruling party in Ethiopia’s Tigray region – it shares a long boundary with Eritrea, hosting the border crossing that were opened to fanfare but have all been shut unilaterally by Eritrea, according to reports.
TPLF is currently an opposition party to the new ruling party at the federal level, Prosperity Party led by PM Abiy Ahmed.
“The Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process has catalysed a conducive climate of regional cooperation. Substantial challenges that still remain will no doubt be scaled in the period ahead through resolute and concerted action on the basis of shared vision & prevailing political good will,” the minister added.
“It is important to remember there is no formal peace treaty between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Border controls have been reinstated. Talks on economic cooperation, use of ports stalled.
“What is holding Abiy & Isayas together is their mutual antipathy to TPLF and Tigray. Nothing more,” these were recent views shared by Rashid Abdi, a former Crisis Group researcher who is a keen political watcher for the Horn and East Africa region.
The second anniversary of the July 9 deal comes at a time Abiy is dealing with an internal crisis that spared protests in the capital and surrounding Oromia region. Over 200 deaths and 3,500 arrests have been made whiles today is the tenth straight day that internet access has been cut.
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About two months ago we launched the Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program to focus on supporting African communities and young people, as well as young people and the indigenous communities in Canada, to support them and their needs as they evolve during this COVID-19 reality.
So under the Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program we've moved quickly to partner with a range of actors that have experience, influence and reach for building robust public responses to the COVID-19 situation.
READ: Mastercard Foundation Commits $5M to Protect Kenya Health Workers
And if you allow me, we are not just focusing on outreach or just providing equipment; we also see an opportunity here to support businesses in the countries we are working in, that can actually play a role and participate in solutions.
READ: Mastercard Foundation Supports Ethiopia MSEs Affected by COVID-19
An unprecedented demand for flexibility
AllAfrica: And Daniel, on that specifically—the gender-based violence —have you been seeing it across the region, or is it more localized in some countries, and is it more an urban scourge, or is it also prevalent in the countryside?
Can you give us an example of what the foundation is doing to respond to the current economic crisis in your region, and also if there are more long-term activities the foundation is doing to help the continent be resilient and come back in full force if I may give a disclaimer, I'm sharing with you the work we are doing that I am responsible for in East and Southern Africa.
Total confirmed cases = 16,085
Total recoveries = 5,220
Total deaths = 420
Active cases = 10,445
\tFigures valid as of close of day June 14, 2020
June 13: 15,181 cases; more evacuations underway
\tEvacuation of citizens continues aith the Foreign Affairs Minister reporting that 102 Nigerians arrived from Egypt on Friday via Egypt Air whereas 260 others were expected to arrive from India Saturday morning aboard Air Peace.
Confirmed cases = 15,181
\t\tNumber of deaths = 399
\t\tRecoveries = 4,891
\t\tActive cases = 9,891
\t
\tStats valid as of close of day June 12, 2020
June 12: 14,554 cases, rape SoE, Buhari bemoans virus impact
\tNigeria recorded a daily record toll of 681 cases as the case load reached 14,554 with 387 deaths and 4,494 recoveries.
Confirmed cases = 14,554
\t\tNumber of deaths = 387
\t\tRecoveries = 4,494
\t\tActive cases = 9,673
\tStats valid as of close of day June 11, 2020
VIDEO
June 11: 13,873 cases, Ekiti to enforce restrictions
\tThe Ekiti State government on Wednesday warned that it was going to enforce virus restrictions issued by Governor Kayode Fayemi given that some residents continued to disregard the order especially on banning public gatherings.
Confirmed cases = 13,873
\t\tNumber of deaths = 382
\t\tRecoveries = 4,351
\t\tActive cases = 9,140
\tStats valid as of close of day June 10, 2020
June 10: Record 663 cases as cases pass 13,000
\tNigeria recorded its highest daily tally on Tuesday with 663 new cases as the case load hit 13,464 according to the NCDC.
Doctor strike information by BBC Africa LIVE page
\t\tConfirmed cases = 13,464
\t\tNumber of deaths = 365
\t\tRecoveries = 4,206
\t\tActive cases = 8,893
June 9: 12,801 cases, Kano mystery deaths virus-related
\tMost unexplained deaths across Nigeria’s northern Kano State months back were virus-related, health minister Osagie Ehanire has said.
Ivorian Defense minister Hamed Bakayoko has strongly denied allegations of being a drug trafficker.
A Canadian website Vice has been publishing a series of articles suggesting that he was a “major cocaine trafficker.”
But according to Bakayoko, the allegations by the website goes against his principles as well as tarnishes the image of Ivory Coast.
But the former interior minister has not disclosed whether he intends to sue the website and the journalists in Côte d’Ivoire, Europe or the United States
\tThe authors of the articles have refused to comment on the issue.
Bakayoko recently acted as Prime Minister when PM Coulibaly was on medical leave in France.
[DW] As Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sends troops into the Tigray region, the country could be on the brink of a civil war.
The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers have recovered 65 guns and 603 bullets from Karimojong rustlers.
Maj Peter Mugisa, the UPDF Third Division spokesperson, told Daily Monitor the weapons and ammunition were recovered this year from January to June in the ongoing operations to get rid of illegal guns in the region.
Mr Mugisa revealed that most of the weapons were recovered during a gun exchange with the cattle rustlers and also intelligence led operations.
\"From January to June 8, we have recovered 65 guns, 603 ammunitions and 3,744 heads of cattle stolen by warriors in different districts and handed them back to the rightful owners,\" he says.
He appeals to the district leaders and opinion leaders in Karamoja to work together with the security team to help get rid of the cattle rustlers in Karamoja.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Disney is proposing to reopen its Southern California theme parks in mid-July after what will be a four-month closure due to the coronavirus, the company said on Wednesday.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products said in a statement that the goal is to reopen Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on July 17.
Advance reservations will be required for theme park visitors and capacity will be limited, the statement said.
Events that draw large crowds, such as parades and nighttime spectaculars, won’t return immediately and Disney characters will be in the parks but not available to meet with visitors, the statement said.
The park closed only a handful of times in 65 years and never for more than a day, according to Jason Schultz, supervisory archivist at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and unofficial Disneyland historian who wrote “Jason’s Disneyland Almanac.”
Hundreds of Kenyans defied tear gas and riot police last Friday (June 12) to prevent the swift burial of popular musician Abenny Jachiga in the western city of Kisumu.
Rules imposed for suspected cases of COVID-19 require bodies to be buried within 48-hours of death with only five relatives in attendance.
Benard Omondi, a fellow musician was among the protesters: “Ben died yesterday, Ben died last night at three am so Ben can’t be buried now, how?
A probe has been launched into the passing of Abenny Jachiga whose real name is Benard Onyango Ogutu.
We are requesting so that we can plan and manage that Covid situation so that when these fans can come for the burial and we are in a position to manage this properly.”
Keanin Ayer's early life tilted listlessly between a haven for vulnerable children and his violent, alcohol- and drugs-ridden home.
Ayer was voted the best player at his small and unknown Swedish club, Varberg BoIS, when they won promotion to the top flight last year for the first time in their 95-year history.
Ayer is unknown back home in South Africa, primarily because he has hardly spent any time in the country since he was 12 years old.
Manchester City were one of those who replied and suggested Seethal try and place Ayer at Right to Dream, the Ghana-based academy that they had ties with.
\"If a set-up with strong links to a top European club trusted us enough to say, 'come over and train,' then I was going to put my trust more with them as opposed to Keanin wanting to go [to] Kaizer Chiefs, where he would have been in the same [home] environment and unlikely to succeed.
Ethiopia is the second-most populous country in Africa with 110 million people, and by far the most important power in the Horn of Africa.
It caught many by surprise when it was announced this week that Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza had passed on.
\"On behalf of Gov't and my own behalf I sent our condolences to the Gov't and People of Burundi for the passing of President Nkurunziza.
Whether Burundi can heal from the turbulent leadership under Nkurunziza, Golooba says will depend on whether the new President shares aspirations and ideological orientation with Nkurunziza.
\"This is a kind of victory to all the victims of Nkurunziza's leadership who have been saying 'you are not a good president, we have economic problems, corruption problems, health problems' that came as a result of his leadership,\" he told this publication in a phone interview.
Lonzen Rugira, a Rwandan political analyst, believes that the exit of Nkurunziza from the political landscape could give a maneuvering chance to the next president to set an agenda and open relations with neighbors.
On Wednesday, golf clubs Entebbe and Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort in Kigo announced they would be officially opening up to their members for activity with guidance from Uganda Golf Union (UGU) who have made consultations with government.
\"We presented our SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for golf and there was no objection from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Covid-19 Security Committee but we are waiting for a formal response very soon,\" he added.
It is on the basis of interactions with MoH and the Security Committee on the Covid-19 National Task Force that UGU executive wrote a letter to all clubs in the country on guidance to resume activity on Tuesday.
That golf is good for physical and mental health and naturally a social distancing discipline played by teams not exceeding four players with not less than two meters apart from one another.
Serena Kigo and Entebbe clubs have too issued more SOPs in line with those of UGU and government on social distancing, hand sanitization and wearing of masks.
Lagos — Traders at the popular Olaleye market in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State are still counting their losses following the fierce fire at the early hours of Saturday, May 30, 2020.
Narrating how the incident occurred, Olaoye Mutiu Bukola, a printer, alleged connivance between the market committee and the police, saying, they chased those sleeping near the market away shortly before the fire started.
Bukola said, \"Those people have been sleeping in front of the market for long, but on this faithful day, the police came about 11pm to send them away, while the fire began few hours later.
\"I saw some people moving around the market area the evening before the fire incident.
Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Tolani Ogunbiyi, who said she lost two shops and all her goods, alleged that before the fire incident, members of the market committee had all gone to rent shops outside the market to continue their businesses.
Gabon is morning the death of former Prime Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet.
The demise of the former diplomat was posted on Twitter by President Ali Bongo.
Issoze-Ngondet served as Prime Minister between 2016 and 2019 till he was replaced by the current occupant of the position, Julien Nkoghe Bekale.
His replacement came days after a foiled coup by junior officers in early 2019 at a time when President Bongo was recuperating from a stroke outside the country.
He had previously held top government positions including as Foreign Affairs minister, representing Gabon a number of times at the United Nations General Assembly.
Mara basks in the sun, both happy and exhausted, the memories of a COVID-19 quarantine and a thousand-mile journey fresh in her mind. She never forgets. There are signs that the 3.6-ton elephant, thought to be 55, remembers her decades as a circus performer and years as a zoo curiosity. Now, after a border crossing []
