Global Courant 2023-04-17 13:54:09
Is Sudan on the brink of a new civil war?
On Saturday, April 15, a clash erupted in Khartoum between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the army in an alleged power struggle. According to Reuters, the Sudanese Doctors’ Union on Saturday declared at least 25 dead and 183 injured. Earlier this week, the Sudanese army warned of the risk of confrontation after General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalothe led the mobilization of paramilitary forces in the capital Khartoum and other cities.
Also, the country’s airspace has been closed following the crisis and Khartoum International Airport witnessed violent attacks. Bee at least two commercial airliners were destroyed, flights were canceled and some people were feared injured in the process. This development has prevented flights from leaving or entering Khartoum airport. Some of the affected airlines include Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Flynas, flydubai, Egyptair and SAUDIA.
Kenya launches satellite into space
Last week, Kenya launched its first operational Earth observation satellite, the Taifa-1 satellite, aboard a SpaceX rocket from the United States. The launch follows three initial cancellations due to bad weather. Nine Kenyan engineers developed the satellite – with the help of Endurosat, a Bulgarian company – to collect agricultural and environmental data, including on floods, droughts and forest fires, for disaster management and to combat food insecurity.
In the past few years, Kenya has experienced severe climatic conditions, including floods, droughts and locust outbreaks. Early in the month on April 2, flash floods caused severe damage in Taita-Taveta County, southern Kenya, killing 4 people and displacing many from their homes. It further destroyed the livelihoods of local farmers.
Ghana is taking a chance on a new malaria vaccine
Ghana has approved, and wants to research, a new malaria vaccine from the University of Oxford. The vaccine has yet to undergo the publication of data from the final phase of the study. Ghana is working hard to curb the penetration of the malaria parasite within its borders, making it the first African country in the world to approve a new malaria vaccine.
Between 2008 and 2019, malaria was the most common cause of death among children under five, followed by people aged 15 to 49, a report shows. Since 2019, malaria has caused about 21.6 thousand deaths in the country.
The West African country has a population of just over 30 million and malaria is a leading cause of death in the country. Nearly 5.9 million cases of malaria were diagnosed in 2020, down from the 6.7 million diagnosed in the previous year.
ICYMI: Market overview
The market opened for four trading days last week when the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Monday, April 10, 2023, a public holiday to mark Easter celebrations.
The NGX All-Share Index fell -0.10% (-51.95) to close the week ending April 14 at 51,893.94 points.
The biggest gainers were Multiverse +9.96%, Transcorp +9.74%, Royal Exchange +8.93%, FTN Cocoa Processors, +8.00% and Ikeja Hotel +7.41%. On the other hand, the biggest fallers were Cadbury Nigeria -9.73%, Wapic Insurance -9.52%, RT Briscoe -8.33%, Sterling Bank, -7.50%, FCMB Group -6.58%
The naira rose to close out the week N460.54/1$ on Friday compared to the N462.25/1$ recorded the previous week.
Brent closed the week up $86.34, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed up $76.33.
The global cryptocurrency market cap stood at $$1.28 trillion, at 10 p.m. Sunday, April 16, 2023. Bitcoin was at $30,333.11 (up 6.83% in 7 days), Ethereum was at $2,124.61 (up 13, 79% in 7 days) and the Binance coin was at $349.73 (up 11.59% in 7 days).
Farm Tracea South African agritech startup, is raising funds to expand its business.
Nigeria’s SPLIQ DEFI is launched to create more usability for NFTs.
Ghana’s Farmerline expands operations into Francophone Africa with launch in Ivory Coast.
