EAC cash crisis deepens as ministers push back budget meeting
“The East African Community is facing a deeper financial crisis after a crucial Council of Ministers meeting on budget was postponed for two weeks.”
News & Analysis: South Sudan
Zindzi Mandela had tested positive for COVID-19, says son
Latest Developments South Sudan MSN Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“Zindzi Mandela will be buried on Friday, a day before the world celebrates her father’s birthday. The news was confirmed by her son Zondwa, who also said on SABC’s ‘Full View’ his mother had tested positive for COVID-19 prior to her death.”
South Sudan’s central bank cuts benchmark interest rate to 10%
Latest Developments South Sudan Reuters Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“South Sudan’s central bank said it cut its benchmark interest rate to 10% from 13%, as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy. This is the second time the central bank has slashed its rate since April, when it cut by 200 basis points to 13%.”
Economic impact of COVID-19: Protecting Africa’s food systems from farm to fork
Analysis and Opinion South Sudan / Sudan / Zimbabwe Brookings Institution Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“Receiving less public attention, and yet also putting at risk lives and livelihoods, is the likelihood that COVID-19 and the associated economic challenges will spill into an African food crisis if the food system cannot cope. Half of Africans already face food insecurity, of which 50 percent are severely food insecure, while the number of people who are hungry is likely to double in 2020.”
South Sudan ambassador to Belgium dies aged 64
Latest Developments South Sudan The East African Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“South Sudan’s Ambassador to Belgium, Jwokgwen Severio Yukwan, has died, Information Minister Michael Makuei has confirmed. He died in Juba on Monday.”
Much of South Sudan’s cabinet has COVID-19. What happened?
Latest Developments South Sudan Mail & Guardian Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“South Sudan’s information minister Michael Makuei contracted COVID-19 while he was on the country’s high-level task force to combat the virus. He was not the only one. Almost the entire task force became infected, including ten cabinet ministers and first vice president Riek Machar.”
Are African nations putting policing over public health?
Analysis and Opinion Botswana / Central African Republic / Ethiopia / Kenya / Lesotho / Nigeria / Somalia / South Africa / South Sudan / Uganda Lowy Institute Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“The shortage of medical expertise, equipment and facilities stands in stark contrast to the powers of law enforcement and security that have been exercised under the pretext of combatting the pandemic. This has laid the groundwork for a rise in police brutality, overreach, harassment, intimidation, corruption and violence.”
COVID-19 and the future of work in Africa: How to reduce income loss for formal sector employees
Analysis and Opinion Angola / DRC / Equatorial Guinea / Gabon / Ghana / Kenya / Nigeria / South Africa / South Sudan / Uganda / Zambia Brookings Institution Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“‘While the scale and reach of the impact on employment will differ among countries and sectors, the main effects will be a drop in earnings (income) and increased underemployment (reduced hours) rather than unemployment.”
COVID-19: When saving fewer lives is the right thing to do
Analysis and Opinion Central African Republic / DRC / Kenya / Mali / Nigeria / South Sudan The New Humanitarian Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a difficult ethical choice to medics around the world. When you can’t save everyone, who do you prioritise?”
South Sudan’s Vice-President and Defence Minister test positive as coronavirus cases surge in the country
Latest Developments South Sudan The Globe and Mail Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“The Vice-President and Defence Minister of South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest countries, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus after a surge of cases swept through the task force that was leading the government’s response to the pandemic.”
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