“The lack of jobs in Africa’s largest economy and most populous country is unlikely to get better soon. The World Bank predicts Nigeria’s flailing economy is set for its worst recession in four decades as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to manifest.”
“Only 16 countries on the continent have conducted more than 100,000 tests.”
“Researchers have been warning for months that production constraints and hoarding could limit COVID-19 vaccine supplies. For most of Africa, this may mean not having access to the vaccines for up to a year after approval.”
“Millions of livestock from Somalia have been shipped to Saudi Arabia for the annual Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca over many decades to feed some two million pilgrims from around the world.. But this year, Somalia’s goats and sheep will not join the pilgrimage because Hajj has effectively been cancelled by Saudi authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“According to figures from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. has deported at least 189 African nationals to their countries of origin from Mar. 1 to Jun. 20.”
“Even before the global pandemic began, millions of Africans led incredibly difficult lives. More than 400 million people lived in extreme poverty, and there was a projected shortage of 350 million jobs by 2035.”
“Despite the easing of the coronavirus lockdown, the enduring ban on large public gatherings meant schools and religious organizations have remained shuttered given the obvious risk of students becoming vectors for spreading the virus.”
“Zimbabwean authorities are demanding the country’s biggest mobile money platform to give up half of all transaction files for 2020 to law enforcement agents under a crackdown the operator says violates telecom user data privacy rights.”
“It has become common to point out that COVID-19 has highlighted South Africa’s inequalities. It is less common, but just as important, to recognize that inequality shapes how the country is governed, ensuring that, while South Africa is located in Africa, those who govern it may be closer to their counterparts in Latin America.”
“Mental health care is one of the biggest challenges for under-resourced African health systems in the pandemic.”
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