Chad Economy to Grow Over 10 Percent in 2014

The economy in Chad will possibly increase by 10% driven by crude exports and agriculture, its finance minister said. She insisted that a Chinese firm would have to pay up for environmental violations. The landlocked central Africa has been known as one of the poorest countries. However, it has seen strong growth over the decade as it has emerged as an oil producer. Finance minster said that "Chad is creating conditions necessary for becoming an emerging market..... We are getting the economy back on its feet."

Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN0CL01V20140330

Jailbreak Attempt in Nigeria

The Boko Haram are suspected to be the root of yet another attack.  This time, they attempted to break BH members out of the State Security Service, who were in custody.  These attacks killed 21 SSS guards and has severely injured two, while 3 detainees are dead. The police force has claimed to have shot down four of the alleged attackers.  After a severe uproar from civilians, Reuben Abati, the presidential spokesman tweeted, ""What happened at the SSS HQ this morning was an attempted jail break which has been effectively foiled. There is no cause for alarm." 


http://allafrica.com/stories/201403310289.html

Bayo Oladeji, George Agba, Winifred Ogbebo, and Ejike Ejike

The First Lady and the Refugees

The first lady of Rwanda, Jeanette Kagame, joined around 3000 workers yesterday and around 350 children in the help to restructure homes and roads for the hundreds of survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The refurbished homes after the genocide included the home of a 94 year old woman who survived the genocide itself. The first lady went as far as to share 10 of her cows to needy families, before making a speech on behalf of her husband and her country. This entire thing was for the cause of the 1994 genocide, in which, Jeanette Kagama stated that she hoped would never be seen again. 

allAfrica.com

http://allafrica.com/stories/201403310501.html  

Vavi Should Have Acted Sooner: Lawyer

Seven months have passed since Vavi was suspended."The suspension is an issue still and has been since August 15," said Karel Tipp, SC, for the Congress of SA Trade Unions. "Mr Vavi could have referred the suspension to the CCMA on August 16."  Tipp was arguing that the bid by Vavi to have his suspension set aside was not a matter for the high court but rather for the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) and the Labour Court. In August last year, Cosatu said Vavi had been put on special leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing relating to his affair with a junior employee. In July, the employee accused him of rape. He said they had an affair. The woman subsequently withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against him. Following Vavi's suspension, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), an ally of his, lodged an application in the High Court in Johannesburg challenging Vavi's suspension. Vavi then lodged papers to be added as an applicant in Numsa's challenge. In these, he asks the court to grant him an interim order interdicting and restraining Cosatu from enforcing any decision taken at its central executive committee (CEC) meeting in August. He wants final relief to review and set aside the decision to suspend him and institute disciplinary proceedings. Tipp questioned Numsa's decision to lodge its application in the high court. He pointed out that Vavi and Numsa were seeking different relief. Vavi wanted his disciplinary hearing to go ahead while Numsa did not. Numsa wanted Vavi's suspension set aside. However, Vavi was not a Numsa member, Tipp said. If Numsa had a problem with the way a Cosatu meeting had been conducted it had every right to address this with the trade union federation. "They are correct to say they are not satisfied that decisions were taken without a vote. What should have happened? Numsa should have written to Cosatu. "There is now a specific prayer for an individual."

Tipp pointed out that disciplinary proceedings had commenced. There was an investigation and a date had been set for the hearing.

Takes one friend out to the real world to see all the cool stuff with him

 

Pretoria and Kigali have agreed to resolve a furious diplomatic row sparked by attacks on Rwandan dissidents exiled in Johannesburg, South African President Jacob Zuma said Wednesday.

Speaking after meeting Tuesday in the Angolan capital Luanda with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, Zuma told public broadcaster SABC that the two leaders had "agreed to share some detailed information and deal with the issues".

The presence of many Rwandan dissidents in South Africa has long been a bone of contention between the two countries, but relations turned frosty after Kigali's exiled former intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya was found strangled to death in a luxury Johannesburg hotel on New Year's Day.

The full-blown row was sparked by a botched assassination attempt on March 3 against former Rwandan army chief Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, an opponent of Kagame, also in Johannesburg.

It was the third attempt on Nyamwasa's life since he was granted asylum in South Africa in 2010.

Source: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/South-Africa--Rwanda-agree-to-resolve-diplomatic-row/-/2558/2259592/-/ymb87g/-/index.html

Original Author: AFP

Ebola Outbreak Reaches Guinea Capital

The Ebola virus has spread from Southern Guinea to the capital, Conakry. The virus has already killed 59 people and infected many more since last month. Ebola is spread through person to person contact, and its symptoms include, internal and external bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea. There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, so officials can only attempt to contain the outbreak. Medical charities plan to fly in drugs and containment equipment from France. 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26701733 

Sexual Violence is a Constant Threat, UN Envoy Warning

Despite some improvements in much of Central Africa, Civilians are still in danger, especially to sexual violence. Women and children are the ones who are attacked most of the time. Special representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, met with civil society representatives to try and come up with solutions to the problem. The crimes that are committed are punishable by death, says the representatives. Ms Banguras main concern is absence of resources to help people who have been victims of sexual violence. On a more positive note, the World Bank is working with UN Food to ensure that the country has the nutrition it needs.

Source: https://www.un.org/apps/news//story.asp?NewsID=47408&Cr=Central+african+republic&Cr1=