CONTINENTAL DRIFT
‘Ebola is not imaginary’
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi visited the city of Beni, in the northeast of the country, on his first visit to the Ebola-affected area since becoming president earlier this year. He came with one simple message: “It is not an imaginary disease,” he said, responding to reports that as many as 10% of the affected population do not believe that Ebola is real. “If we follow the instructions, in two or three months Ebola will be finished,” he added, demonstrating by having his temperature taken and washing his hands on arrival at Beni airport.
President’s underwater pledge
From 124 metres below sea level, Seychelles President Danny Faure declared that a healthy ocean is “crucial for the survival of humanity” and unveiled new plans to protect it. Speaking in a submersible vessel, Faure sought to raise public support for new legislation that would designate 30% of his country’s waters as a protected area by 2022. Currently, the global average is just 16%.
Egypt’s new pharaoh?
Egypt’s Parliament this week approved constitutional amendments that could keep President Abdel Fattah al-sisi in power until 2030. The changes, which would extend the length of a presidential term to six years and allow Sisi’s to run for a third term, must still be approved by a referendum. Critics say the move is a blatant power grab designed to entrench Sisi’s grip on the country.
Libyans stranded in Niger
Hundreds of Libyan migrants, presumably bound for Europe, have been left stranded in Niger, with dozens more joining them recently in the country’s northern city of Agadez. Niger has braced itself for even more arrivals from Libya as people look to escape from the North African country in the wake of increased clashes between rival governments. Niger is a popular transit point for those trying to move from Africa to countries in Europe.
Death penalty decision
Equatorial Guinea is considering officially abolishing the death penalty. President Obiang Nguema, who has served since 1979, making him the longest-serving African leader, said that in practice the act was no longer carried out, but he wanted to formally end it through a democratic process. The measure was last used in the country in 2014. Last year, just five African countries applied the death penalty: Botswana, Egypt, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
Tanzania’s highest office
Speaking in Kiswahili at a water project launch in southern Tanzania’s Njombe region, President John Magufuli encouraged his ministers to smoke bhang — a marijuana substance — to give them courage to confront lazy contractors. “If you can smoke the bhang from Njombe so that you become bold, go ahead. However, smoke it in private so that citizens do not follow suit,” Magufuli said. Marijuana is illegal in Tanzania. — Briefs compiled by Eyaaz Matwadia and Aaisha Dadi Patel, sourced from Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters Africa