Short News – Africa
Somaliland changes ”rape law”
The parliament in Somaliland has now closed a legal loophole that allowed a rapist to avoid punishment by marrying his victim.
Electric train for sea trade
Ethiopia has constructed a 756 km long electric railroad that will link the land-locked country to the sea much faster than by truck based transport.
Cautious hope for giraffes
There are now a few more West African giraffes in Niger than last year, according to the latest count. Only about 607 of this species remain in the world.
More work in central Africa
Since 2015, the World Bank has invested in more than 700,000 work days in the Central African Republic, to help locals build a better future for themselves.
Fewer absolute poor in Mozambique
In 1997, half of the people of Mozambique lacked all basic necessities such as food, housing, and clean water. Now, this level of poverty affects one in six.
HIV medicine is now mainstream
In 2000, only 90 people in South Africa had access to medicine against HIV. Today, more than four million patients have access to the lifesaving medicine.
Better governance in Africa
Despite often slow progress, around 60 percent of Africans now live in countries that are better governed than they were ten years ago.
Better life for Kenyan women
A survey shows that more than half of Kenyan women think that they are now treated better and have better opportunities than a few years ago.
Kenya’s pretty good ’ugly’ veggies
In Kenya, WFP has served school lunch for 2200 kids for 75 days, using imperfect vegetables that EU importers refuse to buy. The project could now get upscaled.
African countries to drop roaming charge
A group of 15 West African countries have decided to remove mobile roaming fees from 2018. This benefits poor people who go to neighbouring countries to work.
Ebola stopped again
A new outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo has been stopped before it could spread. Four people died before health workers tracked down and stopped the disease.
Tanzania saves kids in traffic
Some areas of Tanzania have achieved 26 percent fewer road accidents involving children, after traffic speeds were lowered in areas close to schools.