South Africa: SA Lags Behind in Facing Up to the Magnitude of Global Energy Insecurity

[Daily Maverick] Acute energy insecurity threatens much of the world right now. But there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel in the hardest-hit developed economy, Europe, where countries are putting in place measures to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and gas, and avoid labour strikes. South Africa, however, is not showing anywhere near the same level of determination to turn around its dire situation. Source

Nigeria: Ekweremadu - Alleged Organ Harvesting Victim Not Minor, UK Court Rules

[Premium Times] The Westminster Magistrate Court in the U.K. on Thursday ruled that David Nwamini (Ukpo), the alleged organ harvesting victim in the case involving Mr Ekweremadu and his wife, is not a minor. Source

Nigeria: Nigeria Face Moment of Truth At Women's Africa Cup of Nations

[RFI] Defending champions Nigeria face a test of their mettle on Thursday night in Rabat when they take on Botswana in their second pool match at the women's Africa Cup of Nations. Source

Congo-Kinshasa: Revived M23 Rebellion Worsens DR Congo's Security Troubles

[The New Humanitarian] Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo -- 'It is a serious humanitarian crisis and it is difficult for the aid to reach people.' Source

Nigeria: Nigerian Officials Search for Escaped Prisoners

[VOA] Abuja, Nigeria -- Nigerian security forces continue searching for hundreds of inmates who escaped following a Tuesday attack on an Abuja prison. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for the jailbreak and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has criticized the intelligence service for failing to stop it. Source

Kenya: Flutterwave Denies Money Laundering, Fraud Allegations Following Accounts Freeze By Court

[TechCrunch] Flutterwave has come out to deny the fraud and money laundering claims leveled against it by Kenya's Asset Recovery Agency, which investigates and recovers proceeds of crime. Source

Central Africa: M23 Rejects Ceasefire Deal Signed Between DR Congo and Rwanda

[DW] Clashes broke out in Eastern Congo on Thursday between the military and M3 after the rebel group said that a ceasefire deal signed the previous day was "irrelevant." Source

Nigeria: Wole Soyinka's Life of Writing Holds Nigeria Up for Scrutiny

[The Conversation Africa] Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, known simply as Wole Soyinka, can't be easily described. He is a teacher, an ideologue, a scholar and an iconoclast, an elder statesman, a patriot and a culturalist. Source

Africa: Women's AFCON Final Stage Under Way With a New Challenge - Testosterone Testing

[The Conversation Africa] The 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) opened in Morocco with several storylines that include challenges to perennial giants, broadcast to a global audience, increased monetary payout to the winner and an expanded number of finalists. There are 12 teams left standing. Source

South Africa: Verdict Continues Trend of Police Impunity for Use of Rubber Bullets

[ISS] Police must commit to standards and better controls of rubber bullets in public order policing situations. Source

Seychelles: Roadmap Ready for Protecting Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Seychelles, Says James Michel Foundation #AfricaClimateCrisis

[Seychelles News Agency] A roadmap to blue carbon opportunities in Seychelles undertaken by the James Michel Foundation - created by the former president of the country - in collaboration with Australia's Deakin University has been completed, setting the way forward for the protection and restoration of sea-based ecosystems. Source

Zimbabwe: Delhi Court Won't Send African Elephant Gifted to India Back to Zimbabwe

[allAfrica] Harare -- African elephant named Shankar was taken from the African wilderness, gifted to India by the Zimbabwean government, then kept in the Delhi Zoo, India, for the past 24 years. The lone elephant is a victim of cruelty and viciousness at the hands of keepers at the zoo, according to the petition submitted by 16-year-old Nikita Dhawan, the founder of Youth For Animals (YFA). His current condition is nothing less than illegal confinement, according to the petition. Source