Omicron: Concerns that fresh lockdowns will further plunge Lesotho into poverty

Lesotho is ranked as one of the 30 poorest countries in the world, with a Gross National Income of US$2 740 per capita. Source

Want a Christmas bonus? Get vaccine first, Malawi bank tells staff

First Capital Bank Malawi is offering Christmas bonuses to fully vaccinated staff and warned those still holding out against Covid-19 inoculations risk missing out on annual bonuses next year, according to a circular seen by Bloomberg. Source

Two top Lesotho govt officials face treason, murder charges over failed 2014 coup

A sitting Cabinet minister in Lesotho and a former deputy prime minister will be charged with treason and murder. Source

WATCH | Ramaphosa intervenes in hurdles faced by SA business in Nigeria during high-level talks

President Cyril Ramaphosa said he could not run away from the "maze of challenges and difficulties" of doing business in Nigeria in his high-level talks with his counterpart President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday. Source

West Africa tour: Ramaphosa wants deals signed, intra-Africa trade

"We want those countries investing in South Africa so it is not a one-way process where South African companies invest in their countries," said President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of his West Africa tour. Source

Ghana's anti-gay movements want homosexuality outlawed, say it is 'a mental issue'

If Parliament fails to outlaw homosexuality in Ghana, it "will be a pandemic", with far-reaching effects, claimed anti-LGBTQI+ proponents during the ongoing public hearings in the country. Source

Lesotho ex-PM Thomas Thabane charged over murder of estranged wife

Lesotho's former prime minister, Thomas Thabane, was charged on Tuesday over the murder of his estranged wife in a case that has shocked the southern African highland kingdom. Source

African countries no longer want vaccine donations on short notice after China pledges billion doses

China has offered to deliver another billion Covid-19 vaccines to Africa, but AU member states say they no longer want ad hoc donations "with little notice and short shelf lives". Source

Ethiopia PM claims war gains, urges rebels to 'surrender'

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday urged Tigrayan rebels to surrender, claiming government forces were nearing victory just one week after he vowed to lead military operations at the front. Source

One in eight children found at risk of becoming child soldiers

One in eight of the world's children - more than 300 million - live in conflict zones where they are at risk of becoming child soldiers, a charity warned on Tuesday, saying boosting school access was vital in fighting forced recruitment. Source

Covid-19: UN chief 'deeply concerned' by southern Africa's isolation over Omicron variant

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday he was "deeply concerned" as countries around the world imposed travel restrictions on southern Africa in an attempt to stop the spread of a worrying new Covid-19 variant discovered there. Source

Court dismisses Botswana government's appeal to overturn 2019 ruling that decriminalised gay sex

Judges in Botswana's court of appeal dismissed an appeal by the government to overturn a landmark ruling of 2019 that decriminalised gay sex. Source