Rappler's latest stories on Africa
IMF predicts worst Middle East downturn in half century
The International Monetary Fund sees the Middle East and North Africa regional economy shrinking by 5.7% in 2020
South African manufacturing drops by half as lockdown bites
Manufacturing production in South Africa decreases by 49.4% in April 2020 compared with April 2019
Pandemic may push 50 million Africans into extreme poverty – AfDB
The African Development Bank says Nigeria, the continent's most populous country, would see the greatest rise in poverty
South Africa deploys military medics to coronavirus hot spot
Authorities say East Cape was the first province in the country to request military assistance to help fight the coronavirus
Africa airline industry lost $55 billion from virus shutdowns
The African Union says 'there are airlines that may not survive COVID-19'
Quarantines hurting Middle East aviation recovery – IATA
(UPDATED) The International Air Transport Association urges governments to 'implement alternatives to quarantine on arrival,' warning of the policy's impact on the aviation industry
Africa free-trade vision clouded by virus and pace of talks
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement is supposed to take operational effect on Wednesday, July 1, but the coronavirus pandemic and slow negotiations hamper the deal
South Africa economy contracts 2% in Q1 2020
Mining and manufacturing are the biggest drags on South Africa's overall economic activity in the 1st quarter of 2020
IMF warns pandemic set to undo decade of progress in Africa
The International Monetary Fund sees the economy of sub-Saharan Africa contracting by 3.2% in 2020
South Africa says economy to shrink 7.2%, deepest slump in 90 years
The South African economy could suffer its worst contraction in 90 years due to the coronavirus pandemic
South Africa's jobless rate tops 30% in Q1 2020
The number of unemployed reaches 7.1 million in South Africa, with the formal sector shedding the most jobs
South Africa to start Africa's 1st coronavirus vaccine pilot
South Africa is set to vaccinate 2,000 people with the vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
Virus booze ban causes headache for South African winemakers
Wine producers in the valleys of South Africa's Western Cape province are concerned the industry will struggle to bounce back from a liquor ban
Africa urges U.N. probe of U.S. 'systemic racism,' police violence
'When national processes consistently fail, international processes are needed,' says John Fisher, head of Human Rights Watch's Geneva office
South Africa's Ramaphosa slams surge in femicides as lockdown eases
South Africa is ranked among countries with one of the highest levels of intimate partner violence in the world
Coronavirus impact could kill over 50,000 children in MENA – U.N.
Overstretched health facilities, economic hardships, and parents' fears of contracting COVID-19 may cause a huge rise of coronavirus child deaths in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the WHO and Unicef
Jihadists kill dozens in Nigeria attacks
The killings are the latest in a spike of assaults by fighters believed to be from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction
WHO warns pandemic accelerating in Africa
'It took 98 days to reach the first 100,000 cases, and only 18 days to move to 200,000 cases,' says Doctor Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa
Liberia set to ease virus restrictions
Restrictions such as a night-time curfew will remain in place, though it will start later
Under-fire African Development Bank boss facing new graft probe
Akinwumi Adesina, who is seeking reelection as president of the African Development Bank, now faces an independent inquiry
Africa CDC tries to ramp up coronavirus tests as lockdowns ease
Africa records 162,000 cases and 4,600 deaths, with an average of 5,400 new cases per day in the past week
South Africa delays schools reopening due to lack of 'readiness'
Education Minister Angelina Motshekga apologizes for the inconvenience caused by the 'very late' decision, which was made on Saturday, May 30
British American Tobacco contests South African lockdown ban
British American Tobacco South Africa says a continued ban on legal cigarette sales threatens the sector and the livelihoods it supports
African Development Bank says 'no decision' yet on demands for probe
Niale Kaba, the chair of the African Development Bank board, counters what she says was 'false' information
African Development Bank chief hits back over graft accusations
'I maintain my innocence with regard to trumped-up allegations that unjustly seek to impugn my honor and integrity, as well as the reputation of the African Development Bank,' says Akinwumi Adesina
South African AIDS researcher wins 500,000-euro French prize
Quarraisha Abdool Karim is best known for a study that found that a gel of the anti-retroviral drug tenofovir is effective in reducing the risk of women catching HIV and genital herpes during sex
U.S. urges probe into alleged ethics breach by African Development Bank
(UPDATED) A letter shows United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressed 'deep reservations' about the outcome of an internal inquiry clearing African Development Bank chief Akinwumi Adesina
Africa coronavirus cases top 100,000
The virus spreads to every country in the continent, with the highest death tolls occurring in countries in northern Africa
South Africa central bank cuts rates, sees GDP contracting 7%
As the coronavirus impact grows, the South African economy is now expected to decline by 7% in 2020
Coronavirus stigma weighs heavily in sub-Saharan Africa
Fatou, a woman who came into contact with a sick person, says rumors were spread that she 'contracted the virus by sleeping with white people'
South African mines reconfigure to survive virus amid job loss fears
Mining is a critical cog in South Africa's already struggling economy. After more than a month of stalled operations, unions are worried about job losses.
South Africa reports 24-hour record of 1,160 new virus cases
Some health experts are beginning to see the limits of the country's lauded mass screening strategy, with results taking up to two weeks to come through
Quarter of a billion Africans at risk, as virus toll tops 300,000
Researchers say frangible health systems on the world's poorest continent could quickly be overwhelmed, with modeling suggesting 231 million people could become infected
Virus could infect more than 200 million in Africa – WHO modeling
According to the study, some 231 million people, or 22% of the one billion people in the region are expected to be infected in the 12 month period – most of them showing few or no symptoms
Virus crisis adds to woes of Africa's oil producers
Here is a look at how African oil-exporting countries are faring in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic
African Development Bank whistleblowers demand independent probe
Whistleblowers claim the internal probe into allegations against African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina 'was tainted by irregularities'
African Development Bank chief cleared of ethics abuses
The African Development Bank's ethics committee finds that the complaint against Akinwumi Adesina 'rested on no objective, solid facts'
AIDS deaths could double in sub-Saharan Africa due to COVID-19 – U.N.
A six-month disruption of antiretroviral therapy due to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to more than 500,000 extra deaths in the region in 2020-2021, according to the WHO and UNAIDS
Up to 190,000 could die in Africa if virus containment fails – WHO
Experts consistently warn that Africa is particularly vulnerable to an outbreak, due to weak health infrastructure, high rates of poverty, numerous roiling conflicts, and a proven susceptibility to previous epidemics
South Africa starts coronavirus trial of TB vaccine
Trials start in Cape Town, where BCG booster shots are administered to 250 healthcare workers, while another 250 receive a dummy formula, or placebo
South Africa to seek $4.2 billion in IMF, World Bank help
With the number of coronavirus cases at 3,953 including 75 deaths, South Africa is the worst affected country on the African continent
Middle East air traffic to plunge by half on virus impact – IATA
The International Air Transport Association expects airlines in the Middle East and North Africa to see their revenues slashed by $24.5 billion in 2020
Africa's billionaires called to help coronavirus fight
The wealthiest people in Africa are being urged to join the battle against the coronavirus – and fast
Leaders warn Africa short of funds to fight coronavirus pandemic
The World Bank and International Monetary Fund say Africa, the world's poorest continent, needs $44 billion more to combat the coronavirus pandemic
Malians head to polls, braving conflict and coronavirus
This election is the country's first parliamentary poll since 2013
South Africans turn to home-brewed beer to beat virus alcohol ban
With no booze supply anywhere due to the coronavirus lockdown, South Africans are fermenting their own 'creamy, thick' brew at home, called 'umqombothi'
Africa debt moratorium positive but falls short – experts
The debt moratorium 'will stop African economies from falling off the cliff in the immediate future, but if solutions aren't forthcoming, catastrophe lies ahead'
Middle East debt, unemployment to spike in virus recession – IMF
Countries in the Middle East and North Africa will lose hundreds of billions of dollars in revenues in 2020, says the International Monetary Fund
'Starve or get sick': Africa's lockdown dilemma
'It's not possible for 10 people living in a tin shack...to not go outside for 3 weeks,' says Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies
South Africa halts funding to cash-strapped national carrier
The South African government is now 'unable to provide additional funding' to South African Airways, which has failed to make a profit since 2011
