African News Update: Odinga Laid to Rest, Ebola Outbreak Nears End, and Zimbabwe Opposition Protests
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga was laid to rest at his family’s homestead in Bondo after dying at the age of 80 in an Indian hospital. The burial concluded days of memorials that were marred by chaos, resulting in at least five mourners’ deaths and dozens of injuries. Odinga, a pro‑democracy champion, served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and was the main opposition figure for many years, losing five presidential campaigns.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the last Ebola patient has been discharged, marking a significant milestone in the effort to end the outbreak. This recovery initiates a 42‑day countdown to declare the outbreak over, provided no new cases emerge. Since the outbreak was declared on 4 September, 64 cases have been recorded, with 19 patients recovering. The Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization and partners, swiftly scaled up response measures, establishing a 32‑bed Ebola treatment centre and vaccinating at least 35,000 people.
In Zimbabwe, the opposition has strongly condemned the ruling party’s plan to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term by two years, to 2030. The opposition vows to defend the Constitution against what it calls a “dangerous, anti‑people agenda.” Mnangagwa’s term is set to end in 2028, but the ruling party has directed the government to pursue legal and constitutional changes to implement the extension.
Namibia has declared an mpox outbreak after confirming its first case in Swakopmund. The patient, who is in stable condition and receiving treatment in isolation, is believed to have contracted the virus through cross‑border travel within the Southern African Development Community region. WHO protocols state that a single confirmed case is sufficient to declare an outbreak.
In conservation news, Chad has restored its partnership with African Parks, a conservation group linked to Prince Harry, less than two weeks after severing ties. Under the new agreement, African Parks will manage Zakouma National Park and the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve, sites it had overseen for 15 years. The partnership aims to conserve and protect Chad’s natural resources and wildlife.
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