African News Update: Odinga Laid to Rest, Ebola Outbreak Nears End, and Zimbabwe Opposition Protests
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has been laid to rest at his family’s homestead in Bondo, following his death at the age of 80 in an Indian hospital. The burial marked the end of days of memorials, which were marred by chaos and resulted in the deaths of at least five mourners and dozens of injuries. Odinga, a pro-democracy champion, served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and was the main opposition leader 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 efforts to end the outbreak. The recovery kicks off a 42-day countdown to declaring the outbreak over, provided no further cases are confirmed. Since the outbreak was declared on September 4, a total of 64 cases were recorded, with 19 patients recovering from the disease. The Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, acted swiftly to scale up outbreak response measures, including setting up a 32-bed Ebola treatment center and vaccinating at least 35,000 people against Ebola.
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 has vowed to defend the Constitution against what they call a “dangerous, anti-people agenda.” Mnangagwa’s term is set to end in 2028, but the ruling party has directed the government to initiate legal and constitutional changes to implement the extension.
Meanwhile, 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. The World Health Organization protocols dictate that a single confirmed case is enough 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 with the organization. The new agreement will see African Parks manage Zakouma National Park and Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve in Chad, which it had managed for 15 years. The partnership aims to conserve and protect the country’s natural resources and wildlife.
