Implementation of the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) treaty has been delayed until further notice due to the ongoing new coronavirus pandemic. That was announced by the AfCFTA Secretariat on April 28, 2020 and reported by some media on April 29, 2020. AfCFTA treaty came into force on May 30, 2019 after 22 African countries ratified it. Ratification by 22 countries is the minimum threshold of ratification required by the AfCFTA treaty for it to enter int

Africa | Malawi April 29, 2020 A high court in Malawi has indefinitely blocked a 21 day coronavirus lockdown of the entire country proposed by the government there. That was reported by some media on April 29, 2020. The high court ruling is an extension of an interim order issued by the court several days ago that barred the government of Malawi from implementing the proposed countrywide lockdown, after some human rights groups filed a petition against it. The human right

At least 52 people have been massacred in Mozambique's gas rich province of Cabo Delgado, reported some media on April 22, 2020. According to the reports, the massacre entailed some beheading and took place on April 7, 2020 in the village of Xitaxi in Muidumbe district. The attackers are said to belong to an Islamist militant group that wants to create an Islamic kingdom alias caliphate in Cabo Delgado province. The dead were villagers who reportedly refused to join the group

Government of South Africa has unveiled a $26 billion economic stimulus to help its economy during the new coronavirus pandemic, reported some media on April 22, 2020. The stimulus package that constitutes 10% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) is said to have been announced in a speech President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered on April 21, 2020. South Africa becomes one of a handful of African countries that are tackling the economic impacts of the new coronavirus outbr

For the first time in 25 years, sub-Saharan Africa will slide into recession in 2020 due to the ongoing new coronavirus pandemic, says a World Bank report. According to the report published on April 9, 2020, the economy of Africa south of the Sahara will experience up to 5.1% post coronavirus shrinkage in 2020. The report continues that due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the region will incur output losses amounting about $79 billion in 2020, and will require about $100 bi