Talks and tussles at TICAD

Afternoon all ????

This week marked the two-day gathering of African foreign ministers for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), laying the groundwork for next year's TICAD-9 summit. A seemingly routine meeting, but one that was not without dramatics. Moroccan and Algerian diplomats became embroiled in a physical altercation after an uninvited representative from Western Sahara appeared at a meeting seated behind a name card for the Sahrawi Republic. The Moroccan delegate attempted to remove the card, the Algerian delegate tried to stop him, and the dispute escalated into a brief floor brawl. The surprise guest was reportedly brought along by the Algerian government. The incident has caused a minor diplomatic storm as Japan does not recognise the Sahrawi Republic. Yet supporters of Western Sahara’s independence argue that African Union member states – including the Sahrawi Republic – should be able to participate in meetings convened with continental partners such as Japan.?

Never a dull day in African diplomacy!?

AP editorial team

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Denmark will open three new embassies in Africa in 2025 – located in Tunisia, Senegal and Rwanda – while regional hubs will be established at existing offices in Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. The Danish expansion will compensate for the closure of embassies in Mali and Burkina Faso driven by deteriorating relations, recently evidenced by Mali cutting ties with neighbouring Sweden.?

???? Presidential possibilities

Election season is underway in Mozambique, with less than 45 days to go until presidential, legislative and provincial polls. With incumbent President Filipe Nyusi having reached his two-term limit, Daniel Chapo will represent the ruling Frelimo party on the ballot. The other three candidates vying for the presidency are Renamo’s leader Ossufo Momade, Lutero Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement, and Venancio Mondlane, a veteran Renamo campaigner who is running as an independent after failing to secure the leadership of that party. However, the National Elections Commission (CNE) has warned it has insufficient funds to effectively conduct the polls, having only received USD 110 million of the USD 310 million required from the Mozambican government. Underfunding of the CNE, coupled with independent observers flagging credible allegations of irregularities and fraud in last year’s local elections, raise concerns that Frelimo is seeking to undermine the integrity of the 9 October ballot.

???? Take off?

Gabon’s new national air carrier, Fly Gabon, is set to launch its first commercial flight on 31 August, following a delay from the initially scheduled 5 August launch. The airline will begin with domestic routes, focusing on destinations such as Libreville, Franceville/Mvengue, Port Gentil, and Oyem. Fly Gabon plans to establish its first international route to Johannesburg, South Africa, by the end of the year. This launch is part of the Gabonese junta’s plans to revitalise the air transport sector and enhance regional connectivity, while bolstering its credentials ahead of the end of the political transition next year. The state acquired a majority stake in the country’s largest airline Afrijet to establish the Fly Gabon brand, marking the end of an 18-year hiatus without a national airline following the bankruptcy of Air Gabon in 2006.

???????????? Stepping stones

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez began a three-day tour of West Africa on 27 August, with his visit marking an attempt to curb irregular migration to the Canary Islands. Sánchez began his trip in Mauritania, announcing Spain would expand its circular migration programme to Mauritanians, allowing short-term labour migration in areas such as agriculture, as well as renewing cooperation between the two nations' security forces to combat people-smuggling and trafficking networks. The prime minister is expected to pursue similar agreements with Senegal and The Gambia. He has described the pacts as recognising that “migration is not a problem [in itself]” but one that needs to be managed in a “humane, safe and orderly way, to benefit our respective societies”. The West African migration route to the Canary Islands has seen the sharpest growth of any route to the European Union (EU) this year, surging by 154% in the first seven months of the year according to data from the EU’s border agency Frontex.

???????????? Mpox contagion

The East African region is grappling with the possibility of a public health crisis as mpox cases proliferate beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mpox is primarily spread through physical contact, making overland travel a key vector for transmission. Kenya and Uganda have declared an outbreak and instituted preventative measures on terrestrial border points. In addition, the World Health Organization declared the virus as a global public health emergency on 22 August – the second time in two years – driven in part by the emergence of a new strain. Kenya, Rwanda, DRC, Burundi and Uganda will receive 50,000 doses of the vaccine from the WHO and the US government. Meanwhile, Spain has pledged 500,000 vaccine doses to unspecified central African nations, building on earlier commitments by France and Germany. Yet these donations remain inadequate given porous borders and the DRC having reported over 27,000 cases of mpox in the past two years alone.?

??? Global African Green Hydrogen Summit

The Global African Green Hydrogen Summit will be held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 3-5 September. The summit will explore the policy frameworks necessary to harness green hydrogen's potential to generate pathways to energy independence, job creation and climate action. Richard Kiplagat, Africa Practice’s Group Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director for East Africa, will moderate a panel on creating an enabling environment for successful African green energy projects on Wednesday 4th September. Richard will also be in attendance throughout the summit and would welcome the opportunity to connect with attendees.

?? Safal Kiswahili Prize for African Literature

The Safal Kiswahili Prize for African Literature has announced a call for the submission of unpublished manuscripts across the categories of fiction, poetry, biography, and graphic novels. Now in its ninth edition, the prize was established to recognize writing in African languages and encourage translation from, between, and into African language. Deadline is 30 November.?

?? Avenues by Train – Farai Mudzingwa

The debut novel of Zimbabwean author Farai Mudzingwa, Avenues by Train follows protagonist Jedza, a down-on-his-luck electrician haunted by a train accident he witnessed as a child. Moving to Harare in an attempt to escape the darkness and superstitions of his small hometown, Jedza is nevertheless forced to confront the ghosts of his past and present. Described as “eclectic” and “experimental”, the novel examines themes of spirituality, modernity and disrupted cultural practices as a legacy of colonialism.??

?? W – Alpha P featuring Olamide & Thisizlondon

Days after signing at Penthauze Entertainment, Alpha P released “W” as a reminder of his ability to craft a mellow love record. He has collaborated with producer Thisizlondon whose work shines a light on Alpha P’s vocal abilities while allowing him to show off his lyrical and melodic talents. Olamide’s signature style polishes the song’s bolder undertones, as Alpha P gives a signal of what to expect from him in this new chapter of his career.

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