
<p>KHARTOUM (Reuters) &#8211; Sudan will permit non-Muslims to consume alcohol and strengthen women’s rights, including banning female genital mutilation (FGM), its justice minister said late on Saturday, in a reversal of almost four decades of hardline Islamist policies</p>



<p>About 3% of Sudan’s population is non-Muslim, according to the United Nations.</p>



<p>Alcoholic drinks have been banned since former President Jaafar Nimeiri introduced Islamic law in 1983, throwing bottles of whisky into the Nile in the capital Khartoum.</p>



<p>The transition government which took over after autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled last year has vowed to lead Sudan to democracy, end discrimination and make peace with rebels.</p>



<p>Non-Muslims will no longer be criminalised for drinking alcohol in private, Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari told state television. For Muslims, the ban will remain. Offenders are typically flogged under Islamic law.</p>



<p>Sudan will also decriminalise apostasy and ban FGM, a practice which typically involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia of girls and women, he said.</p>



<p>Women will also no longer need a permit from male members of their families to travel with their children.</p>



<p>Bashir extended Islamic law after he took power in 1989.</p>



<p>Sudanese Christians live mainly in Khartoum and in the Nuba mountains near the South Sudan border. Some Sudanese also follow traditional African beliefs.</p>



<p>The transition government led by Abdalla Hamdok runs the country in an uneasy coalition with the military which helped remove Bashir after months of mass protests.</p>


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Sudan’s 37 dry years are over for its non-Muslims


<p>NAIROBI/GENEVA (Reuters) &#8211; Kenya’s sports and culture minister Amina Mohamed will run to be the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a spokesperson said on Wednesday and a WTO official confirmed.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="229" height="220" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/amina-2.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-375886"/></figure>



<p>“For Amina Mohamed, yes we can confirm that we received her nomination from Kenya late yesterday,” a WTO official said.</p>



<p>The Geneva-based body is seeking a replacement for Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo who is stepping down a year early at the end of August at a critical juncture for the trade watchdog.</p>



<p>His successor will need to steer reforms and negotiations in the face of rising protectionism, a deep recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing trade tensions, notably between the United States and China.</p>



<p>Mohamed, a former Kenyan ambassador to the WTO and the first woman to chair the WTO’s General Council in 2005, is the sixth candidate to be officially nominated, alongside others from Egypt, Nigeria, South Korea, Mexico and Moldova.</p>



<p>Three of them are women. Nominations close later on Wednesday.</p>



<p>There is broad support for an African candidate and a woman, since neither have headed the Geneva-based body in the past, sources following the process said.</p>


amina 2

Kenyan sports minister Amina Mohamed to bid for top WTO job

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<p>The operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement was supposed to take place at the beginning of this month but just like many developments it has been set back by the COVID-19 pandemic. CNBC Africa spoke to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on how AfCTA can get back on track.</p>


Olusegun Obasanjo on COVID-19 lessons for African economies & the AfCFTA


<p>(Reuters) &#8211; Kenyan protesters set a police station on fire after an officer allegedly shot and killed a man for hawking fake hand sanitizer, according to a police report seen by Reuters on Monday.</p>



<p>The officer is now in custody, according to the report.</p>



<p>The police officer fired his weapon after a verbal argument with the man selling the counterfeit product in an open-air market in Kisii County, western Kenya, on Sunday, the report said.</p>



<p>After the shooting, protesters quickly descended on the police station, throwing rocks and setting bonfires, damaging the station and nearby vehicles.</p>



<p>Fourteen police officers were injured and protesters dispersed after an “unquantified number of live and blank ammunitions were used”, the report said.</p>



<p>Accusations of police brutality are common in Kenya. Since the coronavirus outbreak, multiple cases of alleged police violence towards lockdown violators have been reported.</p>



<p>In March, in the first 10 days of a curfew to curb the coronavirus, at least six people were killed, according to rights group Human Rights Watch.</p>


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Man shot for allegedly hawking fake hand sanitizer – protesters torch police station


<p>Tanzanian miner Saniniu Laizer has become a millionaire overnight by selling two Tanzanite gemstones — the largest ever found in the country — for 7.7 billion Tanzanian shillings ($3.4 million), according to multiple media reports.</p>



<p>The stones weigh 9.2 kg (20.3 lbs) and 5.8kg, and Laizer mined them last week but sold them Wednesday at a trading event in the region of Manyara, the BBC reported.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="740" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-1110x740.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-375244" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-1110x740.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-696x464.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1222767163-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /><figcaption>Tanzanian small-scale miner Saniniu Kuryan Laizer, 52, poses with the enlarged cheque copy from the government after selling two of the biggest of the country&#8217;s precious gemstones, Tanzanite, during the ceremony for his historical discovery in Manyara, northern Tanzania, on June 24, 2020. &#8211; Laizer found the stones weighing 9.27 and 5.1 kilogrammes respectively in the northern Mirerani hills, an area which President John Magufuli had fenced off in 2018 to stop smuggling of the gem. He sold them to the government for 7.7 billion Tanzanian shillings (nearly $3.3 million/2.9 million euros). The broken biggest record of Tanzanite was 3.5 kilogrammes. (Photo by Filbert RWEYEMAMU / AFP) (Photo by FILBERT RWEYEMAMU/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<p>Laizer, reportedly a father of more than 30 children, told the BBC that he planned to use the money to build a shopping mall and school in his community in Simanjiro, a district of Manyara.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“I want to build this school near my home,” he told the news outlet. “There are many poor people around here who can’t afford to take their children to school.”</p>



<p>He added: “I am not educated but I like things run in a professional way. So I would like my children to run the business professionally.”</p>



<p>Despite his newfound wealth, Laizer said he would continue to look after his herd of 2,000 cows. The small-scale miner said he would slaughter one of the cows to celebrate and that there would also be a “big party.”</p>



<p>Tanzanian President John Magufuli has reportedly congratulated Laizer over the phone and said the find showed the benefit of small-scale miners and “proves that Tanzania is rich.”</p>



<p>Read the report on the BBC’s website&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53148612" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>


TANZANIA-MININIG-TANZANITE

Tanzanian miner becomes overnight millionaire by selling rare gemstones for over $3 million

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<p>Somalia has recorded over 2900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 90 deaths, and as the cases continue to rise, the health systems in the country are being rapidly confronted with increasing demand for patient care from COVID-19.  Dr. Mahad Mohammed Hassan, Head of the National Humanitarian Coordination Center joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Examining the impact of COVID-19 on Somalia’s healthcare sector

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<p>COVID-19 has not only been a health crisis but also an economic one. With supply chains distorted and massive capital flight experienced the economic effects for many African countries is massive, Richard Bolwijn, Head of Investment Research, Division on Investment &#038; Enterprise United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


COVID-19: How the disruption in global supply chains is impacting FDI in developing countries

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<p>Kenya looks to protect key firms and sectors in Kenya-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations; President Kenyatta hints at the country&#8217;s inter-county lock-down being lifted and the Central Bank of Kenya predicts a strong economic recovery post-pandemic. These are the stories making headlines in Kenya, and CNBC Africa spoke to Journalist, Joseph Bonyo for more.</p>


Kenya looks to protect key sectors & firms in Kenya-US FTA negotiations

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<p>The tourism sector has been the greatest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with almost 80 per cent of jobs in the industry facing uncertainty. So what will it take it to bounce back? Toyin Abiodun, Strategic Adviser at Rwanda&#8217;s Ministry joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


How to revive Rwandan tourism after COVID-19

How to revive Rwandan tourism post-COVID-19

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<p>In what feels like a race against time, Kenya parliament&#8217;s budgets appropriations committee approved the third supplementary budget on Friday for the financial year ending tomorrow, why so late and what are the implications of the latest changes? Churchill Ogutu, Head of Research at Genghis Capital joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Kenya’s Central Bank maintains key repo rate at 7%

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<p>More than ever the role of technology in ushering us into a new normal has been more evident but are we banking on the right industry for a quick bounce back? Is this even possible? Lacina Koné, Director General of Smart Africa joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


COVID-19: How technology is being deployed to combat the pandemic

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<p>Last year, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) implemented new reforms to ease tax payment and to further reduce the time spent on matters concerning tax administration. CNBC Africa’s Fiona Muthoni spoke with Bizimana Ruganintwali Pascal, Commissioner General of RRA for more.</p>


RRA’s Bizimana Pascal on the effectiveness of tax reforms

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<p>Local Rwandan NGO, Solid Africa has been operating since 2011, providing food, hygiene products and medical fees for the most vulnerable patients in public hospitals with the help of donations and volunteers. Now with support from larger development partners, the organization has managed to open an industrial kitchen and can cater to hundreds of patients a day just in time for response to a global pandemic. Solid Africa Founder, Isabelle Kamariza joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


How this Rwandan NGO is stepping up to feed vulnerable patients during COVID-19

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<p>African Union sanctions for unpaid dues, desert locusts wreaking havoc on agriculture and a promising new deal on State allocation meant to enhance local trade; these are the stories making news in South Sudan. CNBC Africa spoke to analyst, Akol Dok for more.</p>


South Sudan leaders reach key deal on control of states

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<p>As the fiscal year comes to an end, it&#8217;s been reported that the Uganda Revenue Authority will close it out with a shortfall of around $775.5 million. The body says that the deficit is largely due to the effects of Covid-19, but this isn&#8217;t the first time tax revenues have fallen short of expectations. CNBC Africa spoke to the Head of Public and Corporate Affairs for the Uganda Revenue Authority, Vincent Seruma for more.</p>


How the Uganda Revenue Authority is responding to COVID-19 shocks

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<p>Today as more and more people across the continent are required to stay home due to government lock-down interventions, we are seeing a massive shift towards remote learning. As we adjust to the new normal and governments take the much needed next steps towards safely re-opening the economies and adopting possible return to school strategies, blended learning will play a key role. Angela Nganga, Microsoft Education Lead for North, West, East and Southern Africa, Levant and Pakistan Countries joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Microsoft: Secure collaborations key to advancing digital learning in Africa

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<p>Last September an initiative was launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Telecommunication Union, with the aim of connecting every school in the world to the internet by 2030. Now the project, dubbed, Giga, has officially kicked off and Rwanda has been chosen to lead Africa in implementation. Julianna Lindsey, Representative for Unicef Rwanda joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


East Africa

Sudan’s 37 dry years are over for its non-Muslims

Kenyan sports minister Amina Mohamed to bid for top WTO job

Olusegun Obasanjo on COVID-19 lessons for African economies & the AfCFTA

Man shot for allegedly hawking fake hand sanitizer – protesters torch police station

Tanzanian miner becomes overnight millionaire by selling rare gemstones for over $3 million

Examining the impact of COVID-19 on Somalia’s healthcare sector

COVID-19: How the disruption in global supply chains is impacting FDI in developing countries

Kenya looks to protect key sectors & firms in Kenya-US FTA negotiations

How to revive Rwandan tourism post-COVID-19

Kenya’s Central Bank maintains key repo rate at 7%

COVID-19: How technology is being deployed to combat the pandemic

RRA’s Bizimana Pascal on the effectiveness of tax reforms

How this Rwandan NGO is stepping up to feed vulnerable patients during COVID-19

South Sudan leaders reach key deal on control of states

How the Uganda Revenue Authority is responding to COVID-19 shocks

Microsoft: Secure collaborations key to advancing digital learning in Africa

This initiative seeks to get every African school connected to the internet

News Tips

Advertise With Us

East Africa

Sudan’s 37 dry years are over for its non-Muslims

Kenyan sports minister Amina Mohamed to bid for top WTO job

Olusegun Obasanjo on COVID-19 lessons for African economies & the AfCFTA

Man shot for allegedly hawking fake hand sanitizer – protesters torch police station

Tanzanian miner becomes overnight millionaire by selling rare gemstones for over $3 million

Examining the impact of COVID-19 on Somalia’s healthcare sector

COVID-19: How the disruption in global supply chains is impacting FDI in developing countries

Kenya looks to protect key sectors & firms in Kenya-US FTA negotiations

How to revive Rwandan tourism post-COVID-19

Kenya’s Central Bank maintains key repo rate at 7%

COVID-19: How technology is being deployed to combat the pandemic

RRA’s Bizimana Pascal on the effectiveness of tax reforms

How this Rwandan NGO is stepping up to feed vulnerable patients during COVID-19

South Sudan leaders reach key deal on control of states

How the Uganda Revenue Authority is responding to COVID-19 shocks

Microsoft: Secure collaborations key to advancing digital learning in Africa

This initiative seeks to get every African school connected to the internet

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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