This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
Africa at a Glance: Scandals, Protests, and Elections ¶
Published on October 9, 2019
South Africa's Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane, testified before a judicial inquiry probing allegations of state capture, denying any involvement in corruption. He claimed, "I'm not corrupt, I have not taken money from anybody, I never have and I never will," in response to claims that he was a conduit for the Gupta's to loot the state in collusion with his father.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli warned against chaos after small rallies erupted against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Madbouli denounced the protests as part of an external "brutal war" designed to create "confusion" and stated, "The people of Egypt will not allow the scenario of chaos to be repeated again," referencing the 2011 revolution that unseated long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
Laurent Gbagbo, the former Ivory Coast president, has asked the International Criminal Court to release him after his acquittal over post-electoral violence that killed around 3,000 people. Gbagbo's lawyer, Emmanuel Altit, sent a 22-page letter to the ICC asking for his immediate and unconditional release so that he could play a role in next year's presidential election.
Elsewhere in Africa, a policeman was stoned to death in Malawi during clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters ahead of President Peter Mutharika's first public meeting since a disputed election. In Uganda, police have surrounded Bobi Wine's home after cancelling a concert set to be held near the capital, Kampala, by the pop star turned politician.
Finally, a local start-up, Safi Ltd, has launched its electric motorbikes to operate as shared taxis in Rwanda, as the country fronts its smart city and clean energy credentials. The firm has invested $13 million in the technology and targets to have 3,000 electric bicycles, 2,500 motorbikes, and 1,500 electric scooters.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled a record budget plan to lawmakers, ramping up ambitious spending goals for his second term in charge. The focus for 2020 remains on infrastructure spending, with housing, power, and transport receiving major chunks of the 10.33 trillion naira ($33.8 billion) budget.
