It’s 2019!

Here’s how some African countries are choosing to step into the new year.

Sudan: in a bid to quell protests demanding the resignation of the president over rising bread prices, soaring inflation and shortages in fuel, the Sudanese government has shut down the following social media sites on mobile networks – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp. This is coming after the killing of protesters, the declaration of a state of emergency and the arrest of opposition leaders.

Sudan has blocked Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to counter anti-govt protests https://t.co/BOhgQbXvUZ #KeepItOn — Rebecca Enonchong (@africatechie) December 31, 2018

Confirmed: Ongoing disruption targeting #Sudan's internet infrastructure amid protests

➡️ Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp blocked

➡️ Evidence of violations of UN resolution A/HRC/32/L.20

➡️ Damage to economy ~$15,000,000

➡️ 300,000+ datapoint studyhttps://t.co/kthu8D5Dz0 pic.twitter.com/1sa8fLH2md — NetBlocks.org (@netblocks) December 21, 2018

Zimbabwe: The economic crisis in Zimbabwe continues. Inflation is still at an all-time high and shortages of food items such as bread, as well as shortages of fuel and bank notes have worsened. As if all these are not enough, doctors in state hospitals have gone on strike, demanding that the government equip the hospitals and pay them in US dollars.

The Democratic Republic of Congo: held its general elections on the 30th of December, 2018. Of course, it faced challenges such as non-working electronic voting machines, delay in voting due to the late arrival of the electoral roll, and the rains. Also, the exclusion of three districts due to insecurity and the Ebola virus outbreak has led to the cancellation of over one million votes.

This election is a historic moment for Congo as it marks the first peaceful transfer of power since the country’s independence. Its current president, Joseph Kabila is also stepping down after 17 years in power. Hopefully, the elections will usher in peace, growth and development.

Tanzania: The West continues to place pressure on the Tanzanian president, John Magufuli to get him to back out of some of his repressive moves violating basic human rights. Some of these violations against human rights include his silence over the governor of Dar es Salaam’s declaration to track down homosexuals and the move to expel pregnant girls from school and discontinue their education even after they have given birth. The president has responded by trying to get friendly with China.

Mali: receives a gift of 24 armoured vehicles from Qatar to help in their fight against Jihadist terrorists. Qatari General al-Ghaffari has said there would be permanent cooperation between the armies of both countries ‘in the fields of training, unit equipment and military exchanges.’

Nigeria: down here, it is drama and more drama ahead of the 2019 elections. The drama involves popular characters, Dino Melaye and the Police. The police have laid ‘siege’ to the senator’s house in a bid to arrest him over his connection to a ‘case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide committed on the 19th of July, 2018’

In the ongoing drama, police allegedly cut off electricity supply to the house and threw in tear gas canisters. All this is coming on the heels of the 190 policemen who ran away from training upon learning they were to be deployed to fight against Boko Haram, and the latter’s attack on Baga town in Borno state where it is alleged that some of the soldiers are trapped.

Qwenu! is an opinion publishing website inspired by Africa, powered by the world. Publish your thoughts, reflections, experiences & opinions. Go to our home page to read articles from our staff writers & global contributors. Share this post using the Whatsapp/social media icons above or below. Email: editor@qwenu.com. Follow us @qwenu_media