2018 Review: Top African news per country [Djibouti – Guinea-Bissau]

Africa

As the year rounds up, Africanews’ digital team looks back at the major news items from across the continent. Our 2018 Review page looks at the different information blocs on our website – news, sports, business, sci-tech and culture.

In other perspectives, our team will look at news trends over the course of the year. Trends shall include: women of the year, peace deals of the year, Africa’s relations with the world, review of the various presidential elections etc.

With respect to the country by country review of major news, at least three items will be reviewed whiles taking stock of how the different countries handled issues back home, with neighbours and the world at large.

A special tab on the Africanews homepage ‘2018 Review’ is LIVE with a pool of articles and photo stories looking back at the year. We are using an alphabetical arrangement in respect of country reviews. This part concentrates on Djibouti through to Guinea-Bissau.

DJIBOUTI: Peace talks with Eritrea, opening of Free Trade Zone

Djibouti over the course of the year sought UN help to resolve a diplomatic stalemate with Eritrea. They lodged a request with the secretary general to push for mediation over border dispute and the issue of prisoners of war.

In July 2018, a number of African leaders flew in to join President Omar Guelleh to inaugurate a $3.5 billion free trade zone built by a Chinese company.

In addition to the other military bases stationed in the tiny Horn of Africa nation, China opened its first overseas military base even though officially the facility was described as a ‘logistics facility.’

DR CONGO: Kabila agrees to go, protests amid crackdown, Ebola resurfaces

Politics, security and disease, much the usual suspects featured in a long year for DRC, and yet there is still a long way to go as polls are held on December 23 to elect a new set of lawmakers and a president.

Kabila agreed to step down in August 2018, it means that after a two-year delay, DRC could be looking at post-Kabila years. Earlier in the year, anti-government protests were heavily clamped down on including one by the powerful Catholic Church.

In the midst of the chaos, Ebola returned claiming the lives of scores. The WHO responded swiftly along to local authorities. The recent outbreak is marked as the second deadliest in the world.

Insecurity in parts of the country has also affected quite a number of people, even the Ebola responders suffered attacks that made the response perilous.

Denis Mukwege was name co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize award. Ex veep Pierre Bemba was released by ICC, returned home but barred from presidential race. Ex-Katanga governor Moise Katumbi also barred from contesting even returning home from exile.

EGYPT: Al-Sisi re-election, GERD talks, attacks on Copts

President Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi contested for a second term and won by a landslide after zooming past an unknown opponent. Opposition call for a boycott is said to have affected turnout.

Then Egypt continued its demands on the Nile waters on which Ethiopia was banking its hopes for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project. Talks were held between Ethiopia PM and Al-Sisi whiles foreign affairs ministers and experts also met for talks.

Deadly attacks on especially Egyptian Copts also continued in the year as Al-Sisi continued to drum his resolve to keep all Egyptians safe. The army also reported fighting off terrorists in parts of the country.

ERITREA: Peace with Ethiopia, UNSC lifts sanctions, Asmara reengages

Ethiopia – Eritrea made peace after two decades of hostilities. The move had good rebound across the wider Horn of Africa region with nations forging new ties with the view to better cooperation.

The lifting of nine-year old sanctions by the United Nations was another major highlight for Eritrea. It was largely allied to peace with Ethiopia and a shift in US position on the matter.

Asmara has in the wake of the two developments continued to actively engage within the region and beyond. The Gulf states – Saudi and UAE, the United States, European Union, Russia and others have all leaned in start engaging with Eritrea.

The country was also elected to serve on the United Nations human rights council, promising by that, to right human rights issues back home.

ETHIOPIA: Peace with Eritrea, Abiy’s high speed reforms, good year for women in politics

When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took over Ethiopia was on the brink of implosion, security and political watchers had said. That is no longer the case, even though threats largely exist in the form of insecurity.

Abiy’s inaugural address promised reforms across the board. It promised peace at home and with Eritrea and a better Ethiopia than the one he inherited.

The reforms have been rolling in thick and fast in the area of politics, economy, state institutions etc. The Eritrea peace has been durably delivered and the deadly protests of years ago are gone.

Women represent half of Abiy’s 20-seat cabinet. The country has its first woman president and chief justice. It has first woman defense minister and peace minister and a woman is tasked with the 2020 polls which Abiy has invested time into – meeting opposition groups on charting a way forward. EQUATORIAL GUINEA: 2017 coup confirmed, VP entourage held in Brazil, opposition freed

In December 2017, the Equatorial Guinea government reported having foiled an attempted coup. It wasn’t until early 2018 the government gave details blaming mercenaries from Cameroon and Chad.

VP Teodorin Obiang Nguema was also detained during a trip to Brazil, members of his delegation were said to be carrying huge sums of monies and watches valued in the millions of dollars.

Back at home, he had given orders that lawmakers needing to travel abroad needed clearance from his office. A number of detained opposition members were also freed.

GABON: Bongo’s ill health, ICC drops probe, legislative polls

Despite starting late in the year, President Ali Bongo’s ill health has been the biggest news from the oil rich central African nation.

He is currently convalescing in Morocco after being transferred from Saudi Arabia where he was hospitalized when he was in Riyadh for an investment summit. Government recently confirmed that he suffered a stroke.

The International Criminal Court this year said it was dropping a probe into post-election violence in the country. Following chaotic 2016 presidential polls, ICC had said it was considering a probe.

Delayed legislative polls were also held with the ruling party maintaining its majority in the parliament.

GAMBIA: New VP, Jammeh commission and comeback talk

The Gambia continued its rebuilding efforts in the post-Jammeh era. But it still had Jammeh looming over the immediate future.

Two commissions related to his era were launched – the truth and reconciliation commission and the financial probe body.

In June, President Barrow replaced his vice. He appointed Ousainou Darboe, leader of the main ruling party to replace Fatoumatou Jallow Tambajang.

A leak audio also alleged that Jammeh was in talks over a return to the country, he remains in exile in Equatorial Guinea. His mother who died in exile was however brought back home for burial.

Jammeh’s party lost big time in the first legislative polls since his ouster. The Gambia applied for and was readmitted to the Commonwealth after Jammeh led them out in 2013.

GHANA: Kofi Annan goes home, FA chief busted, Mahama wants to rerun

Ghana received the world as one of its illustrious sons, Kofi Annan was buried at a military cemetery in the capital Accra. Annan, a former UN secretary general died in Geneva where he was living.

The country’s football association chief Kwesi Nyantakyi was also busted in an undercover operation, part of a wider investigative piece into the country’s football.

Nyantakyi resigned his posts at CAF and FIFA in the wake of the exposé. The country’s local football was suspended but Ghana managed to escape a FIFA ban by working with the body to institute a normalization committee hoping to get the game back on track.

A rare anti-government protest hit the country as a US-Ghana military cooperation agreement got citizens worried. US first lady Melania Trump picked Ghana as one of four stops on her first solo trip outside of the US.

GUINEA: Anti-government protests, Bollore corrupt deal, economic crisis

The West African country had its fair share of protests decrying the governance style of President Alpha Conde. Other planks of the protest were due to economic issues.

Early in the year, government was cited in a corrupt deal involving French business giants Bollore. The case which involved the running of ports was dismissed by government.