Africa

The European Parliament spokesperson will hold a last-minute briefing on the 6-9 July plenary session today at 16.30.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

UNICEF unloads emergency humanitarian supplies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in response to the Ebola outbreak. The shipment includes protective equipment, hygiene kits, medicines, and medical supplies to support frontline health workers and nearly 100,000 people. Credit: UNICEF/Ndomba Mbikayi

By Maximilian Malawista
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 6 2026 (IPS)

A new assessment from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that the Ebola outbreak could cost Africa USD 3.6 billion, push 985,000 people into poverty, and put 300,000 jobs at risk.

The new analysis shows that the damage extends well beyond just those infected, disproportionately harming vulnerable populations and creating trade disruptions, transport delays, border restrictions, declining consumer confidence, along with interruptions to informal markets.

Currently, the Bundibuygo species of Ebola has no vaccine or treatment, and garners a fatality rate around 50 percent. The Democratic Republic of The Congo (DRC) records 1307 confirmed cases and 377 confirmed deaths as of June 30th, according to the DRC Ministry of Health. Separately the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 20 confirmed cases and 2 confirmed deaths in Uganda, along with 1 confirmed case and no deaths in France.

According to Dr Abdirahman Mahamud, Director of Health Emergency Alert and Response Operations at the World Health Organization, the new virus only took 37 days to reach 250 deaths, while in 2014 and 2016, during the West Africa outbreak, it took 78 days, and in 2016-2019 it took 130 days to reach the same amount of deaths. “This is the largest number of confirmed cases in the first month of an Ebola disease outbreak in Africa,” said Dr. Mahamud.

Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant-Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa says “Ebola does not stop at the hospital gate. It affects livelihoods, education, food security, trade, public finances and trust. If we treat this Ebola outbreak solely as a health challenge, we risk missing the much larger development emergency unfolding around it.”

This indicates that this outbreak could affect much more than just health. Rather it can be a challenge for all forms of livelihood, among disrupting the movement of goods, food, and money: the backbone behind resilience.

“Ebola is more than a health crisis. It touches every aspect of daily life, bringing uncertainty and fear.” Says Ugochi Daniesl, Deputy Director General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

UNICEF notes that children make up 15 percent of confirmed cases, and over 25 percent of deaths, making children almost twice as likely to die compared to adults. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russel says that “Children are especially vulnerable because they depend on caregivers and cannot distance themselves from a sick parent or sibling in the same way that an adult can,” revealing a stark reality where more than 130 children have lost one or both parents in the Ituri region, the origin of the current outbreak.

While much of the outbreak looks dark, the WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus said on June 24th, “With support from the WHO and the Africa CDC, laboratory capacity has increased from 30 tests a day at the central laboratory in Kinshasa to over 2000 tests a day in nine labs across three provinces.”

The Director General also said that more than 100 people have recovered since, noting that early detection and supportive care can help patients survive the disease. He added “But we could save many more lives with therapeutics. And preparations are now complete for a trial of two therapeutics that is expected to start in DRC next week (The Week of June 28th). The trial will evaluate whether two antivirals, MBP134 and remdesivir, can help to reduce mortality in patients with Bundibugyo virus disease, alone or in combination. We thank the United States and Gilead Sciences for donating doses for the trial.”

The WHO Director General affirmed that “With early detection and supportive care, many can survive this disease.”

The clinical trial opened enrollment for Ebola patients in the DRC on July 2. The trial is coordinated by WHO, the Institut National pour la Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in the DRC, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, in coordination with international research, clinical and humanitarian partners. The trial will be integrated into clinical care, and will allow for additional treatments to be added as they become available.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Technician repairing control panel. Mickael Ange Konan/pexels.comù Credit: United Nations
 
The United Nations General Assembly’s proclamation of the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA IV) is far more than a symbolic milestone.

By Fatou Haidara and Francisca Tatchouop Belobe
VIENNA / ADDIS ABABA, Jul 6 2026 (IPS)

Amid shifting geopolitical, economic, and technological landscapes, it reflects growing international recognition that Africa’s sustainable industrial transformation is vital – not only for the continent’s future, but also for global prosperity.

Backed by more than 140 co-sponsors and endorsed by 176 Member States, as well as the African Union Executive Council, IDDA IV is the most politically anchored Decade yet. This is especially significant at a time when international development cooperation and multilateralism are under strain.

The proclamation underscores that industrialization is crucial to Africa’s productive transformation, economic diversification, decent job creation, poverty reduction, and long-term growth. It also calls on the international community to support Africa’s industrialization efforts as a contribution to the realization of Agenda 2063.

Building on its predecessor, IDDA IV sets an integrated transformation agenda, which aligns Africa’s structural realities to the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving global economy.

The Third Industrial Development Decade elevated Africa’s industrialization on the global political agenda, mobilized over 700 joint initiatives with development partners and financial institutions, and strengthened industrial policy support across African Member States.

These achievements are a strong foundation to build on. Yet significant structural barriers – infrastructure and energy deficits, limited productive capacity, low technology absorption, and insufficient access to finance – still need to be addressed.

Africa enters the Fourth Industrial Development Decade against a backdrop of volatility and change, but also unprecedented opportunities.

Opportunities

Despite recurring global and regional shocks, the continent has remained resilient. The African Development Bank’s 2026 Economic Outlook notes that real GDP growth reached 4.4 per cent in 2025, making Africa among the fastest growing regions of the world.

With nearly 12 million young people entering the labour force each year, Africa’s youthful population is a major driver of its future prosperity.

At the same time, global supply chains are being reconfigured, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is creating the world’s largest emerging integrated market, opening the door to regional trade integration, value chains and economies of scale.

Digital technologies are reshaping manufacturing systems worldwide, providing Africa with an opportunity to leapfrog traditional industrial pathways. The digital transition is driving innovation in agro-processing and climate-smart agricultural technologies. It is also fueling global demand for critical minerals, which resource-endowed African countries can leverage by building local value addition.

In parallel, Africa’s growing middle class, urbanization and shifting consumer preferences are expanding markets, from processed foods to pharmaceuticals. Continuing regional integration under the AfCFTA is further adding momentum.

The convergence of these trends creates a historic window of opportunity for Africa, which may not return in the same form.

With IDDA IV proclaimed, the mandate is set; the urgent task now is delivery.

The African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are committed to steering this process together as the two institutions entrusted by the UN General Assembly to lead the Decade’s implementation.

The immediate priority for the next 18 months is to develop a collaborative Programme of Action. This framework will translate the Decade’s mandate into targeted investments, secure financing platforms, and measurable results across national and regional corridors.

IDDA IV is not standalone. It aligns with major continental frameworks and initiatives, including the AfCFTA, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), and the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), while convening the different actors needed to advance Africa’s industrialization.

UNIDO, as the UN’s specialized agency for industrial development, brings technical and policy expertise, field presence, and proven operational models to implement IDDA IV on the ground, including through its Programmes for Country Partnership.

The AUC, with its continent wide political mandate and strong coordination capacity, can align trade, infrastructure, finance, and industry to drive delivery.

This effort will be coordinated with the African Union Development Agency – Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA -NEPAD), the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank Group, Afreximbank, regional economic communities, development partners, and private sector stakeholders.

However, to succeed, IDDA IV needs adequate and sustained financing. It requires building an industrial investment ecosystem and making private sector engagement a core pillar of delivery.

Governments and international organizations can create an enabling environment, coordinate partnerships and support policy reforms. But it is the private sector that builds factories, creates jobs, and links economies to regional and global value chains.

The next phase will therefore focus on mobilizing public and private capital, structuring bankable projects capable of attracting institutional investors, and using blended finance mechanisms to de-risk investments in emerging markets.

IDDA IV is not merely another international decade. It is the opportunity to redefine Africa’s role in the global economy, shifting from raw material exporter to a producer of value-added goods, and a driver of industrial innovation and sustainable growth.

Ms. Fatou Haidara is UNIDO’s Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations, while Ms. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe is the AUC’s Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals.

Source: Africa Renewal, United Nations

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Excerpt:

The UN has proclaimed 2026-2035 as the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA IV). What opportunities are there for Africa?

Fishing crews in Sierra Leone say large Chinese ships are illegally hoovering up stocks.

Fishing crews in Sierra Leone say large Chinese ships are illegally hoovering up stocks.

Carlos Queiroz steps down as Ghana head coach after three months in charge following their World Cup exit.

Newcastle United reporter Ciaran Kelly looks at why the club have bought forward Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £43m.

Tens of thousands of fans formed an ocean of blue outside the airport in capital city, Praia.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha says, "we wanted something bigger" as his side arrive home after being knocked out of the World Cup by Argentina.

Morocco fans celebrate after their team beat Canada 3-0 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson was beaten for the second consecutive Diamond League race as she finished behind Lilian Odira in Eugene.

As Morocco beat Canada to book their place in the last-8, their World Cup campaign can no longer be seen as a fairytale.

Le parti Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UP-R) a remis, samedi 4 juillet 2026 à Cotonou, un manuel de recommandations destiné aux maires et à leurs adjoints élus sous ses couleurs pour la mandature 2026-2032.

Les dix (10) orientations que l'Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UP-R) souhaite voir appliquées dans la gestion des communes afin de promouvoir une gouvernance fondée sur la rigueur, la proximité avec les populations et la bonne gouvernance ont été consignées dans un document.

Le manuel a été remis, samedi 4 juillet 2026, à Cotonou, aux maires et adjoints au maire UP-R.

Selon le secrétaire général de l'UP-R, Gérard Gbénonchi, cette cérémonie fait suite à la rentrée politique organisée le 1er mars 2026 à Abomey-Calavi. Il a été décidé, à cette occasion, de constituer un comité chargé de formuler dix recommandations à l'endroit des élus communaux.

Après validation par la Haute Direction politique, ces recommandations ont été regroupées dans un manuel appelé à servir de référence dans l'exercice des responsabilités locales.

Au nom des participants, la maire de Kétou, Angélique Titilola Adégnika, a lu une déclaration d'engagement par laquelle les maires et adjoints au maire promettent de faire de ce document un repère dans la conduite de leurs actions. Ils y réaffirment leur volonté d'exercer leurs fonctions dans le respect des principes de bonne gouvernance et de service aux citoyens.

En procédant à la remise officielle du manuel, le président de l'UP-R, Joseph Fifamin Djogbénou, a présenté ce qu'il a qualifié de « 10 commandements du Maire UP le Renouveau ».

Il a exhorté les élus à promouvoir une gouvernance rigoureuse, inclusive et davantage tournée vers les préoccupations des populations.

Le président du parti les a également invités à s'approprier la stratégie de régionalisation du développement portée par le chef de l'État, estimant qu'elle constitue un levier pour accélérer le développement des territoires. « Nous pouvons assurer, garantir à nos populations que la barque de la gouvernance ne va pas tanguer », a-t-il déclaré devant les élus.

Pour accompagner la mise en œuvre de ces orientations, un comité de suivi et d'évaluation a été institué. Placé sous la présidence de l'expert Franck Kinninvo, cet organe aura pour mission d'apprécier l'application effective des recommandations formulées dans le manuel auprès des communes dirigées par les élus du parti UP-R.
M. M.

Le trafic est rétabli sur le tronçon Iita-Godomey après quelques jours de blocage du fait du débordement du « Djonou », sorti de son lit suite aux pluies diluviennes qui se sont abattues sur le Littoral et l'Atlantique ces derniers jours.

Joie et satisfaction pour les usagers de la Route inter-Etats Cotonou-Niamey. Le blocus observé sur le tronçon Iita-carrefour-pont de Houédonou du fait du débordement du « Djonou » est désormais levé. Le équipes techniques déployées sur les lieux sont parvenues à évacuer l'eau offrant la possibilité aux motocyclistes et automobilistes de circuler librement.
Ces derniers jours, les pluies diluviennes qui se sont abattues sur les départemets du Littoral et de l'Atlantique ont provoqué une forte inondation du ce tronçon obligeant les usagers à un ralentissement inhabituel et à une déviation par Womey.

F. A. A.

Le maire de Parakou, Zul-Kifly Sani Zakarie, a donné, le 2 juillet 2026, le coup d'envoi de la deuxième phase du Programme d'Assainissement Pluvial des Villes Secondaires (PAPVS), un projet estimé à plus de 14 milliards de FCFA destiné à améliorer durablement la gestion des eaux pluviales et les infrastructures urbaines à Parakou.

9,2 kilomètres de collecteurs d'eaux pluviales, de 5,7 kilomètres de voiries de desserte et de désenclavement, ainsi que des aménagements complémentaires comprenant des espaces verts, un réseau d'éclairage public et des équipements de sécurité seront réalisés à Parakou.

C'est dans le cadre de la phase 2 du Programme d'Assainissement Pluvial des Villes Secondaires (PAPVS)

Le projet, financé par la Banque Ouest-Africaine de Développement (BOAD), a été lancé le jeudi 2 juillet 2026.

Les travaux, confiés à l'entreprise IRRIGA-MED pour une durée prévisionnelle de deux ans, concerneront notamment les quartiers Kpérou-Guèra, Amanwignon, Gbira, Zongo, Nima et Albarika.

L'objectif est de réduire les risques d'inondation tout en améliorant les conditions de circulation et le cadre de vie des habitants de ces secteurs de la ville.

Dans les quartiers concernés, le lancement des travaux a été accueilli avec satisfaction.

Le conseiller municipal Jasmin Adouvo ainsi que plusieurs responsables communautaires et habitants d'Alaga, de Kpérou-Guèra et d'Albarika y voient l'aboutissement d'engagements longtemps attendus, notamment en ce qui concerne les ouvrages d'assainissement et l'aménagement de la voie reliant Albarika à Kpérou-Guèra.
M. M.

South Africa reassert their dominance over England with a commanding victory at Ellis Park in the opening round of games in the new Nations Championship.

After lighting up the 2022 World Cup Morocco are once again shining on the global stage - but this time they have teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi in their ranks.

Cape Verde may have been the World Cup's second-smallest nation but they leave the largest impact as they depart following defeat by defending champions Argentina in an epic.

More than 2,000 primary schools are facing closure as enrolment numbers plummet.