Daybreak Africa - VOA Africa Voice of America (VOA)

The leader of Togo’s largest opposition party says it will never accept the constitutional reforms approved recently by parliament. The new constitution leaves the election of the president to parliament. Togo will hold legislative and regional polls on April 29. A government official told VOA recently the elections will provide an opportunity for Togolese voters to deliver a verdict on the new constitutional reform. Jean-Pierre Fabre, leader of the National Alliance for Change (ANC), Togo’s largest opposition party, VOA’s James Butty, the opposition will resume protests soon after the election because the new constitution is intended to maintain President Faure Gnassingbe in power who, together with his late father, have ruled Togo for over 50 years.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu this week warned of the link between illegal mining operations and the financing of terrorist activities across Africa, according to local media. Addressing regional leaders at a high-level counter-terrorism summit in Abuja, Tinubu urged the international community to take concrete actions to halt the inflow of funds from outside the continent that enable such illicit activities. To find out more about the link between illegal mining operations and the financing of terrorism in Africa, VOA’s Douglas Mpuga reached Kabir Adamu, an Abuja-based security risk management and intelligence analyst

The Kenyan government is threatening to withhold salaries of striking doctors after failing to reach an agreement with the medics to call off the strike. The work stoppage has paralyzed medical services in public hospitals across the country for two months now. Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi.

On Daybreak Africa: The UN criticizes Britain’s Rwanda migrant law, as another boat tragedy shows the dangers of crossing.Plus, Malawi takes steps to end poverty among women and girls. Ongoing rainfall leads to the closure of key roads in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. The World Bank suspends tourism financing to Tanzania over alleged human rights violations. A new World Bank report says living conditions are worsening for half of the world’s poorest countries. Artificial Intelligence surrounds U.S. political life during this election year. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

The executive director of the Oakland Institute, a policy think tank based in California, is welcoming a World Bank decision to suspend funding for a tourism project in Tanzania following allegations of human rights violations. The institute complained to the World Bank a year ago about potential violations of its own policies. Executive Director Anuradha Mittal, tells VOA’s James Butty, the suspension of funding should send a resounding message to the Tanzanian government that there are consequences for those who violate human rights to boost tourism.

The government of Tanzania says it does not violate the rights of its citizens. Government spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi says such allegations are baseless. This comes as the World Bank says it has suspended financing intended to develop tourism in the Ruaha National Park area due to allegations of killings, rape and forced evictions of the local Maasai. The Bank said the allegations, if true, breach its policies in the implementation of the project. Government spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi tells VOA’s James Butty that anyone relocated because of the project would be accorded all their rights.