Africa News Tonight - VOA Africa Voice of America (VOA)

In eastern Libya, where General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, is backed by the Russian military, some regional security analysts estimate the Russian presence ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 individuals. The war between Russia and Ukraine is in its 2nd year, and many African students who had to leave for safety find themselves back in their home countries and feel largely ignored. In Eswatini’s textile industry thousands of female workers say they face unhygienic work environments, low pay, excessively long unpaid hours, harsh discrimination, and unjust dismissals.

Kenya's health ministry has announced the government has reached a deal with striking doctors, after a walk-out that lasted 56 days. Two suspected poachers were recently shot to death by Namibian law enforcement officials who say the men had opened fire on police while being pursued for allegedly illegally hunting in the Etosha National Park. In Tanzania, Medical Teams International has been able to achieve a rate of zero maternal deaths over the past four years in the Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee camps..

The United States and other countries are pushing ahead with diplomatic efforts to establish a cease-fire between Israel and the militant Hamas group, as Israel threatens an assault on the Gaza city of Rafah. Hundreds of political parties and independent candidates have registered for South Africa’s election on May 29, as the ruling African National Congress faces the prospect of losing its majority for the first time. Egyptian businessman and Sinai militia leader Ibrahim al-Organi has been appointed head of Egypt's Arab Tribes Union, a paramilitary entity uniting five tribal groups under one umbrella to confront national security challenges.

Chad’s presidential election concludes today with civilians going to the polls, a day after members of the military cast their ballots. Nigeria is cracking down on electoral fraud, marking a turning point for African democracy. Advocacy group Reporters Without Borders says limits on political coverage has a chilling effect on journalists in Africa, especially in the Sahel.

Chad’s election on Monday is almost certain to result in victory for transitional president and military leader Mahamat Idriss Déby, some analysts say. Some Sahel states favor restrictions on news media for reporting security-related stories that governments do not like. Presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says if elected he would restore a travel ban on some majority-Muslim countries; President Joe Biden rescinded the controversial ban the former president imposed in his first term.

In its 2024 economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa, the Bretton Wood Institution says it is upbeat about a good regional economic recovery but adds that growth has been more sluggish than expected. There are reports that Russian cargo planes were seen offloading scores of soldiers at Brak al-Shati, while cargo ships carrying equipment docked at the port of Tobruk. A South African whistleblower had to fight for her job after she exposed corruption.