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

Kenyan police today have been clashing with protesters in Nairobi who returned to the streets to oppose a contentious finance bill and to honor demonstrators killed when police fired on crowds on Tuesday. The demonstrations in Kenya have been led by young adults who say they are seeking better governance amid calls for President William Ruto to step down. U.S. presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in their first debate of this election cycle Thursday.

Today, Kenyan President William Ruto scrapped the contentious finance bill, which had brought thousands of protesters into the streets yesterday, and led to an assault on Parliament. World Health Organization member states are negotiating an agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, a deal that is seen as key for Africa, which struggled to access COVID vaccines that were produced in developed nations. Top military officials and police chiefs from the Central African Republic and neighboring Cameroon are meeting to coordinate efforts against deadly border attacks by rebels and armed gangs.

Africa News Tonight is a lively news magazine show featuring VOA correspondent reports, interviews with African officials, opposition leaders, NGOs and human rights activists. News feature stories look at science and technology, environmental issues, humanitarian topics, and the African diaspora.

After multiple delays and court challenges, it appears the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti may be set for Tuesday, according to news reports, even though Kenya’s High Court ruled earlier this year the deployment was unconstitutional. Zimbabwe has not been invited to a U.S-Africa military conference that begins in Botswana tomorrow, with defense chiefs from more than 30 African countries. U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee says a recent congressional visit to Africa was first and foremost about the re-authorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, as well as to remain engaged with the continent.

The United States Africa Command has organized a conference in Botswana with defense chiefs from 30 African countries next week to discuss the security and stability challenges. U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee represents the U.S. state of Michigan, and he is part of a delegation now on the continent advocating for greater ties. South Africa’s rand strengthened this week to below 18 to the dollar, the first time it’s been there in more than a year, and South African stocks rose after President Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated for a second term.

In marking World Refugee Day, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR is appealing to nations to keep their doors open to the many people fleeing conflict, persecution and abuse. Refugees in Uganda are adopting skills to support themselves amid food cuts by the government and its aid partners, saying it’s time they learn to live on their own rather than depend on aid. Sudan’s army has been in talks with Russia to allow it to build a naval logistics base on the Red Sea in exchange for arms.