In depth

Corona Chronicles: 27 April – 30 April

The number of confirmed cases has now surpassed three million. Despite efforts across the African continent there are now 34,000 confirmed cases. Both France and Italy have entered a recession. On the plus side, lockdowns worldwide have led to a record drop in C02 emissions. This week, we begin to look ahead to life post-lockdown and even post-pandemic.

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despotism disguised

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Coronavirus: despotism disguised by the pandemic

A report by the UN released on 23 April argues that the coronavirus pandemic should not be used as a pretext for autocratic regimes to crack down on human rights and block the free flow of information, while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the global public health crisis is rapidly turning into a human rights crisis.

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Fundraising fears

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Coronavirus: Nigeria goes home for funds out of fear on COVID-19 impact

The impact of the coronavirus has reversed Nigeria’s plan to borrow from the external market this year, forcing the country of nearly 200 million to seek funding from its domestic markets, on the approval from the country’s senate.

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pandemic priorities

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Coronavirus: Bill Gates defends WHO from Trump, gives $11m

Under criticism for his handling of the Covid-19 outbreak at home, US President Donald Trump lashed out.

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DISTRESS CALL

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Coronavirus: Ease sanctions for Zimbabwe and Sudan pleads AU Chair

African Union (AU) chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa has implored the international community to lift economic sanctions against Zimbabwe and Sudan to enable the countries to fight the spread of COVID-19.

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Retail Strategy

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Coronavirus: Woolworths small-shop formats well suited to post-pandemic

South African convenience food shopping is a more likely long-term winner from COVID-19 and social distancing than online retail.

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HOME SICK

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Coronavirus: Can those stranded from Cairo to Cape Town come home?

As the coronavirus pandemic keeps most countries on lockdown mode, many nationals stranded abroad are trying to make their way home through the help of their respective governments; but for many, there is no option.

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ECOWAS digitised

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Coronavirus: ECOWAS appoints Buhari as pandemic response ‘champion’

The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held an extraordinary session via videoconference on 23 April to discuss the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sub-region. The meeting notably resulted in the appointment of Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari as the organisation’s COVID-19 response coordinator.

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Knockout Blow

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Coronavirus: South African mining losses sealed from lockdown

The partial easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions is likely too little, too late to save smaller South African miners and supply companies.

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Bottled hope

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Coronavirus: Rajoelina’s ‘remedy’ flows freely in Madagascar

A few days after its official launch, President Andry Rajoelina’s Covid-Organics (CVO) remedy is being handed out free of charge in the country’s streets and schools despite questions surrounding the “miracle remedy”.

A masked woman walks down the hallway of a shopping mall in Kitwe, Zambia, February 2020.

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case by case

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Covid-19 in Africa: map following the pandemic

For a while untouched by the coronavirus pandemic, the whole continent is now affected by the spread of Covid-19.

The In Depth Collection