Africa Mourns Namibia President's death, 3 countries exit ECOWAS and the Premier Gaou derby
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Namibia President dies
We start this week’s newsletter on a sad note as we mourn the passing of a galant son of Africa, Namibia’s President, Hage Geingob. Hage Geingob was a renowned freedom fighter and anti-apartheid activist. Late last year, the Presidency announced that Geingob was battling cancer.
(Namibian President Hage Geingob 1941-2024)
Geingob died on Sunday at Lady Pohamba Hospital in the capital Windhoek with his wife and his children at his side. His Vice President Nangolo Mbumba has already been sworn in as the fifth President of Namibia.
May his soul rest in Peace!
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger exit ECOWAS
When Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu became chair of ECOWAS in July, 2023, he announced the return of Africa’s largest economy to regional integration. This was received as great news following his predecessor Mohammed Buhari’s last term where Naija looked more inward and closed off than ever before.
But the unity of the body has been put in some form of limbo as 3 countries Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger announced their exits from the body last week. The departure of the 3 African states comes after ECOWAS sanctioned them following coups that brought in new leadership in the 3 states. But the 3 countries insist that the 15 country regional body has largely ignored their concerns.
Could diplomacy work here?
Premier Gaou Derby- AFCON
It’s the semifinals stage of what has so far been the most exciting Africa Cup Of Nations football tournament in recent memory.
Hosts Cote d’ivore’s The Elephants take on the Democratic of Congo’s Leopards in what has been dubbed the Premier Gaou derby. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana take on Nigeria’s Super Eagles in what fans have called the Amapiano vs Afrobeats derby.
Listen people, not sure you are all excited as we are but, yep i’m looking forward to these match ups. And of course Go Bafana Bafana, ai.