OZATP Summary

Ivory Coast cocoa port arrivals plunge due to political crisis, exporters say. ABIDJAN- Cocoa arrivals at ports in Ivory Coast tumbled this week due to a violent political standoff following a disputed presidential election in the world’s top growing nation, exporters said on Thursday. Ex-rebel calls on Ivory Coast army to mutiny, join opposition.

Ivory Coast cocoa port arrivals plunge due to political crisis, exporters say

ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Cocoa arrivals at ports in Ivory Coast tumbled this week due to a violent political standoff following a disputed presidential election in the world’s top growing nation, exporters said on Thursday.

Ethiopia sends army into Tigray region, heavy fighting reported

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Heavy fighting flared in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region on Wednesday, diplomatic sources said, after the prime minister launched military operations in response to what he said was an attack on federal troops.

Ex-rebel calls on Ivory Coast army to mutiny, join opposition

ABIDJAN (Reuters) – An influential ex-rebel leader told Ivory Coast’s army to mutiny on Wednesday and back a rival breakaway government in the wake of a contested presidential election that the opposition says was illegal.

Mauritius oil spill clean-up likely to be completed by Jan – ship owner

TOKYO (Reuters) – The clean-up of a massive oil spill in August from a vessel off Mauritius will likely be mostly completed by January, the bulk carrier’s owner, Japan’s Nagashiki Shipping, said on Thursday.

Kenya extends COVID-19 night curfew to Jan. 3

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended the country’s nightly curfew to Jan. 3 as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 after numbers surged in October.

Ivory Coast and Guinea election crises spur fears of prolonged unrest

DAKAR (Reuters) – Ivory Coast opposition leaders refused to disband their breakaway government on Wednesday despite being put under effective house arrest following a disputed presidential election.

Police brutality activist says she was barred from leaving Nigeria

LAGOS (Reuters) – Nigerian immigration officials blocked a prominent anti-police brutality activist from leaving the country and confiscated her passport, she told Reuters on Wednesday.

Ethiopia declares state of emergency in opposition Tigray region

Ethiopia’s government has declared a state of emergency in the opposition Tigray region, to last for a period of six months, the prime minister’s office said on Wednesday.

Flooded out, hungry South Sudan farmers race to plant fresh crops

MUNDRI, South Sudan (Reuters) – After the worst rains in living memory inundated her fields, South Sudan farmer Alexandra Karama is, like hundreds of thousands of her compatriots, staring hunger in the face.

South African factory activity expands in Oct, first time in 18 months -PMI

South African private sector activity expanded for the first time in 18 months in October as an easing of coronavirus restrictions continued to boost output and new sales, a survey showed on Wednesday.