Africa news now

Here are some of the latest news stories from Africa:

Politics

• South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a new cabinet, with several key changes, including the appointment of a new finance minister. (BBC News)
• The African Union has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. (Al Jazeera)
• The Democratic Republic of Congo has held presidential elections, with results expected in the coming days. (Reuters)

Economy

• The African Development Bank has approved a $1.5 billion loan to support Nigeria's economic recovery. (African Development Bank)
• The International Monetary Fund has approved a $1.3 billion loan to support Ghana's economic recovery. (IMF)
• The South African Reserve Bank has cut interest rates to stimulate economic growth. (Business Day)

Health

• The World Health Organization has reported a surge in cases of cholera in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (WHO)
• The African Union has launched a new initiative to combat the spread of COVID-19 on the continent. (African Union)
• The South African government has announced a new plan to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the country. (Government of South Africa)

Conflict

• The conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region has escalated, with reports of heavy fighting and civilian casualties. (Al Jazeera)
• The African Union has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in the Central African Republic. (African Union)
• The United Nations has condemned the attack on a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (UN News)

Environment

• The African Union has launched a new initiative to combat climate change on the continent. (African Union)
• The World Wildlife Fund has reported a significant decline in the number of elephants in Africa. (WWF)
• The South African government has announced a new plan to combat pollution in the country's oceans. (Government of South Africa)

Sports

• The African Cup of Nations has been postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (CAF)
• The South African national rugby team has won the Rugby Championship. (SA Rugby)
• The Ethiopian national football team has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations. (Ethiopian Football Federation)

These are just a few of the latest news stories from Africa.