Africa news today

Here are some of the top news stories from Africa today:

Politics

• Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a new Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to replace the outgoing IGP, Mohammed Adamu. (Premium Times)
• The African Union (AU) has condemned the recent coup in Mali, calling for the restoration of constitutional order and the release of detained officials. (Al Jazeera)
• The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi has announced plans to hold a national dialogue to address the country's political and economic crises. (Reuters)

Economy

• The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $1.5 billion loan to support Nigeria's economic recovery and development. (AfDB)
• The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.5% to stimulate economic growth. (Business Day)
• The DRC's government has announced plans to increase taxes on mining companies to boost revenue and fund development projects. (Mining Weekly)

Health

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in COVID-19 cases in Africa, with over 1.5 million cases and 30,000 deaths reported across the continent. (WHO)
• The African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) has secured a deal with Pfizer to purchase 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for distribution across Africa. (AVAT)
• The Nigerian government has launched a campaign to promote the use of face masks and other personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Premium Times)

Security

• The United Nations (UN) has condemned a recent attack on a UN peacekeeping base in the Central African Republic, which killed several peacekeepers. (UN News)
• The Nigerian military has launched a operation to flush out Boko Haram insurgents from the country's northeast region. (Premium Times)
• The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched an investigation into the murder of a 21-year-old woman who was found dead in a park in Cape Town. (News24)

Other News

• The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (CAF)
• The Ethiopian government has announced plans to build a new capital city, Mekelle, to replace the current capital, Addis Ababa. (Ethiopian Herald)
• The Kenyan government has launched a campaign to promote the use of electric vehicles to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. (Nation Africa)

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