Ukraine Wheat Will Ease Ethiopia Hunger – WFP

 The World Food Programme (WFP) says 30,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat bought for its operations in Ethiopia is expected to arrive in neighbouring Djibouti next week.

Claire Neville, the WFP’s spokesperson for Ethiopia, has told the BBC that the wheat will support the organisation’s efforts to feed millions of people affected by food insecurity as a result of protracted conflicts and severe drought.

The food will support the body’s operations across the country, where it aims to target 3.4 million people in the northern regions of Tigray, Afar and Amhara that have been impacted by a brutal civil war that broke out 22 months ago, Ms Neville added.

An additional 2.4 million people are expected to be reached in the eastern Somali region, where people have been hit by consecutive seasons of low rainfall.

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Ethiopian Airlines Pilots ‘Overshoot Runway After Falling Asleep’

 Two pilots fell asleep at 37,000ft (11,000m), missing an airport runway before waking to safely land the plane, an aviation publication says.

Air traffic tried to contact them after they overshot the point of descent into Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa airport.

The pilots eventually woke up and landed the plane on its second approach, the Aviation Herald said.

The Ethiopian Airlines crew have been put on leave pending investigation, state-run news outlet Fana reported.

Monday’s passenger flight took off from Sudan’s Khartoum airport.

The Boeing 737, with a 154-seat capacity, normally takes less than two hours on its route between the neighbouring countries.

Reactions to sleeping on the job ranged from sympathy with the pilots’ work schedule to shock that they fell asleep on the job.

“I wouldn’t cast blame on the Ethiopian crew specifically here – this is something that could happen to ANY crew in the world and it probably DID happen… The blame lies on the corporation and the regulators,” read one comment on the Aviation Herald website.

Another user suggested that there was only one solution: “Termination. End of story. Full stop.”

Others saw the funny side of the story, comment on Twitter, “Sleeping on the job taken to new heights!”

An aviation analyst called the incident “deeply concerning” on Twitter.

“Pilot fatigue is nothing new, and continues to pose one of the most significant threats to air safety – internationally,” tweeted aviation analyst, Alex Macheras.

The BBC has contacted Ethiopian Airlines for comment.

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Elections 2022: Voters told to leave polling place after casting ballot

 Viana - The president of Associação Mãos Livres (Free Hands Association) Guilherme das Neves has appealed to the voters to refrain from staying in the vicinity of polling places after voting.

Guilherme das Neves launched the call during a press conference on the electoral process held in Viana, Luanda, on Friday (19).

The official said that the presence of citizens at the polling stations, if it takes place, "would represent a danger, as the real intentions of the people are not known".

Despite acknowledging that it is not forbidden to remain at a distance of more than 500 meters, he said there is no reason for voters to remain in the surroundings, since all political parties will be represented by delegates appointed to supervise the process.

Asked to comment on the movement of the defence and security forces, Guilherme das Neves said it was legal, and to "avoid any acts of instability".

"One thing is the gathering and another is the demonstration, but all this in practice is not good, because the excesses on the part of the citizens will be greater on this day-off duty", he stressed.

According to the human rights activist, "if the UNITA party claims to be right about its argument, from a practical point of view it is not advisable."

On the alleged electoral fraud, he stated that “this speech has been around since the first elections in 1992”, stressing that the decision to vote is up to Angolans as potential voters.

He said he is optimistic that the elections will take place in a climate of peace and harmony, but he does not rule out the possibility of an incident depending on the results of each competing party.

As for the role of the Catholic Church in holding vigils, he considered it "a positive gesture, since at this stage the institution is becoming a credible voice for society".

“Most Angolans are Christians and are praying for peace, because the mission of the Church is the pacification of spirits,' ' he concluded.

Founded on April 25, 2000, Associação Mãos Livres (Free Hands Association) is a philanthropic organisation that watches over human rights and, among other tasks, provides legal support to vulnerable people, working on training and technical support for human development processes and access to justice.

Elections2022: CPLP wants peaceful elections

 Luanda - Community of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) hopes the 24 general elections runs smoothly and the contending parties accept the results to ensure the country’s progress, for the good of all Angolans.

This was expressed by the head of the CPLP Observers Mission in the general elections in Angola, Jorge Carlos Fonseca.

The official was speaking at the end of a meeting with the MPLA candidate for President of the Republic, João Lourenço. 

The former president of Cabo Verde, who arrived Friday in Luanda,  pledged to do their best so that the process takes place with democratic normality and that, both in the electoral campaign, scrutiny and the release of the results.

He is of the view that these elections mark the path Angola has been tracking in order to consolidate democracy and improve the democratic rule of law. 

As for number of contending parties (seven political parties and one coalition of parties), he said that this election is a sign of the vitality of Angolan democracy and the interest demonstrated by the political parties in destiny and the course of the country. 

He said that it was crucial that the electoral campaign, which takes place in the difference, in the diversity and in the confrontation of ideas, runs   with tranquility and without violence, allowing the political parties to present their ideas and proposals to facilitate the choice of the citizens with active electoral capacity. 

On the meeting with the MPLA candidate, he said that it served to address issues related to the electoral process, its development and provide  information about the role and mission of the CPLP in this process.

 CPLP mission is comprised by 34 observer members.