Avance Media announces 2020 Most Influential African Women list

Public Relations and Rating firm, Avance Media, has announced its second annual publication on Africa’s most prominent women dubbed the 2020 100 Most Influential African Women.

The list which has a representation of the most powerful African women from 34 countries. They were chosen from the various career backgrounds including diplomacy, politics, activism, entrepreneurship, business leadership and entertainment. Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana recorded the highest number of women with 20, 11 & nine representatives respectively.

The 2020 list features a record of 75 new entrants with some of the leading names such as Halima Dangote, Ugandan Activist Stella Nyanzi, Olympic Committee Member, Lydia Nsekera and the only 2 female finance ministers in Africa, Vera Daves De Sousa (Angola) & Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (Nigeria).

The youngest African to make the 2020 list is 24-year-old Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Emma Theofelus.

According to Prince Akpah, Managing Director of Avance Media, the list is focused on women who are leading various initiatives across the continent and seeks to present them as role models for the younger generation.

He further noted that they were selected because of their incredible achievements as women and they deserve high recommendations among other female trailblazers in Africa.

Criteria for selection included: Excellence in Leadership & Performance, Personal accomplishments, Commitment to sharing knowledge, Breaking the Status Quo and being an accomplished African Woman.

Profiles of the 2020 100 Most Influential African Women are published on 100women.avancemedia.org  

Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2020 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order

1.    Agnes Binagwaho (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity
2.    Agnes Kalibata || CEO, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
3.    Amanda Mukwashi  || CEO, Christian Aid
4.    Amani Abou-Zeid (H.E Dr.) || Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, African Union
5.    Amel Karboul (Dr.) || CEO, Education Outcomes Fund
6.    Amina C. Mohamed (Dr.) || Cabinet Secretary, Sports, Culture & Heritage (Kenya)
7.    Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
8.    Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh  || Regional Head, IBM Africa
9.    Angélique Kidjo  || Musician    
10.    Anita Erskine || Founder, Anita Erskine Media
11.    Anna Nimiriano || Editor-in-Chief, Juba Monitor
12.    Anne-Marie Dias Borges || Presenter, BBC
13.    Antoinette Sayeh || Deputy MD, IMF
14.    Arikana Chihombori Quao || Activist    
15.    Aurélie A. Soulé Zoumarou || Minister, Digital Economy and Communications (Benin)
16.    Ayisha Osori  || CEO, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
17.    Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala || Vice President & CFO, AFDB
18.    Bella Disu || Vice Chairman, Globacom
19.    Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || CEO, soleRebels
20.    Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi || First Lady, Ekiti State
21.    Chileshe Kapwepwe (H.E.) || Secretary-General, (COMESA)
22.    Dorothy Tembo || Ag. Executive Director, International Trade Centre
23.    Edith Yah Brou || Blogger    
24.    Eghosa Oriaikhi Mabhena || CEO, Puma Energy Africa
25.    Ellen Johnson Sirleaf || Founder, EJS Center
26.    Elsie S. Kanza || Head of Africa, World Economic Forum
27.    Emma Lohoues || Actress    
28.    Emma Theofelus || Deputy Minister, Namibia
29.    Esther Cobbah || CEO, Stratcomm Ghana
30.    Fadumo Dayib || Politician    
31.    Faith Osier (Prof) || President, International Union of Immunological Societies
32.    Fatou Bom Bensouda || Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
33.    Fatoumata Bâ || Founder, Janngo
34.    Françoise Remarck || Chairman, Canal+ Cote D’Ivoire
35.    Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust
36.    Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor || Minister, International Relations and Cooperation
37.    Hajer Sharief || Co-Founder, Together We Build it
38.    Hala Zayed (Dr.) || Minister, Health and Population (Egypt)
39.    Halima Dangote || Executive Director, Dangote Group
40.    Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu || CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation
41.    Ilwad Elman || Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Center
42.    Irene Charnley || Founder, Smile Communications
43.    Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (Prof) || Chancellor, Women's University in Africa
44.    Jewel Howard Taylor (H.E) || Vice President, Liberia
45.    Juliet Ehimuan || Director, Google West Africa
46.    Kamissa Camara || Secretary-General, Mali Presidency
47.    Lalla Moulaye Ezzedine || Chairman, Bank of Africa Côte d'Ivoire
48.    Laureen Kouassi-Olsson || Regional Head, Amethis
49.    Leila Bouamatou || Managing Director, BANK OF MAURITANIA GENERAL
50.    Linda Ikeji || CEO, Linda Ikeji Media
51.    Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
52.    Lucy Quist || Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Morgan Stanley
53.    Lydia Nsekera || Member, International Olympic Committee
54.    Magda Wierzycka || CEO, Sygnia
55.    Maggie Kigozi || Chairperson, Africa Scout Foundation
56.    Mamokgethi Phakeng (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town
57.    Mansa Nettey || CEO, StanChart Ghana
58.    Martine Coffi-Studer || Chairperson, Bolloré Transport & Logistics
59.    Massogbè Touré || CEO, SITA S.A
60.    Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO
61.    Melene Rossouw || Founder, Women Lead Movement
62.    Mimi Kalinda || CEO, Africa Communications Media Group
63.    Monica Geingos (H.E) || First Lady, Republic of Namibia    
64.    Nana Asantewa Afadzinu || Executive Director, WASCI
65.    Nathalie Akon Gabala || Regional Head, Mastercard Foundation
66.    Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli || Founder, LEAP Africa
67.    Ngozi Okonjo Iweala || Board Chair, Gavi Alliance
68.    Nompumelelo Thembekile Madisa || CEO, Bidvest Group
69.    Olajumoke Adenowo || Founder, AD Consulting
70.    Oumou Sangaré || Musician    
71.    Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group
72.    Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana
73.    Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Dr) || Executive Director, UN Women
74.    Racheal Njoroge || Managing Director, Cummins
75.    Rachel Sibande (Dr) || Founder, mHub
76.    Rasha Kelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation
77.    Rawya Mansour || Founder, RAMSCO
78.    Raychelle Omamo || Minister, Foreign Affairs (Kenya)
79.    Rita Bissoonauth || Head, AU International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education
80.    Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E) || President, Ethiopia
81.    Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey || Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ghana)
82.    Sinach || Musician    
83.    Sisi Ntombela || Premier, Free State (South Africa)
84.    Snowy Khoza (Dr) || CEO, Bigen Africa
85.    Soham El Wardini || Mayor, Dakar
86.    Sola David-Borha || Group CEO, Standard Bank Africa
87.    Stella Nyanzi (Dr.) || Convenor, Women's Protest Uganda
88.    Sylvia Mulinge || Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom
89.    Temie Giwa-Tubosun || Founder, LifeBank
90.    Toyin Sanni || CEO, Emerging Africa Capital
91.    Toyin Saraki || Founder, Wellbeing Foundation Africa
92.    Uche Pedro || Founder, BELLANAIJA
93.    Vera Daves De Sousa || Minister, Finance (Angola)
94.    Vera Songwe (Dr) || Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
95.    Wala'a Essam Al-Boushi || Minister, Youth and Sport (Sudan)
96.    Wanjira Mathai || Vice President & Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
97.    Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS
98.    Yemi Alade || Musician    
99.    Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr || Mayor, Freetown
100.    Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed || Minister, Finance (Nigeria)

Ivorians hit the streets to resist Ottara’s third term

Protests have historically been a young men activity. In Cote d’Ivoire today everyone is participating in what the opposition is calling nationwide persistent resistance against tyranny.

When protester first hit the streets in the aftermath of President Outtara’s announcement to run for a third term, police responded with live fire killing some protesters.

Today everyone including market women have joined to protest what some experts call France-backed illegality of President Allassane Outtara’s third term.

Stay with us for updates on this developing story.

ECOWAS leaders call for immediate return to constitutional order in Mali

ECOWAS leaders call for immediate return to constitutional order in Mali

At the heels of the military uprising in Mali, Chairman of ECOWAS President Issoufou Mahamadou, President of Niger called for an extraordinary meeting of member states a few hours ago to deliberate on the situation.

In a video conference of all the heads of member states, they agreed to condemn with the greatest firmness the overthrow of the constitutionally elected government of President Boubacar Keita and called for the immediate restoration of the constitutional order

The West African leaders reminded the military of its primary responsibility of ensuring safety and security of economic, commercial, and financial relations between Mali and the rest of the region.

The leaders did not rule out the use of ECOWAS standby force, but resolved instead to send a high powered delegation to Mali to ensure the return to what they termed the constitutional order.

A group of young military personnel led by Colonel Sadio Diaw Camara staged a mutiny and arrested President Keita after weeks of violent unrest during which protesters demanded the resignation of President Keita.

The mutinying solders were able to secure that resignation by the president and immediately vowed to conduct a free and fair election to restore Mali to constitutional rule. But the ECOWAS meeting and its resulting resolution suggests that Keita’s peers in the region are not satisfied with that arrangement.

West Africa has a large concentration of former French colonies which have mostly been led by those perceived to be puppets of France.

One expert DNT spoke to in Senegal said Senegalese citizens, just like their Malian counterparts, have a very negative opinion of France. They think France is most responsible for the backwardness in terms of economy of the former colonies like Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Tigo, Benin, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso,” Dialo said.

Diallo further stated that political figures in Senegal have issued a stern warning to President Macky Salle not to even think about following the dictatorial path that Allassane Outtarra of Cote d’Ivoire and Alpha Combe of Guinea are pursuing by staying beyond their constitutionally mandated two terms.

Covid-19: Angola reports 49 new infections, 31 recoveries, two deaths

 Forty-nine new positive cases of covid-19 have been detected in the last 24 hours in Angola, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2.015. 

 

 The figure was released Wednesday in Luanda by the secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda, who added that the country also recorded two deaths and 31 recoveries in the same period.

According to the official, who was delivering the usual covid-19 update briefing in the country, the infections include two of local transmission in northern Cabinda province.

Mufinda added that the ages of those infected range from eight to 73 years, including 31 males. The deaths are two people of 50 and 53 years of age.

Angola’s current covid-19 statistics show 2.015 infections, 92 deaths, 698 recoveries and 1.225 active patients.

Covid-19: Angola joins African "SAVING LIVES" campaign

 African countries, including Angola, will soon launch a campaign to protect borders, travel, economy and the schooling activity. 

Gathered virtually last Tuesday, the ministers of Health and Transport of the African Union Commission for Social Affairs, Infrastructure and Energy analyzed the premises of the campaign “Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods”, to be operational in the continent at this stage of the pandemic.

At the meeting, Angola was represented by the ministers of Transport, Ricardo D’Abreu, and of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, according to a note from the Transport sector to which ANGOP has had access.

The joint virtual ministerial meeting sought to obtain, among other results, a harmonized approach in outlining the coordination of the opening of borders (sea, air and land), recommendations on joint response initiatives, including global secure connectivity through facilitation of regional, maritime and logistical corridors, the restart and recovery of the African air transport sector, safe urban mobility and improved access to livelihoods in rural economies

Recommendations

The ministers recommended the improvement of surveillance against Covid-19 and the sharing of data, mechanisms, processes and technological applications, on the sharing of data in inter and intra-economic regions.

They also recommended that a coordinated approach be taken to develop test programmes in schools and to travel within the continent, to leverage school health programmes, using the "PACT" initiative approach to community risk assessment and management.

The joint virtual ministerial meeting is the result of a consultation process that has been underway since the beginning of this year.

It is carried out following the increase in globally confirmed Covid-19 cases and its rapid expansion and in response to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission who convened an emergency meeting of AU Health Ministers on February 22, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Until 18^th of August of this year, in Angola, 1,966 cases were registered, with 90 deaths, 667 recovered and 1,209 active.

About 93.7% of the cases are asymptomatic.

African Union suspends Mali

 The African Union (AU) suspended last Wednesday the Republic of Mali, following the military coup d'état in that country last Tuesday. 

 

The decision came out of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting, the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a note.

Mali's suspension from African Union bodies is expected to last until the restoration of constitutional order.

The continental organization followed the measure announced by the Commonwealth of West African States (ECOWAS).

At last Wednesday's meeting, the PSC condemned the seizure of power by force, demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order, the immediate release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cissé, and arrested officials.

In the framework of the meeting, Nigeria and Ghana also argued that the military should be given some time before the PSC adopts these measures, a position that was not supported by the other members.

On Tuesday, Mali's elected President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, and his prime minister were arrested during a military-led riot and taken to an army base in Kati.

Hours later, the military forces that seized power, calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, announced a "civil political transition" that would lead to general elections within a "reasonable time".

In the sequence, Ibrahim Keita informed, in the dawn of Tuesday, announced his resignation, that of the government and the dissolution of the parliament, in a declaration transmitted by the state television.

However, the military coup that forced President Ibrahim Keita's resignation and the fall of the government has been widely condemned by the international community and Mali's regional partners.

We are celebrating the world humanitarian day

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 2020 🗺️

Every day, brave people around the world are stepping up to help others & save lives despite multiple challenges and threats, including COVID19.

We 𝒑𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒆𝒔. 🎗️

This year’s World Humanitarian Day honours the front-line health workers - the Real-Life Heroes - including doctors and nurses, midwives and community volunteers, and those who risk their lives to ensure that everyone has access to health services, testing and treatment, protective equipment, and medication especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and all other emergencies. United Nations World Human Rights Forum - WHRF World Confluence of Humanity, Power & Spirituality

4 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝙳𝚊𝚢 & 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚢.

𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 - 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 - 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 - 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞