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Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for March 12th

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Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today's In the News post are updates on drug-resistant TB in South Africa, turning trash into electricity in Nigeria, Pistorius trial, no third term for Cote d'Ivoirian president, and IGAD in South Sudan.

South Africa Battles Drug-Resistant TB
Despite an increase in diagnosis times, South Africa is facing a growing drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) burden as nationally there remains a large gap between the number of patients diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and those who start treatment. Between 2007 and 2012, recorded cases of MDR-TB, which is resistant to at least two of the primary drugs used to combat standard TB, almost doubled.

To read more, please visit the AllAfrica site here.

Lagos aims to use trash to make electric power
At Lagos' largest dump, dozens of men gather to sort iron, plastic and nylon atop a 20-foot wall of garbage where hundreds of white herons compete to eat the spoils. Lagos is engulfed in waste. With a population of more than 20 million, the city has garbage that piles up on streets, outside homes and along the waterways and lagoons, creating eyesores and putrid smells. The booming city also has major electricity shortages and many residents rely on diesel generators that cloud the air with black exhaust. Lagos is turning these problems into an advantage by starting a program to convert waste into methane gas to generate electricity. A pilot program at a local market has already shown success on a small scale.

To read more, please visit the Washington Post site here.

Pistorius smashed door 'on stumps'
Oscar Pistorius was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he smashed a locked door to reach his girlfriend, an expert told his murder trial. The forensic evidence contradicted the athlete's claim that he was wearing his artificial limbs at the time. The damaged bathroom door is in the court to be examined during the trial.

To read more, please visit the BBC site here.

Côte d'Ivoire - Cedao : Alassane Ouattara ne briguera pas un troisième mandat
Le président ivoirien, Alassane Ouattara, a profité, mercredi 12 mars, du conseil des ministres - le premier depuis l'opération chirurgicale du président ivoirien en France - pour annoncer qu'il ne briguerait pas de troisième mandat à la tête de la Communauté des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Cedeao). "Nous devrons poursuivre la mise en œuvre des chantiers pour l'amélioration des conditions de nos populations. Je compte demander à mes pairs de la Cedeao de me permettre de ne pas briguer un troisieme mandat. J'ai décidé de me consacrer aux affaires de l'intérieur de la Côte d'Ivoire", a-t-il déclaré.

To read more, please visit the Jeune Afrique site here.

E. African Leaders to Decide Details on S. Sudan Stabilization Force
East African leaders will meet in Ethiopia on Thursday to discuss the mandate and size of a stabilization and protection force to be deployed in South Sudan. Heads of State of the East African bloc IGAD - which has been mediating talks between S. Sudan's warring sides - are now turning attention to troop deployment.

To read more, please visit the Voice of America site here.

Related Program

Africa Program

The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations.    Read more