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Kenyans happiest people in Eastern Africa, report

Kenya is a happier country in 2023, climbing up the rankings to position 111 from position 119 in 2022 in the World Happiness Report, a publication of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network. With this leap, it has surpassed Uganda (113) as Eastern Africa’s happiest country.

The report also indicates that global average life evaluations in the last three years (2020–2022), with rankings based on the Gallup World Poll, have been resilient despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Global benevolence remains 25 percent higher than it was pre-pandemic.

Finland is, for the sixth year running, the happiest country in the world. Snuggled next to the Nordic country are European neighbors which have been a mainstay in the top 10 since the report was launched ten years ago. The ten happiest nations are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Israel, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and New Zealand.

The happiest African country is Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. It has been ranked 59th.

An improved Kenya, however, ranks worse in the list of the happiness gap between the top (happier) and bottom (sadder, or less happy) halves of the population, at 118th. A higher ranking means lower happiness inequality.

Afghanistan and Netherlands, and then dominant Finland, make the podium with the smallest gaps in happiness between the happier and sadder halves of their populations.

Neighbours on alert after Tanzania Marburg deaths

Kenya and Uganda have increased surveillance on their border with Tanzania after the Marburg virus killed five people in the neighboring country.

High fever is a common symptom of the deadly Ebola-like virus, often followed by bleeding and organ failure.

Uganda has ordered immediate screening and testing at its southern border. Health teams have also been put on high alert at border crossings in the districts of Kyotera and Isingiro.

Kenya’s Health Director General Patrick Amoth has advised members of the public to report any unusual increase in people who have a high fever and recently travelled to Tanzania.

“Such individuals are advised to immediately report to the nearest health facility for assessment and management.” Dr Amoth said in a statement.

The outbreak in Tanzania was reported in the north-western Kagera region where there is a lot of human traffic with western Kenya.

Close to 161 contacts have been traced and are being monitored. Officials are still tracing other people.

Out of the eight individuals who tested positive for the disease, five have died. Four of them are from one family.

Tanzania’s strategy to control the spread was praised by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO says on average the Marburg virus kills half of those infected.

The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads between humans through the transmission of bodily fluids.

Although there are no vaccines or treatments, those diagnosed are either given water orally or intravenously as doctors treat a patient’s specific symptoms.

Chadian rebels jailed over killing of ex-president Déby

A court in Chad on Tuesday handed life sentences to more than 400 rebels over the killing of former President Idriss Déby.

The former president died of his injuries in April 2021 following clashes with rebels in the north of the country. He was one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders after spending more than three decades in power.

The mass trial of the 465 members of Front for Change and Concord in Chad (Fact) rebel group started in February in the capital, N’Djamena, behind closed doors.

They were found guilty of acts of terrorism, undermining national security and endangering the life of the head of state among other charges.

The group has described the trials as flawed and a “masquerade”.

One defence lawyer suggested there would be an appeal.

Tanzania identifies Marburg virus that killed five

The Tanzanian health ministry says a mysterious disease that killed five people has been identified as Marburg haemorrhagic fever.

The virus causes high fever, often accompanied by bleeding and organ failure.

It is part of a group of viruses that includes Ebola.

Tanzania’s health minister, Ummy Mwalimu urged citizens to stay calm, saying the government had managed to control the spread of the disease.

She said three patients were receiving hospital treatment and 161 contacts were being traced by the authorities.

Last week a rapid response team was sent to the north-western region of Kagera, which borders Uganda, to investigate the outbreak.

The World Health Organization has applauded Tanzania’s rapid reaction, adding that it stood ready to ensure “there were no gaps in response”.

Congolese guitar supremo Lokassa ya Mbongo dies

Congolese rhythm guitarist Lokassa ya Mbongo has died, his long-time friend and fellow guitarist Ngouma Lokito has said.

Lokassa, who was 77, died on Tuesday night at a hospital in Nashua in New Hampishire, US, where he had been living since 1996.

Late last month, fellow guitarist Dally Kimoko told the BBC that Lokassa’s health was fragile as he was battling diabetes and complications from a mild stroke he suffered in 2020.

Born Denis Kasiya Lokassa in 1946, the rhythm guitarist, arranger and composer was one of the founders of Soukous Stars alongside fellow guitarists Ngouma Lokito (bass) and Dally Kimoko (lead), and vocalists Yondo Sister, Ballou Canta, Neil Zitany and Shimita.

The band, formed in Paris in 1989, battled for attention during the Soukous explosion of the 1990s with Aurlus Mabele’s Loketo.

Lokassa is reputed for hits such as Bonne Annee, Monica, and Marie-Josse as well as medleys Lagos Night and Nairobi Night – songs that he punctuated with his layered rhythm textures around which Dally Kimoko’s lead hits the octane.

Lokassa, who did not sing, started playing professionally rather late compared to most Congolese musicians of the time. His family refused to let him play music, which was then considered a basement undertaking.

He was 22 in 1968 when he joined Tabu Ley Rochereau’s then African Fiesta Nationale, where he spent 10 years in near obscurity alongside more prominent guitarists such as Attel Mbumba, Mavatiku Visi, and Dino Vangu.

Growing frustrated with himself, Lokassa lost patience and in 1978 broke loose from Tabu Ley during a tour of West Africa.

Alongside guitarist Dizzy Mandjeku and drummer Ringo Moya, he teamed up with singer Sam Mangwana in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to form the African All Stars.

The group’s hit, Suzana Coulibaly, brought out the best in Lokassa with his guitar eruptions coming to full effect in the faster tempo.

West Africa was the getaway to Paris. Having already worked with prominent producers such as Ibrahim Sylla, Lokassa found his way to Paris in 1984 – as a “sans-papiers” (someone with no proper travel documents).

With no residence card, Lokassa was unable to tour or make recording dates outside France.

“I was stuck in Paris. It was really very, very difficult. People needed for me to come to the United States, other continents, even to other countries in Africa. But people couldn’t see me because I didn’t have papers,” Lokassa told James Winders, author of Paris Africain, Rhythms of the African Diaspora.

But everything changed in 1989 when Ngouma Lokito rang him up and suggested his “big brother” put together a group to help them emerge from the status of session performers.

Lokassa worked the phones and Soukous Stars was born later that year.

Continue reading Congolese guitar supremo Lokassa ya Mbongo dies

Soldier kills police officer, injures prison warden before being shot

A soldier was shot dead after he killed a senior officer and injured a prison warden in Hiyala, Eastern Equatoria state.

“He was shot dead yesterday [Thursday] because he wounded one of the prison wardens and he also killed a colonel. I think they have given orders for killing him,”  said Peter Lokeng Lotone, the State’s Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement.

Mr. Lokeng said the unnamed deceased soldier became aggressive after killing a colonel in the police and wounding a prison warden before he was killed.

“You know always when a soldier is aggressive he can be shot because he was scaring everybody, shooting at everybody.”

The incident happened in a military barrack in Kiyala on Thursday.

The motive of the killings remains unclear, but Lokeng said the authorities were investigating the incident.

Kiir, Machar agree on amicable solution to ministerial changes

President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny  on Friday  agreed to find amicable solutions to swapping of the Defense and Interior ministries.
Last week, President Kiir relieved the Ministers of Defense and Interior through a Presidential decree..
He swapped the Ministry of Defence to SPLM party and the Ministry of Interior to SPLM-IO
In a statement on the presidential  Facebook page, the Presidential Affairs Minister said the two leaders met and discussed the status of the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, R-ARCSS.
 Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin added ” the leaders had frank deliberations in a friendly atmosphere that reflected the spirit of reconciliation, prosperity and commitment to the peace agreement.”
According to the Marial,  the two Principals agreed in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation to convene another meeting at a later date to find amicable solutions on these issues.

Female student challenges women leaders to care for young girls

Women leaders should care about the new generation and mentor especially young girls to achieve their dreams, a law student at the University of Juba has said.

“It is not just about eating and drinking but it is about sitting down and looking into ways of bringing up the young girls that are at the grassroots level and mentoring them to achieve their dreams,” said Nyayo Rejoice Gasim.

South Sudan on Wednesday joined the rest of the World to mark International Women’s Day under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.

Observed every year on March 8th  is to celebrate women’s achievements, and raise awareness about gender discrimination to drive gender parity.

According to Rejoice, women needed to reflect on their achievements and take appropriate actions against issues that affect them.

“We should not just meet all the time and talk about gender equality and the 35% affirmative action but let this year be a year of action, let us act more than speaking,” Nyayo added.

Nyayo went on to advise young women to use social media networks to promote peace and activities that promote equality.

“I think women can use social media to embrace peace, to embrace equality,”

“You know, social media is not about posting the best picture and you want to compare your life with others, no speak peace.”

This week, the US government through its USAID’s Shejeh Salam supported the South Sudan Youth Organization Coalition to mark International Women’s Day.

The Wednesday event held in Juba emphasized the promotion of gender equity through innovative technology toward a better South Sudan.

Addressing the participants, the USAID point contact for Gender and Administration in the Democracy and Governance Unit encourages young people to use the internet to broaden their knowledge and improve their skills.

“Let us use the internet to read more, to widen our understanding, to develop our capacities,” said Eunice Sergo.

Eunice Sergo added that the US government would continue to support women and young people to enable them to transform the country into a better place.

“We all know that USAID is a donor that is willing to support the youth and it is my humble request that we take this opportunity seriously so that we are able to develop,

“This is the only time that we can use to develop ourselves to become resilient and to be better people in this country.”

Meanwhile, a 49-year-old visually impaired mother of two appreciated the South Sudan Youth Organization Coalition

Mary Ferdricko Loro said “As a visually impaired woman, I want to tell South Sudan that every woman has a right to participate in any activities in the country.”

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