You are watching Africa 54, your daily news and feature magazine-style program, from the Voice of America. Host Esther Githui-Ewart and a team of correspondents zero in on the big stories making news on the continent and around the world with context and analysis.

Top Stories:

Authorities continued to press for calm across South Africa Tuesday, following Monday’s looting and violence in the aftermath of former president Jacob Zuma's imprisonment. President Cyril Ramaphosa says the unrest is damaging efforts to rebuild the economy in the wake of COVID-19.

The United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday called for an immediate end to all violations in Ethiopia's conflict-torn Tigray region -- and for Eritrean troops to quickly withdraw in a verifiable manner, according to the Paris-based Agence France-Presse news agency. Meanwhile, a rebel spokesman says its forces have launched a new offensive in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Getachew Reda told AFP by telephone that its forces routed divisions of the Federal Defense Forces and the Amhara forces.


COVID-19 continues to surge across Africa and the worst is yet to come, according to the continent's director at the World Health Organization. Genomics expert Professor Tulio de Oliveira says the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant is spreading rapidly throughout Africa, accounting for roughly three-quarters of the genomes sequenced on the continent recently and driving up deaths.

The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa is warning of a rampant spread of more contagious COVID variants, as a third wave of Covid-19 infections sweeps across Africa. Observers say the third wave promises to be much more difficult than the previous ones on the continent and warn that vaccination levels are low. Countries in Africa have received the Astra-Zeneca vaccines made in India, Covi-Shield. But the European Union medical regulatory body says it will NOT accept the India-made Astra-Zeneca as part of its vaccine passport.

U.S. President Joe Biden is calling on Haiti's political leaders to unite for the good of their country. President Biden says -- quote -- "The people of Haiti deserve peace and security." Biden says he is closely following developments in the Caribbean nation in the wake of President Jovenel Moïse's assassination last Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging Haiti's political leaders to work toward holding free and fair elections later this year.

One of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders is threatening to wade into the street unrest and demonstrations and throw the impoverished Caribbean country deeper into chaos.

Afghan interpreters were invaluable to American troops during two decades of war.  Now that U.S. forces are pulling out, Afghans who aided Americans fear for their lives. 

The Maldives – a tiny nation of about twelve hundred islands set in crystalline waters – depends on tourism. The pandemic cut that revenue in half. But with COVID on the run, the government’s wooing tourists, especially those from China.

Lidia Reyes of Los Angeles, California loves riding her Harley Davidson motorcycle. She eventually started a non-profit group called Biker Chicks and dreams of becoming a professional motorcycle mechanic. Genia Dulot spoke with Reyes and other women who share her passion for motorcycles.

#SouthAfrica #Zuma #Ethiopia #Tigray #WHO #COVID19 #Biden #Haiti #Afghanistan #Taliban

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