Photo : Thoko Chikondi | AP Photo
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Thoko Chikondi | AP Photo
IN BRIEF
By Apoorva Sudhakar
Malawi: Amid vaccine shortage, cholera deaths cross 1000
On 24 January, the Health Ministry said the death toll from cholera had crossed 1000 amid shortage of vaccines. The latest outbreak, believed to be the worst, began in March 2022; so far, 30,600 people have been infected. In November 2022, the UN handed over three million doses of oral cholera vaccine. A Health Ministry spokesperson said: “The fact that there is only one cholera vaccine manufacturer worldwide makes it difficult to acquire the life-saving drug…We are competing for the same vaccine with everyone else.” (“Malawi cholera death toll passes 1000,” News24, 24 January 2023)
Moroccan legislators vote to review ties with European Parliament
On 23 January, Moroccan parliamentarians voted to review relations with the European Parliament after the latter passed a resolution urging the Moroccan kingdom to uphold press freedom. The Moroccan parliamentarians, from both houses, held that the European Parliament was meddling in internal affairs. A statement from the parliamentary session termed the resolution “an unacceptable attack against the sovereignty, dignity and independence of judicial institutions in the kingdom.” The statement said the resolution had breached “fundamental trust” between them. (“Morocco votes to 'reconsider' ties with European Union,” France24, 24 January 2023)