Chad / Nigeria: Cameroon military frees 300 Boko Haram captives
Cameroon’s military has rescued over 300 civilians, mostly women and children, from Boko Haram captivity along the borders with Nigeria and Chad. The operation, called Alpha, took place over the past week and involved around 200 government troops. Oumar Fatime, a vegetable farmer from Ngouboua, Chad, described her abduction by Boko Haram fighters on 17 April and the subsequent threat to kill her and others if ransoms were not paid. Cameroon state TV aired footage of the rescued civilians arriving at a military camp in Dabanga. The operation, which also involved seizing weapons, explosives, motorcycles, and bicycles, was supported by troops from Chad and Nigeria. Many Boko Haram militants were killed or wounded. Boko Haram violence has resulted in over 36,000 deaths and displaced three million people since 2009 across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
China: jailed Wuhan reporter is missing
Zhang Zhan, a journalist imprisoned for reporting the truth about the early days of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, has gone missing after her scheduled release from Shanghai women’s prison. She served a four-year sentence but her current whereabouts are unknown. Her family’s reluctance to provide information suggests they are under pressure from the authorities. Zhang risked her life to travel from Shanghai to Wuhan on 1 February 2020, documenting the severe conditions in hospitals and crematoriums through livestream videos. Her reporting, which contradicted the official narrative, led to her detention in May 2020. She was charged with 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble’, a common tactic used to silence journalists and dissidents in China. Zhang’s real 'crime' was exposing truths that the Chinese regime wanted to hide, particularly about its handling of the pandemic. There are widespread demands for the government to disclose her whereabouts and prove she is safe; one campaigner says that this case highlights the regime's paranoia and censorship and that Zhang should never have been imprisoned for her reporting.
Argentina: annual inflation hits 290% but monthly rate slows
Inflation in Argentina has slowed for the fourth consecutive month, despite an annual rate nearing 300%. The monthly inflation rate rose by 8.8% in April, down from 11% in March. This is seen as a victory for Javier Milei; when he became president in December, monthly inflation was over 25%. His administration has implemented strict austerity measures to stabilise the economy, including slashing public spending, cutting 50,000 public jobs, suspending new public works contracts, and removing fuel and transport subsidies. These measures have been praised by investors and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which announced an $800 million loan for Argentina. However, some experts argue that the falling inflation is due to a significant decline in private spending, as the poor and working classes are severely impacted. Poverty levels are nearing 50%, with a drop in economic activity and consumption. Critics say Milei's policies have disproportionately affected vulnerable populations. Despite decreasing inflation, Argentina's GDP is expected to shrink by 2.8% this year, indicating a painful recession.
South Africa: new health bill weeks before election
Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act into law, aiming to provide universal health coverage and address the country's two-tier health system. The law seeks to balance a publicly funded sector, which serves 84% of the population and is overburdened, with private insurance access enjoyed by a minority. He hailed the law as a major step towards equality, rejecting the continuation of privileges for a few. The act will gradually reduce the role of private insurance, establish a public fund for free healthcare access, and regulate fees and prices for NHI-funded benefits. Critics argue the law will strain public finances, reduce patient choice, lower care quality, and drive doctors out of the country. Opponents, including the Democratic Alliance and civil society group AfriForum, plan to challenge it in court, claiming it is a vote-seeking ploy before the highly contested May 29 elections. The Health Funders Association noted the law’s gradual implementation, assuring no immediate changes to medical scheme benefits, contributions, or taxes. Supporters, like the NEHAWU labour union, urge full political support to ensure proper funding for the NHI.
