African Currents: Kenya Restricts Foreign Traders, Gambia Faces Power Emergency, Sudan Health Collapses, DRC Battles Ebola, Zimbabwe Vendors Defy Crackdown

Kenyan authorities have begun enforcing restrictions on foreign nationals operating in the informal sector, following President William Ruto’s endorsement of policies prioritizing Kenyan citizens for petty trade and hawking. Ruto emphasized that foreign investors should concentrate on capital investment, job creation, and local production rather than competing in low-capital ventures. Public reaction has been divided; while some view the measure as a necessary protection for local employment amid high unemployment, others worry it could incite xenophobia and deter foreign investment. Political economist Sheila Owigo Olang criticized the policy as potentially populist ahead of upcoming elections, questioning whether displacing foreign traders will genuinely benefit Kenyan citizens. The government maintains that foreign nationals complying with immigration, work permit, and licensing regulations remain legally protected, though uncertainty persists regarding the policy’s enforcement and scope.

Gambian President Adama Barrow has declared the nation’s prolonged electricity shortage a national emergency, pledging to boost power generation as rolling blackouts spark public outrage ahead of the December presidential election. Protesters in Banjul and surrounding regions erected roadblocks and burned tires, demanding Barrow’s resignation after some communities endured outages lasting up to 48 hours during peak heat. Police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds near the presidential residence and the National Water and Electricity Corporation headquarters. Barrow has committed to deploying a 24-megawatt generation unit by October’s end and announced plans for a 50-megawatt solar plant. The utility attributed the crisis to soaring temperatures, climate change, and broader geopolitical disruptions.

Sudan’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse as international funding cuts force facilities to close amid the ongoing civil war, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Over 33 million people require medical assistance due to the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. The loss of USAID funding and reduced European aid has crippled humanitarian operations. MSF reported a surge in patient admissions and noted that the closure of dozens of healthcare centers is straining remaining hospitals. In displacement camps, maternity and surgical services have halted, forcing patients to travel extensive distances for care. Compounded by attacks on facilities, widespread hunger, and ongoing violence, MSF urged UN General Assembly leaders to increase humanitarian support.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has stressed that food assistance is critical to combating the rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where conflict and severe hunger hinder containment efforts. Declared in May and caused by the rare Bundibugyo species, the outbreak has become the fastest on record, with over 5,500 cases and 2,642 deaths within its first 100 days. WFP noted that families struggling with food insecurity cannot easily adhere to health measures required to prevent transmission, particularly in remote areas distant from treatment centers. More than 500,000 people in Ituri province face severe food insecurity, while poor infrastructure and conflict impede aid delivery. The WFP is seeking international funding to expand both food assistance and Ebola treatment, highlighting that proper nutrition alongside medical care significantly improves survival rates.

Kenya’s prolonged nurses’ strike is severely straining the public health system, as essential services face disruption due to demands for the implementation of long-standing labor agreements. Hundreds of nurses demonstrated in Nairobi, urging national and county governments to address salary arrears, allowances, staffing shortages, and career progression issues. Central to the dispute is the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives claims remains largely unimplemented despite provisions for service allowances and improved conditions. The union asserts that negotiations are insufficient and insists signed agreements must be honored before members resume work. The government and county authorities continue engaging with the union, including discussions on the permanent employment of UHC workers. Nurses argue that years of unfulfilled promises and poor conditions have damaged morale and compromised patient care.

Zimbabwean vendors have vowed to resist a Harare street clearance order, defying authorities’ efforts to remove illegal traders from the Central Business District. Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe declared uncontrolled street trading unacceptable and mandated the use of designated markets and vending bays, citing congestion, blocked pavements, litter, and public health risks like cholera. The government insists the crackdown targets illegal vending, not informal traders broadly, arguing that significant investment in vending infrastructure remains underutilized. However, vendors reject the directive, stating informal trading is their sole means of survival in an economy lacking formal employment. Issued as a seven-day ultimatum, the order has prompted resistance, with traders’ representatives urging the government to adopt reforms based on the National Informal Economy Formalization Strategy rather than simply displacing traders.

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