- President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal has turned his words into action by slicing the size of his cabinet by more than a quarter. Senegal's 38-member cabinet has been reduced to 28, leaving among others the ministers of livestock farming, public hygience and competitivensess in the cold.
Senegal officials said the move is aimed at cutting the high expenditure of the state and that monies will be put in a national solidarity fund.
President Wade had earlier vowed to slice the size of his cabinet and salaries of ministers so as to reduce the pains caused by the hikes of basic goods in the country.
Pundits said despite the trimming, Senegal still has more ministers than developed countries with large economies and populations.
Most Senegalese have blamed the government of not averting what they called "the unacceptable daily high cost of living" in the country. Last month, union leaders led hundreds of people to protest on the issue.
The government's order to evict street sellers from the streets of the capital Dakar turned sour, culminating in a violent strike that saw the igniting of several public buildings and cars.
Chanting anti-government slogans, the protesters blocked the traffic and forced businesses to a standstill. The protesters blamed the government of "blocking our survival."
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.