Morocco, African Union, South Africa.

Today's three stories you should know.

Sep 09, 2023

Morocco

Horror in Morocco today as a powerful earthquake killed more than 1,000 people, felling buildings in small mountain villages and sending thousands fleeing into the streets. The 6.8 magnitude quake struck in the High Atlas mountains about 70 kilometers south of the city of Marrakech and was the country’s biggest earthquake in 120 years. Rescuers are continuing to comb through the rubble for survivors and several countries, including the UAE, Qatar and Jordan, have offered to help. “The next 48-72 hours will be critical in terms of life-saving search and rescue efforts,” said Caroline Holt, Red Cross and Red Crescent director for disasters, climate and crises.

African Union

The African Union was today admitted to the G20 in what will be seen as a symbol of the growing clout of its more than 50 member states. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the continental body to take a permanent seat as he opened a G20 summit in Delhi. The European Union had been the only regional bloc with membership. The move was quickly welcomed by African leaders. “With Africa poised to grow in the coming years, a seat will allow it to shape the decisions of G20 to ensure the continent’s interests are advanced,” Kenya’s President William Ruto said.

South Africa

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a controversial and towering presence during South Africa’s apartheid era, has died at 95. Buthelezi, a Zulu prince, led a political movement that clashed violently with the African National Congress (ANC) in the early 1990s, leading to thousands of deaths. But he became President Nelson Mandela’s home affairs minister when the ANC formed the country’s first post-apartheid government in 1994.