Ranbaxy introduces anti-Malaria drug in Africa; South Africa seeks Indian Cooperation for ICT skills; Top commander of Lord’s resistance Army captured in Central Africa; Egypt receives $1 billion from Saudi Arabia; Libya warns Italy on illegal immigration
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    • Reports noted that Indian drug manufacturer Ranbaxy Laboratories further consolidated its presence in the emerging market of Africa, by introducing its new malaria-fighting drug “Synriam” and setting up manufacturing facilities in Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. The drug, which provides quick relief from most malaria-related symptoms, including fever, and has a high cure rate of over 95 per cent, came as a boon for people in a continent plagued by malaria. The new drug has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for marketing in India and conforms to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for using combination therapy in malaria. 1

    In another development, following a meeting with Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, South African President Jacob Zuma said that South Africa needs to enhance skills in the areas of engineering, information and communication technology, computer science, finance, economics, and accounting to boost the country’s infrastructure programme. Zuma said that South Africa will be seeking cooperation with India on the acquisition of some of these skills. He also praised the existing development partnership between the two countries. 2

    According to reports, the Ugandan military officials announced that they captured Joseph Kony’s top military strategist, Ceasar Acellam, in a gun battle in central Africa. Acellam was taken into custody along with two other rebel fighters in a region near the border between Congo and Central African Republic, while the rest of the group of about 30 rebels managed to escape. It is to be informed that for nearly three decades, Kony and members of his Lord’s Resistance Army have been attacking rural villages across four central African countries and have become notorious for forcing children to become soldiers and sex slaves. 3

    Reports noted that Saudi Arabia provided $1 billion to Egypt’s central bank, which will give the government some time to secure a loan from the International Monetary Fund. Egyptian and Saudi officials have been “coordinating” to implement the rest of a Saudi aid package to the North African country, which includes $500 million to finance high-priority development projects, $250 million for buying petroleum products and a $200 million grant for small and medium-sized projects and industries. It was opined that the Saudi aid may also give a boost to Egypt’s efforts to obtain the $3.2 billion loan it requested from the IMF. 4

    In other developments, during a visit to Rome, Libyan Foreign Minister Ashour bin Khayyal opined that a deteriorating security situation in southern Libya threatens to increase illegal immigration into Europe from Africa. Bin Khayyal said unrest in the Sahel desert region of Libya's south, as well as violence by armed factions or former fighters who mounted the 2011 insurrection that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, were raising concern ahead of elections. In response, Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said Italy was stepping up cooperation to improve monitoring and border controls and would seek a bigger contribution from European Union partners. 5

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