At a United Nations Security Council meeting Thursday, the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, informed the members, “most Libyan leaders call for an inclusive political process and note the urgent need to end unilateral actions, unify institutions, and restore stability.”

Nevertheless, she added, “some believe a new unified government is the only solution, while others argue it will prolong the nearly fifteen-year transition period.”

After having held consultations with leaders, political parties, and civil society actors, Tetteh told the Council she intends “to maintain an inclusive stakeholder approach, ensuring that any outcome is not only Libyan-owned but also enjoys broader Libyan support.”

For his part, Libyan Ambassador Taher M. El-Sonni expressed support for “national processes which are geared towards achievement of consensus, and they should not be called into question.”

The funeral was held on Thursday for a Kenya-based Nigerian content moderator who died in unclear circumstances last month.

Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi’s decomposed remains were found on March 7 at her apartment on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, three days after she failed to show up at work.

Among the mourners was her elder brother, who travelled to Nairobi for the emotional ceremony. He was overcome by grief as friends and colleagues eulogised Olubunmi as “selfless.”

Olubunmi, 43, who was employed as a TikTok content moderator subcontracted by a global outsourcing firm, Teleperformance, had complained of fatigue before her death, the cause of which has not been revealed.

She had been living in Kenya since 2022 and only managed to travel back home once, despite having an annual return ticket benefit in her employment contract.

Colleagues said she was “desperate to go home” but was denied leave. Teleperformance Kenya said in a statement in March that she wasn’t denied leave to travel home. In a tribute, a company spokesperson described Olubunmi as “a selfless, compassionate and deeply caring individual.”

Content moderators working for subcontracted firms based in Kenya have in the past described working conditions that they say include lower than average pay, lack of mental health support, long working hours and intimidation.

More than 100 former Facebook content moderators have sued the social media company for poor pay and working conditions and unfair termination of employment.

Tauheed Tayo Yakubu, a colleague of Olubunmi, described her as a champion for better working conditions, detailing how in November 2023, she staged a walkout for Nigerian colleagues demanding for valid work permits.

“She requested that every Nigerian leave the job immediately and then we all marched,” he said.

The South African government is still embroiled in a tax row between the ruling African National Congress party (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). 

The DA party has taken the government to court seeking to bar the 0.5%  VAT increase to 15.5% as proposed by the government. 

This increase is set to take effect on 1st May. 

The government of South Africa has maintained that a 0.5% increase in VAT will help the country offset its budget deficit of R13.5bn. 

The Democratic Alliance, which joined the government after the long-ruling African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority last year, said it could not support a tax increase that would further burden the poor majority of the country’s population. 

VAT is payable on goods and services, including food and electricity. Opposition parties and civil society have criticized the proposed budget as anti-poor. 

According to the latest budget, more than 20 million people in South Africa rely on welfare grants, with the unemployment rate at over 32%. 

The tax increase is meant to generate over 15 billion rand (about $800 million) in revenue annually to fund health, education and social services programs. 

Already, the budget had been revised to address foreign aid cuts by the new U.S. administration. 

This is the latest disagreement between the two main parties after the ANC lost its 30-year parliamentary majority in its worst-ever electoral performance last year. 

The ANC and DA have ideological differences on issues including foreign policy, land reform, education and health sector reforms. 

On Wednesday, a small party outside the unity government, ActionSA, unexpectedly tipped the scales in favor of the ANC to pass the budget.