Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Russia has raised the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in Niger, signaling its intention to expand influence in the uranium-rich Sahel state as relations between Niamey and France deteriorate. The proposal, discussed under a cooperation agreement between Nigerien authorities and Russia’s state energy corporation Rosatom, includes potential projects in nuclear power generation, medical applications, and training local specialists. If realized, this would be West Africa’s first nuclear power project. For decades, French nuclear group Orano dominated uranium mining in Niger, supplying fuel for France’s energy sector. However, the military government nationalized Orano’s operations in June, ending decades of…

Japan has denied claims that it plans to introduce a special visa program for young Nigerians under the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) “Africa Hometown” initiative, urging Abuja to correct what it called a misleading announcement. The denial came after Nigeria’s presidency issued a statement last week suggesting that Japan would create a new visa category for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians to live and work in Kisarazu, a Japanese city designated as Nigeria’s partner in the program. In a statement on Tuesday, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said the Nigerian announcement “contained information inconsistent with the facts.” It stressed that…

Delegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel movement have returned to negotiations in Qatar as fighting continues to intensify in the country’s troubled east. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that discussions are underway in Doha to review the July truce agreement, which committed both sides to a ceasefire and laid out a path toward a comprehensive settlement. That deal, however, faltered after both Kinshasa and the rebels accused each other of repeated violations. Qatari spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said current talks focus on establishing a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire, alongside arrangements for prisoner exchanges.…

Britain has agreed to pay £2.9 million ($3.9 million) in compensation to thousands of Kenyans after a wildfire caused by its soldiers in 2021, marking the first time the U.K. military has faced civil liability in Kenyan courts. The settlement follows a ruling by Kenya’s Environment and Land Court, which stripped the British Army of legal immunity on Kenyan soil. Over 7,700 residents, alongside an environmental lobby, had sued after a kerosene stove used by a soldier sparked a blaze in the Lolldaiga Hills, destroying more than 12,000 acres of land. The fire took nearly two weeks to contain, killed…

Burkina Faso and Mali were absent from a high-level African defence summit hosted by Nigeria on Monday, underscoring their strained ties with regional partners. The two Sahel nations, both under military rule, withdrew from the West African bloc ECOWAS earlier this year alongside Niger, opting instead to form their own Alliance of Sahel States (AES). At the Abuja talks, only Niger was represented, with its defence attaché Colonel Major Soumana Kalkoye attending on behalf of the AES. The conference, billed by Nigeria as the first continent-wide meeting of African defence chiefs, drew senior military leaders from across the continent, stretching…

Hundreds of activists in Kenya’s capital organized a vehicle and motorcycle convoy on Sunday to express solidarity with Gaza. Participants waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Freedom for Palestine” as they drove through the city’s main streets, drawing support from residents who cheered from balconies and storefronts. Organizers said the event aimed to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and send a message of unity with the Palestinian people. The demonstration ended peacefully, with no incidents reported. Similar shows of support for Palestine have previously been held in Nairobi, reflecting the broader wave of solidarity movements across Africa.

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo led mass demonstrations on Saturday opposing incumbent leader Alassane Ouattara’s decision to seek a fourth term in office. The protests, the second wave this week, drew thousands of Ivorians into the streets ahead of the October presidential election. Addressing his supporters without directly naming Ouattara, Gbagbo, 80, urged resistance against what he called an unconstitutional “fourth term” and demanded the release of detained activists. Ouattara has defended his candidacy, arguing that constitutional reforms in 2016 reset term limits, allowing him to contest again. In July, he declared that both his health and the nation’s challenges…

Abuja, August 23, 2025 – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that at least 35 fighters were killed in targeted air strikes in Borno State, close to the border with Cameroon. According to NAF spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame, the strikes were launched on Saturday against four identified targets in the Kumshe area, following intelligence reports that armed groups were preparing to attack ground troops. He confirmed that communication with Nigerian soldiers in the area was re-established after the operation, with troops reporting the situation had been stabilized. The strikes come amid a renewed wave of violence in northeastern Nigeria, where…

Burkina Faso has suspended a high-profile anti-malaria research program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, following growing criticism from local activist groups. The project, known as Target Malaria, was designed to reduce malaria transmission by releasing genetically modified male mosquitoes that are unable to pass on the disease. It first launched in 2019 in the village of Bana and has since expanded to other test sites. This week, authorities ordered all activities to cease and instructed that remaining mosquito samples be destroyed under a strict protocol, according to Samuel Paré, a senior official at the Ministry of Higher…

Interpol has announced the arrest of more than 1,200 people and the recovery of nearly $100 million in a sweeping cybercrime crackdown carried out across Africa. The operation, dubbed Serengeti 2.0, took place between June and August and involved cooperation between the United Kingdom and 18 African nations. Investigators uncovered more than 88,000 victims of online fraud schemes, from cryptocurrency scams to classic inheritance fraud. In Angola, authorities dismantled 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centers operated by Chinese nationals, seizing equipment worth around $37 million. Officials said proceeds from the seizure would be directed toward improving the country’s electricity network. Elsewhere,…

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Adem Mohammed, has expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the Ankara Declaration, describing it as a vital step in easing tensions with Somalia and commending Türkiye’s role as mediator in the Horn of Africa. Speaking in Ankara, Ambassador Mohammed highlighted Türkiye’s commitment to peace, conflict resolution, and regional stability, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s mediation has helped reduce hostilities and promote dialogue. “The Ankara Declaration has strengthened mutual understanding and laid the groundwork for a long-term peace initiative,” he said. Relations between Ethiopia and Somalia deteriorated after Ethiopia’s January 2024 deal with Somaliland, granting sea…

Niger’s military announced it has eliminated a senior Boko Haram commander in the country’s southeast during a targeted air operation. The army said the militant, known as Bakura but identified by authorities as Ibrahim Mahamadu, was killed last week on an island in the Diffa region, near the Lake Chad basin where Niger borders Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon. Officials described the attack as a “surgical operation” carried out by fighter jets. Bakura was considered one of the group’s most feared figures, linked to cross-border raids and attacks on civilians. Boko Haram’s insurgency, which began in Nigeria in 2009, has since…

Demonstrators in several South African cities have called on the government to ban coal exports to Israel, arguing that the shipments undermine Pretoria’s legal case against Tel Aviv at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Protests were held in Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town, where participants carried signs denouncing coal companies and demanding an immediate embargo. Mining giant Glencore, which exports coal to Israel, was singled out by protesters, who said the supplies help sustain Israel’s electricity grid and military operations. The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA), which supported the demonstrations, said it was unacceptable for South…

Heavy rains in Niger have triggered severe flooding that has left at least 47 people dead and forced more than 56,000 from their homes, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The General Directorate of Civil Protection said 7,754 households across 339 neighborhoods and villages have been affected. Of the casualties, 30 people were killed when their homes collapsed, while 17 others drowned. At least 70 people were injured, and 257 livestock were also lost in the disaster. Officials said emergency food assistance is being distributed, with more than 3,700 families identified as immediate beneficiaries. Relief agencies are also assessing further needs as…

Türkiye’s deepening engagement with Africa is drawing praise from leaders across the continent, with Somali and Sudanese officials highlighting Ankara’s growing influence in humanitarian aid, development, and strategic partnerships. Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, described President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s landmark 2011 visit to Mogadishu as a “turning point” that shifted Somalia’s trajectory. “At that time, Somalia was cut off from the world, facing famine and collapse. Türkiye’s presence brought international attention and hope,” Nur said. He emphasized that relations, which began with humanitarian aid, have since expanded to strategic cooperation in energy, fisheries, infrastructure, and…

A draft peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group proposes restoring government authority in territories currently controlled by the insurgents. The draft, presented by Qatar, outlines a three-phase process aimed at implementing a ceasefire, releasing prisoners, and eventually returning rebel-held areas to state administration. Both sides are expected to discuss the proposal in Doha in the coming days under international mediation. Diplomatic sources confirmed the authenticity of the text, though Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi has voiced dissatisfaction with the current draft. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Tshisekedi signaled the need for…