Author: WAJ Team

Twelve African countries have pledged to deepen regional cooperation in the fight against infectious disease outbreaks, with a focus on preventing the spread of mpox and improving emergency health responses across borders. The agreement was reached on Friday at a high-level meeting in Nairobi, where representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Sudan, Zambia, Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic committed to a shared action plan. The regional pact, supported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), aims to dismantle…

At least seven people died and seven others were injured on Friday after a microbus overturned on a desert road in Minya province, south of Cairo, officials confirmed. Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver’s excessive speed led to the loss of control, resulting in the fatal accident. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, transferring the wounded to Minya Public Hospital where they are receiving medical treatment. The tragedy highlights the ongoing challenges Egypt faces in curbing traffic-related deaths, which number in the thousands annually. Road safety experts point to speeding, poor adherence to traffic laws, and inadequate road conditions…

Senegal and Mauritania have jointly launched exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore project, marking a significant energy milestone for West Africa. Presidents Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal and Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania presided over the ceremony on Thursday, held at the GTA hub approximately 120 kilometers off their shared coastline. Senior representatives from BP and Kosmos Energy, the lead operators of the project, joined the inauguration. The GTA Phase One project, which began production in April, is expected to produce up to 2.3 million tonnes of LNG annually. The field…

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a detailed phone discussion focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli military actions. According to Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency, the two leaders explored avenues to deepen economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Egypt and the UK. Both sides expressed commitment to expanding collaboration across various sectors, underpinned by continuous political dialogue and strategic coordination to safeguard mutual interests. The conversation also centred on the Gaza Strip’s deteriorating situation. President El-Sisi briefed Prime Minister Starmer on…

A large-scale rescue operation is underway at the Kloof 7 shaft of Sibanye Stillwater’s gold mining complex west of Johannesburg, where 289 mine workers became trapped underground late Thursday evening. The incident, which occurred around 10:00 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT), has prompted urgent emergency protocols as the mining company coordinates efforts to safely extract all personnel. A spokesperson for Sibanye Stillwater confirmed on Friday morning that all miners have been located, are safe, and are receiving food and essential support underground. “We can confirm that we had an incident at Kloof 7 shaft and are currently engaged in safety…

Rwanda has appointed Ambassador Martin Ngoga as its new Permanent Representative to the United Nations, following the formal presentation of his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres on May 22. Ngoga, who previously served as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, succeeds Ernest Rwamucyo in representing Kigali at the UN. In his inaugural remarks, Ngoga expressed a strong commitment to fostering collaborative relations and advancing shared goals within the international community. “I take this responsibility with dedication and look forward to engaging constructively with partners to promote our common interests,” Ngoga said as he commenced his tenure. The ambassador’s extensive career…

Morocco and Mali have taken a decisive step toward deepening regional climate cooperation following a high-level virtual meeting between Moroccan Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali and Mali’s Environment Minister Mariam Tangara Doumbia. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks focused on accelerating bilateral efforts to confront shared environmental threats. Their dialogue underscored a mutual drive to strengthen South-South cooperation through knowledge-sharing, joint innovation, and climate resilience strategies tailored to the African context. Benali emphasized that under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco views African solidarity as a cornerstone of its external engagement. “Our development vision is firmly rooted in partnerships…

In a pivotal step toward restoring regional unity, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met on Thursday in Bamako to rekindle diplomatic engagement following the AES’s formal withdrawal from the West African bloc. The talks, described as preliminary but significant, brought together AES foreign ministers and the President of the ECOWAS Commission. According to a joint statement, the dialogue served as a launchpad for broader negotiations on issues of mutual interest and concern. Key discussions centred on political cooperation, institutional frameworks, regional security, and socioeconomic progress. Both sides expressed a willingness…

The Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has voted overwhelmingly to lift the parliamentary immunity of former President Joseph Kabila, allowing for legal proceedings related to accusations that he supported the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel militia in the country’s volatile eastern region. The motion passed Thursday with 88 votes in favor and 5 against, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing political and security crisis affecting the mineral-rich eastern provinces. Kabila, who ruled the DRC from 2001 to 2019, now faces charges including treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and involvement in an insurrectionary movement. President Felix Tshisekedi, who…

Africa is facing a deadly surge in cholera infections, with over 2,400 lives lost so far in 2025, according to figures released by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The agency revealed on Thursday that 115,513 cholera cases have been reported across the continent this year, with four countries—South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Sudan—bearing the brunt of the crisis. “These four countries alone account for more than 84 percent of all cases and 92 percent of reported deaths,” said Yap Boum II, deputy incident manager for mpox at the Africa…

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a detailed phone discussion focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli military actions. According to Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency, the two leaders explored avenues to deepen economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Egypt and the UK. Both sides expressed commitment to expanding collaboration across various sectors, underpinned by continuous political dialogue and strategic coordination to safeguard mutual interests. The conversation also centred on the Gaza Strip’s deteriorating situation. President El-Sisi briefed Prime Minister Starmer on…

Egypt’s central bank has moved to lower borrowing costs, trimming key interest rates by 100 basis points in a bid to support its disinflation agenda and navigate economic headwinds. Following its latest Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced Thursday that the overnight deposit rate has been reduced to 24%, the overnight lending rate to 25%, and the main operation rate to 24.5%. The discount rate was also cut by 100 basis points, now standing at 24.5%. The rate adjustments reflect the bank’s evaluation of recent economic developments both domestically and globally. The CBE cited…

In a landmark diplomatic achievement, Mauritius has officially reclaimed sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, ending more than five decades of British control. The historic agreement, signed on Thursday between the governments of Mauritius and the United Kingdom, marks a decisive victory for Mauritius in its long-standing dispute over the islands. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam hailed the accord as a “great victory” and a pivotal milestone in the nation’s post-colonial journey. Speaking in a televised address, Ramgoolam emphasized the significance of the deal as the culmination of a struggle that has lasted over 60 years. “This marks one of the final…

Uganda has entered into an $800 million financing agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to support critical infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing the country’s economic connectivity and trade capacity, the Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday. At the heart of the agreement is the construction of a railway line that will integrate Uganda’s transport network with Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), enabling seamless access to the Indian Ocean through the strategic port of Mombasa. This development is poised to strengthen Uganda’s position as a key player in East African trade, addressing the challenges posed by its landlocked status. The…

Mauritius has faced a significant setback after a British High Court temporarily blocked the United Kingdom from transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. The court issued an injunction just hours before the planned agreement was due to be signed on Thursday. The UK had agreed to return control of the strategically important Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius. The islands, including Diego Garcia—home to a vital naval and bomber base—were set to be handed back, while the UK would retain use of the military base under a lease lasting at least 99 years. The United States, which relies heavily on the…

The Niger State House of Assembly has formally approved a N70 billion bond request from Governor Umaru Bago, paving the way for major investments in infrastructure and social services across the state. The approval was granted during a plenary session held on Tuesday in Minna, following the submission of a report by the House Committee on Finance. The committee had earlier reviewed the bond proposal and recommended its passage. Presenting the report, Committee Chairman Aliyu Wushishi explained that the N70 billion bond forms part of a larger N100 billion private bond issuance programme scheduled to span ten years. Members of…