Author: Kudret

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for stronger global efforts to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support Palestinian rights during a ministerial meeting of the Madrid Group held in Spain’s capital on Sunday. In a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty welcomed the evolving positions of several countries regarding the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, urging the international community to maintain pressure for justice and human dignity. He warned that the humanitarian disaster in Gaza has reached levels never seen before. Israeli forces have blocked the entry of essential supplies—such as food, fuel, and medicine—for more…

In a decisive move to curb petroleum-related crimes, the Nigerian Army announced on Sunday that it has dismantled 19 illegal crude oil refineries operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The military operation, which took place between May 19 and 25, is part of an intensified nationwide effort to tackle the persistent challenge of oil theft and pipeline vandalism. According to Lieut. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, acting deputy director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, the operation led to the seizure of approximately 589,000 liters of refined petroleum products. Twenty individuals suspected to be involved in the illegal…

Uganda has announced the suspension of all military and defense cooperation with Germany following accusations against the German Ambassador to Uganda, Mathias Schauer, of involvement in activities deemed hostile by the Ugandan government. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, Chris Magezi, confirmed the decision on Sunday, citing intelligence reports that allege Ambassador Schauer’s engagement with pseudo-political and military groups operating against the state. Magezi stated that the suspension will remain in effect until the matter is fully investigated and resolved. This move comes amid heightened political tensions within Uganda, where opposition figures have faced arrests on charges related to…

In a significant archaeological breakthrough, an Egyptian excavation team has uncovered a two-level mudbrick building dating back to the 6th–7th centuries in the Manqabad area of Assiut Governorate, located roughly 12 kilometers northwest of Assiut City in Upper Egypt. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Sunday. The structure, believed to have served a religious or monastic function, was coated in white mortar and contains several detailed wall paintings that offer insight into Coptic religious practices and symbolism of the period. According to Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, one of…

All 260 miners trapped underground at the Kloof-seven shaft in South Africa’s Gauteng province have been safely evacuated, following a mechanical malfunction that temporarily disrupted mining operations at one of Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold facilities. The incident, which occurred late Thursday, was linked to a technical fault in the shaft’s rock winder system. According to the company, a skip door unexpectedly opened at the level 39 loading station, cutting access to deeper sections of the mine including levels 40, 41 and below. As a result, miners working in the lower zones were unable to return to the surface. Sibanye-Stillwater confirmed in a…

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…