Author: Kudret

Uganda’s Parliament has passed an amended law permitting the military to prosecute civilians, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers and civil rights advocates who say it undermines the country’s judicial independence. The bill, approved on Tuesday, directly contradicts a Supreme Court ruling issued in January that declared the practice unconstitutional. The court had concluded that military tribunals lacked the legal competence and impartiality required for civilian trials. Despite this, the revised legislation sailed through Parliament, reigniting debate over the military’s expanding role in Uganda’s political and legal arenas. Government Stands Firm on Security Grounds The law…

The Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo to ten years of forced labour following his conviction on corruption charges involving nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in public funds. The 60-year-old politician was found guilty of embezzling up to $247 million from a government agro-industrial project in Bukangalonzo, located some 250 kilometers southeast of the capital. The ruling concludes a drawn-out legal process that began almost four years ago and has been marked by jurisdictional disputes and political controversy. Alongside Matata Ponyo, former Central Bank Governor Deogratias Mutombo and…

Angola has committed US $8 million to the World Health Organization’s Global Investment Round, reinforcing Africa’s leadership in advocating for stronger international health systems. The pledge was announced by President João Lourenço during his address to the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, where he spoke on behalf of Angola and in his role as Chair of the African Union. With this move, Angola joins over a dozen African nations backing a shift toward more sustainable and strategic financing for WHO’s operations, which are critical to addressing global health threats, from pandemics to routine care delivery. President Lourenço emphasized…

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmentalist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She founded the Green Belt Movement, which empowered women to plant millions of trees, restoring degraded land and fighting deforestation. Born in Nyeri, Kenya, she was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a PhD. Her activism connected environmental protection with women’s rights, democracy, and sustainable development. Maathai’s legacy lives on through the forests she helped regrow and the lives she inspired across Africa and beyond.

Liberia’s health authorities are heightening surveillance and cross-border collaboration following a sharp rise in mpox infections in neighboring Sierra Leone. The latter has now confirmed 2,634 cases and 14 fatalities since the outbreak began earlier this year. Sierra Leone is currently reporting an average of 100 new cases per day, representing 58% of all mpox cases recently recorded across Africa. In response, its government has shifted from home care to centralized treatment, establishing a new mpox treatment center with an initial capacity of 400 beds, which is planned to increase to 950. Liberia’s National Public Health Institute and Ministry of…

Egypt and Uzbekistan have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing agricultural cooperation, focusing on food security and sustainable farming solutions, in a move that underscores growing South-South collaboration. Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, hosted Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Mansurbek Kilichev, for high-level talks in Cairo, where both sides explored deepening bilateral ties in agricultural development. Farouk spoke of the long-standing relationship between the two countries, noting that Egypt stands ready to provide full technical assistance and expertise to support mutual efforts. He pointed to Egypt’s extensive experience in modern agricultural practices, including scientific research and advanced technology…

The inaugural International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) kicked off on Monday in Rwanda’s capital, bringing together continental leaders, security experts, and policymakers to address Africa’s pressing security challenges. In his opening address, President Paul Kagame described the event as “long overdue,” urging African nations to take ownership of their security affairs rather than relying on external actors. He criticized the prevailing approach of outsourcing Africa’s security, which he said has repeatedly failed to deliver sustainable peace and stability. “For too long, African security has been treated as a burden for others to manage, often excluding meaningful regional input and…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Washington late Monday, launching a critical diplomatic mission aimed at strengthening economic and trade relations with the United States. The visit, which includes a scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, is focused on restoring ties that have deteriorated since Trump assumed office. Accompanied by four cabinet ministers and a special envoy to the U.S., Ramaphosa’s delegation is tasked with reshaping the bilateral agenda. According to a statement from the presidency in Pretoria, the visit aims to “reset and revitalise” relations, with a particular emphasis on economic and…

Authorities in Libya have launched an investigation after 58 unidentified bodies were discovered on Monday inside a hospital in Tripoli previously controlled by a powerful militia whose commander was killed last week. The Interior Ministry reported that the remains were uncovered in the morgue refrigerator of Abu Salim Accidents Hospital, located in the densely populated Abu Salim district. The discovery followed a formal notification from the hospital’s administration. Photographs shared by the ministry depicted the bodies—some severely decomposed and others visibly charred—laid out on metal gurneys and beds. Each was marked with a number, and the faces had been obscured.…

Botswana has officially received Gold Tier Certification from the World Health Organization (WHO), a recognition that places the country at the forefront of global efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The announcement was made on Monday by Botswana’s Ministry of Health, marking a historic achievement in the nation’s decades-long battle against the virus. Health Minister Stephen Modise, speaking at a ceremony in Geneva, described the award as a powerful affirmation of Botswana’s enduring commitment to public health. “This recognition reflects the unwavering determination of our citizens, the tireless work of healthcare professionals, and the valuable support of our international…

Burkina Faso has inaugurated a national mausoleum in honour of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara and his twelve companions, who were assassinated in a 1987 coup. The ceremony took place on Saturday at the Council of the Entente in Ouagadougou—the same site where the assassinations occurred nearly four decades ago. The event brought together dignitaries from across the region, including the prime ministers of Senegal and Chad, security ministers from Mali and Niger, and a delegation from Ghana, underscoring Sankara’s lasting influence across the African continent. Held on May 17, the commemoration also marked the anniversary of Sankara’s arrest in 1983,…

More than 20,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Marte, northeastern Nigeria, following a series of deadly raids by armed groups, Borno State authorities have confirmed. The fresh wave of violence has once again emptied a town that had only recently begun to rebuild after years of conflict. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum made the announcement during a visit to Marte on Sunday, just days after fighters overran a military base in the area. At least five soldiers were killed in the raid, with others still unaccounted for. “Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately,…

Egypt has successfully recovered 21 ancient artifacts that were illegally trafficked to Australia, marking a notable milestone in the country’s global efforts to protect its cultural heritage. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday that the items were retrieved from an Australian auction house after coordinated action between Egypt’s diplomatic missions in Canberra and Sydney and Australian authorities. The handover coincided with the 75th anniversary of Egypt-Australia diplomatic relations — a symbolic moment that Egyptian officials say highlights the growing partnership between the two countries in confronting antiquities trafficking and preserving global heritage. In a statement, the ministry…

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival opened this week, drawing global attention to the latest in world cinema. This year, African filmmakers and stories have gained notable prominence across the festival’s key sections, highlighting the continent’s expanding influence in the international film industry. Egyptian director Morad Mostafa’s debut feature Aisha Can’t Fly Away has been selected for the prestigious Un Certain Regard category, a section dedicated to showcasing innovative and emerging talent. The film explores the life of a South Sudanese care worker in Cairo, touching on themes of displacement and resilience. Mostafa’s lead actress, Buliana Simon, a…

The International Court of Justice will on Monday announce a verdict in a maritime territorial dispute that has strained relations between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for over half a century. At the heart of the case are three small islands — Mbanie, Cocotier, and Conga — lying in potentially resource-rich waters off the coast of Central Africa. Though uninhabited and modest in size, the islands are located in a region believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves, making them strategically important to both countries. The roots of the disagreement date back to 1900, when France and Spain, the colonial…

Multiple violent incidents across five Nigerian states have resulted in the deaths of at least 33 people and numerous injuries, exposing the worsening security crisis that continues to challenge authorities nationwide. In Benue State’s Agatu Local Government Area, 15 traders were killed in a brutal ambush carried out by armed herders on Saturday evening. The victims were returning from Oweto market when they were attacked at the Ogwumogbio and Okpo’okpolo axis. Former local government official Anthony Ikwulono described the assault as unprovoked, attributing it to a herder who had recently returned to the area despite prior warnings to vacate. Local…