Author: Kudret

Libya’s authorities, with support from the United Nations, have formed a truce committee to shore up a fragile ceasefire in Tripoli, following recent armed clashes that left six people dead and dozens injured. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) confirmed on Sunday that the ceasefire declared on May 14 remains unstable. In response, a joint committee—led by Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Mohamed Al-Haddad—has been established to oversee the enforcement of the truce and ensure civilian safety. The committee held its first meeting this week, marking what Libyan and UN officials hope will be a step toward sustained…

Angola has made significant progress in reducing child mortality over the past few years, yet the country continues to grapple with rising levels of child malnutrition, according to the latest national health data released by the government. Speaking during the presentation of the new findings on Friday, Secretary of State for Planning Luis Epalanga reported a marked decline in both neonatal and under-five mortality rates. Neonatal deaths have fallen from 24 to 16 per 1,000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate dropped from 68 to 52 per 1,000 live births. “These results show that our investments in maternal and…

Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed 5,921 new malaria cases and eight deaths between May 5 and 11, reflecting a 12 percent drop compared to the previous week. The figures were disclosed in the country’s most recent malaria situation report, issued on Saturday. Despite the slight decline, the report indicates that malaria transmission remains active, particularly in northern and northeastern regions. These areas accounted for 71 percent of the new infections recorded during the reporting period, underscoring their continued vulnerability. Since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2024, Namibia has registered a total of 76,195 confirmed…

Togo has confirmed its first case of mpox, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene on Friday, triggering a swift public health response to prevent further transmission. The case involves a 22-year-old woman residing in the capital, Lomé. Authorities say the infection was identified and confirmed on the same day, and the patient is currently being treated at a specialized infectious disease unit. In response, the ministry has activated an emergency health plan that includes reinforced epidemiological surveillance, accelerated case detection, confirmed diagnostic procedures, and clinical care. Public sensitization campaigns are also underway to…

At least 23 people, mostly farmers and fishermen, were killed on Thursday morning in a deadly assault by suspected militants in Malam Karanti, a village in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State. Local residents and security sources confirmed the incident, which underscores a renewed wave of violence in the region. According to accounts from the village, armed men stormed the area at dawn, gathering civilians before executing them. Many of the victims were bean farmers who had gone out early to work. One elderly man was reportedly left unharmed and later raised the alarm in the community. Attempts to recover the victims’…

In a landmark conservation initiative, Rwanda is preparing to welcome 70 southern white rhinos from South Africa, marking the country’s most ambitious wildlife relocation to date. The rhinos are expected to arrive later this month at Akagera National Park following a transcontinental journey of roughly 3,400 kilometers (2,100 miles). This large-scale transfer is part of Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its conservation legacy and bolster its standing as a leading safari destination. Akagera, situated in eastern Rwanda, has undergone extensive ecological restoration over the past decade, including the reintroduction of lions in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017, after years…

Widespread protests erupted across Tripoli on Friday as thousands demanded the resignation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah. The demonstrations come amid escalating political instability following reports of key resignations from senior government officials and violent clashes in the capital. Local media outlets reported that the public outcry was triggered by recent deadly confrontations in the city, fueling frustrations over the GNU’s ability to maintain security and governance. The wave of resignations reportedly includes the deputy prime minister and several ministers responsible for local governance, trade and industry, higher education, housing, and water…

Namibia has made a firm appeal to the European Union, calling on the bloc to take concrete steps to help end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. Speaking during Europe Day celebrations held Thursday evening in Windhoek, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Trade Jenelly Matundu described the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian disaster. She said the continued Israeli blockade has left civilians—particularly women and children—without access to aid, food, or other essential supplies since early March. “This is a humanitarian catastrophe which should end,” Matundu said, urging the EU to take…

Former Prime Minister and opposition leader Succes Masra was detained early Friday by Chad’s security forces at his residence, intensifying political tensions in a country already facing significant instability. Masra, leader of the Transformers party, is widely regarded as a divisive figure whose political actions have often aligned more closely with foreign interests—particularly those of France—than with the aspirations of the Chadian people. The party’s vice president, Ndolembai Sade Njesada, confirmed the arrest in a statement, while video footage circulating on social media showed armed officers escorting Masra from his home. Authorities have yet to provide an official explanation for…

Wangari Maathai (April 1, 1940 – September 25, 2011) stands as one of Africa’s most revered figures in environmental activism, human rights advocacy, and political reform. The Kenyan scholar and Nobel Laureate left an indelible mark on global environmental policy through the founding of the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots initiative that linked sustainable development with the empowerment of rural women. Maathai made history in 2004 when she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. Her courage, intellect, and dedication to justice transformed not only the physical…

The European Union and African Union will convene a high-level ministerial meeting in Brussels on May 21, with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, set to take part. The gathering highlights growing cooperation between the two continental blocs amid shared geopolitical and humanitarian challenges. Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt, announced the plans on Friday during a roundtable discussion marking the conclusion of a four-day official visit to the Alexandria governorate. She was accompanied by an EU delegation that met with local authorities and inspected various EU-funded projects in the region. The Brussels…

More than 1,300 Congolese soldiers, police officers, and their family members have been evacuated from the eastern city of Goma by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the humanitarian agency confirmed Thursday. The city has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since January. The operation comes in the wake of intensified conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the M23, accused by United Nations experts of receiving support from Rwanda, took control of Goma earlier this year. The offensive has led to thousands of deaths and forced around 2,000 members of the national…

Guinea’s transitional government has revoked the licences of dozens of mining companies in a sweeping regulatory action aimed at tightening control over the country’s vast mineral resources. At least 46 permits have been annulled, with senior officials indicating the final number could reach 53. The decision affects small-scale operators across bauxite, gold, diamond, and graphite sectors. While the government has not issued a formal public statement, insiders in the Ministry of Mines said that the move is part of a broader effort to clean up the national mining registry and enforce operational compliance. “These licences were inactive or underperforming,” one…

Uganda’s Parliament has approved a 72.4 trillion shilling budget (approximately $20 billion) for the 2025/26 fiscal year, keeping national spending largely in line with the current year as the country gears up for commercial oil production. The approved expenditure marks only a modest rise from the 72.1 trillion shillings allocated for the financial year ending next month. The announcement was made in a post on the legislature’s official account on X late Thursday. “The House has considered and approved the proposed annual budget for financial year 2025/2026,” Parliament confirmed. According to government priorities, the new budget will channel resources into…

A violent confrontation over land use in the village of Mandakao, in Chad’s southwest, has left 35 people dead and six others injured, according to an official statement issued Thursday. The clash, which occurred on Wednesday in the Logone-Occidental region, is believed to have stemmed from a dispute between Fulani herders and Ngambaye farmers regarding the boundary between grazing areas and farmland. Local sources report that tensions had been simmering over land access and use. Chad’s Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, Gassim Cherif Mahamat, confirmed the casualties and said security personnel were dispatched to contain the situation. “This tragic…

A rupture in Nigeria’s Trans Niger Pipeline has led to a significant oil spill in B-Dere, a community located in the environmentally sensitive region of Ogoniland, according to an environmental advocacy group on Thursday. The leak, reported on May 6, has yet to be contained, raising renewed concerns over environmental safety and corporate accountability in the region. The TNP—one of Nigeria’s critical oil arteries with a capacity of around 450,000 barrels per day—serves as a key export route for Bonny Light crude. This incident marks the second disruption in two months, following a March explosion that forced a temporary shutdown…