Author: Kudret

Namibia has announced a bold move to make higher education fully free at public universities and technical colleges from 2026, in a sweeping reform aimed at expanding access for young people and addressing long-standing inequality in the education sector. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made the declaration during her first State of the Nation Address on Thursday, less than a month after assuming office as the country’s first female head of state. “From the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100/percent subsidized by the government,” she told lawmakers, describing the move as a direct response to the voices of…

Tunisian authorities have repatriated 149 Guinean nationals in a coordinated effort with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as part of a “voluntary return” initiative aimed at assisting migrants wishing to return to their home countries. The repatriation, which took place on Thursday, is the first in a series of planned flights to help migrants voluntarily return home. Beginning in May, these repatriation efforts will be carried out on a weekly basis, as confirmed by Imed Memacha, spokesperson for Tunisia’s General Directorate of National Security. Memacha noted that the increasing number of migrants opting to leave Tunisia is the result…

At least ten people lost their lives following the collapse of a gold mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local authorities confirmed on Thursday. The incident occurred in the Luhihi area of South Kivu province, which is currently under the control of the M23 rebel movement. Douglas Dunia Masumbuko, the rebel-appointed governor of South Kivu, said the death toll had reached ten but warned the number could climb due to numerous injuries reported at the scene. He blamed the disaster on “uncontrolled construction and poor maintenance” of the mining wells in the area. Mining-related fatalities are not uncommon in…

May 17 to mark historic memorialisation of Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader and 12 companions. Burkina Faso is set to inaugurate a national mausoleum dedicated to Thomas Sankara and his 12 comrades on May 17, 2025—precisely 42 years after the event that triggered the country’s historic 1983 revolution. Announced by the government on April 24, the ceremony will take place in Ouagadougou under the patronage of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who has increasingly aligned his leadership with the legacy of the late revolutionary. The date was chosen to commemorate the day Sankara, then Prime Minister, was arrested—a pivotal moment that ignited…

Africa is experiencing a complex economic shift, as fluctuating global commodity prices bring mixed fortunes to countries across the continent. While soaring gold prices offer an unexpected lifeline for some, plummeting oil values are putting pressure on major exporters. This comes as Africa grapples with the consequences of U.S. trade tensions and the suspension of U.S. aid under President Donald Trump’s administration. Oil-exporting nations such as Nigeria and Angola are feeling the strain of a significant drop in Brent crude, which has fallen below $67 per barrel, down from around $75 at the start of the month. These countries, whose…

Youssef El Gatou, a renowned Moroccan pastry chef residing in France, has officially etched his name in the Guinness World Records by creating the longest strawberry cake ever made. The impressive dessert measured a staggering 121.88 meters, surpassing the previous record by a significant margin. The event took place inside a skating rink located in Argenteuil, a suburban area just outside Paris, where the massive cake was assembled and displayed for the public to witness. Before El Gatou’s achievement, the Guinness World Record for the longest strawberry cake was held by a group of Italian pastry chefs, who set the…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy abruptly curtailed his visit to South Africa on Thursday, citing the devastating impact of a Russian missile attack on Kyiv that left at least nine people dead. The strike, which targeted the Ukrainian capital, prompted Zelenskiy to prioritize his return to Kyiv to address the unfolding crisis. Shortly after arriving in South Africa for talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zelenskiy announced via social media that he would shorten his trip. “I will cancel part of the program and return to Ukraine immediately after my meeting with President Ramaphosa,” he confirmed, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.…

South Africa is facing renewed pressure to contain a growing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), as veterinary authorities confirm the virus is spreading beyond initial containment zones in KwaZulu-Natal and into new provinces. The Department of Agriculture, in a statement released on Wednesday, linked the outbreak to a livestock auction held in February in Utrecht, a town in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Since then, confirmed cases have emerged in Newcastle and Bergville, prompting a nationwide alert to halt animal movements and intensify disease surveillance. “We have initiated a full trace-forward investigation from the auction, tracking all animals that were present,” the department…

The Beninese government has confirmed that 54 soldiers were killed in deadly attacks staged by armed groups in the country’s northern border zone, raising fresh concerns over the deepening insecurity in the region. Speaking to the press on Wednesday, government spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji offered condolences to the families of the victims and called for calm following the circulation of unverified figures online. “The number is not in the hundreds, as suggested by social media. Fifty-four of our Defense and Security Forces have died,” he said. The attacks occurred on April 17 and targeted military positions at two critical locations:…

Senegal is poised to top sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth rankings in 2025, with a projected GDP increase of 8.4/percent, according to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) data. The West African nation is set to outpace regional growth leaders such as Rwanda and Guinea (both forecast at 7.1/percent) and Ethiopia (6.6/percent). This growth surge is primarily driven by significant investments in the energy and infrastructure sectors, particularly the launch of oil and gas production from Senegal’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) and Sangomar fields. These developments are expected to enhance export revenues and reduce the country’s reliance on imports, giving the…

Botswana has launched a sweeping five-year strategy aimed at clamping down on wildlife crime while safeguarding biodiversity and supporting sustainable land use. The plan marks a renewed push by the Southern African nation to embed conservation into its national development priorities. Announced Wednesday in Gaborone by Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi, the National Anti-Poaching Strategy sets out to confront the growing threat of illegal wildlife trafficking—now considered a transnational, organized crime driven by high demand for products like ivory, rhino horn, and pangolin scales. “Poaching is no longer a local issue,” Mmolotsi said. “It’s a global enterprise, and…

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel movement have issued a rare joint commitment to halt hostilities, following over a week of indirect negotiations in Doha, Qatar. The agreement, released Wednesday in matching statements by both parties, offers a tentative opening toward resolving one of the region’s most entrenched conflicts. The statements, which emerged after both delegations concluded their discussions and left Qatar earlier this week, reaffirmed a shared pledge to end fighting immediately, reject hate speech and intimidation, and urge local communities to support peace efforts. Although the language marked a shift in tone, negotiators expressed frustration…

Since January 2025, Angola has been battling a widespread cholera outbreak that has affected 17 out of the country’s 21 provinces. With over 14,000 confirmed cases and 505 deaths, half of those impacted are under the age of 20. Cholera, caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, spreads primarily through contaminated water or food and can lead to severe dehydration, vomiting, and death if untreated. In response, the government of Angola, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other humanitarian partners, has launched a series of urgent measures. These include the deployment of rapid response teams, establishment of treatment…

Morocco’s economy is forecast to experience steady growth in the coming years, with a projected expansion of 3.9/percent in 2025, followed by a slight slowdown to 3.7/percent in 2026, according to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) outlook. Released during the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, the report reflects a cautiously optimistic perspective on Morocco’s economic trajectory. Key economic indicators, including inflation and unemployment, are expected to show modest improvements, offering a positive outlook despite ongoing global uncertainties. The country’s unemployment rate, which peaked at 13.3/percent in 2024, is expected to edge down slightly, reaching 13.2/percent in…

Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to securing a renewed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty declaring ongoing and coordinated efforts to bring an end to the hostilities. Speaking after talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji in Cairo on Tuesday, Abdelatty said the focus remains on restoring the truce first agreed upon on January 19. “We continue our efforts—serious, uninterrupted and in full coordination with Qatar and the United States—to revive the ceasefire and stop the bloodshed in Gaza,” Abdelatty said. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since the…

A groundbreaking cultural agreement between Morocco and France’s Île-de-France Region is set to reshape how African contemporary art is curated, exhibited, and appreciated globally. The deal, signed at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, underscores a growing momentum to center African artistic narratives in international spaces. The declaration of intent was inked on Monday by Mehdi Qotbi, President of Morocco’s National Foundation of Museums (FNM), and Valérie Pécresse, President of Île-de-France. The agreement lays the foundation for sustained cultural cooperation, stretching well beyond symbolic exchange and focused squarely on joint action. At the core of…