Author: Kudret

The Zambian government has taken legal steps to block the burial of former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa, where he passed away earlier this month while receiving medical treatment. Authorities in Lusaka argue that the planned funeral, scheduled for Wednesday, should be postponed until a resolution is reached regarding Lungu’s final resting place. Lungu, who served as Zambia’s head of state from 2015 to 2021, was due to be interred in South Africa in a private ceremony, as announced by his family. The decision stemmed from ongoing tensions with the Zambian government over funeral arrangements. Efforts to repatriate Lungu’s…

The official death toll from the recent floods that ravaged South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province has climbed to 100, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday, as emergency teams continue to comb through affected areas in search of missing persons. The floods, which hit the province earlier this month, unleashed widespread devastation, claiming lives, damaging homes, and crippling key infrastructure. Communities across the region have been left grappling with the aftermath, as roads, bridges, and water supply systems were swept away or rendered unusable. In a detailed update, the Eastern Cape provincial government reported that 94 of the victims have so far…

Mohamed El-Shimy, Egypt’s Minister of the Public Enterprises Sector, led a high-level delegation to the 17th US-Africa Business Summit held in Luanda, Angola, from June 22 to 25, reinforcing Cairo’s drive to strengthen economic cooperation with African nations. Accompanied by Nevine El-Husseiny, Egypt’s Ambassador to Angola, El-Shimy represented Egypt in a series of strategic bilateral meetings aimed at deepening regional ties across multiple sectors. One of the most notable engagements took place with Angola’s Vice President Esperança da Costa. During the discussion, both parties emphasized the depth of historic relations between Egypt and Angola, reaffirming their mutual interest in expanding…

Nigeria and Brazil have signed a landmark agreement worth $1 billion aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s agriculture sector, enhancing energy development, strengthening food security, and supporting defence initiatives. The signing took place on Tuesday in Abuja during the official visit of Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin to Nigeria. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who announced the development in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), said the agreement focuses primarily on transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. As part of the deal, the two countries will work together to deploy more than $1 billion in resources to supply modern farming machinery, establish training programmes,…

Uganda has emerged as Africa’s leading coffee exporter, surpassing Ethiopia for the first time, according to a government report released on Tuesday. The announcement came from Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, which confirmed that the country exported 793,445 60-kilogram bags of coffee in May 2025. This volume, equivalent to 47,606.7 metric tons, generated an estimated $243 million in export earnings for the country. “This is a historic milestone for Uganda’s coffee sector,” the ministry stated. “The figures from May indicate that Uganda has overtaken Ethiopia, whose exports stood at 43,481.02 tons during the same period. This represents…

More than 136,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since January, as intensified fighting continues to drive instability across the region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Monday. The displaced population has poured into neighboring countries, with Uganda and Burundi bearing the brunt of the ongoing crisis. According to UNICEF’s latest situation report, Uganda has taken in nearly 67,000 Congolese refugees, while over 70,000 have crossed into Burundi. A significant portion of these new arrivals are women and children, many of whom have endured dangerous journeys to…

At least 120 children have been kidnapped in recent days in northern Mozambique, Human Rights Watch reported on Tuesday, warning of a sharp rise in abductions in the country’s conflict-affected Cabo Delgado province. The children are reportedly being used by an armed group active in the region to carry stolen goods, perform forced labor, and, in some cases, serve as fighters or be forced into marriage. The group has been involved in attacks across the province for several years. Mozambique has been battling the insurgency in Cabo Delgado since 2017. Despite military assistance from regional partners including Rwanda and South…

Zambia plans to begin construction of the Lobito Corridor railway by the third quarter of 2026, according to Transport Minister Frank Tayali, as funding arrangements for the cross-border infrastructure initiative progress. The railway, projected to span over 530 kilometers, will connect the copper-rich Chingola region in Zambia to Angola’s Benguela line at Luacano. The corridor is expected to become a major export route for copper and agricultural produce, enhancing regional trade. Speaking on the sidelines of the U.S.-Africa summit in Luanda, Tayali expressed confidence in the multinational project, citing growing support from the United States, the European Union, and neighboring…

Zimbabwe has reported a dramatic increase in malaria-related deaths during the peak transmission period of 2025, with 317 fatalities recorded between the first and twenty-third weeks of the year. The figure represents a sixfold rise compared to the same period in 2024, when 51 deaths were reported, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Health authorities have linked the surge to unusually high rainfall received across various regions this year, which created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. The wet conditions, combined with fluctuating temperatures, are said to have contributed to the rise in both mosquito…

Morocco and Mauritania have formalized a partnership aimed at strengthening collaboration in the field of archival preservation. The agreement was signed late last week at the headquarters of the Moroccan Archives Foundation in Rabat, marking a key development in the management of documentary heritage between the two countries. Representing Mauritania, Mohamed Mokhtar Sayed Mohamed El Hadi from the National Documents Office signed the accord, while Latifa Mouftakar, Director of the Moroccan Archives Foundation, represented Morocco. The agreement establishes a framework for joint efforts in collecting, preserving, and enhancing public archives, with a focus on shared historical, cultural, and administrative records.…

President Yoweri Museveni will run for another term in Uganda’s upcoming general elections set for January 2026, a senior official from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) confirmed this week. The announcement ends months of speculation over the long-serving leader’s political future and signals his intent to extend his presidency well beyond four decades. Although widely expected to seek reelection, this is the first formal declaration from within the NRM. Museveni, 80, has held power since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-reigning leaders. His tenure has been marked by significant political and constitutional changes, including two amendments to the…

Mali has expanded its partnership with Russia by signing several new agreements aimed at strengthening trade, energy, and infrastructure development. The accords were finalized on Monday during a two-hour meeting in Moscow between Mali’s interim president, Colonel Assimi Goita, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussions at the Kremlin led to a series of cooperation deals, including one focused on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This move marks a continuation of both countries’ efforts to broaden their strategic collaboration following a steady shift in Mali’s international alliances. Goita’s visit to Moscow signals Mali’s ongoing commitment to reducing dependence on…

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have accused the M23 rebel group of killing at least 17 civilians during a brutal assault in the eastern province of South Kivu. The attack, which occurred on Saturday evening, targeted the village of Munzinzi in Walungu Territory. According to a statement issued by the army on Monday, the assault began around 6:30 p.m. local time when M23 fighters entered the village, opening fire on residents and setting homes ablaze. The military reported that terrified villagers fled the scene, with many seeking shelter near military outposts in the area.…

The Nigerian government has thrown its full weight behind the development of one of Africa’s most ambitious rare earth and critical minerals processing facilities. The plant, to be built in Nasarawa State by Hasetins Commodities Limited, is expected to draw in at least $400 million in direct investment and generate more than 10,000 jobs across the nation. Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, in a statement released Monday, underscored the importance of the project in supporting the federal government’s drive to increase local value addition in the solid minerals sector. He noted that the initiative reflects the administration’s policy…

Zimbabwe has formally begun the process of joining the BRICS group of emerging economies, following high-level diplomatic discussions with Brazil, the bloc’s current chair. The announcement came after a meeting held in Harare on Monday between Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amon Murwira, and Brazil’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Vilmar Rogeiro Coutinho Jr. The meeting marked a significant moment in Zimbabwe’s foreign policy strategy, as the southern African nation seeks to deepen its international partnerships and integrate into influential global economic platforms. During the engagement, Murwira confirmed that Zimbabwe had submitted its formal intention to align with BRICS,…

South Africa has entered into a $1.5 billion loan agreement with the World Bank, aimed at revitalizing its struggling transport and energy sectors and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth. The National Treasury confirmed the development on Monday, emphasizing the need for structural reforms to reverse years of stagnation in Africa’s most industrialized economy. For over a decade, South Africa’s economic momentum has been undermined by persistent electricity shortages and an increasingly inefficient logistics network. Rolling blackouts, commonly referred to as “load-shedding,” have disrupted businesses and households alike, while aging rail infrastructure and chronically clogged ports have hampered export-dependent…