Author: WAJ Team

Egypt hosted the fifth session of the Egyptian-Hungarian Business Forum on Thursday, an event organized by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade. The gathering brought together senior government officials and business leaders from both countries, signaling a renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations. The forum served as a platform to discuss new opportunities and forge partnerships across multiple sectors. Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El Khatib opened the session by emphasizing the significance of the forum in deepening cooperation between Egypt and Hungary. He described the event as a key step toward unlocking mutual investment prospects…

Gabonese citizens are set to vote in a landmark presidential election on Saturday, ending 19 months of military-led transition that began with the ousting of President Ali Bongo in August 2023. The vote is seen as a turning point for the oil-rich Central African nation, which has grappled with mounting economic pressures and demands for political reform. The election follows the abrupt end of the Bongo family’s 55-year political dynasty, after General Brice Oligui Nguema, now transitional president, led a coup citing concerns over governance and electoral integrity. Economic Realities Behind the Vote Despite its natural wealth—spanning oil, timber, and…

Ugandan opposition leader and former musician Bobi Wine has confirmed he will run for president in the upcoming 2026 elections, setting the stage for a renewed challenge to President Yoweri Museveni’s decades-long rule. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, said the growing desire for change among Uganda’s youth has left him with no option but to contest. “We cannot just hand over another election to General Museveni,” he said in a recent interview, underscoring his belief that Uganda’s future depends on confronting a system he describes as repressive and corrupt. Museveni, in power since 1986, has signaled intentions…

Rwanda generated $579.5 million from international visitor spending in 2024, marking a moderate rise from $563.8 million the previous year, according to newly released data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). The figures, published in NISR’s latest Travel Expenditure Survey, reflect continued momentum in the country’s tourism and services sector. The data, collected between November 2024 and January 2025, offers a full-year overview of foreign visitor spending patterns. Leisure travel remained the leading driver of revenue, followed by visits to friends and relatives (VFR) and business travel. Spending was tracked across several categories, including accommodation, food and…

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has called for stronger regional cooperation on infrastructure development, warning that Africa’s economic goals will remain out of reach without efficient transport networks to support trade. Speaking at the fourth Land-Linked Zambia Conference, which opened Thursday in Lusaka, Hichilema identified underdeveloped transport systems as a major barrier to intra-African trade. He emphasized that modernizing the continent’s road and rail corridors requires collective effort. “Our intra-Africa trade levels are far below potential,” he said. “This is the result of poor transport links and cumbersome border processes. We need coordinated investment, not isolated projects.” Private Sector Involvement and…

Uganda has stopped the export of unprocessed minerals in a move to grow its local industry, create jobs, and protect its natural wealth for future generations. President Yoweri Museveni made the announcement during the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, held in Kampala from April 9 to 11. He described the decision as a key step in helping Uganda keep more value from its mineral resources. “No unprocessed minerals are leaving Uganda,” Museveni said. “If we can’t process them ourselves, we’ll leave them in the ground until our grandchildren can.” The ban supports a larger effort to reduce dependence…

Nigeria is facing a growing health emergency as a meningitis outbreak spreads across the country. So far, 151 people have died, with the worst-hit areas in the northern region. Many of the victims are children, and health officials say the situation is getting worse. The outbreak began in October 2024. Since then, cases have appeared in 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states. In 2025 alone, 74 people have died. Health workers and aid groups describe the rise in deaths as “alarming.” Officials from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) say many people are not getting treatment early enough. In some…

Tin mining has resumed in the volatile Walikale region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after Alphamin Resources Corp relaunched operations, citing improved security conditions following the retreat of M23 rebels. The Canadian-headquartered miner halted activities at its Bisie tin mine in mid-March 2025 when fighting intensified in North Kivu Province. Operations are now gradually restarting after insurgents pulled back toward Nyabiondo and Masisi, roughly 130 kilometers east of the mining site. In a statement released Wednesday, Alphamin confirmed it is redeploying personnel in phases and restarting production under close security monitoring. “The mine is adequately stocked with supplies and…

Zimbabwe has made its first payment to white farmers whose land was seized more than 20 years ago. The government released US$3 million this week, marking the beginning of a long-promised compensation process. This payment is part of a 2020 deal between the government and local white farmers. Under the agreement, Zimbabwe committed to pay US$3.5 billion for infrastructure and improvements on farms taken during land reform. The government says it will not pay for the land itself, claiming it was originally taken through colonial-era policies. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube confirmed that the US$3 million will cover 378 farms out…

Uganda’s leading public university, Makerere, is pushing forward with plans to introduce bachelor’s degree programmes for primary school teachers, in line with sweeping education reforms set in motion by the Ugandan government in 2019. The move is a direct response to Uganda’s National Teacher Policy, which requires all educators—from nursery through secondary levels—to possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. The policy marked a major shift in the country’s approach to teacher training, scrapping the long-standing system that allowed teachers to enter the profession with certificates or diplomas. Dr. Mathias Mulumba Bwanika, Dean of the School of Education at Makerere…

The second ministerial conference of the Khartoum Process commenced on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, presiding over the session. Held in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, the gathering brought together officials to exchange views and strengthen cooperation on migration-related matters, particularly the movement of people from East Africa to Europe. Delegations from participating countries assembled for a group photo before the formal proceedings began. Egypt assumed the presidency of the Khartoum Process in April 2024 and continues to lead the initiative, which involves 40 members. These include nations from the…

Rwanda has directed École Belge de Kigali, the country’s only Belgian-backed school, to discontinue the Belgian curriculum by September 2025. The decision comes as part of a wider government policy to cut institutional and financial ties with Belgium following a dramatic downturn in diplomatic relations. In a letter issued this week, Education Minister Joseph Nsengimana informed the school’s board and parent committee that the Belgian educational framework must no longer be in place by the start of the 2025–2026 academic year. “You are advised to begin the necessary steps to transition to an alternative education program,” the minister stated, urging…

Côte d’Ivoire is moving swiftly to reduce its reliance on the United States after Washington announced steep new tariffs on Ivorian exports, a senior government official said on Wednesday. Government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly told reporters after a cabinet session in Abidjan that the country is already exploring alternative markets for its key exports, including cocoa, rubber, and cashew nuts. “As an immediate step, we are looking into new destinations where our goods can find market access,” Coulibaly said. The United States, under a trade policy shift announced by President Donald Trump on April 2, is set to impose new tariffs…

Authorities in Mauritius have arrested two high-ranking figures from the previous administration—former Finance Minister Renganaden Padayachy and ex-Central Bank Governor Harvesh Seegolam—over their alleged roles in the embezzlement of state funds, marking a major escalation in the country’s anti-corruption drive. The arrests were confirmed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which said fresh evidence had surfaced linking the pair to the misappropriation of 300 million Mauritian rupees (approximately $6.7 million) from the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC), a state-backed fund created to support businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Both Padayachy and Seegolam have denied any wrongdoing. Efforts to reach them…

Malawi’s electoral body has unveiled a detailed calendar of activities in preparation for the country’s upcoming general elections scheduled for September 16, marking the beginning of an intense political season in the southern African nation. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja announced that the official campaign period will run from July 14 until 48 hours before voting day. The roadmap outlines a structured electoral process aimed at ensuring transparency and stakeholder engagement. Verification, Nominations, and Campaigns The electoral process will begin with the inspection and verification of the voters’ roll, to…

At least five people were killed and several others severely injured in a violent assault in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, local police confirmed on Wednesday. The attackers have been identified as members of Naprama, an armed group with a history of violence in the country. The incident occurred in the village of Ntotue, located in Mocimboa da Praia district. According to police spokesperson Orlando Mudumane, the group opened fire on residents, triggering panic and mass displacement. “Upon arrival, our officers found five people dead, multiple others in critical condition, and a large number of residents had fled the area,”…