Author: Kudret

Nigeria will introduce a new visa policy in August, imposing a $15 daily fine on travelers who overstay their visas, a move aimed at curbing visa abuse and enhancing immigration control. The policy, part of the broader Nigeria Visa Policy 2025, was announced by the country’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a briefing in Lagos on Friday. While the fines will officially take effect in August, Tunji-Ojo confirmed that a three-month grace period will begin in May. During this time, travelers will not face penalties for overstaying their visas, allowing them time to comply with the upcoming regulations. Once…

Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council President, Lt. General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dbeibah held bilateral talks on Friday, reaffirming their commitment to deeper cooperation and regional peace. The meeting, held on the margins of the 2025 Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Türkiye, focused on expanding collaboration between the two neighbouring countries across political, economic, and security spheres. According to officials present, both leaders agreed on the need for closer coordination in addressing shared regional challenges and expressed mutual support for efforts to stabilize Sudan, which continues to grapple with internal unrest and political uncertainty. “The discussions underlined…

The 17th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) concluded today in Cape Town, bringing together legal professionals and judicial officers from around the world for four days of discussions centered on leadership and the legal response to gender-based violence. The conference, which opened on Wednesday, April 9, was held under the theme “Resilience: Women in Leadership to End Gender-Based Violence & Femicide.” It was officially inaugurated by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and hosted by the South African Chapter of the IAWJ. Participants included judges, legal scholars, and advocates who explored current legal challenges and shared…

Namibia has become the first country in Africa to open a large-scale iron production plant that runs without releasing carbon emissions. The new facility, called the HyIron Oshivela Plant, officially opened on Friday in the Erongo Region, marking a major step in Africa’s clean energy transition. The plant uses solar energy and green hydrogen instead of coal or gas to produce iron. This process cuts out carbon emissions completely, setting a new standard for environmentally friendly manufacturing on the continent. During the launch event, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah described the project as a bold move toward economic and environmental change. She…

A Ugandan court has denied bail to prominent opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his ally, Obeid Lutale, following a ruling on Friday that has sparked further concerns over political repression in the country. The court’s decision, despite the defense team’s claims that the conditions for bail had been met, was based on the seriousness of the charges and the ongoing nature of the investigation. Besigye, 68, a key figure in Uganda’s opposition, has been a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni, who has governed the country for nearly 40 years. Besigye was forcibly abducted from Kenya in November 2024 and…

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…