Author: WAJ Editor

In a major move to strengthen control over its gold sector, Ghana has barred all foreign nationals from participating in its local gold trading market, according to a report. The directive, issued by the newly established Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), is part of a broader legislative overhaul designed to boost government revenue, combat illegal mining, and enhance oversight of the country’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining industry. The Ghana Gold Board Bill, which led to the creation of GoldBod, was passed by Parliament on March 29 and signed into law by President John Mahama on April 2. Under the new…

Policy House, a prominent economic research and advisory organization, has called on African delegates attending the 2025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to push for a concrete and actionable economic roadmap, as global trade tensions intensify. The meetings, scheduled to take place from April 21 to 26 in Washington, D.C., are expected to bring together over 10,000 participants, including policymakers, development finance professionals, and civil society representatives. The call comes amid growing economic uncertainty following U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping tariffs—starting at 10 percent—on all imports to the United States.…

As Afrobeats and Amapiano dominate global charts, three legendary African musicians have returned with powerful new releases, reminding the world of their foundational role in shaping the global appreciation of African music—long before it was mainstream. Youssou N’Dour: A Return to Roots Senegalese icon Youssou N’Dour released a new album on April 4, 2025—coinciding with Senegal’s Independence Day. Originally scheduled for February, the release was delayed following the passing of his longtime guitarist, Jimi Mbaye. N’Dour, who gained international acclaim in 1984, is celebrated for pioneering Mbalax—a unique fusion of traditional Wolof rhythms with jazz, soul, reggae, and Cuban influences.…

The United Nations has issued a renewed warning about the ongoing danger posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war in Libya, highlighting the urgent need for continued clearance efforts across the country. The warning came during an event held last Wednesday at Tripoli’s Sports City to mark the International Day for Mine Awareness. The event was organized by the Libyan Mine Action Centre (LMAC) in collaboration with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), along with national and international demining organizations. UNSMIL announced on Friday that high-level representatives from Libyan institutions, including the Ministries of Defense and Health…

Seven Chinese nationals have been convicted by the Kapenguria Law Courts of Kenya for conducting illegal mining operations along the Wei-Wei River in Sigor, Pokot Central Sub-County. The accused—Wang Youping, Xian Zhenming, He Zhouming, Wang Xiadodong, Zhao Zhenewei, Guan Qiang, and Deng Chun—were apprehended on February 12, 2025, during a coordinated crackdown led by the Mining Investigations Unit in collaboration with the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects were found engaging in large-scale mining activities without the necessary government licenses. Authorities impounded an array of heavy machinery at…

Libyans are facing a steep drop in purchasing power following the sudden devaluation of the national currency, as the country grapples with prolonged political division and economic instability. Earlier this month, the Central Bank of Libya reduced the official value of the dinar by 13.3 percent—the second such adjustment in five years—raising the official exchange rate from 4.48 to 5.56 dinars per U.S. dollar. In the black market, the rate surged from 6.90 to 7.80 dinars per dollar, further driving up import costs and consumer prices. Experts attribute the dinar’s depreciation to unsustainable public spending by Libya’s two rival governments,…

The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for a series of deadly assaults in Sudan that have reportedly killed around 400 civilians, including children and humanitarian workers. In a statement delivered on Thursday, Council President and France’s UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont expressed alarm over the intensifying violence, particularly in and around El Fasher. He cited repeated RSF attacks on the city as well as on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps for internally displaced people. “The Council members called for the RSF to be held accountable for these attacks and demanded an immediate halt to…

Four men suspected of involvement in international drug trafficking have been extradited from Guinea-Bissau to the United States and appeared in federal court in Fort Lauderdale today. The suspects—Ramon Manriquez Castillo, 68, a dual U.S.-Mexican national; Edgar Rodriguez Ruano, 29, of Mexico; Fernando Javier Escobar Tito, 48, of Ecuador; and Anderson Jair Gamboa Nieto, 30, of Colombia—were surrendered to U.S. authorities on April 16 following a coordinated international law enforcement operation. According to a newly unsealed federal indictment, the men are accused of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy from November 2023 to September 2024. The charges allege they used…

Massad Boulos, senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on African affairs, has reiterated Washington’s stance that Rwanda must immediately end all military support for the M23 rebel group and withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking during an online press briefing following a diplomatic tour of Rwanda, the DRC, Uganda, and Kenya, Boulos underscored U.S. concerns over Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the eastern Congo conflict. “Rwanda should cease all military support of M23 and withdraw all Rwandan troops from DRC territory,” he stated. The DRC, along with Western powers including the United States and the…

A U.S. federal jury in Colorado has convicted Gambian national Michael Sang Correa for his role in the torture of detainees in 2006, marking the first time a non-American has been found guilty under the U.S. Torture Act for crimes committed abroad, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. Correa, a former member of the feared Gambian paramilitary unit known as the “Junglers,” operated under the regime of ex-president Yahya Jammeh. During the trial, witnesses recounted how Correa participated in the torture of five individuals suspected of plotting a coup against Jammeh. The abuses described included electrocution, stabbing, burning, and…

Ghana has extended invitations to the military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to attend the launch of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), scheduled for April 22, 2025, in Accra. President John Dramani Mahama, who will host the event, is leading the effort to include the three Sahel nations despite their recent withdrawal from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The invitation is being positioned as a diplomatic gesture aimed at restoring regional dialogue and unity. At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, Minister of Foreign Affairs…

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his spouse Zinash Tayachew departed Hà Nội on Thursday afternoon, concluding their official visit to Vietnam and participation in the 4th Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, held from April 14 to 17 at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and his spouse. The Ethiopian delegation was seen off at Nội Bài International Airport by Minister of Construction Trần Hồng Minh and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Mạnh Cường. During the visit, Prime Minister Abiy paid tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh at his…

Armed groups believed to be terrorists have launched another wave of violence in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, torching at least two churches and 95 homes, police said. The attacks took place in the communities of Nkole and Ngura, located in the Ancuabe district, according to police spokesperson Orlando Modumane. He told Anadolu Agency that the assailants struck on Sunday and returned the following day, targeting residents in daylight hours with guns and machetes. “They invaded the two communities in broad daylight, armed with guns and machetes, and after setting ablaze the two churches and the 95 houses, they fled with…

Contrary to widespread claims circulating on social media, Nigerians are not barred from participating in the 2025 hajj pilgrimage. The Saudi Arabian government’s recent suspension of short-term visas does not affect hajj pilgrims. A number of Facebook posts in Nigeria have falsely reported that Saudi Arabia imposed a visa ban on Nigerians ahead of this year’s hajj. However, official clarifications reveal that the restriction only applies to new short-term visas, such as tourist, business, and family visit visas for 14 countries, including Nigeria. The policy, which took effect on 13 April, does not impact hajj visas. The annual Islamic pilgrimage…

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Tunisian government of systematically using arbitrary detention to suppress dissent, urging authorities to end the ongoing crackdown and release political prisoners, as several high-profile opposition figures face trial on conspiracy charges. In a report released Wednesday, the New York-based rights group said the administration of President Kais Saied had made arbitrary arrests a central tool in silencing critics, reversing hard-won freedoms achieved since the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. “President Saied’s government has dragged Tunisia back into an era of political imprisonment, stripping citizens of their civil liberties,” said Bassam Khawaja, HRW’s deputy director…

A tragic river accident in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 50 people dead and more than 100 missing after a motorized wooden boat caught fire and capsized on the Congo River late Tuesday night, according to local authorities. The vessel, named HB Kongolo, was en route from the port of Matankumu to Bolomba territory when the fire broke out near the town of Mbandaka, said River Commissioner Compétent Loyoko. The incident occurred after a passenger began cooking on board, which reportedly sparked the blaze. Several passengers, including women and children, jumped into the river to escape…