Author: WAJ Editor

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has launched Zimbabwe’s new Media Policy Framework, signaling a major step in efforts to reform and modernize the nation’s media sector. The event, held Tuesday morning at State House in Harare, brought together key figures from government, media institutions, and civil society. The new policy is being hailed as a blueprint for developing a dynamic and inclusive media industry. According to officials, it aims to foster a competitive media environment that promotes access to information, supports innovation, and reflects Zimbabwe’s broader development goals. In his address, President Mnangagwa underscored the media’s central role in shaping national identity…

Kwame Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, in Nkroful, a small village in the Western Region of what was then the British colony of the Gold Coast. He was the only child of his mother, Elizabeth Nyaniba, and was raised in a traditional matrilineal Akan family. Nkrumah attended Achimota School in Accra, where he was exposed to Western education. After teaching for a few years, he pursued higher education abroad. In 1935, he traveled to the United States, enrolling at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He later earned degrees from Lincoln and the University of Pennsylvania, studying economics, sociology, theology,…

In Ethiopia, a nation believed to host nearly 20 percent of the world’s donkey population, a small clinic in the heart of Addis Ababa is playing a vital role in protecting the animals that underpin much of the country’s informal economy. Situated near the bustling Merkato market, the Donkey Sanctuary — a free veterinary facility run by a UK-based charity — treats dozens of donkeys daily, providing critical care to animals used for transporting water, grain, and other goods in a country where fuel prices and poverty leave few affordable alternatives. Inside the clinic, caregivers and veterinarians move between enclosures,…

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has publicly sought forgiveness from the nation for mistakes made during his nearly four decades in power, acknowledging failures in governance and calling for national reflection. At a prayer meeting held over the weekend and organised by his daughter, President Museveni stood alongside First Lady Janet Museveni as they read from a joint statement admitting to “laxity, negligence, and lack of diligence” within the government. “As top leaders of the movement, we humbly take responsibility for all the mistakes made by ourselves, our agents, and representatives,” the couple declared. “We therefore stand here to repent and…

The M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been accused of committing grave human rights abuses, including torture, killings, and enforced disappearances of civilians held in detention, according to a new report released by Amnesty International on Tuesday. Based on interviews with 18 former detainees held between February and April in areas controlled by M23, Amnesty said at least nine reported being tortured while in captivity. Detainees were allegedly kept in inhumane conditions and punished for suspected affiliations with the Congolese government, civil society, or other armed groups. “M23’s claims of restoring order in eastern…

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has credited the recent strengthening of the Ghanaian cedi with significantly easing the country’s debt burden, reducing it by nearly GH₵150 billion over the past five months. Speaking during a presidential panel at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Development Fund (ADF) Annual Meetings in Abidjan on Tuesday, Mahama highlighted the cedi’s rebound as a key factor in reversing the escalating cost of Ghana’s largely foreign-denominated public debt. “One major driver of our debt crisis was the weakening of the cedi,” he explained. “As the local currency depreciated, the cost of servicing foreign loans…

Sudan is grappling with a sharp rise in cholera infections as the ongoing war severely disrupts access to clean water and medical treatment, particularly in the capital, Khartoum. The Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that 2,700 new cases and 172 deaths were recorded in just one week. Around 90 percent of the infections were concentrated in Khartoum state, where recent drone strikes—blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—have knocked out electricity and water supplies. Cholera, while endemic in Sudan, has surged in frequency and severity since the outbreak of war in April 2023. The conflict has further devastated…

Sudanese authorities have destroyed close to 50,000 explosive remnants of war as part of a nationwide clearance campaign, even as conflict continues to spread dangerous debris across major regions, particularly Khartoum. Major General Khalid Hamdan, head of the Sudan National Mine Action Center, reported that more than 49,000 explosive devices—including 37,000 large munitions and 12,000 smaller shells—have been safely dismantled so far. Thousands more await disposal in the coming days, especially in and around the capital. Hamdan revealed that at least 14 people have been killed and 36 others injured in 50 explosions linked to leftover war ordnance across the…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has clarified that the controversial anti-apartheid chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” should not be interpreted as an incitement to violence, but rather understood within the historical context of the country’s liberation struggle. His remarks come days after U.S. President Donald Trump presented a video of opposition politician Julius Malema chanting the slogan during a tense meeting at the White House. Trump used the footage to support claims of an alleged campaign of violence against white farmers in South Africa—a narrative long dismissed by local authorities and researchers. Responding to journalists on Tuesday, Ramaphosa…

Veteran Nigerian singer-songwriter, dancehall artist Inetimi Odon, popularly known as Timaya, has voiced concerns about the current state of the music industry, saying it lacks the depth and authenticity that defined earlier eras. Speaking in a candid interview with Afrobeats Intelligence, Timaya reflected on his musical journey from the streets of Port Harcourt to becoming one of the continent’s most recognisable voices. He contrasted the emotionally driven music of the past with today’s trend-focused sound. “I miss the old music, not just from my time, but even further back,” he said. “Songs like Alex Zitto’s Tickle Me—they had melodies that…

South Africa’s Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has dismissed claims that a proposed policy change is designed to benefit Elon Musk’s satellite internet firm, Starlink, asserting that the policy applies broadly across the communications sector. Speaking during a parliamentary briefing on Tuesday, Malatsi clarified that the draft policy—introduced last Friday—aims to allow “equity equivalent” investment programmes as an alternative to existing Black ownership requirements in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. “The principle of transformation remains non-negotiable in South Africa,” Malatsi stated. “We are not creating a special dispensation for Starlink or any other individual or company.” Under current regulations,…

Morocco has significantly bolstered its international engagement, having concluded nearly 7,500 international agreements to date, with around 800 focused specifically on economic cooperation. The majority of these treaties—almost two-thirds—have been signed during the reign of King Mohammed VI, Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita announced on Monday. Speaking before the House of Representatives in Rabat during an oral question session, Minister Bourita described the treaty framework as a cornerstone of Morocco’s foreign policy. He stressed that the true value of these agreements lies not only in their signing but also in their implementation, in line with the directives of the monarch.…

Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold has voiced strong opposition to a move by Mali’s ruling military government to place its flagship gold mining operations under temporary state control amid an ongoing dispute over revenue and taxation. In a statement released Monday, Barrick rejected the Malian government’s request for a court-appointed administrator to take over day-to-day operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex in western Mali. The site, which is among the world’s largest gold deposits, is 80 percent owned by Barrick, with the Malian state holding the remaining 20 percent. The legal request was filed with Bamako’s commercial court on May…

An Algerian court has sentenced three former presidential hopefuls to 10 years in prison for their involvement in a major electoral fraud case involving the purchase of nomination signatures, according to a judicial source. Among those convicted are businesswoman Saida Neghza, former minister Belkacem Sahli, and lesser-known candidate Abdelhakim Hamadi. The trio was found guilty of paying to secure the required endorsements to stand in the September presidential election. The trial, which concluded on May 8 after nine days of hearings, also resulted in prison terms ranging from five to eight years for about 70 other defendants. This group included…

Kenya has reiterated its recognition of the Federal Government of Somalia as the sole legitimate authority over the entire Somali territory, while simultaneously confirming continued engagement with the regional administrations of Jubaland and Somaliland. In a statement issued on Monday by the State Department for Foreign Affairs, the Kenyan government emphasized its commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, in accordance with international and regional legal frameworks. “Kenya unequivocally recognizes the authority of the Federal Government in Mogadishu as the only legitimate body responsible for governing all regions of Somalia,” the statement said. However, Nairobi clarified that it…

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has firmly denied accusations that it failed to defend South Africa against false claims by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding alleged genocide against white Afrikaner farmers. The rebuttal follows criticism from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who during a recent party march accused the foundation of remaining silent amid growing diplomatic tensions with Washington. Trump’s remarks, suggesting that a “white genocide” is taking place in South Africa, have sparked widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. The EFF called on influential institutions, including the Nelson Mandela Foundation, to publicly reject the claims and defend the…