Author: WAJ Editor

The Ghanaian government has unveiled a new visa policy designed to promote tourism and attract foreign investment by significantly shortening visa processing times. Effective immediately, visa applications will now be processed within five working days—down from the previous four to six weeks—according to an announcement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. Ablakwa said the new directive is part of broader efforts to reposition Ghana as a top destination for business and leisure on the African continent. “We have implemented robust systems across our diplomatic missions to ensure faster and more efficient visa processing,” he said. The Minister…

The European Union (EU) will disburse €500 million in humanitarian aid to various African nations this year, following its decision to suspend governance-related funding previously earmarked for Zimbabwe. The move comes in response to Zimbabwe’s recent enactment of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill, which has drawn criticism for curbing the operations of civil society groups. Passed in April, the legislation grants the Zimbabwean government broad powers to monitor and regulate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civic groups. Critics warn that the law could significantly hinder advocacy for human rights and social justice. Ahead of the ongoing EU-African Union (AU)…

At least six people have died after a landslide struck the Mossikro neighborhood of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s largest city, following heavy overnight rainfall, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. National Cohesion Minister Myss Belmonde Dogo announced the fatalities in a statement on Facebook, adding that three houses were buried in the Attecoubé district, and seven injured individuals were rushed to Yopougon University Hospital. “We were lying down when the rain started to come. The earth above fell on the house,” survivor Audrey Toh Lou told AFP. Côte d’Ivoire’s rainy season, which typically spans from May to late July, frequently leads to floods…

A tense and dramatic confrontation unfolded at the White House on Wednesday when U.S. President Donald Trump accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of enabling the killings of white farmers and land expropriations — claims widely discredited by official data and analysts. The meeting, intended to focus on trade and critical minerals, quickly escalated into a 10-minute verbal onslaught. In front of the press pool, Trump slammed a thick stack of printed articles and photographs onto the table, claiming they depicted murdered white South Africans. “You’re letting this happen, Cyril — it’s a disgrace!” he said, alleging that thousands of…

The Kingdom of Eswatini has reignited its historical land dispute with South Africa following the appointment of a new Border Restoration Committee (BRC), tasked with negotiating the return of territories the kingdom claims were lost during colonial rule. King Mswati III announced the formation of the 15-member committee on Monday, composed largely of royal family members and traditional loyalists. The BRC, which will serve a five-year term, is the latest in a series of similar bodies established over the years — none of which have yielded concrete progress. Appointed as chairperson is Chief Mgebiseni Dlamini, a distant relative of the…

Chad’s former Prime Minister and prominent opposition leader Succes Masra has been placed in provisional detention nearly a week after his arrest on charges of inciting hatred, his legal team confirmed on Wednesday. Masra, who briefly served as prime minister from January to May 2024, was detained on May 16 following accusations linking him to recent deadly unrest in the country’s southwest. He is facing multiple charges, including inciting revolt, forming and aiding armed groups, complicity in murder, and arson. His arrest came two days after violent clashes in the Mandakao area of Logone-Occidental left at least 42 people dead,…

Zambia has formally invited the European Union to observe its upcoming general elections scheduled for August 13, 2026. The invitation was extended by Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe during a meeting with David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, held on the sidelines of the EU-African Union ministerial summit in Brussels. According to Zambia’s Foreign Ministry, the discussion focused on strengthening ties with the EU, particularly in areas of democratic governance, electoral transparency, and institutional collaboration. Haimbe expressed appreciation for the EU’s role in monitoring the 2021 elections and reiterated Zambia’s commitment to democratic principles. He highlighted…

Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, has publicly dismissed questions raised by an international investigation into her family’s acquisition of luxury real estate in The Gambia, asserting that she owes no explanation to reporters and accusing them of attempting to blackmail her. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), claimed on May 10 revealing that Bio, along with her mother and two half-brothers, acquired at least 10 high-end properties in The Gambia after her husband, Julius Maada Bio, assumed the presidency in 2018. The acquisitions, totaling over \$2.1 million, include beachfront villas, luxury apartments, and a four-storey building, as…

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has overhauled the leadership of ruling party Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), promoting a close ally while demoting senior party veterans amid renewed political tensions and concerns over national stability. In a presidential decree broadcast on state television Tuesday night, Kiir, 73, named Second Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel as the SPLM’s new deputy chairperson. The appointment positions Bol Mel as next in line to lead both the party and the country should Kiir step down, effectively placing him as acting president in waiting. Bol Mel, a longtime confidant of the president, has faced international…

Somali security forces have killed 45 al-Shabaab militants, including a senior commander linked to a series of mortar attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, as part of a coordinated military operation in the Hiran and Lower Shabelle regions. In a statement released on Wednesday, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) confirmed that six precision airstrikes were launched between Tuesday afternoon and early Wednesday in the El-Hareeri area of Hiran. The strikes, which targeted hideouts of the al-Qaeda-affiliated group, resulted in the deaths of both senior leaders and rank-and-file fighters. Among those killed was the group’s top operative responsible for orchestrating…

Zambia’s recently enacted cyber legislation has triggered serious concerns among civil society and digital rights advocates, who warn that the new laws could enable widespread surveillance and undermine constitutional freedoms under the pretext of national security. In April 2025, the Zambian Parliament passed the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act, despite repeated warnings from groups such as the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and Bloggers of Zambia. These organisations had submitted detailed recommendations highlighting human rights concerns, but lawmakers pushed ahead with minimal amendments. According to CIPESA, the laws contain broadly worded…

Sierra Leone’s proposed Counter-Terrorism Act, 2024, has sparked growing concern among media and civil society groups, who warn that broad and ambiguous provisions within the bill could seriously undermine freedom of expression, press freedom, and civic activism. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has joined the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and other stakeholders in voicing alarm over language in the bill that, if left unamended, could criminalize standard journalistic practices. Critics say the proposed law risks repeating the overreach seen in the country’s recent cybercrime legislation. Key sections of the bill—particularly Sections 12, 13, 18, and 19—introduce…

Senegal’s former Prime Minister Aminata Toure has called for a fundamental transformation of Africa’s economic systems, arguing that current models fail to reflect the continent’s structural realities. Her remarks came during the opening session of the Global Growth Conference 2025 in Rabat on Tuesday. Toure criticized the continued reliance on economic frameworks shaped by colonial legacies and Western classical theory, insisting that Africa must break from outdated paradigms. “We must stop applying Adam Smith’s theories to contexts that are entirely different from our societies,” she stated, advocating for the development of a distinctly African school of economic thought. Speaking under…

South Africa has rejected pressure to withdraw its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or reverse domestic empowerment laws, as President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday. Tensions between the two countries have escalated over unsubstantiated U.S. allegations of persecution against white South Africans, particularly the Afrikaner minority. In response, Ramaphosa’s office stated that the U.S. must provide evidence if it continues to promote such claims. “We need to reset the relationship… but more importantly, address concerns, even those based on misinformation,” said presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya in…

A fire broke out early Tuesday on an offshore oil platform operated by Chevron in Angola, injuring 17 people, with four reported to be in critical condition, according to Angolan authorities. The incident occurred at the Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) platform, located approximately 97 kilometers off the coast of Cabinda in the Block 14 concession. The fire reportedly started in the basement of the multi-storey drilling and production facility. The Angolan National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels confirmed that all injured individuals have been safely transported to shore and are receiving medical treatment. The cause of the fire…

Tanzania’s police have confirmed that their official X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked on Tuesday, leading to the publication of a false announcement claiming the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Authorities quickly removed the post, describing it as “false and misleading,” and stated it was made by an unknown external party. No suspects have been identified so far. In a related development, local media reported that the Tanzania Revenue Authority’s YouTube channel was also compromised, prompting concerns of a coordinated cyberattack targeting state institutions. Officials have assured the public that the situation is now under control and that steps…