Author: WAJ Editor

South Africa has announced plans to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States in a proposed trade agreement valued at approximately \$1 billion (R17.9 billion) annually. The move comes in the wake of tense but pivotal talks between Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump aimed at repairing strained relations and safeguarding crucial trade ties. In a column published in the Sunday Times, South African cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni revealed that, under the tentative terms of the deal, South Africa would purchase LNG from the U.S. over a 10-year period. In return, South African automotive exports—up to 40,000 vehicles…

Kenyan government has unveiled a major initiative aimed at revitalising coffee farming in Western Kenya, with a distribution of 400,000 free robusta coffee seedlings to farmers in Busia County. Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSME Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, announced the move during an engagement with local farmers at the Busia Agricultural Training Centre. He said the initiative is part of broader efforts to revive Kenya’s coffee sector, which has seen a steady decline since the 1990s. Oparanya underscored the need to restore Kenya’s global competitiveness in coffee production, citing the country’s 2024 output of 51,000 metric tonnes—far below Ethiopia’s 400,000…

The Ghanaian government has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, D.C., following the discovery of a long-running visa fraud scheme allegedly orchestrated by a local staff member. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced on Monday that Fred Kwarteng, an IT officer hired in 2017, was dismissed after an internal investigation revealed he had illegally rerouted visa and passport applicants to a private website linked to his own company. According to Ablakwa, Kwarteng and his associates charged applicants between \$29.75 and \$60 in unauthorized fees, which were deposited into his personal account. The fraudulent scheme is believed to have operated undetected…

The African Union (AU) has renewed calls for unity, justice, and development across the continent as it marked Africa Day 2025. In a statement on Sunday, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Youssouf, urged Africans to break free from the chains of conflict, underdevelopment, and war. Reflecting on Africa’s historical struggles and achievements, Youssouf emphasized the need for collective progress and bold action toward a just and prosperous future. He highlighted this year’s theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” as a tribute to those who endured slavery and colonialism, while also asserting the right…

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has firmly dismissed recent media reports suggesting that soldiers returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were forced to hand over their weapons while transiting through Rwanda. The allegations were published by City Press on Sunday, claiming that SANDF troops withdrawing from the eastern DRC were disarmed and left vulnerable during their return journey. According to the article, logistical delays had left some soldiers stranded without transport and barred from carrying firearms across borders. In response, SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala refuted the claims, emphasizing that the withdrawal process is being carried out…

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has renewed his call for deeper Pan-African unity and inclusive development as the continent commemorates Africa Freedom Day, marking 62 years since the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity. In a message shared on Sunday, President Hichilema emphasized the need for peace and cooperation across the continent, warning that instability in any part of Africa threatens progress as a whole. “We must silence the guns and invest in peace,” he stated. “Instability anywhere on the continent is instability everywhere. Africa cannot afford to be divided by conflict when the dream of unity and prosperity is…

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has pledged to continue using a controversial anti-apartheid chant that drew attention during a recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The chant featured in a four-minute video presented by Trump during bilateral talks in Washington on Wednesday. The U.S. president used the footage to bolster his claims of a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa. The video included several clips of Malema, donning the signature red beret of his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, chanting slogans such as “cut the throat of whiteness” and the song “Kill…

Niger has requested that Chinese oil companies reduce their expatriate workforce, particularly those who have been stationed in the country for more than four years, as part of a broader effort to gain greater control over its natural resources and boost local employment. According to official letters, Oil Minister Sahabi Oumarou instructed the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and its local refinery partner SORAZ to begin terminating the contracts of long-serving foreign employees. The directive could impact dozens of workers and further strain ties between Niamey and Beijing. While a May 21 letter to SORAZ hinted at some flexibility, allowing…

The Nigerian military announced on Friday that it had killed 16 Boko Haram militants during a nighttime operation in the northeastern state of Borno. According to a statement by army spokesperson Major Onyechi Anele, troops engaged the insurgents with sustained indirect fire around 1:00 a.m. in Damboa Local Government Area. The operation, which also involved air support, was launched after a Brigade came under attack. Anele confirmed that an ammunition depot was struck during the exchange but said the situation was swiftly contained with no further escalation. Boko Haram, a long-standing terror group based in Nigeria’s northeast, continues to pose…

A Ugandan court has denied bail to opposition figure Kizza Besigye, despite surpassing the country’s legal 180-day limit for detention without trial. Besigye, a 69-year-old veteran opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate, was abducted in Kenya last November by armed men and later appeared before a military court in Uganda on treason charges—an offense that carries a potential death sentence. Although his case was transferred to a civilian court in February after a hunger strike, lawmakers passed new legislation earlier this week allowing civilians to be tried in military courts, raising concerns over due process. In Friday’s hearing, Magistrate Esther…

The United Nations (UN) has raised alarm over escalating violence in South Sudan, warning of a worsening human rights situation marked by increased hostilities, arbitrary detentions, and growing hate speech since February. According to the UN human rights office (OHCHR), at least 75 civilians have been killed in clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), along with their respective allied armed groups. Thousands have reportedly been forced to flee their homes, particularly in Upper Nile and Jonglei states. Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on all parties…

South Africa’s government has unveiled draft policy changes that could ease entry for Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink, among other foreign telecommunications firms, by relaxing strict local ownership requirements. Currently, the Electronic Communications Act mandates that foreign-owned communications providers allocate at least 30% of equity in their South African subsidiaries to historically disadvantaged groups. This has been a major hurdle for companies like Starlink, which cited the requirement as a significant barrier to entering the local market. In response, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi is proposing the adoption of “equity equivalent” investment schemes in the information and communication technology (ICT)…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reported that Comoros faced significant economic challenges in 2024, citing falling exports and imports, as well as limited credit availability in the private sector, as key factors behind the country’s sluggish performance. In a statement following a recent mission to Moroni between April 29 and May 13, IMF officials said the Arab-African island nation’s economic activity declined more than expected. Contributing factors included weak trade flows, underperforming tax revenues, and difficulties in the financial sector. Despite the slowdown, external remittances and project-related subsidies helped stabilize the economy, keeping the current account deficit at 2.2%…

A Ugandan human rights activist, Agather Atuhaire has accused Tanzanian authorities of torture following her arrest and forced deportation, sparking widespread condemnation from East African rights groups. Agather Atuhaire, a journalist and activist who recently received the International Women of Courage Award, was reportedly arrested after attending a treason trial in Tanzania in support of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. She had traveled alongside Kenyan anti-corruption activist Boniface Mwangi, who was also detained. According to Ugandan NGO Agora Discourse, Atuhaire was abandoned at the border by Tanzanian officials showing signs of physical abuse. “We are relieved she has been found,” said…

European Union institutions have reached a provisional agreement to provide Egypt with €4 billion in macro-financial assistance (MFA), marking a significant step in a broader €5 billion support package proposed by the European Commission in March 2024. The deal was struck between the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission, and now awaits formal adoption by both legislative bodies by the end of June. The funds, aimed at supporting Egypt’s economic and fiscal stability, will be disbursed in multiple instalments. This €4 billion tranche is the second phase of the EU’s broader financial commitment to Egypt. The first phase,…

Jomo Kenyatta, born around 1897 in British East Africa, rose from humble beginnings to become the founding father of independent Kenya. Early exposure to colonial structures and missionary influence shaped his worldview. He joined the Kikuyu Central Association in the 1920s, advocating for land rights, and later traveled to Britain where he studied, engaged with anti-colonial thinkers, and published Facing Mount Kenya (1938), defending African traditions. After returning to Kenya in 1946, Kenyatta led the Kenya African Union (KAU) and became a key figure in the nationalist movement. Though denied involvement, he was imprisoned during the Mau Mau Uprising. Upon…