Author: WAJ Editor

Ghana has awarded indefinite residence permits to around 500 Ivorian refugees, highlighting the country’s continued commitment to humanitarian support and regional cooperation. The permits were officially handed over during a ceremony attended by key government and diplomatic officials. Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, warned recipients that the permits could be revoked if national laws are not respected, urging them to fully comply with Ghana’s legal framework. “This initiative reflects Ghana’s longstanding dedication to providing a safe and dignified environment for refugees and asylum seekers,” the minister said. Ivorian Ambassador to Ghana, Assiélou Félix Tanon, expressed deep gratitude to…

Sudan’s military announced on Tuesday that it is nearing full control of Khartoum State, as it intensifies its operations against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Military spokesperson Nabil Abdullah stated that army units are advancing in the south and west of Omdurman and are actively clearing the Salha area and its surroundings. “Our forces continue to crush the RSF militia… and we are close to clearing the entire state of Khartoum,” he said. The RSF has not yet issued a response to the army’s latest claims. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has plunged Sudan into a prolonged…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the end of the type 1 polio outbreak in Madagascar, marking a major step forward in the country’s public health efforts. In a statement released on Tuesday, WHO confirmed that no new cases of variant type 1 poliovirus have been reported since September 2023. At its peak that month, the outbreak had recorded 287 cases, including 45 cases of acute flaccid paralysis, 44 identified in communities, and 198 detected through wastewater surveillance. “The progress made in recent years in the immunization and eradication of polio is a hopeful sign,” said Madagascar’s First…

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea in its territorial dispute with neighboring Gabon over three oil-rich islands in the Gulf of Guinea, ending a decades-long disagreement between the two West African nations. In a judgment delivered by the United Nations’ highest judicial body, the 15-judge panel determined that a 1900 treaty between colonial powers Spain and France remains the binding legal instrument governing the ownership of the islands. The ruling effectively grants sovereignty over the territories—including the largest island, Mbanie—to Equatorial Guinea. The two countries took the case to the ICJ in 2021…

France has introduced new visa restrictions on Algerian diplomatic and service passport holders, escalating tensions between Paris and Algiers following a recent diplomatic fallout. According to French government sources, all Algerian nationals holding diplomatic or service passports are now required to present a valid Schengen visa to enter French territory. The move marks a shift in long-standing protocols and takes immediate effect. The directive, issued by the General Directorate of the National Police, instructs border authorities to enforce the new rule strictly. Any Algerian diplomat arriving at the French border without the required visa will be denied entry and subject…

Zimbabwe and Namibia are deepening bilateral cooperation with renewed focus on the strategic development of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, calling on the private sector to take a leading role in regional infrastructure and trade facilitation. Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, accompanied by First Gentleman Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, paid a courtesy visit to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare on Tuesday. The meeting aimed to solidify growing ties between the two nations. Following their closed-door talks, President Mnangagwa praised the enduring partnership between Harare and Windhoek, emphasizing the importance of enhanced collaboration. “We had fruitful discussions reaffirming the strong…

An Egyptian military training aircraft crashed on Monday during an air force exercise, resulting in the death of its crew, the country’s military confirmed. According to a statement by military spokesperson Gharib Abdel Hafez, the crash occurred in a designated training area and was caused by a technical malfunction. No additional details were released regarding the number of personnel on board, the exact location of the incident, or the type of aircraft involved. Egypt’s air force maintains a fleet that includes aircraft from France, Russia, and the United States. This is not the first such incident in recent years. In…

Somalia has kicked off a nationwide vaccination campaign aimed at protecting over 3 million children under the age of five from measles, polio, and pneumonia. The week-long initiative, launched on Monday, is being carried out in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Somalia’s federal and regional governments. According to the WHO, the campaign seeks to shield vulnerable children and communities from life-threatening but preventable diseases. The Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) is providing support for the drive, which targets 3.1 million children across the country. Despite progress, including the absence of reported poliovirus cases since 2014 and Africa’s official polio-free…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will arrive in the United States for a high-stakes state visit aimed at repairing strained diplomatic ties with President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday. The visit, which will include a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, is being described by Pretoria as an effort to “reset” the strategic relationship between the two nations. The trip follows a series of flashpoints in US-South Africa relations, including Washington’s recent acceptance of 59 white South Africans as refugees, a move the Trump administration justified by claiming they were victims of racial persecution and “genocide.” The South African…

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a \$304 million loan to Botswana to help address growing fiscal pressures and support key economic reforms amid declining diamond revenues. The loan, approved by the AfDB Board of Directors on 14 May, will fund the Governance and Economic Resilience Support Programme (GERSP), a one-year budget support initiative for the 2025/26 fiscal year. Moono Mupotola, the AfDB’s Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, said the loan comes at a pivotal moment as Botswana contends with financial strain. “We will work with the new administration to implement reforms that promote fiscal sustainability, enhance transparency,…

Rwandan authorities on Monday welcomed 796 nationals who were repatriated from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they had been held for years by the FDLR militia. The group, largely composed of women and children, arrived at the Grande Barrière border crossing in Rubavu District. Their return was facilitated by the M23/AFC rebels, who have recently taken control of parts of North and South Kivu provinces in eastern DRC. This marks the second such group to return, following the repatriation of 360 Rwandans over the weekend. According to officials overseeing the reintegration process, the returnees had been living under…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has nominated Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi of the United Republic of Tanzania as the next Regional Director for its African Region, following a special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Geneva ahead of the upcoming World Health Assembly. The extraordinary session was convened in response to the sudden passing of Regional Director-elect Dr. Faustine Ndugulile in November 2024. Prof. Janabi emerged as the nominee among four candidates, including Dr. N’da Konan Michel Yao (Côte d’Ivoire), Dr. Mohammed Dramé (Guinea), and Prof. Moustafa Mijiyawa (Togo). His nomination will be submitted to the…

Tanzanian opposition leader and former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu appeared in court on Monday to face treason charges, urging his supporters to remain courageous in the face of mounting political tensions. Lissu, who represents the opposition Chadema party, raised his fist and flashed victory signs as he entered the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam. Supporters gathered outside chanted slogans including “No Reforms, No Election,” in a show of defiance. “We will be fine. You should not fear,” Lissu told his followers from the dock. The court appearance marks Lissu’s first since his April 24 refusal to attend…

Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister, has claimed she was deported from Tanzania on Saturday, allegedly to block her from attending a high-profile court hearing involving Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. According to her recently formed People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Karua and two of her colleagues—fellow Kenyan lawyer Gloria Kimani and human rights activist Lynn Ngugi—were detained upon arrival and subjected to hours of interrogation before being forced to return to Kenya. Tanzanian authorities have yet to issue a statement on the matter. Karua had traveled to observe the court proceedings of Tundu Lissu, leader of…

Senior officials under U.S. President Donald Trump are reportedly advancing a controversial proposal to relocate as many as 1 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya, according to an NBC News report released Friday. Citing five sources familiar with the discussions, the report states that the plan aims to resettle nearly half of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents in the North African country. Two of those sources indicated that the proposal has progressed to the point of being discussed directly with Libyan authorities. According to three of the individuals cited, the U.S. has offered to unfreeze billions of dollars in…

The United Nations has announced significant reductions in its humanitarian aid operations in Somalia and Yemen, citing a major decline in financial support from member states — a move that could endanger millions of lives globally. Speaking on Friday, UN officials said the scale-back is part of broader adjustments to humanitarian priorities due to shrinking donor contributions. Similar measures have recently been adopted for relief efforts in Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Yemen, the UN initially appealed for $2.4 billion to assist 10.5 million people in 2025 — already well below the 19.5 million individuals identified as…