Author: WAJ Editor

Desmond Mpilo Tutu, born in 1931 in South Africa, rose from a humble background to become a globally respected moral and spiritual leader. Initially intending to become a teacher, Tutu turned to the Anglican priesthood after battling tuberculosis. Ordained in 1961, he later earned a Master of Theology from King’s College in London. His religious platform became a powerful voice against apartheid. As Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral and later General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, he led peaceful resistance against the regime, calling for international sanctions and advocating nonviolence inspired by Christian teachings and Gandhi. Awarded…

Sudan has forcefully rejected newly announced U.S. sanctions, accusing Washington of exploiting baseless chemical weapons allegations to exert political pressure. In a statement issued Friday, Sudan’s Information Minister Khalid Al-Ayasir denounced the U.S. decision as an act of “political blackmail” and claimed it was part of a broader campaign to distort the reality of the conflict within the country. Al-Ayasir, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson, insisted that the allegations lacked credible evidence and were intended to undermine Sudan’s recent efforts toward peace and stability. The U.S. announced on Thursday that it would impose sanctions on Sudan, citing findings…

A Kenyan court has convicted two men for assisting al-Qaeda-linked militants in carrying out a deadly terrorist attack on a hotel and office complex in Nairobi in 2019, which left 21 people dead. Delivering the verdict on Thursday, Judge Diana Mochache found Hussein Mohammed Abdile and Mohamed Abdi Ali guilty of providing logistical and financial support to the attackers. The two were arrested months after the assault and had pleaded not guilty to the terrorism-related charges. The attack occurred in January 2019 when gunmen stormed the DusitD2 hotel and business complex in Nairobi, engaging security forces in a siege that…

Sudan is witnessing a sharp rise in cholera infections, with over 2,300 cases recorded in the past three weeks—90% of them in the capital Khartoum and its surrounding areas—amid ongoing conflict and infrastructure breakdown. According to Sudan’s Ministry of Health, at least 51 people have died from the outbreak, which has been concentrated in Karari and Jabal Awlia localities in greater Khartoum. Authorities say the spread of the disease has been accelerated by drone attacks that have knocked out electricity and water infrastructure. The nearly two-year conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated…

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest for a second term in the 2027 presidential election. The endorsement was announced on Thursday during a summit in Abuja, coinciding with the second anniversary of Tinubu’s presidency. The 73-year-old leader secured victory in the 2023 presidential race, despite legal challenges from opposition candidates who alleged electoral malpractice. Tinubu has consistently maintained that his win was legitimate. APC leaders praised Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, citing the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange rate as key steps in reviving Nigeria’s economy.…

Ethiopian authorities have arrested four suspected members of the Dassanech militia believed to be behind the recent killing of four Kenyan fishermen near the volatile Todonyang border area, officials confirmed Thursday. The suspects were apprehended in a security operation along the River Omo and are currently being held at Omorate Police Station in Ethiopia’s South Omo region. The fishermen were attacked while sleeping on the shores of Lake Turkana, just a short distance from a Kenyan security outpost. The assailants reportedly fled into Ethiopia, escaping with firearms taken from the victims. Omorate Woreda administrator Tadale Hate said the suspects surrendered…

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has been released by Tanzanian authorities after his arrest earlier this week in Dar es Salaam, where he had attempted to attend a high-profile treason hearing for Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed on Thursday that Mwangi had safely returned to Kenya and was received in Kwale County, in the country’s southeast. Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi also confirmed the release. Mwangi was detained on Monday after attempting to observe Lissu’s court appearance, a case that has drawn international attention amid accusations of political repression in Tanzania. Lissu,…

A video shown by former U.S. President Donald Trump during a high-level meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reignited controversy, featuring prominent opposition leader Julius Malema in what observers say was a misrepresentation of South African politics. The 4-minute clip, played during a tense Oval Office meeting, portrayed Malema — leader of the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) — as a government official calling for violence against white farmers. The footage included scenes of Malema wearing his party’s trademark red beret and chanting the liberation-era slogan, “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer.” Trump used the video to bolster…

The number of migrants in Libya has reached 858,604, according to the latest report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), covering the period from January to February 2025. The data, released through IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), reflects a continuing rise in migration to Libya, up from 824,131 at the end of 2024. The report highlights the growing complexities surrounding migration in the country, with individuals from 46 nationalities now present. Men account for 78% of the migrant population, while women and children make up the remaining 22%. Most migrants originate from four countries: Sudan (31%), Niger (22%), Egypt…

A coalition of political parties in Mali has filed a series of legal appeals contesting a recent ban imposed by the ruling military government on all political activity. In a statement shared on Wednesday, the opposition groups confirmed they had lodged petitions with six high courts in the capital, Bamako, as well as with the administrative chamber of the Supreme Court. The appeals aim to overturn a presidential decree that dissolved all political parties and civil society organizations earlier this month. The decree, issued by the military leadership under General Assimi Goita, also prohibits political meetings. The parties argue that…

The Sudanese army announced on Thursday that it has discovered multiple mass graves in the Salha neighborhood of Omdurman, where hundreds of civilians allegedly died while being detained by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In an official statement, the military reported that 648 civilians were held in “horrific and inhumane conditions” inside a school. Of those, 465 perished and were buried in mass graves, with some graves reportedly containing more than 27 bodies each. The RSF has not responded publicly to the accusations. The discovery comes just days after the Sudanese military declared Khartoum fully cleared of RSF forces,…

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…