Author: WAJ Editor

Amid a surge in cholera cases across the continent, African health authorities are looking to lessons learned from the mpox outbreak to strengthen their response to the ongoing epidemic. Cholera has now affected 16 countries, with Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Sudan bearing the brunt of the crisis. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is promoting a coordinated response to cholera, inspired by the strategies used to contain mpox, which has shown signs of slowing down thanks to a continent-wide effort involving multiple health partners. UNICEF reports that between January 2024…

Côte d’Ivoire opposition leader Tidjane Thiam has called for an “inclusive, transparent, and credible” presidential election, despite being barred from contesting due to a legal dispute over his nationality. Speaking from Brussels, Thiam criticized the exclusion of presidential hopefuls, urging the West African nation to demonstrate political maturity by allowing fair competition. “The country must show it can ensure peaceful and democratic transitions, as seen in Senegal and Ghana,” he said. Thiam, head of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), was removed from the electoral list by an Abidjan court last month, which ruled he forfeited his Ivorian citizenship…

A dynamic new exhibition at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has brought together artists from Zimbabwe and Europe in a creative collaboration focused on climate change and sustainability. The initiative, described as a groundbreaking cultural exchange, features works that highlight the intersection of art, recycling, and environmental awareness. From sculptures made of repurposed materials to sustainable culinary presentations, the exhibition promotes innovative approaches to addressing global environmental challenges. “We’re proud to show how waste can be transformed into art,” said Italian designer Alessandra Nicola, known for her upcycled creations. “This platform allows us to share sustainable design with a wider…

Malian security forces have been accused of arresting and killing approximately 24 Fulani civilians in the central town of Diafarabe, a local activist told. According to the activist, the victims were rounded up at a livestock market on Monday, transported by canoe to a remote island on the Niger River, and executed—some reportedly having their throats slit—before being buried in a mass grave. The source, who is affiliated with Tabital Pulaaku, a group representing the Fulani community, asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. Women from Diafarabe staged a rare public protest on Wednesday, demanding answers about the fate…

Former Gabonese President Ali Bongo, who was ousted in a 2023 military coup, has left Gabon for Angola along with his wife Sylvia and son Noureddin, according to a statement from Angola’s presidency posted on Facebook. The move follows the transfer of Sylvia, 62, and Noureddin, 33, from prison to house arrest on May 9. They had been detained shortly after the August 2023 coup and faced charges including embezzlement and money laundering. Two sources told Reuters the family departed Gabon late Thursday night. Ali Bongo, 66, was initially placed under house arrest following the coup, though authorities later claimed…

Muhammad Ali Pasha (1769–1849) was born in Kavala, a port town in present-day Greece, then part of the Ottoman Empire, on March 4, 1769. He was of Albanian descent, the son of Ibrahim Agha, a minor Ottoman official who served as a commander of local military forces. His mother died early in his life, and he was raised by his uncle. Though not from a prominent family, Muhammad Ali acquired local influence through military service and marriage into a wealthy merchant family. He had little formal education, but he developed strong leadership skills, political cunning, and an acute understanding of…

Malawi’s energy sector is set for a major boost following the World Bank’s approval of a \$350 million grant to support the Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project (MHSP), the country’s most ambitious energy initiative to date. The funding, provided through the International Development Association (IDA), will contribute to the development of a 358.5-megawatt hydropower facility on the Shire River. Once completed, MHSP is expected to generate 1,544 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy annually—enough to power over one million homes and significantly enhance national grid reliability. Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola welcomed the development, calling the project “the most cost-effective solution to meet Malawi’s…

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has raised the alarm over the deteriorating state of South Sudan’s healthcare system, warning that it is on the verge of collapse due to escalating violence and widespread displacement. Speaking on Thursday, MSF officials said a surge in attacks on medical facilities, staff, and civilians is overwhelming already under-resourced health services. The violence, driven by renewed clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, has intensified across several regions. While much of the international focus has been on Upper Nile State, MSF reports that fighting is also spreading through Jonglei, Unity,…

South Sudan’s government has firmly rejected rumours circulating online that President Salva Kiir has died, calling the reports false and malicious. In a statement released Thursday, the foreign ministry said it “categorically and strongly denies the false and malicious reports circulating on social media claiming that His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit has passed away.” The statement condemned the posts as “entirely baseless and irresponsible rumours fabricated by enemies of peace, development, nation building and stability.” Speculation about the 73-year-old leader’s health resurfaced on social media late Wednesday, with several users, including a prominent Kenyan figure, falsely claiming the president…

A city in eastern Burkina Faso was the target of a large-scale attack by suspected insurgents earlier this week, during which prisoners were freed, significant destruction was inflicted, and terrified residents were forced to remain indoors, local sources reported on Thursday. The assault on the city of Diapaga marks the second major insurgent operation in just two days, raising alarm in the West African nation, which has long struggled with armed militant activity. Although such violence is common in rural areas, urban assaults remain relatively rare. Eyewitnesses said that dozens of armed individuals arrived in Diapaga on motorcycles on Monday,…

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has inaugurated a rehabilitation and education center in Port Sudan to assist women and girls displaced by Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023. Part of Türkiye’s “Year of the Family” initiative, the “Safe Home” project was established in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development in Sudan’s Red Sea State and the Bit Makali National Association. It aims to provide psychological support and vocational training to women affected by sexual violence and forced marriages, particularly those from the war-torn regions of Khartoum, Gezira, and Sennar. The center was officially opened on…

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have accused Rwanda’s military and its allied rebel group, M23, of carrying out widespread atrocities in the country’s eastern region, including the killing of more than 100 people and the abduction of thousands. In a statement released Wednesday, Congo’s interior ministry alleged that between May 10 and 13, civilians in eastern Congo were targeted by M23 fighters, who accused them of being affiliated with the Congolese army and its allied militias. The reported crimes include summary executions, mass kidnappings, sexual violence, torture, and looting. The ministry said that at least 107 people were…

Tanzanian government has introduced a new strategic plan aimed at increasing food self-sufficiency within the country’s prison system. The Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025/26–2029/30) will focus on expanding irrigation farming as a key driver of agricultural productivity across correctional facilities. Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Daniel Sillo, announced the initiative in Parliament during the Questions and Answers session on Wednesday. He was responding to a query from Lulindi MP Issa Mchungahela, who asked about measures being taken to reduce reliance on external food purchases and improve prisoner welfare. According to Mr Sillo, the Tanzania Prisons Service has already developed a framework…

Mauritania’s former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been handed a 15-year prison sentence by an appeals court, significantly increasing his original five-year term for corruption-related offenses. The court found Abdel Aziz guilty of abuse of office and illicit enrichment, confirming the seizure of his assets and stripping him of civic rights. The ruling marks a new chapter in the high-profile case against the former leader, who ruled the West African country from 2008 until 2019 after coming to power in a military coup. Aziz, 68, had appealed his earlier conviction, but the court upheld and expanded the charges, which…

A Zimbabwean court has granted bail to nearly 100 anti-government protesters who had been detained for over six weeks following a demonstration against President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The group was arrested on March 31 during a protest in Harare, organized by independence war veteran Blessed Geza, who accuses the president of attempting to extend his rule beyond the constitutional limit set for 2028. Protesters were charged with breaching the peace and promoting public violence — offenses that could lead to up to five years in prison. As part of their bail conditions, 89 of the detainees must report to the police…

France has announced the expulsion of several Algerian diplomats in a retaliatory move following Algeria’s decision to expel 15 French embassy staff earlier this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the response on Wednesday, describing it as “immediate, firm, and strictly proportionate.” Speaking to BFM TV, Barrot said the expelled individuals include all Algerian diplomatic personnel without valid visas. He did not specify the number of diplomats affected. The diplomatic row escalated after Algeria’s Foreign Ministry summoned the French charge d’affaires in Algiers on Monday, citing “serious breaches” of diplomatic protocol by French officials and ordering their immediate departure.…