Author: WAJ Editor

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…

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…