Author: WAJ Editor

Several African heads of state joined Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday for a grand military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The Victory Day celebrations, held on Red Square, featured a large-scale display of military hardware, including new-generation tanks and Russian-made drones. Leaders from 27 countries, including African and global counterparts, gathered to observe the event, which holds deep historical significance in Russia. Among the African leaders present were Burkina Faso’s transitional president Ibrahim Traoré, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Equatorial Guinea’s President…

Small-scale fishers and coastal communities from South Africa’s Northern and Western Cape regions have joined civil society organisations in a landmark legal challenge against offshore oil and gas exploration. The case, brought by The Green Connection and Natural Justice, is being heard at the Western Cape High Court this week and targets the environmental authorisation granted to TotalEnergies in 2023 for drilling operations in Block 5/6/7 — a marine area vital to local livelihoods. The applicants are seeking a judicial review of the authorisation, arguing that it poses a severe threat to marine ecosystems and the fishing-based way of life…

Sierra Leone is grappling with a sharp rise in mpox infections, prompting the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to place the country among the continent’s most affected, just months after it reported its first cases in January. At a press briefing, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, head of Africa CDC’s mpox response, noted that while countries like Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are seeing a decline in cases, Sierra Leone’s outbreak is escalating dramatically. “We’ve started seeing some light at the end of the tunnel in other countries, but Sierra Leone is now…

Algeria’s Interior Minister Brahim Merad declared on Thursday that France will eventually acknowledge the crimes it committed during its colonial rule in Algeria, describing such recognition as “inevitable.” Speaking at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the May 8, 1945 massacres—where French colonial forces killed an estimated 45,000 Algerians demanding independence—Merad emphasized growing awareness in France about the brutality of its colonial past. “Philanthropists in France now recognize that the crimes committed during France’s colonization of Algeria, particularly during the revolution from 1954 to 1962, were unparalleled globally,” he said. The massacres, which followed Algerian support for France during…

Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue has confirmed that discussions are underway with the United States regarding the potential acceptance of African migrants deported from American territory. While no final agreement has been reached, Mangue indicated a willingness to consider such a deal under specific conditions. “There was a conversation where the United States expressed its intentions, but no conclusion was reached,” Mangue posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He noted that any potential agreement would hinge on the US providing financial support, including covering housing and living expenses for deportees and investing in reintegration initiatives. Mangue…

Kenyan President William Ruto has nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), filling a critical leadership gap in the country’s electoral body. Ethekon, who is set to succeed the late Wafula Chebukati, was among two shortlisted candidates recommended for the chairmanship. Chebukati served as IEBC chair from January 2017 to January 2023 and passed away in February 2025 at the age of 63. In addition to the chairperson, President Ruto also nominated six individuals to serve as commissioners: Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis…

United Nations experts have strongly urged Mali’s transitional government to immediately lift its suspension of political party activities, calling the move a violation of fundamental human rights. The appeal follows the military-led government’s decision on Wednesday to halt all political party operations “until further notice,” citing public order concerns amid growing opposition protests. In a joint statement, three independent UN experts condemned the suspension, warning that it restricts Malian citizens’ right to political participation, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly. “This decree must be immediately repealed,” they declared. The experts also criticized a newly adopted bill that repeals protections for…

Algeria has officially begun allowing investors to convert their usufruct rights into full ownership of commercial land, a move aimed at boosting the value and use of state-owned property. The Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI) announced that applications for this conversion are now being processed through decentralized one-stop shops, designed to speed up procedures and improve service efficiency. This new initiative falls under the framework of Law No. 23-17, enacted on November 15, 2023, which governs the management and transfer of commercial land from the state’s private domain to investors. Investors are required to submit key documents, including the original…

The Nuer are one of the largest ethnic groups in South Sudan, primarily residing in the Greater Upper Nile region. Known for their rich pastoralist traditions, cattle-based economy, and deep cultural heritage, the Nuer have historically played a central role in the country’s social and political landscape. However, since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, the Nuer community has been at the center of a national crisis marked by ethnic tensions and violent conflict. The civil war that erupted in December 2013, following political disputes between President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, and former Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer, quickly…

Zimbabwe is poised to unlock the potential of its fisheries sector with the introduction of its first Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, a move expected to drive the industry toward a projected \$1 billion valuation. Developed under the FISH4ACP programme, an international initiative supporting sustainable aquatic value chains, the draft legislation sets a solid legal framework to regulate the industry, encourage responsible practices, and attract new investments. The bill is the result of wide-ranging consultations led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, in collaboration with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Financial backing…

Imam Abdullah Haron was a prominent South African Muslim cleric and anti-apartheid activist who played a vital role in the struggle for justice and equality. Born in 1924 in Cape Town, he used his position as a religious leader to speak out against racial segregation and oppression under apartheid. Through his sermons, community work, and writings, Imam Haron promoted unity, human dignity, and non-violence. He supported families affected by apartheid laws and built alliances across religious and racial lines. His activism made him a target of the apartheid regime, and he died in police custody in 1969 under suspicious circumstances.…

Zimbabwe and Mozambique have taken a significant step in deepening bilateral relations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing collaboration in the energy sector. The agreement, signed Thursday by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Energy and Power Development, July Moyo, and Mozambique’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Estavao Pale, outlines joint efforts in electricity, petroleum, and renewable energy development. It also seeks to boost trade and investment across the entire energy value chain. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Moyo emphasized Zimbabwe’s commitment to the partnership, noting the countries’ long-standing cooperation and the need to strengthen collaboration in energy…

The United States has suspended \$50 million in health assistance to Zambia, citing the government’s failure to curb what it described as the “systematic theft” of donated medical supplies intended for vulnerable patients. US Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales said the move was “difficult” but unavoidable, following repeated warnings to authorities in Lusaka. He emphasized that the US would no longer support a system where corrupt actors profit while ordinary citizens struggle to access life-saving medication. “We are no longer willing to underwrite the personal enrichment of fraudsters or the corrupt,” Gonzales stated. “Zambian patients continue to go without essential…

Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has named Ingenesia Inge Zaamwani as the new Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, following the dismissal of her predecessor, Mac-Albert Hengari, who is facing serious criminal charges. The appointment, announced on Wednesday, comes as Nandi-Ndaitwah moves to restore stability in a key ministry. The presidency praised Zaamwani’s extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, highlighting her previous roles as Managing Director of Namdeb, Chairperson of First National Bank of Namibia, and Special Advisor to the President on Constitutional Affairs and Private Sector Interface. In a statement, the presidency said Zaamwani’s leadership…

Libya’s Health Minister Ramadan Boujenah has been arrested along with four senior officials in connection with a corruption case involving the illegal import of cancer treatment drugs from Iraq, according to a statement from the prosecutor general’s office on Wednesday. The arrests were made after the officials, part of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), were found to have violated import regulations by procuring cancer medication from an Iraqi pharmaceutical facility without adhering to legal, financial, and technical standards required in public procurement. The scandal has ignited public outrage across Libya, where government-funded cancer treatment options are limited and…

Amid ongoing geopolitical shifts in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) received Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Somaliland, Teshome Shunde Hamito, in Hargeisa on Tuesday, reaffirming close ties between the two governments. The high-level meeting, attended by Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdirahman Dahir Adan, focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and easing cross-border mobility. Both sides emphasized the need for continued dialogue and pledged to deepen their diplomatic engagement. According to regional media outlet Horn Diplomat, the discussions are part of a broader push by President Irro to raise Somaliland’s international standing through assertive foreign…