Author: WAJ Editor

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.…

Mali’s media regulator has banned the French television channel TV5 Monde from broadcasting in the country, accusing it of spreading false and defamatory information about a recent protest in the capital, Bamako. In a statement released Tuesday, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) said the decision followed comments made by a TV5 Monde news anchor, who claimed that “hundreds of security forces were mobilized to prevent demonstrators from accessing” the Palais de la Culture during a May 3 rally. The regulator disputed this account, stating that security forces were deployed to ensure the safety of the protestors, not to block…

A ceasefire has been implemented across Tripoli after days of renewed armed clashes rocked the Libyan capital, the country’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday. According to a statement from the ministry, the ceasefire is part of a broader effort to protect civilians, maintain public order, and prevent further escalation. It confirmed that regular army units, in coordination with security agencies, have deployed neutral forces to key flashpoints across the city to uphold the truce and prevent renewed violence. The ministry urged all armed groups to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and avoid any actions that could reignite conflict. Witnesses reported…

Egypt has issued an urgent appeal for calm amid intensifying armed clashes in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, urging all factions to prioritise national interests and immediately halt hostilities. In a statement released on Wednesday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, warning that further escalation could plunge Libya into open conflict, threatening both civilian lives and the country’s fragile political institutions. “The continuation of these hostilities threatens not only the lives of civilians but also the unity and institutions of the Libyan state,” the ministry said, calling for restraint and a return to dialogue. Egypt…

The UK High Court has ruled in favor of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in a legal battle against the Republic of South Sudan, ordering the East African nation to repay US\$657 million in outstanding debts. The judgment, issued on May 8, enforces repayment of three loan agreements totaling US\$713 million, which were issued to support trade infrastructure and respond to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite some initial payments, South Sudan defaulted on the loans by 2023. Afreximbank brought the case before the UK court last year, also naming South Sudan’s central bank — a guarantor of…

Zimbabwe is set to host a major regional summit next week aimed at strengthening political commitment and investment in sustainable natural resource management across southern Africa. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) International Conference and Summit will take place from 19 to 23 May in Harare. The event will gather heads of state, traditional leaders, conservation experts, and international organisations to reinforce collaboration on biodiversity protection and eco-tourism development. Organisers say the summit will mark 25 years of cooperation under the TFCA framework, which promotes cross-border conservation initiatives vital for preserving ecosystems, supporting livelihoods, and fostering…