Author: WAJ Editor

Chadian opposition leader and former Prime Minister Succes Masra has announced that he has begun a hunger strike after spending more than a month in detention. Masra, who was arrested on May 16, 2025, made the statement in a letter to his supporters, condemning what he described as “undeserved injustices.” “Starting tonight, I will begin a hunger strike in solidarity with all of you and in protest against undeserved injustices,” his statement was shared publicly by members of his political party, Transformers. Masra also expressed confusion about the reasons behind his continued detention, saying, “I have been here for 40…

Rwandan President Paul Kagame made a public appearance on Tuesday, dispelling widespread speculation about his health after a long period out of the public eye. Kagame, 67, met with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Kigali, according to photos shared by the presidency. The meeting follows weeks of online speculation and rumours that the president was seriously ill, a claim his office has strongly denied. The Rwandan leader has not been seen in public since June 6, raising concerns given his usually visible and active involvement in national and international affairs. His sudden silence has led to a series of…

As Kenya braced for nationwide protests on Wednesday, a group of stick-wielding men vowed to defend Nairobi’s city centre, raising fears of renewed violence on the streets. The group, made up of young men like Swaleh Aroko, 34, from the Korogocho slum, has been a frequent figure in recent demonstrations sparked by the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody. Reuters journalists observed the men armed with sticks and rubber whips advancing alongside police officers and beating unarmed protesters in the capital over the past two weeks. The group’s emergence has drawn fierce criticism from rights groups,…

The United Nation’s top official in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, has announced plans to present a new political roadmap aimed at ending the country’s long transition period. Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, Tetteh said the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) would present a “time-bound and politically pragmatic” strategy that aligns with the Libyan people’s growing demands for tangible political progress. “I call on all parties to act in good faith and be ready to build consensus around this roadmap,” she said, stressing the need for national cooperation. Tetteh also warned that Libya was once again at a dangerous…

Senegal’s Ministry of Finance and Budget has released its latest fiscal reports, following a strong fiscal performance in 2024, in which the country takes a more measured approach in early 2025 to overcome ongoing economic challenges. The newly released budget implementation reports for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 show that government revenues reached a record level of CFA4,005.21 billion in 2024. This figure exceeded the estimates in the Amended Finance Law by almost 4 percent, driven by a significant increase in tax revenues of CFA176.13 billion. While non-tax revenues saw a slight decrease, capital…

South Africa has launched a national livestock vaccination campaign in response to the escalating outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that has affected one of the country’s major cattle producers and is disrupting the wider meat industry. The campaign was officially launched on Monday at Karan Beef in Gauteng, one of South Africa’s largest cattle producers. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen announced that vaccinations were being carried out at the feedlot level for the first time. “This is a critical step in containing the outbreak,” Steenhuisen said. “Karan Beef represents around 30% of the sector and the outbreak has caused operations…

Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin Archange Touadéra has undergone routine medical examinations in Brussels, according to a statement from the presidency, dismissing reports of an emergency hospitalization. Presidency spokesperson Maxime Balalou told reporters on Monday that the 68-year-old president traveled to Belgium for standard health checks ahead of his scheduled participation in the Gavi vaccine alliance summit. “He went for what we call a check-up — routine medical tests,” Balalou said, adding that speculation suggesting the president was seriously ill is unfounded. “There have been many rumors about the president’s health, but he is in very good condition,” Balalou…

More than 40 people, including children and medical staff, were killed over the weekend in an attack on a hospital in Sudan, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Saturday at Al Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan, an area located near active fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to sources. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the attack and called for an immediate end to violence targeting health facilities. He did not specify which side was responsible for the strike. Sudan has been gripped…

The United States (U.S.) Supreme Court ruled on June 23 that the federal government can temporarily proceed with deporting immigrants to “third countries” — nations they are not originally from — including Libya, South Sudan, and El Salvador. The decision suspends a lower court ruling from April 2025 that had blocked such deportations. In a 6–3 emergency decision, the Court did not provide a detailed legal explanation. The three liberal justices — Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson — dissented, warning that the ruling could expose thousands of people to violence in unstable regions with poor human rights…

The Cairo Opera House honored the enduring legacy of Abdel-Moneim Kamel, a prominent figure in Egyptian ballet, with two gala performances on June 19 and 20, 2025. Titled Legendary Ballet Dancer, the tribute celebrated Kamel’s life and artistic achievements as a dancer, choreographer and former head of the Opera House. The performances featured dancers from the Cairo Opera Ballet Company and musicians from the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by conductor Mohamed Saad Basha. The program featured iconic sections from ballets that Kamel introduced to Egyptian audiences, including Swan Lake, The Pirate, Don Quixote, Giselle and Omar Khayrat’s The Nile. The…

Local residents and security sources reported on Monday that suspected rebels killed dozens of civilians in a deadly attack in southwestern Niger, close to the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali. The attack took place in the village of Manda, where Muslim worshippers were on their way to Friday prayers. Locals said the number of victims was likely in the dozens, but authorities have not yet confirmed an official death toll. “We estimate the number of dead to be in the dozens,” one resident told AFP on condition of anonymity. Another said the death toll was “heavy”, with official figures…

The Somali National Army, in coordination with local militia groups, killed at least 20 Al-Shabaab militants after an attack on military positions in the central Hiraan region, the Defense Ministry said late Sunday. A few more militants fled the scene and follow-up operations are still ongoing, according to the ministry’s statement on X. “The Defense Ministry is committed to protecting Somalia and eliminating the threat from Al-Shabaab,” the statement said. The clashes took place in Hiraan, a key point in the ongoing fight against the Al-Qaeda-linked group since renewed military efforts began in 2022. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack…

Niger’s main mineworkers union has vowed to resume uranium production at the Somair mine after the military government announced it would fully nationalize the site amid ongoing tensions with French nuclear company Orano. The National Union of Miners of Niger (SYNTRAMIN) said it supported what it called a “sovereign decision” by the government, which took control of the Somair mine in December. Last week, authorities formally announced plans to nationalize the operation, accusing Orano of demanding an unfair share of the mine’s output. “The benefits of this strategic resource have not been shared equitably with the people of Niger for…

According to a statement made by the Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry on social media platform X, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted Somalia’s Ports and Maritime Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur in Ankara on Monday. The ministry did not disclose further details about the content or outcome of the meeting.

Kenyan prosecutors have approved murder charges against six people, including three police officers, in connection with the death of political blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody earlier this month. Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and vocal online commentator, died shortly after being detained at a Nairobi police station. His arrest followed a complaint by Deputy National Police Chief Eliud Lagat, who alleged that Ojwang had shared defamatory content about him on social media. Initially, authorities claimed Ojwang committed suicide. However, that narrative changed after an autopsy revealed that he had suffered fatal injuries as a result of physical assault. The…

Rising global gold prices, now above $3,300 an ounce, are driving a surge in illegal mining across West Africa and prompting mining companies to adopt high-tech surveillance measures, including deploying drones, to protect their concessions. At Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mine in southwestern Ghana, drones equipped with cameras are launched daily to monitor a 210 square kilometre area for unauthorised mining activity. In a recent operation, a drone led security forces to an area showing signs of illegal digging, including contaminated water and makeshift mining equipment. Authorities seized the equipment and dismantled the site. This scenario is increasingly common across West…