Author: WAJ Editor

Mozambique’s Attorney General Americo Letela has publicly acknowledged the government’s inability to contain the surge in kidnappings, blaming the involvement of elements within the country’s police and judiciary for undermining efforts to curb the crime. Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Letela stated that organized criminal networks have infiltrated the justice system, with some police officers and magistrates playing active roles in planning and facilitating abductions. “These crimes are orchestrated by organized groups that penetrate institutions responsible for enforcing the law, making it difficult to combat them,” he said. Mozambique, along with South Africa, is among the countries worst affected by kidnapping-for-ransom…

Families of ten informal miners trapped underground in an abandoned gold mine in Krugersdorp since November 2024 are pleading for help, as authorities continue to deem the site too dangerous for rescue operations. The miners became trapped after an underground stream flooded the shaft and a tunnel collapsed, cutting them off from escape. Four others died during an earlier escape attempt, while three survived and managed to exit the mine. Survivor Nkosinathi Maisa, who escaped after days underground, suspects water may have been deliberately pumped into the shaft. Families, including that of 24-year-old Calton Vundla, have since reached out to…

The Malawian government is set to gazette a revised minimum wage on May 1, coinciding with International Labour Day, as workers press for a significant hike from the current K90,000 to K180,000. Labour Minister Peter Dimba confirmed that the review process is complete but withheld the final figure, citing protocol ahead of official publication. The proposed increase follows a Tripartite Labour Advisory Council (TLAC) meeting last week, where the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) advocated for a 100% raise, while the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) proposed a 40% increase to K126,000, citing inflation and economic strain. MCTU…

Ghana has signed a new agreement with nine additional gold mining companies to purchase 20% of their production, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s gold reserves and stabilizing the national currency. The deal is part of an ongoing initiative launched in 2022 to source gold directly for the Bank of Ghana. The central bank’s gold holdings have since risen significantly, from 8.77 metric tons in 2022 to 30.8 tons by February 2025, contributing to gross reserves of $9.4 billion. The new agreement, announced by the government body GoldBod, targets companies not previously included in the program, such as Golden…

Türkiye is set to begin production of its BAHA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Egypt under a licensing agreement between the two countries, according to a report by an Israeli military outlet. The partnership aims to boost Egypt’s intelligence-gathering capabilities with technology similar to that used by the Turkish military. The BAHA drone, developed by Turkish defense firm HAVELSAN, was officially inducted into the Turkish armed forces earlier this year. It features vertical takeoff and landing, hybrid propulsion, and a flight range of two to six hours depending on the model. Designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence missions, it also…

Nigeria has named Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar as the new commander of its counterinsurgency operations in the northeast, following a resurgence of militant violence that has claimed the lives of civilians and soldiers over the past four months. The appointment, confirmed in a statement by Operation spokesperson Reuben Kovangiya, makes Abubakar the 15th commander to lead the military’s battle against Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). Abubakar previously served as deputy commandant of the Nigerian Defence College and led key security operations in north-central Nigeria. The move comes amid a sharp uptick in attacks…

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has commenced the withdrawal of its peacekeeping forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with troops traveling through Rwanda en route to their home countries, according to diplomatic sources. The soldiers are moving overland via Rwanda’s Rusumo border to a designated area in Tanzania, where they will be airlifted back to their respective nations. Social media footage showed convoys of military vehicles, including tanks and personnel, departing Goma in North Kivu province and crossing into Rwanda under military escort. The withdrawal follows the March decision by SADC leaders to end the mandate of…

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced on Tuesday that he held a “productive meeting” with representatives from Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, as it explores potential entry into the East African market. Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, is swiftly expanding its services across Africa and is currently active in over a dozen countries. Earlier this month, it secured operating licenses in Somalia and Lesotho. “I appreciate their commitment to providing low-cost internet in hard-to-reach areas and establishing a presence in Uganda. They are welcome,” Museveni said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Ugandan internet users have long expressed frustration…

Sudan’s de facto leader, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, arrived in Egypt on Monday to discuss efforts to restore stability in his conflict-ravaged country. Upon his arrival at Cairo Airport, Burhan was received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, with both Egyptian and Sudanese media reporting on the visit. Talks between the two leaders focused on recent developments in Sudan, including military advances by Sudanese army forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, according to a statement from Egypt’s presidency. They also reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and discussed Egypt’s potential role in post-war reconstruction and recovery efforts…

Twelve Nigerien soldiers were killed during an armed assault in the Tillaberi region of western Niger, the country’s army confirmed on Sunday. The attack took place on Friday near the tri-border zone where Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso meet. According to a military statement, the soldiers were ambushed by “terrorist elements hiding among civilian camps” during a security operation approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the village of Sakoira. Despite a determined defense and the deployment of air and ground reinforcements, the army said 12 soldiers lost their lives “in service to the nation.” Two suspects were apprehended during…

Jomo Kenyatta was born as Kamau wa Ngengi around 1897 in Gatundu, British East Africa (modern-day Kenya). After the death of his parents, he was raised by his uncle. As a young man, Kenyatta moved to Nairobi, where he worked in various jobs, including as a clerk and water-meter reader for the Nairobi City Council. His early exposure to European settlers, colonial administrators, and Christian missionaries influenced his worldview. He eventually converted to Christianity and adopted the name “Johnstone Kamau,” later changing it to Jomo Kenyatta — “Jomo” meaning “burning spear” and “Kenyatta” referring to the beaded belt he often…

Zimbabwe is set to make history by becoming the first African country to introduce a nationwide public air rescue service. The Helidrive National Air Rescue Service, scheduled for launch in August 2024, is the result of a partnership between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Russian Federation aimed at closing critical gaps in emergency air transportation. The collaboration, championed by Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vladimir Putin, seeks to build a dependable air evacuation network to strengthen the country’s medical response system, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Speaking at the 65th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), Dr.…

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has engaged in high-level talks with the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mr. Makhtar Diop, to deepen investment partnerships across key sectors of the Ghanaian economy. The meeting, which took place at the IFC headquarters in Washington, D.C., focused on forging strategic alliances to boost productivity, stimulate economic expansion, and support private sector growth. Mr. Diop reiterated the IFC’s dedication to Ghana’s development agenda but emphasized the importance of directing investments more precisely to achieve greater impact. He also highlighted the vast, largely untapped potential of the Ghanaian diaspora, calling…

A landslide struck the western Algerian coastal city of Oran late Saturday, claiming the lives of four people and injuring thirteen others, authorities reported on Sunday. The disaster hit the Hai Essanouber district, a densely populated area of the city. According to the civil defence agency, the victims included two children and two adults, aged between five and 43 years. The injured, who sustained a range of injuries, were between the ages of 12 and 75. Emergency teams responded quickly to the scene, providing medical assistance and transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals. The interior ministry confirmed that the landslide…

At least 14 farmers were killed on Saturday in a Boko Haram attack near Pulka, a town in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, officials said. Authorities fear the number of victims could rise as search operations continue. According to Abba Shehu Timta, the political head of Gwoza district, the farmers were preparing their land for the upcoming planting season when they were ambushed. Troops and rescue teams are still scouring the surrounding areas for more bodies. The attackers, believed to have launched the assault from a Boko Haram camp in nearby Vlei village, also injured four others during the raid. Pulka,…

At Cairo’s Mohamed Naguib metro station, Sudanese families gathered this week to begin their journey back home, boarding buses headed south toward Abu Simbel and onward to Sudan. For many, the return is filled with cautious optimism, despite the uncertainty that awaits them. Among the passengers was a 29-year-old woman who, after months of displacement, hoped to reclaim her old life in Sudan. “I want to return to my work,” she said quietly, as she joined dozens of others leaving behind months spent in Egypt after fleeing war. The departures come against the backdrop of Sudan’s devastating civil conflict, which…