Author: WAJ Editor

Nelson Mandela, born in 1918 into South Africa’s Thembu royal family, became a global symbol of resistance against apartheid. After joining the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943, he helped form its Youth League and led major campaigns against racial segregation. Following the Sharpeville Massacre, Mandela shifted to armed resistance and co-founded Umkhonto we Sizwe. Arrested in 1962, he spent 27 years in prison, during which he became the face of the anti-apartheid struggle. Released in 1990, Mandela led negotiations that peacefully ended apartheid. In 1994, he became South Africa’s first Black president, focusing on national reconciliation, constitutional reform, and…

As the Vatican prepares to bid farewell to Pope Francis, at least five African heads of state are confirmed to attend the pontiff’s funeral in Rome on Saturday. According to the Vatican, more than 130 foreign delegations will be present, including around 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. While international leaders will be in attendance, priority will be given to delegations from Argentina — the pope’s country of birth — and Italy, which hosts the Vatican. From Africa, the following presidents have confirmed their attendance: Also representing the African continent is Cardinal Stephen Brislin, president of the Southern…

Mansa Musa, born around 1280 into Mali’s royal Keita dynasty, became emperor in 1312 after Mansa Abu Bakr II disappeared on an Atlantic expedition. His reign marked the peak of the Mali Empire’s wealth and power, covering large parts of West Africa. Mansa Musa promoted political stability, economic growth, and cultural development, leveraging Mali’s rich gold and salt resources. In 1324, he famously made a pilgrimage to Mecca, traveling with a lavish caravan and distributing so much gold that it caused inflation in some regions. His journey enhanced Mali’s international reputation and fostered new trade and scholarly connections. Afterward, Musa…

As the Vatican prepares to bid farewell to Pope Francis, at least five African heads of state are confirmed to attend the pontiff’s funeral in Rome on Saturday. According to the Vatican, more than 130 foreign delegations will be present, including around 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs. While international leaders will be in attendance, priority will be given to delegations from Argentina — the pope’s country of birth — and Italy, which hosts the Vatican. From Africa, the following presidents have confirmed their attendance: Also representing the African continent is Cardinal Stephen Brislin, president of the Southern…

Nigerian hip-hop musician Terry Alexander Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, has been remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre following his arraignment on charges of naira abuse. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the artist before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikeja on Friday. He faces a single charge for allegedly trampling on Nigerian currency while dancing at a social event held at Madison Place in Oniru, Lagos Island. Terry Apala pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, EFCC counsel Sulaimon Sulaiman urged the court to set a trial date and asked that the…

At least 20 people were killed when gunmen launched a deadly attack on a gold mining village in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, according to local residents and Amnesty International. The assault occurred Thursday afternoon in Gobirawa Chali village, located in the Maru Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in large numbers, opened fire on miners, and went door to door, killing residents. Ismail Hassan, a local resident, told that the gunmen came in their hundreds and a gunfight broke out, leaving over 20 people dead. Another witness, Isah Ibrahim, said at least 21 bodies were recovered after the…

A man accused of playing a leading role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide has been arrested in Bridgehampton, Long Island, where he had been living quietly as a beekeeper and gardener for over two decades. According to the U.S. Justice Department, 61-year-old Faustin Nsabumukunzi is facing charges of visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud for allegedly lying on multiple immigration documents to conceal his involvement in atrocities committed during the genocide. Nsabumukunzi was arrested at his home on Thursday and appeared in federal court in Islip, where he pleaded not guilty. He was released on a $250,000 bond, placed under…

A growing number of refugees are fleeing violent conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with many making perilous river crossings into Burundi in search of safety. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) warns that the crisis is rapidly outpacing available resources, leaving thousands at risk. Since January, over 71,000 people have crossed the border into Burundi, escaping clashes in eastern DRC. Many are now being relocated to the UNHCR-supported Musenyi refugee site in southern Burundi. Originally designed to host just 3,000 people, the camp is now sheltering over 16,000, raising concerns about overcrowding and access to basic…

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced it reached four million people in Sudan with food assistance in March — the highest monthly figure since conflict erupted in April 2023. However, the agency warns that the deepening hunger crisis continues to outpace humanitarian efforts. Speaking at a UN press briefing in Geneva, WFP Emergency Coordinator for Sudan, Samantha Chattaraj, said the March aid included 1.6 million people in areas already experiencing or at risk of famine. “In the past month alone, we supported 80 percent of the people in the most critical hunger zones across 27 localities,” Chattaraj said,…

Zimbabwe is actively seeking US$2.6 billion in bridge financing to clear longstanding arrears with international lenders, according to a statement from the African Development Bank (AfDB). Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is leading Zimbabwe’s delegation at the ongoing IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, where discussions are underway to establish a new Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) with the International Monetary Fund. The SMP would allow the IMF to oversee Zimbabwe’s economic reforms and policies without offering financial support, helping the country rebuild credibility with global creditors — a critical step toward future debt relief. Zimbabwe’s outstanding debt to foreign…

In a notable departure from rising global skepticism toward migrants, Kenya is charting a progressive course by integrating over 800,000 refugees into its national development strategy. The government’s newly launched Shirika initiative aims to transform refugee settlements into thriving urban centers, positioning refugees not as a burden but as valuable partners in the country’s growth. Refugees have sought safety in Kenya since the early 1990s, drawn by its relative stability in a volatile region. Today, most reside in two major camps, with hundreds more arriving monthly—many fleeing the conflict between rival forces in Sudan, ongoing since April 2023. Shirika marks…

Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born on October 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, a small town in the former Transvaal province of South Africa. He was the second of four children born to Zachariah Tutu, a teacher, and Aletta Matlhare, a domestic worker. Tutu grew up in a racially segregated South Africa under the system of apartheid, which would come to define much of his later activism and political engagement. After a bout of tuberculosis in his teenage years, Tutu decided to pursue the priesthood rather than follow his father into teaching. He studied at St Peter’s Theological College in Johannesburg and…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has strongly condemned a deadly assault on military outposts in northern Benin that resulted in the deaths of 54 soldiers. The attack, which occurred on April 17 in the W National Park near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, marks the deadliest strike on Beninese forces to date. In a statement released Thursday, ECOWAS described the attack as a “barbaric and cowardly act,” aimed at spreading fear and destabilizing the region. The regional body expressed solidarity with Benin, calling the incident an “odious terrorist attack” that inflicted significant casualties and injuries.…

Mozambique has officially declared the end of its prolonged insurgency in the northern Cabo Delgado province following the capture of the last remaining rebel training camps, marking a significant milestone in the country’s fight against terrorism. Mozambique’s Chief of Defense Intelligence, Ricardo Macuvele, confirmed the development on Thursday during an official visit to Lusaka, Zambia. He credited the successful operation to support from regional partners, particularly the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique, which has provided crucial military assistance in combating the insurgency. Speaking during his meeting with Zambian Permanent Secretary for Defense Maambo Haamaundu, Macuvele expressed gratitude…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its 2025 growth forecast for Nigeria’s economy, lowering it from 3.2 percent to 3 percent. This projection, part of the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO), was released during the Fund’s ongoing Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. The downgrade has sparked disagreement among Nigerian economists and policy analysts. The IMF attributed the revision to a broader global economic slowdown, driven in part by trade tensions following new tariffs introduced by the United States and retaliatory measures from its trading partners. The report also forecasts further deceleration in Nigeria’s growth to 2.7 percent…

Tanzania has announced a ban on agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi in a retaliatory move, following similar trade restrictions imposed by the two southern African nations. Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe declared the ban in a video posted late Wednesday on his official X account, stating that Tanzania had set a Wednesday deadline for the lifting of import restrictions by both countries—a deadline that was not met. Malawi recently prohibited the import of several Tanzanian agricultural products, including maize flour, rice, ginger, and bananas. South Africa, for its part, barred banana shipments originating from Dar es Salaam. In response,…