Author: WAJ Editor

Liberia has launched a national campaign to restore inactive mobile network sites in rural communities, aiming to strengthen digital access and connectivity across underserved regions. Spearheaded by the Universal Access Fund (UAF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, the project officially commenced on May 5, 2025. A recent assessment conducted in March found that nine out of twelve supported telephony sites in remote areas had been non-operational for up to two years, leaving thousands without basic mobile services. The phased restoration effort will begin in Bomi, Gbarpolu, and Grand Cape Mount counties.…

AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields have suspended negotiations to merge their neighbouring Tarkwa and Iduapriem gold mines in Ghana, the companies announced Tuesday, halting progress on what was set to become Africa’s largest gold mining operation. The two mining giants first unveiled the joint venture proposal in 2022, but talks have stalled amid pending regulatory approval from the Ghanaian government. In a statement, AngloGold said the decision to pause discussions would allow both companies to concentrate on boosting performance at their individual sites. Gold Fields echoed that sentiment, calling the merger “compelling” but confirming that both firms will now continue…

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group have resumed peace negotiations in Qatar, according to sources familiar with the discussions, marking a renewed effort to end ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. The latest round of talks began on May 3 in Doha, following earlier negotiations held in April. The discussions aim to de-escalate a crisis that has killed thousands, displaced hundreds of thousands, and sparked fears of a broader regional conflict. An official involved in the talks told Reuters the meetings were progressing in a “positive atmosphere,” with both sides showing optimism. However, M23 representatives…

South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched a legal challenge against newly enacted employment equity legislation, arguing that the law imposes rigid racial hiring targets that violate constitutional protections against discrimination. The opposition party, which positions itself as pro-business and is the second-largest in Parliament, brought the case before the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday. At issue is the Employment Equity Amendment Act, which came into effect earlier this year and requires companies with more than 50 employees to meet government-set diversity targets or face penalties. The DA contends that the law grants excessive power to the…

Egypt has voiced strong support for Sudan following recent drone attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on key civilian infrastructure in Port Sudan, highlighting growing regional concern over the protracted conflict. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with his Sudanese counterpart Omar Siddiq on Tuesday, reaffirming Egypt’s solidarity and condemning the RSF’s escalating offensive. The call came after Sudanese authorities reported a series of drone strikes on Port Sudan’s airport, seaport, and a hotel—described as a serious escalation by Sudanese military officials. During the conversation, Abdelatty stressed the urgent need for de-escalation and called for a ceasefire to ensure…

Nigeria is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle major challenges, including the spread of fake news, promotion of Indigenous languages, and support for data journalism. As the country positions itself at the forefront of technological innovation in Africa, AI is emerging as a powerful tool for social good. Amid rising concerns about misinformation—particularly on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram—Nigerian media organizations and fact-checking initiatives are adopting AI to curb the spread of false content. One such initiative, Dubawa, launched an AI-powered chatbot in 2024 to verify information circulating on private messaging platforms. The chatbot, accessible on WhatsApp, checks…

Three Rwandan soldiers were killed and six others wounded in an ambush over the weekend in Mozambique’s conflict-hit Cabo Delgado province, according to a statement from the Rwandan military on Tuesday. Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) spokesperson Ronald Rwivanga confirmed the May 3 attack, noting it occurred in an active combat zone where the country has maintained a military presence since 2021. “It is true our soldiers in Mozambique were attacked in an ambush, in which three were killed,” Rwivanga said. “It is a combat zone and some of these incidences are expected, but the situation was handled.” He added that…

The Sudan Security and Defense Council has formally declared the United Arab Emirates (UAE) an “enemy state” and announced a complete severance of diplomatic relations, citing what it describes as ongoing acts of aggression that threaten Sudan’s sovereignty and civilian safety. In a strongly worded statement issued Tuesday, the Council accused the UAE of backing the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their political affiliates over the past two years, alleging that the UAE’s involvement has intensified following the defeat of the RSF by Sudanese Armed Forces. The statement claimed that the UAE has recently escalated its support for the…

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has condemned a recent airstrike on a hospital operated by the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Old Fangak, describing the attack as intentional and potentially a war crime. The strike, which occurred on May 3 in Fangak County, destroyed the only functioning hospital and pharmacy in the northern town, killing at least seven people and injuring 20 others. According to MSF, the initial bombing that struck the pharmacy was followed by a second drone attack on the town. “This was not a tragic accident. It was a calculated,…

The United Nations (UN) has launched an urgent appeal for \$160 million to address a deepening humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s conflict-ravaged northeast, where aid officials say conditions have reached their worst level in five years. The call for funding comes amid ongoing violence from a 15-year insurgency that has killed over 40,000 people and displaced more than two million across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. The conflict has devastated agriculture and disrupted local economies, leaving millions dependent on humanitarian assistance for survival. According to Trond Jensen, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Nigeria,…

Ghana’s recent decision to award 1,000 scholarships to students from neighboring West African countries has been hailed as a bold move in regional diplomacy, reflecting the country’s deep-rooted commitment to African unity, solidarity, and cooperation. The initiative, announced earlier this month, aligns closely with the ideological legacy of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who advocated for a united and interdependent Africa. It also underscores Ghana’s enduring role as a champion of regional integration and collaboration within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Analysts view the scholarship programme as a strategic foreign policy tool that serves multiple purposes:…

Once a fierce critic of Ian Smith’s minority rule before Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, former legislator and economist Eddie Cross has offered a candid reflection on the deep-rooted and destructive culture of corruption that has gripped Zimbabwe since liberation. Speaking from personal experience and decades of observation, Cross traced the country’s decline from its promising beginnings to what he describes as a “failed state” riddled with graft, mismanagement, and abuse of public resources. Following independence, Zimbabwe transitioned from a small but effective settler government to one led by liberation war veterans, many of whom lacked experience in governance. The 1980s…

Malawian authorities, in collaboration with U.S. security agencies, have arrested seven suspected drug lords believed to be connected to a Mexican cartel, according to the country’s Homeland Security Minister, Ezekiel Ching’oma. The arrests took place during a joint operation at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe. Six of the suspects were apprehended immediately after disembarking from an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A seventh, a Nigerian national based in Lilongwe, was detained while waiting to receive the others. “We have confirmed links between these individuals and a Mexican drug cartel. Investigations are ongoing to uncover more details,” Minister Ching’oma stated. He praised the…

Rwanda has officially submitted its input to the draft peace agreement aimed at resolving the prolonged conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed on Sunday, May 4. Speaking to Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Nduhungirehe said the draft, initially compiled on May 2, is set to be finalized and signed in June at the White House. The agreement will be signed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi, with former U.S. President Donald Trump expected to attend the ceremony. “Our experts have already submitted Rwanda’s contributions to the draft. The…

At least seven people have been killed and 20 others injured in a series of bombings that struck South Sudan’s Fangak county, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The attacks also led to the destruction of the region’s only hospital and pharmacy, further straining an already fragile healthcare system. MSF reported that an initial bombing directly hit the pharmacy in Old Fangak, reducing it to ashes and severely damaging the adjacent hospital. A second strike, believed to be a drone attack, followed shortly after, causing multiple casualties in the town, which is located in the Greater Upper Nile region. “Old…

A shoe thrown from the crowd struck Kenya’s President William Ruto on Sunday while he was addressing a rally in the town of Kehancha, Migori County, in Western Kenya. A short video of the incident circulating online shows the shoe hitting the president’s left arm mid-speech. Security personnel immediately responded to shield the head of state, though the projectile had already made contact. As of the time of reporting, no official statement had been released regarding the incident. President Ruto was in Migori for the start of a three-day development tour aimed at promoting government projects in the region. Migori…