Author: WAJ Editor

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,…

Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battuta, born on February 25, 1304, in Tangier, Morocco, is widely regarded as one of the greatest travelers in history. Born into a family of Islamic legal scholars during the Marinid dynasty, Ibn Battuta received a traditional education in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). At the age of 21, he set out on what was meant to be a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. Instead, that journey turned into a 29-year expedition across the Islamic world and beyond, making him a legendary figure in the annals of global exploration. Ibn Battuta’s Travels Ibn Battuta’s journeys are chronicled in his…

Egypt has extended its free 96-hour transit visa program for another year, now set to expire at the end of April 2026, the Cabinet announced on Thursday. The decision is part of broader efforts to enhance travel facilities and attract more international visitors. The initiative, which allows travelers to stay in Egypt for up to four days without paying visa fees, supports the country’s national tourism strategy aimed at increasing tourist arrivals from a wider range of global markets. Tourism remains one of Egypt’s most vital sources of foreign currency. As part of its strategic vision, the government is targeting…

The South Sudan Reform Movement/Fighters (SSRM/F), an armed opposition group, has called on the Nuer White Army to sever all affiliations with the SPLM-IO and its leader, First Vice President Riek Machar. The group accuses Machar of being politically constrained by the revitalized peace agreement and claims he no longer represents the interests of South Sudanese youth. In a statement released to Sudans Post, SSRM/F’s political and mobilization secretary, Both Yich Yat, urged the militia—also known as Gojam or Terchuong—to distance itself from any government-aligned entity, including the SPLM-IO. He described the revitalized peace deal, known as the Revitalized Agreement…

Türkiye is set to launch new oil and gas exploration projects in Libya, Iraq, and Somalia as part of a broader push to lessen its dependence on imported energy, according to Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. Speaking on Tuesday, Bayraktar confirmed that the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation is actively pursuing exploration opportunities not only in Libya but also in Iraq, Somalia, and Azerbaijan. He emphasized that these efforts are aligned with Türkiye’s long-term strategy to diversify its energy sources and boost domestic output. As part of this initiative, Türkiye is also considering expanding its liquefied natural gas (LNG) partnerships to ensure…

Tensions in South Sudan have flared again after opposition forces accused government troops of launching an attack on one of their military positions near the capital, Juba, deepening fears over the collapse of the fragile 2018 power-sharing agreement. According to a statement by Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) spokesperson Lam Paul Gabriel, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) launched a coordinated assault on Tuesday morning against the opposition-held Panyume cantonment site in Central Equatoria State. The area has been divided between government and opposition control since the peace deal was signed. Gabriel claimed that opposition forces repelled the…

A high-level delegation from Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) met with U.S. State Department officials in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in the energy sector. The Libyan delegation included Acting Minister of Oil and Gas Khalifa Abdel Sadeg, along with senior officials such as Mustafa Al-Manea of the Libyan Investment Authority, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy Suhail Boushiha, Oil Ministry Advisor Jamal Huwaisa, and Mohammed Zaid from the Oil Minister’s office. On the U.S. side, participants included Laura Lockman, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources; Libya Dossier Officer Matthew Boutin;…

Ghana is set to host the 2025 edition of the Accelerate Africa’s Growth Conference (AAGC), a prominent Pan-African forum aimed at advancing economic transformation by empowering women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The conference will take place from May 24 to 27 in Accra. Organized by the Timeless Women of Wonder – Africa (TWOW-Africa), the annual event rotates among African countries and this year carries the theme, “Winning with Women and Youth.” The forum seeks to move Africa beyond discussions and into action by generating practical, result-oriented solutions. The conference will kick off on May 24 with a…

Malnutrition levels in Ethiopia have reached a critical point, with the UN World Food Program (WFP) warning that 4.4 million pregnant women and young children urgently need treatment. The agency has been forced to suspend nutrition support for 650,000 individuals due to severe funding shortages. Speaking during a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, WFP’s Ethiopia country director Zlatan Milisic described the situation as dire, particularly in the Somali, Oromia, Afar, and Tigray regions, where rates of child wasting have exceeded the 15 percent emergency threshold. “Ethiopia is facing one crisis after another,” Milisic said. “The combination of drought, ongoing…

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has described the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as “regrettable,” urging dialogue and unity amid growing regional tensions. Speaking at the launch of ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary celebrations in Accra on Tuesday, Mahama emphasized the need for engagement over division. “We must respond not with isolation or recrimination, but with understanding, dialogue, and a willingness to listen and engage,” he said. Since taking office, Mahama noted that his administration has prioritized diplomacy, including the appointment of a special envoy to maintain open communication with…

Torrential rains pounded Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday, claiming three lives and displacing hundreds in the city’s informal settlements, authorities confirmed. The victims—a woman and her two children—were killed in Mathare Phase 4 when a wall collapsed on their home amid the downpour. According to police, two died on the spot while the third succumbed to injuries while being rushed to hospital. Over 500 families have been forced to evacuate from makeshift homes in flood-hit areas. Emergency response teams are on high alert, urging residents in low-lying zones to stay vigilant. The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall through…

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo with immediate effect, pending the outcome of an official investigation, according to a statement released on Tuesday. Justice Torkornoo, who assumed office in June 2023, notably presided over President Mahama’s swearing-in ceremony earlier this year for his second term. The suspension follows the submission of three separate petitions calling for her removal. While the specific allegations have not been made public, the presidency stated that preliminary findings indicated sufficient grounds to warrant a formal probe. President Mahama has established a five-member committee to investigate the claims and determine the…

The European Union, along with several member states, has committed more than €522 million in humanitarian aid to help address the worsening crisis in Sudan. The pledge was made during a High-level Conference for Sudan held in London today, co-hosted by the European Commission, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the African Union. Of the total commitment, the European Commission pledged €282 million, while additional contributions came from countries including Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The aid package will support critical services such as healthcare, nutrition, food security, water and sanitation,…