Author: WAJ Editor

Algeria and Russia have held high-level discussions aimed at enhancing military and parliamentary ties, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen their long-standing strategic partnership, according to statements from both governments. The Algerian Ministry of National Defence confirmed that Mohamed Saleh Benbicha, Secretary-General of the Ministry, hosted a Russian delegation led by Yuri Valyaev, Deputy Chair of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security and head of the Algerian-Russian Parliamentary Friendship Group. Talks focused on shared interests, particularly within the framework of the Joint Committee on Military-Technical Cooperation, signaling continued collaboration in defense and security sectors. The visit…

The Egyptian government announced Wednesday that maritime security in the Red Sea has seen significant improvement, urging international shipping companies and foreign governments to redirect vessels through the Suez Canal. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly made the appeal during a ceremony attended by foreign ambassadors, emphasizing the strategic and economic importance of the waterway. “The Suez Canal is the world’s main shipping artery and a source of pride for every Egyptian,” he said. Madbouly stated that attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have ceased since December 2024, and called on diplomats to relay this development to their respective countries.…

South African health authorities are preparing to conduct pauper’s funerals for 66 unclaimed bodies discovered earlier this year in an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, North West province, a senior official has confirmed. Tshegofatso Mothibedi, spokesperson for the province’s Health Department, said only 12 of the 78 bodies recovered from the mine in January have been identified by relatives. The remaining corpses may be buried as early as next month if they remain unclaimed. “In line with the National Health Act 61 of 2003 and Regulation 43 governing forensic pathology services, bodies that remain unclaimed for over 30 days may…

Veteran stage and screen actor Don Mlangeni Nawa has passed away at the age of 65, his family confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday morning. Nawa, widely celebrated for his portrayal of Bra Zeb Matabane on Isidingo, became a household name in the 1980s through his role as Laqhasha in the popular sitcom Sgudi Snaysi. With a career spanning several decades, he also starred in productions such as Uzalo, The River, The Throne, and Savage Beauty. In their statement, the family described him as “the heart of our family – a loving father, brother and friend. To the world,…

The United Nations has confirmed that more than 180 people have been killed and over 250 injured in escalating violence across South Sudan since March, driven by armed clashes and aerial bombardments in Upper Nile State. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the surge in violence has also displaced approximately 125,000 civilians, many of whom are fleeing intensified fighting and airstrikes. An estimated 25,000 civilians have been uprooted in the Upper Nile region alone. During a recent visit to Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Anita Kiki…

Mansa Musa, also known as Musa I of Mali, was born around 1280 into the royal Keita dynasty of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Though the exact details of his early life are scarce, he was a devout Muslim and well-educated, likely trained in administration, military tactics, and Islamic teachings. He ascended to the throne in 1312, succeeding his predecessor, Mansa Abu Bakr II, who is said to have embarked on an expedition across the Atlantic Ocean and never returned. Musa, who was Abu Bakr’s deputy or kankoro-sigui (a high-ranking official), assumed the throne in his absence. His reign…

France has announced the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomatic staff and recalled its ambassador from Algiers, in a sharp escalation of tensions between the two countries. The decision, confirmed on Tuesday by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, comes just a day after Algeria ordered 12 French officials to leave its territory within 48 hours. The diplomatic fallout follows the indictment in Paris of three individuals, including a staff member from an Algerian consulate, on charges related to terrorism. “In response to their unjustified and incomprehensible decision, we are expelling 12 Algerian agents and recalling our ambassador for consultations,” Barrot posted…

Morocco and France have pledged to deepen their strategic partnership, reaffirming their commitment to an “enhanced exceptional partnership” amid growing diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria. During a meeting in Paris on Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita agreed to strengthen, safeguard, and promote bilateral cooperation, according to a statement from the French Foreign Ministry. The talks followed up on a declaration signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and King Mohammed VI during Macron’s visit to Morocco last October, which aimed to elevate the already close ties between the two countries. Barrot and Bourita…

A major Moroccan port workers’ union has called for a boycott of a Danish cargo vessel suspected of transporting US military equipment to Israel, in what is being described as the strongest labor-led opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza since the conflict began. The Union of Port Workers, part of the influential Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), issued a statement on Monday urging dockworkers at Casablanca Port to refuse to handle the Maersk Nexoe, a vessel expected to arrive on 18 April. The union warned that aiding the ship’s transit would make workers “direct accomplices in the genocidal war against the…

The United Kingdom, in collaboration with the African Union, European Union, France, and Germany, hosted a high-level international conference in London on Tuesday to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, marking two years since the outbreak of the conflict. Foreign ministers, international partners, and humanitarian leaders gathered for the one-day event to discuss strategies for ending the war and overcoming the obstacles hindering humanitarian aid delivery to millions of people in need across Sudan. The Sudanese government, however, criticized the UK’s decision to organize the conference without extending an invitation to Sudanese authorities. The Foreign Ministry described the exclusion…

Nigeria has taken a major step toward advancing regional economic integration by officially gazetting and submitting the ECOWAS Schedule of Tariff Offers to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. The move, which precedes the 16th AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing intra-African trade. Signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the tariff schedule establishes zero duties on 90 percent of tariff lines for trade in goods, strengthening Nigeria’s position in African markets. The development is expected to boost competitiveness, expand trade opportunities, and facilitate smoother…

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate halt to the external flow of weapons into Sudan, warning that continued foreign interference is fuelling the country’s devastating civil war and risking its fragmentation. Marking the second anniversary of the outbreak of conflict between rival military factions, Guterres stressed that the world must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Sudanese people. “I am deeply concerned that weapons and fighters continue to flow into Sudan, allowing the conflict to persist and spread across the country,” he said. “The external support and flow of weapons must end.…

Sudan’s health system is nearing total collapse after two years of conflict, with millions of lives at risk as medical services dwindle, disease outbreaks rise, and humanitarian access remains severely limited. With the rainy season approaching, the country is grappling with a deadly mix of malnutrition, multiple disease outbreaks, and a crumbling healthcare infrastructure. Over 30 million people now require humanitarian aid, including more than 20 million in critical need of health services. Yet ongoing insecurity, repeated attacks on medical facilities, and severe shortages of essential medicines have made delivering care nearly impossible. “Hospitals are shutting down or barely functioning.…

A court in Mauritius has granted bail to former finance minister Renganaden Padayachy, who faces fraud charges linked to alleged embezzlement at a state-owned company, according to his lawyer and the financial crimes commission. Padayachy, along with former central bank governor Harvesh Seegolam, was arrested last week over claims of misappropriating 300 million Mauritius rupees (approximately $6.7 million) from the Mauritius Investment Corporation. The company was established to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Padayachy and Seegolam have denied the charges. Seegolam was released on bail shortly after his arrest, while Padayachy secured his release on Monday after the…

Nigerian chess champion Tunde Onakoya is preparing for another historic feat as he seeks to reclaim the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, recently set at 61 hours by two Norwegian players. Onakoya, who first captured global attention last year with an impressive 58-hour chess session in New York City’s Times Square, announced his new attempt via Instagram. He revealed that on 17 April 2025, he and fellow chess enthusiast @pushingpawnsnyc will aim to set a new record by playing non-stop for 70 hours. This new endeavor goes beyond personal ambition. Onakoya plans to share the challenge with…

Egypt is well-positioned to sustain its trade ties with the United States despite recent tariff changes, according to Carla Slim, senior economist for the Middle East and Pakistan at Standard Chartered Bank. Speaking during a World Bank conference in Cairo, Slim said the new US tariffs are unlikely to seriously impact Egypt, given the existing trade surplus in Washington’s favor. Slim emphasized Egypt’s strategic advantage, particularly its control over the Suez Canal, which remains a key global trade route. She noted that canal traffic could increase even amid Red Sea tensions, driven by a boost in South-South trade between emerging…