Author: WAJ Editor

The United Nations has issued a dire warning about the ongoing conflict in Sudan, warning that the risk of genocide remains “very high” amid reports of targeted ethnic violence by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Virginia Gamba, the UN’s special adviser for the prevention of genocide, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday that both sides in Sudan’s war were committing serious human rights violations. However, she expressed particular concern about ongoing attacks on ethnic communities in the Darfur and Kordofan regions. Gamba said RSF fighters and allied Arab militias were carrying out ethnically motivated attacks,…

Twelve members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have been charged in connection with the killing of a Hawks investigator and the kidnapping of foreign nationals. The two SANDF soldiers, aged 36 and 51, were arrested in separate operations at OR Tambo International Airport and in Centurion, Pretoria, on Sunday, June 22. They are expected to appear in court on Monday. According to Hawks spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo, the arrests were made by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation units and Tactical Operations Management Section. The suspects are accused of being involved in the fatal shooting of…

Somali army, supported by the African Union Somalia Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM), have regained control of two strategic villages in the Lower Shabelle region, Anole and Sabid, after a nearly two-month military campaign against Al-Shabaab militants. Somali land forces commander Maj. Gen. Sahal Abdullahi Omar confirmed on Saturday that the joint operation, dubbed “Silent Storm,” had successfully eliminated Al-Shabaab’s presence in the area and restored government control over the villages. Located in southwestern of the country, Anole and Sabid have significant military value, acting as a key link for regional movements. According to Maj. Gen. Omar, the militants had…

Burundi’s Constitutional Court has confirmed that the ruling CNDD-FDD party won all 100 seats in the June 5 parliamentary elections with 96% of the vote. The decision, announced Friday, solidifies the party’s grip on power that it has held for the past two decades. The announcement came despite swift criticism from the opposition and the Catholic Church, who called the vote fraudulent. In some constituencies, the CNDD-FDD reportedly won 100% of the vote. A recent report by Human Rights Watch alleged that ruling party officials and affiliated youth groups used intimidation, harassment and media censorship to secure a landslide victory.…

At least 16 miners have died following a pit collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in North Kivu, located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local sources confirmed on Friday. The mine, which supplies between 15 and 30 percent of the world’s coltan—a key mineral used in the production of electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops—is currently under the control of the M23 rebel group, which is reportedly backed by Rwanda. The landslide occurred on Thursday morning while approximately 131 diggers were working at the site. According to Emmanuel Ndizeye, a local official appointed by M23, 111 miners…

The African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) has called on the United Nations to lift its long-standing arms embargo on South Sudan, saying the restriction undermines critical aspects of the peace process, particularly the unification of national forces. Following a meeting on June 12, the AU PSC reviewed the slow implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and discussed strategies to stabilize the country ahead of expected national elections. Sanctions Hinder Security Reform The UN Security Council first imposed sanctions on South Sudan in 2015, targeting senior officials with asset…

A Tunisian court has sentenced Sahbi Atig, a senior Ennahda party official, to 15 years in prison on money laundering charges, his lawyer said on Friday. The decision is the latest in a series of legal actions targeting political opponents of President Kais Saied. Arrested in 2023, Atig is one of dozens of opposition figures to have been arrested since Saied assumed sweeping powers in 2021 by dissolving parliament and ruling by decree — a move critics have described as a coup. The president claims his measures are aimed at combating corruption and holding Tunisia’s political elite accountable, while Atig…

The Nigerian military has alleged that members of the Yelwata community in Benue State may have sheltered those responsible for a deadly attack that killed more than 100 people last Saturday. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Chief of Army Staff General Christopher Musa said military intelligence had warned of possible attacks in Benue State and soldiers were deployed to the area. Despite these efforts, Musa alleged that some locals were helping the attackers. “These criminals were sheltered by local residents. They were given food and drinks and directed to where the IDP camp is,” Musa said. “Security forces did not…

Nigeria has officially reclaimed 119 Benin Bronzes from the Netherlands in one of the largest single returns of looted African cultural heritage. The artefacts, which include royal regalia, plaques, statues of people and animals and a ceremonial bell, were handed over on Thursday at the formal request of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The items were first looted in 1897 when British troops invaded the historic Benin Kingdom in what is now southern Nigeria during a violent military campaign that led to the exile of then-king Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. Many of the stolen objects later found their way…

Ivory Coast’s two main opposition parties have joined forces to demand the reinstatement of their disqualified leaders ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 25. They have warned that the vote would be delegitimized if their candidates are banned from running. The new alliance brings together the African People’s Party – Ivory Coast (PPA-CI), led by former President Laurent Gbagbo, and the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), led by former international banker Tidjane Thiam. The move comes amid heightened political tensions after courts ruled that several prominent opposition figures could not run. Speaking via video link, Thiam…

Ghana has successfully evacuated its first group of citizens from Iran to Türkiye in response to the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday, June 20, 2025. Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the evacuation was the beginning of broader efforts to ensure the safety of Ghanaians in the conflict-affected areas, local news website YEN reported. He added that preparations were underway to evacuate Ghanaians currently residing in Israel. “These evacuations are part of our government’s emergency response strategy and the safety of Ghanaians abroad is our top priority,” Ablakwa…

Nigerian healthcare manufacturer Codix Bio Ltd is set to begin large-scale production of HIV and malaria rapid diagnostic test kits at its new facility near Lagos later this month. The initiative comes amid a decline in foreign aid from the United States, particularly from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has traditionally supported Nigeria’s health sector. The facility is being developed in partnership with South Korean pharmaceutical company SD Biosensor and is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Codix Bio’s chief executive Olanrewaju Balaja said the facility will initially produce up to 147 million test kits…

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on oil theft, announcing the arrest of 76 ships and over 240 suspects in the past two years as part of ongoing efforts to protect the country’s oil resources. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, said the operations had also led to the dismantling of over 800 illegal refinery sites. The Navy has seized about 171,000 barrels of stolen crude oil and millions of litres of illegal refined petroleum products from criminal organisations since June 2023. Oil theft has long been…

Liberia will host a high-level trade and investment conference titled “Bridge to Prosperity” in the capital city of Monrovia from June 17-21, 2025. The event aims to attract leading U.S. investors and business leaders to explore opportunities in Liberia’s key economic sectors. The five-day forum, organized by the Department of State in partnership with the National Investment Commission (NIC) and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC), is a key initiative within the country’s economic diplomacy strategy led by Foreign Minister H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti. The conference also aligns with the U.S. government’s renewed focus on business engagement in Africa. The…

The coastal city of Essaouira, Morocco, once again echoes with the spiritual rhythms of Gnaoua music as it hosts the 26th annual Gnaoua and World Music Festival from June 19-21, 2025. The event celebrates a rich musical tradition dating back to the history of formerly enslaved Black Africans who settled in Morocco. This year’s festival features more than 350 artists, including 40 Maalem (masters of Gnaoua music), across 54 concerts in open-air arenas, historic sites and intimate spaces. Known for its powerful lyrics reflecting themes of exile, slavery and resilience, Gnaoua music has evolved from marginalized origins to one of…

Libya and Türkiye have held high-level talks aimed at strengthening their partnership in the oil and gas industry, as both countries aim to expand their energy cooperation. Libyan Oil and Gas Minister Khalifa Abdul-Sadiq met with Turkish Ambassador Güven Begeç at the ministry headquarters in Tripoli on Wednesday. The meeting discussed deepening strategic ties and promoting cooperation between the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC) and the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), according to an official statement. The talks focused on increasing investment and enhancing technical exchange in the energy sector, reflecting Libya’s broader efforts to attract international partners and develop its…