Author: WAJ Editor

South African authorities have issued orange level weather warnings in two provinces as the country continues to grapple with freezing temperatures, heavy rain and devastating snow. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) announced on Tuesday that parts of the Eastern Cape are currently under an Orange Level 6 warning due to dangerous snowfall and strong winds. KwaZulu-Natal has also been placed under Orange Level 5, which warns of dangerous rainfall and possible flooding. The warnings indicate significant weather threats that could pose risks to public safety and infrastructure. Johannesburg is currently experiencing what has been described as its coldest day…

Catholic bishops in Nigeria have strongly condemned the continued killing of Christians in the country, describing it as a “national tragedy” and a “scandal against our common humanity.” In a statement issued on June 6, the bishops declared that “there is no justification for continued bloodshed.” The statement follows a wave of deadly attacks in several Nigerian states, including Benue, Plateau, Taraba and the Middle Belt regions, where armed groups (including, allegedly, jihadist Fulani herdsmen) have predominantly targeted Christian communities. In one incident on June 1 alone, at least 43 people were killed in Gwer West and Apa counties of…

A group of United Nations experts has expressed serious concerns about a recent agreement signed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, arguing that it fails to protect the rights of displaced Chagossian people. The agreement, signed on 22 May 2025, formalises the transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including the strategic island of Diego Garcia, from the UK to Mauritius. While the agreement has been described as a significant step in completing the end of colonial rule in Mauritius, UN experts say the agreement lacks essential guarantees for the right of return, compensation and cultural protection for the Chagossians.…

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), represented by its Permanent Ambassador to the African Union, Lamine Baali, is participating in the 50th Regular Session of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the African Union. The session began on Monday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This meeting kicks off the cycle of high-level meetings leading to the 47th Regular Session of the AU Executive Board and the 7th Biennial Coordination Meeting between the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms. The meeting is scheduled to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 10 to 13 July 2025.…

Zambian police said more than 100 people were arrested on Monday after violent clashes involving illegal gold miners protesting the closure of a mine site. The unrest occurred about 470 kilometers (292 miles) from the capital Lusaka and saw demonstrators clash with law enforcement. Police spokeswoman Rae Hamoonga confirmed on Tuesday that several officers were injured and police vehicles were damaged during the clashes. “Despite attempts to restore order, the rioters escalated the violence, throwing stones at police personnel and vehicles,” Hamoonga said. Protesters also looted a cement truck, damaged local government offices and stole furniture and equipment. Zambian authorities…

Uganda is renewing its national identity cards. President Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet have registered for the new biometric national identity card (ID). Museveni has called on everyone to renew their IDs. “Today, Maama Janet (First Lady) and I registered to renew our national identity cards in Nakasero. I call on every eligible Ugandan to do the same for better service delivery,” he said in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday. By law, the country renews its national identity cards every 10 years. The existing ones were issued between 2014 and 2015 but their validity has…

Ghana and the US have taken steps to strengthen their economic and trade partnership following a series of high-level talks held in Washington, DC. Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, led a delegation in talks with senior officials of the US Department of Commerce aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation. The talks come at a time when the US’s “America First” trade policy has led to the imposition of a 10% general tariff on imports from many countries, including Ghana. The meeting provided an opportunity to address these developments and explore ways to promote mutual growth. Minister Ofosu-Adjare…

Tunisian activists said hundreds of people launched a ground convoy to Gaza on Monday, June 9, with the aim of “breaking the blockade” of the Palestinian territories. Organizers said the nine-bus convoy was not bringing aid to Gaza but was intended to carry out a “symbolic action” by breaking the blockade on the area described by the United Nations as “the hungriest place in the world.” Activist Javahir Channa said that the “Soumoud” convoy, which means “steadiness” in Arabic, includes doctors and aims to reach Rafah in southern Gaza by the end of the week. It is scheduled to pass…

Ivory Coast’s Former Trade Minister Jean-Louis Billon has announced his intention to represent the country’s main opposition Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) in the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for October. His statement comes after former Credit Suisse chairman Tidjane Thiam was disqualified from the final list of candidates. In an interview, the 60-year-old politician criticized the PDCI’s handling of Thiam’s candidacy, attributing the exclusion to inadequate preparation by party officials. Billon did not rule out the possibility of running under a different banner, but stressed that it was “too early” to make that decision. “I want the support of…

South Africa is stepping up efforts to repatriate the remains of its citizens who were taken abroad during the colonial era and those who died in exile during the anti-apartheid struggle, the government announced on Monday. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie told a press briefing that the state was actively engaging with foreign agencies to ensure the return of indigenous remains, including those of the KhoiSan people, who are considered to be some of the country’s oldest inhabitants. “These are acts of justice, remembrance and healing,” McKenzie said. “They reaffirm our government’s commitment to restoring dignity, promoting…

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan held a phone conversation on Sunday to discuss the latest political developments in Libya, according to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The foreign ministers, exchanged views on the situation in Libya, as part of what the ministry described as ongoing coordination aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional issues. The call comes at a time of heightened tensions in Tripoli, where recent developments have raised concerns over Libya’s stability. During the discussion, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s firm support for Libya’s unity and sovereignty. He also stressed…

In celebration of Eid al-Adha, King Mohammed VI of Morocco has granted a royal pardon to 1,526 individuals, the country’s Justice Ministry announced on Friday. The clemency, issued on the eve of the Islamic festival, includes 1,305 individuals currently serving prison sentences, as well as 206 others who had received verdicts but are not incarcerated. The list also features 15 individuals convicted in terrorism-related cases.

Zimbabwe had submitted a formal proposal that aims to reduce tariffs and establish a more balanced trade coordination between the two countries. The United States is now reviewing the proposal. The proposal, submitted in April, calls for an easing of the 18% tariff on Zimbabwean exports to the United States. Professor Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwean Finance Minister, held the discussions during his visit to Washington for the 2025 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings. During his visit, he held high-level meetings with US Treasury officials and congressional leaders, pressing for more favorable trade terms to enhance Zimbabwe’s export capacity. Following the…

Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has announced that it is leaving Mali, saying it has achieved its military objectives in the West African country. The group confirmed the move on its Telegram channel on Friday, marking the end of a three-and-a-half-year deployment aimed at combating rebel groups. According to Wagner, its forces have restored control of regional centers to the Malian army, neutralized militant leaders and cleared significant areas of armed rebels. The announcement follows a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks that militant sources claim have killed more than 100 Malian soldiers and several Wagner fighters. The Sahel rebel…

Zimbabwe’s government has launched a major surveillance operation along its eastern border with Mozambique using drone technology to tackle rampant smuggling. Authorities say the initiative, which began on May 1, 2025, is already producing measurable results. The drones are being deployed at known smuggling hotspots, such as the Forbes Border Post, which connects Zimbabwe’s Manicaland Province to Mozambique’s Manica Province. Authorities report that the increased aerial surveillance has led to a decrease in smuggling cases and an increase in apprehensions. Manicaland State Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Barrister Misheck Mugadza, praised the use of drones to enhance border security.…

Angolan authorities have seized more than 30,000 military-grade firearms from private security companies as part of a nationwide effort to tighten control over private sector weapons, police announced on Thursday. The large-scale operation, which began in February and lasted more than 100 days, resulted in the seizure of 31,392 unauthorized firearms, as well as 214,000 rounds of ammunition and 35,000 magazines. Angola is home to more than 1,700 registered private security companies. Police ordered the companies to voluntarily surrender any weapons that do not meet legal standards by 2024 and replace them with authorized alternatives. However, compliance has been minimal,…