Author: WAJ Editor

Moroccan authorities have arrested a 24-year-old French-Moroccan man believed to be the mastermind behind a series of kidnappings and attempted kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency managers in France, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced. The suspect, Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, was detained in the northern city of Tangier following a red notice issued by Interpol. He is wanted by French authorities on charges including kidnapping, illegal detention and hostage-taking. The arrest was confirmed by Morocco’s Directorate General of National Security and reported by the state-run MAP news agency. France has been hit by a disturbing wave of kidnappings in recent months, with…

Zimbabwean wildlife authorities have approved the culling of at least 50 elephants at Save Valley Conservancy, citing overpopulation and environmental strain in the southern reserve. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority announced on Tuesday that the reserve is currently home to about 2,550 elephants, more than three times its ecological carrying capacity of 800. Officials said the decision was made to prevent habitat degradation and reduce pressure on the ecosystem. Efforts to manage the elephant population have included the relocation of 200 animals to other reserves in the past five years. But conservationists say the population continues to grow…

Nigerian Defence Force’ Chief, General Christopher Musa, has proposed a complete fence on the country’s borders with four neighbouring countries as a strategic response to rising insecurity and infiltration by armed groups. Speaking at a security summit in Abuja on Tuesday, General Musa stressed the urgent need to improve border control, citing examples such as Pakistan’s 1,350-kilometre fence with Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia’s 1,400-kilometre barrier with Iraq as effective deterrents against cross-border threats. “Border management is very critical,” he said. “Other countries have been forced to fence their borders because of the level of insecurity they face. It is time…

South Africa’s top court has rejected a legal challenge by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) seeking to halt a proposed fuel tax hike outlined in the country’s latest budget. The left-wing opposition party, the EFF, led by Julius Malema, argued that the tax hike would place a disproportionate burden on low-income earners and claimed that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana failed to follow proper parliamentary procedures when introducing the measure. Despite the objections, the court ruled in favour of the government, allowing the 4% increase in petrol and diesel fuel taxes to come into effect on Wednesday. In his statement to…

Human rights groups are calling on Tanzanian authorities to investigate allegations of serious torture and sexual abuse made by two activists from Kenya and Uganda who were detained in Dar es Salaam last month. Boniface Mwangi from Kenya and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda were reportedly held by Tanzanian police between 19 and 23 May 2025 while attempting to attend the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces charges of high treason that could carry the death penalty. The activists have since come forward with allegations of ill-treatment, including torture and sexual abuse, during their detention. Their case has…

The Ugandan military has confirmed that two suspected terrorists were killed in a counter-terrorism operation conducted on Tuesday morning following an explosion at the Munyonyo Temple in Kampala. The incident came as thousands of people gathered to celebrate the annual Uganda Martyrs’ Day. According to the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), one of the suspects was a female suicide bomber armed with powerful explosives. Military spokesman Colonel Chris Magezi said the suspects were captured and neutralised in an intelligence-led operation in Munyonyo, an upscale suburb of the capital. Security forces including police and army units were immediately dispatched to the…

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday elected five countries to serve as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the 2026-2027 term. These include the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Liberia, representing the African Group. Also elected were Bahrain, Colombia and Latvia, who will take over their seats on January 1, 2026, replacing Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia. All five new members secured the required two-thirds majority in the 193-member General Assembly, with Bahrain receiving 186 votes, the DRC 183, Liberia 181, Colombia 180 and Latvia 178. This will mark the DRC’s third…

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has lost his latest legal bid to have long-standing corruption charges dropped. A High Court in Pietermaritzburg dismissed his appeal on Tuesday, paving the way for him to stand trial alongside French arms manufacturer Thales. Zuma and Thales face multiple charges including corruption, money laundering and racketeering stemming from a controversial multi-billion-rand arms deal dating back to 1999. The deal, signed when Zuma formerly was vice president, has long been dogged by allegations of bribery and irregularities. Both Zuma and Thales argued that the case should be dropped because of the deaths of two…

The United Nations has reported that hundreds of people have been killed in South Sudan since December due to an increase in violence between local groups linked to livestock theft and revenge attacks. According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the violence has primarily affected Tonj East in Warrap State in the northwestern part of the state, where armed clashes between cattle herders have caused widespread destruction. “The conflict has led to hundreds of deaths, the burning of homes and large-scale displacement,” it is said in a statement on Tuesday. In March alone, more than 200 deaths have…

Gabon has officially reclaimed a valuable collection of cultural artefacts that had been held in Italy for more than 60 years. Described as a moment of pride and historical significance, the return reflects the country’s renewed efforts to reclaim and preserve its heritage. The returned artefacts – masks, statues, relics, drums, ritual boards and historical books – come from various Gabonese ethnic groups, including the Vili, Punu, Fang, Kota, Mahongwè, Ambété, Kwelé, Teke, Galoa and Nzebi peoples. Many of the objects are sacred and of unknown age and are considered invaluable parts of the country’s cultural identity. The works were…

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was a key figure in South Africa’s liberation struggle, known for her fierce resistance to apartheid and her role as a leading political voice during the country’s most turbulent years. Born in the Eastern Cape on 26 September 1936, she trained as a social worker and became one of the first Black professionals in this field at a time when opportunities for Black South Africans were severely limited. Her life changed dramatically when she married Nelson Mandela in 1958, as the apartheid government intensified its repression of the African National Congress (ANC) and other resistance movements. Following Nelson…

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has arrived in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, for a two-day official visit upon the invitation of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. According to a statement from the Presidential Office, the two leaders are initially scheduled to hold a private meeting at the El Mouradia Palace. In addition, extensive bilateral talks are planned with the participation of relevant delegations. The visit is expected to end up in the signing of various agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation between Rwanda and Algeria. During his visit, President Kagame will commemorate those who lost their lives during Algeria’s struggle for independence…

According to local residents, at least 20 civilians were killed in a Nigerian military airstrike in Zamfara State. The incident occurred over the weekend when a military jet mistakenly targeted a group of local hitmen who were pursuing armed bandits responsible for raids in the area. Residents of Maraya village and surrounding communities rushed to recover stolen cattle and rescue abducted villagers after criminal gangs attacked Mani and Wabi villages in the Maru area. According to eyewitnesses, the military, responding to calls for help, mistook the hitmen for the attackers and launched an offensive between Maraya and Wabi. “We have…

A Benin court has sentenced digital activist Steve Amoussou to two years in prison for criticizing government officials online. The court also imposed a fine of two million CFA francs (approximately $3,500). Amoussou was convicted on charges of “politically motivated insult” and “spreading false information” against officials, despite denying all charges. He has the option to appeal the decision within 15 days. The hearing took place at the Economic Crimes and Suppression of Terrorism Court in Cotonou, which has a reputation for handing down harsh sentences for government critics. Benin’s authorities suspect Amoussou of operating an online account under the…

Tunisia is expanding its efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable development by scaling up the social and solidarity economy (SSE), where youth empowerment and institutional reform are at the core. This was the key message of the National Forum on SSE and Social Innovation, held in Tunis from 26 to 28 May 2025. Organized by the Tunisian Ministry of Economy and Planning, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union, the Forum brought together government officials, social partners, youth leaders and development actors to assess the impact and future direction of SSE. The meeting built on a decade of…

The Zimbabwe Air Force has come under increasing scrutiny after a series of alarming aviation incidents exposed deep-rooted weaknesses in the country’s military aviation infrastructure, raising national security concerns. The crisis gained renewed attention in August 2021 after a near-fatal incident occurred when President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at a farm in Sandringham, about 40 miles from Harare. A technical fault in the aircraft’s avionics, indicating a battery failure during flight, triggered the emergency landing. The president escaped unharmed, but the incident led to an overhaul of security procedures. Subsequent investigations revealed critical gaps…