Author: WAJ Editor

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,…

Chad has announced the suspension of visa issuance to U.S. citizens, following the inclusion of Chadian nationals in a recent U.S. travel ban affecting 12 countries, including seven in Africa. President Mahamat Idriss Déby made the announcement via Facebook on Thursday, citing the principle of reciprocity in response to Washington’s decision. “I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens,” Déby stated. The move comes after the United States added Chad to a list of nations facing new travel restrictions. While the U.S. government has not…

Togolese rapper Aamron, known for his vocal criticism of President Faure Gnassingbe, has issued a public apology after spending more than a week in detention for what authorities claim was psychiatric treatment. In a video widely circulated on social media on Thursday, the artist (real name Essowe Tchalla) expressed regret for what she described as “insulting and ugly” remarks against the president. “I want to sincerely apologize to His Excellency Faure Gnassingbe,” Tchalla said, adding that she now regrets her words. She claimed to be receiving treatment for severe depression at a psychiatric clinic in Zebe, about 50 kilometers from…

Authorities confirmed on Thursday that at least five people were killed and several others wounded in a deadly attack on a Malian army post in the southeastern village of Mahou. The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting the country’s military. According to defense and local sources, the attack began in the morning hours and involved dozens of armed assailants on motorcycles. Witnesses described the scene as “horrific” and reports suggested more than 50 assailants were involved. According to a local security official, security forces, supported by ground and air reinforcements, were able to repel the…

Sanlam, one of South Africa’s leading financial services groups, has released statistics claiming a significant increase in cancer-related insurance claims, particularly among younger customers. Sanlam’s 2024 insurance claims data highlights South Africa’s growing health challenges and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical screening habits, revealing a significant increase in cancer and cardiovascular-related claims. Cancer remains the leading cause of serious illness claims, accounting for 54% of total payouts in this category, up 30% from the previous year. Prostate cancer claims among men have doubled, while breast cancer claims among women have increased by 33%. Cardiovascular conditions accounted…

Former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has died at the age of 68 while receiving medical care in South Africa. His daughter Tasila Lungu confirmed the news in a recorded statement on Thursday, saying he died at the Medforum Clinic in Pretoria, where he had been under medical supervision for the past few weeks. “His condition was managed with dignity and confidentiality,” she said. Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president, ruling the country from 2015 to 2021. A trained lawyer, Lungu assumed office following the death of President Michael Sata and was later defeated by incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema in…

An Egyptian court’s recent ruling on the land ownership of St. Catherine’s Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries, has raised concerns among the religious and diplomatic communities. The ruling, handed down on May 28, declared the land surrounding the monastery to be state property, but confirmed the right of monks to continue their religious practices on the site. Located at the foot of Mount Sinai, St. Catherine’s Monastery holds significant religious significance for Christians, Muslims and Jews. Founded in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the monastery is famous for its ancient manuscripts, including the Codex…

Rwanda has become a leader in the fight against plastic pollution, both in Africa and globally, by implementing groundbreaking initiatives that transform waste into valuable resources. According to the United Nations (UN), more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide each year, and less than 10% of this is recycled. UN reports that, single-use plastic that is thrown away or incinerated harms human health and biodiversity, and pollutes every ecosystem from mountaintops to the ocean floor. This explains why Rwanda joined other countries in celebrating World Environment Day 2025 on June 5, with the theme of Defeat Plastic…

Zimbabwean exporters are expressing concern over new government measures tightening controls on foreign exchange earnings, warning that the move could stifle production, reduce foreign exchange inflows and threaten the country’s economy. Under the revised regulations, Zimbabwean exporters are now required to surrender 70% of their foreign exchange earnings within 90 days and some key export incentives have been withdrawn. The announcement resonated with vital sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing, which are already struggling with high operating costs and policy volatility. Speaking to reporters after an exporters’ conference last week, CEO Africa Roundtable Chairman Oswell Binha described the mood…

Angolan President Joao Lourenço has called for increased vaccine and medicine production in Africa, warning that reliance on foreign imports is weakening the continent’s ability to respond to public health emergencies. His comments came during urgent virtual talks on Wednesday as a deadly cholera outbreak continues to spread across several African countries. Locating medicine and vaccine production on our continent is critical to managing the cholera crisis and preparing for future health threats, Lourenço, who currently chairs the African Union, said. “To ensure a strong and sustainable response to this and future crises, it is critical to locate medicine and…

At least 14 people were killed and several others were injured when Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched artillery strikes on a refugee camp in North Darfur, a local aid agency reported on Wednesday. The attack targeted the Abu Shouk camp in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, according to the Abu Shouk Emergency Committee. RSF did not respond to the allegations. El-Fasher has become a point of conflict in recent weeks, with heavy fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army since May 2024. The city is a key humanitarian access point for the wider Darfur region,…

The United Nations (UN) has called for an independent and transparent investigation following the discovery of mass graves in detention centers in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. On Wednesday, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed deep concern over reports of serious human rights violations in official and unofficial facilities operated by the Stability Support Unit, an internal security body under Libya’s Presidential Council. Originally established in 2021 through a UN-backed process to maintain law and order, the Device is now under investigation following the recovery of dozens of bodies and evidence of torture, reinforcing previous UN…

African states has stepped up its efforts for a permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, and the issue took center stage at the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the African Union’s Committee of Ten (C-10) in Lusaka, Zambia, on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the Common African Position (CAP), which advocates for at least two permanent and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council for Africa. The effort illustrated the continent’s long-standing frustrations over its exclusion from the council’s top decision-making level. In a statement made on his behalf by Defense Minister Ambrose Lufuma, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said…

Arab Contractors, one of Egypt’s leading construction firms, has signed a strategic partnership with China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) partner on large-scale infrastructure projects in African countries. The agreement was announced by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who described it as a significant step in strengthening bileteral ties with China. The partnership is expected to center utilizing resources and expertise to deliver ambitious mega projects both within Egypt and in other African countries. Egypt’s Housing Minister Sherif El Sherbiny, who recently visited China, stated that the agreement aims to accelerate the implementation of transformative projects in line with Africa’s…