Author: WAJ Team

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will travel to Belarus in May following a formal invitation from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, delivered by Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov during a diplomatic mission to Harare this week. The visit comes as the two countries continue to strengthen political and economic cooperation, with both governments reaffirming their commitment to strategic collaboration. High-level talks in Harare focused on the ongoing implementation of Zimbabwe’s agricultural mechanization programme, now entering its third phase with technical support from Belarus. The initiative has become a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s agricultural revival efforts and reflects the broader ambition to boost food production…

As the global community observes International Bat Appreciation Day, environmental advocates are urging urgent action to preserve Nigeria’s diverse but increasingly endangered bat species, which represent a third of all bat species found across the African continent. Nigeria is home to approximately 100 bat species, with several of them facing the looming threat of extinction. According to the 2025 IUCN Red List, key species such as the short-tailed roundleaf bat are now critically endangered. These species are under increasing pressure from human activities, including deforestation, unregulated mining, agricultural expansion, light pollution, and illegal hunting for bushmeat. “Bats are vital to…

Rwanda has made remarkable strides in its fight against poverty, with over 1.5 million people rising above the poverty line in just seven years, according to newly released national statistics. The findings, published in the Seventh Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV 7) by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), reveal that the country’s overall poverty rate dropped from 39.8/percent in 2017 to 27.4/percent in 2024. Urban areas saw poverty fall from 18.8/percent to 12.7/percent, while rural communities—where poverty has historically been more entrenched—recorded a sharper decline, from 44/percent to 31.6/percent . Speaking during the release of the…

In a key diplomatic gesture, Nigeria and Niger have reopened high-level dialogue, signalling cautious efforts to rebuild trust and cooperation following Niger’s 2023 military coup. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar held talks in Niamey with his Nigerien counterpart, Bakary Yaou Sangare, in only the second visit by a senior Nigerian official since President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted from power. The meeting marks a renewed attempt by both sides to navigate regional turbulence and re-establish vital cross-border collaboration. “The talks were held in a climate of mutual respect and deepened understanding,” the two ministers said in a joint statement. They noted…

Malian authorities have shut the Bamako office of Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold in a dramatic escalation of a dispute over tax obligations and mining revenue control. The closure comes amid a broader standoff that began in 2023 following Mali’s introduction of a new mining code aimed at increasing state participation in the gold sector. Barrick, one of Mali’s major foreign investors, has been locked in negotiations with the government over how the legislation should be applied. Government officials this week sealed the company’s capital office and warned that the suspended Loulo-Gounkoto mine could be placed under provisional administration if…

Nigeria and South Africa have formalised a landmark agreement to collaborate on mining development, aiming to drive investment, enhance technical capacity, and deepen regional integration across Africa’s mineral-rich landscape. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, marks a significant step in strengthening ties under the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission. Speaking after the signing, Alake’s media aide, Segun Tomori, said the accord outlines clear collaborative objectives and timelines, setting the stage for practical cooperation in key areas of the mining…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed his decision to retain Mcebisi Jonas as the country’s new special envoy to the United States, despite revelations that Jonas previously made disparaging remarks about former US President Donald Trump. Jonas, a former deputy finance minister, was appointed to the diplomatic post earlier this week, succeeding Ebrahim Rasool. Rasool’s removal followed a diplomatic fallout triggered by comments he had made about the Trump administration. The reshuffle comes at a time when Pretoria is seeking to restore balance in its relations with Washington. The controversy surrounding Jonas stems from remarks he reportedly made after…

South Africa has strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including its repeated bombings of hospitals, describing the actions as a clear violation of international humanitarian law. The condemnation follows the Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, which was reportedly the last operational medical facility in Gaza City. The attack, which occurred on Sunday, forced the evacuation of numerous patients and has worsened Gaza’s already dire healthcare crisis. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) reaffirmed South Africa’s alignment with global condemnation of these actions. According to DIRCO, at least…

Trade ministers from across Africa have gathered in Kinshasa this week to chart a unified response to Washington’s unexpected move to impose sweeping tariffs on African imports, a decision that has unsettled several economies across the continent. The United States had earlier announced a 10/percent baseline tariff on goods from nearly all African nations, with some countries—such as Lesotho—facing rates as high as 50/percent. Although the Trump administration temporarily suspended the measure for 90 days, the brief pause has done little to ease mounting concerns among African policymakers. For over two decades, African exporters have relied on the African Growth…

Shaka Zulu remains one of the most formidable figures in Southern African history. A visionary leader and fierce military strategist, he reshaped the Zulu nation in the early 19th century, turning a small clan into a powerful kingdom. His life story is marked by determination, innovation, and a legacy that continues to provoke admiration and debate. From humble beginnings to commanding armies and transforming regional politics, Shaka’s impact on the course of African history is both profound and enduring. Formative Years Shaka was born in 1787 to Chief Senzangakhona and Nandi, a union that was initially shrouded in rejection. His…

Armed herdsmen launched a violent attack on Otobi, a community in Nigeria’s Benue State, on Tuesday evening, leaving seven people dead and more than 20 others injured. This assault marks the third such attack in the region within the month of April, highlighting the escalating violence between farmers and herders in Nigeria’s middle-belt. The attack occurred around 5:30 p.m. in Akpa district, located within the Otukpo Local Government Area, and lasted for approximately two hours. In addition to the fatalities and injuries, many homes were destroyed by fire, further displacing vulnerable residents. Kennedy Angbo, a lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa Constituency in…

South Africa’s rand strengthened on Wednesday morning, lifted by a softer dollar as global markets reacted to lingering trade tensions between the United States and China. At the same time, investors are closely monitoring internal political discussions that could shape the country’s fiscal path. By 0757 GMT, the rand was trading at 18.9425 against the U.S. dollar, marking a 0.4/percent gain. The greenback fell around 0.7/percent against a basket of major currencies, as traders digested the ongoing uncertainty triggered by U.S. tariff policy. Although no fresh developments emerged overnight, the persistent trade standoff between Washington and Beijing—South Africa’s key trading…

Africa’s artistic legacy is undergoing a global renaissance. Once misrepresented or overlooked, the continent’s creative heritage is now taking center stage in major museums, academic discussions, and modern design studios across the world. At the heart of this resurgence are five landmark artworks that have shaped, challenged, and redefined artistic expression far beyond Africa’s borders. From ancient stone carvings to a rediscovered portrait that captivated international markets, these pieces offer more than aesthetic value—they tell stories of identity, innovation, and influence that continue to echo across centuries. The Stone Birds of Great Zimbabwe: Sculpted Sovereignty Discovered among the ruins of…

Crude oil prices declined for the second consecutive month, reflecting market unease triggered by recent U.S. trade measures and a slowing global demand outlook. According to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), its Reference Basket (ORB) of crudes averaged $74.00 per barrel in March, down 3.7/percent from February. The drop in oil prices coincides with the economic ripple effects of newly announced U.S. tariffs, which have contributed to a more cautious global consumption outlook. OPEC has now trimmed its 2025 oil demand growth forecast to 1.3 million barrels per day (mb/d), citing fresh data from the first quarter…

The death toll from Nigeria’s ongoing Lassa fever outbreak has climbed to 127 since January, according to data released Tuesday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The country has confirmed 674 infections from a pool of 4,025 suspected cases recorded since the beginning of the year. The hemorrhagic virus, endemic to parts of West Africa, has now spread to 18 of Nigeria’s 36 states, with the southern states of Ondo and Edo, alongside Bauchi in the north, accounting for more than 70 percent of the confirmed cases. Health authorities report a case fatality rate of 18.8/percent—slightly…

In a country where apartheid sought to erase identity and suppress resistance, one voice emerged to reawaken the soul of an oppressed people. Steve Biko, the visionary founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, was more than an activist—he was a beacon of psychological and political liberation. Though his life was tragically cut short at just 30, his ideas and courage continue to fuel South Africa’s long march toward freedom. A Youth Shaped by Oppression Born on December 18, 1946, in Tarkastad, Eastern Cape, Bantu Stephen Biko was raised in the segregated township of Ginsberg, near King William’s Town. Early hardship…