Author: WAJ Team

A wooden boat’s engine exploded and sank in the Ezetu 1 River in southern Nigeria, resulting in at least 20 fatalities, local authorities reported on Thursday. This incident is part of a troubling trend of fatal boat accidents that suggest possible regulatory issues. The cause of the engine explosion remains unclear, according to Musa Muhammed, a police spokesperson in Bayelsa. The boat was transporting traders from Ekeni, a small community in Bayelsa, to Yenagoa, the state capital, when the explosion occurred. Ipigansi Ogoniba, head of the Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa, reported that some passengers were burned in the resulting…

A military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has sentenced 26 individuals to death for their involvement with armed factions, including the M23, following a prominent trial that began late last month. The court found the leader of a major armed group guilty of war crimes, rebellion, and treason. Along with this leader, 20 other defendants received death sentences in absentia, as they are currently evading arrest. The five defendants who were present during the trial have five days to challenge the verdict, according to the court president. The prosecution, which began on July 24, had sought the…

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has put its Chief Information Officer on hold amid accusations of misconduct concerning a multi-million rand tender. This decision follows ACSA’s earlier denial of any issues with the tender process. However, a recent statement reveals that after conducting a further investigation, ACSA found preliminary evidence of misconduct related to the biometric and digital identity technology project. As a result, the Chief Information Officer has been placed on precautionary suspension to facilitate a thorough investigation and to keep the public informed of the findings. The contract in question involves a biometric system awarded to the French…

On Thursday, Letsile Tebogo made history as the first African to secure the men’s Olympic 200 meters title, surging ahead of American runners Kenny Bednarek and a COVID-affected Noah Lyles to earn Botswana’s inaugural Olympic gold medal. Tebogo, who had set a national record of 9.86 seconds in the 100m final, showcased an impressive final 50 meters, finishing in 19.46 seconds and celebrating as he became the fifth-fastest man ever in the 200m. Bednarek trailed Tebogo closely to claim his second consecutive silver with a time of 19.62 seconds, while Lyles, who sought to become the first American to achieve…

Rwanda has recently closed over 5,600 places of worship due to non-compliance with operational standards. This enforcement action, which started on July 29 and lasted two weeks, affected various religious sites, including churches, mosques, caves, and tents. These establishments were found to be lacking in meeting the requirements outlined in 2018 regulations. The regulations stipulate that religious leaders must possess theology degrees, faith organizations need to be registered with the government, and doctrinal statements must be filed with the Rwanda Governance Board. Additionally, places of worship must meet specified safety and hygiene standards. Anglican Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda commented…

Formula 1 executives are set to meet with Rwandan representatives next month as the country pushes forward with its bid to host grand prix. This move aligns with F1’s plans to expand its calendar in response to increasing global interest, with securing a race in Africa being a significant target. While many countries in the region have expressed interest in hosting Formula 1 races, Rwanda’s plans have reached a level of development that warrants more detailed discussions. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali mentioned in a recent interview that a meeting with Rwanda is planned for the end of September to review…

Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has triggered a dispute by abruptly dismissing and substituting 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) only weeks after their late swearing-in on July 25. The unexpected and sweeping changes have caused significant turmoil within the party, leading to accusations of cronyism and power struggles. National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza issued letters to several of the removed MPs. In the letters, Didiza advises the members that she received communication from the MK party’s chief whip, Sihle Ngubane, indicating that their party memberships have been revoked, which makes them ineligible to continue serving in Parliament. An insider…

The Ukrainian government has responded to the decision by Niger’s Transitional Military Government to cut diplomatic ties. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the allegations made by Niger as unfounded and without merit. “The accusations against Ukraine mentioned in the statement by Niger’s government representative are completely baseless, lack credibility, and are false,” reads part of a statement. Ukraine has also denied any role in the Mali attack that led to the deaths of military officers and Wagner mercenaries. It strongly refutes any allegations of supporting international terrorism or violating the UN Charter and international law. Ukraine further noted…

Following the detention of nearly 100 activists in recent months, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa organized a national breakfast prayer meeting on Wednesday, seeking spiritual direction. The gathering at the State House included senior Zanu-PF officials, government representatives, and select religious leaders. Recently, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere claimed that some religious leaders were collaborating with civil society groups to disrupt the government, particularly in the run-up to the 44th ordinary SADC summit of heads of state and government set for August 17 and 18. Mnangagwa called for divine support to ensure a peaceful summit, encouraging “the church and the entire nation…

A catastrophic breach of the Riverlands dam has led to severe flooding in Riverlands and Dassenberg near Malmesbury. The dam failure has submerged numerous homes, prompting Gift of the Givers to provide critical humanitarian aid to the displaced residents. Gift of the Givers, a prominent South African humanitarian organization founded in 1999, specializes in rapid emergency response. The organization works on-site to offer disaster relief, medical care, and food support. According to the organization, thousands of people have been displaced following the collapse of the Riverlands retention dam walls in Chartsworth, Western Cape, during the early hours of August 8.…

On August 8, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to the Republic of Angola for a working visit, where he is set to meet with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço. Accompanying him will be Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola and Defence Minister Angie Motshekga. During this working visit, the two leaders will evaluate the longstanding bilateral relationship between their countries, which has its foundations in their joint struggle against colonialism and apartheid, according to a statement released by the Presidency on Wednesday. The discussion will also cover areas of shared interest. Presidents Ramaphosa and Lourenço will address…

A senior World Health Organization (WHO) official has disclosed that Uganda will obtain at least three million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to initiate its child immunization program against malaria. Dr. Annet Kisakye, WHO’s national professional officer for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, shared in an interview that the vaccine was approved by the organization in December of the previous year. She noted, “We are anticipating three million doses to ensure all four required doses are provided to each child.” The Ministry of Health has announced that the malaria vaccine procurement will be jointly funded by the Government of…

On Wednesday, Mr. Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, disclosed that the country spends $600 million each month on fuel imports. He firmly denied the allegations that the federal government had secretly sought Ways and Means advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), asserting that such claims are incorrect. Edun explained that the large fuel expenditure is partly due to neighboring countries, extending to Central Africa, benefiting from Nigeria’s fuel imports. This situation was a significant factor in President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy, with the aim of reducing foreign…

Rwanda has suspended beryllium exports due to concerns about illegal mining and related disruptions. Beryllium, a lightweight yet strong metal used in aerospace, defense, electronics, and nuclear sectors, will not be shipped out until further notice. Details about the incidents leading to this suspension have not been disclosed, but it has been stated that the halt will continue “until further notice.” During this time, a thorough review of illegal mining cases will be conducted, and efforts will be made to improve export procedures for the beryllium trade. Exporters are also reminded to purchase minerals only from licensed mining operations, in…

Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and appointed Kamel Madouri, the former social affairs minister, as his replacement. The president’s office issued the announcement late Wednesday but did not provide reasons for Hachani’s removal. Hachani, who assumed office on August 1 of the previous year, had replaced Najla Bouden, who was also removed by Saied without a specified reason. Just hours before his dismissal, Hachani had shared a video message highlighting the government’s progress on various issues, including addressing the nation’s food and energy requirements. Kamel Madouri, the new prime minister, had been serving as the…

On Wednesday, the United States announced a plan to provide nearly $414 million in humanitarian aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 25 million people, representing almost a quarter of the population, are in need of assistance. Jeffrey Prescott, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, indicated that a significant portion of this aid would be allocated to UN agencies and relief organizations focused on delivering essential services such as food, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. He also mentioned that the aid package includes agricultural products sourced directly from American farmers.…