Author: WAJ Team

Since the launch of kidney transplant services in Rwanda last year, all 32 cases requiring such procedures have been successfully managed locally, according to Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the Minister of Health. The services, which began at King Faisal Hospital (KFH) in May last year, started with three living donor kidney transplants, marking a key achievement in the government’s goal to cut down on costly medical referrals abroad. Before these services were introduced, nearly 70 patients had been referred overseas for kidney transplants, with costs exceeding Rwf 800 million. A June 2023 article by Rwandan doctors in the Rwanda Public Health…

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa officially handed over St. Charles Lwanga Church to the Kigarama parishioners in Mitooma District, Uganda, on Sunday. The ceremony began with a thanksgiving mass led by Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha of Mbarara Archdiocese. The church, which is 83 percent complete, was consecrated by the archbishop with Tayebwa’s support. Fr. Bainomugisha praised Tayebwa for his generous contribution and urged the congregation to follow his example by giving back to the community and serving God. He also extended gratitude to Tayebwa’s father, Mzee Daudi Bangirana, for his role in this project and encouraged everyone to contribute to their communities.…

On Monday, King Mohammed VI of Morocco pardoned three journalists who had been detained for several years, alongside hundreds of other prisoners whose sentences were commuted to commemorate the monarch’s 25th year on the throne. Among the 2,476 people granted clemency were Omar Radi, Soulaimane Raissouni, Taoufik Bouachrine, and historian and rights advocate Maati Monjib, according to a government official who requested anonymity. Rights organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF), had condemned the imprisonment of Radi and Raissouni, who were detained since 2021 on charges of sexual assault, which they denied. Human Rights Watch accused Morocco of using criminal…

Tatjana Smith (formerly Schoenmaker) surged from behind to claim Team South Africa’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the women’s 100m breaststroke final on Monday night. Smith, who secured silver in this event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had to close the gap after China’s Tang Qianting raced ahead from the start. Qianting completed the first 50m in just 29.94 seconds, while Smith turned at 30.62 seconds. Ireland’s Mona McSharry, also performing well in lane two, nearly took the lead with a strong finish. However, Smith, the gold medalist in the 200m breaststroke from Tokyo, made…

Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) after publicly supporting a rival political party and campaigning for them ahead of the upcoming elections in May. Zuma had been a member of the ANC for 65 years. He joined the anti-apartheid movement in 1959 as a young man and, like Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned on Robben Island for his role in fighting against white minority rule. Following the establishment of democracy in South Africa, Zuma, like Mandela, served as president. However, his long association with the ANC came to an unfortunate end on…

The Registrar of Political Parties has refused to reserve names associated with Gen Z for the registration of political parties. Efforts by a segment of Kenya to secure the name for future use failed after the ORPP rejected the request. Simon Maina Mwangi had written to the ORPP to request the reservation of the names. In response to the ORPP’s rejection, Maina has vowed to challenge the decision at the Political Parties Tribunal, arguing that the reason given is invalid. “If you claim Gen-Z is discriminatory, what about Farmers Party? Not everyone is a farmer. We’ll be taking this to…

The perplexing case of how a facility legally registered and run by an accredited security training provider became an illegal military training camp for undocumented Libyans has raised serious concerns in South Africa. The recent raid, which led to the arrest of 95 Libyans, highlights issues of weak border controls and possible immigration corruption, turning the country into a potential haven for terrorists. Adding to the unease, recent reports suggest that some individuals within South Africa may be funding the rising Islamist insurgencies on the continent. This situation is troubling for South Africa, which already faces a high level of…

The Judiciary has rolled out Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) County Action Plans and Suites in Trans Nzoia County to bridge a notable justice gap of approximately 17 percent, affecting those who often forgo seeking justice. At the launch event, Supreme Court Judge and Kenya Judiciary Academy Director Smokin Wanjala announced the establishment of three AJS Suites (Ukumbi) in Kitale, Kiminini, and Cherangany, aiming to broaden access to justice for all Kenyans. Justice Wanjala pointed out that these Suites will function as both physical locations and symbols of hope, independence, and empowerment for the people of Trans Nzoia. He highlighted that…

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) has revealed that essential veterinary services will now be managed by private operators through the ‘Veterinary Sanitary Mandate’ Scheme, with government supervision. This initiative is designed to make veterinary services more accessible to farmers and strengthen the connection between private veterinarians and the government. The mandate tasks veterinarians with serving both the state and the public in key areas, including the early detection and management of animal diseases. Jean-Claude Ndorimana, Director General of Animal Resources Development at MINAGRI, noted that the increasing livestock population has caused farmers to depend significantly on sector-level…

The introduction of a one-time windfall tax on foreign exchange (FX) gains has led to a sharp drop in the value of Nigerian bank stocks, resulting in a N1.3 trillion decrease in market value for investors on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). Approved by the National Assembly, this new tax raises the rate on FX gains from 50% to 70%, with the goal of increasing national revenue. The Senate has also proposed changes to the 2023 Finance Act to enforce this tax, causing a significant impact on the stock market. Since the announcement, market capitalization has decreased from N56.929 trillion…

Tuareg rebels in northern Mali reported having killed and injured numerous soldiers and Wagner mercenaries over two days of clashes near the Algerian border. This follows the army’s statement of losing two soldiers while claiming to have killed around 20 rebels. The rebel group, known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD), announced on Saturday that they had captured armored vehicles, trucks, and tankers during the skirmishes in Tinzaouaten on Thursday and Friday. They also claimed to have damaged a helicopter, which subsequently crashed in Kidal, located several hundred kilometers away. The Malian army reported that…

Seven people were killed and many others sustained injuries in a stampede that erupted during a music concert in Kinshasa, Congo’s capital, authorities reported on Sunday. The tragedy occurred on Saturday at the Stade des Martyrs, an 80,000-capacity stadium, where renowned Congolese gospel singer Mike Kalambayi was performing. According to Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba, the chaos began as a large crowd, estimated at around 30,000 people, tried to enter the stadium. The stampede resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, and some of the injured were rushed to intensive care units. The exact cause of the stampede has not yet…

After more than 257 individuals were killed in the disaster, locals hunt desperately for the missing by hand-digging through mud. For days, retired teacher Meaza Tadelu, clinging to hope that his missing wife might still be alive, has watched with despair. Barefoot and frail at 66, he observed as younger volunteers tirelessly dug through mud and debris in search of survivors in his village in Ethiopia’s Gofa Zone. “She went to the nearby market to buy household goods, and I fear she was caught in the mudslide,” Tadelu, a resident of Daly village, said, his clothes and thin hands covered…

On Sunday evening, President William Ruto rejected claims that the government was selling Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to a private investor. He justified the involvement of a private investor in the airport’s development, explaining that the costs of refurbishment were too substantial for the government alone. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Mombasa County, Ruto emphasized the importance of having a private company undertake the upgrade, similar to other infrastructure projects. “Let’s be honest, Kenyans—the airport we have now includes a canvas structure in the middle of the tarmac at the arrivals area. This is a temporary setup that…

France has taken a significant step to remember the African soldiers killed on French army orders in Senegal during World War II, in an effort to ease historical tensions with former colonies, the government announced on Sunday. Six African soldiers — four from Senegal, one from Ivory Coast, and one from present-day Burkina Faso — have been posthumously recognized for “dying for France.” An official from France’s veterans and remembrance ministry informed AFP that this decision was made in advance of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye events in Senegal in 1944. The official added that this action aligns with…

A company connected to a Cabinet Secretary nominee faced a significant setback in its attempt to operate a new grain bulk terminal after the Supreme Court halted its tender awarded by Kenya Ports Authority. Judges, including Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Mohammed Ibrahim, Isaac Lenaola, William Ouko, and Smokin Wanjala, issued an order preventing Portside Freight Terminals Limited from developing a grain handling facility at the Port of Mombasa until the resolution of an appeal filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and the Dock Workers Union. The Supreme Court ruled, “Until the consolidated appeal is heard and resolved, a conservatory…