Author: WAJ Team

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) will now oversee and regulate gaming activities in Rwanda, including the licensing of industry operators. Under the new arrangement, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, formerly responsible for these duties, will now focus on policy development for the sector. A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Trade and Industry has confirmed: “The transition process is nearing completion and is scheduled to finish by August this year,” the source revealed. “We are currently in the transition phase where RDB will take on the responsibility of licensing operators. This move to the RDB one-stop center is anticipated…

Certainly! Here’s a paraphrased version: A bombing in Mogadishu’s Boondheere district killed five civilians and injured 20 others at a busy restaurant during Sunday night’s Euro final match between Spain and England. The explosion, caused by a vehicle packed with explosives parked outside Top Coffee, was reportedly carried out by Al-Shabaab, according to Somali police. The restaurant, crowded with patrons watching the soccer game, suffered significant damage, including flames and smoke visible in photos from the scene. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people sought to escape the chaos. Located in a heavily guarded area near key government buildings, Top…

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has strongly condemned the brutal killings of women whose mutilated bodies were discovered in Kware, Nairobi County. She has called for prompt investigations into the matter and urged the government to enhance protection for women and girls, emphasizing the urgent need to combat Gender Based Violence. “As a woman leader and a mother, I demand swift investigation and assurance from the police that the culprits will be apprehended and brought to justice,” she stated. Governor Ndeti also extended condolences to the families affected by this tragic incident, expressing hope that justice will be swiftly served. Director…

Kenyan citizens have until July 22 to submit their feedback on the new budget, following the rejection of the Financial Bill. The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee will start gathering public opinions on the Supplementary Estimates (No.1) for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, covering both recurrent and development expenditures, as well as the revised Programme-Based Budget. President William Ruto returned the Financial Bill to Parliament for withdrawal after protests led to over 40 deaths and 300 injuries. Speaker Moses Wetangula instructed the Ndindi Nyoro-led Committee to prepare and present its report to the House by July 24, enabling MPs to…

Information You Need to Know Chisano had a very deep relationship with his father, John OkaloOlwangu (RIP). Additionally, South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit is Chisano’s favorite rugby player. During the 1990s, Joaquim Chissano served as the president of Mozambique. Upon retiring from the presidency, he became one of the most sought-after political dignitaries in Africa and beyond. Until a few years ago, the only person known by that name was Joaquim Chissano. Then, unexpectedly, a young player emerged on the Uganda rugby scene with the same name. Interestingly, he has no connection to Mozambique. The name issue will be revisited…

Several suspected al Shabaab insurgents were killed during a confrontation with police in Guba, Elwak, Mandera County. Authorities anticipate that the casualty count among the suspects will rise, as blood trails were discovered leading towards the main Kenya-Somalia border. The Incident occurred on the evening of Thursday, July 11, when a Special Operations Group team pursued suspected militants spotted in the area. The officers were ambushed, resulting in a fierce clash. Police reported seizing a variety of weapons from the suspects involved in the skirmish. The area, situated near the Kenya-Somalia border, is frequently penetrated by terrorist groups who launch…

Burkina Faso’s military junta recently approved revisions to the family code, which now includes provisions criminalizing homosexuality. Previously, Burkina Faso was one of 22 African countries where same-sex relationships were legally permitted. Since the 2022 coups, Burkina Faso has been under military rule and part of a confederation with Mali and Niger’s juntas. None of these interim governments have held elections yet and have distanced themselves from Western allies. In a statement on Wednesday, the junta announced the adoption of the updated family code during a weekly council of ministers meeting led by interim military leader Ibrahim Traore. “Effective immediately,…

Saint Academy, a school located in BusaBuji, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, collapsed around 11 am while students were taking exams, trapping numerous students and teachers inside. Rescue efforts are ongoing to save those trapped, with soldiers and police on the scene assisting. The full extent of the damage and the exact number of trapped students are still unknown.

Why has the government chosen to grant a logging concession in Cameroon’s biodiverse Ebo forest to an obscure company? During Yetina Victor’s last visit to the Ebo forest in October 2023, he experienced both enchantment and concern. Enchanted by the crystal-clear Nibouem river enveloping the trees, he was also worried about the forest’s future. As chief of NdikBassogog I village in Cameroon’s Littoral region, Yetina highlighted Ebo’s richness, including diverse fauna, wild fruits, medicinal plants, and towering trees. Spanning 2,000 km2, Ebo is home to endangered species like Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees and forest elephants, crucial for 40 Banen communities’ livelihoods. Despite…

Four incubation hubs being developed under Rwanda’s government initiative are poised to revolutionize opportunities for young innovators in the country’s secondary cities. Launched in 2021 in collaboration with the European Union, these hubs, known as ‘Hanga Hubs’, are currently being established in Rubavu, Rusizi, Muhanga, and Nyagatare districts. The initiative aims to bridge the digital skills gap and tackle unemployment by providing entrepreneurship support services to technology-driven startups in secondary cities. Pascal Murasira, Technical Advisor to Hanga Hubs, emphasized the importance of decentralizing these services to support talented innovators across Rwanda, not just in Kigali. Murasira anticipates that the new…

The High Court declared the establishment of the Shakahola Massacre Inquiry Commission illegal. This decision followed a lawsuit filed by the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition, which argued against the commission, highlighting concerns over the separation of powers. They contended that President William Ruto’s appointment of a sitting judge to the commission undermined this principle. Justice Lawrence Mugambi’s judgment stated, “The decision made by the President on May 4, 2023, as published in Kenya Gazette No. 5660, to establish the Commission of Inquiry into the Shakahola Tragedy and to confer powers akin to those of independent constitutional commissions and…

The French Embassy in Kenya has clarified that it will not release the names of the delegation accompanying Team Kenya to the Paris Olympics. The Embassy stated that its responsibility is solely to process visa applications and emphasized its legal obligation to safeguard the personal information of applicants. “The Embassy is also obligated to uphold privacy and protect personal data, prohibiting the disclosure or publication of visa applicants’ personal information,” stated the Embassy. The statement followed demands from some Kenyans to disclose the complete list of individuals accompanying the Kenyan Team to the Paris Olympics, citing concerns about unnecessary participants…

Authorities in Niger imposed a curfew in the unstable Tillaberi region following a breakout from a heavily guarded prison known for housing jihadists. The incident happened on Thursday at Koutoukale prison, situated approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Niamey, according to the interior ministry. Previous attempts to escape from the facility in 2016 and 2019 were thwarted. Niger’s military is already strained by jihadist assaults in the west and its responsibilities in safeguarding the junta that seized power in last year’s coup. The ministry did not disclose the exact number of prisoners who escaped in the recent jailbreak. However,…

In South Sudan, there is mounting resistance against a recently passed security bill, primarily from opponents of President Salva Kiir. They are urging him to send the bill back to parliament, citing concerns that it grants excessive powers to state security agents. Critics argue that the bill, if enacted, would enable the National Security Service to arrest and detain suspects without a warrant, potentially stifling dissent among opposition groups and civil rights activists. The SPLM-IO, the main opposition party in South Sudan, has joined forces with various civil rights activists in unified opposition to the security bill. Oyet Nathaniel, the…

Mary Moraa, the reigning World Champion in the women’s 800m, is among the leading favorites to secure the Gold Medal at this year’s Paris Olympics in France. Having progressed from the youth championships in Kenya, Moraa will compete in her second Olympic Games after being eliminated in the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. Since then, she has cemented her status by winning a Bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championship in Oregon and achieving triumph at last year’s games in Budapest. She has also clinched a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Moraa has been ramping up her training…

Digital fraud schemes are on the rise in the country, with 80% of Kenyans targeted in the first three months of the year, according to a new TransUnion Consumer Pulse Survey. The survey found that 72% of those who were targeted managed to avoid falling victim to these schemes, while 8% were successfully defrauded. Awareness of fraudulent schemes was notably high, as only 20% of consumers reported being unaware of any fraud attempts. Younger generations showed the highest levels of awareness. “In Q2 2024, vishing (fraudulent phone calls to extract data) was identified as the most common scam, reported by…