Author: WAJ Team

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have strongly rejected any efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians or undermine their cause. This declaration came following high-level talks on Thursday during the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation, which took place in Egypt’s new administrative capital. During their discussions, the two leaders explored ways to restore peace and stability to Palestinian territories, with a particular focus on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Al-Sisi and Abbas reviewed Egypt’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to facilitate a ceasefire, as well as the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the…

Libya’s long-standing political deadlock took a significant turn as the country’s rival factions agreed to work alongside the United Nations in a bid to restore stability and prepare for elections. In talks held in Bouznika, near Morocco’s capital Rabat, representatives from the two major legislative bodies, the High Council of State in Tripoli and the House of Representatives in Benghazi, committed to forming a national unity government and embarking on comprehensive political, financial, and security reforms. The discussions, which marked a key step in breaking years of political impasse, included the establishment of a UN-led advisory committee to address unresolved…

Lucara Diamond, the Canadian company operating Botswana’s highly productive Karowe mine, has officially unveiled the names of two remarkable diamonds discovered earlier this year. The announcement, made on December 17, follows the summer discovery of two enormous gems, one weighing 2,488 carats and the other 1,094 carats. The larger diamond has been named “Motswedi,” a Setswana word meaning “water source” or “underground water flow,” while the smaller diamond will be called “Seriti,” signifying “aura” or “presence.” These names were selected through a public competition, engaging the people of Botswana in a decision that reflects the country’s rich cultural heritage and…

Rwanda has officially declared the end of its Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak, following a 42-day period without any new confirmed cases. Today, December 20, marks the milestone, with the last confirmed case testing negative twice and leaving the national treatment center, triggering the end-of-outbreak protocol as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The outbreak, which began on September 27, 2024, was Rwanda’s first encounter with the Marburg virus, a highly contagious and deadly pathogen related to the Ebola virus. During the outbreak, 66 individuals were confirmed to have contracted the virus, leading to 15 deaths. Nearly 80% of those…

President João Manuel Lourenço of Angola touched down in Muscat on Thursday, embarking on a two-day official visit to the Sultanate of Oman. The visit highlights the growing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations and includes high-level meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Upon his arrival at the Royal Private Airport, the President was warmly received by Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi, Minister of the Royal Court, who led the welcoming party for President Lourenço, his wife, and their official delegation. Sayyid Khalid extended a heartfelt welcome to the visiting dignitaries, expressing his hopes for a productive…

South Africa is grappling with a significant rise in rubella cases, with the National Department of Health issuing an urgent warning to the public as laboratory-confirmed infections surge across the country. According to the latest data from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), 10,137 rubella cases have been reported between January and November 2024, marking a troubling increase compared to the same period last year. The majority of the reported cases have been concentrated in Gauteng and Western Cape provinces, where the disease has spread most rapidly. In total, more than 8,300 of the confirmed cases—over 90%—have been among…

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune hosted important talks on Thursday with senior Russian officials, including Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian President’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, and Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister. The meeting, attended by Algerian Army Chief of Staff Said Chengriha, was a crucial step in advancing Algeria-Russia relations. While the specifics of the discussions were not immediately released, the high-profile nature of the meeting signals a deepening of the longstanding partnership between the two nations. Earlier in the day, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf engaged in a separate round of discussions with Bogdanov, focusing on…

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has concluded the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation in Cairo, a significant event that brought together leaders from member countries to address key issues facing the developing world. The summit, held under the theme “Investing in Youth and Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy,” focused on the critical role of youth, the development of SMEs, and the urgent need for regional stability. Youth at the Forefront of Economic Future El-Sisi, who assumed the presidency of the D-8 from Bangladesh, underscored the importance of empowering the region’s youth,…

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have pledged to intensify cooperation and consultation on regional issues, addressing crises in Gaza, Syria, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia, while emphasizing the need for stability and peace across the Middle East and North Africa. In a high-level meeting, President El-Sisi outlined Egypt’s ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, including facilitating the release of hostages and detainees and ensuring the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. The Egyptian leader emphasized Egypt’s key role in navigating these complex issues, underlining the importance of a long-term resolution to the humanitarian crisis…

Algeria has achieved a significant diplomatic victory at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), ensuring equal access to Council documents for all its members, a privilege that was previously reserved only for the five permanent members. This breakthrough follows more than six months of intensive negotiations and consultations spearheaded by Algeria, which began its term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in January 2024. Upon assuming its seat on the Council, Algeria discovered a longstanding and deeply entrenched disparity: while the permanent members had unrestricted access to all internal and non-public documents related to the UNSC’s work, elected members…

Mozambican opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane has warned of widespread unrest unless the Constitutional Council officially declares him the winner of the disputed 9 October presidential election. In a dramatic live broadcast from an undisclosed location, Mondlane issued the ultimatum, claiming the country would face chaos unless the country’s highest electoral authority rules in his favor. Mondlane, leader of the opposition party Podemos, directly addressed the Chairperson of the Constitutional Council, Lucia Ribeiro, stating that the future of Mozambique’s peace and stability now rests with her decision. The candidate argued that the Council’s verdict on the election results would determine…

A new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has brought to light the growing security crisis in Nigeria, revealing that over 2 million Nigerians were kidnapped between May 2023 and April 2024. In addition, the survey found that Nigerians paid a total of $1.42 billion in ransom to kidnappers during the same period, underscoring the escalating toll on families and the economy. Released on Tuesday, the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024 paints a grim picture of the country’s ongoing security challenges. According to the NBS, nearly 600,000 Nigerians were killed, and 2.2 million were abducted over…

The country celebrates a pivotal moment in healthcare innovation with the launch of its first batch of long-acting insulin, marking a significant step towards self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The insulin, which is designed to treat millions of diabetes patients, is the product of a partnership formed in 2022 between Egyptian pharmaceutical company Eva Pharma and global pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company. The initiative underscores Egypt’s commitment to reducing its reliance on imported medications and bolstering domestic production capacity. Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, who attended the launch at the Eva Pharma factory in Giza, hailed the project as a significant…

Tunisian Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, met with Palestinian Minister of Industry, Arafat Asfour, on Wednesday in Tunis to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and expand economic ties between the two nations. The meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, highlighted the deep-rooted relationship between Tunisia and Palestine, with both ministers expressing a commitment to furthering these longstanding diplomatic and economic ties. According to a statement from Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, the two sides acknowledged the importance of strengthening their collaboration in various sectors to support sustainable…

Burkina Faso’s customs authorities announced the seizure of 28.6 kilograms (63 pounds) of gold, worth an estimated $2.3 million, in a major smuggling operation on Tuesday. Three individuals were arrested as they attempted to transport the illicit cargo across the border into neighboring Togo. The suspects, who were traveling by bus to Lomé, the capital of Togo, had concealed the gold within their clothing. Acting on an anonymous intelligence tip-off, Burkinabe customs officers followed the bus to the southeastern border town of Cinkansé, where the individuals were apprehended. The operation, which involved officers from the Bittou customs office and local…

Mali has taken a bold step to reclaim its identity by renaming streets and public spaces in its capital, Bamako, as part of a broader initiative to shed remnants of its French colonial past. The move comes as the country aligns with Burkina Faso and Niger, both of which have recently undertaken similar efforts to erase colonial-era references. A decree issued by Mali’s military leadership, under Colonel Assimi Goita, announced the renaming of nearly 25 streets, squares, and institutions. Among the changes, streets once bearing the names of French colonial officials have been replaced with titles celebrating the nation’s heritage…