Author: WAJ Team

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has firmly rejected any plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza, warning that such a move would be an “act of injustice” and a direct threat to Egypt’s national security. Speaking during a joint press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday, Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to a two-state solution as the only viable path to peace between Israel and Palestine. His comments came in response to a recent statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that Egypt and Jordan should accept displaced Palestinians from Gaza, which has been devastated by prolonged Israeli bombardment.…

Morocco is enhancing its security partnerships with key European nations, notably Spain and Germany, as part of a broader strategy to address regional and global security challenges. In a significant development, Abdellatif Hammouchi, head of Morocco’s National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST), met today in Madrid with Francisco Pardo Piqueras, Director General of the Spanish Police, and Dieter Romann, President of the German Bundespolizei. This meeting aims to expand security collaboration and improve intelligence-sharing between the countries, underscoring Morocco’s commitment to addressing shared security concerns. The timing is notable, as Morocco’s growing ties with European nations have drawn mixed reactions…

Botswana’s newly elected President, Duma Boko, has announced the finalization of a diamond extraction and sales agreement with global mining giant De Beers. The deal, concluded just before midnight on January 24, is expected to provide long-term economic stability for the southern African nation, whose economy heavily depends on diamond revenues. In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Boko confirmed that the agreement’s details would be disclosed soon. Botswana is the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds by value, with most of its production coming from Debswana, a joint venture between De Beers—a subsidiary of Anglo American Plc—and the Botswana government.…

Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ernest Rwamucyo, urged the international community to take immediate action against the FDLR group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help restore stability and ensure lasting peace in the region. Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on January 28, Rwamucyo emphasized the growing urgency to address the security situation in DRC, where the M23 rebel group has recently taken control of the key eastern city of Goma. Rwamucyo highlighted that the FDLR, composed of individuals linked to Rwanda’s former army and groups involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, continues…

Marrakech has secured a new Guinness World Record for the longest storytelling marathon, lasting an astonishing 80 hours and 35 minutes. This historic achievement took place at the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival, which ran from January 19 to 26, 2025, at the famed Jemaa el-Fna square, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over 100 storytellers from across the globe participated in the marathon, bringing together diverse voices to celebrate the art of storytelling. This year’s festival, themed “Bahja”—meaning “joy” in Arabic—captured the essence of Marrakech, a city known for its vibrant culture, hospitality, and spirit of living in the moment. Festival…

In a significant turn of events, the West African nations of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a move that brings to a close a year-long process aimed at averting the bloc’s fragmentation. ECOWAS confirmed on Wednesday that the withdrawal, which was first announced a year ago, has now become fully effective. Despite the formal departure of the three countries, ECOWAS expressed its commitment to maintaining diplomatic ties. The bloc urged member states to continue offering key membership privileges to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, including allowing free movement…

Liberia is on the brink of a major economic transformation, with the discovery of rich mineral deposits expected to attract $3 billion in investments, according to President Joseph Boakai. In a statement during his state of the nation address on Monday, Boakai revealed that studies funded by China over the past five decades have uncovered significant mineral resources in the country. In addition to its well-established iron ore and rubber exports, Liberia is now known to have valuable deposits of uranium, lithium, cobalt, manganese, and neodymium, among others. The discovery has sparked discussions with multinational corporations and local investors, who…

Uganda’s military has announced plans to increase its peacekeeping presence in Somalia following the withdrawal of Burundian troops under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye confirmed that Uganda has been assigned responsibility for an additional sector previously secured by Burundian forces. He emphasized that reinforcing troop numbers is necessary to effectively manage both areas. “It is unavoidable that we will need to send more troops because our current deployment is insufficient to cover both sectors,” Kulayigye stated, adding that the additional forces will be deployed once AUSSOM finalizes the necessary arrangements. Uganda…

A raging fire swept through an informal settlement in Johannesburg on Tuesday, leaving approximately 1,500 homes in ruins and displacing hundreds of residents, local authorities confirmed. Residents suspect the blaze was ignited by an exploding paraffin stove, though officials have yet to determine the exact cause. “I was fortunate to salvage most of my belongings, but many in the community lost everything,” a resident. “People are left with nothing—no homes, no possessions.” Another resident, described the desperate attempts to contain the flames. “I got a call while at work and rushed back. The men in the community tried to put…

Uganda Airlines has temporarily suspended its flights to Kinshasa following widespread violent protests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) capital. The demonstrations, sparked by mounting tensions over the crisis in the eastern DRC, led to significant damage to foreign embassies, with several embassies looted and set on fire. The unrest was fueled by public anger over the deteriorating security situation in Goma, the capital of the DRC’s North Kivu province, and the perceived inaction of the international community in addressing the violence. Protesters were seen blocking major roads, burning tires, and disrupting business activity in front of embassies,…

Zambia has confirmed eight new cases of mpox, raising the national tally to 15, health authorities announced on Tuesday. The latest cases were detected in various residential areas of Lusaka, the country’s capital. The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) confirmed the increase in a statement, revealing that many of those affected are family members, highlighting a potential chain of transmission within households. Paul Zulu, the mpox incident manager at ZNPHI, explained that the new cases involved individuals who had recently traveled outside Lusaka. Health authorities in the capital have been actively responding to the outbreak since mid-January and have…

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali on Tuesday, rallying in support of their governments’ formal withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which comes into effect on Wednesday. The three West African nations, all founding members of ECOWAS, announced their exit in January 2024, citing concerns over the bloc’s alignment with foreign powers, particularly France. Their decision has deepened regional divisions, raising questions about ECOWAS’s future and influence. In response, the three countries have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a new coalition aimed at regional cooperation…

The ongoing consequences of last year’s devastating El Niño have compounded agricultural difficulties across southern Africa, leaving millions vulnerable to food insecurity. According to the latest Southern Africa Seasonal Monitor by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), food access for impoverished households will remain constrained throughout 2025, as escalating staple food prices continue to challenge already strained economies. The region has been grappling with unpredictable rainfall patterns since October, with significant deficits in key agricultural areas such as Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. Notably, regions like eastern Madagascar, southern Mozambique, and southern Zambia saw rainfall…

Mali’s government and Barrick Gold are scheduled to resume high-level talks on Tuesday to resolve a growing dispute surrounding allegations of unpaid taxes by the Canadian mining company and the seizure of its gold reserves by local authorities. Barrick, the world’s second-largest gold producer, temporarily suspended its mining operations in Mali after the government seized nearly 3 metric tons of gold, worth approximately $250 million, from its Loulo-Gounkoto complex. This action has escalated tensions between the mining giant and the Malian government. Key issues for discussion in the upcoming round of negotiations include a demand by Mali for $199 million…

The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) has launched the first phase of its $2 billion expansion project, aiming to position Maputo Port as a leading shipping hub in Southern Africa. This ambitious initiative, projected to cost $164 million in its initial phase, is set to increase the port’s container handling capacity from 255,000 to 530,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually within the next two years. The project is designed to meet the growing demand for alternative shipping routes as exporters seek more efficient logistics solutions in the region. Key infrastructural upgrades include the extension of the quay from 250 meters…

Rwanda and Guinea-Conakry have entered into a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral security cooperation, with the agreement focusing on key areas such as training, intelligence sharing, and the fight against transnational crime. The MoU was signed on Monday in Kigali by Rwanda’s Interior Minister Vincent Biruta and Guinea’s Minister of Security and Civil Protection, Bachir Diallo. The partnership seeks to bolster both nations’ security frameworks by facilitating joint training programs, exchanges of best practices, and technical assistance. Additionally, the agreement emphasizes the importance of information and intelligence sharing to enhance the security infrastructure in both countries. Key…