Author: WAJ Team

Algeria’s presidential election kicked off on Saturday, with polling stations across the country opening at 8 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). This early election, advanced from its original December date, was announced by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in June. Over 23.4 million registered voters within Algeria are expected to participate, while more than 865,000 Algerians abroad had already begun voting prior to the domestic polling opening. The voting period is set to continue until 7 p.m. (1800 GMT), with an extension of up to one hour possible if deemed necessary by election officials. The race features incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who…

UTM Offshore Ltd. has received official approval to proceed with Nigeria’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, marking a pivotal step in the country’s ambitions to boost its gas sector. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has issued the license for the construction of the facility, which is set to have an annual production capacity of 2.8 million metric tons of LNG. “This is a critical achievement that aligns with the government’s vision for expanding the gas sector,” remarked Farouk Ahmed, head of the regulatory agency, highlighting its importance in advancing Nigeria’s energy goals. Nigeria, as Africa’s…

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have unveiled a comprehensive response strategy to tackle the ongoing mpox outbreak across the continent. Announced on Friday, this extensive plan is set to commence this month and continue through February of the next year, with a projected budget of approximately $600 million. This collaborative initiative seeks to enhance and expedite the efforts of African nations in combating the virus. Its primary goals are to prevent further spread, provide critical support to affected regions, and ultimately save lives. The launch of this plan follows…

The creative sector is receiving heightened attention from both the United States and Africa, according to Lisa Walker, Managing Director of Africa Operations at Prosper Africa. Walker outlined that the U.S. initiative aims to enhance investment and trade relations with African countries, positioning Atlanta as a key hub for African creatives. The city is increasingly recognized for providing a vibrant platform where African storytellers, fashion designers, and musicians can collaborate and expand their influence. Prosper Africa is working to attract private investment by partnering with all 17 federal agencies and engaging unconventional investors, including institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. The…

The Global African Hydrogen Summit officially kicked off in Windhoek on September 4, 2024, with over 1,000 delegates and exhibitors attending. Vice President H. E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the summit, emphasizing its significance in advancing Namibia’s Green Industrialisation strategy. Namibia is set to leverage its vast renewable resources to produce green hydrogen, a crucial element in tackling climate change and driving industrial progress. The summit highlights Namibia’s commitment to sustainable development and its vision for leading the hydrogen economy. In her address, Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah noted, “Our recently introduced Green Industrialisation Blueprint outlines that these sustainable industrial projects could generate…

Angola achieved a stunning 1-0 victory over Ghana in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday. Ghana controlled much of the game and created several scoring opportunities but was unable to capitalize. Antoine Semenyo missed an early chance, sending his shot wide. Mohammed Kudus came close in the 36th minute, but his powerful strike was saved by Angola’s goalkeeper, Neblu. In the second half, Neblu made another crucial save to deny Semenyo in the 58th minute. Jordan Ayew’s attempt was blocked by a defender with 13 minutes remaining, and Kudus’s effort in the 85th…

Ghana has unveiled a significant restructuring proposal for approximately $13 billion of its international bonds, offering bondholders the opportunity to exchange their existing securities for new instruments. This announcement comes more than two months after the country reached a preliminary agreement with two major bondholder groups. Investors have until September 30 to accept the offer, but those who agree by the earlier deadline of September 20 will benefit from a 1% consent fee, as detailed in the government’s recent communication. This restructuring initiative is part of Ghana’s broader effort to manage the economic challenges that led to its default on…

Severe flooding in Kano State has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 31 lives and the destruction of 5,280 homes across 21 local government areas. According to Isyaku Kubarachi, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the catastrophic floods have affected 31,818 individuals and severely damaged 2,518 farmlands, which span 976 hectares. The floods were caused by an intense and prolonged period of heavy rainfall that overwhelmed the region’s infrastructure. Many of the impacted homes were constructed from mud and situated along flood-prone waterways. These structures, unable to withstand the powerful floodwaters, collapsed, leading to…

Zimbabwe’s Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda has underscored the critical need for climate change legislation and the integration of AI technologies to address the severe impacts of climate change. This call follows the recent El Niño event, which has led to the worst drought in four decades across Southern Africa, severely affecting Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. At the Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum 2024, Mudenda emphasized the necessity of incorporating international climate agreements into national laws. He called for the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, and the Katowice Rule Book into domestic legislation. These…

On Thursday, September 5, senior security officials from Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda convened in Kigali for a two-day Defense Cluster meeting under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) framework. This meeting aimed to review and enhance the progress of their collaborative defense initiatives and evaluate the overall status of inter-country cooperation. The primary focus of the discussions was the tripartite Defense Pact, which sets out a framework for cooperation in key areas such as conflict prevention, counter-terrorism, and genocide prevention. In addition, the pact addresses critical cross-border issues, including piracy, the control of illegal small arms, disaster response, and the…

On September 5, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing during the China-Africa Summit (FOCAC). Their conversation focused on deepening collaboration in key areas such as health, infrastructure, and technology. Village Urugwiro reported that the leaders also reiterated their shared dedication to a multipolar global governance system, emphasizing principles of sovereignty and self-determination. The summit also saw President Xi announce a major $50 billion support package for African nations, which will include a combination of loans and grants. This significant commitment aims to advance infrastructure, health, and technology projects across Africa, highlighting China’s ongoing…

The Ukrainian Association in South Africa has voiced strong objections following the docking of a Russian naval vessel at Cape Town harbor in late August. The event, which saw the Russian naval training ship Smolnyy stay for several days, has reignited concerns over South Africa’s neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to the association, the timing of the visit was particularly troubling. During the ship’s presence in Cape Town, Russian bombardments in Ukraine resulted in significant civilian casualties, including children. Dzvinka Kachur, speaking for the association, highlighted that the visit appeared to be more than just a routine stop, suggesting…

Uganda has successfully secured more than $600 million in financial support from the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) to address critical infrastructure needs and enhance waste management systems in the capital city, Kampala. This financial package, confirmed on Thursday by both the Ugandan government and the World Bank, is seen as a significant step toward resolving long-standing issues that have plagued the city’s development. Kampala has been grappling with deteriorating road conditions and inefficient waste disposal, with residents increasingly voicing their concerns. Chronic underfunding from the central government has been blamed for the lack of progress. These…

On Thursday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected claims that Chinese investments are ensnaring Africa in a “debt trap,” asserting that these investments represent a mutually beneficial partnership. His comments came during the China-Africa summit in Beijing, which gathered representatives from over 50 African nations. Ramaphosa addressed concerns about China’s recent $51 billion funding pledge for Africa, dismissing the notion that such financial support is intended to create debt crises for African countries. He emphasized that these investments are designed to foster positive, reciprocal relationships between China and Africa. At the summit, China also pledged to significantly expand its infrastructure…

More than 70 opposition activists were acquitted on Wednesday after their arrests in June for allegedly plotting a peaceful demonstration during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Harare. The acquittal marks a significant development in the ongoing tension between the Zimbabwean government and human rights defenders. The activists, who were represented by Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, had been arrested at the home of Jameson Timba, acting leader of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). They were charged with attending a public gathering with the intent to incite public violence and disorder. The arrests…

The Democratic Republic of Congo received its long-anticipated first batch of mpox vaccines on Thursday, a significant step forward as health officials work to combat a persistent outbreak that has led the U.N. to classify it as a global public health emergency. With this delivery, authorities are hopeful that vaccination efforts can begin to make an impact in curbing the spread of the virus. As the epicenter of the mpox outbreak, Congo has been grappling with the spread of the disease, which has extended beyond its borders to neighboring countries and other parts of the world. The lack of vaccines…