Author: WAJ Team

Global warming is severely impacting Africa’s economy, costing the continent up to 5% of its GDP annually. Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), highlighted this growing economic strain during a meeting of African environment ministers in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Stiell stressed the urgent need for more investments to help Africa cope with the devastating effects of climate change, which the region has disproportionately experienced despite contributing minimally to global emissions. Africa, comprising 54 nations, has seen severe consequences from climate change, including prolonged droughts, catastrophic flooding, and extreme weather events that…

The African Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recently raised alarms over a significant increase in mpox cases, primarily driven by a newly identified strain. Elri Voigt provides a detailed look into the current outbreak and its potential implications for South Africa. Mpox, a viral disease first recognized in Africa in 1970, gained international attention in 2022 when it spread globally for the first time. Since then, the outbreak has continued to evolve, with various strains of the virus emerging in different regions. The latest surge in cases is largely attributed to a new…

Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen has made a significant move, joining Turkish club Galatasaray on a one-year loan from Italian side Napoli. The transfer, finalized on Wednesday, sees the 25-year-old forward head to Istanbul for the 2024-25 season, with the deal set to conclude in June 2025. Galatasaray has announced that they will pay €6 million (approximately $6.6 million) in salary for Osimhen during this period. This strategic loan deal reflects Galatasaray’s commitment to bolstering their squad with one of Africa’s premier talents. Napoli has also confirmed the loan move and revealed that they have agreed with Osimhen on an…

Daniel Mtimkulu, a former high-ranking official at South Africa’s Passenger Rail Agency (PRASA), was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for falsifying his engineering qualifications and committing multiple frauds. Mtimkulu, who was 49, resigned from his role as PRASA’s head of engineering just before his arrest in 2015. In 2022, Mtimkulu was convicted on three counts of fraud and forgery. He had falsely claimed to hold a master’s degree from a South African university and a doctorate in engineering management from a German institution. Additionally, he forged a job offer from a German company, which led PRASA to…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed serious concerns about the potential for significant social unrest in African countries due to inadequate debt relief and limited resources. He has called for urgent reforms to the international financial system to tackle these issues effectively. The continent is facing an increasingly severe debt crisis, which has already triggered widespread protests. For instance, recent unrest in Kenya, sparked by clashes over proposed tax hikes, has inspired similar demonstrations in Nigeria and Uganda, where the focus has been on the rising cost of living. African nations have been attempting to resolve their debt issues through…

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has terminated its ambitious $1.2 billion biometric national ID project due to serious allegations of financial misconduct. This decision follows an in-depth investigation which revealed that funds earmarked for the national ID system were misappropriated, benefiting a small group of elite individuals rather than the intended public. The investigation uncovered that, since 2020, nearly 60 companies had submitted proposals to the government for implementing the biometric ID system. The National Office for Population Identification (ONIP) had initially estimated the cost of the project at approximately $360 million. However, when the project was awarded to…

On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a historic financial aid package exceeding $50 billion for Africa over the next three years. This major commitment, revealed at a summit in Beijing attended by numerous African leaders, is intended to drive economic growth and job creation across the continent. Xi detailed that the aid package includes 360 billion yuan ($50.7 billion), comprising 210 billion yuan in credit facilities and 80 billion yuan in various forms of assistance. Additionally, he encouraged Chinese businesses to invest at least 70 billion yuan in Africa, reinforcing China’s commitment to fostering economic development through private sector…

Malawians are expressing surprise after the government clarified it is not involved in recruiting youths for the Israeli labor export program. The government stated that the recruitment is managed solely by the Israeli authorities. This clarification comes after about 1,500 job seekers, led by Dingiswayo Kumwenda, sought intervention from Ombudsman Grace Malera. On July 23, 2024, the group filed a complaint accusing the government of only selecting 20% of the original applicants for interviews, favoring a new batch instead. Ombudsman Malera responded by inviting Ministry of Labour Principal Secretary Chikondano Mussa to an inquiry session on August 13, 2024. Malera’s…

On September 4, President Paul Kagame participated in significant bilateral discussions with President Wavel Ramkalawan of Seychelles and President William Ruto of Kenya during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, taking place in Beijing. These meetings, held on the margins of the summit, were designed to explore ways to deepen and enhance the already productive relationships between Rwanda, Seychelles, and Kenya. President Kagame arrived in Beijing on September 3 in anticipation of the FOCAC summit, which runs from September 4 to 6. This year’s summit is themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with…

A tragic maritime incident occurred off the Libyan coast on Tuesday when a boat carrying migrants en-route to Europe capsized, resulting in one fatality and 22 individuals reported missing, according to Libyan authorities. The accident took place near the eastern port town of Tobruk. The coast guard confirmed that of the 32 migrants aboard, nine were rescued and are now being transported to safety at Tobruk’s port. This incident underscores the increasing frequency of deadly maritime disasters in the region. Libya has become a major transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and economic hardship across Africa and the Middle East.…

Nigerian students are gearing up for a nationwide protest on September 15, 2024, in a direct response to the latest surge in fuel prices that has sparked widespread discontent across the country. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which represents millions of students nationwide, is organizing the protest, aiming to stage a massive shutdown of major cities. This move comes as a reaction to what the students describe as an unbearable rise in the cost of living, fueled by the consistent increase in fuel prices. Leading the charge, NANS has issued a strong demand for the immediate reversal of…

Leaders of Mali have signed a defense agreement with a Chinese firm for military equipment, training, and technology transfer. The contract was finalized on Monday in Beijing by Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara and the head of the Chinese company Norinco. Interim President Colonel Assimi Goita, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, attended the signing and toured facilities featuring drones and armored vehicles. Camara noted that, despite sanctions from the West African bloc ECOWAS, Mali received military supplies from China, with Norinco delivering equipment before payment. He expressed appreciation for this support following the end of the…

The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to receive its first shipment of mpox vaccine doses on September 5, with a follow-up delivery expected on September 7. This announcement was made by the country’s head of mpox outbreak response on Wednesday. The DR Congo is currently at the epicenter of a severe mpox outbreak, which the World Health Organization recently categorized as a global public health emergency. The outbreak has significantly strained the country’s healthcare system, largely due to a critical shortage of vaccines that has impeded efforts to manage and control the spread of the disease. Cris Kacita, the…

A significant scientific discovery has emerged from Nqweba in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, where local scientists have identified a rare meteorite fragment roughly the size of a motorcycle. This discovery follows an extraordinary celestial event observed on August 25, when residents across the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Free State reported witnessing a spectacular blue-white and orange streak in the sky. The event was marked by a loud explosion and noticeable ground vibrations, adding to the dramatic nature of the incident. The meteorite, now referred to as the Nqweba Meteorite, features a distinctive black, glossy exterior and a light grey,…

Botswana is set to hold its general election on October 30, as announced by President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Seeking a second and final term, Masisi’s candidacy has been backed by his ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party, which has led since the country’s independence in 1966. In his announcement, Masisi reaffirmed Botswana’s dedication to its democratic practice of regular elections. He highlighted that the country’s constitution requires general elections every five years, underscoring the importance of this principle to Botswana’s democratic tradition. Masisi expressed confidence in the nation’s commitment to upholding this democratic value. The president also urged voters to participate…

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is set to visit Turkey on Wednesday for a high-level meeting with President Tayyip Erdogan, marking the first presidential visit between the two nations in 12 years. This meeting represents a significant warming of relations that have been strained for over a decade and highlights a mutual commitment to improving diplomatic and economic ties. Earlier this year, President Erdogan visited Cairo in February, marking his first trip to Egypt since 2012, which underscored efforts to restore ties between the two regional powers. According to the Turkish presidency, the discussions during Sisi’s visit will cover the…