Author: WAJ Editor

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced on Sunday that 21 Pakistani nationals were among the survivors of a migrant boat that capsized off the Moroccan coast while attempting to reach Spain. The ill-fated vessel, carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, departed Mauritania on January 2. Moroccan authorities confirmed that 36 people were rescued on Wednesday near the coastal city of Dakhla. According to the minority rights group Walking Borders, the boat carried passengers of multiple nationalities, with Pakistanis forming a significant portion. Assistance for Survivors In a statement, the Foreign Office confirmed: “Based on verified information, 21 Pakistani nationals…

Fighters from the M23 rebel movement have captured a strategic mining settlement in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local sources reported on Sunday. Residents told that the group seized Lumbishi, a mineral-rich site in the South Kivu region, at approximately 15:30 GMT on Saturday. The rebels were reportedly advancing toward Numbi and Shanje, two additional locations in the Kalehe territory. “Since this morning, there has been fighting against the enemy in Kalehe,” a security source, speaking anonymously, confirmed on Sunday. Ongoing Conflict and Displacements The M23, also known as the “Movement of March 23,” has been accused of receiving…

Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has officially nominated President Samia Suluhu Hassan as its candidate for the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 2025. President Hassan assumed office in 2021 following the unexpected death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. The nomination was announced at a CCM general assembly held over the weekend, during which the party confirmed her as its sole candidate for the upcoming election. Initially praised for easing restrictions on the opposition and media, Hassan’s leadership marked a shift from her predecessor’s stringent policies in the nation of approximately 67 million people. However, rights groups and…

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has called for increased investment and advanced technology to tap into the nation’s immense untapped oil and gas reserves, a senior official announced during the Libya Energy and Economic Summit 2025. Speaking at a session titled “Unlocking Libya – the Next Frontier for Exploration and Investment,” Bashir Carea, a senior advisor to the NOC chairman, emphasized Libya’s enormous energy potential. “We have 48 billion barrels of discovered but unexploited oil, with an estimated total potential of 90 billion barrels, particularly offshore,” Carea stated. He also highlighted Libya’s significant natural gas reserves, noting, “Libya has 122…

A potential agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will safeguard the United States’ strategic military base on the Indian Ocean archipelago, Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam stated on Sunday. Addressing concerns of geopolitical shifts, Ramgoolam dismissed claims that Mauritius might align with China, affirming the nation’s close ties with India. “There is a disinformation campaign in the United States claiming that we are close to China, which is completely untrue,” he told. He emphasized that former US President Donald Trump should recognize the deal secures the base at Diego Garcia. Agreement Details Mauritius and Britain reached an agreement…

Artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in Omdurman, Sudan, resulted in one death and 17 injuries, the Sudanese Health Ministry reported on Sunday. The attack targeted civilians in the Karari area as they filled water from wells, following earlier shelling of the Merowe Dam and Omdurman electricity transmission line by the RSF. The assault caused widespread power outages, the ministry stated. On Monday, the Sudanese army accused the RSF of launching a drone attack on the Merowe Dam, further exacerbating the power crisis. The RSF has not commented on these allegations. Ongoing Conflict The fighting between…

The death toll from the petrol tanker explosion in Niger State, Nigeria, has risen to 86, with 55 others injured, officials confirmed on Sunday. The tragic incident occurred on January 18, 2025, at Dikko Junction when residents gathered to collect fuel leaking from an overturned tanker. The fuel ignited, causing a massive explosion that claimed the lives of those at the scene, including rescuers. According to Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the majority of the victims were buried in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre premises. “A total of 86 persons…

Mozambique’s newly elected President Daniel Chapo has pledged not to renegotiate contracts with energy giants TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil, whose multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects are expected to transform the country’s economy. Chapo, who assumed office on Wednesday amidst opposition protests over his contested election victory, emphasized that the government is not in a position to review terms for projects like TotalEnergies’ $20 billion development in Cabo Delgado. The project has been on hold since 2021 due to an insurgency near the site. “These contracts are new, and operations have not yet commenced. There is no basis for reviewing them…

Kenya’s Health Ministry has reported two new cases of mpox, raising the country’s total to 33 confirmed infections. The new cases were identified in Kericho and Taita Taveta counties, with the outbreak now spreading across 12 counties. Mary Muriuki, Principal Secretary at the Health Ministry, stated that 225 contacts have been identified, of which 216 completed a 21-day monitoring period. Nine of these contacts tested positive for mpox. The government has intensified efforts to manage the outbreak, including active case searches, contact tracing, investigations, and confirmation of symptomatic cases. Public education campaigns have also been launched to inform citizens about…

Ghana’s newly sworn-in President, John Dramani Mahama, has directed the recall of diplomatic passports issued by previous administrations, including those granted to former ministers, lawmakers, their spouses, judges, ambassadors, traditional leaders, and businesspeople over the last decade. The directive, aimed at enhancing the integrity of Ghana’s travel documents, requires all affected passports to be returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by January 24. The ministry stated that the recalled passports will undergo a review to ensure they meet eligibility criteria for reissuance, emphasizing the move is intended to prevent misuse of diplomatic and service passports. Tackling an Economic Crisis…

Egypt is readying humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza following a ceasefire announcement between Israel and Hamas, aiming to end over 15 months of conflict. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi confirmed plans to send convoys carrying food, medicine, water, and prefabricated homes once the truce takes effect on Sunday, January 19. The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s primary link to Egypt, is central to these relief efforts. However, concerns about its readiness and Israel’s adherence to the ceasefire raise uncertainty. Aid deliveries have faced months of obstruction, with thousands of tons of supplies delayed and food spoilage reported. Gaza remains in a dire humanitarian…

Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, Principal Secretary for the Foreign Affairs Department of Seychelles, met with Mrs. Pimwadee Sovaratanapang, Deputy Director General and Acting Director General of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), at Maison Quéau de Quinssy to discuss strengthening bilateral ties. The TICA delegation visited Seychelles to engage in discussions with the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, focusing on the long-standing collaboration between the two entities, particularly in capacity building. The talks also addressed ongoing projects with the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority. Both sides expressed a strong commitment to exploring new opportunities for partnership, emphasizing areas such as…

A tragic boat capsizing off West Africa’s Atlantic coast has reportedly claimed the lives of over 40 Pakistanis. The boat, carrying 80 passengers, including Pakistani nationals, departed from Mauritania and capsized near Dakhla, a Moroccan-controlled port city in the disputed Western Sahara, according to Pakistan’s Embassy in Morocco. The incident highlights the increasing dangers faced by migrants attempting irregular journeys to Europe. A Spain-based migrant rights organization, Walking Borders, reported that 50 people perished on the journey to the Canary Islands, 44 of whom were Pakistanis. The ill-fated voyage began on January 2. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep…

A recent report reveals that some Nigerians recruited to work as prison officers in the United Kingdom have been left homeless, resorting to sleeping in cars and setting up makeshift camps due to the lack of provided accommodation. Faced with a staff shortage, the UK prison service began sponsoring skilled worker visas following an October 2023 amendment that added prison officers to the list of eligible professions. However, recruits reportedly arrived expecting housing to be included in the job package, only to find no such arrangements in place. Mark Fairhurst, President of the Prison Officers Association (POA), described the situation…

The Ethiopian government has successfully repatriated 33,000 nationals facing harsh conditions abroad over the past six months, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The initiative aligns with Ethiopia’s commitment to a “citizen-centered” diplomatic approach, the ministry’s spokesperson, Nebiat Getachew, announced Thursday. The repatriated individuals were rescued from various countries during the first half of the Ethiopian 2024/2025 fiscal year, which began on July 8. Among the cases highlighted, 380 Ethiopian nationals were stranded in Myanmar after being deceived by illegal brokers offering false employment opportunities in Southeast Asia. Many were taken to unauthorized camps in border regions between Myanmar…

Nairobi, Kenya, will host “Air Cargo Africa 2025”, one of the continent’s most significant logistics events, from February 19 to 21, 2025. The event will bring together leading industry stakeholders, exhibitors, and decision-makers to discuss innovations and trends shaping the African air cargo sector. Africa’s air cargo industry has seen remarkable growth, fueled by increasing global demand for fresh produce, specialty goods, and pharmaceuticals. Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) remains a pivotal hub, handling 112,000 tons of cargo in the first quarter of 2024. It stands alongside Addis Ababa and Johannesburg as one of Africa’s busiest air cargo centers.…