Author: WAJ Editor

At least 100 illegal miners have reportedly died while trapped in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, according to a group representing mining communities. The Mining Affected Communities United in Action Group stated on Monday that the miners had been trapped underground for months in a mine located in North West province. The group’s spokesperson, Sabelo Mnguni, said the deaths likely resulted from starvation or dehydration, as the miners had no access to supplies. Videos retrieved from a cellphone sent to the surface with some rescued miners reportedly showed dozens of bodies underground wrapped in plastic. Mnguni confirmed that…

In Madagascar’s Grand Sud region, child marriage remains a pervasive form of gender-based violence, with 40% of girls married before the age of 18. The UNFPA, in collaboration with local organizations, is working to address this issue through awareness campaigns aimed at changing harmful social norms and empowering communities. Droughts and economic hardships have exacerbated vulnerabilities in regions like Anôsy, where over half of girls have never attended school. For many families, marrying off daughters seems like a solution to financial struggles. However, information sessions led by UNFPA and the Association of Women with Disabilities in Madagascar have been pivotal…

Opposition leaders in the Indian Ocean nation of Comoros have rejected the results of Sunday’s legislative elections, alleging widespread fraud and irregularities. The two-round election, intended to elect 33 lawmakers, was boycotted by much of the opposition, who claimed the process lacked transparency. Daoud Abdallah Mohamed, leader of the United Opposition coalition and a former interior minister, described the election as plagued by “gross fraud,” including ballot box stuffing and instances where vote counts exceeded the number of registered voters. In Anjouan, the country’s most populous island, the electoral commission announced that 12 candidates from the ruling Convention for the…

Senegal has taken a major step toward reducing its reliance on sugar imports by establishing two new production plants that will utilize locally grown sugarcane, according to Minister of Industry and Commerce Serigne Gueye Diop. The initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to promote self-sufficiency and foster domestic champions in sectors like agriculture. For over 50 years, the Compagnie Sucrière Sénégalaise (CSS) held a monopoly on sugar production, sparking consumer frustration over price fluctuations and limited market competition. The government’s move aims to break this monopoly, create a competitive market, and modernize the retail trade. Plans include setting…

Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga remains a strong contender for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, dismissing rumors of his withdrawal. Odinga, who served as Kenya’s premier from 2008 to 2013, is competing against Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad. Amid speculation of a potential withdrawal due to vote shortfalls, Kenyan officials confirmed Odinga’s commitment to the race, emphasizing his confidence in winning. On a diplomatic tour, Odinga met Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, seeking support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Odinga underscored the…

A Chinese-owned fishing vessel, hijacked off Somalia’s coast in November, has been released along with its 18-member crew, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia announced on Monday. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy credited “unremitting efforts of the Chinese government” for the crew’s rescue. The statement condemned the hijacking, describing it as a “vicious action” that endangered crew safety and international maritime security. It further pledged China’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of its citizens and enterprises abroad. The vessel was seized in late November and taken to the Xaafuun district in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in…

Following the devastating floods caused by the Akosombo Dam spillage in October 2023, thousands of residents in Ghana’s Eastern, Volta, and Greater Accra regions faced not only physical destruction but also severe emotional distress. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the UK in Ghana, launched an initiative to provide much-needed mental health and psychosocial support services to affected communities. The floods displaced families, destroyed homes, and disrupted livelihoods, leaving many residents in despair. The psychological toll was profound—children grappled with the loss of their safe spaces, while adults faced anxiety and uncertainty about their future. Health…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations (UN) have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration on political cooperation, security, and human development. This was the focus of high-level discussions between ECOWAS Commission President, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray, and UN Deputy Secretary-General, H.E. Amina Mohammed, in Abuja. The talks addressed key areas of mutual interest, including political cooperation, peace and security, trade liberalization, education, regional integration, and human development. President Touray emphasized the longstanding partnership between ECOWAS and the UN, stressing the need for coordinated action on critical issues such as violent extremism, climate change, and…

Mali’s military government has confiscated three tonnes of gold from Canadian mining company Barrick Gold amid a legal dispute over revenue owed to the state. Barrick, which has operated in Mali for nearly 30 years, confirmed the seizure in an internal letter from CEO Mark Bristow, which was seen by The Associated Press. The gold, valued at approximately $180 million, was reportedly taken from a mine near Kayes in western Mali and transported to the capital, Bamako, by plane and truck. The seizure follows a warning issued earlier this month by Mali’s senior investigating judge, Boubacar Moussa Diarra. The dispute…

The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Abidemi Omonisi, has urged the federal government to significantly increase funding for the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) in the 2025 budget. Speaking at a seminar in Abuja, Omonisi emphasized that the current allocation of N150 million for treating indigent cancer patients is inadequate, especially as cancer cases continue to rise. He proposed raising the allocation to one billion naira, citing the high cost of treatment, which averages N20 million per patient. Over the past four years, the government has allocated N1.3 billion to the CHF, with N200 million for 2024. However, the…

Tanzanian activist and journalist Maria Sarungi Tsehai has recounted her harrowing abduction in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Sunday. Tsehai, a prominent figure advocating for democratic reform in Tanzania, suspects the Tanzanian government may have been behind the incident, which was thwarted following swift intervention by rights groups. Tsehai, who has lived in exile in Kenya since fleeing potential arrest four years ago, was kidnapped after finishing a hair appointment in central Nairobi. Three men dragged her from her taxi, handcuffed her, and demanded access to her mobile phones as they sped out of the city. “I thought they were going…

A five-month-old baby gorilla, named Zeytin, was rescued from the cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines flight during a stopover in Istanbul. The primate was discovered on a journey from Nigeria to Thailand. Currently recovering at Istanbul’s Polonezkoy Zoo, Zeytin has been gaining weight and showing signs of confidence after the traumatic experience. The public participated in naming the gorilla through a poll, choosing “Zeytin” over “Olive.” Veterinarian Gulf Esmen described Zeytin’s initial condition, noting that the young gorilla was shy and hesitant when first brought to the zoo but has since begun to adapt to his new environment. Authorities…

At least 40 farmers have been killed and several others are missing following an attack by suspected armed militants in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. The incident occurred on Sunday in Daban Leda, a farming community, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-terrorism expert focused on the Lake Chad region. The farmers had reportedly negotiated and paid levies to an armed faction for access to the farmlands. However, another faction, unaware of the arrangement, ambushed and killed them. Abubakar Gamandi, chairman of the Lake Chad Fishermen Association, confirmed the attack, recounting survivor testimonies that described the betrayal. “Our…

Nigeria’s crude oil production in December 2024 reached 98.97% of its allocated quota from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). OPEC had set an average daily production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day (mb/d) for Nigeria. The country achieved 1.48 mb/d of crude oil, supplemented by 49,276 barrels per day (bpd) of blended condensate and 133,699 bpd of unblended condensate, bringing the total output to 1.66 mb/d. NUPRC’s report revealed that the lowest and highest daily production levels for the month were 1.57 mb/d and 1.79 mb/d, respectively.…

Egypt is considering establishing a Ukrainian food hub as part of efforts to enhance agricultural cooperation between the two nations, according to a discussion between Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Egypt’s newly appointed ambassador to Ukraine. The talks focused on strengthening Ukrainian-Egyptian agricultural trade by addressing payment delays for Ukrainian exporters, removing certain trade restrictions and duties, and exploring the feasibility of the proposed food hub in Egypt. In 2024, trade turnover in agricultural products between the two countries reached $1.4 billion, a 32% increase compared to 2023. Key Ukrainian exports to Egypt included corn, wheat, soybeans, and oil,…

South Sudan has restarted oil exports after nearly a year-long suspension caused by conflict in neighboring Sudan, which damaged a key pipeline. The resumption has been met with widespread excitement, as the country heavily relies on oil revenues, which constitute over 90% of its income. The pipeline shutdown had left many civil servants unpaid for nearly a year, prompting significant economic hardship. The restart of oil exports is expected to generate approximately $400 million annually, enabling the government to pay salaries, cover security expenses, and invest in peace initiatives. Economic Revival and Hope for Stability Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol…