Author: WAJ Editor

The Sudanese army has continued its offensive to reclaim territory north of Khartoum, with intense fighting against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Bahri persisting through Friday. Reports from the region highlight fierce clashes across multiple fronts as the army pushes deeper into the region. In recent days, the army successfully retook control of several key areas in northern Bahri, including Halfaia, Shambat, and Kadaru, previously held by the RSF. The army has also made significant gains in central Khartoum, advancing to the Al-Maqarin area, where heavy fighting continues over control of vital locations, including the presidential palace. RSF forces,…

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has rejected claims that his country is backing the M23 rebel group, which has recently captured key towns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking in Kigali on Thursday, Kagame dismissed the accusations as baseless, asserting that Rwanda has no involvement in the conflict. “These M23 leaders and most of their fighters came from Uganda, where they were refugees,” Kagame explained. He emphasized that the rebels are not Rwandans, though they speak Kinyarwanda, Rwanda’s national language. Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Kigali of aiding the M23 rebels, a charge that Kagame has consistently denied. A recent…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended a lifeline to flood-affected communities in Somalia by dispatching 700 tonnes of emergency food supplies. The aid, which is expected to benefit approximately 150,000 Somalis from flood-hit families. The food packages include essential items designed to address the urgent needs of affected communities. His Excellency Ahmed Juma Al Rumaithi, UAE Ambassador to Somalia, reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to supporting Somalis during these challenging times. “This initiative reflects the strong bilateral ties between our countries and the UAE’s unwavering commitment to assist impacted communities. Our efforts aim to alleviate suffering and accelerate recovery in…

Eight Cuban medical specialists have joined Namibia’s healthcare workforce, raising the total number of Cuban doctors in the country to 98. Their arrival aims to address the critical shortage of medical professionals, especially in underserved regions. The deployment is part of a 2015 bilateral agreement between Namibia and Cuba. The newly arrived doctors specialize in diverse fields, including internal medicine, neurosurgery, paediatrics, orthopaedics, psychiatry, gynaecology, neonatology, and maxillofacial surgery, among others. “These Cuban collaborators will contribute to enhancing healthcare in Namibia’s remote areas,” said Cuban Ambassador Sergio Vigoa de la Luz. The specialists have been assigned to hospitals in Katima…

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced his departure from X (formerly Twitter) on Friday after a series of controversial posts that sparked diplomatic tensions. Kainerugaba, 50, gained over a million followers with provocative posts, including threats to opposition leader Bobi Wine and neighboring countries. This week, he claimed only his father’s presence had stopped him from beheading Wine. In 2022, Kainerugaba’s tweet threatening to capture Nairobi in two weeks forced President Museveni to issue an apology. He also voiced support for Russia’s Ukraine invasion and made inflammatory remarks about Ethiopia and Sudan. The…

Algeria has returned an Algerian influencer deported by France back to the country, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The influencer, known as “Doualemn,” was deported from France for inciting hatred and violence on social media. However, upon landing in Algeria, authorities refused entry and sent him back to France, citing an exceptional 2008 law that excludes nationals deemed a threat. Doualemn, whose real name is Boualem N., is accused of making violent threats and anti-Semitic remarks on TikTok, where he has 138,000 followers. His deportation follows similar actions against other Algerian influencers for inciting attacks against opposition supporters.…

Morocco has formally approved a military cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan in the defense sector, according to an announcement on Friday. The agreement, titled “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on Military Cooperation in the Field of Defense,” was signed on October 30, 2024, in Rabat. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed the corresponding law to ratify the agreement, marking a significant step in strengthening defense ties between the two nations. The move underscores Morocco’s commitment to expanding its international military partnerships and fostering closer ties with Azerbaijan in areas of…

Nigeria’s statistical agency has announced plans to include illegal and informal economic activities in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) calculations, aiming to better capture the true size of its economy. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the move reflects changing economic realities and will provide a more accurate estimate of Nigeria’s economic output, which measures the value of goods and services produced. Expanding the Scope of GDP Moses Waniko, a senior official at the NBS, explained that activities without legal backing—such as black-market operations—would now be considered in the GDP. “Practitioners in these sectors earn income and contribute…

Egypt’s annual inflation rate dropped to its lowest level in two years, according to official data released on Thursday. The state statistics agency CAPMAS reported that inflation fell to 23.4% in December, down from 25% in November. The decrease was attributed to a reduction in the prices of certain food and beverages. Consumer prices in urban areas rose by 24.1% in December compared to 25.5% in November, marking the second consecutive month of slowing inflation. For the full year, CAPMAS noted that annual inflation stood at 28.3% in 2024, a decline from 33.9% in 2023. However, this remains significantly higher…

Immigration authorities in Mozambique have confiscated the diplomatic passport of opposition leader Venancio Mondlane following his return to the country, his legal adviser disclosed on Friday. Dinis Tivane, in a statement posted on social media, said the passport was seized on Thursday at Maputo International Airport, where Mondlane arrived after a period of self-imposed exile. Mondlane left Mozambique after the contentious October 9 presidential elections, which he claims were marred by fraud. Allegations of Intimidation Tivane claimed the move to seize Mondlane’s passport is an attempt to “intimidate and restrict his movements.” He also noted that Mondlane had lost his…

A light aircraft crashed and burst into flames on the Malindi-Mombasa Highway near Kenya’s coastal town of Malindi on Friday afternoon, killing all three people onboard, according to officials. Nation TV reported that the crash occurred after the plane experienced a technical malfunction moments before attempting an emergency landing. Eyewitnesses said the aircraft veered off course and crashed on the shoulder of the busy highway. Flames engulfed the wreckage shortly after impact, prompting emergency responders to arrive at the scene and extinguish the fire. A widely circulated video shows the burning remains of the plane surrounded by onlookers, with flames…

Morocco welcomed more than 17 million tourists in 2024, breaking its annual arrivals record and marking a 20% increase compared to 2023, officials announced on Thursday. The Ministry of Tourism revealed that the 2024 figures surpassed the previous year’s total by approximately three million visitors. More than half of the arrivals were foreign tourists, while the rest were Moroccans living abroad, with both categories showing growth over 2023. Tourism, a key economic driver, currently contributes around 7% to Morocco’s GDP and directly employs over 827,000 people, according to the ministry. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor attributed the record-breaking numbers to targeted…

A severe drought in Zimbabwe has led to the deaths of at least 19 hippos over the past three months, the country’s wildlife authority reported on Thursday. According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), the hippos likely died from severe malnutrition caused by a lack of food, as no traces of abnormalities or anthrax poisoning were found in samples taken from the animals. Investigations revealed that the hippos had traveled about 10 kilometers (six miles) from their usual habitat in search of food, highlighting the scarcity caused by the ongoing drought. “The findings strongly suggest that most…

Twenty-eight soldiers were killed in northern Benin in a deadly attack blamed on insurgents from neighboring countries, a security official confirmed on Thursday. The attack occurred Wednesday evening near Benin’s border with Burkina Faso and Niger, regions plagued by insurgent violence. Authorities have attributed the rising violence in northern Benin to militant groups operating across the borders. Military sources revealed that ongoing operations have resulted in the neutralization of 40 assailants so far. The northern border area has witnessed increasing violence in recent years. In December, gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded four others guarding an oil pipeline in northeastern…

Guinea could see presidential and legislative elections later this year, according to government spokesperson Ousmane Gaoual Diallo. The announcement comes over three years after the military seized power in a coup. The country’s military leadership, led by General Mamady Doumbouya, initially pledged to hold a constitutional referendum and transfer power to civilians by the end of 2024 under international pressure. However, neither milestone has been achieved. In his New Year’s address, Doumbouya described 2025 as a “crucial electoral year” for restoring constitutional order, though specific dates remain unclear. Speaking to French broadcaster RFI, Diallo revealed plans for a constitutional referendum,…

Libya’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taher Al-Baour, reiterated the country’s rejection of any military presence on its territory without prior approval from the Government of National Unity (GNU). He emphasized that such arrangements must fall within bilateral agreements that align with Libya’s interests. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Al-Baour affirmed that the GNU remains the sole internationally recognized government, dismissing the authority of the parallel administration backed by the House of Representatives in Tobruk. He stressed that the Tobruk-based government is not authorized to sign international agreements. Diplomatic Developments Al-Baour announced plans to reopen the Syrian embassy in…