Author: WAJ Editor

Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, announced plans to temporarily suspend post-election protests for five days to allow international organizations to investigate alleged human rights abuses by security forces. Protests erupted after the October 2024 election, in which the ruling FRELIMO party’s Daniel Chapo was declared president with 71% of the vote. Mondlane, who claims to have won the election, initiated demonstrations challenging the results. The Constitutional Council later reduced Chapo’s victory margin to 65%, further fueling unrest. Since the protests began, at least 277 people have died, primarily from security forces’ gunfire, according to election monitoring group Plataforma DECIDE. Violent…

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The Nigerian government announced on Monday that operations have partially resumed at the Warri oil refinery, which had been shut down for nearly 10 years. The 125,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) facility, closed since 2015 due to disrepair and crude supply shortages, is now operating at 60% capacity, according to a statement from presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. Mele Kyari, the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), confirmed the development during a facility tour alongside government officials, regulators, and journalists. “This plant is running. We have not completed 100%,” Kyari said. The revival of Warri refinery is part of a broader…

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A court in Mali has sentenced Issa Kaou N’Djim, a prominent political figure, to two years in prison—one of which is suspended—for making critical remarks about the military rulers of neighboring Burkina Faso. The sentence also includes a fine of one million CFA francs (€1,538 or $1,600), according to a legal source and N’Djim’s family. N’Djim, a former supporter of Mali’s transitional President, General Assimi Goita, made the controversial comments during a broadcast on Joliba TV News, a local television station. Following the remarks, authorities closed the station in November and imposed a six-month broadcasting ban earlier this month. Both…

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The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee has reported that a quarter of the candidates registered for the Sudanese Certificate exams failed to attend as the exams continued this week across multiple states and international centers. Social media images revealed largely deserted exam halls, particularly in Ed Damer, the capital of Sudan’s River Nile state. At one center designed for 126 students, only four candidates were present. Another center, intended for 270 students, saw just 10 female candidates in attendance. Many of these centers were designated for displaced students from El Gezira state, who were unable to make the journey. The Ministry of…

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The special envoy of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to Sudan, Lawrence Korbandy, has announced plans to visit Port Sudan next month in a bid to mediate the ongoing conflict in the country. Speaking from Nairobi, Korbandy confirmed the visit, initially scheduled for December, had been postponed to January. “I’m visiting to discuss issues related to peace in Sudan,” he said, emphasizing his mission to foster dialogue among all parties involved in the conflict. Sudan has been engulfed in violence since April 2023, with clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemeti), and…

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Civil society groups and political parties in Guinea are urging the immediate release of Aliou Bah, an opposition leader arrested for allegedly “insulting” the country’s military ruler, General Mamady Doumbouya. The arrest is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent by the government, which seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted President Alpha Conde. Bah, leader of the Liberal Democratic Movement (MoDel), was detained last Thursday while traveling to Sierra Leone with two colleagues. His arrest has sparked widespread condemnation, with over 150 academics, journalists, and activists denouncing the act as “arbitrary” and a move to suppress…

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a significant funding package of $2.2 billion to enhance agricultural development in Nigeria through the establishment of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ). Speaking during Channels Television’s 2024 End-of-Year Review, themed “Focus on the Agriculture Sector, Food Security, Research, and AfDB Investments,” the Director General of AfDB’s Nigeria Office, Abdul Kamara, highlighted the bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. Kamara explained that implementation activities, including contract signing and on-site construction, would commence in 2025 across selected states. However, the rollout will vary by location, with not all states starting simultaneously. The SAPZ…

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President William Ruto of Kenya has expressed profound sorrow following the devastating crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C 2216 at Muan International Airport, which claimed at least 177 lives. The tragedy occurred during the plane’s landing early Sunday, leaving dozens dead and two survivors critically injured. Nigeria’s federal government extended its condolences to South Korea, while Egypt’s Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the South Korean government and wished a swift recovery for the injured. The international community continues to rally support for South Korea as investigations into the cause of the crash proceed.

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The Sudanese government has rejected a United Nations-backed report declaring a famine in parts of the country, citing flaws in the data collection and analysis process. Agriculture Minister Abubakar Omar El-Bushra criticized the findings of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report during a news conference in Port Sudan on Sunday. He claimed the figures were “unrealistic,” arguing that surveys conducted in conflict zones were unreliable due to ongoing clashes. Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving many areas inaccessible. The minister noted that seven of…

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Three Ethiopian journalists investigating alleged illegal gold mining in northwestern Tigray have been released after being kidnapped, their organization confirmed on Sunday. The reporters, employed by Tigrai Television, were abducted in the Asgede district under unclear circumstances while probing the environmental, health, and social effects of unregulated gold mining, following complaints from local residents. The incident occurred in a region still reeling from a devastating two-year conflict between Ethiopian government forces—backed by regional militias and Eritrean troops—and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The war, which ended in 2022, left approximately 600,000 people dead, displaced over a million, and caused…

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A tourist lost their life, and another was injured in a shark attack on Sunday at Egypt’s Marsa Alam resort, according to a statement from the environment ministry. The nationalities of the victims were not disclosed. While sharks inhabit the Red Sea, such incidents are relatively rare. The ministry reported that the attack took place in deep waters beyond the designated swimming zone near the resort’s jetties. Swimming in that area was prohibited, and authorities announced the closure of the jetties for two days starting Monday. Marsa Alam, located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, is renowned for its vibrant coral…

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Relations between Malawi and Tanzania have grown increasingly strained over territorial claims, following the release of a joint study highlighting significant confusion among border communities about land ownership. The report, titled Adjudication and Demarcation of Land Parcels in Cross-Border Areas – A Case of Malawi-Tanzania Border at Songwe-Nkhanga, reveals that 11.11% of surveyed land parcels are misidentified by landowners regarding their country of jurisdiction. Conducted by the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and Tanzania’s Ardhi University, the study focused on a 9.6-kilometer section of the 475-kilometer border. It found instances of parcels overlapping the international boundary and others…

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Ethiopia and China have solidified their strategic partnership in 2024, achieving significant milestones in economic collaboration, capacity-building, and cultural exchanges. Building on the 2023 elevation of their ties to an “all-weather strategic partnership,” both nations advanced their cooperation across multiple sectors, reinforcing their role as key allies on regional and global stages. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s meetings with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, highlighted Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with China. Ethiopia’s full membership in BRICS in January marked a pivotal moment in their global collaboration. China’s investments in Ethiopia, totaling over $8.5 billion across 3,300 projects,…

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The United Nations Security Council has approved the establishment of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), set to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), whose mandate ends on December 31, 2024. The UK-led resolution received overwhelming support, with 14 votes in favor and one abstention from the United States. AUSSOM will consist of up to 12,626 uniformed personnel, including 1,040 police officers, and will continue operations until June 30, 2025, when the realignment of troops from ATMIS to AUSSOM is expected to be completed. According to UK Ambassador James Kariuki, the resolution strengthens…

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Tanzania is emerging as a leader in East Africa, with a robust socioeconomic transformation that has positioned it as a regional powerhouse. Its GDP growth, averaging 5.5% over the past decade, is projected to accelerate to 6% by 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has built on the late President John Magufuli’s reforms, fostering political stability, infrastructure expansion, and investor-friendly policies. These measures have made Tanzania a top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), with inflows rising 6.3% in recent years, totaling $3.5 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year. Notable advancements include the…

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In Sierra Leone, where amputees face lingering discrimination and exclusion, a unique initiative called Farming on Crutches is transforming lives. The program provides amputees with farming skills, confidence, and a path to self-reliance in a country still scarred by the civil war that left 28,000 people amputated. Amputees, often seen as reminders of the brutal conflict, frequently endure societal rejection, with many resorting to begging. The initiative, led by pastor and farmer Mambud Samai, aims to change this narrative by empowering amputees to become rural leaders. Since its launch in 2020, Farming on Crutches has trained over 100 amputees, teaching…

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