Author: WAJ Editor

Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees in Chad are struggling to access basic necessities after a UN-led response plan received only 30% of its required funding for 2024, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported on Wednesday. Since war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, over 720,000 Sudanese refugees and 220,000 returning Chadians have fled to Chad, adding to what NRC Country Director Dermot Hegarty described as “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.” Aid groups warn that most refugees lack essential food, protection, and education support, with women and children making up 90% of those displaced. Many have endured severe violence, including…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged countries to respect the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) territorial integrity as M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, continue their advance in eastern DRC. The fighting has claimed at least 25 lives in Goma, nine in Rwanda, and 17 peacekeepers, including 13 South Africans. Ramaphosa, who discussed the crisis with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, called for a ceasefire and renewed peace talks. He stressed that South Africa’s military presence in DRC is not a declaration of war but part of a regional peacekeeping mission. The South African leader also welcomed a UN…

Tanzania is set to enhance its digital connectivity by releasing additional radio frequencies for telecom operators. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has announced plans to auction four blocks of spectrum in the 3600-3800 MHz band in July 2025, a move aimed at improving internet coverage and adoption across the country. The additional spectrum is expected to bolster the capacity of telecom networks, particularly in expanding 5G services. As of December 2024, Tanzania’s mobile network coverage stood at 98.2% for 2G, 91% for 3G, 88% for 4G, and 20% for 5G. However, geographical coverage remains lower, with 75.1% of the…

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will not participate in a high-level crisis meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, state media reported Wednesday. The virtual summit, organized by the East African Community (EAC), comes as tensions rise following the alleged incursion of M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, into the Congolese city of Goma. Rwanda has consistently denied accusations of supporting the M23 fighters. Despite Tshisekedi’s absence, Kagame is expected to attend the talks, his spokesperson confirmed to AFP. However, further details about the summit remain unclear. International Calls for De-escalation The international community has urged…

Egypt is preparing for the grand unveiling of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), promising to usher in a “new era” in cultural preservation and exhibition. The museum, set to open its doors on July 3, 2025, will be one of the world’s largest cultural institutions, spanning 500,000 square meters—twice the size of Paris’s Louvre Museum and two and a half times the size of the British Museum. Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority, described the project as a monumental tribute to ancient Egyptian civilization. “As the opening approaches, I feel a mix of pride and responsibility,”…

A Max Air Boeing 737 carrying 59 passengers narrowly avoided disaster after crash-landing at an airport in Nigeria’s Kano State on Tuesday night. According to passengers, the aircraft lost its nose landing gear tire upon touchdown, causing a tire burst before the plane skidded to a stop on the runway. Kano Max Air Manager Bello Ramadan confirmed the incident, assuring that there were no casualties.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday at Cairo’s Ittihadia Palace for high-level talks. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional developments, underscoring their commitment to strengthening cooperation between Egypt and Kenya. An official reception was held in Ruto’s honor, featuring a military band performance of both nations’ national anthems.

Egypt has called on the United States to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people following former US President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion to relocate Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt. During a phone conversation on Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Palestinians are determined to remain on their land and reject any forced resettlement, according to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. He also highlighted the importance of respecting Palestinian resilience and their right to self-determination. The two diplomats also discussed US-Egypt strategic relations and the ongoing implementation of a ceasefire…

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have imposed a ban on protests in the capital, Kinshasa, following violent demonstrations targeting several embassies, including those of France and the US. Announcing the decision in a televised address on Tuesday night, Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba said the ban would take effect on Wednesday. He urged citizens to resume normal activities and conduct business freely. The move comes after the US embassy in Kinshasa temporarily shut down and advised American citizens to leave the country amid escalating unrest. Meanwhile, Congo’s Deputy Interior Minister Eugenie Kamba accused Rwanda of orchestrating the…

The Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) has acknowledged concerns raised by tourism stakeholders over the newly introduced fees for Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), which came into effect on January 17, 2025. TAWA Commissioner Mlage Kabange, speaking to Mwananchi on January 29, confirmed that the authority is aware of the complaints and is prepared to engage in further discussions with industry representatives to address the issue. This response follows strong opposition from tourism stakeholders, who held a press conference in Arusha earlier this week, condemning the new fees as excessive and financially burdensome. Organizations such as the Tanzania Association of Tour…

Belgium has summoned the chargé d’affaires of Rwanda’s embassy in Brussels following claims that M23 rebels have taken control of Goma, a key city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement on X, Belgium’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its stance, demanding the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to any support for the M23 rebel group. In response, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe accused Belgium of partiality, alleging that it holds responsibility for the crisis in Congo. He criticized Belgium’s “silence and inaction” regarding Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s hostile rhetoric against Rwanda and the Congolese army’s alleged cooperation…

A tragic plane crash in South Sudan claimed the lives of at least 18 people on Wednesday, according to a UN-backed radio station. The aircraft, which had 21 people on board, including crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Unity Oil Field, Radio Miraya reported. Among the deceased were the pilot and co-pilot, while three survivors are in critical condition. State Information Minister Gatwech Bipal confirmed that among the fatalities, 17 were South Sudanese and two were Chinese nationals. The two survivors, a South Sudanese and an Indian national, suffered severe injuries and were rushed to a hospital for urgent…

A high-ranking commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Jalaha Rahma Mahdi, was killed in Khartoum on Tuesday during clashes with government forces. His brother, Musa Rahma Mahdi, also died in the fighting. Omar Jibril, a prominent RSF media figure, confirmed the deaths on social media, describing General Jalaha as a courageous leader who left behind a legacy of bravery. General Jalaha, a leader of the Al-Shujaan Movement, had joined the RSF in 2023. He played a key role in the RSF’s strategic advances, including the capture of Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazira State, in late 2023.…

Several African nations have denounced attacks on their diplomatic missions in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as protests erupted over allegations of Rwandan support for M23 rebels who claim to have seized Goma. Protesters targeted the French, U.S., and UN offices, along with African embassies from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, accusing them of aligning with Rwanda, which Kinshasa alleges assisted the rebels. Video footage showed Rwanda’s embassy set ablaze, though no diplomats were present at the time. Kenya criticized the attacks as a grave violation of international law, blaming DRC security forces for failing to act. Rwanda condemned…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed a human rights violation lawsuit filed by Patrick Eholor on behalf of Makia Media Limited against the Nigerian government, citing insufficient grounds and a lack of legal standing. Eholor claimed that Nigeria’s broadcasting laws infringed on the rights of social media users, activists, journalists, and bloggers. However, the court ruled the case inadmissible, stating it did not meet the criteria for a public interest suit (‘actio popularis’) or a representational suit. Delivering the judgment, Justice Sengu Koroma, along with Justices Ricardo Gonçalves and Dupe Atoki, noted that the applicant failed to prove the…

The Red Cross has raised concerns over the potential spread of dangerous pathogens, including the Ebola virus, as fighting escalates in Goma, a major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) highlighted the risk to a laboratory operated by the national biomedical research institute, which houses Ebola and other virus samples. Patrick Youssef, the ICRC’s regional director for Africa, warned of “unimaginable consequences” if the samples were compromised due to power cuts or clashes. The lab, located near the ICRC delegation in Goma, is under threat as fighters from the M23…