Author: WAJ Editor

On Thursday, Libyan Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity and Head of the Southern Development Authority, Ramadan Abu Janah, met with British Ambassador to Libya, Martin Longden, to discuss key issues including economic cooperation and current political developments. A post on Abu Janah’s Facebook page stated that the meeting highlighted the urgent need for Libyan parties to come together to promote development and reconstruction in the south. They emphasized that this would positively impact the region, given its wealth of natural resources, water, solar energy, and its academic institutions, which could play a key role in creating…

The Government of Namibia has requested assistance from Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to bolster its fight against corruption. Namibia acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership role in combating corruption across Africa and expressed a desire to learn from its successes. According to a statement on the ICPC’s website, the partnership aims to provide training opportunities and share expertise with the Namibian Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The request was made during a visit by Namibia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Humphrey Geise, to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja. Geise highlighted Nigeria’s prominent role…

Leaders of United Arab Emirates, congratulated President of Equatorial Guinea on Independence Day. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, have each sent congratulatory messages to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea in celebration of the country’s Independence Day. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan also sent similar messages to Equatorial Guinea’s Prime Minister,…

Dr. Bright Boafo Boamah, a Medical Doctor and Toxicologist, believes it may take 10 to 15 years to fully restore Ghana’s water bodies contaminated by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on October 12, 2024, Dr. Boamah emphasized that the severe environmental damage caused by galamsey requires significant time and effort to repair. He explained that the toxic chemicals used in illegal mining, such as mercury and cyanide, have deeply polluted many water sources, making the restoration process complicated and lengthy. Dr. Boamah also highlighted the serious health risks posed by the contamination, warning that the…

All 23 provinces of Chad have been severely impacted by widespread flooding caused by heavy rainfall, leading to the deaths of over 550 people and the destruction of 210,000 homes. The flooding, which is expected to last through the rainy season until October, has also devastated 432,000 hectares of land and killed 72,000 livestock. This disaster comes after Chad declared a food security and nutrition emergency in February. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), of the approximately 1.9 million people affected, an estimated 85,000 are pregnant women. Many families are now seeking shelter in makeshift camps and schools,…

Dr. Christos Christou, the International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), reported a significant rise in the number of malnourished children in northern Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja after visiting Maiduguri, Borno State, Christou revealed that between January and August this year, there was a 51% increase in admissions of children with severe malnutrition compared to the same period last year. He emphasized that northern Nigeria faces extreme challenges, including widespread malnutrition, frequent outbreaks of preventable diseases, and a lack of medical facilities and personnel, all exacerbated by ongoing insecurity. During his visit to Maiduguri,…

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Taye Atske Selassie on Saturday, celebrating his appointment as President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Xi highlighted the significant and rapid growth in China-Ethiopia relations in recent years, noting the strengthened political trust and fruitful cooperation in various areas. He emphasized the importance he places on advancing China-Ethiopia ties and expressed his willingness to collaborate with President Taye in leveraging the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit to further enhance their strategic partnership, bringing greater benefits to both countries’ citizens.

British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been awarded this year’s PEN Writer of Courage honor, despite being imprisoned in Egypt at the age of 42. He remains behind bars after completing a five-year sentence for allegedly “spreading false news.” Last month, Alaa’s sister, Sanaa Seif, reiterated that her brother is innocent and should have been released by September 29. The PEN Pinter Prize, awarded annually, allows the recipient to select a writer of courage from a shortlist of international authors known for defending freedom of expression. Arundhati Roy, the 2024 PEN Pinter Prize winner, chose Alaa for this honor. Roy…

International finance actors, policymakers, representatives from the private sector, and civil society have gathered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire for a summit aimed at supporting the fundraising campaign for the International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank institution dedicated to assisting poor countries. At the opening of the summit, dubbed the Assembly for Africa’s Economic Development, Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development Kaba Nialé stated that the goal is to mobilize 120 billion U.S. dollars for the development of the world’s poorest countries, the vast majority of which are located in Africa. “This effort seeks to support investments in…

The appeal process for 37 individuals sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began on Thursday. In September, a total of 51 people faced trial for their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt in May. This coup attempt reportedly began with an armed assault on the home of then-economy minister Vital Kamerhe, who now serves as the national assembly president. During the appeal, those sentenced appeared in yellow and blue prison uniforms. Each person was called to the front of the court to confirm their identity before the judges. Among the 37 sentenced individuals were three…

South African Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille announced she is close to terminating a service level agreement with the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA). De Lille explained that SEFA has failed to grasp the urgency in disbursing funds to small businesses. The agency, which falls under the Department of Small Enterprise led by Minister Stella Ndabeni, has caused delays in releasing funds to SMMEs in the tourism sector. In April, De Lille’s department approved over R50 million for small businesses, intended for 160 SMMEs to participate in both international and domestic trade shows. During a media briefing at Parliament on…

On Friday, Nigerian police announced the rescue of a media crew that had been kidnapped in the southeast while en route to cover an Africa Cup of Nations match between Nigeria and Libya in Akwa Ibom state. The southeast region of Nigeria has been plagued by violence, which the government attributes to a separatist movement advocating for the independence of an area where the Igbo ethnic group is predominant. Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson for Anambra state, reported that the crew, working for the South African broadcaster Supersport, was abducted by armed men on Wednesday while traveling through Anambra, a…

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) has released its preliminary report on the Presidential, Legislative, and Provincial elections held on October 9, 2024, in Mozambique. Led by Tanzania, the mission included 53 observers from 10 SADC member states and was deployed across all 11 provinces. SEOM noted that the elections were conducted peacefully, with political activities, voting, and security provided despite terrorism concerns in parts of Cabo Delgado province. The mission praised Mozambique’s efforts to improve the electoral framework but raised concerns about late legal amendments and recommended revisiting the composition of the Election Management Bodies…

The United Kingdom and Mauritius have reached a historic agreement to resolve their long-standing sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia, a strategically important island hosting a UK-US military base. Negotiations have been ongoing for decades, but a breakthrough was achieved after 13 rounds of talks, with a treaty still to be finalized. Under the agreement, Mauritius will gain sovereignty over the archipelago, but the UK will retain rights to operate the Diego Garcia base for 99 years to ensure its continued military use. Key issues in the dispute included sovereignty, the rights of the displaced Chagossian…

Emirates Global Aluminium announced on Friday that bauxite exports from its subsidiary, Guinea Alumina Corporation, have been halted by customs, with the company seeking clarification for the suspension. Following the news, three-month aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose by 2.5% to $2,650 per metric ton, while alumina prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) hit a record high. Analyst Natalie Scott-Gray from StoneX noted that the disruption caused a surge in SHFE alumina prices, especially given China’s role as the largest bauxite importer globally. Global alumina supply has faced challenges this year, with disruptions in both China…

The Liberian government has signed a licensing agreement with Starlink, a satellite internet company, to provide nationwide internet coverage. The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) formalized this agreement with Starlink, a SpaceX venture, marking a significant step toward expanding internet access across the country, particularly in remote areas. Announced by LTA Acting Commissioner Abdullah Kamara during a press briefing on October 10, this partnership aims to boost high-speed internet connectivity in underserved regions. Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites bypass traditional infrastructure, offering solutions for areas with limited or unreliable internet. Already deployed in various countries, Starlink’s service is expected to revolutionize internet…