Author: WAJ Editor

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…

Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced that oil export operations have resumed without disruptions following protests at the Es Sider and Ras Lanuf ports on Tuesday. “Operations are proceeding without interruption across all fields and ports, following discussions with protesters who demonstrated at the Es Sider and Ras Lanuf ports this morning,” NOC stated on its Facebook page. The protests, which briefly blocked loadings, were organized by demonstrators demanding the relocation of oil company headquarters to the Oil Crescent region and equitable development to improve living conditions in the area. The Oil Crescent region, which includes Es Sider, Brega,…

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed on Tuesday that she is under judicial investigation following Italy’s unexpected release of Osama Elmasry Njeem, a Libyan police officer wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity. Njeem, also known as Osama Almasri Njeem, was detained under an ICC arrest warrant but was released last week without prior consultation with the court, prompting the ICC to demand an explanation. In a social media statement, Meloni said prosecutors are investigating her for alleged embezzlement and aiding and abetting a crime in relation to the case. However, under Italian law, being…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held a phone conversation with Rwandan President Paul Kagame to address the worsening conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the South African Presidency announced on Monday. The two leaders emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks involving all parties in the conflict. The discussions follow confirmation from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) that nine South African soldiers were killed in skirmishes with M23 rebels near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week. The troops were deployed as part of the Southern African…

Algerian lawmakers have strongly criticized a European Parliament resolution condemning the arrest of French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal, calling it a blatant interference in Algeria’s internal affairs. In a statement signed on Monday, members of both chambers of Algeria’s parliament denounced the resolution as containing “misleading allegations” aimed at tarnishing the country’s image. Sansal, 76, was arrested on November 16 and charged under an anti-terrorism statute that rights groups claim is often used to suppress dissent and silence critics of the government. European writers, artists, and politicians—particularly those aligned with the French right—have rallied to his defense, highlighting his criticism of…

M23 rebels fighting in eastern Congo are reportedly using sophisticated weaponry and equipment resembling those used by the Israeli military and U.S. special forces, according to retired South African general Maomela Moreti Motau. Speaking to Newsroom Afrika on Tuesday, Motau said he observed visuals of M23 fighters armed with equipment uncommon to the region. “The weapon I saw appears to be used by the armed forces of Israel. It’s not something typically found in Rwanda,” he remarked, highlighting that the rebels’ arms and uniforms suggest backing from a powerful, external force. Motau described the M23 as a well-organized and heavily…

The documentary Khartoum made history as the first Sudanese film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, carrying a powerful message of war and hope. Co-directed by Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, the film portrays the lives of five ordinary people from Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, who were forced to flee the ongoing conflict. Initially conceived as a “cinematic poem” about everyday life in Khartoum, the project shifted focus when a brutal war erupted in 2023 between Sudan’s army chief and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has left tens of thousands dead, displaced over 12 million people, and pushed the…

Protests erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) capital, Kinshasa, on Tuesday, according to claims from the region, demonstrators targeted embassies of France, Belgium, the United States, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds after embassies of several nations were attacked. The protesters accused certain countries of supporting Rwanda’s alleged backing of the M23 rebels, who recently captured Goma, a key city in eastern DRC. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed on social media that the French embassy in Kinshasa was attacked and briefly set ablaze. The fire was later brought under control. Public…

Zimbabwe’s inflation rate saw a sharp increase in January, fueled by surging prices for food and housing. The year-on-year inflation rate in U.S. dollar terms climbed to 14.6%, up from 2.5% in December, according to data released by the country’s statistics agency on Tuesday. Meanwhile, local currency inflation rose to 10.5% month-on-month in January, compared to 3.7% in December. Economists attribute the rise to factors including a severe drought last year and the introduction of new taxes. Prosper Chitambara, an independent economist, noted that the added financial burden on consumers is likely exacerbating the situation. “The new taxes that took…

A diplomatic row has erupted between Belgium and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after a military court in Kinshasa upheld a death sentence on Monday for Belgian-Congolese military expert Jean-Jacques Wondo. Wondo was convicted alongside 36 others, including three Americans, in September 2024 on charges of criminal association, terrorism, and plotting a failed coup in the DRC. His appeal was rejected on Monday, prompting sharp reactions from Belgium. The Belgian government immediately recalled its ambassador to Kinshasa for consultations and summoned the DRC’s envoy to Brussels to express its discontent. In a statement, Belgium’s Foreign Ministry criticized the verdict,…

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists raised alarm on Monday over the deteriorating health conditions of imprisoned journalists Mohamed Boughalleb and Shaza El-Haj Mubarak, warning that their lives are in immediate danger. In a statement, the union emphasized the critical state of their health, calling for “urgent and comprehensive medical interventions in specialized institutions to ensure effective treatment.” Boughalleb, who has diabetes, was sentenced last June to eight months in prison for allegedly defaming a public official. Meanwhile, Mubarak has been detained since July 23, 2023, in connection with the so-called “InstaLingo” case, which dates back to October 2021. This…

Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) have been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, according to the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). The ERRs, a grassroots aid group responding to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, topped the list released by PRIO Director Henrik Urdal on Tuesday. Urdal praised the ERRs as a “powerful testament to the strength of local resilience and collective action in the face of brutal war.” Their nomination highlights the critical role of grassroots organizations in advancing peace and supporting affected communities amid violence and instability. The announcement emphasized the interconnected efforts required to promote peace and…

A senior Hamas delegation, headed by Mohammed Darwish, the leader of its leadership council, has arrived in Cairo to discuss the implementation of a ceasefire agreement and a three-phase prisoner exchange process, the group announced yesterday. The delegation includes key figures such as Khaled Meshaal, Khalil Al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Nizar Awadallah, Mohammed Nasser, and Ghazi Hamad. The statement also noted that the group plans to meet with Palestinian prisoners who were released last Saturday. As part of the ongoing agreement, Al-Qassam Brigades recently handed over four female Israeli soldiers to the International Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza. In exchange, Israel…

Four more South African peacekeepers were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) eastern region, raising the total number of peacekeeper fatalities to 17 amid ongoing clashes with M23 rebels, according to media reports on Tuesday. The South African National Defense Force lost three soldiers during a mortar attack on Goma Airport by M23 rebels on Monday, while a fourth peacekeeper was killed in direct combat with the group, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported. The fatalities are part of a broader surge in violence in the region. Since last week’s rebel offensive in Goma, at least 17 peacekeepers…

The State of Libya is hosting a high-level state-economic delegation from the Republic of Serbia, led by State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nikola Stojanović. The visit, which includes key meetings with Libyan officials and participation in the Libyan-Serbian Business Forum in Tripoli, marks a significant step in fostering closer cooperation between the two nations. On the first day of the visit, the Serbian delegation met with Libya’s Minister of Transportation, the Deputy Minister of Finance, and Special Advisors to the Prime Minister, including Mohammed Al-Shahoubi and Dr. Mustafa Mana, who also serves on the Board of Directors…

Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia have been recognized as leaders in Africa’s fight against cholera, achieving significant progress in meeting global elimination targets, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). The report, released Monday on the social media platform X, evaluated 27 of 47 countries in the WHO African region over five years. It highlighted that Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia scored 70% or higher in the implementation of the 2030 cholera elimination framework, with Ethiopia leading at 76%, followed closely by Kenya and Zambia at 75%. Key milestones assessed in the study included the appointment of national…