Author: WAJ Editor

Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, expressed concern over the growing inequality and double standards threatening the international system. He emphasized the importance of restoring trust in multilateralism, particularly in addressing conflicts and crises, highlighting the Israeli aggression against Palestinians as a failure of the international community. He called for an immediate halt to the violence and reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Abdelatty also advocated for reforms in the UN Security Council, especially to include African and Arab countries, and stressed the need to address the debt crisis of developing nations. He underscored…

The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a €70 million trade finance facility for Bank of Africa Morocco (BOA). Ahmed Attout, Director of the Bank’s Financial Sector Development Department, highlighted the collaboration to improve trade finance access, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in transitional states. The facility includes a €50 million Risk Participation Agreement (RPA) and a €20 million Trade Finance Line of Credit (TFLOC). Achraf Hassan Tarsim, head of the African Development Bank’s Morocco office, emphasized that this partnership aims to enhance financial inclusion for SMEs involved in foreign trade across Africa. The RPA…

Two individuals close to Benin’s president, arrested last week on charges of plotting a coup in the West African nation, have been remanded in custody pending their trial, according to one of their lawyers on Tuesday. Olivier Boko, a businessman and long-time associate of President Patrice Talon, along with former sports minister Oswald Homeky, face charges of “conspiracy against state security, embezzlement, and money laundering,” as stated by their lawyer, Ayodele Ahounou. The arrests followed accusations that the two men attempted to bribe the president’s security chief to carry out a coup. On Tuesday, Homeky was allegedly caught handing six…

Abdoulaye Maïga, Mali’s Deputy Prime Minister, in UN General Assembly, highlighted that Mali has been in crisis since 2012 due to terrorist and armed groups, losing control of over half its territory and suffering many deaths. The crisis worsened when armed groups to gain strenght in 2006 and NATO’s intervention in Libya in 2011. These events fueled insecurity, trafficking, and community conflicts. In response, after Colonel Assimi Goïta became President in 2021, Mali reorganized its Defense and Security Forces, working toward reclaiming sovereignty. Maïga pointed to progress, such as the adoption of a new Constitution in July 2023 and the…

Amadou Oury Bah, Prime Minister of Guinea, in UN General Assembly, emphasized the need for decisive action and unity in addressing global challenges like conflicts, inequality, and climate crises. He expressed Guinea’s determination to move past instability and build a resilient nation focused on dignity, freedom, and prosperity. He outlined President Mamadi Doumbouya’s vision, anchored in values of justice, integrity, reconciliation, recovery, and repositioning, which will guide the country’s transformation. Bah highlighted the Simandou 2040 Project, a mining initiative that aims to avoid the “natural resource curse” by integrating social and environmental programs and creating a multi-use railway. He mentioned…

Over 150 people are missing after a boat carrying 300 passengers capsized in the Mokwa local government area of Niger State of Nigeria. This incident occurred about a week after the Nigerian National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) distributed 33 fiberglass boats to nine states to help prevent boat accidents. The boat capsized around 8:30 pm on October 1 on the River Niger near Jebba Dam, in the Gbajibo community. According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the boat was transporting mostly women and children to Gbajibo for a celebration. NSEMA Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah,…

Taye Atske-Selassie Amde, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, in UN General Assembly, recalled Ethiopia’s 1950 concerns about global challenges exceeding the UN’s capacity, warning that these fears have come true with existential threats like the arms race, poverty, and inequality. He emphasized the risk to multilateralism in a multipolar world and argued that collective security relies on states exercising their authority to protect national security. He announced that the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement will soon take effect, fostering regional cooperation. He also addressed terrorism in the Horn of Africa, urging Somalia to acknowledge Ethiopia’s role in fighting terrorism and to…

Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Cameroon’s Minister for External Relations, in UN General Assembly, highlighted that climate-related displacement now rivals war-driven refugee crises, urging immediate action on the Paris Agreement. He lamented the slow mobilization of financial and technical resources to address global issues like conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine, which exacerbate arms races and geopolitical tensions. Mbella Mbella also stressed the need for Africa to have two permanent seats on the UN Security Council, noting the injustice of its absence. As the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approach, he emphasized that current efforts are insufficient and urged stronger political…

More than 550 schools in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region are still being used as military camps, according to a regional education official on Monday. Ato Redai G. Ezger, deputy head of the Tigray Regional Education Bureau, told Addis Maleda that 552 schools remain under the control of armed groups, severely disrupting educational activities. While some schools have resumed operations, many near the Amhara border continue to face security concerns due to the military presence. Of the region’s 2,492 schools, only 1,835 are currently functioning after the Pretoria Peace Agreement. Local authorities are struggling to fully restore the education system as…

The Nigerian air force refuted claims of targeting a mosque in the deadly airstrike, stating that the strike’s location was chosen based on credible intelligence from multiple reliable sources. The Nigerian Air Force maintained on Monday that the 24 individuals killed in an airstrike in Kaduna state were terrorists. However, residents of Jika da Kolo village in the Giwa local government area claim that the victims, struck on September 27, were worshippers at a mosque and people in a market. Kabiru Ali, the Nigerian Air Force’s deputy director of public relations, stated that the location had long been known as…

Mohamed Ali Nafti, Tunisia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed concern about global efforts toward peace and sustainability while highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. He condemned the international community’s inaction and double standards regarding the war crimes committed against Palestinians by Israeli forces, calling for immediate action to end the genocide in Gaza. He urged the UN Security Council to impose a ceasefire and hold Israel accountable, citing the International Court of Justice’s advisory ruling that Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank is illegal. Tunisia supports Palestine’s right to statehood and full UN membership, and Nafti also…

The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned an attack on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy residence in Khartoum, Sudan. The Gulf state has blamed the Sudanese armed forces, which fight paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the capital, for the “heinous” attack. Türkiye called the attack a “blatant violation of international law and diplomatic norms” and urged all parties to respect international law, especially the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Türkiye reaffirmed its commitment to securing a cease-fire and achieving lasting peace in Sudan. Sudan has been in turmoil since April 2023 due to clashes between the army, led by Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan,…

Hamza Abdi Barre, Prime Minister of Somalia, in UN General Assembly, called on the international community to address escalating global conflicts, urging an immediate end to hostilities in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza. He emphasized the need to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law. Barre expressed concern over Ethiopia’s actions, accusing the country of violating Somalia’s territorial integrity by attempting to annex Somali territory under the pretext of securing sea access. He called on the international community to support Somalia in defending its sovereignty. Barre also highlighted the importance of sustainable funding for peacekeeping missions like AMISOM and ATMIS, which…

Philda Kereng, Botswana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, called for stronger trade relations between the two countries during Botswana’s 58th National Day celebration in Abuja. She emphasized the importance of Nigeria as a key partner since the signing of a bilateral agreement in 2018 to deepen cultural and diplomatic ties. Kereng highlighted the need for increased business cooperation and trade between the nations, particularly in sectors like film, food, fashion, and music, where Nigeria excels. She noted the low level of trade between Botswana and Nigeria and stressed the potential for growth in areas such as cosmetics, textiles, and livestock farming.…

Christian Ntsay, Prime Minister of Madagascar, in his speech on UN General Assembly session, emphasized the Malagasy concept of “Fihavanana,” which promotes harmony, mutual respect, and solidarity. He highlighted the government’s focus on human capital, noting significant investments in education, health, security, social programs, and infrastructure over the past five years. He stated that Madagascar has also prioritized democracy and good governance, earning recognition as the second most peaceful country in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024. Ntsay outlined Madagascar’s aspiration to become Africa’s top rice producer through its rural development policy. Additionally, the country is constructing the “Route du Soleil” to…

The Angolan Government is dedicated to enhancing its National Integrated and Comprehensive Surveillance System to track the use of antimicrobials and resistance patterns across human, animal, and environmental health sectors, as recently affirmed by Angolan Health Minister Sílvia Lutucuta in the United States. Speaking at the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, she emphasized that this system provides real-time data essential for shaping public health policies and adjusting plans, including clinical guidelines. The government has made strides in promoting and controlling the responsible use of antimicrobials in human, animal, and agricultural medicine,…