Author: WAJ Editor

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again highlighted Africa’s call for permanent representation on the UN Security Council (UNSC). He stressed that it is unacceptable for a continent of 1.3 billion people to lack representation. While speaking to reporters at the Africa Aerospace and Defense Exhibition Airshow at Waterkloof Airforce Base in Centurion, Ramaphosa asserted that Africa not only deserves a permanent seat but also veto power to avoid being treated as a “second-class” participant. “It is a significant injustice that we are not represented, but our advocacy is gaining traction,” he stated. “We have the capability and knowledge,…

On Wednesday, Somalia announced the capture of a senior al-Shabaab member in the central Galgadud region. The Somali National Army (SNA) detained Ali Geelle, a prominent figure within the militant group, during a military operation in Galhareeri district. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of a vehicle, a firearm, and ammunition. Geelle is reported to have been involved in extortion and the recruitment of children for the organization. For the past two and a half years, the SNA, alongside local militias, has been engaged in combat against al-Shabaab in southern and central Somalia, reclaiming significant territory, including the strategic…

Following a six-day visit to Kenya, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team has provided an update on the development of policies to address the country’s financial challenges. This comes in the wake of the Finance Bill 2024 being rejected and anti-tax protests led by GenZ. The IMF reported that discussions with the Kenyan government focused on policies and reforms needed to tackle the evolving economic and fiscal issues. Team leader Haimanot Teferra stated, “The Kenyan authorities and IMF staff had productive discussions on policies and reforms to address these challenges.” In 2021, Kenya secured a four-year loan agreement with…

Russia has tentatively agreed to construct a fuel pipeline in the Republic of Congo, connecting the western port of Pointe-Noire to the capital, Brazzaville, according to Reuters. A government decree states that a joint venture will be created for the pipeline project, with Russia owning a 90% share. Details such as technical and financial aspects will be specified in a concession agreement. Russia will provide funding, equipment, and personnel for the pipeline’s construction and will also supply fuel if necessary. In exchange, the Republic of Congo is expected to offer various tax incentives. This initiative is part of Russia’s broader…

Botswana has granted Giyani Metals (EMM.V) a 15-year mining license, as announced on Wednesday, enabling the company to become the nation’s first producer of battery-grade manganese. Manganese is essential for batteries, and its demand is anticipated to rise with the growth of electric vehicles and other clean energy technologies. Giyani’s Kgwakwe Hill (K.Hill) project will process manganese oxide on-site to produce high-purity manganese sulfate, positioning it among the few battery-grade manganese initiatives outside of China, which currently holds 90% of the global high-purity manganese market. The K.Hill mine is expected to produce an initial annual output of 80,000 metric tons…

There’s less than a week remaining for Gabon’s lawmakers to submit their proposed changes to the nation’s future constitution, with a deadline set for September 22. A draft of the new constitution was presented to transitional President General Brice Oligui Nguema earlier this month. This occurred a year after the military removed President Ali Bongo, whose family had been in power for over 50 years. Last week, civil society groups proposed key amendments, including reducing the presidential term from seven to five years and relaxing what they consider “discriminatory” eligibility criteria for presidential candidates. They also expressed concerns about a…

A film produced by South African broadcaster Anele Mdoda, who served as the executive producer through her company, garnered high praise at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada. Mdoda expressed her pride, stating, “Our hearts are beaming with pride following the exceptional reception that our film received during its screening at TIFF.” The South African film Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight made its Canadian debut at TIFF last Thursday. The film was produced by Rose and Oaks Media, a company co-founded by Mdoda, Frankie Du Toit, and Paul Buys. Mdoda celebrated the film’s success on…

Despite not having its own diamond resources, Israel ranks among the top five exporters of polished diamonds. How is this possible? A Kimberley Process report—an international effort to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market—reveals that six of the ten largest diamond-producing countries are in Africa, where many areas are embroiled in conflicts over diamond-rich regions. In recent decades, Israel has strategically increased its involvement in Africa through investments, benefiting significantly from Africa’s diamond mines. Allegedly, Israeli companies linked to the military have acquired diamonds and other minerals at reduced prices through trades involving military equipment, thereby boosting Israel’s diamond…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is preparing to conduct a series of investor meetings and roadshows to secure over $12 billion in capital required for the construction of the 1,000+ km Abidjan-Lagos highway. Chris Appiah, Acting Director of the Directorate of Transport in the ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, announced that a recent four-day technical workshop with road engineers from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo successfully completed the Detailed Technical Design Study for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Project. This session involved a thorough review of the technical designs and drawings. The workshop’s goal…

On Monday, Hussein Nayil Ahmed, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, met with Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Sada, the Ambassador of Qatar. Their discussion, which focused on advancing airspace openness and enhancing cooperation in civil aviation, underscored Qatar’s strong commitment to supporting Sudan in rebuilding war-torn areas. The meeting, held in a warm and collaborative atmosphere, explored plans for establishing a modern air navigation center in Portsudan and enhancing capacity-building for Civil Aviation Authority staff. They also discussed expanding Portsudan International Airport’s runway by 500 meters and extending aircraft parking facilities. Additionally, they highlighted the need for global aircraft maintenance…

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a potential solution for addressing disputed elections in Zimbabwe, provided the authorities effectively adopt and utilize the technology, according to a local elections monitoring organization. AI can enhance various electoral processes, including improving voter registration through biometric methods and increasing transparency in ballot counting. In a statement for International Democracy Day (IDD) on September 15, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) highlighted AI’s potential to transform the electoral landscape in Zimbabwe, which has a history of contested election results. This year’s IDD theme was “Artificial Intelligence As a Tool for Good Governance”. ZESN…

The 5th edition of the BEAUTYISTANBUL Exhibition will be held in 2-3-4 October 2024, in Taksim, Istanbul. The exhibition set to reach 1100 exhibitor from 60 countries, including several African countries such as Algeria, Benin, Ethiopia and South Africa. In latest years, BEAUTYISTANBUL took attention of over 50 companies from Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. BEAUTYISTANBUL ranks among the top five largest cosmetics exhibitions in the world and is the most international event in the industry, drawing trade visitors from 169 countries. The exhibition is renowned as the premier event for buyers from Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and…