PARIS, March 20 – French naval forces have intercepted and boarded an oil tanker in the Western Mediterranean, intensifying Europe’s efforts to crack down on what officials describe as Russia’s covert shipping network designed to bypass international sanctions. The move reflects a broader shift in enforcement strategy as Western governments attempt to limit Moscow’s ability … Read more
NIGERIA, Dec 26 – The United States has carried out air strikes against militants linked to the Islamic State group in north western Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s involvement in the country’s long running fight against jihadist violence. The strikes targeted camps used by the extremist group in Sokoto state, close to Nigeria’s … Read more
COTONOU, Dec 7 – Benin woke to a tense and uncertain Sunday after a group of soldiers appeared on national television announcing that they had taken control of the country. Within hours, the government declared that the armed forces had blocked an attempted coup and that order was being restored. The incident, which briefly shook … Read more
October 21 – The Sudanese pound has suffered a steep decline, losing nearly 40% of its value following what traders describe as a de facto flight and shipping embargo from the United Arab Emirates. The disruption has severely impacted Sudan’s gold trade, one of the country’s last remaining economic lifelines amid a protracted civil war. … Read more
Antananarivo, October 6 – Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has appointed army General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the nation’s new prime minister, following the dissolution of the previous government in response to weeks of public protests over persistent power outages and water shortages. General Zafisambo takes over from Christian Ntsay, who was dismissed alongside his cabinet … Read more
NAIROBI, Sep 27 – Kenyan authorities have uncovered and dismantled a human trafficking network accused of recruiting young citizens under the guise of offering them lucrative job opportunities in Russia, only to redirect them into military service in Ukraine. The operation led to the rescue of more than twenty victims, raising fresh alarms about the … Read more
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept 19 – Amnesty International has issued an urgent appeal to the authorities in Eswatini regarding the detention of five men deported from the United States who have been confined for two months without any formal charges. The men, originating from Jamaica, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, were transferred to the … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, July 1 – South Africa has formally requested more time to negotiate a trade agreement aimed at protecting its key export sectors from impending U.S. tariffs. The 90-day pause—granted after Washington’s decision to impose a 31% tariff back in April—is set to expire on July 9, leaving Pretoria in a race against time to … Read more
NAIROBI, June 9 – A key African Union-affiliated institution has strongly criticized the recent downgrade of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) by Fitch Ratings, calling the move unjustified and based on a fundamental misinterpretation of sovereign loan exposures. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a continental oversight body mandated with establishing Africa‘s own credit ratings … Read more
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Malaria remains the deadliest disease in Africa, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives each year, particularly among children and pregnant women. The disease, transmitted by infected mosquitoes, poses a severe public health threat, with millions of cases reported annually. However, recent funding cuts by the U.S. government have raised concerns about a … Read more