Ethiopia ---- rejects pressure
over Nile & Red Sea access
October 5th, 11:55am
(rt.ru)
Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia have declared that Nile
decisions require consultation and consensus amid a
longstanding dispute with Ethiopia over its dam.
Ethiopia has warned that coercion and aggression will not
undermine its interests in the Red Sea and Nile, one day
after Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan & Somalia declared maritime
governance the exclusive responsibility of coastal
states and rejected unilateral measures harming
downstream water supplies.
In a statement on Monday, Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry cited the East
African country’s historical and geographical connections to the
Red Sea and its position as the source of the Blue Nile, saying
these realities cannot be altered by coercion, or by any sort
of destabilization measures.
“Actions taken through proxies or acts of aggression will not change
the facts on the ground,” the ministry said, declaring Ethiopia ready
to defend its sovereignty and “core national interests.”
The statement.. did not name the four countries, whose leaders met
in New Alamein, Egypt on Sunday for talks on regional security and
cooperation. In a joint declaration after the summit, Egypt, Eritrea,
Sudan, and Somalia reaffirmed......... “the principle of freedom of
navigation” and called for cooperation on transboundary rivers,
including the Nile, through.... “prior notification, consultation
and consensus.”
Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan have long clashed over the Grand
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s largest hydroelectric
dam with a generating capacity of 5,150 megawatts,
which Ethiopia built on the Blue Nile and
inaugurated in September 2025.
Egypt and Sudan fear its operation could threaten their water
supplies and demand a binding agreement on ...filling and
operation. Ethiopia considers the dam essential for
electricity generation and development and
maintains --- that it will not harm its
downstream neighbours.
According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement, the Blue Nile
originates almost entirely in the Ethiopian highlands and
supplies around 85% of the Nile’s total flow.
Ethiopia became landlocked when its former province, Eritrea,
gained independence in 1993 after a decades-long liberation
war. Its pursuit of sea access, which Ethiopia considers
vital to its economy and security, has fueled tensions
with neighbouring countries. In January 2024, it
signed a deal with Somaliland to obtain coast
line access for a naval base in exchange for
recognition. Somalia condemned the
agreement as a violation of
its sovereignty.
A Turkish-mediated agreement in December 2024 eased tensions
and provided for negotiations on commercial sea access... under
Somali sovereignty. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
told Al Jazeera over the weekend that his government has
“no objection... to Ethiopia gaining access to the sea
through Somalia.” He said the country could offer
Ethiopia access to up to three ports for trade.
Ethiopia’s push for sovereign access to Eritrea’s Assab Port has
also strained relations with Eritrea, which accuses the country
of plotting to take its ports by force. The two countries broke
diplomatic ties last week after Ethiopia accused the
Eritrean authorities of financing armed groups
seeking to overthrow the PM, Abiy Ahmed.
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_______________________________
South Africa sees sharp rise
in multiracial households
October 5th, 11:40am
(rt.ru)
The share has jumped from 1.3% in 2001 to 11.4%
in 2022, according to Statistics South Africa.
Multiracial households have become increasingly common in South
Africa over the past two decades, with more than one in ten now
comprising people from different racial groups, Statistics South
Africa reported.
The proportion has risen from just 1.3% in 2001 and 1.7% in 2011 to
11.4% in 2022, with most of the change taking place in the decade
between the last two censuses. Statistics South Africa defines a
multi-racial household as one in which two or more people from
different population groups live together as one household.
These include black African, white, coloured, Indian or
Asian, and other population groups.
The report says the shift reflects changes in how South Africans live
and form families, with intermarriage, migration, urbanisation and
greater social mobility ....contributing to increasingly integrated
households. However, the picture differs considerably across
the country.
The Western Cape ---- has the highest proportion of multi-
racial households, where they account for almost 1 in 5
households. Gauteng follows, while Limpopo has the
lowest proportion.
This partly reflects the racial make-up of individual
provinces, with multi-racial households more
common in areas ------ with more diverse
populations, according to the report.
Johannesburg and Cape Town stand out among South Africa’s
metros, although multi-racial households are increasingly
found outside the country’s major cities. More than four
in five multi-racial households were located in urban
areas in each of the three censuses studied.
However, the proportion living outside urban areas has also grown,
from about 15% in 2001 to more than 18% in 2022. Indeed, about
two in five multi-racial households are now found in non-
metropolitan municipalities.
The make-up of these households - has changed substantially too.
In 2001, large households were common, with almost three in 10
multi-racial households containing six or more people. By 2022,
they accounted for fewer than one in 25. At the same time,
three-person households have become dominant. Fewer
than one in five fell into this category in 2001,
compared with almost half by 2022,
according to the Census figures.
”In terms of living arrangements and culture in general,
South African society continues to adopt new ways of
living, including mixed-race household formation, and
these emerging social interaction patterns have an
impact on household size,” says the agency.
Two-person households have also become
considerably more common, while the
proportion containing five people
has fallen sharply.
”The rise of multi-racial households in South Africa is a direct
reflection of democratic freedom in several aspects of life,”
says Statistics South Africa. According to the report, the
increase reflects greater cultural integration through
urbanisation, migration and education... as well as
the freedom to marry, cohabit and form families
across racial lines.
First published by IOL
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___________________________________________
Abiy Ahmed re-elected as
Ethiopia's prime minister
Addis Ababa, October 5th, 9:44am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was re-elected today in his
post for the next five years, during the first ordinary session of
the first year of the seventh legislature.
Ahmed Shide and Muferihat Kamil were elected as Speakers of
the House of People's Representatives (Parliament) and the
Federation House (Upper House), respectively.
Shide... served as finance minister, while
Kamil was the head of Labour and Skills.
The formation of a new government and the opening of Parliament
comes after elections in which over 54 million citizens registered
to vote - 42 political parties and 10,438 candidates participated.
The ruling Prosperity Party won 438 seats in parliament, clearing
the constitutional path to form and lead the federal executive
for the next legislative period.
__________________________________________
Ebola outbreak has
passed its peak –
DR Congo
October 5th, 9:30am
(rt.ru)
Infections are now concentrated in fewer areas as contact
tracing improves, the country’s health ministry has said.
The current Ebola outbreak has passed its peak, the DR Congo
Health Ministry said on Friday, citing a decline in new cases
in the country and a shrinking number of areas reporting
active transmission.
According to the statement, transmission is now concentrated in
individual health zones rather than across entire provinces. Of
the 63 health zones under surveillance, 12 have recorded no
new cases for at least 42 days, while another eight have
gone between 22 and 42 days, without reporting an
infection. The share of identified contacts being
monitored has nearly tripled, climbing from
around 28% in May .........to 82% by
September 28.
“The peak is really behind us,” Congolese Health Minister Roger
Samuel Kamba said at a press briefing in Kinshasa -- according
to the Congolese Press Agency. The trend allows health teams
to concentrate their response on areas where infections are
still being detected, Kamba added.
Despite the improving trend.... as cited by the minister, the virus
continues to spread in several parts of the country. The latest
Health Ministry data recorded 66 new confirmed cases, and
38 deaths, bringing the toll as of October 2nd........ to 8,442
infections and 4,080 deaths. The case fatality rate stood
at 48.3%.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
warned on Thursday against interpreting a recent decline in
reported cases as evidence that the outbreak is easing,
stressing that insecurity has disrupted surveillance in
some affected areas. At the time of its briefing, 45 of
the 63 affected health zones --- were still reporting
active transmission.
“Falling in this curve doesn’t mean that the outbreak is totally under
control,” Africa CDC’s Wessam Mankoula said. “We cannot say, at
this stage, the outbreak is under control.”
DR Congo continues to grapple with instability as the M23
rebel group maintains control over parts of the country,
fueling clashes and humanitarian emergencies.
The World Health Organization (WHO)... has raised similar
concerns, warning that the insecurity in eastern Congo
has hampered surveillance, case detection and
contact tracing.
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________________________________
Ethiopia defends its interests in
Nile River and Red Sea debate
Addis Ababa, October 5th, 8:06am
(Prensa Latina)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed today that any discussion
on the use and management of the Nile River and the issue of the
Red Sea must take into account the geographical reality and the
legitimate national interests of Ethiopia.
In a press release, the ministry noted that Addis Ababa is the source
of the Abay River – commonly known as the Blue Nile – whose flow
comes almost entirely from the Ethiopian highlands and
contributes about 85% of the total volume of water.
He also stated that the country maintains a geographical and
historical link with the Red Sea, located just 30 miles from
its coast.
"Therefore, any serious discussion on regional maritime affairs and
security architecture must take into account Ethiopia's legitimate
interests and its enduring link with the Red Sea," it stressed.
The Foreign Ministry specified that these facts cannot be
altered by political rhetoric, coercion or destabilization.
"Proxy actions or acts of aggression will not change the reality on
the ground or undermine Ethiopia's legitimate regional role and
responsibilities," he said.
Reaffirming the nation's commitment to peaceful understanding,
mutual respect and regional cooperation, the Ministry stated
that Ethiopia is ready to defend its sovereignty, territorial
integrity and core interests.
Finally, he urged all regional actors to address common challenges
through constructive dialogue and good-neighbourliness, rather
than by confrontation and zero-sum approaches.
_____________________________________________
Ethiopian troops now retake
regional capital from rebels
October 5th, 7:45am
(rt.ru)
The advance comes amid fighting against an alliance seeking
to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
Ethiopian government forces and allied fighters have retaken the
capital of the northern Tigray region, which rebels seized less
than two weeks ago.
Fighters from the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces (TPF)
announced in a post on Facebook on Sunday that they had
“completely taken control” of Mekelle.
Footage shared by the TPF and dated October 3 shows armed
men in military uniforms and vans moving through the streets,
with horns sounding as people cheer. The forces entered the
city centre on Saturday afternoon, followed by federal
troops, Reuters reported, citing a source close
to the militia.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the
region, acknowledged its retreat ---- in a statement posted on
Facebook. It said the regional administration “has decided
to temporarily leave Mekelle and operate from another
location, while our forces continue carrying out
their military operations.”
Residents reported looting of government offices during the
withdrawal, while internet and cellphone disruptions have
hampered any verification of developments, AP reported.
Federal troops also recovered Mekelle’s airport, which TPLF
fighters seized on September 23, prompting Ethiopian
Airlines to suspend flights to the city ....and two
other Tigrayan destinations.
The East African country has struggled to secure lasting stability
since an African Union-mediated peace agreement signed in
November 2022 ended the 2-year Tigray war, which killed
hundreds of thousands.
The conflict grew out of a power struggle between the federal
government and the TPLF, whose decades of dominance in
national politics ended when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
took office in 2018. Disputes over disarmament,
territory, and the return of displaced people,
remain unresolved.
The latest escalation followed the formation of an opposition
alliance between the TPLF and six other armed groups,
including former battlefield enemies, seeking to
oust Abiy.
On September 24, the Ethiopian National Defense Force said
it had killed 272 TPLF fighters and wounded another 260 in
a counteroffensive. Tigray’s regional authorities said their
troops entered a “defensive battle” after federal forces
attacked them with aircraft, drones, and artillery.
The fighting has also deepened a regional diplomatic crisis, with
Ethiopia accusing Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan of supporting the
rebels. All three deny the allegations.
Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrea - and
expelled ten Eritrean diplomats on Thursday, citing Asmara’s
“direct and indirect acts of hostility.” Eritrea responded by
severing ties, claiming Addis Ababa was plotting to take
its ports and backing Eritrean opposition groups to
pursue regime change. Addis Ababa also ordered
an Egyptian diplomat to leave within 48 hours.
Cairo retaliated ------ by giving an Ethiopian
Embassy counselor the same deadline.
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____________________________________
Humanitarian operations are halted
--- by violence in DRC, OCHA warns
Kinshasa, October 5th, 00:51am
(Prensa Latina)
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) warned about the suspension of operations
of some organizations in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) due to the escalation of violence
affecting Ituri today.
According to a report by this United Nations agency, in the eastern
Congolese province, particularly in the territory of Djugu, the most
recent clashes caused the death of at least 16 civilians and the
displacement of over 13,000 people, and makes aid ''difficult''.
"At least five humanitarian organizations have suspended or
reduced their operations, limiting the population's access to
food, health care, nutrition services, cash assistance, and
water and sanitation support," OCHA warned. He added
that some 10,000 people or more are at risk of losing
access to urgent assistance, while another 50,000
displaced people at the Rhoe site are at risk of
not receiving the aid they need.
According to OCHA, the escalation of violence also hampers
the Ebola response, by disrupting community engagement
and surveillance activities, as well as delaying the
transport of samples to laboratories.
The agency reiterated the need --- for safe, sustained and
unhindered humanitarian access, as well as to maintain
international support for the Ebola response and
life-saving humanitarian operations.
_________________________________________
Angolan President calls:
--- for more commitment
to African development
Luanda, October 3rd, 2:18pm
(Prensa Latina)
Angolan President João Lourenço today called for a greater
commitment to the development of the African continent,
translated into political, technical and financial support,
and concrete actions for transformation.
Delivering the closing speech at the summit of the founding
members of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA
-NEPAD), held in the Egyptian city of El Alamein, the
president stressed the strategic role of this
structure and the importance of turning
decisions ---- into reality.
Lourenço remarked that one of the steps that follow this meeting
is the maximum adaptation of the projects to be implemented to
the reality of the member states.
"The effectiveness of continental action - is ultimately measured by
its ability to deliver results on the ground. It is there, together with
our populations, where continental policies and strategies take
concrete expression, and where citizens -- must perceive the
benefits of the decisions we make at the continental level,"
he said.
He insisted that the commitments resulting from the summit
be effectively executed, as no declaration... replaces the
value of implementation.
The Angolan president, who addressed the audience as president of
the Guidance Committee of the Heads of State and Government of
AUDA-NEPAD, highlighted the quality of the day's debates, which
allowed the 25-year history of the organization to be reviewed.
In the same way, he pointed out, they allowed us to look to
the future with a sense of responsibility and with a clear
awareness of the challenges ahead.
"Our deliberations unequivocally concluded that the next chapter of
AUDA-NEPAD must be characterized by stronger African ownership,
greater institutional effectiveness and a culture of results-oriented
implementation," he said.
It maintained that Member States should ensure ---- that
the structure had the necessary resources, technical
capacities and institutional conditions - to fully fulfil
the mandate entrusted to it.
At another point in his participation in the event, the Angolan
president commented on the agency's progress, such as the
extension of its portfolio of programmes, the strengthening
of support to member states, plus, the mobilisation of
investments, and the consolidation of strategic
partnerships in essential areas ---- such as
infrastructure, food systems and health.
___________________________________________
Angola launches campaign to
advance voter registration
Luanda, October 3rd, 1:19pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Government of Angola today began a campaign to advance the
registration of citizens aged 18 and over in the electoral registry,
with a view to the 2027 elections.
Called "Angola calls you", the action, which seeks to raise
awareness and social mobilization in pursuit of the
updating of personal data, will be carried out
every Saturday and Sunday until the end
ofDecember, throughout Angola.
Organized by the Ministries of Telecommunications, Information
Technologies and Social Communication; of Territorial
Administration, and Justice and Human Rights, the
campaign focuses on the updating of personal
data, proof of life and the processing or
collection of the Identity Document,
mandatory for the elections.
Angola began the electoral registration and proof of life on June 15,
and as of September 23, according to the national director of the
Electoral Registry Pascoal Santana, two million 500 thousand
citizens had completed the process, out of a figure of more
than 16 million ---- that is expected to be reached.
The closure of this action, which is carried out in the Single
Windows for Public Service, as well as in embassies and
consulates outside the country.... is set for March 31,
2027, so the Government decided to move forward
to increase the rate of registration.
In Luanda, the action began this Saturday
in the municipalities of Cazenga, Viana,
Cacuaco and Kilamba.
_________________________________________
France.... to support access to justice
for victims of sexual violence in DRC
Kinshasa, October 3rd, 12:36pm
(Prensa Latina)
France will support access to justice for victims of sexual violence
in conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for
which it will contribute more than 1.3 million euros for the
period 2026-2028.
The cooperation project was established on the basis of a letter of
intent signed by the Congolese Minister of Justice, Guillaume
Ngefa Atondoko Andali, and the French Minister for Europe
and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, who concludes
his visit to this African nation today.
Called "Support for the rule of law in favour of victims of sexual
violence in conflict zones," the initiative seeks to facilitate
free access for victims to judicial mechanisms and
strengthen mechanisms aimed at ensuring
their reparation.
The National Fund for Reparations for Victims of Conflict-Related
Sexual Violence and Crimes against Peace and Security of
Humanity (Fonarev) and the DRC Ministry of Justice, will
shake hands for its implementation, Actualité.CD said.
The project includes the coverage of procedural expenses and
lawyers' fees, the deployment of mobile legal clinics to bring
services closer to the population and the organization of
itinerant hearings.
Other aspects included in its design are the training of magistrates,
judicial police officers and lawyers... in order to improve the
documentation of crimes, the conduct of investigations
and the judicial treatment of files.
Trust... is a wonderful thing!
___________________________________
EU escalates ‘neo-colonial’
cocaine-linked African
sanctions
October 1st, 1:50pm
(rt.ru)
Sierra Leone has insisted -- it does
not depend on cash from Brussels.
The EU Commission has halted foreign aid payments to Sierra Leone
ostensibly over a Dutch demand that Freetown must extradite a
convicted drug trafficker. The move has escalated a dispute
that has led the West African country to accuse the
Netherlands’ government of neo-colonialism.
Dutch Justice and Security Minister David van Weel announced the
suspension on X on Thursday while attending a meeting of EU
justice and home affairs ministers in Luxembourg.
He described the move as “a good start” to efforts to strengthen
the “EU sanctions regime against organized crime.”
The dispute centres on Jos Leijdekkers, known as “Bolle Jos,” who
was handed a 24-year sentence in the Netherlands in June 2024,
for cocaine trafficking, an armed robbery and ordering a murder.
He remains on the Dutch police’s most-wanted list. He has also
reportedly received prison sentences totaling around 100
years, in Belgium.
Sierra Leone --- had been due to receive €18 million (about $20.3
million) in aid before year-end for education, food programs and
infrastructure, public broadcaster NOS reported.
A further €22.5 million (about $25.4 million) pledged for 2027
could also be suspended if Sierra Leone continues to refuse
cooperation, Van Weel said. The Commission has not yet
publicly announced the suspension.
Reuters reported early last year, citing sources with direct
knowledge of the matter, that Leijdekkers had found
refuge and high-level protection in Sierra Leone
and was married to President Julius Maada
Bio’s daughter Agnes.
Footage verified by the agency ....showed the fugitive seated
two rows behind Bio at a church service on January 1, 2025.
In a statement that month, Sierra Leone’s Information Ministry said
Bio had no knowledge of Leijdekkers’ identity .....or the allegations
against him. It noted that the president attended numerous family
events and public gatherings during the holiday season, where
he was photographed with many attendees.
The government announced a “transparent and thorough”
investigation and pledged cooperation with the Dutch
authorities, Interpol, and other international law
enforcement agencies.
The Netherlands submitted an extradition request to the West
African country in February 2025. The two countries lack a
bilateral extradition treaty.
Speaking on Sierra Leonean broadcaster AYV’s State of the Nation
on September 9, Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh said
the country’s intelligence services do “not know where
Leijdekkers is.”
The minister accused Van Weel of acting like a “neo-colonialist.”
He said Sierra Leone is an independent country ------ that does
“not live on EU aid.”
Van Weel dismissed the accusation as “ridiculous”
in comments to NOS reported last month.
Sengeh also accused The Hague of double standards, saying it
had refused to extradite Netherlands-based government critic
Abdul Kamara (‘Adebayor’), whom Freetown accuses of
inciting violence, including riots in August 2022, that
left at least 26 civilians and 6 police officers dead.
Sierra Leone.. is a key transit hub for cocaine trafficked from South
America to Europe, according to assessments by Interpol and the
2025 Global Organized Crime Index. Spanish authorities seized
30.2 metric tons aboard a cargo ship that had departed from
Freetown in May this year, arresting 23 people, including
Dutch and Filipino nationals.
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______________________________________
West pushing Africa to skip
Russia summit – Moscow
October 1st, 12:50pm
(rt.ru)
The continent’s states face attempts to discourage them
from attending the October gathering, Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said
Western countries are pressuring African states ------ in an attempt to
prevent them from attending the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in
Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
said on Wednesday.
The alleged pressure... comes ahead of the October 28-29 gathering.
The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are expected to attend,
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Alimov said on Thursday.
The three Sahel states have strengthened ties with Moscow in
recent years.
“We are certainly observing attempts by our detractors in Western
nations to pressure African partners in an effort to prevent them
from coming to Moscow,” Zakharova said.
She described it as a continuation.. of the colonial approach toward
Africa, stating that “former colonial powers are failing to keep pace
with a changing world” and Western countries continue to seek to
dictate foreign policy choices to African states.
The spokeswoman did not name the countries involved or provide
specific examples. She said -- African states pursue independent
foreign policies based on their national interests and expressed
confidence that the summit would be held --- with broad
African representation.
In September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov singled out
France, claiming that President Emmanuel Macron would use a
trip to Africa to try to dissuade African leaders from attending
the summit. Lavrov said Moscow’s suspicions were based
on “certain facts,” but did not provide details.
Earlier this year, Zakharova raised similar concerns, saying Russia
had encountered attempts to obstruct African participation in the
2023 summit and ministerial conferences in Sochi in 2024, and
Cairo in 2025.
Ahead of the St. Petersburg summit in 2023, Kremlin spokesman
Dmitry Peskov accused the US, France, and other Western
countries of using their diplomatic missions in Africa to
pressure governments to prevent active participation.
He said such efforts ---- denied African states the
sovereign right to choose their own partners.
Tensions over African countries’ ties with Moscow.. have also spilled
into economic relations. Senior US lawmakers that year, questioned
South Africa’s eligibility for trade benefits under the African Growth
and Opportunity Act (AGOA), citing Pretoria’s ''military ties''
with Russia, and sought to move an annual US-Africa
trade forum ...out of the country.
Washington has publicly claimed that African countries should be
free to choose their own partners. “America will not dictate
Africa’s choices. Neither should anyone else,” then-US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said in 2022.
The inaugural Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019, drew official
delegations from all 54 African countries, with 45 represented by
heads of state or government.
The second summit in St. Petersburg in 2023 drew official
delegations from 48 countries, with 27 represented by a
head of state or the second-highest-ranking official.
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_______________________________________________
Close ally of Zimbabwe's President
just killed --- in a helicopter crash
October 1st, 9:30am
(rt.ru)
Businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife are among
the six victims, a family spokesperson has said
A helicopter carrying six people, including a close ally
of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa,
crashed in the country’s east on Wednesday,
leaving no survivors, officials have said.
The aircraft came down at about 5 PM local time near Waddilove
Mission in Marondera district, east of the capital, Harare,
Zimbabwean police said in a statement, later the
same day.
According to government spokesman Nick Mangwana, the
helicopter was carrying a high-profile businessman, three
other passengers and two pilots. “Current information
indicates that there were no survivors in this crash,”
Mangwana wrote on X, adding that the police “will
confirm the names of the victims in due course.”
State-owned newspaper The Herald identified businessman
Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, as among the
dead, citing a family spokesperson.
Chivayo founded Intratrek Zimbabwe, an energy and infrastructure
company awarded the contract to develop the country’s 100-
megawatt Gwanda solar project. He was a prominent
supporter of Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU-PF
party. He visited the president at his rural home
on New Year’s Day this year and joined him
during a meeting with South African
President, Cyril Ramaphosa, at
Mnangagwa’s private farm
in May.
Kenyan President William Ruto also confirmed the couple’s deaths
in a condolence message on X on Thursday, describing Chivayo
as “a dear friend whose warmth touched many people.”
“I will remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep
conviction in the possibilities of our continent,” Ruto said. He
extended condolences to the victims’ families, President
Emmerson Mnangagwa and the people of Zimbabwe.
A helicopter scheduled to transport Mnangagwa --- crashed at
Masvingo Airport on September 15, 2024, after experiencing
what officials described as a technical fault. The president
was not aboard, and no fatalities were reported.
Other southern African countries have also recorded such
accidents, some involving senior officials. A helicopter
crash - by Danielskuil in neighbouring South Africa’s
Northern Cape, killed all three aboard in October
2025. Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Chilima
and eight others ...died in a military plane
crash --- in the country’s mountainous
north.. in June 2024. Zambia’s Vice
President Mutale Nalumango and
all other passengers and crew
escaped injury - in a military
helicopter takeoff accident
at Nakonde on July 9th...
this year.
The cause of Wednesday’s crash has yet to be established.
Zimbabwe’s Air Force has previously complained of an
aging fleet, saying Western sanctions had hampered
purchases of replacement aircraft, Reuters
reported ....after the fatal 2021 crash.
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__________________________________________
New anti-immigrant
demonstrations in
South Africa
Pretoria, September 30th, 1:50pm
(Prensa Latina)
New demonstrations against illegal immigration took place today in
the South African city of Durban, the main scene of demonstrations
in recent times.
This time the participants also spoke out against the gender-
based violence and attacks by criminal gangs that occurred
in Johannesburg and other cities.
On the other hand, this Wednesday, September 30, was the
unofficial deadline set by nationalist groups for irregular
immigrants to leave the country.
South Africa has experienced an intense anti-immigration campaign
in recent months, which left episodes of violence against foreign
citizens in several cities and as a result of which several
immigrants were killed.
This wave of anti-immigrant violence caused the hasty departure of
more than 200,000 people from the country, according to figures
published by African governments repatriating their citizens.
_____________________________________________________
DR Congo politician killed for
defending Ebola measures
– ruling party
September 30th, 1:10pm
(RT.ru)
The UDPS has linked the attack to Marie-Celestin
Karondwa’s support for measures against
the disease.
An official from the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ruling party
has died after being attacked following a radio appearance in the
Ebola-hit eastern city of Butembo, local media reported
on Monday.
Marie-Celestin Karondwa, a spokesperson for the Union for
Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in Butembo, was
assaulted on Sunday and later died from his injuries, the
Congolese Press Agency (ACP) reported - citing a party
statement. His property was also looted and his home
set on fire.
As quoted by Reuters, the party said he was “an innocent victim for
having defended the party’s position on the existence of the Ebola
virus disease... and the threat it poses to the population.”
The motive remains unclear, although the party has linked the
attack to his public support for measures against Ebola. The
UDPS called for an investigation and for those responsible
to be brought to justice.
The killing comes -- amid resistance to the Ebola response in
eastern DR Congo. The World Health Organization (WHO)
has said insecurity and attacks on health facilities are
complicating efforts to contain the outbreak by
restricting access for response teams,
disrupting surveillance ...and
discouraging people from
seeking care.
The WHO recorded 12 attacks on health care between the
declaration of a public health emergency of international
concern on May 17 and mid-August, with additional
incidents under verification. Similar resistance
has hampered efforts to contain previous
Ebola outbreaks in the region.
The Ebola response is also being complicated by insecurity
and mass displacements. The WHO has said conflict is
restricting access for response teams and hampering
disease surveillance, contact tracing, and access
to care.
The outbreak has meanwhile continued to grow. As of September
27, DR Congo had recorded 8,116 confirmed cases and 3,924
deaths, according to the country’s National Institute of
Public Health (INSP). The case fatality rate stood
at 48.3%.
The disease is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus.
There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for
the strain, although candidate vaccines and treatments are
being studied, according to the WHO.
Russia --- has provided assistance to countries affected by the
outbreak. Rospotrebnadzor has sent specialists to Uganda
and supplied Russian-developed PCR diagnostic tests to
Uganda, DR Congo, and the Republic of Congo.
In July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow
was prepared to establish mass production of a vaccine
adapted to the Bundibugyo strain once it obtained
the necessary biological material.
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_____________________________________________
Mali takes its case against Ukraine
to the UN. What -------- is behind it?
September 30th, 12:55pm
(RT.ru)
Kiev is aiding jihadists and separatist rebels that have
joined forces against Bamako, the African country’s
foreign minister, has stated.
Mali has taken its case against Ukraine to the UN again, two years
after severing diplomatic ties with Kiev over a rebel ambush that
killed dozens of Malian soldiers and allied Russian forces.
Malian Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, told the UN General
Assembly on Monday that Ukraine is aiding armed groups
in the Sahel and urged the international community
to respond.
Why has Mali raised the accusation again?
Diop’s remarks follow a series of coordinated militant raids in Mali
and new reports of Ukrainian assistance with drone operations.
Pointing to attacks on April 25 and July 4, he said they exposed a
“dangerous connection” between jihadists and separatist rebels,
and accused Kiev of aiding forces --- that threaten his country’s
territorial integrity.
“Ukraine is just the visible part of the iceberg,” he said,
claiming the violence was part of a wider effort to
destabilize the Sahel states and obstruct their
break with former colonial influence.
The April offensive by the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam
wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front
(FLA) struck several cities and killed Malian Defense Minister
Sadio Camara. Mali’s army said it repelled assaults on
military sites and key infrastructure with support
from Russia’s Africa Corps, killing more than
200 militants.
Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga described the offensive
as an attempt to seize power. The Russian Defense Ministry
acknowledged the assault, saying it amounted to an
attempted coup and claimed that the attackers
had received training involving Ukrainian and
European mercenary instructors.
How did the dispute with Ukraine begin?
In July 2024, Tuareg rebels -- ambushed Malian troops and Wagner
Group contractors near Tinzaouaten, close to the Algerian border.
Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andrey Yusov later
said the rebels had received “necessary information”
that enabled the operation, adding that “there
will be a continuation.”
Yuriy Pyvovarov, then Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal,
shared Yusov’s interview on Facebook, writing, “The
work will continue. There will certainly be other
results.” Senegal --- summoned him over the
post, while Mali --- cited the remarks as
evidence of Kiev’s involvement, and
severed diplomatic ties.
What has been reported about any
Ukrainian involvement since then?
Le Monde reported in 2024 that Ukrainian intelligence had taught
Tuareg rebels to build and operate explosive drones, citing
sources close to the group. This month, CNN interviewed
Ukrainian personnel who said about 15 specialists were
assisting the FLA with unmanned aircraft. One
described remotely directing rebel
drone missions.
Fousseynou Ouattara, the vice president of the defense commission
of Mali’s transitional council, told TASS in July - that the authorities
had identified fighters who had received drone training in Ukraine.
Malian outlet Bamada also reported that soldiers recovered a drone
bearing Ukrainian writing and documents allegedly linked to
Ukrainian intelligence during operations against JNIM.
What has Ukraine said?
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the Sahel states’ terrorism
allegations, describing them as “groundless and untrue” and
calling Mali’s decision to sever ties “hasty.” In August 2024,
it said Bamako had provided no evidence of Ukrainian
involvement in the Tinzaouaten attack. Ukraine’s
military intelligence agency also referred CNN
to earlier official remarks when approached
for comment on its September report of
Ukrainian drone specialists assisting
rebels in Mali.
Is Mali alone in making the accusation?
Niger and Burkina Faso -- have also accused Ukraine of supporting
armed groups. The three Alliance of Sahel States (AES) members
filed a complaint with the UN Security Council in August 2024.
During a televised interview on Sunday -- reviewing his four years in
office, Burkina Faso’s interim President Ibrahim Traore said he had
placed Ukraine on his country’s “map of enemies.” Speaking
about what he described as attempts to destabilize Mali
and Niger, he warned these were “only the beginning.”
He cited Pyvovarov’s comment, saying the diplomat
had “clearly stated that they were involved” in
supporting armed groups in the Sahel.
What does Moscow say?
Russia backs the Sahel states’ accusations. Last month, Russia's
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Kiev of “state terrorism”
against countries in the region, citing reports ------- of serving
Ukrainian troops joining attacks alongside armed groups.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously said
Kiev was opening a “second front” against Russia in Africa,
by supporting militants in countries friendly to Moscow.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Georgy Borisenko, told TASS on
July 17 that Ukrainian instructors trained in drone warfare were
embedded with Islamist militants in Mali. He also alleged
a Ukrainian involvement in attacks on Russian interests
in Libya, and support for paramilitary forces in Sudan,
extending Moscow’s accusations beyond the Sahel.
Why have the Sahel states turned to Russia?
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso ------ ended defense ties with France,
accusing it of failing to contain the insurgency and interfering in
their affairs. They have strengthened their counterterrorism, in
cooperation with Russia.
Nearly 49,000 people have been killed in violence linked
to militant Islamist groups in the Sahel since 2022, the
Africa Centre for Strategic Studies said in August.
Mali and Russia... signed a military cooperation agreement in June
2019. Bamako sought Russian private military assistance in 2021.
Wagner was replaced by Russia’s Defense Ministry-run Africa
Corps in June 2025. The corps operates at an African
governments’ official request, Lavrov said
last month.
At the UN on Monday, Diop said the AES remained open to
partnerships, respecting its members’ sovereignty. “We
do not accept dictates; rather, we seek sincere and
healthy cooperation,” he said.
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___________________________________________
Five crew members killed ---- on
ship hijacked by Somali pirates
Mogadishu, September 30th, 12:34pm
(Prensa Latina)
Five crew members of an oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates
were killed shortly before a rescue operation began, maritime
authorities in Puntland, a break-away parcel of coast land in
northern Somalia, on the Bab al Manded trait..... said today.
The Palauan-flagged oil tanker MT Honour 25 was hijacked on
April 21 and released the day before... after Somali pirates
killed five crew members and injured four others, before
a ''rescue operation'' by the Puntland Maritime Police
Force (PMPF) began.
According to the Pmpf, in the development of the operation
16 pirates were arrested, while another number, still
undetermined, managed to ......escape.
In recent times, there has been a boom in pirate activities
in that region... after they had decreased in the current
decade due to the patrols of ships from the EU and
other countries, which shrank after the conflict
with Iran and Yemen began.
Along with Somaliland (east), Puntland is one of two Somali
separatist regions, the former with limited regional
recognition, but - apart from the UK's MI6 -
no international support.
____________________________________________
South African President Announces
Measures ---- to Combat Femicides
Pretoria, September 30th, 11:44am
(Prensa Latina)
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced new
measures to combat violence against women, especially those
femicides that occurred in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg,
it was learned here today.
In a national address, Ramaphosa said the day before that the
nation is angry and the women of South Africa are angry, and
this anger is justified --- so he shares that anger.
Since mid-July, 11 women have been murdered and the
discovery of their bodies has raised the alarm about
the rise in levels of violence against women.
Meanwhile, the authorities are investigating whether a serial
killer or several are responsible, and dangerous and high-
risk areas must be identified throughout the country.
Four people were said to be in custody and a nationwide
multi-disciplinary emergency response was set up to
investigate the killings in Ekurhuleni, where the
victims were in their 20s and 30s, and some
showed signs of sexual assault.
According to the United Nations, South Africa
has one of the highest rates of femicide
in the world.
__________________________________________
Sudan demands UN action
against external backers
of armed rebels
September 29th, 10:25am
(rt.ru)
Khartoum’s foreign minister -- has accused the Security
Council of failing to identify and condemn the
paramilitary group’s sponsors.
Sudan has called for international action against foreign parties
supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
opposing the government, and accused the UN
Security Council of failing to identify and
condemn the group’s sponsors.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim made the
appeal at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, saying
external support for the RSF ----------- is prolonging the war.
“Pressure must be exerted on the regional sponsors
------- and certain neighbouring states,” Ibrahim said.
The foreign minister accused ''unnamed countries' -' of allowing
weapons and supplies to reach the RSF through their territory
and enabling attacks by the paramilitary group and
mercenaries to be launched from outside
Sudan’s borders.
He also claimed - hospitals had been established in
neighbouring states to treat wounded RSF fighters.
Ibrahim said the UN Security Council had failed to identify
and condemn the RSF’s sponsors, which he accused of
recruiting foreign mercenaries... providing political
backing to the paramilitary group - and financing
media platforms spreading what he described
as disinformation --- against the Sudanese
Armed Forces (SAF).
Sudan has previously accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of
providing military support to the RSF, allegations Abu Dhabi has
repeatedly denied. Khartoum has also accused neighbouring
Ethiopia ------- of allowing its territory to be used for drone
attacks against Sudan, a claim Addis Ababa denies.
The accusations come weeks after a UN fact-finding mission found
reasonable grounds to believe that a transnational network had
supplied the RSF with weapons, logistics, training and foreign
personnel. Investigators --- identified the private entities and
intermediaries operating from countries, including the UAE,
with transit routes through Chad, southeastern Libya
and Somalia.
Ibrahim said peace would require the RSF to be disarmed and
its weapons to remain under the control of state institutions.
He also called for attacks on civilians and infrastructure ---
to end.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have intensified on the sidelines of
the UN General Assembly in New York. Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov discussed ways to resolve the conflict with his
Sudanese counterpart last week, while the African Union
and the US called for an immediate humanitarian truce
followed by a durable ceasefire and a Sudanese-led
political process.
Washington does not regard either side as representing legitimate
constitutional rule in Sudan. Khartoum strongly rejected the US
position, calling for respect for the country’s sovereignty and
national institutions and warning against legitimizing the
RSF ....through force.
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__________________________________________
Dozens of human skulls..
found in Nigerian forests
September 29th, 10:25am
(rt.ru)
Suspects in the case fled - during raids on criminal camps in
Abia State, police spokesperson Maureen Chinaka has said.
At least 28 skulls of suspected kidnap victims have been
recovered from outlaw forest hideouts in southeastern
Nigeria, the African nation’s law enforcement
authorities have reported.
Police found the skulls and other bones during raids on Saturday in
the Umuaku and Nneato forests of Abia State. The suspects fled
before officers could arrest them, the police spokesperson
Maureen Chinaka said.
“The criminal camps were subsequently dismantled. Investigations
are ongoing, while monitoring of the area continues, and efforts
are intensified - to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” Chinaka
said in a statement.
The remains were found...... during a weekend of mass abductions
elsewhere in Africa’s most populous nation. Armed men seized at
least 47 farmers harvesting peanuts in Niger State on Saturday,
while about 40 women were kidnapped in neighbouring
Zamfara on Sunday, AFP reported, citing security
reports and a local source. The Nigerian Army
said it foiled two other abduction attempts
in Zamfara on Sunday ----- and rescued
10 people.
Nigeria has faced a security crisis for more than a decade, marked
by kidnappings by armed gangs. Security consultancy SBM
Intelligence recorded 7,825 people abducted nationwide
between July 2025 and June 2026, a 66% rise on the
previous year.
The police raids in Abia took place in Umunneochi district --- where
gunmen have targeted travelers and residents for years. The state
government ordered more checkpoints and told people living in
the forests to leave - after the kidnapping of Methodist Church
leader Samuel Kanu-Uche there, in 2022.
A local archbishop described Umunneochi at the time
as a “money making centre ------- for kidnappers.”
The violence has continued despite a nationwide security
emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu, the
recruitment of more police personnel and forest
guards, and increased security cooperation....
with the US.
Around 200 US were deployed to Nigeria in February to support
counterterrorism operations. Most have since withdrawn, and
Nigeria said the main force is expected to leave by the end
of September, with a smaller ''advisory'' team remaining.
US Africa Command --- called the mission a success, saying a joint
operation killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and other senior Islamic State
figures and disrupted the group’s wider network.
Nigerian opposition politician Samuel Memeh disagreed,
telling RT the deployment: “has not yielded significant
improvements” in security.
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_____________________________________________
Mapping began in Kinshasa
with a view to the general
census in DRC
Kinshasa, September 28th, 3:30pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cartographic operations for the second General Population and
Housing Census (RGPH-2) in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) began today in Kinshasa and will
last for a month.
It involves the cartographers touring the neighbourhoods
of the Congolese capital in order to identify homes and
infrastructure and prepare a map that will allow the
count scheduled for July 2027, to be carried out.
For the deployment of the forces on the ground, team leaders
concluded their training last Friday, who are in charge of
supervising over 1,800 cartographer operators, who
also received training.
The DRC is carrying out its second general census 42 years
after the first and only one carried out so far, so its results
are of particular importance to get closer to the reality
of the Congolese population, for decision-making.
The president of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, said that "continuing
to plan without complete, reliable and up-to-date demographic
data would be tantamount to governing without visibility and,
therefore, would weaken the state's ability to accurately
meet the expectations of the population".
The inquiry is supported by the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) in the use of pilot methods for conducting census
operations under difficult conditions.
The UN agency specified that demographic intelligence will be
used, based on the use of various mechanisms that take
advantage of new information and communication
technologies... to ensure full data collection.
______________________________________________
More than 5,000 civilians
fled the fighting in DRC
Kinshasa, September 28th, 2:40pm
(Prensa Latina)
More than five thousand civilians fled between Sunday night
and this morning to bases of the UNs Stabilization Mission
in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in
Rhoe and Gina.
The displaced sought the protection of the peacekeepers due to
the clashes that occurred in these towns in the territory of
Djugu, in the province of Ituri, between 2 armed groups
...the so-called Cooperative for the Development of
Congo (Codeco) and the so-called Convention
for the Popular Revolution (CRP).
There were also confrontations between the Armed Forces of the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the PRC, Radio Okapi
reported, citing a statement from MONUSCO.
The peacekeepers said that over 3,000 civilians gathered in the
vicinity of the Rhoe base and there were exchanges of fire
with the Codeco militia, both at this site and in Blukwa;
The medical team treated seven wounded civilians.
The deterioration of the security situation in the area led to
an increase in security operations by the blue helmets,
who carry out patrols in the Panga Panga, Risasi,
Gina and Nyampala axes, as well as along
National Highway 27, with the aim of
protecting the population.
________________________________________________
Weekend of violence in South Africa
Pretoria, September 28th, 2:21pm
(Prensa Latina)
A total of 27 people killed was the result of two incidents with
firearms that occurred in South Africa over the weekend, a
few hours apart, police sources highlight here today.
One of the shootings took place in a bar west of Johannesburg,
when men armed with assault rifles fired indiscriminately at
attendees, leaving a preliminary toll of 17 dead and
15 wounded.
Meanwhile, another shooting at a venue near Cape Town
caused 10 deaths and 11 injuries.
The police reported that the causes of both events are being
investigated, but there are still no results, nor have any
arrests been made.
In recent days, South Africa has been facing a new wave
of gun violence that has already left 38 people dead
in less than a week.
In another incident, 11 people lost their lives during another
shooting at a private party, including a pregnant woman.
Local authorities point out that the shootings are related to
criminal gangs fighting for control of territories ----- and to
establish control over areas in the country's main cities.
________________________________________________
Former president of Guinea Bissau
intends to participate in elections
Bissau, September 28th, 2pm
(Prensa Latina)
The deposed president of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco
Embaló, today expressed his intentions to return to the
country on Sunday to run as a candidate in the
next elections.
The presidential elections -- are scheduled
for December 6 and Embaló said, reports
the Jeune Afrique Magazine - that he
will run as a candidate despite
currently being in exile.
The former president left the country for Senegal, a day after the
military coup, after a disputed election in which both the ousted
president and the main opposition candidate, Fernando Dias da
Costa, were proclaimed winners.
Embaló assumed the presidency in February 2020, after defeating
in the second round the candidate of the PAIGC-CV, the founding
party of the nation, since the independence of Portugal, and
which has governed since 1974.
___________________________________
Cuba's speech broadcast from Zimbabwe
at the United Nations General Assembly
Harare, September 28th, 12:48pm
(Prensa Latina)
The law of the jungle cannot be the future of humanity, said the
coordinator of the Fidel Castro Chair in Zimbabwe, Mafa
Kwanisai, today commenting on the speech of Cuban
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the UN.
The central message was pointed: the world cannot build peace
as long as powerful states continue to use military pressure,
economic coercion and political intimidation against
weaker nations, Mafa highlighted in his analysis
published in regional media, such as The
Panafrikanist and The Southern Africa
Eye News.
Sixty-six years after Fidel Castro appeared at the same rostrum
of the United Nations and demanded the disappearance of the
philosophies of plunder and war, Cuba took up that historic
argument with renewed urgency, the analyst observed.
He pondered... how the island's government claimed that
expansionism, military aggression, economic coercion,
and attacks on national sovereignty -- once again --
threaten the foundations of international law.
The United States has intensified what Havana describes as a
multidimensional campaign against Cuba, including severe
restrictions on fuel supplies, trade, financing, technology
and international business.
Mafa recalled that more than seven thousand containers were
stranded in the ports --- affecting food, medicine and medical
equipment in an economic war, ultimately directed against
the population.
If economic coercion becomes an accepted instrument of
international policy, all developing countries become
vulnerable, he warned.
Cuba's stance continues to resonate in much of the Global South.
Cuba's history has made sovereignty a fundamental pillar of its
political identity.
The foreign minister of the Caribbean island argued that
attempts -- to force political change through economic
asphyxiation are tantamount ------- to an attack on the
sovereignty for which generations of Cubans fought.
He rejected the characterization of Cuba as a threat to
the United States, instead highlighting its track record
of international cooperation ------ and longstanding
engagement with other developing countries.
The declaration offers another lesson, the professor said,
highlighting the recognition of the serious challenges of
the economy and the ongoing efforts to ''transform the
country's economic and social model'' --- while still
maintaining its full independence, sovereignty
and social achievements.
According to Mafa.... in The Panafrikanist and The Southern
Africa Eye News, Cuba explicitly advocated strengthening
the UN and bringing it closer to the peoples of the world.
It also reaffirms its solidarity with countries and peoples
facing colonial legacies, sanctions, interventions and
struggles for self-determination, including African
and Caribbean nations.
The most forceful phrase of the speech, he said, was also
the simplest: "The law of the jungle cannot be the future
of humanity." That warning should not be dismissed as
mere rhetoric.
The world requires sovereign nations, equal under international law,
that cooperate instead of coerce, that trade instead of suffocating,
that negotiate instead of threatening, and that build peace
instead of preparing for war.
As Cuba's foreign minister concluded, this alternative is not
inevitable. A better world is still possible if peoples and
ations fight with determination to build it, emphasized
he coordinator of the Fidel Castro Chair, attached to
the University of Midlands, in Zimbabwe.
___________________________________________
Ethiopia celebrates Meskel festival,
one of the largest in the country
Addis Ababa, September 26th, 12:27am
(Prensa Latina)
Followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church today celebrate Meskel,
considered one of the most important religious events in the
country, which commemorates the discovery of the
true cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Officially qualified as the Feast of Commemoration of the Discovery
of the True Holy Cross of Christ, it was inscribed in 2013 on the
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Although it is a Christian holiday in the Orthodox churches
of Ethiopia and Eritrea, most people participate, without
distinction of age, gender, language, ethnicity or
religious creed.
The arrival of Meskel coincides with the blooming of yellow
flowers (Adey Ababa, in Amharic), whose bright colours
are closely associated with this season.
Across the country, families and communities are celebrating
this new beginning with gatherings, traditional dishes, music,
greetings and customs that give Ethiopian New Year 2019 -
its distinctive character.
On the occasion of the two-day festivities, Prime Minister Abiy
Ahmed extended the invitation to foreign tourists - to discover
Ethiopia, also driven by measures aimed at facilitating travel
and access to the country.
For the visitor, it is an opportunity not only to witness a festival,
but to learn about a tradition, whose meaning endures through
the centuries.
According to legend, Queen Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor
Constantine the Great, discovered in the fourth century the cross
on which Jesus was crucified. The monarch prayed to know the
place and dreamed that she should make a bonfire, the smoke
of which would direct her to where the cross was.
The latter refers to the Demera festival, celebrated this afternoon,
and consists of erecting a bonfire and in its surroundings the
priests sing hymns, recite prayers and dance from before
sunset and until ....almost the end of the day.
The Ministry of Tourism launched a Digital Tourism Information
Centre at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, equipped with high-
tech screens and interactive devices, to provide visitors with
information in a more engaging way.
Meanwhile, the Visit Ethiopia digital platform is being upgraded
with artificial intelligence features, designed to provide more
personalized tourism services, as part of a broader effort,
to align Ethiopia's sector development ...with
digital transformation.
__________________________________________
Africa ------ must have a say in
global AI rules – South Africa
September 25th, 1:10pm
(rt.ru)
The continent’s resources and young population
give it a major role in emerging technologies,
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola has said.
Africa must have a say in shaping the global rules that govern
artificial intelligence, South African Foreign Minister Ronald
Lamola has said, arguing that the continent should play a
greater role in emerging technologies.
Speaking at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on
Thursday, Lamola linked Africa’s role in AI development to
the continent’s vast reserves of critical minerals and its
young population. He said these resources could help
narrow the gap between richer and poorer countries,
while African states could contribute to AI research
and innovation.
“Africa -- must have a stake in shaping the rules that govern
the development and deployment of artificial intelligence,”
the minister said.
Lamola also renewed Pretoria’s push for broader reform of
global institutions, particularly the UN Security Council.
Africa accounts for more than a quarter of UN member
states, yet has no permanent seat on the council.
Earlier this month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
proposed that BRICS establish an international mechanism
for the independent scientific assessment of AI. Speaking
at the group’s summit in New Delhi, he also called for
AI companies to face formal external checks, and
government oversight.
South Africa - is also developing its own AI industry. Johannesburg-
based company Lelapa AI has built language technology
designed for African languages ----- focusing on smaller
and more resource-efficient models that can operate
with limited computing power.
The African Union (AU) has also sought to give the continent a
greater role in global AI governance. Its Continental Artificial
Intelligence Strategy, adopted in 2024, calls for an Africa-
centred approach to the technology & the development
of common governance frameworks, to ensure its
responsible use.
Earlier this month, the AU brought together African diplomats in
Geneva to coordinate the continent’s position in international
negotiations on AI and digital policy. The bloc said African
countries could help shape global AI standards and rules
by presenting a common position in international talks.
_____________________________________________
Africa rejects new scramble for
minerals – Ghanaian president
September 25th, 1:05pm
(rt.ru)
The continent seeks equal partnership, John Mahama has
said and warning -- against predatory resource extraction.
Africa will not accept another era of colonial-style resource
extraction as global demand for critical minerals grows,
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has told
the UN General Assembly (UNGA), calling for
structural reforms --------- to address
historical injustices.
The remarks come as the US and EU pursue deals with African
governments to secure minerals such as copper, cobalt, and
lithium for electric vehicles, batteries, and power grids,
while seeking to reduce their reliance on China.
African countries hold substantial deposits, but often export raw
minerals. A UN Trade and Development report published in June
says many mineral agreements still focus heavily on extraction
---- warning that resource-rich African countries could miss out
on the value generated by processing and manufacturing.
“Africa - will not remain a passive arena for a new scramble
for resources,” Mahama said on Thursday. He said African
countries must process their minerals at home, build
local industries, and retain much more of the
wealth they generate.
Several African governments have moved to tighten control over
their mineral resources in recent years. DR Congo, the world’s
largest cobalt producer, has banned exports of copper and
cobalt concentrates to encourage local processing under
an order reported in August. Zimbabwe also suspended
exports of raw minerals and lithium concentrates
in February.
Ghana has required licensed aggregators to refine gold locally since
September 1, with Mahama pledging to end raw mineral ore exports
by 2030. In July, the West African nation’s neighbour Mali created a
state body to oversee artisanal gold sales -- and curb smuggling,
while Niger nationalized the Somair uranium venture operated
by the French government-owned Orano, last year.
Aside from critical minerals, Mahama also renewed the call
for slavery reparations in his role as the African Union’s
champion for the campaign. In March, Ghana secured
a UN resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave
trade and chattel slavery as the gravest crimes
against humanity. It passed, with 123 votes.
The US, Israel, and Argentina ------- voted
against it. 52 countries ..abstained.
Mahama welcomed what he called - “positive overtures”
from countries, particularly the Netherlands, Germany,
and France, as well as from institutions, on reparatory
justice and restitution following the passage of the
“historic resolution.”
The Ghanaian leader, however, said real repair requires
“structural transformation,” including “dismantling the
persistent engines of exploitation: unfair global trade
regimes, continuing predatory resource extraction,
discriminatory credit ratings, [and] unsustainable
debt burdens.”
“Africa does not seek charity. Africa seeks
equal partnership,” Mahama declared.
__________________________________________
Eleven killed.. in South
Africa house shooting
September 25th, 11:55am
(rt.ru)
Police have launched a manhunt after gunmen
opened fire on a gathering south of Durban.
Eleven people have been killed and three others wounded
in a mass shooting in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal
province, police said on Wednesday.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) --- armed
assailants entered a house in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha,
south of Durban, on Tuesday night .....and opened fire on a
group of 14 people who were having a party inside.
The motive for the attack has not yet been established.
Ten people, including a pregnant woman, died at the scene,
while four others were taken to hospital, where one later
succumbed to gunshot wounds, local media reports.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda
said preliminary investigations indicated that some of the
victims had been on the radar of Crime Intelligence in
connection with suspected illegal activities.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng
Dimpane ordered the activation of a 72-hour operation to track
down those responsible. No arrests have been announced.
Dimpane said investigators were pursuing a “promising lead”, that
could help identify and apprehend the suspects. “Police must act
decisively, mobilise all the available resources and pursue those
responsible - until they are brought before the courts,” she said.
South Africa has seen a series of violent incidents in recent
weeks. Earlier this month, the body of a tenth woman was
discovered in Gauteng, amid a string of killings in the
province. The unidentified victim, believed to be in
her 20s, was found wrapped in plastic in a dam
in Moroka, Soweto. Police said at the time
that they were investigating whether
the deaths were linked.
The country continues to record high levels of violent crime
despite a recent decline in killings. The latest police
figures show that 5,427 murders were recorded
nationwide between April and June 2026,
down 5.9% from 5,770 in the same
period last year. Police also
recorded 6,958 attempted
murders during the three-
month period, a rise of
8.7% year-on-year.
_________________________
Ethiopia faces return to
war as fighting spreads
September 25th, 8:30am
(rt.ru)
The federal army says....... it killed 272
regional fighters in a counteroffensive.
Fighting has escalated between Ethiopian troops and Tigrayan
forces, triggering the suspension of flights to the holy town of
Lalibela amid fears of a return to full-scale war in the north
of the country.
Ethiopia’s federal army said it repelled attacks in Amhara’s North
Wollo Zone and killed 272 Tigrayan fighters and wounded 260
others in a counteroffensive. Northeast army commander
Lieutenant General Assefa Chekol said fighters from the
Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and allied
groups attempted to break through at
several locations.
“The army is carrying out the crucial task of clearing the occupied
zone of the enemy by conducting targeted counter-attacks from
key military positions it holds,” Chekol said in a statement
on Thursday.
The suspension of flights to Lalibela, home to UNESCO-listed rock-
hewn churches, came a day after TPLF-linked forces seized the
airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire. Ethiopian Airlines also
halted flights to these three cities in Tigray.
The two sides give conflicting accounts of how the fighting began.
On Wednesday, an adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused
the TPLF of launching an “all-out offensive” against government
positions in Amhara and Afar.
Tigray’s regional authorities said their troops entered a “defensive
battle” after federal forces attacked them with aircraft, drones,
and artillery on Tuesday.
“We are in the situation of a full-blown war now,” TPLF
Vice President Amanuel Assefa told AFP on Thursday.
The TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades
before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018. A power
struggle between his government and Tigray’s leaders
erupted into war in November 2020. Eritrean troops
and Amhara forces fought alongside the federal
army against the Tigrayan forces.
Hundreds of thousands died..... before an African Union-mediated
peace agreement was signed in 2022. The agreement ended the
large-scale war, but disputes over territory, a return of displaced
people, and the disarmament of Tigrayan forces are unresolved.
In May, the TPLF restored Tigray’s prewar regional council and
elected party leader Debretsion Gebremichael as president
after a dispute over the region’s leadership.
The latest escalation follows Sunday’s announcement of an
alliance between the TPLF and six other groups, including
its former Amhara foes, to remove Abiy’s government.
The African Union has condemned the violence, warning that “the
formation of new political and military alliances” risks further
destabilizing the region ....and “reversing the gains made to
silence the guns, since 2020.” It said the airport seizures
and detention of federal personnel violate the 2022
peace agreement, asking AU mediator and former
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, to
re-engage with the parties.
The UN has called for civilian protection
and humanitarian access.
____________________________
Egypt rolls out first
homegrown robot
September 25th, 5:55am
(rt.ru)
The robotic arm contains around 80% locally
produced components --- and is being
deployed on a packaging line
Egypt has unveiled the first locally developed industrial
robot, as the country seeks to expand domestic
manufacturing and reduce its reliance on
imported industrial technology.
The robot was officially launched and handed over at a
ceremony attended by Industry Minister Khaled
Hashem on Wednesday. According to the
Ministry of Trade and Industry, it was
developed by Egyptian engineers,
with locally produced technology.
Local media reported that around 80% of its components
are domestically produced, with developers aiming for
90% .....once motor production is localized.
The robotic arm.. is already being used commercially. It is
being integrated.. into packaging equipment operated by
Egyptian manufacturer QB and is designed for industrial
packaging and automation on production lines.
Hashem said localizing the production of machinery and
manufacturing lines --- is a key part of Egypt’s national
industrial strategy. He added that the ‘Made in Egypt’
label is intended to reflect the country’s ability to
develop technology, and integrate into global
supply chains.
The ministry said it will monitor the robot’s performance in
industrial operations to assess its effectiveness --- and
encourage wider adoption by Egyptian factories.
Egypt is not the only African country developing local expertise
in industrial robotics. Tunisia’s TIRA Robots has developed
robotic arms for integration into production lines, while
other local engineering companies, including XPERT
-MECA, design automated machinery and integrate
industrial robots produced by manufacturers
such as KUKA.
Industrial automation - is also well established in South Africa and
Morocco, particularly in the automotive sector. Local companies
integrate foreign-made robots into production lines. Morocco-
based MTS Robotics ....develops automated systems for
welding, assembly, handling, and packaging.
Cairo has also seen locally developed robots outside the
industrial sector. In September, a team from Tanta
University won the national RoboDam 2026
competition with an autonomous robot
designed for cleaning operations.
The university said the system could be manufactured locally
at a significantly lower cost than imported alternatives.
____________________________________________________________
Sudan rejects interventionist
statements --------- by the US
Khartoum, September 24th, 11:46am
(Prensa Latina)
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry rejected the statements of the
US that put the Sovereign Transitional Council (CST), which
governs the country, and the rebel paramilitary forces
on an equal footing, it was learned here today.
Thus, Sudan's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its national sovereignty,
in a statement issued the day before, and urged Washington to
dialogue positively with the country's current authorities.
In recent days, the US has exerted heavy pressure on Sudan's
military to agree to a 90-day ceasefire, amid a government
offensive against paramilitaries, who have lost control
of several regions in North Kordofan.
For its part, Khartoum rejects such a truce and argues that such a
step would allow the regrouping of the so-called Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) ------- and interrupts the advances made by the
army, recently.
As an additional pressure mechanism, the US denied CST President
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan a visa to attend the UN General
Assembly in New York ----------- if he does not first accept the
proposed truce.
The Government of Sudan also considered that any effort to
achieve peace cannot ignore the external interference and
illicit sources of support for the rebellion, which contribute
to prolonging the war.
Since mid-April 2023, this African nation has been mired in an
internal war, after power disputes between army chief Abdel
Fattah al-Burhan and the leader of the paramilitary RSF,
Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have been ''fuelled.''
The fighting is keeping more than 11 million Sudanese out
of their homes, in what experts say is the world's largest
displacement crisis.
The US fuelled war also destroyed countless livelihoods,
plunging the country into a complex spiral of hunger
and death.
___________________________________
Senegal partners with Turkish
company ......for new refinery
Dakar, September 24th, 11:28am
(Prensa Latina)
With an investment that should exceed two billion dollars,
a refinery with a capacity of four million tons per year
will be built in Senegal, a government statement
said today.
The partnership is between the African Refining Society (SAR) and
the Turkish company Yamata. The signing of the memorandum
was attended by the Director General of the SAR --- Mamadou
Abib Diop & the General President of Yamata, Cengiz Duyar.
The signing was attended... by the Senegalese
head of state, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye.
The project also provides for the modernization of the Mbao
refinery, currently in operation, with an investment of
between 300 and 500 million dollars.
The Presidency indicated that the new refinery will cover
the national needs of petroleum products and generate
surpluses for the subregional market.
According to the report, more than 15,000 direct jobs are
expected to emerge during the construction phase,
especially ------ in the fields of engineering,
maintenance and industrial logistics.
The Government of Senegal assured that this agreement
represents a stage in the implementation of the energy
sovereignty objective.
_________________________________________
Niger's Heavy Military Casualties - in
Clash ....with US-backed ''Islamists''
Niamey, September 24th, 10:46am
(Prensa Latina)
The government of Niger confirmed today - the death
of several soldiers in combat with alleged Islamists
that occurred in the region of Tillabéri, in the west
of the country.
Without specifying the number of fatalities, the Niamey
authorities described the casualties as "numerous"
in their army and pointed out that the clash took
place in the so-called three-border area, with
Mali and Burkina Faso.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the soldiers were
taking part in a tracking operation, after a cattle theft
last Tuesday in the region of Abala ---- and were
ambushed the day before, by a column of
heavily armed men.
According to the source, after the fighting, the alleged
Islamists retreated to the north of the country, where
their main bases are located.
It was also said that search and security
operations continue ----------- to locate
fugitive enemies.
At the end of last August, the military ruling Niger
suffered an attempted coup d'état, which was
the third military insubordination so far this
year, although the two previous incidents
also involved so-called Islamist groups.
The head of Niger's military junta, Gen. Abdourahmane Tiani,
came to power in a coup 3 years ago, but his government
has been constantly besieged by attacks by groups
affiliated with the so-called Islamic State and
al-Qaeda... both controlled by the US.
________________________________________
Polisario criticises Chile's support
for Moroccan ''autonomy'' plan
Algiers, September 24th, 10:24am
(Prensa Latina)
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Saqya el Hamra and
Rio de Oro (Polisario), criticized the Chilean government
for supporting the Moroccan autonomy plan for the
territory of Western Sahara, it was learned
here today.
The Polisario also stressed, in a statement issued the day before,
that in this way Chile departs from the principles of the Charter
of the United Nations and International Law.
The document also points out that this decision constitutes a
serious setback, with respect to Chile's historical defense of
democracy, human rights, the self-determination of peoples
and international law, as well as its support for processes
of decolonization & self-determination, in Latin America
and the Caribbean.
The Chilean ''government'' announced on Monday, its recognition
of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and said it
considers the autonomy proposal presented by Rabat
as a political solution that it described as fair and
mutually acceptable.
Finally, the Polisario urges the current government of Chile
to reconsider this position and regain coherence with its
international obligations, adding that decolonisation
cannot be replaced by annexation, nor can the
rights of peoples be subordinated to
ideological interests.
_______________________________________
The ''Authenticity and Modernity Party''
with a majority in Moroccan elections
Rabat, September 24th, 9:59am
(Prensa Latina)
With 97 seats, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM)
is marching today at the head of the Moroccan legislative
elections, which this time ----- had a record abstention of
60 percent !!!
The PAM is part of the government coalition also made up
of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), in second
place with 66 seats, and the Istiqlal Party (PI), which
is also part of the coalition, with 65 seats reached,
out of a total of 395 deputies to Parliament.
The figures were confirmed by Moroccan Interior Minister Abdeluafi
Laftit, who added that the Islamist Justice and Development Party
(PJD) has so far won 54 seats -- regaining its influence in relation
to the 2021 legislative elections, when it only managed to ''win''
12 representatives.
Also winning seats, among others, were Popular Movement (MP),
with 29 seats; the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP),
with 26; the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), with
19 and the Constitutional Union (UC), with 17.
Political observers highlight on Thursday the poor
popular turnout in the elections with only 38%,
most especially ....among young people.
On the other hand, they highlight that the PAM is a party closely
linked to the Moroccan monarchy and will possibly be the one
to lead the next government, it was founded in 2008 by
Fouad Ali El Himma, very close, since childhood, to
King Mohammed VI, and a royal advisor.
____________________________________________
Djibouti and Ethiopia linked by
petroleum products pipeline
Djibouti, September 24th, 9:55am
(Prensa Latina)
Djibouti and Ethiopia announced here today a Petroleum Products
Pipeline that will reduce logistics costs and delays, strengthen
energy security and improve the efficiency of the corridor
between the two countries.
The significant strategic investment to connect Damerjog in
Djibouti with Dewele in Ethiopia will be developed through
a partnership between Ethiopian Investment Holdings
and the Dangote Group, a Nigerian industrial
conglomerate, placing African investment
at the centre of a major cross-border
infrastructure initiative.
With storage facilities -- supporting the pipeline on both sides of the
border, the project is poised to establish a more integrated system
for the movement and management of refined petroleum products
between the two countries.
The infrastructure, which extends for about 120 kilometres, will
establish an integrated oil logistics system - that connects the
maritime reception and coastal storage facilities in Damerjog
with similar and distribution facilities .....in the interior of
Ethiopian territory.
At the Djiboutian terminal, the refined petroleum products will be
received, transferred to storage facilities and then transported
by a multi-product pipeline to Dewele... for further distribution
in Ethiopia.
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Ethiopian Prime Minister
Abiy Ahmed and Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote presided
over the groundbreaking ceremony.
Ahmed, on his X social network account, stressed that, more
than an oil pipeline, this -- is an investment in future growth,
regional integration, and a more secure shared economic
future, with African investment ...at its core.
_______________________________________________
Côte d'Ivoire boosts cocoa
and coffee ......research
Abidjan, September 24th, 9:33am
(Prensa Latina)
Côte d'Ivoire will have a Coffee and Cocoa Institute, a scientific
centre for the development of these crops, which today place
this country as one of the world's leading producers.
The Government spokesman, Amadou Coulibaly, during the
inauguration of the works, pointed out that the centre will
incorporate cutting-edge technologies ------ and will have
highly specialized personnel.
He explained that it will work in a network with national
universities, regional centres of excellence and
prominent international organizations.
He added that the main objective of the new institution is clear:
to recover the scientific initiative in coffee & cocoa to respond
effectively to the challenges of competitiveness - and master
the standards imposed by the world market.
Cocoa represents 17 percent of the Gross Domestic Product,
so the creation of this institute constitutes an important
strategic advance for the Ivorian economy.
The research complex will be built on the premises of the National
Centre for Agricultural Research station, in Divo, in the centre-
west of the country, a place that houses an important
biological heritage.
The official indicated that one of the first challenges that the
institution will have to face is the Swollen Shoot disease.
This virus attacks plantations and has caused a
significant drop in Ivorian cocoa production
in recent years.
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