Ivory Coast’s Former First Lady Simone Gbagbo Cleared to Run for President Ivory Coast’s former First Lady Simone Gbagbo, 76, was unexpectedly cleared as one of five candidates to contest the 25 October presidential election. She is set to run against President Alassane Ouattara, 83, who took power after she and her former husband,…
The summer and fall months often see menacing storms roaring through the Atlantic Ocean — with the Atlantic hurricane season starting on June 1 and continuing through Nov. 30. Historically, on average, hurricane and tropical storm activity peaks on Sept. 10. But this year has been quieter than expected when it comes to tropical systems…
Tunisia Denies Drone Attack on Greta Thunberg’s Gaza Aid Boat Tunisian authorities denied claims that a Gaza-bound aid vessel carrying activists, including Greta Thunberg, had been struck by a drone while anchored off Sidi Bou Said. The organisers of the flotilla, Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), said that the Portuguese-flagged vessel had been struck by…
DR Congo Announces New Ebola Outbreak The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) confirmed its 16th Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Kasai province, where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported. The index case is a 34-year-old pregnant woman admitted to the hospital with symptoms including high fever…
Sudan Govt Denies U.S. Accusations of Chemical Weapons Use A report published by Sudan’s army-backed government said that there is no evidence of chemical contamination, two months after the United States imposed sanctions over chemical weapons allegations. The ministry said the report was based on field tests and forensic reviews carried out since April,…
Burkina Faso Passes Law Criminalizing Homosexual Acts Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament passed a bill banning homosexual acts, a year after the cabinet adopted a draft of an amended family code criminalising homosexuality. The law, unanimously approved, imposed prison sentences of two to five years and fines, with foreign nationals facing deportation. Justice Minister Edasso…
Landslide Kills 1,000 in Sudan After Heavy Rains At least 1,000 people were killed in a landslide in the Marra Mountains of western Sudan after days of heavy rain triggered the disaster, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army. The landslide struck the village of Tarasin, leaving only one survivor and destroying much of the settlement. …
Nigerian Forces Capture Two Senior Ansaru Terrorist Leaders On 16 August, the Nigerian government announced that it had captured two senior Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Usman (Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda), after a months-long intelligence-led operation. Abu Bara’a, described as the “Emir of Ansaru,” coordinated sleeper cells across Nigeria, masterminded kidnappings and terrorist…
Rwanda Receives First Migrants Deported From the U.S. Seven migrants deported from the United States arrived in Rwanda in mid-August. This marked the first group under a deal made with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. The agreement is expected to relocate 250 migrants to Rwanda. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the group…
Sudan’s El Fasher Becomes ‘Epicentre of Child Suffering’ as Siege Enters 500th Day After 500 days under siege, the city of El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur has become an epicentre of child suffering, with UNICEF reporting that malnutrition, disease, and violence were claiming young lives daily. About 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, were…
