Pope Francis returned home to the Vatican after he was hospitalised for five weeks with a life-threatening bout of pneumonia. Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital he was staying in to greet him. Doctors who announced his release said he needs two months of rest, during which he should refrain from meeting with big […]
South Africa is actively engaging with the Trump administration to enhance its trade relationship with the United States, despite ongoing diplomatic tensions following the expulsion of its ambassador. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated on Thursday that President Cyril Ramaphosa is committed to strengthening ties with Washington, particularly in trade***. “Equally, the president is keen that […]
A recent investigation by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Aflao and Elubo borders revealed a significant rise in informal cross-border trade due to high duties and extortion risks. The UNDP found that the significant delays in customs clearance, exacerbated by a growing reliance on middlemen who charge to clear goods at the […]
Landlocked Ethiopia has no intention of starting a war with neighbouring Eritrea in order to gain access to the sea, the country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said. A previous statement, in 2023, that having a seaport was an “existential issue” for the nation sparked concerns that the Ethiopia could take one by force. Abiy’s comments to […]
The ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recently reached a turning point, with the United Nations officially acknowledging the role of the Rwandan army and the M23 rebel group in the occupation and looting of parts of the country. In a historic resolution passed today, the UN held both the Rwandan […]
Nigeria is facing an escalating political crisis after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich Rivers state and suspended the governor, his deputy and all lawmakers in the state parliament for six months. In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday evening Tinubu said he had received “disturbing security reports detailing incidents of […]
The Dutch King has referred to the human rights of Kenyans during a state visit to Kenya, which has coincided with mounting allegations of human rights abuses. “The people of Kenya, like those of The Netherlands, want their rights as free citizens to be respected and their voices to be heard,” said King Willem-Alexander in […]
The head of a U.N.-backed team of independent experts told the Human Rights Council in Geneva Wednesday that Russia has committed crimes against humanity as part of its war in Ukraine. Erik Møse, the chairman of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, told the 47-member country body that its latest findings of enforced disappearances […]
President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Sierra Leone for an official visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two West African nations. The visit is expected to deepen cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and regional affairs. Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to President Mahama, confirmed the visit in a Facebook post on March 18, 2025, […]
Cote d’Ivoire’s gold output is expected to hit a record high this year, boosted by production from the Lafigue mine, which was inaugurated in 2024, a top industry official, Jean-Claude Diplo said. The world’s largest cocoa producer is seeking to develop its long-neglected mining sector to diversify sources of income. The Lafigue mine, located about […]
