Author name: fatih

Eritrea releases 31 Yemeni fishermen after 3 days of detention

Africa /

 Eritrean authorities released 31 Yemeni fishermen on Thursday after holding them for three days, according to Houthi-affiliated media. The Saba News Agency reported that the fishermen returned to the fishing port in Al Hudaydah province, which is under Houthi control. The fishermen revealed that Eritrean forces arrested them in Yemeni territorial waters while they were fishing in three boats and took them to Eritrean prisons at gunpoint. During their detention, the fishermen said “they were subjected to torture and starvation before being forced to return on a single boat, with the Eritrean forces confiscating the other two boats along with their fishing equipment,” the agency reported. There has been no official response from Eritrean authorities regarding the incident. For years, Yemen and Eritrea have been locked in a dispute over the Hanish Islands, located between the two countries’ coasts near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In 1998, an international arbitration court ruled in favor of Yemen, but Eritrea has not fully acknowledged the ruling and frequently detains Yemeni fishermen near the islands. Many Yemenis in coastal cities rely on fishing for their livelihood amid deteriorating living conditions caused by the ongoing war in the country. Yemen has been embroiled in nearly a decade of conflict between government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, who have controlled several provinces, including the capital Sanaa, since September 2014.

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Rwanda announces ban on over 40 religious groups

Africa /

Rwandan authorities announced a ban Thursday on the activities of 43 faith groups across the country effective Aug. 28, weeks after thousands of illegal churches were closed. A letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government directed districts leaders to enforce the ban, saying an ongoing evaluation found the affected faith-based organizations operating in contravention of existing regulations. Most of the affected groups were of Pentecostal denominations, including the Lutheran Church, a member of the Lutheran World Federation established in the 1990s in Rwanda to continue the work of German missionaries. The move came weeks after authorities, in a major crackdown, closed over 5,000 churches accused of failing to comply with required legal standards and exposing the lives of worshipers to unnecessary risks. Authorities said 59.3% of over 13,000 churches inspected at the end of July were shut down due to non-compliance. It was the second major crackdown on places of worship in the country. In 2018, Rwandan authorities closed more than 700 churches found to be operating illegally. All preachers were also required to have theological training before opening a church under the law determining the organization and functioning of faith-based organizations in the country. The government had given church leaders five years to enforce the necessary legal standards, something that many reportedly failed to do. A large number of Rwandans, or about 40% of the population, belong to the Roman Catholic Church. But the number of Pentecostal churches has been growing in recent years in many parts of the African continent, mostly run by charismatic preachers who preach the prosperity gospel — promising their followers miracles to change their fortunes. However, authorities have become suspicious of the intentions of some religious groups. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, commenting on the crackdown on churches this month, suggested that some clerics under the cover of God manipulate and fleece their followers. He also suggested the need to introduce a tax on church collections.

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Malian singer Rokia Traoré may face house arrest in Rome

Africa /

Malian singer and composer Rokia Traoré has been held in Italy for two months following a European arrest warrant issued by Belgium. This arrest is related to a long-standing custody dispute with her ex-partner, Belgian playwright Jan Goossens, dating back to 2019, over their daughter. On Thursday, August 22, the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation may decide to place Traoré under house arrest in Rome. Traoré was detained on June 20, just before a scheduled performance at a music festival at the Colosseum, and has since been held in a women’s prison in Civitavecchia, near Rome. In October 2023, a Belgian court sentenced her to two years in prison for not presenting their daughter to Goossens, following allegations of sexual abuse against Goossens that were later dismissed. Two hearings have been held in Rome’s Court of Appeal since her arrest. On July 13, Traoré’s lawyer, Maddalena Claudia Del Re, challenged the procedural aspects of the Belgian sentence. The Italian judges have decided to refer the case to the European Court of Justice to determine whether Traoré should be released or extradited to Belgium. The Court of Cassation is expected to review the request for house arrest on August 22, which would improve Traoré’s current conditions.

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Egypt, Greece discuss strengthening military cooperation

World /

Egypt’s Minister of Defense and Military Production, General Abdel Meguid Sakr, and Chief of Staff General Ahmed Khalifa held talks Thursday in Cairo with the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis. According to a statement by the Egyptian military, Saqr met with Choupis and his accompanying delegation, who are currently visiting Egypt. However, the visit’s duration and agenda were not specified. The discussions focused on “military cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries across various fields, supporting efforts to enhance security and stability in the region.” In a separate meeting, the Chiefs of Staff of the Egyptian and Greek armies discussed “several issues of mutual interest, in light of strengthening military relations between the Egyptian and Greek armed forces,” the statement added. Khalifa expressed his appreciation for the deep partnership between the Egyptian and Greek armed forces, highlighting the importance of coordinating efforts and exchanging expertise between the two nations’ militaries. According to the Egyptian statement, Choupis emphasized Greece’s commitment to deepening military ties with Egypt, expressing his hope for increased cooperation in the future. .The meetings were attended by several senior military officials from both countries, the statement added.

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Somalia threatens to halt Ethiopian Airlines flights

Africa /

Somalia has warned that it may suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to its territory due to a territorial dispute. On August 21, 2024, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) announced that the airline has not addressed concerns regarding Somali sovereignty. The dispute intensified after Ethiopia signed a January 2024 agreement with the separatist region of Somaliland, granting Ethiopia access to 20 kilometers of Somaliland’s coastline for 50 years in exchange for recognizing the region. Somalia views this deal as a breach of its sovereignty, escalating tensions between the two nations. The SCAA also criticized Ethiopian Airlines for removing Somali destination names from its systems, which it sees as a further affront to Somali sovereignty. Ethiopian Airlines has until August 23, 2024, to resolve these issues or face a suspension of all flights to Somalia.

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Senegal establishes commission to review oil and gas contracts

Africa /

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko officially established a commission on Monday, August 19, to review the country’s oil and gas contracts with multinational corporations. Announcing the decision on national TV, Sonko emphasized that the commission, comprised of experts in law, taxation, and energy, will carefully scrutinize all legal aspects. Sonko dismissed rumors of nationalization, affirming his government’s goal to realign the contracts in favor of national interests. This development follows Senegal’s entry into oil production, with Woodside Energy announcing in June that its Sangomar field had started producing oil. Gas production from the GTA project is also expected to begin this year. The commission’s recommendations and potential changes will be closely watched, as this initiative was a key promise of the Faye administration.

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Floods in Nigeria claimed 28 lives

Africa /

In Nigeria’s Bauchi State, 28 people have died due to floods caused by heavy rainfall. Reports indicate that excessive rainfall in villages within the Gamawa region of Bauchi State has led to severe flooding over the past few days. The floods have resulted in 28 deaths, numerous injuries, and displaced about 100 people from their homes. Last week, flooding in Jigawa State, also in Nigeria, resulted in 30 deaths. Nigeria’s Ministry of Water Resources had issued warnings for severe rainfall and flooding in some regions of the country.

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Mpox surge in DRC spurs WHO response and vaccine Push

Africa /

The Mpox virus, previously known as monkeypox, is causing concern globally as cases rise in multiple regions. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the outbreak’s epicenter, reporting at least 18,000 cases and 500 deaths, with over 70% of cases affecting children. Despite ongoing insurgency in the DRC, the World Health Organization (WHO) is working to respond effectively. Dr. Samuel Boland, WHO’s Mpox incident manager for Africa, explained that new strategies, including using radio broadcasts, are being employed to reach conflict-affected areas. The DRC expects to receive vaccine doses next week, according to the health minister. Dr. Boland emphasized the urgent need for these vaccines and the importance of immediate distribution to key populations. The outbreak has led the WHO to declare Mpox a global health emergency. Dr. Boland highlighted that while vaccination is crucial, prevention through public health measures and awareness is equally important. The WHO reassures that Mpox is not another COVID-19 but stresses the need for effective prevention and response strategies.

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Malawi: Rescue intensifies after plane crash

Africa /

 Rescue efforts have intensified after a privately owned plane with two Dutch nationals on board crashed into the waters of Lake Malawi on Tuesday afternoon. The aircraft belonging to a Zimbabwean company, Nyasa Express, also had a Zimbabwean pilot. A Dutch female passenger was rescued by a group of fishermen and is currently in hospital being treated for minor injuries. Moses Kunkuyu, Malawi’s minister of information and digitization, told Anadolu on Wednesday that the government has intensified efforts to locate the two missing persons – a Dutch passenger and the Zimbabwean pilot. “We are very optimistic that at the end of Wednesday, we should be able to succeed in our efforts,” he said. The C2110 aircraft had taken off from the lakeshore district of Nkhotakota en route to eastern Malawi and crashed 45 minutes before landing. “Rescue efforts are getting there to push the plane ashore. It’s currently spotted underwater close to the shore,” Kunkuyu said. On June 10, an aircraft crash killed Saulosi Klaus Chilima, Malawi’s vice president, and eight others. Investigations are underway to establish the cause of the crash.

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Blinken arrives in Qatar for Gaza cease-fire talks

Africa /

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday evening after coming from Egypt as part of ongoing consultations aimed at achieving a cease-fire in Gaza. Egypt is expected to host a new round of talks before the end of the week focusing on prisoner exchanges and halting the conflict. Blinken’s visit comes following indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas which took place in Doha on Aug.15 and 16. The discussions are set to continue in Cairo.  Hamas has rejected recent claims by US President Joe Biden that the group “backed away” from a cease-fire agreement, asserting its commitment to ending the conflict. The Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel reported that Blinken arrived in Doha, with footage of his arrival broadcast. The network did not provide details on the duration or agenda of his visit, which is part of his ninth regional tour since the conflict in Gaza began last October. On Tuesday, Blinken discussed the progress of Gaza negotiations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency. The meeting followed Blinken’s arrival in the new city of El Alamein, located northwest of Cairo, after visiting Israel. On the same day, Hamas dismissed Biden’s recent comments about the group’s alleged withdrawal from a cease-fire agreement as “misleading claims,” reaffirming its commitment to ending the conflict. The Israeli public broadcaster KAN later cited unnamed sources from the Israeli negotiating team who claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to “blow up” the negotiations and obstruct reaching a deal with Hamas. On Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to maintaining military control over the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, while Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused him of stalling and undermining the negotiations. For months, the US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’s demands to stop the war. Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.  The conflict has resulted in over 40,170 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and more than 92,740 injuries, according to local health authorities. The ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins. Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.

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