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Senegal: Health measures against mpox in place 

Africa /

In preparation for the Magal pilgrimage in Touba on August 23, 2024, Senegalese authorities have introduced enhanced health measures to address the spread of mpox (formerly monkeypox). With millions of pilgrims expected, including many from abroad, approximately 6,000 healthcare professionals have been deployed. Given the recent rise in mpox cases across Africa, the focus is on rapid detection. Dr. Mamadou Dieng, the regional health director of Diourbel, detailed the measures, including training for surveillance teams and the installation of testing equipment at multiple locations. A total of 186 sites have been established for pilgrims showing symptoms. Testing will be managed by the Institut Pasteur, and quarantine zones have been set up. Dr. Dieng stressed the importance of personal responsibility, urging pilgrims to wash their hands frequently, avoid close contact, and wear masks in crowded areas. Although these measures may be difficult to adhere to, they are vital for preventing the disease’s spread.

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Spain pledges €50 million to tackle migrant crisis in the Canary Islands

Africa /

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the Canary Islands on Friday to meet with regional President Fernando Clavijo amid a surge in migrant arrivals and challenges in caring for thousands of unaccompanied minors. Sánchez’s minister for territorial policy and democratic memory, Ángel Victor Torres, who previously served as the regional president of the Canaries, spoke on behalf of Sánchez’s government after the meeting. Torres announced an additional 50 million euros in financial aid for the archipelago, building on previous support. While adult migrants typically leave the islands for mainland Spain or other European destinations, the regional government is responsible for unaccompanied minors. The Canary Islands are currently caring for over 5,000 children and teenagers who arrived alone or lost their parents during the perilous journey from West Africa. Sánchez and Clavijo agreed to pursue long-term solutions for irregular migration, particularly for unaccompanied minors. Torres noted that a proposed legal change to mandate solidarity among Spanish regions must pass through parliament. However, a similar attempt in late July was unsuccessful, with lawmakers rejecting a proposal to distribute unaccompanied minors among other regions. Sánchez’s visit comes just before his trip to Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia to address migration issues at their sources. Between January and mid-August this year, over 22,300 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands, a 126% increase compared to the same period last year. On Friday, Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service reported rescuing 173 people, including six babies and eight women, and recovering two bodies from a boat near El Hierro. The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canaries is among the world’s deadliest, with migrant rights group Walking Borders estimating thousands of fatalities due to the lack of precise departure data. Boats often disappear in the Atlantic or are found adrift in the Caribbean, carrying the remains of their passengers.

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Gaza death toll surpasses 40,300

World /

 The Israeli army killed 69 more Palestinians in attacks on the Gaza Strip, taking the total death toll to 40,334 since October of last year, the Health Ministry in the enclave said on Saturday. A ministry statement said 93,356 Palestinians have been injured as a result of the extensive bombardment of Gaza since Oct.7, 2023. “Israeli forces killed 69 people and injured 212 others in five ‘massacres’ against families in the last 48 hours,” the ministry said. “Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added. Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. An 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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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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