The accident occurred on Sunday night when a boat carrying between 250 and 300 passengers capsized after striking submerged tree trunks in a river within Kutu territory

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.

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.

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.

The arrival of relief trucks through the Adre crossing is a crucial development, and the RSF has pledged its full endorsement, facilitation, and safeguarding of these humanitarian efforts.

A prominent traditional ruler in northwestern Nigeria was killed by bandits after being kidnapped three weeks ago and despite a ransom plea.

WHO delivered 175 tons of health supplies to Darfur, Sudan, despite ongoing conflict and closed borders, aiding in crisis response.

It remains unclear how the dispute was resolved, as Nigerien and Beninese officials could not be reached for comment

Ethiopia and Somaliland have signed a historic maritime agreement that could pave the way for Somaliland’s international recognition.

The military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have turned their backs on traditional Western allies in favor of Russia.

The global response to mpox is facing criticism as Africa struggles to access vaccines and treatments, while the virus continues to spread rapidly across the continent.

In a move toward sustainable development, African countries are embracing renewable energy

 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.

 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.

 About 79,000 people have been displaced in southern Ethiopia after heavy rains led to the overflow of the region’s Omo River across 34 districts, local media reported on Tuesday. Ato Tadele Hate, a local chief, told Sheger Radio that consecutive days of downpour wreaked havoc on agricultural fields and livestock, calling on the federal government and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent assistance. “This devastation is becoming a recurring issue,” lamented Hate. “The heavy rains last year caused similar problems, and now the current flooding has hit areas where people had already been relocated due to last year’s floods.” He also stressed the need for immediate measures to divert the Omo River and prevent future overflows. Hate expressed concern for the city of Omorate, which is located on the bank of the Omo River and faces high risk of being severely impacted by the flooding.  “Unless urgent action is taken, we fear that Omorate, home to thousands, might be completely wiped out by the floods,” he warned. Southern Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable in the rainy season to frequent and severe landslides and flooding. Tilahun Bishaw, the local head of the Ethiopian Red Cross Association, indicated that the rains are expected to continue and the situation to worsen unless immediate action is taken.

Batı Afrika ülkesi Gana’da, petrol ve gaz sektörü için devrim niteliğindeki 12 milyar dolarlık petrol merkezinin inşası başladı. Ulusal basındaki haberlere göre, ülkenin Western vilayetinin Jomorow bölgesinde inşa edilecek petrol merkezinin temel atma törenine, Gana Cumhurbaşkanı Nana Akufo-Addo ve Enerjiden Sorumlu Devlet Bakanı Herbet Krappa’nın yanı sıra çok sayıda davetli katıldı. Akufo-Addo, burada yaptığı konuşmada, projenin çeşitlendirilmiş, verimli ve mali açıdan sürdürülebilir bir enerji sağlama vizyonuyla uyumlu olduğunu belirtti. Projenin ülkenin kalkınmasına yardımcı olacağını vurgulayan Akufo-Addo, “Afrika’da ham petrol ve petrol ürünleri fiyatlandırması için ölçüt olacak bir tesis öngörüyoruz.” ifadesini kullandı. Akufo-Addo, 12 milyar dolarlık petrol merkezi projesinin yaklaşık 780 bin doğrudan ve dolaylı istihdam yaratmasının beklendiğine dikkati çekti.  Enerjiden Sorumlu Devlet Bakanı Krappa da petrol merkezinin Gana’yı küresel enerji ekosisteminde yeniden konumlandıracağını, ihracatı kolaylaştıracağını ve böylece gelir yaratacağını belirtti.  Krappa, merkezin Gana’nın enerji ihtiyacını sürdürülebilir şekilde karşılayacağını kaydetti. Ülkede inşa edilecek petrol merkezi, günde 300 bin varillik bir rafineri, bir petrokimya tesisi ve kapsamlı depolama ve liman tesislerini içerecek. Dünyanın en büyük ikinci kakao üreticisi olan Gana’da 2010’da petrol keşfedilmişti. Gana’da halihazırda günlük 132 bin varil ham petrol ve yaklaşık 325 milyon standart fit küp doğal gaz üretiliyor.

It was reported that four soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack in Sokoto State, Nigeria. In a written statement, Edward Buba, Director of Media Operations at the Nigerian Ministry of Defense, stated that terrorists ambushed a military unit near the Niger border, close to the Bachaka Kurya Forest in Sokoto State. Buba noted that four soldiers lost their lives in the attack. Following the assault, Buba reported that a significant number of terrorists were killed in the ensuing clash with the soldiers. “Important ammunition belonging to the terrorists was seized. The remaining terrorists fled to Niger,” he added.

 Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger petitioned the president of the UN Security Council on Tuesday to denounce the Ukrainian government’s “open and assumed support for international terrorism” particularly in Africa’s Sahel region. The move follows recent comments by Ukrainian officials suggesting that Kyiv had played a role in attacks by Tuareg separatist rebels that caused the deaths of many Malian soldiers last month in the northeastern village of Tinzawaten on the border with Algeria. In a joint letter, the three countries’ foreign ministers said their governments were shocked by the comments of Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, “admitting Ukraine’s role in the cowardly, barbaric and criminal attacks” between July 24 and 26. It added that the remarks were confirmed by Yurii Pyvovarov, Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal. Yusov said the rebels received “the necessary information they needed” to conduct the attacks after Malian army allies of Russia’s Wagner Group confirmed “losses” in the clashes. The letter called on the Security Council to “take appropriate measures against these subversive actions which strengthen terrorist groups in Africa.” It said the official’s comments go beyond the scope of foreign interference, which is condemnable itself. “This is official and unequivocal support by the Ukrainian government for terrorism in Africa, particularly in the Sahel. These acts also constitute a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our States, a clear aggression and support for international terrorism, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant international conventions,” the letter says in part. The three countries, ruled by military juntas, have signed a defense pact under their formation called the Confederation of Sahel States. The Tinzawaten area has been a battleground between separatist forces and the Malian army over the past decade. Mali and Niger earlier this month severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine, citing comments by the Ukrainian military official suggesting that Kyiv played a role in the July attacks.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope that a humanitarian agreement in Sudan could pave the way for a broader peace deal to end the ongoing war.

The overloaded boat crashed into a sunken barge while navigating at night. Rescue efforts are ongoing.

The RSF calls for humanitarian aid and condemns Burhan-controlled SAF for targeting civilian infrastructure.

Despite early optimism for change, burundi’s president has continued to target human rights defenders journalists and opposition members through intimidation harassment.

The Omo River has breached its banks, inundating numerous districts in southern Ethiopia and causing significant damage to agriculture and livelihoods.

In the Tawisha locality of North Darfur, residential areas were devastated, with entire families reportedly killed in the strikes