The discussions also touched on broader regional issues, including the recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

Zimbabwe Senate Approves Death Penalty Abolition The Zimbabwean Senate has passed legislation to abolish the death penalty, marking a significant step towards ending a law that has not been enforced in nearly two decades. The bill will take effect once signed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has long opposed capital punishment. The last execution in Zimbabwe occurred in 2005, and the country has faced challenges, including a shortage of executioners, in applying the death penalty. Mnangagwa, who was sentenced to death during the country’s independence war, has also used his presidential powers to commute death sentences to life imprisonment. Amnesty International has called for the bill to be signed “without delay” and for the commutation of the sentences of over 60 people currently on death row in Zimbabwe. While Zimbabwe joins several African nations moving toward abolition, it remains one of the over 50 countries globally that still has the death penalty on the books. According to Amnesty’s 2023 report, there were 1,153 known executions worldwide, with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia being the leading executioners.

The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $108 million loan to Zambia aimed at strengthening the country’s economic governance and supporting reforms across key public sectors. This financing will support the Fiscal Sustainability and Economic Resilience Support Programme, a vital initiative designed to foster a more robust and diversified economy in Zambia. Key objectives of the programme include boosting domestic revenue generation through measures such as the implementation of an electronic “smart invoice” system, registering 12,000 VAT-eligible taxpayers, and enhancing Zambia’s engagement in the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. The programme also targets the growth of the agro-industrial sector, particularly by backing the Ministry of Agriculture’s agricultural mechanization strategy and establishing ten mechanization centres. This will increase agricultural productivity and help farmers—especially those without access to modern equipment—produce goods for both domestic and international markets. A key goal is to reduce Zambia’s reliance on the mining sector, with at least 257 million kwachas (around $9.4 million) allocated for the 2023-2024 agricultural season. The project will facilitate market-driven funding, offering small and medium-sized farmers access to affordable financing for agricultural inputs through financial institutions. Additionally, the programme will improve public investment management, enhancing the efficiency and transparency of public spending. As of November 30, 2024, the African Development Bank’s active portfolio in Zambia includes 24 projects with a total value of $872.3 million.

The Secrets of the Pyramids: Legacy, Tourism, and Preservation The ancient pyramids of Egypt, built for kings, their sons, and grandsons, continue to protect their mysteries. Surrounding these monumental tombs are smaller pyramids for queens and other family members, where they too were mummified and laid to rest. Two temples are also located around the pyramids, likely used for funeral ceremonies and rituals. In ancient Egypt, belief in resurrection after death prevailed. Pharaohs were mummified, buried with treasures to ensure their protection and immortality. The secret of the mummification process, which prevented the bodies of kings from decaying for centuries, remains a mystery to this day. The famous 17th-century traveler, Evliya Çelebi, also mentioned the Egyptian pyramids in his travelogue, highlighting their enduring significance. A Pillar of Egypt’s Economy Last year, Egypt welcomed 14.9 million tourists, with a significant portion of its tourism revenue coming from visitors to the pyramids. The pyramids attract millions of tourists annually, making a vital contribution to the country’s economy. Visitors to the Giza Necropolis can explore the pyramids between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. However, the Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu’s pyramid) is closed to visitors from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Ticket offices remain open until 4:00 PM, with entry fees set at 540 Egyptian pounds for general admission and 270 pounds for international student cardholders. To enter the pyramids’ interiors, the fee is 900 pounds for general entry and 450 pounds for students. Payments are only accepted via bank card, and children under 6 years old can visit for free. While photography is allowed outside the pyramids, no photos are permitted inside. Camel and Horse Cart Tours At the entrance to the pyramid complex, visitors can enjoy camel and horse-drawn carriage rides. Horse cart rides cost 500 Egyptian pounds per hour, offering the best views of the pyramids from various angles. Symbolic camel tours, often associated with the pyramids, cost 1,000 Egyptian pounds per hour, while a short photo opportunity on a camel is priced at 300 pounds. A Monumental Construction The Great Pyramid of Khufu, part of the 4th Dynasty of Pharaohs, was built with massive limestone blocks, each weighing thousands of kilograms. Construction of the pyramid, made from an estimated 2.3 million stone blocks, is believed to have taken 20 years, with 800 tons of stone laid each day. The king’s burial chamber inside the pyramid was made of granite stones, believed to have been transported by boat from Aswan via the Nile River. The second largest pyramid, that of Khafre, is thought to have been built by Khufu’s son, Khafre, and remains a remarkable testament to the architectural and engineering prowess of ancient Egypt.

Somaliland Inaugurates New President Amid Tensions Over Regional Disputes and Quest for Recognition Somaliland, the self-declared independent region of Somalia, inaugurated its new president on the heels of last month’s election, reinforcing its push for international recognition. The ceremony took place just one day after Somalia and Ethiopia reached an agreement in Turkey to begin “technical talks” over a contentious deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, the newly elected president, took office after defeating incumbent Muse Bihi, who had served for seven years. Abdullahi, from the opposition Waddani Party, secured over 50% of the vote in the November 13 election, which was hailed for its high voter turnout and peaceful conduct—further solidifying Somaliland’s reputation as a stable democracy in a region often beset by instability. In his inaugural speech, Abdullahi outlined his government’s priorities, stressing the importance of renewing Somaliland’s international relations. “Our first job is to renew relations with the rest of the world to create a new Somaliland that contributes to the security of the entire region, including the Red Sea,” he said. Richard H. Riley, the U.S. ambassador to Somalia, congratulated Abdullahi on behalf of the United States and the international community. “We extend our warmest congratulations to you on this historic occasion,” Riley said, acknowledging Somaliland’s democratic achievements. Despite its stable governance, Somaliland’s quest for recognition remains a challenge. It declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has yet to receive official recognition from the African Union, the United Nations, or any other nation. Somalia continues to regard Somaliland as part of its territory. Somaliland’s pursuit of recognition has been complicated by its recent agreements, including a controversial deal with Ethiopia to lease coastal land for a marine base. In exchange, Ethiopia would acknowledge Somaliland’s independence—something Somalia has condemned as a violation of its sovereignty. During his campaign, Abdullahi criticized the deal for its lack of transparency and promised to reassess such agreements to ensure they align with Somaliland’s strategic interests. Abdullahi’s presidency will also face challenges in managing ongoing tensions in the Sool region, where clashes between Somaliland forces and local militias have persisted. As he works to strengthen his country’s international standing, his leadership will play a critical role in shaping Somaliland’s future, both regionally and globally.

Pineapples, though most commonly associated with the Americas, were first domesticated in Africa

Somali and Ethiopian leaders sign peace deal after Erdogan’s mediation in Ankara, says African Union.

According to the government, more than half of Zimbabwe’s 16 million citizens required food aid this year

Somalia has withdrawn its federal troops from the Lower Juba region after clashes with forces from the semi-autonomous state of Jubbaland.

Post-election protests in Mozambique have left 110 dead, with rights groups accusing security forces of brutal violence as unrest over alleged election fraud intensifies.

This tragedy marks the latest incident in the Mediterranean’s ongoing migrant crisis

The report alleges that since May, Malian forces and Wagner fighters deliberately killed at least 32 civilians, including seven in a drone strike

A deadly stadium crush in Guinea has sparked international outrage, with Amnesty International calling for an independent investigation into the incident.

The UN health agency has warned of the increasing strain on health facilities in the war-torn region.  

Clashes erupted in the southern Somali town of Raskamboni on Wednesday between federal government forces and regional troops from Jubbaland, amid rising tensions over a disputed regional election. The fighting, which lasted for several hours, subsided by midday, but both sides blamed each other for sparking the violence. Details about casualties remain unclear due to a telecommunications blackout in the area. The conflict highlights growing tensions between Somalia’s federal government and Jubbaland’s administration, raising concerns about further instability in this strategically important region near the Kenyan border. Somalia’s federal forces are taking over the fight against the al-Qaida-linked militant group al-Shabab, with plans to replace the African Union peacekeeping mission by the end of the month. The federal government accused Jubbaland’s forces, led by Ahmed Madobe, of attacking federal positions vital to the fight against al-Shabab. Madobe’s reelection for a third term as Jubbaland president in November has sparked controversy, with the federal government claiming it violates term limits. Opposition groups in Jubbaland have rejected the results and formed a rival government. Jubbaland officials, however, claimed the federal forces initiated the fighting by targeting their positions, accusing the federal government of trying to undermine regional authority. The violence comes as Somalia prepares for a new African Union mission starting in January, though it will exclude Ethiopia, with which Somalia is engaged in a dispute over the breakaway region of Somaliland.

A mysterious flu-like illness that has claimed dozens of lives in southwest Congo in recent weeks may be malaria, according to initial laboratory tests of infected individuals, authorities reported Wednesday. Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, Director-General of the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, said, “Of the 12 samples taken, nine tested positive for malaria, but the quality of the samples was not ideal. We are continuing our research to determine whether this constitutes an epidemic.” He added, “It is likely malaria, as most of the victims are children.” On Tuesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also confirmed that most of the samples tested positive for malaria, but cautioned that other diseases could be involved. He noted that additional samples would be collected for further analysis. In recent weeks, there have been 416 reported cases and 31 deaths in hospitals, according to the WHO. Congo’s Health Minister, Roger Kamba, added that another 44 deaths were recorded in the community. The majority of cases and deaths have occurred in children under 14 in the remote Panzi health zone in Congo’s western Kwango province, the WHO reported. Ezekiel Kasongo, a Panzi resident, shared that his 9-year-old son was recently released from the hospital after falling ill two weeks ago. “He had a high fever, headache, and was very weak,” Kasongo said. “We were very worried because of the number of deaths, especially among children, but thank God, he is out.” Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, cough, and anemia. Experts from the National Rapid Response Team and the WHO visited Panzi last week to collect samples and investigate. The Panzi health zone is difficult to reach, with experts taking two days to arrive. It is located about 435 miles (700 kilometers) from the capital, Kinshasa. Due to limited local testing capacity, samples had to be sent to Kikwit, more than 500 kilometers away, said Dieudonne Mwamba, head of the National Institute for Public Health. Mwamba also noted that Panzi had experienced a typhoid fever outbreak two years ago, and that there is currently a resurgence of seasonal flu across the country. High levels of malnutrition and low vaccination rates in the area make children particularly vulnerable to diseases like malaria, Tedros added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced late Wednesday that Ethiopia and Somalia reached an agreement to solve the conflict between the two nations in Ankara-mediated peace talks. “We have taken the first step toward a new beginning based on peace, cooperation between Somalia, Ethiopia,” President Erdogan said at a joint news conference with his Somalian counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Erdogan expressed his satisfaction with hosting his guests and their delegations in Türkiye. He noted that the Ankara Process, initiated approximately eight months ago due to the trust Somalia and Ethiopia placed in Türkiye, had reached a significant milestone. “Thus, by overcoming certain grievances and misunderstandings together, we have taken the first step towards a new beginning based on peace and cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia,” he said. “We carefully listened to the sensitivities, priorities and expectations of both parties throughout this process. With the valuable contributions of both countries, we have prepared the joint declaration text agreed upon today.” Erdogan emphasized that despite having faced numerous injustices and serious conflicts in the past, the region where Somalia and Ethiopia are located has also experienced bright periods in history and made significant contributions to humanity. “This joint declaration focuses not on the past, but on the future, recording the principles that these two friendly nations will build upon moving forward, which is of great importance to us,” he said. Ankara’s fundamental expectation is to establish peace and stability “in this distinguished corner” of Africa between Somalia and Ethiopia, he added. Türkiye believes the agreed-upon joint statement by Somalia and Ethiopia will establish a solid foundation for cooperation and prosperity based on mutual respect, he said. Erdogan said that Türkiye, Somalia and Ethiopia will plan future steps together and implement projects to boost regional peace and prosperity. He also praised Somalia’s president and Ethiopia’s prime minister for “reaching this historic reconciliation with great dedication” during the Ankara-mediated peace talks. The Turkish president also expressed his gratitude to Mohamud and Ahmed. He said he believes Mohamud will provide the necessary attention, care and support, particularly in line with Ethiopia’s requests for access to the sea. “This world is enough for all of us. Together, we will undoubtedly secure our place here, and we will take these steps together,” he said. Ahmed hailed Türkiye for its efforts in resolving the Somalia-Ethiopia conflict during the talks. Mohamud also hailed Türkiye’s efforts in resolving the perennial territorial and political conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia. Ties between Ethiopia and Somalia have worsened since Ethiopia struck a deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland on Jan. 1 to use its Red Sea port of Berbera. Türkiye has been working to end tensions between the two countries. Ethiopia lost its Red Sea ports in the early 1990s after the Eritrean War of Independence, which lasted from 1961 to 1991. In 1991, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, leading to the establishment of two separate nations. The separation resulted in Ethiopia losing direct access to the Red Sea and key ports. Ethiopia has since been landlocked, affecting its ability to conduct efficient maritime trade.

Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday met with Nigerian leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the capital Abuja during a two-day visit aimed at enhancing the countries’ “energy partnership”. Steinmeier was joined by a delegation of German firms operating in the energy (Siemens, Enertrag, Off-Grid Europe, Neuman & Esser), finance (Exficon), distribution (C. Woermann) and technology (Dermalog, LiveEO) sectors. “We have one of the longest energy partnerships that Germany has ever had with Nigeria,” said Steinmeier, adding that the collaboration is not limited to oil and gas. The “energy partnership” between Europe’s largest economy and Africa’s most populous nation has gravitated “towards solar and wind power in recent years” but the next goal is “hydrogen production”, the German leader said. The Nigerian president after the talks said his goal was to “continue to give you assurance that our business doors are opened and our reforms are working very well”. “Our businessmen and policy makers are very anxious to do business with Germany,” Tinubu said. Since coming to power in May 2023, Tinubu has ended a costly fuel subsidy and freed up the naira currency in reforms that government officials and analysts say will revive the economy and attract investors. But in the short term, the moves have deepened one of its worst crises in decades with inflation at a nearly thirty-year high of more than 33 percent in October. “German companies are seeing an improvement in investment relations,” Steinmeier said of Tinubu’s reforms. Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s energy minister, said no fresh deal had been signed during the visit, but that both sides “discussed how we can accelerate the existing agreements”. The Union Bank of Nigeria and the German DWS Group in November 2023 pledged to invest $500 million in renewable energy.

Nigeria has begun implementing a malaria vaccination programme in an effort to ease the world’s highest burden of the mosquito-borne disease which last year killed some 200,000 people. The vaccination schedule targets young children, with the first dose administered at five months. One of the first areas where the programme is being rolled out is the southern state of Bayelsa, which has one of the country’s highest rates of malaria. Rebecca Godspower brought her six-month-old baby to a clinic for the vaccination after having twice treated him for malaria. “Now that there’s a vaccine for malaria, at least I’m happy, I am glad that stress won’t be there again,” she said. A view echoed by another mother, Esther Michael, who also visited the clinic. “I’m happy to bring my child to the health centre to take a vaccine because we hear that malaria is killing other children.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited South Africa during its G20 Presidency, emphasizing the urgent need for climate justice. He stressed that Africa, with its young and growing population, rich cultural and natural diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit, continues to face the lingering injustices of its colonial past. “I am here at a critical time as South Africa assumes the G20 presidency. Africa’s potential is undeniable… but it needs climate justice. The continent is on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Despite contributing minimal emissions, climate change is wreaking havoc on your people and economies. Africa is warming faster than the global average. We must limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C to prevent this crisis from spiraling further,” Guterres said. The UN chief also expressed concern about the escalating chaos in the Middle East, particularly following the recent ousting of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, though he maintained a sense of cautious optimism about the region’s future.

Madagascar’s opposition faces a crucial battle in city hall elections amid tensions and irregularities, as President Rajoelina seeks to consolidate power.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Nigeria to discuss enhancing the energy partnership and economic reforms with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The program prioritizes young children, with the first dose administered at five months of age

This latest critique follows a similar outburst by Youssef during a forum in Istanbul last week, where he accused al-Burhan of betrayal