The most deadly strike occurred in Kabkabiya, where 86 people were killed, many of them local traders

The rescue took place when the crew of Germany’s CompassCollective was en route to another emergency and heard cries for help from the water

Malaria cases surged by 11 million in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching an estimated 263 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Monday. Deaths remained steady at 597,000, with African children under five bearing the brunt of the disease. “Malaria remains a preventable and treatable disease, yet it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable—especially young children and pregnant women in Africa,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. While cases and deaths dropped significantly between 2000 and 2015, progress has since stalled and reversed, exacerbated by setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection rate climbed from 58 to 60.4 cases per 1,000 at-risk individuals between 2015 and 2023, far exceeding WHO’s target. Similarly, deaths per 100,000 at risk reached 13.7, more than twice the target. Innovative tools such as two vaccines and next-generation bed nets offer hope, but challenges persist, including climate change, displacement, drug resistance, and funding shortfalls. In 2023, $4 billion was allocated to fight malaria—less than half of the $8.3 billion required, the WHO noted. Despite these barriers, progress in some regions highlights the potential to combat this enduring global health threat.

Terrace farming is a groundbreaking agricultural technique pioneered by ancient African civilizations

Post-election protests in Mozambique have disrupted operations at South32’s Mozal Aluminium smelter and impacted chrome exports from South Africa.

In a significant shake-up, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has fired top officials, including the military chief, police chief, and central bank governor.

The constitutional court of Zambia ruled Edgar Lungu ineligible for the 2026 election, citing his prior terms as a violation of the two-term limit.

A Chinese mining company is operating illegally within the boundaries of Congo’s Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a protected World Heritage site, threatening its biodiversity and ecosystem.

Boko Haram militants killed 14 Nigerian fishermen who had fled to Niger to escape the ongoing conflict in their home country.

The Health Ministry confirmed the deaths and reported that three others were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The jets, part of France’s 1,000-strong force in Chad, were sent back to a base in Nancy, eastern France, following a farewell ceremony attended by Chadian military officials

Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition figure, is facing legal challenges as his trial has been adjourned.

Kenyan police used excessive force to disperse a peaceful women’s rights march in Nairobi, highlighting the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in the country.

The Paris court found that Onana’s book, Rwanda, the Truth About Operation Turquoise, published in 2019, violated French laws against genocide denial and incitement to hatred

A UN-protected wildlife reserve in Congo is facing growing threats from illegal gold mining, with a Chinese company accused of significantly damaging the environment. For eight years, Kimia Mining, a Chinese-owned firm, has expanded its operations inside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Local communities and conservationists say the company’s activities are wreaking havoc on the area’s biodiversity. Established as a protected area in 1996, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve covers over 13,000 square kilometers (5,000 square miles) of rainforest and is home to unique species, including the okapi, a forest giraffe. The reserve holds about 15% of the world’s remaining okapi population, estimated at just 30,000 animals. It also plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change, as part of the Congo Basin rainforest, a major carbon sink. However, over the years, the boundaries of the reserve have been gradually reduced under unclear circumstances, allowing mining companies like Kimia Mining to operate within its limits. Despite being a protected area, the reserve has long been a site for illegal mining, with authorities cracking down only after the arrival of the Chinese firm. Kimia Mining has allowed limited access for locals to mine leftover materials, but many cannot afford the fees. Muvunga Kakule, a 44-year-old former artisanal miner, says he has lost nearly all his income since the Chinese arrived. He no longer mines or sells produce, as the company refuses to buy from local farmers. “Our life has not been the same since the Chinese came and chased us out of the bush. We can no longer work or send our children to school,” he says. Conservation groups are working to protect the reserve, but they face difficulties in enforcement due to unclear legalities surrounding the boundaries. Kimia Mining has recently renewed its mining permits until 2048, according to government records. While the Congo government’s mining registry claims it is working with the ICCN (the body responsible for managing protected areas) to update the reserve’s boundaries, it is unclear when action will be taken. An internal government memo from August indicated that all mining operations in the reserve, including Kimia Mining, would eventually be shut down, but no timeline has been set. Aime Vusike Kiruzi, director of Epulu Radio, based inside the reserve, expressed concern over the loss of wildlife. “We are no longer seeing some species that used to be well protected here,” he said. “In our time, we saw okapi, elephants, antelopes, even monkeys. But it is no longer easy to see them.” Kiruzi called on Congolese authorities to protect the reserve for future generations, so they can witness the same wildlife he saw growing up.

Thousands of Syrians gathered on Monday outside Saydnaya military prison, just north of Damascus, hoping to find their loved ones. Civil defense workers and teams from the White Helmets were seen digging inside the prison, searching for hidden cells or underground chambers. The notorious prison, known as the “human slaughterhouse,” has long been a symbol of fear and suffering for the Syrian people. Ghazwan Hussein, who came to search for relatives, said, “We have detainees who were taken since 2011, 2012, and 2013.” During the early days of the Syrian conflict, as insurgents made rapid advances across the country, they broke into prisons and security facilities to release political prisoners and many of those who had disappeared since the war began. On Sunday, reports emerged of women detainees, some with children, screaming as men forcibly broke the locks off their cell doors. Syria’s prisons have gained a horrific reputation for their brutal conditions. Human rights organizations, whistleblowers, and former detainees report systematic torture, while secret executions have been carried out at more than two dozen facilities controlled by Syrian intelligence. Amnesty International estimates that up to 13,000 people were secretly executed at Saydnaya between 2011 and 2016. In 2013, a Syrian military defector known as “Caesar” smuggled out over 53,000 photographs, which human rights groups say provide clear evidence of widespread torture, disease, and starvation within Syria’s prison system.

Africa is full of surprises, including some unexpected winter havens

Three people were killed and several others injured in clashes between two ethnic groups in northern Cameroon over cattle theft.

Tanzania’s president pardoned 1,548 prisoners on Independence Day to mark the country’s liberation from British colonial rule.

General al Burhan-controlled government has officially requested an urgent Arab League meeting to address foreign interference in its internal affairs.

At least 11 people were killed in southern Chad during a clash between nomadic herders and farmers.

The Khartoum Southern Belt Emergency Room reported that 28 people died and 37 were injured in a SAF drone attack on a fuel station near New Soug Sitta in the Mayo district

Attack occurred on Dec. 5 at border junction between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, reports state-run media

Both men denied the charges at the start of their trial in 2021