The Rapid Support Forces announced the capture of Suki in Sennar State after defeating Burhan-controlled forces and allied militias.

Monday landslides in southern Ethiopia have killed 257 and left over 15,000 people in urgent need of evacuation, says OCHA

Militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed at least 20 civilians while they were working in their fields in eastern DR Congo.

Heavy rains in southern Ethiopia triggered landslides that have killed at least 257 people, with the death toll expected to reach 500.

The head of Zambia’s Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), who had gone missing the day before, was discovered dead on Wednesday with two bullet wounds in the head and back. The government has ordered police to conduct a prompt investigation into the death of Guntila Muleya, for whom the family started searching on Tuesday after he failed to return to his home. “The government has asked the police to quickly and thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate death,” Thabo Kawana, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media, told reporters in the capital Lusaka. Muleya’s family became concerned on Tuesday night, around 9:00 p.m. local time, when he did not return home, and they began looking for him, Kawana said. “His body was discovered later today (Wednesday) in the Njolwe area with two gunshot wounds,” he said. Separately, Zambia police spokesman Rae Hamoonga said at around 10:30 a.m. local time, police received a phone call from a concerned member of the public in the Njolwe area on Lusaka’s outskirts, who reported that during the night of Tuesday at around 20:00 hours, he saw a jeep with its doors open and then heard two gunshots. “This morning (Wednesday) at approximately 10:00 a.m., on his way to work, he (the caller) discovered the body of a deceased on the ground with two bullet wounds on the back and head. “A closer examination revealed a deep bullet wound in the forehead. Two bullet cartridges were recovered at the scene,” Hamoonga explained. He said a murder case has been registered, and that investigations are currently underway.

The UK’s new Home Secretary denounced a failed proposal by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to relocate migrants to Rwanda, labeling it a “shocking waste of taxpayer money” amounting to £700 million ($904 million). Keir Starmer, who took office this month following Sunak, promptly terminated the controversial plan. Sunak’s effort, dubbed “stopping the boats,” aimed to curb asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel from France but faced legal challenges and criticism from human rights groups. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted costs including £290 million paid to Rwanda, expenses for unused charter flights, the detention and subsequent release of hundreds of individuals, and funding for more than a thousand civil servants involved in the initiative. She informed lawmakers that the previous administration had allocated over £10 billion of taxpayers’ money to the project without parliamentary approval. The Rwandan government stated it bore no responsibility to reimburse the disputed funds. The Home Secretary underscored ongoing concerns about dangerous small boat crossings, expected to persist through the summer. She stressed the necessity for enhanced measures against human trafficking but did not provide specifics. Official figures disclosed that nearly 1,500 migrants arrived in the UK via small boats across the English Channel in a single week. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives during rescue operations off the northern French coast. Sunak’s strategy aimed to address the rising global trend of migrants, peaking at 46,000 in 2022, undertaking perilous journeys across the English Channel. The government argued these migrants should not be classified as genuine refugees since they did not seek asylum in the first safe country they reached. In 2022, the UK reached an agreement with Rwanda to transfer migrants who arrived as stowaways or by boat to the East African nation for asylum processing. Critics, including human rights groups, criticized the plan as impractical and unethical, particularly due to the geographical distance involved. Despite legal challenges in UK courts, no deportation flights to Rwanda were conducted. Only four individuals voluntarily relocated to Rwanda, as confirmed by Cooper. In November, the UK Supreme Court ruled the policy illegal, stating Rwanda was not a safe third country for migrant transfers. The justices unanimously agreed that sending claimants to Rwanda could expose them to the risk of mistreatment and potential deportation to their countries of origin.

 The mass trial of 300 captured members of the Boko Haram terrorist group has begun in Nigeria. Michael Abu, Director of Strategic Communications and Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, shared updates on the judicial process Wednesday. Abu confirmed that the trial adheres to international criminal justice standards and is being overseen by the Federal High Court of Nigeria. He highlighted that five judges are presiding over the trial to ensure swift justice for the 300 defendants. The Nigerian government previously announced plans to prosecute 5,000 Boko Haram members captured in the country’s northeastern region. The terrorists are being tried in groups at the federal court. Since 2009, Boko Haram has been responsible for mass terror attacks in Nigeria, resulting in over 20,000 deaths. The group has extended its attacks to neighboring countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger since 2015, leading to at least 2,000 more deaths in the Lake Chad Basin area. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians are displaced annually due to terror attacks and ongoing conflicts.

The men’s Olympic soccer tournament began with a dramatic and tumultuous start on Wednesday, marked by Morocco’s stunning 2-1 upset over two-time gold medalists Argentina. The match in Saint-Etienne unfolded chaotically, culminating in a nearly two-hour suspension due to disorderly conduct by Moroccan fans. The unrest erupted following Argentina’s disputed late goal in the 16th minute of added time, prompting a wave of protests and objects thrown onto the pitch. Confusion ensued regarding the match’s status, initially believed to be concluded before a final three-minute segment was played in an empty stadium. Just before resuming play, VAR intervened to annul Cristian Medina’s contentious goal for offside, solidifying Morocco’s unexpected victory. Argentina’s soccer federation swiftly lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, urging regulatory action in response to the incident. Organizers for Paris 2024 expressed commitment to investigating the causes and implementing necessary measures. Moroccan fans, incensed by what they perceived as an unfair decision depriving their team of a critical win, reacted vehemently. The scene escalated into chaos with security intervening as objects were hurled onto the field, disrupting play and forcing a temporary halt. Despite initial confusion, the match eventually resumed after an extended delay, with Morocco maintaining their lead established earlier in the game. The match, broadcast nationwide in Morocco amid high national fervor following their recent World Cup success, sparked passionate reactions across the country. In a separate match, tensions were palpable as Israel faced Mali amidst heightened security measures at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Israel’s team arrived under heavy police escort amid concerns over safety in a tense international climate. The game itself unfolded amidst mixed emotions, with Israel taking an early lead through an own goal before Mali equalized, prompting jubilant celebrations among their supporters. The match underscored broader geopolitical tensions, evident in the atmosphere both on and off the field. Overall, the opening matches of the Olympic men’s soccer tournament were marred by controversy and geopolitical undercurrents, highlighting the sport’s ability to reflect and amplify global issues beyond the playing field.

After two years of negotiations, Macron and Guelleh have renewed the French-Djibouti defense treaty, reinforcing military ties.

At least 25 migrants have died and dozens are missing after a boat carrying over 300 people capsized off Mauritania.

Suspected ADF militants killed at least 17 civilians while they were working in fields in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province.

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the suspension of all flights to Eritrea, effective September 30th.

Nigeria’s government is urging citizens to be patient as it tackles economic challenges, while protests against rising costs and bad governance are planned.

A new report highlights the urgent need to address the HIV crisis in West and Central Africa.

Africa’s aviation industry is soaring to new heights as major hubs and leading carriers fuel rapid expansion

The protests, the most severe crisis of Ruto’s presidency, have left over 50 dead

The accused pleaded not guilty and were ordered to return to court between July 30 and August 6

‘Of those 26 million, 750,000 people are just one step away from famine,’ says spokesman

Dagalo announced on social media that these crucial discussions are scheduled for August 14, 2024, in Switzerland

In Sierra Leone, a court has delivered verdicts against 11 individuals charged with treason and related offenses in connection with what authorities termed an attempted coup. The leader of the group, Amadu Koita Makalo, received a staggering sentence of 182 years in prison for charges including treason, murder, and attempted murder, according to Moses Lamin Kamara, spokesperson for the judiciary. The incident in November involved a group of gunmen who raided the country’s armory and a prison, resulting in the release of over 2,000 inmates and the tragic deaths of 18 security personnel. Authorities arrested approximately 80 suspects, with a dozen formally charged in January. Among those charged was former president Ernest Bai Koroma, who was later granted medical leave. Amadu Koita Makalo, formerly a bodyguard of Koroma and a vocal critic of current President Julius Maada Bio on social media, was identified as the mastermind behind the attack. Alongside Makalo, the other 10 defendants were also found guilty of treason and murder, receiving sentences ranging from 30 to 112 years in prison. Ernest Bai Koroma, although officially retired from active politics, continues to wield influence within his political party. Many of those implicated in the attack were reportedly former associates of the ex-president, as noted by Information Minister Chernor Bah. Sierra Leone has experienced heightened political tensions since President Bio’s reelection last year, which the opposition alleged was marred by electoral fraud. In the aftermath of Bio’s reelection, authorities apprehended several individuals, including senior military officers, who were purportedly planning protests aimed at destabilizing peace in the country. The nation remains in the process of recovery from a devastating 11-year civil war that concluded over two decades ago. Sierra Leone, with a population of 8 million, ranks among the world’s poorest nations. Nearby Guinea has also been grappling with political instability following a coup in 2021, contributing to regional concerns. The developments underscore ongoing challenges in governance and stability across West Africa, amid efforts to address socio-economic disparities and promote lasting peace.

The search for survivors of a devastating mudslide in southern Ethiopia, which has tragically claimed the lives of at least 229 people, continued on Tuesday. The death toll, initially reported at 55, rose significantly, with local authorities confirming that many of the deceased were individuals who had bravely attempted to rescue others. The disaster struck Ethiopia’s remote Kencho Shacha Gozdi district following heavy rains. Among the victims were young children and pregnant women. Despite the grim toll, there have been at least five survivors rescued, according to Dagmawi Ayele, a local administrator. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his condolences on Facebook and announced the activation of the federal disaster prevention task force to aid in ongoing search and rescue operations. The exact number of people still missing remains unknown. On Monday, funerals were held for numerous victims while rescue teams continued to comb through the rugged terrain affected by previous mudslides. Authorities from the communications office in Gofa Zone, where the mudslides occurred, confirmed that search efforts were ongoing. Markos Melese, director of the disaster response agency in Gofa Zone, noted that several rescuers themselves remain unaccounted for. Amidst the rescue operations, emotional scenes unfolded as onlookers witnessed rescuers using shovels to clear away thick mud in hopes of finding survivors. Landslides are a recurring hazard during Ethiopia’s rainy season, which spans from July to mid-September.

Morocco’s six-year drought has devastated wheat production, impacting farmers, economy, and food security.

The United States has invited Sudan’s SAF and RSF to ceasefire talks in Switzerland starting on August 14.

Bob Menendez was acting as an agent for Egypt’s government bowing to pressure from fellow Democrats to give up the job.