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

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