Africa

Malian singer Rokia Traoré may face house arrest in Rome

Africa /

Malian singer and composer Rokia Traoré has been held in Italy for two months following a European arrest warrant issued by Belgium. This arrest is related to a long-standing custody dispute with her ex-partner, Belgian playwright Jan Goossens, dating back to 2019, over their daughter. On Thursday, August 22, the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation may decide to place Traoré under house arrest in Rome. Traoré was detained on June 20, just before a scheduled performance at a music festival at the Colosseum, and has since been held in a women’s prison in Civitavecchia, near Rome. In October 2023, a Belgian court sentenced her to two years in prison for not presenting their daughter to Goossens, following allegations of sexual abuse against Goossens that were later dismissed. Two hearings have been held in Rome’s Court of Appeal since her arrest. On July 13, Traoré’s lawyer, Maddalena Claudia Del Re, challenged the procedural aspects of the Belgian sentence. The Italian judges have decided to refer the case to the European Court of Justice to determine whether Traoré should be released or extradited to Belgium. The Court of Cassation is expected to review the request for house arrest on August 22, which would improve Traoré’s current conditions.

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Egypt, Greece discuss strengthening military cooperation

World /

Egypt’s Minister of Defense and Military Production, General Abdel Meguid Sakr, and Chief of Staff General Ahmed Khalifa held talks Thursday in Cairo with the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis. According to a statement by the Egyptian military, Saqr met with Choupis and his accompanying delegation, who are currently visiting Egypt. However, the visit’s duration and agenda were not specified. The discussions focused on “military cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries across various fields, supporting efforts to enhance security and stability in the region.” In a separate meeting, the Chiefs of Staff of the Egyptian and Greek armies discussed “several issues of mutual interest, in light of strengthening military relations between the Egyptian and Greek armed forces,” the statement added. Khalifa expressed his appreciation for the deep partnership between the Egyptian and Greek armed forces, highlighting the importance of coordinating efforts and exchanging expertise between the two nations’ militaries. According to the Egyptian statement, Choupis emphasized Greece’s commitment to deepening military ties with Egypt, expressing his hope for increased cooperation in the future. .The meetings were attended by several senior military officials from both countries, the statement added.

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Somalia threatens to halt Ethiopian Airlines flights

Africa /

Somalia has warned that it may suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to its territory due to a territorial dispute. On August 21, 2024, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) announced that the airline has not addressed concerns regarding Somali sovereignty. The dispute intensified after Ethiopia signed a January 2024 agreement with the separatist region of Somaliland, granting Ethiopia access to 20 kilometers of Somaliland’s coastline for 50 years in exchange for recognizing the region. Somalia views this deal as a breach of its sovereignty, escalating tensions between the two nations. The SCAA also criticized Ethiopian Airlines for removing Somali destination names from its systems, which it sees as a further affront to Somali sovereignty. Ethiopian Airlines has until August 23, 2024, to resolve these issues or face a suspension of all flights to Somalia.

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Senegal establishes commission to review oil and gas contracts

Africa /

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.

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Floods in Nigeria claimed 28 lives

Africa /

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.

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Mpox surge in DRC spurs WHO response and vaccine Push

Africa /

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.

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Malawi: Rescue intensifies after plane crash

Africa /

 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.

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79,000 displaced as Omo river overflows in southern Ethiopia

Africa /

 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.

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