AFRICA DIPLOMATIC

South Sudan: scores killed in disarmament operation

Scores of people have been killed in the South Sudan region of Warrap State following heavy fighting between armed civilians and government forces carrying out a disarmament exercise, the military’s spokesman said on August 11. While initatlly Reuters news agency repored 81 dead, the Eye Radio has later announced 127 casualtes. General Lul Ruai said…

Mauritius oil spill ESA dramatic images

European Space Agency (ESA) has released images of MV Wakashio oil spill view from space, depicting the huge area of devastation of the Mauritius waters, and coastline. Reportedly large cracks have appeared in the hull of MV Wakashio cargo vessel, leaking oil in Mauritius, prompting the Prime minister to warn it may “break in two”….

France reinforces protection in Sahel

France will step up security measures to protect the countriy’s nationals in Africa’s Sahel region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday, August 11, two days after six French aid workers and there two local guides were shot dead in Niger, while touring in natural park Kouré. Nous mettons tout en œuvre pour soutenir les familles…

Niger: counter-terrorist operation in Kouré

French President Emmanuel Macron will convene a defense council on Tuesday, August 11 following Sunday’s attack in Niger that left eight people dead, including six French nationals, the Elysee said. Plusieurs de nos compatriotes et des nigériens ont été lâchement assassinés hier au Niger au cours d'une attaque meurtrière. Je partage la douleur de leurs…

Niger attack defined «terrorism»

Six aid workers and their two guides were killed by armed men in a deadly attack in Niger, during excursion to natural park. French charity ACTED confirmed their deaths in random attack on the vehicle on Sunday, August 9. The French government called it a terrorist attack, though no group has yet claimed responsibility. Unidentified…

Lions need protecton amid pandemic crisis

African countries need to strengthen protection of lions without delay amid threats to their survival linked to aggravating situation related to pandemic criis, reflecting in rise absence of tourims, and rising of poaching, conservationists said on ahead of World Lions Dayobserved on August 10. Only 20,000 wild lions remain in Africa, which is half of…

Burkina Faso: gunmen attacked cattle market

A group of gunmen killed about 20 people in an attack on a cattle market in eastern Burkina Faso on August 7, the government said in a statement. No one claimed responsibility for the attack in the village of Fada N’Gourma, around which the army is conducting a search operation. #BurkinaFaso: Striking testimony from a…

Botswana dimond trade plunges

Botswana’s rough diamond exports plunged 68% in the second quarter of the year, data published by the central bank showed on August 7, as the COVID-19 pandemic affected demand, and trade. Sales of rough diamonds from Botswana fall due to a travel ban and production crunch linked to the coronavirus pandemic https://t.co/ceCYYrrW9f — Bloomberg (@business)…

Mauritius ecological disaster

The island nation of Mauritius has declared a “state of environmental emergency” after a Japanese tanker offshore began leaking tons of oil into the ocean. MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on 25 July and its crew was evacuated. The inhabitants of the ilsland were left alone to…

Al Shabaab attack in Mogadishu

A huge blast rocked a military base in Mogadishu, Somalia capital, killing at least eight people and injuring 14, emergency workers said, and the militant group al Shabaab has already claimed responsiblity. Soldiers opened fire after the explosion which sent clouds of smoke into the sky, said a resident of from the area. “We ran…