Month: December 2023

The Malian army claimed on Sunday to have repelled four “terrorist” attacks in four localities in the north of the country, including one in the town of Ménaka, surrounded by Islamic State jihadists.

“The Malian Armed Forces (Fama) successively repelled terrorist attacks against four (military) posts in the localities of Labbezagan, Gossi, Tessalit and Ménaka,” said a press release published Sunday evening.

In Ménaka, an important town in the north-east of Mali close to the Nigerien border, “despite a significant concentration of terrorist fighters determined to do battle with our forces, the Fama inflicted a bloody defeat on them with the neutralization of several dozen terrorists and the arrest of around twenty”, assured the Malian army.

The relay antenna of the Orange-Mali telephone operator in the city was damaged during the attack, according to a governorate official, making communications there very difficult.

The collection and verification of information is complicated by the difficulty of accessing remote sites and independent sources in a generally degraded context.

Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by the actions of groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State organization, violence by proclaimed self-defence groups and banditry. The security crisis is coupled with a profound humanitarian and political crisis.

The north in particular has been plagued by an intensification of military confrontations since August. The withdrawal of the UN mission, pushed out by the ruling junta, triggered a race for control of the territory between the army, jihadists and separatists who have taken up arms against the central state.

The security crisis in this country led by a junta since 2020 has spread to the center as well as to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, two countries also in the hands of military regimes since coups in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Border officials in South Africa say they have intercepted dozens of buses carrying more than 400 young children from Zimbabwe without parents or legal guardians in an anti-trafficking operation.

The officials say the children were being “trafficked” into South Africa, although an organization representing foreign nationals living in South Africa says it’s likely the children were being sent to visit their parents, who are working in South Africa, for the end of year holidays. The buses were sent back to Zimbabwe.

More than 1 million Zimbabweans live in South Africa, many of them illegally, having moved to their southern neighbour over the past 15 years to escape Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil.

South African Border Management Agency commissioner Mike Masiapato said Sunday that South African police stopped and searched 42 buses entering from Zimbabwe on Saturday night and found 443 children under the age of 8 travelling unaccompanied.

“We denied them entry and activated the Zimbabwean officials to process them back into Zimbabwe,” Masiapato said.

The buses were allowed through on the Zimbabwean side of the Beitbridge border post, South African border officials said.

Ngqabutho Mabhena, chairperson of the Africa Diaspora Forum, which represents foreign nationals living in South Africa, said his organization believed the buses were carrying Zimbabwean children coming to South Africa to visit their parents, which is a regular phenomenon near the end of the year.

He said it is common that children are sent over the border without proper documentation allowing them to travel as unaccompanied minors.

“We always tell Zimbabwean parents living in South Africa that if they arrange for their children to come to South Africa, they must … arrange all necessary documentation,” Mabhena said. “It is irresponsible for parents to let children travel without passports and to travel with strangers. We have addressed this with parents.”

Around 178,000 Zimbabweans live and work in South Africa legally under an exemption permit, but a 2022 South African census said there were more than a million Zimbabweans in the country. Some estimates say there may be as many as 3 million.

South Africa, which is Africa’s most advanced economy, launched a new border force in October to clamp down on illegal immigration from Zimbabwe and other countries.

In a thrilling encounter in the Saudi League on Thursday, Karim Benzema showcased his goal-scoring prowess, expertly converting a penalty to lead Al Ittihad to a decisive 4-2 victory over Al Khaleej.

The match unfolded with dynamic moments and strategic plays that captivated football enthusiasts.

The early stages of the game witnessed an impressive performance by Igor Coronado, who opened the scoring for the hosts in the 9th minute, setting the tone for an exciting clash. However, it was Benzema who truly stole the spotlight, extending Al Ittihad’s lead with a skillful goal in the 29th minute, showcasing his clinical finishing abilities.

As the first half drew to a close, a pivotal moment unfolded with a penalty opportunity granted to Al Khaleej. Seizing the chance, Khaled Narey capitalized on the penalty, narrowing the gap and injecting fresh intensity into the contest as the clock reached the 45th minute.

The second half continued to provide a rollercoaster of emotions for fans, as another penalty was awarded, this time in favor of Al Ittihad. Abderrazzaq Hamed Allah confidently converted the spot-kick in the 65th minute, further solidifying his team’s lead and leaving the opposition with a challenging mountain to climb.

In the 74th minute, Zakaria al Hawsawi made a significant impact by securing additional points for Al Ittihad. His well-timed contribution heightened the team’s dominance and further demoralized Al Khaleej. The final blow came in the 90th minute, courtesy of Fawaz Al Terais, who skillfully completed the scoreline, sealing a comprehensive victory for Al Ittihad.

The match, punctuated by Benzema’s goal-scoring prowess, Coronado’s early brilliance, and key penalty moments, will undoubtedly be remembered as a thrilling chapter in the Saudi League, showcasing the excitement and skill inherent in football.