Month: August 2024

A treasure trove of artefacts from Egypt’s last dynasty has been discovered in 63 tombs in the Nile Delta region and experts are working to restore and classify them, an official at the country’s antiquities authority said Monday.

The artefacts include gold coins and jewelry dating from Egypt ‘s late Ptolemaic and early Ptolemaic periods , and some pieces could be displayed in one of the country’s museums, said Neveine el-Arif, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities discovered the mud-brick tombs in the Tell al-Deir necropolis in the city of Damietta (Damietta governorate), the ministry said in a statement last month.

Other objects found in the tomb area include statues, funerary amulets and a pottery container containing 38 bronze coins dating to the Ptolemaic period.

The Ptolemaic dynasty was the last in Egypt before it was incorporated into the Roman Empire . The dynasty was founded in 305 BC after Alexander the Great of Macedon captured Egypt in 332 BC and one of his generals, Ptolemy, became Ptolemy I. Leadership was passed down through Ptolemy’s descendants and ended with Cleopatra.

In 2018, Egypt exhibited objects from the Ptolemaic period for the first time at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, with around 300 objects.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Russia’s Kursk region on the border with Ukraine.

They were forced to flee their homes when Ukrainian soldiers smashed through the frontier a week ago.

It was the biggest attack on sovereign Russian territory since the Russia invaded Ukraine over two years ago.

People are being housed in temporary accommodation centres in the city and receiving food and clothes.

“There is no light, no connection, no water. There is nothing. It’s as if everyone has flown to another planet, and you are left alone. And the birds stopped singing,” says evacuee Mikhail.

“Helicopters and planes fly over the yard and shells were flying. What could we do? We left everything behind.”

Another person says there was no trade or shops working in her town and no electricity.

Residents from the border region continue to flee as Russian forces on Tuesday struck back at Ukrainian troops with missiles, drones, and airstrikes.

Russia authorities have declared a “federal-level” state of emergency in the regions of Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod.

They say 400 temporary accommodation centres across the country are ready to receive evacuees.

Paul Kagame embarks on another term, Rwanda stands at a crossroads. While his supporters tout the country’s development under his leadership, the international community remains watchful of the growing concerns regarding human rights and the concentration of power in the hands of one man.

The ceremony in Kigali was not just a formality; it was a powerful reminder of Kagame’s enduring influence and the complex legacy he continues to build in Rwanda.

Kagame, recently re-elected as Rwanda’s president, was inaugurated on Sunday in a grand ceremony held in the capital, Kigali. The 66-year-old leader, who has been at the helm since the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, took the oath of office, pledging his unwavering loyalty to the Republic of Rwanda. “I, Kagame Paul, do solemnly swear to Rwanda that I will remain loyal to the Republic of Rwanda, observe and defend the Constitution and other laws diligently, and fulfill the responsibility entrusted to me,” he declared, reaffirming his commitment to lead the nation.

Kagame’s inauguration marks the beginning of yet another term in office, following an election in which he ran virtually unopposed. Despite widespread criticism from various international observers and human rights organizations, Kagame’s grip on power remains strong. His critics, including potential rivals, were largely sidelined, with two of his strongest opponents being barred from running for high office.

Kagame first rose to prominence as the leader of the rebel forces that ended the genocide in 1994, which claimed the lives of nearly 800,000 Rwandans. Since then, he has served as the de facto leader of Rwanda, officially assuming the presidency in 2000. Under his leadership, Rwanda has experienced significant economic growth and stability, earning praise from some for its progress.

In 2015, a referendum allowed Rwandans to vote on lifting the two-term limit for presidents. The result overwhelmingly favored the change, paving the way for Kagame to extend his presidency potentially until 2034. This move has sparked debate about the future of democracy in Rwanda, with many questioning the fairness of the referendum and the broader implications for governance in the country.

Tanzania on Monday arrested the leaders of the main opposition party Chadema on accusations of inciting violence.

Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe and the leader of the party’s youth wing John Pambalu were arrested by police at an airport in the southwestern city of Mbeya, where they planned to mark International Youth Day.

Chadema’s Vice-Chairman Tundu Lissu was arrested on Sunday alongside the party’s Secretary-General.

Police accused Chadema’s youth wing of seeking to promote unrest and violence. The party said over 400 people were in detention.

Despite relaxing restrictions on political parties, opposition leaders say violations have increased in the run-up to the 2025 election.

President Samia Suluhu who took over after the death of John Magufuli is expected to run for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

The engine of a wooden boat exploded and sank in a river in south-south Nigeria, killing at least 20 people, local police said Thursday.

The explosion and sinking on the Ezetu-1 River a day earlier was the latest in a series of deadly boat accidents that increasingly point to regulatory failures.

It was unclear what might have caused the boat’s engine to explode Wednesday, Musa Muhammed, spokesperson for the Bayelsa police, said.

The boat was carrying traders from Ekeni, a small community in the state of Bayelsa to Yenagoa, the state’s capital city, when the engine exploded, Ipigansi Ogoniba, chair of the Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa, said at a news conference. An ensuing fire burned some of the passengers before sinking, he said.

Ogoniba said emergency service providers could not respond quickly to the accident, because there is no telephone network in the area.

Boat disasters have become rampant in remote communities across Nigeria, where locals desperate to get their farm products to market end up overcrowded in locally made boats in the absence of good and accessible roads.

There is no record of the total number of deaths in these accidents, though there were at least five involving at least 100 passengers each in the second half of last year.

Past accidents have been blamed on overloading, the condition of the boat or a hindrance of the boat’s movement along the water. Intervention measures announced by authorities  such as the provision of life jackets or enforcing of waterway regulations  are usually not carried out.

China-Africa relations are expanding into green development, with key discussions planned for the September FOCAC summit. One expert notes that despite forecasts of slower growth, China’s expanding economy will continue to benefit its African partners.

Roya Rahmani, chair of Delphos joined us for more on the report. Delphos is a financial advisory firm that has been bringing large capital to Africa for financing projects.

Zimbabwe’s Shift: From Tobacco to Cannabis Gold

Facing a decline in tobacco demand, Zimbabwe is turning to medicinal cannabis as a promising new cash crop, aiming to tap into the growing $12 billion global market. The country’s climate and existing agricultural expertise position it well to produce cannabis for export.

DRC tax breaks win over entrepreneurs

Every cloud has a silver lining. In South Kivu, the silver lining comes as new tax exemptions and subsidies are set to end excessive taxation on young entrepreneurs, fostering a new generation of multimillionaires. This promise, announced at the Bukavu entrepreneurial launch, has brought relief and hope among local business owners

A military court in Congo on Thursday sentenced 25 people, including the leader of a rebel coalition, to death after a high-profile televised trial that started late last month.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo, or AFC, was found guilty of war crimes, participation in an insurrection and treason. Naanga and 19 other defendants sentenced to death were absent from the trial as they are currently on the run.

“This nauseating judicial saga reinforces our struggle for democratic normality in Congo,” Nangaa told the Associated Press in a text message from an undisclosed location.

The AFC is a political-military movement launched by Nangaa in December with the aim of uniting armed groups, political parties and civil society against Congo’s government. One of its most renown members is the M23, an armed group accused of mass killings in eastern Congo’s decadeslong conflict.

Congo’s president Felix Tshisekedi, along with U.S. and U.N. experts, accuse neighboring Rwanda of giving military backing to M23. Rwanda denies the claim, but in February it effectively admitted that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border.

The court’s decision against Nangaa follows the announcement of a cease-fire between Congo and Rwanda last week following talks mediated by Angola. The cease-fire took effect on Sunday but prospects are slim with previous truces not lasting more than a few weeks and fighting having already resumed near the border with Uganda.

The death sentence against Nangaa might be a way to have more leverage in possible future negotiations with Rwanda or the armed groups themselves, Yvon Muya, a conflict studies researcher at Saint Paul University, said.

The decade long conflict in eastern Congo has produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 100 armed groups fighting in the region, most for land and control of mines with valuable minerals. Some are fighting to try to protect their communities.

Many groups are accused of carrying out mass killings, rapes and other human rights violations.

The violence has displaced about 7 million people, including thousands living in temporary camps. Many others are beyond the reach of aid.

Nigerian police are investigating the death of a transgender TikToker known as “Abuja Area Mama,” whose body was discovered on a highway in Abuja on Thursday.

The 33-year-old, who had a strong following on social media for her posts about life as a transgender woman and sex worker, was found beaten and bruised. She often referred to herself as Ifeanyi, but never disclosed her full name.

Nigeria, a conservative society, has strict laws against same-sex relationships, and the LGBTQ+ community often faces harassment and violence. Last year, Abuja Area Mama shared that she had been attacked and feared for her life.

In her final Instagram post on Wednesday, she mentioned plans to meet her boyfriend. Hours later, her body was found on the Katampe-Mabushi expressway in Abuja, in what police suspect is a murder.

Police have launched an investigation, with Abuja police chief Benneth Igweh ordering a “thorough and discreet” inquiry into the incident. Authorities noted that the victim was found dressed in female clothing but without any identification.

The news of her death has led to an outpouring of grief on social media, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria, despite legal protections against discrimination. Journalist Martins Ifijeh condemned the act, calling it “the worst form of inhumanity.”