Category: LATEST NEWS

Five people have been killed in a bomb attack in northern Kenya, the interior ministry said Monday.

The bomb, which exploded in El Wak town in Mandera County, near the border with Somalia, wounded five other people. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Somalia-based al-Shabab militants affiliated with al-Qaida have carried out other attacks in the area.

The bomb had been placed on a donkey cart to avoid detection, the interior ministry said.

Earlier this month, gunmen suspected to be al-Shabab entered the El Wak hospital and injured guards while asking about the whereabouts of doctors. No arrests were made.

Al-Shabab often carries out cross-border attacks, especially in the remote Kenyan counties of Mandera and Garissa.

The extremist group has threatened Kenyan forces over their yearslong deployment to Somalia as part of multinational efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation following more than three decades of conflict.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia is set to end in December, leaving Somali forces largely responsible for security.

A dam collapsed in western Kenya early Monday, killing at least 45 have died while dozens remain missing after a wall of water swept through houses and cut off a major road, the interior ministry has said.

The Old Kijabe Dam, located in the Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region that is prone to flash floods, collapsed and water spilled downstream, carrying with it mud, rocks and uprooted trees, police official Stephen Kirui told the press.

Susan Kihika, Governor of Nakuru County has been visiting affected areas and told onlookers, “we are currently going around to all our dams and draining the water so that this doesn’t happen again.”

Vehicles were entangled in the debris on one of Kenya’s busiest highways and paramedics treated the injured as waters submerged large areas.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will visit Nigeria in May for talks on the Invictus Games, which he founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans, a Nigerian official said Sunday.

A statement from Nigerian defense spokesman Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau did not say exactly when the Duke of Sussex will arrive in Africa, a place he has long said is close to his heart. Harry is expected to make the trip after a service at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of the games.

Among the nations that participated in last year’s games was Nigeria, whose military has been fighting a deadly war against Islamic extremists in the country’s northeast since 2009.

Modeled after the Warrior Games in the United States, the Invictus Games were founded by Harry in 2014 to offer wounded veterans the challenge of competing in sports events similar to the Paralympics.

Harry served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner in 2012-2013 and has championed veterans in need of assistance.

His visit to Nigeria will include cultural activities and will “consolidate Nigeria’s stronghold at the games and the possibility of hosting the event in later years,” Gusau said.

In his recent Netflix series about the games, Harry said he didn’t have the support he needed when he returned home from combat in Afghanistan.

Speaking about post-traumatic stress disorder, he said his return from Afghanistan in 2012 triggered emotions that he suppressed after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he was just 12 years old.

The prince, whose troubles with the royal family have been widely chronicled, said the impact of Diana’s death was never discussed.

The European Union (EU) will limit visas for people from Ethiopia. This is because the Ethiopian government hasn’t been helping take back citizens who stay in the EU illegally.

The EU Council announced this in a statement on Monday. Ethiopians won’t get visas for multiple entries anymore. Also, Ethiopians with diplomatic and service passports won’t have their visa fees waived.

Getting a visa will take longer too. It used to be 15 days, now it will be 45 days, the EU said.

Ethiopia hasn’t responded yet.

The EU decided this because they think Ethiopia isn’t doing enough to take back its citizens who stay illegally in the EU.

The EU says these restrictions won’t last forever, but they haven’t said when they’ll end.

The EU is dealing with a lot of people coming in from other countries. Last year, about 380,000 people came into the EU illegally. That’s the most since 2016.

African heads of state convened in Nairobi for the International Development Association (IDA) summit, with a focus on favorable lending terms and strategies to bolster sustainable development across the continent.

Established in 1960 as part of the World Bank, the IDA’s mission is to combat poverty by providing grants and low-interest loans to support programs that foster economic growth, reduce inequalities, and enhance living standards for people in developing nations.

During the summit, Kenya’s President William Ruto highlighted the significance of IDA’s rapid and decisive action during crises, emphasizing its distinctive approach compared to other funding sources. Ruto praised IDA’s demand-driven programs and concessional loans, which offer borrowing nations the opportunity to pursue long-term development strategies tailored to their specific needs.

With IDA disbursing a substantial $18 billion to African countries in the previous year alone, there’s a clear recognition among African leaders of the pivotal role the organization plays in driving development across the continent.

Dirk Reinermann, IDA’s Director of Resource Mobilization, underscored the organization’s commitment to expanding its resource disbursement efforts. Looking ahead to IDA21, Reinermann expressed a desire for even greater ambition, recognizing the significant challenges but also the immense opportunities present in Africa and beyond.

Currently, IDA operates projects in 75 countries, with a substantial 39 of those located in African states. This widespread presence underscores the organization’s dedication to addressing the diverse range of development needs across the continent.

The summit serves as a platform for African leaders to discuss strategies for maximizing the impact of IDA funding, ensuring that it is effectively utilized to drive sustainable economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve the lives of millions of people across Africa.

Namibian officials have expressed outrage after tourists were photographed posing naked at one of the country’s iconic attractions, the Big Daddy dune in the Namib Desert.

Visitors, who were appalled by the behavior, have called for action against the individuals involved. Unnamed foreigners involved in the incident may face consequences, including potential blacklisting from Namibia’s parks, according to a spokesperson from the tourism ministry.

Kenneth Nependa, vice-chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations, expressed dismay, stating that such behavior tarnishes Namibia’s reputation and could attract tourists with disrespectful attitudes.

“The actions observed are deeply concerning and reflect poorly on Namibia,” Mr. Nependa emphasized, highlighting that the Big Daddy dune is not only a tourist attraction but also a place for families to enjoy.

The identities of the tourists involved in the incident remain unknown, as do the individuals responsible for capturing the photos and video footage. Authorities have yet to respond to inquiries about the tourists’ identities.

Romeo Muyunda, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, condemned the behavior as “extremely shocking” and emphasized that it constitutes public indecency, punishable by Namibian law.

“Tourists must adhere to the laws and regulations of the places they visit,” Mr. Muyunda stressed, noting that the tourists had left the country before authorities could take action.

He urged Namibians to report violations of park regulations promptly to ensure swift enforcement.

However, some social media users have defended the tourists’ actions, arguing that sunbathing naked is harmless.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army of keeping two of its workers in custody, ignoring a court’s decision to set them free.

The employees were arrested last Friday by DR Congo’s military intelligence unit for allegedly lacking proper customs documents for valuable cargo, according to reports.

Despite KQ’s explanation that they didn’t accept the cargo due to incomplete paperwork, the military detained them until Tuesday.

Although a court ordered their release on Thursday for ongoing investigations, they’re still held without communication by the military intelligence unit.

KQ also reported that their phones were confiscated during the arrest. The content of the cargo remains unknown, and DR Congo authorities haven’t commented yet.

Burkina Faso suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio stations for their coverage of a report by Human Rights Watch on a mass killing of civilians carried out by the country’s armed forces.

Burkina Faso’s communication spokesperson, Tonssira Myrian Corine Sanou, said late that Thursday that both radio stations would be suspended for two weeks, and warned other media networks to avoid reporting on the story.

According to the report published by Human Rights Watch on Thursday, the army killed some 223 civilians, including 56 children, in villages accused of cooperating with militants. The report was widely covered by the international media, including the Associated Press.

“VOA stands by its reporting about Burkina Faso and intends to continue to fully and fairly cover activities in the country,” the network said in a news article reporting on its suspension.

The BBC did not respond to a request for comment.