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Category: Africa

  • Senegal, AU, Turkey, international community condemn Mali terrorist attacks

    Senegal, AU, Turkey, international community condemn Mali terrorist attacks

    DAKAR, Senegal(NPA) — Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has strongly condemned the coordinated terrorist attacks in the Republic of Mali carried out today by the Al-Qaeda–linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

    Fighting erupted in Bamako, Gao, Kidal, Sévaré, and around the Kati military base near the capital, with the FLA claiming to have seized control of Kidal.

    In a statement, President Faye expressed solidarity with Mali, noting: “In the face of the ordeal and widespread killings and destruction by the terrorists, the Senegalese people, and in my own name, stand firmly with the Malian Government, the Defense and Security Forces, and the entire Malian people.” He reiterated Senegal’s commitment to work alongside Mali and other countries in the sub-region toward restoring peace and security.

    As of the time of filing this report, Malian military authorities announced that the situation had been brought under control, describing the assault as the most coordinated attack against the government in years.

    The African Union has also condemned the attacks, warning they endanger civilians and undermine regional stability.

    Turkey and other international actors also issued strong condemnations, pledging solidarity with Mali. The U.S. Embassy in Mali advised citizens to shelter in place and avoid travel.

    Mali has faced persistent insecurity since 2012, with jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS operating alongside Tuareg separatists. The country’s military junta, led by Assimi Goïta, relies heavily on Russian-backed Africa Corps mercenaries after expelling French forces and UN peacekeepers.

    Today’s attacks in Mali were carried out by JNIM (Al-Qaeda affiliate) and Tuareg separatists (FLA), striking multiple cities including Bamako and Kidal. The violence has drawn widespread condemnation across Africa and internationally, underscoring the worsening instability in the Sahel.

  • NiDCOM urges Nigerians in South Africa to stay cautious as xenophobic unrest spreads

    NiDCOM urges Nigerians in South Africa to stay cautious as xenophobic unrest spreads

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Abike Dabiri, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has urged Nigerians in South Africa to adhere strictly to the advisory issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Johannesburg. She noted that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, has been engaging her South African counterpart on the matter. Dabiri also called on the African Union (AU) to intervene in what she described as “dastardly xenophobic attacks against blacks in South Africa.”

    The advisory, dated April 24, 2026, was signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit at NiDCOM. It follows a circular from the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg (Ref No: CGJHB/AD/209/VOL.1, April 22, 2026), which reported unrest in East London, Cape Town, Durban, and KwaZulu-Natal.

    NiDCOM advised Nigerians to avoid confrontation, refrain from unnecessary movements, monitor local media for updates, remain indoors, and stay away from business premises until April 28, 2026. The Commission stressed the importance of vigilance and adherence to safety guidelines during this period of heightened tension.

    On April 22, 2026, the Government of Ghana summoned the South African Ambassador to Accra over xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaians living in South Africa. The latest wave of violence has been widely condemned across Africa and internationally, with calls for stronger measures to protect foreign nationals.

    NiDCOM emphasized that the advisory is part of ongoing efforts to protect Nigerians abroad and ensure they remain informed about developments that may affect their safety.

    The Commission also encouraged Nigerians in South Africa to stay connected to official communication channels and report any incidents promptly, reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of citizens in the diaspora.

  • Kenyan Government, civil servants sign deal to boost healthcare access

    Kenyan Government, civil servants sign deal to boost healthcare access

    NAIROBI, Kenya (NPA) — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday chaired the signing of a Joint Communiqué between the government and civil servants, outlining measures to improve healthcare services for public officers under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF).

    The agreement provides for the immediate removal of the tariff-locking mechanism within the Social Health Authority (SHA) system to ease access challenges at the point of care. In the interim, contracted facilities are barred from charging civil servants out-of-pocket fees, with strict tariff provisions suspended pending nationwide negotiations.

    To address urgent cases, Duale announced the creation of a Joint Rapid Response Desk comprising SHA, the State Department for Public Service, and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS). The desk will coordinate the release of civil servants detained in health facilities and review unauthorized charges to facilitate refunds.

    Nationwide tariff negotiations for private and faith-based Level 3 to Level 6 facilities will begin on April 28, 2026, and are expected to conclude within four weeks. Duale emphasized that under the revised framework, the “walk-in, walk-out” principle will apply strictly, with no co-payments permitted. Facilities breaching contractual terms will face enforcement action, including de-contracting.

    SHA will maintain and regularly update a public list of approved facilities, strengthen accountability through claims audits, fraud detection, and performance monitoring, and expand regional sensitisation forums. The POMSF manual will also be updated and published to improve accessibility and understanding.

    The meeting was attended by Medical Services PS Dr. Ouma Oluga, UKCS Secretary General Lawrence Nyaguti, SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, Digital Health Agency CEO Eng. Anthony Lenayara, and other senior officials.

  • FG reaffirms commitment to Lagos–Abidjan corridor, raises design and funding challenges

    FG reaffirms commitment to Lagos–Abidjan corridor, raises design and funding challenges

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA)— The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the delivery of the 1,028-kilometre Lagos–Abidjan Corridor project, a flagship regional highway aimed at boosting trade and connectivity across West Africa, while flagging key design and funding concerns that must be resolved before full implementation.

    Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the assurance during a high-level meeting in Abuja with delegations from the ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank.

    The corridor, spanning five countries — Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria — is designed to link Abidjan to Lagos, forming a major transport backbone along the West African coast.

    According to a statement signed by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works (Media), Umahi said the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully committed to infrastructure development, describing the Lagos–Abidjan highway as a critical component of a broader network of strategic road projects across Nigeria and the region.

    He disclosed that Nigeria’s section of the corridor, estimated at about 79.5 kilometres, will be constructed using reinforced concrete technology with three lanes on each carriageway—exceeding the two-lane design proposed by ECOWAS.

    However, the minister raised concerns over unresolved technical and structural issues, including what he described as an unequal distribution of corridor length among participating countries and design elements that do not reflect on-ground realities.

    “On the engineering side, there are unresolved issues on the Lagos–Abidjan corridor. The distribution of corridor length across countries is unequal and can only be resolved at the level of heads of state,” Umahi said.

    He added that Nigeria is developing an alternative design model tailored to local conditions, expected to be completed within two weeks, incorporating existing infrastructure and practical implementation challenges.

    Umahi also stressed that decisions on financing frameworks must be agreed upon by heads of state before the project can proceed to procurement.

    “Once the design is finalized and approved, the funding model must be agreed at the highest political level. Until then, moving into procurement and financing is premature,” he stated.

    Despite the challenges, he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment, noting that the project would enhance regional trade and integration by linking national infrastructure systems across borders.

    Earlier, ECOWAS Director of Transport, Chris Appiah, said the visit formed part of ongoing consultations with member states to harmonize technical designs and address outstanding issues.

    On financing, the AfDB delegation, led by Salawou Mike Moukaila, described the corridor as a top priority, revealing that the bank is undertaking an identification mission across 25 countries to develop a financing framework.

    Moukaila noted growing interest from co-financiers globally, emphasizing that the bank is positioning itself to lead funding mobilization efforts for the project.

    He also underscored Nigeria’s strategic importance to the corridor, citing the country’s role as a major origin point for trade flows along the route.

    The AfDB delegation commended the Federal Government’s ongoing infrastructure drive, describing the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor as a “game changer” for regional connectivity across West, Central, and East Africa.

  • Ghana summons South African envoy as fresh xenophobic incidents rekindle fears of past attacks

    Ghana summons South African envoy as fresh xenophobic incidents rekindle fears of past attacks

    ACCRA, Ghana (NPA) — The Government of Ghana has summoned the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa over recent xenophobic incidents targeting foreign nationals, including Ghanaians.

    In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ghana, the envoy, Mr. Thando Dalamba, was invited by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to explain reported acts of intimidation and harassment captured in widely circulated videos.

    Ablakwa expressed strong concern over an incident in KwaZulu-Natal Province, where a Ghanaian resident was allegedly confronted and asked to prove his legal status before being told to leave the country. He described the development as a violation of the dignity and rights of law-abiding individuals.

    The minister warned of rising tensions, noting that some foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, have been advised to remain indoors for safety. While no casualties have been reported in the latest incidents, he cautioned that similar episodes in the past resulted in loss of lives and property.

    Reaffirming longstanding ties between both nations, Ablakwa recalled Ghana’s historic support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle and the contributions of Kwame Nkrumah to the country’s liberation.

    He stressed that attacks on foreign nationals undermine African unity and called for immediate measures to ensure the safety of Ghanaians, prevent escalation, and guarantee that such incidents do not recur.

    In response, the South African envoy acknowledged the concerns and said authorities in Pretoria are monitoring the situation closely, with efforts underway to restore calm and hold perpetrators accountable.

    South Africa has experienced several waves of xenophobic violence in the past, notably in 2008, 2015 and 2019, when attacks on foreign nationals led to deaths, displacement and destruction of businesses. These incidents have drawn widespread condemnation across Africa and prompted repeated calls for stronger protections for migrants and foreign residents.

    The ministry reiterated its commitment to protecting Ghanaian citizens abroad and pledged continued engagement with relevant authorities to safeguard their welfare.

  • ECOWAS strengthens regional creative industries at MASA 2026

    ECOWAS strengthens regional creative industries at MASA 2026

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting culture as a tool for regional integration and sustainable development through its participation in the 14th edition of the Abidjan Performing Arts Market (MASA), held from April 11 to 18, 2026.

    The eight-day event, themed “Performing Arts in Africa: A Tool for Economic and Social Integration,” showcased diverse cultural and creative performances and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé at the Palace of Culture.

    MASA, held biennially, serves as a strategic platform for showcasing African performing arts, fostering professional exchanges, artistic excellence, and market access for cultural actors. ECOWAS’s participation aligns with its vision to harness culture for regional cohesion, increase visibility of its programs, and support the development of creative industries in West Africa.

    Economists have long highlighted the creative economy’s importance to West Africa’s growth. In Nigeria, the sector contributes approximately $1.8 billion to GDP and is a leading job creator, employing millions across music, film, fashion, and digital arts. Nollywood alone produces over 2,500 films annually, while Afrobeats continues to dominate global music charts.

    Despite its successes, the sector faces challenges including inadequate infrastructure, poor training academies, and limited access to financing. Analysts argue that addressing these gaps is essential to unlocking the full potential of the creative economy.

    ECOWAS’s involvement in MASA 2026 underscores its determination to strengthen regional creative industries, positioning culture not only as an engine of economic growth but also as a driver of social integration and sustainable development across West Africa.

  • Extreme heat threatens global agrifood systems, FAO-WMO Warn

    Extreme heat threatens global agrifood systems, FAO-WMO Warn

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — Extreme heat events are pushing agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods, health, and productivity of more than a billion people, according to a new joint report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

    The report, Extreme Heat and Agriculture, launched on Earth Day, warns that rising temperatures are exerting mounting pressure on crops, livestock, fisheries, forests, and the communities that depend on them. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu described extreme heat as a “major risk multiplier,” stressing its compounding effects on agrifood systems. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo added that extreme heat is no longer an isolated climatic hazard but a defining condition for agriculture, noting that early warnings and climate services are vital to adaptation.

    The report outlines how extreme heat affects plants, animals, fish, and humans. For livestock, stress begins at temperatures above 25°C, with chickens and pigs particularly vulnerable. Fish are also at risk, suffering cardiac failure in overheated waters with reduced oxygen levels.

    WMO’s State of the Global Climate 2025 found that more than 90 percent of the global ocean experienced at least one marine heatwave last year. For crops, yield declines typically begin above 30°C, with sensitive crops such as potatoes and barley affected at even lower thresholds. Heat waves also correlate strongly with wildfires, extending fire seasons and intensifying their impacts.

    Human labour is equally endangered. Agricultural workers face rising health risks and productivity losses, with the report warning that in regions such as South Asia, tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Central and South America, the number of days too hot to work could rise to 250 annually.

    The danger of extreme heat lies not only in direct impacts but also in its role as a risk multiplier, exacerbating water stress, triggering flash droughts, fueling wildfires, and fostering the spread of pests and diseases.

    To counter these threats, the FAO-WMO report calls for innovation and adaptive measures. Recommendations include selective breeding of heat-resistant livestock, crop choices adjusted to new climate realities, shifting planting windows, and altering management practices to shield crops and agricultural activities.

    Early warning systems are emphasised as critical tools to help farmers prepare for extreme heat, while access to financial services such as cash transfers, insurance, and social protection schemes is highlighted as essential to recovery.

    The report urges governments and international institutions to strengthen resilience at both farm and systemic levels. It calls for collective political will to share risks and transition decisively away from high-emission futures. “Protecting the future of agriculture and ensuring global food security will require not only building on-farm resilience but also exercising international solidarity and collective political will for risk sharing, and a decisive transition away from a high-emissions future,” the report concludes.

    Released on Earth Day, the findings establishes the interconnectedness of climate change, food security, and ecosystem health. With extreme heat already reshaping the conditions under which agriculture operates, FAO and WMO stress that adaptation is not optional but essential to sustaining food production and protecting vulnerable populations.

  • Ramaphosa mourns South African legal icon Justice Jappie

    Ramaphosa mourns South African legal icon Justice Jappie

    PRETORIA, South Africa (NPA) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and associates of Achmat Naeem Jappie, former Judge President of KwaZulu‑Natal, who has died at the age of 70.

    Ramaphosa described Justice Jappie as a distinguished jurist and a longstanding champion of justice whose contributions enriched South African jurisprudence and strengthened the administration of the courts.

    The President noted that Jappie’s service extended beyond the bench, including his work on tribunals addressing judicial conduct and other national assignments. “During his 28 years as a judge, Justice Jappie entrenched the rule of law, ensured that the law protected the interests and dignity of those who deserved relief, and that those who breached the law felt the consequences of their actions or attitudes,” Ramaphosa said.

    He added that the nation deeply appreciates Jappie’s dedication to justice and his legacy of fairness and integrity. Concluding his tribute, the President prayed: “May Allah have mercy on him.”

    Justice Jappie’s passing has been described as a profound loss to South Africa’s legal community and the nation at large, marking the end of a career defined by service, principle, and commitment to the rule of law.

  • Three years of war in Sudan, EU calls for immediate ceasefire

    Three years of war in Sudan, EU calls for immediate ceasefire

    AFRICA/INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — The European Union has renewed its call for peace in Sudan as the country enters its third year of war, warning that the conflict continues to devastate lives and undermine the aspirations of the 2018/19 revolution.

    In a statement on 21 April 2026, the EU High Representative reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, rejecting unilateral attempts to establish parallel governance that could risk partition. Preventing escalation into a full‑scale regional war, the EU stressed, remains paramount.

    The statement highlighted the Sudan Conference in Berlin held on 15 April, which demonstrated international resolve to pressure the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and affiliated militias to end hostilities.

    Recalling the October 2025 Council Conclusions, the EU urged all actors to engage in negotiations towards an immediate and lasting ceasefire. It expressed readiness to support credible peace initiatives, including international monitoring mechanisms, and called on external actors to stop fuelling the war.

    Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is worsening, with civilians targeted, famine conditions persisting, and mass displacement destabilising communities and the wider region. The EU condemned attacks on civilians, healthcare facilities, aid workers, and humanitarian convoys, stressing that obstruction of relief efforts may constitute war crimes.

    At the Berlin Conference, donors pledged €1.5 billion in aid, including €812 million from the EU and its Member States, to support humanitarian response and protect critical infrastructure.

    The EU also denounced grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including systematic sexual and gender‑based violence, with rape used as a weapon of war. It pledged support for accountability mechanisms such as the UN Fact‑Finding Mission and the ICC, noting that sanctions targeting the war economy remain under consideration.

    Reaffirming support for Sudanese aspirations for democratic governance, the EU welcomed the Joint Call to End the War and Advance a Sudanese‑Owned Political Process, agreed by civilian actors at the Berlin Conference under the AU‑led Quintet. The statement concluded: “It is long overdue to bring this devastating conflict to an end.”

  • AU Deputy Chairperson Haddadi urges paradigm shift in global cooperation at WBG/IMF Spring Meetings

    AU Deputy Chairperson Haddadi urges paradigm shift in global cooperation at WBG/IMF Spring Meetings

    INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — The African Union Commission (AUC) has urged a fundamental shift in multilateral cooperation to support job creation and economic transformation across the continent.

    Speaking at the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund during the 2026 Spring Meetings in Washington, AUC Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi stressed that Africa’s demographic strength must be harnessed through deliberate action to create more and better‑paid jobs.

    “For Africa, this is not an abstract policy question. It is an urgent development, economic, and stability imperative,” Haddadi said. She emphasised that Africa’s greatest asset is its people, particularly youth and women, but warned that prosperity will only be realised if enabling conditions are created.

    The Deputy Chairperson welcomed the World Bank report’s central message that job creation requires deliberate investment in infrastructure, digital public systems, skills development, institutional strengthening, regulatory certainty, and private sector growth. “Job creation does not happen by chance, but requires deliberate action to build the right enabling environment,” she noted.

    Haddadi, however, criticised the current multilateral system, saying it has not consistently provided the robust and predictable support needed for Africa’s transformation. “Too often, support remains fragmented, reactive, and insufficiently aligned with regional and continental development priorities and opportunities,” she said.

    She pointed to frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as evidence of Africa’s political resolve and institutional capacity to drive reforms. Member States, she added, are undertaking difficult reforms to strengthen competitiveness, enterprise, and employment.

    The AU–World Bank partnership, Haddadi said, has elevated the conversation by linking jobs more clearly to infrastructure, energy, trade, skills, industrialisation, and financial inclusion. What is now required, she argued, is a paradigm shift: “From fragmented initiatives to coordinated delivery, from short‑term interventions to long‑term transformation, and from dialogue to implementation at scale.”

    In closing, Haddadi underscored that job creation is central to Africa’s future. “Creating the enabling environment for more and better‑paid jobs is not peripheral to Africa’s future. It is central to resilience, dignity, and shared prosperity,” she said.