Ruling on Belgium’s Colonialism in Africa Paves Way for Wider Justice

By Al Mayadeen English

13 Jan 2025 12:06

Activists say that the verdict on crimes against humanity for the abduction of mixed-race children could open the door to broader accountability.

A historic court ruling in Belgium, which found the country guilty of crimes against humanity for its colonial actions in central Africa, has been seen as a pivotal moment that could lead to compensation and further justice, The Guardian reported.

Belgium’s court of appeal recently ruled that the “systematic kidnapping” of mixed-race children from their African mothers in Belgian-controlled Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi between 1948 and 1953 was a crime against humanity.

The case was filed by five women, who were taken from their Congolese mothers as young children and now live in Belgium and France, each receiving €50,000 in damages.

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The policy, which affected thousands of metis—children of African mothers and European fathers—was driven by Belgium’s imperialist belief in white supremacy.

Many of these children were moved far from their mothers and placed in indifferent religious institutions with poor conditions and minimal education.

Francois Milliex, president of the Association of Métis of Belgium, said as quoted by The Guardian that the ruling "surely opens the door" for those seeking compensation for being separated from their parents.

Michele Hirsch, the lawyer for the five women, agreed that the decision could lead to reparations for others in similar circumstances but warned, "I think we are going to have to fight for it to happen."

Sierra Leone Declares Emergency After Confirming 2nd Mpox Case in 4 Days

By KEMO CHAM and WILSON MCMAKIN

4:47 PM EST, January 13, 2025

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency Monday after the country reported its second case of mpox in less than four days, health authorities said.

Neither case had known recent contact with infected animals or other sick individuals, the health ministry said. Only the first case involved recent travel, limited to the airport town of Lungi in the northern Port Loko District between Dec. 26 and Jan. 6th. Both patients are receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital, Freetown.

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified by scientists in 1958 when outbreaks of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys occurred. Until recently, most human cases were seen in people in central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals.

In 2022, the virus was confirmed to spread via sex for the first time and triggered outbreaks in more than 70 countries across the world that had not previously reported mpox. The Congo has borne the brunt of the epidemic, with a vast majority of the roughly 43,000 suspected cases and 1,000 deaths in Africa this year.

Sierra Leone was previously the epicenter of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the deadliest in history. The outbreak, primarily concentrated in West Africa, affected Sierra Leone the most, with nearly 4,000 deaths out of the more than 11,000 recorded globally. The country also lost 7% of its healthcare workforce to the outbreak.

DR Congo Says Several Towns Recaptured from Rebels While Fighting Intensifies in its East

Democratic Republic of Congo Defence Forces gather in the North Kivu province village of Mukondi, on March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Socrate Mumbere, File)

By JUSTIN KATUMWA

2:31 AM EST, January 13, 2025

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Several towns that fell to armed groups in eastern Congo’s North Kivu and South Kivu provinces have been recaptured by government forces, a Congolese army spokesman said, even as the rebels have made advances in other areas amid intensified fighting in the conflict-battered region.

Eastern Congo has been in conflict for decades with more than 100 armed groups, most of which are vying for territory in the vast and mineral-rich region near the border with Rwanda. The conflict has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises with more than 7 million people displaced, including 100,000 who have fled their homes this year.

The Congolese army said some of the recovered towns have been occupied by rebels for months, including Ngungu, a key town in the Masisi territory that is near the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma. Some Masisi villages, however, remain under the control of rebels, including its center known as the Masisi Center.

“They (the rebels) have seen their adventure come to a halt by the FARDC (Congolese security forces),” Guillaume Ndjike Kaiko, army spokesman in North Kivu, told reporters, listing other recovered towns as Lumbishi, Ruzirantaka, Kamatale, Bitagata and Kabingo.

“All over there, they have been pushed back,” Kaiko said Sunday, attributing the victories to a joint military operation led by the commanders of the two provinces.

The news of the recovered towns brought mixed feelings among villages that had fled the areas. They worried for their safety as they celebrated their return home.

“We are in Ngungu … but we continue to suffer because the security is not well established,” said Nsabimana Alexis, a resident. “People continue to die, we just buried a person 30 minutes ago,” he said.

Frequent clashes between the Congolese forces and the rebels have made dozens of villages inaccessible and out of the reach of aid. The most dominant rebel group in the region has been the M23 rebel group, which the Congolese government and United Nations experts say is being backed by neighboring Rwanda. Rwanda denies this.

In Masisi, displaced camps and aid facilities are being overstretched as more people try to seek refuge from the violence, French charity Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, has said.

“We are doing our best to respond to this situation. But the severe lack of humanitarian responders in the area is making things difficult,” said Romain Briey, the MSF coordinator in Masisi.

ANC Pledges to Rebuild

Ramaphosa was delivering the ANC NEC’s January 8 statement on Saturday, where he touched on a range of issues, from unemployment to the party’s alliance partners.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa delivering the party’s January 8 statement at the Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on 11 January 2024. Picture: X/MYANC

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa has reflected on the African National Congress (ANC)’s disappointing electoral showing in 2024, saying the party’s branches are all but dead.  

Ramaphosa was delivering the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC)’s January 8 statement on Saturday, where he touched on a range of issues, from unemployment to the party’s alliance partners.  

Ramaphosa told supporters in Khayelitsha that the party is experiencing a resurgence of support despite its electoral setback.  

The ANC president said the party is confident about returning as the majority party in the next election cycle.  

However, Ramaphosa also did some introspection on 2024’s national elections, where the party lost its majority, forcing it to join forces with nine other political parties to form the Government of National Unity (GNU).  

He said they lost because of a combination of reasons, such as poor service delivery and organisational challenges, like weak branches.  

Ramaphosa said the ANC, in the meantime, will continue to work closely with other political parties in the GNU, even those they have ideological differences with.

January 8 Wrap: Ramaphosa Says ANC Aiming to ‘Renew and Rebuild’

Delivering the party’s annual January 8th statement, Ramaphosa said the party faced an existential crisis after its poor showing at the ballot box last year.

ANC leaders at the party's annual January 8th statement address, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, 11 January 2025. Picture: X/@MYANC

CAPE TOWN - Renew or perish. That’s the stern warning issued by African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa as he wrapped up the party’s week-long birthday celebrations in the Western Cape on Saturday.

Delivering the party’s annual January 8th statement, Ramaphosa said the party faced an existential crisis after its poor showing at the ballot box last year.

He outlined six key priorities for this party in 2025, saying the ANC’s coalition with nine other parties was a tactical decision to deliver on the party’s 2024 manifesto that couldn’t get it over the 50% mark.

In a 100-minute-long speech delivered in the ANC’s Western Cape stronghold of Khayelitsha, party Ramaphosa reflected on the importance of the tripartite alliance, the non-threat of breakaway factions, and its coalition of convenience - the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Above all, Ramaphosa stressed the ongoing renewal and rebuilding of the party if it’s going to return to govern without partners.

"We aim to renew and rebuild the ANC so that it can provide decisive and ethical leadership in the resolution of the country’s problems."

Ramaphosa also listed fixing local government, economic growth and job creation, fighting crime, a national dialogue, and international justice as among the party’s top priorities.

"The ANC National General Council that will be held later this year will be an important forum for strategic assessment of the balance of forces, both globally and domestically."

The January 8th statement has now set the tone for the State of the Nation Address, which Ramaphosa will deliver in less than a month to mark the start of the parliamentary year.

Ramaphosa Says Tripartite Alliance Must Remain United

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the alliance should be united especially now that the ANC has lost its outright majority.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa delivering the January 8 statement in Khayelitsha on 11 January 2025. Picture: X/@MYANC

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the African National Congress (ANC)'s tripartite alliance remains a "proven vehicle" to uplift the majority of South Africans.

Ramaphosa said that the alliance should be united especially now that the ANC has lost its outright majority.

The president told the ANC's 113th birthday celebrations in Khayelitsha on Saturday that the party's alliance with the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), was the best example of strategic unity in the world.

Ramaphosa told supporters that the ANC has celebrated several victories over the years through the alliance.

Ramaphosa said that the ANC-led alliance championed the party’s key objectives like building an inclusive and thriving economy.

"The alliance remains the proven vehicle to uplift the working class and the poor."

He said the ANC can't afford a split alliance.

"It is therefore important that this alliance must remain united."

In its message of support, alliance partner COSATU said it was the struggle led by the ANC that ensured that 60% of the government’s budget was invested in working-class communities.

DBE Insists Teaching and Learning Will Not be Disrupted Despite Looming Teacher Job Cuts

Over 16,000 teachers nationwide face job losses this year, following the National Treasury's budget reductions. 

Picture: © teka77/123rf.com

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Basic Education (DBE) insists teaching and learning will not be disrupted despite impending job cuts. 

Over 16,000 teachers nationwide face job losses this year, following the National Treasury's budget reductions. 

Activists and unions have raised the alarm, saying the cuts will affect thousands of teachers who have devoted their careers to educating the youth. 

A massive R3.8 billion budget shortfall threatens thousands of teaching jobs, including 11, 000 in Kwazulu-Natal, 3,400 in Gauteng, and over 2, 000 in the Western Cape. 

This has sparked questions about the department’s ability to deliver quality education and prepare a skilled youth workforce. 

However, Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule reassured parents and learners, saying the impact would be minimal. 

"Budget cuts, it is in the person. The commitment and dedication by the teachers. Some of our teachers most of the time, they say I don’t need a classroom. I need learners."

Mhaule believes that the resilience and dedication of teachers will mitigate the effects of the cuts, as they have done in the past. 

Matric Class of 2024 Achieves SA's Highest-ever Pass Rate

The cohort's pass mark is an increase from the 2023 mark of 82.

Siviwe Gwarube

Educations officials attend the announcement of the 2024 matric results on 13 January 2025. Picture: @EducationGP1/X

RANDBURG - The matric class of 2024 has achieved an overall pass mark of 87.3%, making it the highest pass rate ever achieved in the country.

Last year's class, which began their high school career at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic had to contend with a trimmed curriculum, online teaching and increased health risks.

Nearly one million pupils, full-time and part-time, sat for the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations.

The cohort's pass mark is an increase from the 2023 mark of 82.9%. 

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube praised the matrics of 2024, wishing them the best for the future.

"For 2024, the NSC has therefore increased from 82.9 % in 2023 to 87.3% in 2024. This is the highest matric pass rate in the history of our country."

Nine Bodies Retrieved in Stilfontein as Phase 3 Rescue Mission Continues

Phase 3 of the official rescue operation kicked off on Monday after a cage was sent down the shaft to retrieve illegal miners underground.

A cage set to retrieve hundreds of illegal miners from an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein has been assembled. Picture: Nokukhanya Mntambo/EWN

STILFONTEIN -The bodies of nine more illegal miners have been retrieved from an abandoned mine in Stilfontein as rescue experts begin work to clear a shaft occupied by illegal miners known as zama zamas. 

Phase 3 of the official rescue operation kicked off on Monday after a cage was sent down the shaft to retrieve illegal miners underground. 

This is the final stage of the protracted rescue mission expected to bring hundreds of zama zamas back to the surface as law enforcement clamps down on illegal mining in the area. 

It's taken two months to get phase three of the rescue operation in Stilfontein going after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu appointed a task team to retrieve illegal miners at the old Buffelsfontein gold mine.

The 12-million operation is the first of its kind. 

Technical teams are now expected to spend the next two weeks at the site where a winder will drop a cage into the 2.5 km deep shaft to retrieve half a dozen illegal miners at a time. 

The cage is expected to go down every hour between 6am and 6pm. 

While a community leader has volunteered to be in the cage when it's hoisted down the shaft, no other community intervention or humanitarian aid can be sent down to the illegal miners during this time. 

So far, nine of the dead bodies seen in a video taken underground have been retrieved. 

Twenty-six illegal miners were also rescued on Monday. 

Operations are set to resume on Tuesday. 

At Least 100 Illegal Miners Have Died While Trapped in a South African Mine for Months, Group Says

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and GERALD IMRAY

4:52 PM EST, January 13, 2025

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least 100 men who were mining illegally in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa have died of suspected starvation and dehydration after being trapped deep underground for months while police tried to force them out, a group representing the miners said Monday.

More than 500 others are still trapped, the group said.

Sabelo Mnguni, a spokesman for the Mining Affected Communities United in Action Group, told The Associated Press that a cellphone sent to the surface with some rescued miners on Friday had two videos on it showing dozens of bodies underground wrapped in plastic.

Mnguni said “a minimum” of 100 men had died in the mine in North West province where police first launched an operation in November to force the miners out. They were suspected to have starved to death or died of dehydration, Mnguni said. He said 18 bodies have been brought out since Friday.

Nine of those bodies were recovered in a community-led operation on Friday, he said. Another nine were recovered in an official rescue operation by authorities on Monday, when 26 survivors were also brought out, Mnguni said.

Police spokesperson Brig. Sebata Mokgwabone said they were still verifying information on how many bodies had been recovered and how many survivors brought out after starting a new rescue operation on Monday. Authorities now hope to bring all of the miners out, they said.

Illegal mining is common in parts of gold-rich South Africa where companies close down mines that are no longer profitable, leaving groups of informal miners to illegally enter them to try and find leftover deposits.

The mine in question near the town of Stilfontein southwest of Johannesburg has been the scene of a standoff between police and miners since authorities first attempted to get the miners out and seal the mine two months ago. Police said the miners were refusing to come out of the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine for fear of arrest, but Mnguni said they had been left trapped underground after police removed the ropes they used to climb into and out of the mine.

Police also cut off the miners’ food supplies in an attempt to force them out, an action that was fiercely criticized by Mnguni’s organization, which is known as MACUA, and others. MACUA won a court case in December that ordered police and provincial authorities to allow food, water and medicine to be sent down to the miners.

The South African government also came under scrutiny last year when it refused to help the miners.

The cellphone videos purportedly from the depths of the mine and released publicly by Mnguni’s group show dozens of what appear to be dead bodies wrapped in plastic lying in darkened tunnels. A man filming on the phone in one of the videos can be heard saying, “this is hunger. People are dying because of hunger” as he records emaciated-looking men sitting on the damp floor of the mine. He adds: “Please help us. Bring us food or take us out.”

Mnguni said that the more than 500 miners still underground were in different places in the mine, which is one of the deepest in South Africa at 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) deep and has multiple shafts, many levels and is a maze of tunnels, he said. He said a preliminary autopsy report on a body that was previously brought out of the mine showed the man had died of starvation.

“What we understand is that there are different groups of miners underground and all of them have miners who have died,” Mnguni said. “So, we are estimating that the number of those who have died is very high.”

Large groups of illegal miners often go underground for months to maximize their profits, taking food, water, generators and other equipment with them, but also relying on others in their group on the surface to send down more supplies.

Mnguni said the miners who had previously managed to make it out had sometimes crawled through tunnels for 3-4 days risking their lives to make it to another shaft where they could escape.

Police have said they are uncertain exactly how many illegal miners remain underground, but also say it’s likely to be hundreds.

They said that delegations from the ministry of police and ministry of mineral resources would visit the mine on Tuesday “following the commencement of operations aimed at ensuring that all illegal miners resurface.” The operation to force the miners out of the Buffelsfontein mine that started last year was part of a larger one that resulted in more than 1,500 illegal miners surfacing from mines and being arrested across the North West province, police said.

South African authorities have long tried to crack down on illegal mining gangs, which are known as “zama zamas” — which means “hustlers” in the Zulu language — and have a reputation for being violent, often armed and part of criminal syndicates.

But Mnguni said these particular miners were not criminals but former mine employees who had been put out of work when mines closed and were left desperate.

“The miners go back to the mine because they live in poverty,” he said.

___

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa.

Sudanese Army Advances to Al-Jazirah Capital Amid Clashes with RSF

By Al Mayadeen English

11 Jan 2025 22:12

The Sudanese Armed Forces are inflicting significant losses on their adversaries as they make their way to Wed Madani.

The Sudanese Armed Forces announced advancements toward Wed Madani, the capital of the Al-Jazirah province. 

"The armed forces are advancing toward Wed Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah province, forcing the militia groups to suffer significant losses," the Sudanese army reported in a post on social media. 

Sudan has experienced escalating conflicts between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023.

Informed sources previously revealed to the Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that the UN envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, had begun arranging to send invitations to the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces to resume indirect talks in the Swiss city of Geneva in January. 

Sources said the group "Allied to Save Lives and Achieve Peace in Sudan" (ALPS) participated in recent days in new consultations with actors in Sudanese civil society to get their visions and observations and present them within the agenda of the upcoming talks.

The sources quoted Lamamra as saying that "the Rapid Support Forces agreed to resume the talks, while the army expressed a semi-initial approval to participate, without any official confirmation from its side so far," explaining that the UN special envoy "will personally lead the talks between the two parties to reach a binding agreement regarding the protection of civilians, which may open the door to understandings on other issues regarding hostilities," according to his expression.

According to the sources, the upcoming round of talks in January will focus on the issue of protecting civilians, through “agreeing on measures to cease hostilities at the national level as an entry point to a ceasefire,” according to what the sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Jubilation After Sudanese Army Retakes Strategic City Near Khartoum

13 January 2025

allAfrica.com

Widespread celebrations were reported on Sunday in Wad Madani, a regional capital on the Blue Nile River about 85 miles/135 kilometers southeast of the capital Khartoum, following the retaking of the city by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The army has been making steady advances in the area in recent weeks.

"Wad Madani holds immense strategic importance, positioned at the crossroads of key supply routes between several states and serving as the nearest major city to Khartoum" reports Radio Dabanga, an independent news agency broadcasting via satellite, shortwave radio and the internet. "The capital remains a focal point of the conflict, with fierce fighting continuing since the war erupted in April 2023."

Mohamed 'Hemedti' Dagalo, commander of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which international organizations have accused of genocide across Sudan's Darfur region, acknowledged the setback but vowed to step up the fighting to recapture lost ground. RSF has controlled the city since December 2023.

Sudanese organizations, as well as international diplomats, emphasize that both rival forces are motivated by a lust for power and are vying for Sudan's resources, including gold. Both have participated in blocking essential food and medical aid and to the dire conditions that make Sudan the world's largest humanitarian disaster.

The Al Jazirah Monitor, a Sudanese human rights group, reported that the army freed a large number of prisoners in appalling condition after they were denied access to food and medical treatment during their detention. The SAF made further advances towards Khartoum on Sunday, according to reporting by Sudan Tribune.

Wad Madani is "vitally important", Mohanad Elbalal, Sudanese analyst and co-founder of Khartoum Kitchen said in a series of posts on the social media platform X, explaining "why the exuberant celebrations you are seeing across Sudan are justified" - despite the reality that the Sudanese army has also perpetrated widespread human rights abuses, according to multiple observers.

The Wad Madani city locality is ordinarily home to 700,000 people. Its liberation is a huge deal for its people, of course, but its strategic importance means today's liberation is significant for the entirety of the 50 million people who live in Sudan. Wad Madani isn't just the capital of Gezira State, it's the HQ for administering the Gezira Scheme which is the backbone of Sudan's agricultural sector.

RSF control of Gezira State led to the first comprehensive failure of the farming scheme since it was established a century ago. The liberation of Wad Madani and the prospect of getting the scheme back operating will have a significant impact for a Country facing the real prospect of wide scale famine.

Wad Madani is also the base of the Army's 1st infantry division. The division is responsible for securing Al Gezira, which is the 2nd most populous state in Sudan with 6 million+ residents also happens to be one of the smallest Army divisions and least battle prepared.

The reason for this Is due to the fact that Al Gezira has no international borders and as the heart of the historically stable Central Sudan region it was never prioritised. This led to the calamity almost a year ago where the RSF were able to capture the base as well as the city and with it the majority of Gezira State in a very short period of time. The re-enforced army that has retaken Wad Madani will now be in a strong position to rapidly retake ground across Al Gezira.

A final and very important reason is logistics, both military and civilian. The Sudanese highway network passes through Wad Madani. For the Army to be able to project power in Western Sudan and compete with the UAE arms supply route via Darfur, it needed first to reestablish a supply route into Kordufan (Western Sudan) which the RSF until recently had been able to choke off at Wad Madani.

The 5th Army division based in North Kordufan is widely considered to be the most capable division in the Sudanese Army but up until recently has only been able to exert control over its base city of El Obeid because there was no effective way of supplying it. If the Army supply lines reach El Obeid, then the 5th infantry division will be able to project control over the wider surrounding area. The reconnection of the National highway at Wad Madani will also help reduce transport costs and help facilitate trade.

To sum up the majority of the 6 million residents of Al Gezira are likely to be liberated as a result of the Army entering Wad Madani.  The restarting of the Gezira will help mitigate the acute hunger crisis currently being experienced in Sudan.

And lastly control of the logistic choke point of Wad Madani will allow the Army to project its force into Western Sudan where the RSF militia currently has the logistical upper hand.

According to reporting from Wad Mahani following the SAF takeover, a warehouse was found in the city with a large cache of ammunition and missiles from the United Arab Emirates, which is widely regarded as the chief RSF backer. Last week, the U.S. government announced sanctions against UAE companies accused of procuring arms for RAF and also sanctioned the RSF leader,

HOW TO HELP

Khartoum Kitchen, a non-profit initiative helping to feed families in need. Donations though Go Fund Me,  have enabled the group to "massively scale up our work on the ground", according to a January 10th update from Mustafa Ibrahim. "We now have 17 kitchens" - 12 directly run by the organisation and five by partners.

AllAfrica's reporting on peacebuilding in Africa is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. 

Iconic Soul Singer Sam Moore of Sam & Dave Dies at 89

FILE - Sam and Dave were a famous Soul music act introduced by Stax Records in the mid-1960s.

By Dominic Wabwireh with AP

11/01 - 15:14

Sam Moore, the iconic half of the legendary 1960s duo Sam & Dave, known for timeless classics like “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” has passed away at the age of 89.

His publicist, Jeremy Westby, confirmed that Moore died on Friday morning in Coral Gables, Florida, following complications from surgery.

Further details have not yet been released.

Moore's influence reached far and wide, inspiring artists such as Michael Jackson, Al Green, and Bruce Springsteen.

In 1992, he and his partner Dave Prater were honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

At Stax Records in Memphis, they were celebrated as one of the label's standout acts, second only to the legendary Otis Redding.

Guinea Opposition Expressed Doubt Over Election

Soldiers guard the venue of a meeting between leaders of political parties and military junta Col. Mamady Doumbouya, in Conakry, Guinea Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021.

By Dominic Wabwireh with AP

The Guinean government's spokesperson announced that the presidential election might occur before the close of 2025.

Initially, the junta had pledged to transfer power to elected officials by the end of 2024 due to international pressure, but they have failed to fulfill that promise.

Ousmane Gaoual Diallo indicated that either a presidential or legislative election could be scheduled for October, following a referendum to establish a new constitution, which is expected to take place in May.

But Siaka BARRY, President of the MPDG Party - who spoke to Africanews has no confident in the Junta government.

"Now, when we ask whether we believe in the new promises of the junta, you know, to believe or not to believe, it’s all a matter of trust. But I can assure you today that trust is broken. Trust is broken between all political actors and the junta, between all political actors and the government. Trust is broken," he said.

General Mamadi Doumbouya, the leader of the junta, expressed in his New Year’s message that 2025 would be a pivotal year for elections aimed at restoring constitutional order.

However, the authorities have yet to outline a specific timeline for this process.

Mr. Diallo, along with other close supporters of Doumbouya, is advocating for him to enter the presidential race, even though Doumbouya has consistently declared his intention not to run.

Benin Suffers Heavy Losses in Deadly Border Attack

FILE-A police officer and a soldier from Benin stop a motorcyclist at a checkpoint outside Porga, Benin, March 26, 2022.

Africa News

 10/01 - 16:43

Benin's military has suffered significant casualties in a deadly attack near the insurgency-hit borders with Niger and Burkina Faso, officials have confirmed.

Colonel Faizou Gomina, chief of staff for the National Guard, described the Wednesday evening assault on one of the country's most fortified military positions as a "very hard blow."

While the perpetrators remain unidentified, Benin has faced increasing attacks in its northern region, often linked to jihadist groups from neighbouring countries. A security source told AFP that 28 soldiers were killed, while the opposition party, The Democrats, claimed the death toll reached 30.

In response, military operations are underway, with reports that 40 attackers have been neutralized so far.

Col Gomina urged military leaders to rethink strategies to address the growing security challenges. "Wake up, officers and section chiefs, we have battles to win," he said.

Since 2021, more than 120 Beninese soldiers have lost their lives in the region, with jihadist activity continuing to pose a significant threat. Last month, gunmen killed three soldiers and injured four others guarding an oil pipeline in the northeast.

In 2022, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 troops to its northern border to curb cross-border incursions, but the latest attack underscores the persistent danger in the region.

An Austrian Woman Has Been Kidnapped in Niger’s Agadez City, Authorities Say

3:47 PM EST, January 12, 2025

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — An Austrian woman has been kidnapped by gunmen in Niger’s Agadez city, local residents and the Austrian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, the first time a European citizen is known to have been kidnapped in the conflict-hit West African nation since a military junta took power in 2023.

The ministry said Austria’s embassy in Algeria, which is also responsible for Niger, had been informed of the kidnap of an Austrian woman in Agadez and was in contact with regional authorities on the ground.

Residents and local media identified the victim as Eva Gretzmacher and reported she is an aid worker who has lived in Agadez — hundreds of kilometers (miles) away from the capital city of Niamey — for more than 20 years.

“(She) is well known for her social commitment (and) created a skills center in 2010 that initiated various projects, notably in the fields of education, women’s empowerment, ecology, culture and art,” the local Air Info Agadez reported.

Gretzmacher also supported education programs through her development work and provided assistance to local non-government organizations in various sectors, local media said.

No group claimed responsibility for her abduction and authorities in Niger did not immediately comment on the incident.

Niger has for many years battled a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a security crisis that analysts say has worsened since the military toppled the country’s government in July 2023. Despite their promise to restore peace in hot spots, the junta’s capacity to improve Niger’s security has increasingly been questioned amid increasing attacks.

Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries in Africa’s Sahel region that Western nations could partner with to beat back the jihadi insurgency in the vast expanse below the Sahara Desert. The country has severed decadeslong military ties with the West and turned to Russia as a new security partner.

Chad’s Ruling Party Wins Majority in Parliamentary Election Boycotted by Main Opposition

By MOUTA ALI

6:05 AM EST, January 12, 2025

N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Chad’s ruling party took the majority of votes in last month’s parliamentary election, which was boycotted by the main opposition and which analysts had said would consolidate the president’s political power, provisional results show.

In what was the first parliamentary election in Chad in more than a decade, the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement party won 124 out of 188 seats, while the voter turnout was 51.5%, according to the provisional results announced late Saturday by Ahmed Bartchiret, head of the electoral commission.

The parliamentary election, which also included regional and municipal elections, was the last stage of the country’s transition to democracy after Mahamat Idriss Deby took power as a military ruler in 2021. The takeover followed the death of Deby’s father and longtime president Idriss Deby Itno, who spent three decades in power. Deby eventually won last year’s disputed presidential vote.

Deby had said the election would “pave the way for the era of decentralization so long awaited and desired by the Chadian people,” referring to the distribution of power beyond the national government to the different provincial and municipal levels.

The election was boycotted by more than 10 opposition parties, including the main Transformers party, whose candidate, Succes Masra, came second in the presidential election.

The main opposition had called the election a “charade” and expressed worries that it would be a repeat of the presidential vote, which election observers said was not credible. The main opposition did not immediately comment on the election results.

Last month’s vote came at a critical period for Chad, which is battling several security challenges from Boko Haram militant attacks in the Lake Chad region to the break in decadeslong military ties with France, its key ally.

France’s Battered Mayotte Islands Hit by a New Tropical Storm Just Weeks After a Devastating Cyclone

By GERALD IMRAY

11:23 AM EST, January 12, 2025

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The French territory of Mayotte was battered by a new tropical storm Sunday, just weeks after the worst cyclone to hit the islands in nearly a century laid waste to entire neighborhoods and villages and left authorities facing a huge recovery effort.

Mayotte issued a red alert and people were ordered to stay in their homes or find a solid shelter, and store food and water, as Tropical Storm Dikeledi brought heavy rains and strong winds to once again pound France’s poorest department. Some areas were experiencing flooding.

Mayotte, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, had only just begun the process of rebuilding after the devastation of Cyclone Chido last month, which killed at least 39 people, left more than 200 still missing, and injured more than 5,000 when in struck on Dec. 14.

Three people died in nearby Madagascar after Dikeledi made landfall there as a cyclone on Saturday, the country’s National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said. Parts of northern Madagascar were also placed under red alert.

Dikeledi had weakened to a tropical storm by the time it reached Mayotte on Sunday, French meteorological service Meteo-France said. The center of the storm would pass about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Mayotte, Meteo said. Chido had hit Mayotte head-on.

But Meteo-France warned Dikeledi could strengthen into a cyclone again, while authorities in Mayotte said there was a high danger of flooding and landslides across the islands and issued the red alert on Saturday night. That alert would remain in place for Sunday and civilians were forbidden from being outside until the alert was lifted, said the Mayotte Prefecture, the French government department that runs the territory.

“The danger to the population persists,” the prefecture said on its official Facebook page. It said the weather would be calm at one point on Sunday but would become violent again later in the day.

Mayotte was also again opening cyclone shelters at schools and community centers for those in need, the prefecture said. The international airport, which was heavily damaged by Chido, was closed again until further notice.

Officials said they were taking no chances after the devastation of Chido, which prompted an angry reaction by Mayotte residents who vented their frustration at French President Emmanuel Macron when he visited days after the disaster. Mayotte’s people have previously accused the French government of neglecting them and the territory, which is the poorest in the European Union.

The French Interior Ministry said emergency personnel and security forces had been mobilized for Dikeledi’s arrival, with much of the focus on the precarious shantytowns around the capital, Mamoudzou, and other areas, which were largely destroyed by Chido. Many who had lost their houses in Chido still had no proper shelter when Dikeledi struck.

National TV station Mayotte la 1ère said that the southern village of Mbouini, one of the few in Mayotte spared by Chido, had been flooded and almost totally destroyed by Dikeledi. Mayotte la 1ère broadcast video of the residents of Mbouini escaping in wooden canoes as their homes were submerged under flood water.

Mayotte is a densely populated territory of around 320,000 people. Another 100,000 undocumented migrants from nearby Comoros and elsewhere are also believed to live on the islands, which are a draw for people from poorer countries because of the French welfare system.

Chido was the worst cyclone to hit Mayotte in 90 years, authorities said. While 39 deaths have been confirmed, French Prime Minister François Bayrou warned on a visit to the islands two weeks ago that the final death toll could be several hundred. Authorities have faced challenges in recording the deaths and injuries from Chido because many of those affected were undocumented migrants, and also because of the Muslim practice of burying people within 24 hours of them dying.

After smashing Mayotte, Chido made landfall on mainland Africa, killing more than 100 others in Mozambique and Malawi. Meteorologists expect Dikeledi to turn south and then east, tracking back toward Madagascar and out to sea after passing Mayotte.

November to April is cyclone season in the southwestern Indian Ocean, and the region has been pummeled by a series of strong ones in recent years. The worst was Cyclone Idai in 2019, which killed more than 1,500 people in Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe and affected more than 3 million people.

Comoros Holds a Parliamentary Election Boycotted by Some Opposition Parties

Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani waves as he is escorted by Chinese officials upon arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport, in Beijing, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool, File)

By NAZIR NAZI

5:42 AM EST, January 12, 2025

MORONI, Comoros (AP) — Comoros held a parliamentary election Sunday that some opposition leaders pledged to boycott, accusing President Azali Assoumani and his ruling party of adopting an increasingly authoritarian stance and raising concerns over the integrity of the vote.

The one-day election will decide the 33 seats in the legislature. Results are expected next week, according to the national electoral commission.

Around 330,000 people out of a population of 850,000 on the Indian Ocean archipelago are registered to vote, the electoral commission said. However, opposition parties said they expected a low turnout, citing disaffection with the democratic process.

Assoumani’s Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros party and its coalition partners won 20 out of the 24 seats that were contested in the last parliamentary election in 2020. On Sunday, Assoumani cast his vote in his hometown of Mitsoudjé on the largest island of Grande Comore.

Opposition parties called the 2020 vote a “masquerade” and said it was not free and fair. Assoumani won a new five-year term as president in an election last year that the opposition also said was fraudulent, triggering violent protests on the streets.

The Juwa Party of former President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi was one of those boycotting Sunday’s vote. It also boycotted the 2020 parliamentary election.

Comoros is an archipelago of three islands off the east coast of Africa near Madagascar. It has been beset by a series of military coups since gaining independence from France in 1975, with Assoumani, a former military officer, first seizing power in 1999 by overthrowing the president.

Assoumani, 66, stepped down from the presidency in 2006 after one term but returned and won another election in 2016. He has been president since, winning three successive elections. He pushed through constitutional changes in 2018 that allowed him to sidestep term limits and avoid a previous political agreement that saw the presidency rotated between Comoros’ islands.

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a U.S. Congress-funded research institution, has said that Assoumani’s presidency “has been marked by growing political repression and non-competitive elections.”

Officials said voting was going ahead despite Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi, which was expected to pass near Comoros and the nearby French territory of Mayotte on Sunday.

A Startup City in Kenya Tries to Tackle Africa’s Problem of Urbanizing While Poor

By ADRIAN BLOMFIELD

1:54 AM EST, January 12, 2025

KIAMBU, Kenya (AP) — Turn into Tatu City on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, and it feels like entering a different world.

Even the country’s most reckless drivers are transformed, slowing to a crawl and not tossing trash out the window — thanks to surveillance cameras and rigorously enforced penalties for speeding and littering.

For the 5,000 people who have moved into Tatu, a “startup city” that welcomed its first residents four years ago, the ruthless upholding of such rules makes the place appealing.

“Tatu has more law and order than other places,” said Valerie Akoko, a digital content creator who moved in two years ago. “I’ve never seen Tatu City dirty.”

Situated on 5,000 acres, Tatu City aspires to be what its name suggests: a city, privately owned, that its designers hope will eventually have a population of 250,000. It is already home to 88 businesses employing 15,000 people. They include CCI Global, which operates a 5,000-seat call center, and Zhende Medical, a Chinese medical supply manufacturer.

There are similar projects around the world. But in sub-Saharan Africa, champions of the idea hope that new-city developments can address the continent’s urbanization conundrum: While the growth of cities has rolled back poverty elsewhere, the region has largely been an exception.

History suggests that as people move into cities, productivity increases, wages rise, exports grow and a country gets richer. But in Africa, urbanization has rarely unleashed such economic transformation.

In theory, Africa should be prospering. The continent’s urban population is set to grow by 900 million by 2050, according to the United Nations, more than the present urban population of Europe and North America combined.

But sub-Saharan Africa is urbanizing while still poor.

“Towns and cities in Africa today simply lack the tax base needed to invest in the urban infrastructure needed to accommodate the tsunami of people being added to their ranks in a short period of time,” said Kurtis Lockhart, director of the Africa Urban Lab, a research center at the African School of Economics in Zanzibar.

Weak property rights and political tensions can make the problem worse.

Even Tatu City has battled Kenyan politicians and politically connected businessmen. In 2018, the London Court of International Arbitration ruled in favor of the development’s multinational owner, Rendeavour, in a dispute with its Kenyan former partners, including a former governor of the central bank. The dispute delayed project development by several years.

Last year, Tatu City’s Kenya head, Preston Mendenhall, took the unusual step of accusing the governor of the county where the development is based of extortion, saying he had demanded land worth $33 million in exchange for approving its updated master plan. The governor denied it and is suing Tatu City and Mendenhall for defamation. No ruling has been made.

Still, the case for building new cities, complete with new infrastructure, is compelling to some. The Charter Cities Institute, a Washington-based nonprofit, argues that, done properly, such projects could drive growth, create jobs and “lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.” The institute sees Tatu City as a model.

Yet building new cities is hard. Africa is littered with failed projects.

A handful have shown promise. Angola’s Quilamba city, whose construction began in 2002, is arguably the most successful, with a population of more than 130,000. It was built by CITIC, a state-owned Chinese company, but is owned by the Angolan government.

Perhaps a dozen new city projects — from Zanzibar to Zambia — are underway in Africa that stand a chance of emulating Quilamba, experts reckon. Of these, Tatu is the farthest along, with 26,400 people already living, working or studying there.

Experts agree that the private sector must play a role in African urbanization, saying African states are too fiscally constrained to fill the investment gap themselves. Rendeavour, a private company with a multibillion-dollar balance sheet, has deep enough pockets to make a difference.

But leaving city-building to the private sector alone can cause problems, for instance by worsening inequality. The average price of a property at Eko Atlantic, a new-city development on the outskirts of Lagos, is $415,000, far beyond the means of most Nigerians.

“Startup cities can serve as hubs for innovation and alleviate pressure on overcrowded urban centers,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN’s Human Settlements Program, or UN-Habitat. “However, to be impactful, they must prioritize inclusivity, affordability and integration with existing urban areas, ensuring they serve all socioeconomic groups rather than becoming isolated enclaves for elites.”

A one-bedroom apartment in Tatu City sells for $45,500, still beyond the means of most Kenyans, but within reach of some in the emerging middle class. Kenya’s per capita GDP was $1,961 in 2023, according to the World Bank.

The development collaborates with Kenya’s government, which has designated Tatu City a special economic zone. That means companies setting up there are eligible for tax benefits and other incentives, making it a model of private-public partnership, experts say.

Tatu City also appeals to businesses and residents with its transparent governance structure and services that are often lacking elsewhere in Kenya, including its own water supply and energy grid. It falls under national law but can set its own rules on matters like traffic and what kind of houses can be built, with all plans requiring approval from Tatu’s management.

“If you look at the infrastructure, if you look at the utilities, if you look at the controls, if you look at the security, it is one of the best,” said Sylvester Njuguna, who lives and owns a restaurant there.

Unlike many startup cities built far from urban centers, Tatu City is 12 miles (19 kilometers) north of Nairobi, close enough to plug into its labor markets.

According to Lockhart with the Africa Urban Lab, new city projects usually succeed if they are close enough to a major urban center and house both a high-quality anchor tenant — CCI Global in Tatu City’s case — and good schools. They should operate under effective management and respond to market demand.

Tatu meets these criteria and, unlike many grandiosely conceived African city projects, it has grown organically like Rendeavour’s other city projects in Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia and the Congo, according to Mendenhall.

“We are building what the market needs,” he said. “We are not putting all the infrastructure on day one.”

Libya Mass Deportation of Nigeriens in 'Dangerous, Traumatizing' Journey

By Al Mayadeen English

10 Jan 2025 16:00

Forcibly deported migrants endure freezing winter temperatures, overcrowding in trucks, and frequent fights for space, often resulting in injuries.

More than 600 Nigerien nationals were forcibly deported from Libya in one of the largest known expulsions from the country.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that 613 people arrived in Dirkou, Niger, after being transported across the Sahara in a convoy of trucks. The migrants had been rounded up over the past month by Libyan authorities.

Azizou Chehou from Alarm Phone Sahara (APS) highlighted this as the largest expulsion to date, surpassing a previous deportation of 400 people in July. The incident draws attention to the ongoing human rights abuses against migrants in Libya, which have been linked to European Union border policies, according to The Guardian. 

Chehou described the journey across the Sahara between Libya and Niger as "dangerous and traumatizing", noting that migrants endure freezing winter temperatures, overcrowding in trucks, and frequent fights for space, often resulting in injuries like broken limbs. Many arrive in Agadez in poor physical and emotional condition.

Critics accuse EU nations, particularly Italy, of outsourcing migration control to North African countries like Libya and Tunisia. Italy has reported a substantial drop in migrant arrivals, with 66,317 reaching its shores in 2024, compared to more than double the number in 2023. Activists such as David Yambio, spokesperson for the nonprofit organization Refugees in Libya, warn of the deadly consequences of these policies, with migrants often facing dire conditions in the desert.

"Leaders like [Viktor] Orbán, [Giorgia] Meloni, or Trump applaud such efficient cruelty. It’s no accident; it’s the design. The EU pays to erase migrants, to make suffering invisible, and to wash its hands while others do its dirty work," Yambio said. 

Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, highlighted that while rounding up and expelling foreign workers has been a longstanding practice in southern Libya, this recent incident stands out due to the unusually large number of people expelled at once.

The expulsions, carried out by local authorities in Sabha without official announcements or clear policies, reflect a pattern of hostility in the rhetoric of the Haftar-led Libyan National Army, often demonizing sub-Saharan African migrants, Harchaoui added. 

Libya has traditionally attracted workers from Niger, Mali, and Chad for jobs in agriculture, construction, and retail, as well as migrants seeking to travel to Europe. The UNHCR expressed readiness to assist the IOM in supporting those in need of international protection.

Ethiopian Ministry Advocates United Action to Revitalize Construction Sector

January 11, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure (MUI) has issued a fervent call for enhanced collaboration among all stakeholders to effectively address the multifaceted challenges impeding the growth and development of the Ethiopian construction sector.

Yesterday, the MUI convened a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the findings of a recent research study on the constraints facing the construction sector.

In her keynote address, the Minister Chaltu Sani acknowledged the construction industry’s significant role as a major job creator, second only to agriculture, and its crucial contribution to the country’s economic acceleration. However, she also highlighted the numerous challenges facing the sector.

In collaboration with five research universities, the Ministry has identified several key challenges facing the construction industry that must be addressed to ensure its future success. The Minister stated, “A competitive sector is crucial for delivering high-quality construction projects.”

Ethiopia’s construction sector currently faces several challenges, including lack of coordination, limited technology adoption, inadequate practical training and skills development as well as high costs of construction materials. The industry has also been affected by inefficient data collection and project administration systems, andlimited capacity of contractors and consultants. These challenges hinder the sector’s ability to become a key driver of economic development and growth,” Chaltu stated.

Furthermore, addressing the complex challenges within the construction sector requires effective collaboration among all stakeholders.

Recognizing the construction sector’s significant contribution to economic growth, the government has allocated substantial budget to support its development, Minister Chaltu said. “This support aims to enhance the sector’s competitiveness at the national, continental and global levels.”

To modernize the construction sector, the MUI is actively implementing international best practices. A key initiative is the development of the Ethiopian Construction Data Management System (ECDMS), designed to enhance industry capacity.

The MUI, in collaboration with key stakeholders, is finalizing the development of the ECDMS. This system will improve data management within the industry, leading to reductions in construction time and costs. The MUI identified these critical areas for improvement through research conducted in partnership with five research universities.

The ECDMS will facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to address key challenges within the construction sector, including workforce limitations, professional competency gaps, and productivity issues, the Minster remarked.

BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2025

Lalibela Christmas Attracts Tourists in Droves

January 11, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – A large number of local and international tourists attended the recent celebration of Ethiopian Christmas in the Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela, according to the Amhara State Culture and Tourism Bureau.

Speaking with the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Bureau Deputy Head Abay Menegiste stated that this year’s Christmas celebrations witnessed a significant increase in tourist arrivals, particularly from international destinations. Tourist arrivals began a week before the celebrations, indicating growing interest in this unique cultural experience.

“The vibrant celebrations in Lalibela’s Rock-hewn Churches are expected to generate momentum for the upcoming Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket) festivity,”Girma noted.

He indicated that this successful celebration is expected to stimulate tourism for upcoming religious and cultural events in the state, including Kana Zegelila, Asteriyo, Ghion, and Merkorios.

This surge in tourism is projected to strengthen the sector’s economic contribution, particularly for local communities whose livelihoods depend on tourism. It could also provide a much-needed boost to the service sector, which has been impacted by recent instability in the country.

The Deputy Head further emphasized the role of a committee, comprising youth, religious leaders, and government officials, in effectively facilitating the Christmas celebrations and ensuring its successful completion.

Girma urged the community to play a significant role in celebrating religious and cultural events while upholding the values of the state.

Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ethiopia, boasts 11 intricately carved 12th-century rock-hewn churches, attracting pilgrims and tourists, especially during religious festivals like Ethiopian Christmas celebrated on January 7th (Julian calendar).

BY BETELHEM BEDLU

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2025

AFCFTA: Catalyst for Intra-African Trade, Global Integration

January 11, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a pivotal strategy for Africa’s growth and development, experts agree. By fostering intra-African trade, the AfCFTA serves as a gateway to global markets.

The African Trade Policy Center Former Coordinator David Luke emphasized that the AfCFTA is not just about trade liberalization within Africa but also about opening the continent to the world. He highlighted the critical need to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers, suggesting a comprehensive reporting system, similar to Jigsaw, to streamline these efforts.

The AfCFTA, a cornerstone of Africa’s Agenda 2063, aims to boost intra-African trade, reduce reliance on imports, promote local service industries, create jobs, improve welfare and 1ncrease income for all citizens.

The African Export-Import Bank President and Chairperson Benedict Okey Oramah (PhD) underscored the importance of the Intra-African Trade Fair as a platform for facilitating trade and investment deals.

He emphasized that the AfCFTA aligns perfectly with the bank’s mandate, fulfilling its vision of a connected, free trade area for the continent. He also stressed the crucial role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving economic growth, highlighting the need for capacity building to support their development.

Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals, Commissioner Albert M. Muchanga noted that an online mechanism for reporting and monitoring non-tariff barriers is already in place. He emphasized the importance of addressing technical barriers to trade through the development of the “Made in Africa” standard, expected to be implemented by the end of the year.

Albert also pointed out that manufacturing goods currently account for 42% of inter-African trade, compared to 52% of international trade. To increase intra-African trade, he stressed the need for increased investment in manufacturing and emphasized the importance of collaboration with institutions like the African Development Bank and the African Export-Import Bank to develop Agro Parks.

BY ESSEYE MENGISTE

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2025

Ethiopia Earthquakes - Expert Allays Concerns for GERD and Sudan

M. Gerth-Niculescu/Deutsche Welle

A view of a wall of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam.

7 January 2025

Dabanga (Port Sudan)

Amsterdam / Addis Ababa — Amid a swarm of earthquakes and aftershocks that have rocked the Afar, Oromia, and Amhara regions in Ethiopia since December 22 2023, raised fears of a volcanic eruption, and prompted the hasty evacuation of more than 80,000 people, Sudanese geoscientists downplay concerns that the quakes could impact the crucial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), indicating that the current activity is far from the dam, which was designed to take seismic events into account.

The latest reported quake, which measured 8.1, struck at 08:25:54 (UTC) today, with its epicentre east of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Germany confirms.

Today's quake follows a magnitude 5.8 quake on Saturday, and a 5.5 quake on Friday - previously confirmed by the GFZ, the US Geological Survey, and announced by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) of European Civil Protection And Humanitarian Aid Operations - which were accompanied by more than 30 tremors and aftershocks over the past week. While no detailed information on the extent of the human and material losses is available, Ethiopian authorities are evacuating more than 80.000 people from the area, in fears of volcanic eruptions after smoke came from vents in the Dofen shield volcano, that rises 450 metres above the Awash plain in the northern Main Ethiopian Rift.

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society carried out a rapid assessment in the affected areas. It is estimated that around 81,750 individuals have been affected. There are key concerns on emergency shelter, food assistance and clean water.

Distant rumblings

The current seismic activity has again prompted concerns in Sudan, especially with regard to the integrity of the GERD, and the serious repercussions that could occur in Sudan and Egypt, however, Sudanese geoscientists downplay any current risk, pointing out that even the closest of the latest swarm of quakes has been more than 100 kilometres from the GERD.

In an interview with Dabanga - Radio TV Online, Sudanese surveying and earth sciences, engineer Abdelkarim El Amin, assures that the seismically active area is far away from the GERD, which is designed to withstand earthquakes, even when full to maximum capacity.

One concern is that the significantly low level of water in the reservoir lake that was recently monitored may be the result of a leak on the lake bed, which may affect the structure of the reservoir, especially in light of the increasing Seismic activities, however this is unlikely.

"What is important is that the area where the GERD is built is far from the earthquake zone in eastern Ethiopia," he says, "and epicentre of the latest quakes is about 500 kilometres from the Renaissance Dam."

El Amin notes: "Dams are designed with a maximum capacity to withstand earthquakes, and through monitoring around the world, we can see that with a few exceptional cases, they generally do not collapse as a result of earthquakes." He added that the decisive factor is the area where the dams are established, where studies are carried out before the dam is built of the geological condition of the site. In the case of the GERD, Ethiopia conducted two studies. Sudan and Egypt were briefed on the content of the second study, while Addis Ababa declined to disclose the content of the first study of the two countries, he says.

In the interview with Dabanga - Radio TV Online, El Amin explains that the GERD certainly impacts the entire environment in its area and downstream, however, "the GERD represents more of a security issue than an engineering or technical one".

Worst case scenario

While El Amin underscores that any collapse of the GERD due to seismic activity is highly unlikely, in a hypothetical worst case scenario, even a partial failure of the GERD would have a massive impact on Sudan and Egypt. "The Sudanese land surrounding the Nile is characterized as low plains, which means that water would flood large areas along the Blue Nile basin and the Nile River, and all facilities built on the banks, including three of the main dams in Sudan (Rosaries, Sennar, Meroe), would also be affected. The backflow of water in the White Nile, would cause flooding of large areas stretching from the confluence of the two Niles at Khartoum to the area of dams in the states of Upper Nile and Jonglei in South Sudan."

El Amin concludes that a number of academics and the Ministry of Irrigation have prompted a new investigation of this issue, calling on all bodies interested in water resources to form a unit of scientists and experts to address all issues related to the GERD and its environmental effects in the Nile Basin regions and its tributaries, in a scientific manner.

"That this includes all water resources in Sudan: to prepare a comprehensive vision away from the political agenda," he says.

Read the original article on Dabanga.

Ethiopia: Analysis - Death Toll Climbs in Tigray's IDP Centers Amid Aid Shortages, Political Strife

9 January 2025

Addis Standard (Addis Ababa)

By Molla Mitiku

Addis Abeba — The Tigray region is currently mired in political turmoil, driven by a deepening rift within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) between the faction led by veteran leader Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD) and Tigray Interim Administration President Getachew Reda. This political impasse has sidelined the repatriation of nearly one million internally displaced persons (IDPs), further exacerbating the suffering of displaced households.

As a result, IDPs in 99 centers across the region continue to face severe hardships, including critical food shortages, limited access to medical care, and inadequate humanitarian assistance.

The situation is particularly dire in the most densely populated IDP camps in Adwa, Adigrat, Shire, and Axum. These camps are suffering from a critical lack of aid and medical services, with reports indicating a significant rise in hunger-related deaths, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, women, and the elderly.

In an interview with Addis Standard, Wolay Berhe, the coordinator for IDPs in Shire town, revealed that nearly 300 displaced individuals residing in the Hintsad center have died over the past three months.

He stated that at least one death is recorded daily, with some days seeing the burial of two or three individuals at once.

"Mothers, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable in this regard," Wolay explained. "The deaths are primarily due to hunger and lack of medical care."

The coordinator further emphasized that the severe shortage of water, food, and medical assistance has contributed to the escalating fatalities in Shire's IDP centers.

"A large number of IDPs do not receive any aid," he noted. "Of the nearly 500,000 IDPs in Shire and surrounding areas, only 40% have been receiving assistance."

Nearly 300 displaced individuals residing in the Hintsad center have died over the past three months." Wolay Berhe, coordinator for IDPs in Shire town.

Wolay also highlighted the lack of accountability in addressing the crisis.

"Despite the rising death toll, no efforts are being made to count, register, or resolve the situation," he asserted. "This inaction stems from the leadership being embroiled in political crises, prioritizing their grip on power over the urgent needs of the IDPs."

Hopes for the return of nearly one million IDPs in Tigray, sparked by the November 2022 cessation of hostilities agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), are fading as progress stalls. Although a repatriation program launched in July 2024 briefly raised expectations of recovery for the war-torn region, it was abruptly discontinued after only 56,000 individuals were returned to their homes.

Since the suspension of the program, officials from the Tigray Interim Administration and senior TPLF members have remained largely silent on the resumption of IDP returns or the provision of aid for returnees. The stalled efforts are reportedly tied to a deepening political crisis within the region, fueled by divisions between TPLF veteran leader Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD) and Interim Administration President Getachew Reda.

The internal division arose following the 14th Congress of the TPLF, culminating in the faction led by Debretsion removing Getachew and several other officials from their positions. Debretsion's group asserted that these individuals "will no longer have the authority to lead, make decisions, or issue directives."

In reaction, the interim administration under Getachew's leadership accused Debretsion's faction of seeking to "destabilize" the region through measures it characterized as a "coup d'état." The interim administration further cautioned that it would initiate legal proceedings against Debretsion's faction for allegedly fostering "chaos and anarchy" in Tigray.

In his recent press briefing, President Getachew acknowledged that "the absence of constitutional governance" in Tigray lies at the root of the ongoing challenges.

"Internal divisions within our leadership have further hindered our ability to effectively negotiate and advocate for our people," he stated. "Rather than addressing their pressing needs, we have been preoccupied with internal power struggles, which have only deepened their plight."

As the political crisis and instability in Tigray continue to escalate, Berhane Kahssay, the coordinator for more than 65,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in Adigrat, revealed that nearly 40 individuals have lost their lives in recent months. Among the deceased are 14 mothers and 18 children under the age of 18.

"Camp conditions are dire, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and a severe shortage of food and medical care," he told Addis Standard.

Berhane emphasized that food insecurity remains one of the most urgent challenges confronting the IDPs, leaving tens of thousands in a vulnerable state. "Even those who are designated to receive aid face irregular and insufficient distribution," he added.

He further noted that medical care for the 65,000 displaced individuals, who originate from Western Tigray, Zale Ambassa, Adiabo, Erob, and Kulo Mekeda, is accessible only to those who can afford to pay for hospital services, while the majority receive no assistance.

"Out of the total 65,000 displaced people in Adigrat, only 65% are receiving assistance," he revealed. "When those excluded inquire about their omission, NGOs respond that they too are grappling with severe supply shortages."

Berhane elaborated that the camps are frequently overcrowded, with multiple families forced to share a single shelter or live in confined spaces.

"This overcrowding has led to the rapid spread of diseases such as cholera, malaria, and respiratory infections," he stated. "The absence of basic healthcare services further exacerbates the already critical health conditions."

He also highlighted that food insecurity remains one of the most pressing issues faced by the IDPs. "The denial of humanitarian aid to many, coupled with the collapse of local food production, has left tens of thousands reliant solely on their own means for survival."

A mother of three living in one of the overcrowded and under-resourced IDP camps in Adigrat told Addis Standard that her family is among many households excluded from receiving aid from regional and federal governments, as well as NGOs.

"My family is not on the list of IDPs receiving food from aid organizations," she said. "As a result, struggling with hunger has become an unceasing part of my life, and the lack of free medical treatment adds another heavy burden."

Highlighting that 158 IDPs residing in Adwa town died in 2023 alone, Abreha Gebreselema, Coordinator for the Central Zone of Tigray, noted that the death toll continues to rise.

"The primary cause of death is hunger, as many people are being denied aid," he informed Addis Standard.

According to Abreha, of the 88,900 displaced individuals in Adwa, only 54.2% are receiving assistance.

"This has exacerbated the death toll, particularly among vulnerable groups such as those with chronic conditions," he explained. "Frustrated by the rising death toll in the camps, the IDPs who do receive aid have contributed 500 birr per household to share with those excluded from aid. However, this cannot save lives or curb hunger-related deaths."

Desinet Tsegay, coordinator of one of the IDP camps located at Nigist Saba Primary School in Adwa town, emphasized that while local communities have demonstrated solidarity and humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance, the scale of the crisis far surpasses the available resources.

"While the situation is urgent, political and security challenges hinder any lasting resolution," he asserted.

Desinet further elaborated that, in addition to the rising death toll, the lack of access to food, shelter, and healthcare has left many IDPs struggling for survival. "Some have been compelled to send their children into the city to beg for food," he added.

Read the original article on Addis Standard.

Sudan's Humanitarian Crisis Expected to Worsen in 2025

8 January 2025

Inter Press Service

By Oritro Karim

United Nations — As the Civil War rages on in Sudan, the nationwide humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. Armed conflict has caused an escalation in civilian casualties and displacement in the past few months. Additionally, famine looms in the nation's most conflict-impacted areas, which is exacerbated by tightened restrictions that impede humanitarian aid deliveries. Despite numerous calls for a cessation of hostilities by the international community, relief efforts are severely underfunded.

In 2025, humanitarian organizations seek to assist approximately 21 million people in Sudan, which is roughly half of the country's population. However, this number is projected to increase following the escalation of armed hostilities recorded in December of 2024. According to a report from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the ongoing siege in El Fasher, the capital city of Sudan, left at least 782 dead and 1,143 injured from May 2024 to December 2024.

According to Edem Wosornu, the Director of Operations and Advocacy for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Zamzam refugee camp, the nation's largest refuge for internally displaced persons, has faced severe shelling in the final weeks of 2024. Approximately 80 people were killed and 400 were injured as a result of artillery shelling in western Darfur. Civilians and humanitarian aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), have attributed these casualties to hostilities perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Nathaniel Raymond, the executive director of Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, described the current situation in the Zamzam camp as a "kill box". The escalation of warfare has forced Sudanese refugees to move toward dangerous RSF territories or toward the barren deserts where they face the risk of starvation. "We can see from space people camping under trees, on the side of the road. They're going out of the frying pan and into the fire," said Raymond, adding that many of these people have been severely injured or immunocompromised.

On January 6 2025, the United Nations (UN) Security Council warned that famine conditions are projected to spread throughout Sudan if humanitarian organizations do not effectively intervene soon. According to Wosornu, famine is present in five areas, including the Zamzam, Al Salam, and Abu Shouk camps, as well as regions in the western Nuba Mountains.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) states that five additional regions, including Um Kadada and El Fasher, as well as 17 other high-risk areas, could face severe famine-like conditions by mid-2025. Women, children, and the elderly are predicted to be disproportionately affected.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Deputy Director Beth Bechdol, the vast scale of famine is a direct result of extended warfare, displacement, and restricted humanitarian access. Additionally, the IPC report states that "only an immediate cessation of hostilities can prevent the crisis from worsening."

It is crucial for humanitarian organizations to have unimpeded access to critically endangered areas in Sudan. The Adre border crossing, which provides direct passage from Chad to some of Sudan's most affected areas, has seen numerous delays and blockages of aid. According to Wosornu, "key areas in South Kordofan are effectively cut off from external assistance," while "visas for humanitarian personnel are not being granted swiftly enough".

The start of 2025 is a major tipping point for the Sudan crisis as action must be taken now to ensure stability for millions of Sudanese people. Bechdol states that "immediate and unimpeded" humanitarian access is urgent at this time for humanitarian organizations to be able to deliver "multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance".

The 2025 Humanitarian Needs Response Plan seeks approximately 4.2 billion dollars to provide life-saving assistance to 21 million Sudanese civilians that are struggling to stay alive. The funding from this plan would help to restore basic services such as access to food, water, and shelter, as well as protection services. "The risk of famine and its spread has been on our collective conscience since August, and now it is here, not only with people dying from hunger, but also with a breakdown of health systems, livelihoods and social structures," warns Bechdol.

Read the original article on IPS.