United States officials have warned South Africa’s government of a possible terrorist attack at events with large gatherings — days after alerting Nigeria of a similar attack. The U.S. embassy in South Africa posted an alert on its website today, warning of possible attacks in Johannesburg. The embassy warned citizens…
Burkina Faso coup leader takes office as interim president
The military leader who led a coup in Burkina Faso, ousting Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, took office as the interim president today. Ibrahim Traore took an oath office in the nation’s capital Ouagadougou, pledging to fight off jihadists and reclaim areas taken over by insurgents. Last month’s coup led…
Nigerian authorities searching for gunmen who killed mother and daughter in church attack
Nigerian authorities are searching for the assailants who killed a woman and her daughter, and injured three others during an attack on a church in Kogi state on Sunday. On Monday, government officials said the suspects arrived at Celestial Church on Sunday and shot the two victims before escalating on…
More than 600 people killed after floods sweep through Nigeria
Government officials said today that heavy flooding in Nigeria has left more than 600 people dead and more than 1 million people displaced from their homes. The government blamed the disastrous conditions on the heaviest rainy season in 10 years due in part to climate change water released from a…
Violence erupts in Burkina Faso after militants overthrow president
Violence struck Burkina Faso’s capital after protestors and a group of soldiers mounted a coup and announced on state television it overthrew its president. Flanked by several soldiers, made the announcement Friday night that Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba was overthrown — just under nine months after he led…
Horn of Africa on the brink of famine; countries step up aid
On Wednesday, several countries pledged to contribute hundreds of millions of dollars of more aid for the Horn of Africa after the United Nations warned that the region could soon face a devastating famine. The United Nations said Somalia and nearby countries will experience famine in at levels more severe…
Benin bronzes to be returned to Nigerian officials from German museum
Dozens of bronzes stolen by Europeans from the Kingdom of Benin will be on display on last time in Berlin on Saturday before they are returned to Nigeria. The items will be shown at Humboldt Museum in Berlin where the have remained for decades. The repatriation of these artifacts is…
Report: 20 million children out of school in Nigeria; sub-Saharan Africa has highest figures for any region globally
About 20 million children in Nigeria are out of school, the highest figure in the world for a single country, according to newly-released data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Three countries were identified as having the highest number of children out of school: India, Nigeria…
Report: Plane crash that killed 20 people departing DRC caused by loose crocodile
An investigation into a plane crash that claimed the lives of at least 20 people after it departed the Democratic Republic of Congo 12 years ago was reportedly due to a crocodile that got loose on the plane. According to Jeune Afrique, the plane crashed on Aug. 25, 2010 after…
Catholic nuns kidnapped in Nigeria released, officials say
Four Catholic nuns who were kidnapped earlier this week at gunpoint in the state of Imo have been released, police said. Imo state police announced on Wednesday that the nuns were released by their abductors the day before. Officials reportedly said the nuns were returned unharmed. They did not disclose…
Four nuns kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria
Four Catholic nuns were reportedly abducted on a highway in the state of Imo in Nigeria by gunmen. The nuns were abducted while travelling from Rivers state for a thanksgiving mass on Sunday. RELATED: Kidnapped Nigerian priest killed as religious violence surges Nigeria has seen an increase in religious violence…
At least 20 dead after militant group attacked hotel in Somalia
At least 20 people were reportedly killed and 40 wounded after militants linked to al-Qaeda stormed a hotel in Somalia’s capital on Friday evening and opened fire on civilians. Dozens of civilians were taken hostage and some locked themselves inside hotel rooms during a standoff at the Hayat Hotel in…
WHO official says “color of the skin” may be reason the crisis in Ethiopia ignored unlike Ukraine
An official with the World Health Organization (WHO) said the province of Tigray in Ethiopia is the worst ongoing humanitarian crisis in the world. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the remarks on Wednesday, saying that more than 6 million people in Tigray have endured attacks for nearly two years…
Flooding in state of Jigawa, Nigeria leaves at least 50 dead
At least 50 people are reportedly dead and hundreds more have been displaced since heavy rain brought flash floods submerging the state of Jigawa in Nigeria. About 1,600 people are homeless and many structures, including homes, have been damaged as a result of floods from heavy rain that began in…
Study: Nigeria tops list of English-speaking countries interested in cryptocurrencies
A new study released this week indicates Nigeria has shown more interest in cryptocurrencies than any other English-speaking country. Nigeria received a score of 371 in the study which analyzed Google Trends data for multiple cryptocurrency-related searches. The study, which was released by price tracker CoinGecko, combined the search terms…
Last case of Marburg Virus in Ghana has recovered, health officials say
The last known case of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Ghana has fully recovered, health officials announced yesterday. Last month, the World Health Organization confirmed there were three cases of the deadly Marburg Virus. Two people infected with the virus reportedly have died — an adult male and 14-month-old child.…
5 suspects arrested in connection with massacre at Nigerian Catholic church
Nigerian officials announced today that authorities have arrested five suspects who killed dozens of people during mass at a Catholic church in Ondo state in June. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is suspected of carrying out the attack on a congregation inside the St. Francis Catholic Church on June…
Report: Black-owned businesses decline in South Africa, estimated under 30%
Black-owned businesses in South Africa have been plummeting in recent years, and a new report indicates it has now dropped below 30%. Black ownership fell 1.5%, according to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission’s annual report for 2021 obtained by Bloomberg. The report also indicated Black management control also…
Kidnapped Nigerian priest killed as religious violence surges
One of two priests who were reportedly kidnapped last week has been found dead. Father John Cheitnum was kidnapped from Christ the King Church in Lere, located in central Nigeria, on July 15 along with Father Donatus Suleiman. It is believed Father Cheitnum was killed the same day he was…
United Nations experts warn of rising xenophobia in South Africa
Days before Nelson Mandela International Day, which is celebrated today, United Nations experts shared a warning about rising xenophobic sentiments and violence in South Africa. A group called “Special Rapporteurs,” said on Friday that xenophobic mobilization in South Africa is broader and deeper than it may appear, and has become…