Author: Chukwuebuka Festus - Page 4

Pope’s July Visit To Africa To Go Ahead Despite Health Issues

29May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Congo, News, Religion, Security, Violence

Pope’s July Visit To Africa To Go Ahead Despite Health Issues

Pope Francis is set to make a gruelling trip to two African countries in July despite knee problems that have forced him to use a cane and wheelchair in recent weeks. The Vatican issued a full programme on Saturday for the July 2-7 trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. There had been speculation the pope's visit to Africa might be postponed, as was a trip to Lebanon scheduled for June. The 85-year-old pope has been undergoing treatment for knee pain, believed to be caused by a torn ligament. The trip's pace suggests the Vatican expects the pope's condition to improve in the next month, although officials say privately that he likely will use a wheelchair at least some of the time. The visit includes thousands of miles of travel, five flights and at least a...

Two More Miners Found Dead In Flooded Burkina Faso Mine

29May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Burkina Faso, News, Safety

Two More Miners Found Dead In Flooded Burkina Faso Mine

Two more dead bodies have been recovered from a flooded zinc mine in Burkina Faso, the government said on Saturday. Millions of litres of water have been pumped out of the site owned by Canadian firm Trevali as rescue efforts continue. The case has caused outrage in the country. A total of eight miners had become trapped there by unexpected torrential rain six weeks ago. At this stage two of the group still remain missing. Trevali and the Burkinabè government have launched investigations into the causes of the incident at the Perkoa zinc mine, which is about 100km (60 miles) west of the capital, Ouagadougou. Read Also: Four Bodies Recovered In Burkina Faso Mine "We've brought in experts from all over the world. We've got people from Australia, from South Africa, f...

Thousands Abandon Their Homes Amid DR Congo Battles

28May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Armed Forces, Congo, News, Rwanda, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Thousands Abandon Their Homes Amid DR Congo Battles

More than 37,000 people have been forced from their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the last four days of fighting, according to aid agencies. Local media report that the national army has retaken some areas that had been seized by the M23 rebels in recent days. But the main road between Rutshuru and the North Kivu regional capital, Goma, remains blocked by the M23. The DR Congo government has again accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, which the government in Kigali denies. Earlier this week, Rwanda called for a regional investigation into how some artillery fire crossed into its territory, injuring some Rwandans. Read Also: Over 50 Villages Vacated Due to Bandits’ Attacks in Niger – Gov Bello On Wednesday, a police chief in Goma asked locals to ta...

Egypt: Somali Teen Who Allegedly Killed Attacker Released

28May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Crime, Egypt, News

Egypt: Somali Teen Who Allegedly Killed Attacker Released

A Somali teenager accused of killing a tuk-tuk driver who she alleged had tried to rape her has been released from custody in Egypt. The 15-year-old had been held for four days after handing herself in to authorities, local media report. But police and medical examiners agreed there was evidence to show she had likely acted in self-defence, Egypt's prosecutor's office said. She was released on Friday pending further investigation. According to Ahram Online, the girl told police the driver had taken her to a remote spot where he had tried to rape her. But she fought back, injuring her hands on his knife before managing to wrestle it from the alleged attacker. Read Also: Egyptian Tycoon Jailed For Assaulting Orphan Girls She then stabbed him and fled. The unident...

US Seizes Ex-Gambian Leader Jammeh’s $3.5m Mansion

27May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Corruption, Gambia, Justice, News

US Seizes Ex-Gambian Leader Jammeh’s $3.5m Mansion

The US Justice Department says it has secured the forfeiture of a mansion bought by former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh for $3.5m (£2.7m) with alleged corruption proceeds. The property in Potomac, Maryland, is said to have been acquired through a trust set up by his wife, Zineb Jammeh. It has now been forfeited to the US along with all rental income generated by the property since a complaint was filed in 2020, a statement by the department said. “The United States intends to sell the property, and recommend to the Attorney General that the net proceeds from the sale of the forfeited property be used to benefit the people of The Gambia harmed by former President Jammeh’s acts of corruption and abuse of office,” the department said. Read Also: FG Approves an NGO to M...

Senegal Health Minister Fired After Babies Die In Hospital Fire

27May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

News, Safety, Senegal

Senegal Health Minister Fired After Babies Die In Hospital Fire

Senegal Health Minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr Senegal President Macky Sall has sacked his Health Minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, after 11 babies were killed by a fire in a hospital on Wednesday. Mr Sarr will be replaced by Marie Khemesse Ngom Ndiaye, the ministry's director general, following the tragedy in Tivaouane city. The blaze, which rapidly engulfed the newborn unit at the Tivaouane hospital, is being blamed on an electrical short circuit. Read Also: Eleven Newborn Babies Die In Senegal Hospital Fire President Sall declared three days of national mourning. He also ordered an investigation into the tragedy. He is expected to visit Tivaouane on Saturday to meet the babies' relatives. Many observers say that Senegal's health system is beset by staffing, infrastruc...

26May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

African Development, Justice, News

Zambia Moves To Abolish Death Penalty

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has announced he is making moves to abolish the death penalty in the country. He termed it a "big decision" by the government. “We will work with parliament to run this process as we transition away from the death penalty and focus on the preservation, and rehabilitation of life while still delivering justice for all,” he said on the eve of Wednesday’s Africa Freedom Day. “This is important. We believe in it. Africa Freedom Day is a symbol of our collective commitment to secure a better future for all.” Read Also: Court Sentences Ex-Burkina Faso President to Life Imprisonment To mark Africa Freedom Day the Zambian President has pardoned 2045 inmates, including 2012 ordinary inmates and 33 elderly inmates. He also commuted s...

Eleven Newborn Babies Die In Senegal Hospital Fire

26May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

News, Safety, Senegal

Eleven Newborn Babies Die In Senegal Hospital Fire

Eleven newborn babies have died in a hospital fire in the western city of Tivaouane in Senegal, the country's president has said. The fire at Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital was in the maternity department, President Macky Sall tweeted. Initial reports suggest the fire was caused by a short circuit, according to Senegalese politicians. Three babies were saved from the fire, said the city's mayor, Demba Diop Sy. The fire spread very quickly and emergency services were still at the scene, Mr Sy told local media. The hospital had been newly inaugurated, according to AFP, citing local media reports. "To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy," President Sall wrote in a tweet. "This situation is very unfortunate and extremely painful," He...

Four Bodies Recovered In Burkina Faso Mine

25May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Burkina Faso, News

Four Bodies Recovered In Burkina Faso Mine

The bodies of four miners have been found in a zinc mine in Burkina Faso after a 39-day search, a government spokesman has said. Eight miners were trapped by floodwaters last month in the Canadian-owned mine in Perkoa, located about 120km west of the country's capital, Ouagadougou. The floods followed unexpected torrential rains on 16 April. Since then rescuers have worked tirelessly to pump some 165 million litres of water from the flooded chambers. Read Also: Eight Miners Trapped For Two Weeks In Burkina Faso Await Rescue It took the rescue team 31 days to reach the first rescue chamber, located at about 560m- in which the missing miners might have sought refuge from the floodwaters. But when the chamber was opened last week, none of the men - six Burkinabès, a Zambia...

Christian Group In DR Congo Marks Christmas Day

25May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Celebration, Congo, News, Religion

Christian Group In DR Congo Marks Christmas Day

A Christian group mainly based in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on Wednesday marking Christmas Day to commemorate the birth of Jesus. The Church of Jesus Christ on Earth by His Special Envoy Simon Kimbangu has about 20 million followers in the country, but also enjoys a following in neighbouring Angola. It's also called Kimbanguist Church after its founder Simon Kimbangu. The church was last year suspended from the World Council of Churches for theological reasons. Read Also: Christmas Message: Our Hearts Heavy With Suffering – Kaigama Since 2016, the church has been celebrating Christmas Day on 25 May according to its understanding of the bible. Mr Kimbangu was sentenced to death in 1921 for sedition and died after serving about 30 years in jail. He died in...