Author: fatimah

Across North Africa, Amazigh communities have welcomed the year 2976 with vibrant ceremonies and cultural showcases marking Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year. The occasion is celebrated with colour, music, and tradition, reflecting a heritage that has endured for generations. Yennayer is observed each year around January 12 or 13, varying slightly by region. It is a deeply meaningful event that unites families and communities in honour of Amazigh identity, history, and long-standing cultural practices passed down through centuries. Rooted in the traditions of ancient Amazigh societies, the celebration is closely tied to agricultural life. Historically, Yennayer signalled the start of…

The Otobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area, North-Central Nigeria, was attacked by armed bandits in the early hours of Tuesday morning, leaving five people dead. Among the victims was Igbabe Ochi, a former House of Assembly candidate for Otukpo-Akpa State Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election. The attack follows a foiled kidnapping attempt on Sunday night at Ekwu-Ora’Odaba, where community volunteer guards, led by Ocheme Jackson, successfully prevented the abduction of residents. John Anyebe, President of the Otobi Community Development Association, confirmed the attack to reporters, explaining that the assailants gained access to…

Somalia has formally ended its security and defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing concerns over actions that allegedly undermine the country’s sovereignty and political independence. The decision was announced following a meeting of Somalia’s Council of Ministers, which agreed to dissolve all existing cooperation frameworks with the UAE related to security and defense matters. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the government said the move was based on what it described as credible reports and evidence pointing to activities considered harmful to Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and political autonomy. As part of the decision,…

Burkina Faso’s transitional authorities have announced a cabinet reshuffle that introduces new ministers and rebrands several government departments, signaling a shift in how state action is framed and organized. The changes include both personnel updates and structural adjustments, with a number of ministries receiving new titles as part of what officials describe as a reorientation of government priorities.One of the most significant moves concerns the defense portfolio. The former Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs has been renamed the Ministry of War and Patriotic Defense, underscoring a stronger emphasis on national security. General Célestin Simporé was reappointed to the post…

A river accident in northern Mali has claimed at least 33 lives after a passenger boat sank late Friday night in the town of Diré, within the Timbuktu region. The incident took place at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time in the Medina Coura district, shortly after the vessel departed from the Bourem Sidi Amar market en route to Tonka. The boat, commonly used for transporting people and goods, overturned under circumstances that remain under investigation. Nearby residents reported hearing desperate calls for help and quickly launched a rescue response. Young volunteers and community members used small wooden boats to reach…

Morocco has taken a major step toward strengthening Africa’s digital economy with the launch of a national artificial intelligence roadmap branded “AI Made in Morocco,” signaling its ambition to compete globally in advanced technologies. The roadmap was officially unveiled on Monday in Rabat during a high-level meeting convened by Moroccan authorities. It translates the recommendations adopted at the National Conference on Artificial Intelligence into an operational framework aimed at accelerating the country’s digital transformation. Officials said Morocco’s AI strategy is built on five core pillars: technological sovereignty, public trust in digital systems, large-scale skills development, promotion of locally driven innovation,…

The Moroccan government is strengthening its legal and judicial cooperation with Belgium in the fight against organised crime, particularly transnational criminal networks, illicit trafficking, and money laundering. Morocco’s Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, and his Belgian counterpart, Annelies Verlinden, held a bilateral meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss elevating judicial cooperation between the two countries. Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to reinforcing judicial cooperation in support of the rule of law, highlighting the strong and longstanding partnership between the two kingdoms. According to an official Moroccan source, discussions focused heavily on cross-border crime, which both sides identified as…

Burkina Faso has entered into a five-year cooperation agreement with the Russian Federation aimed at strengthening collaboration in higher education and scientific research. The agreement was signed by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Adjima Thiombiano, and Nataliia Krasovskaia, Executive Director of Russia’s Center for Public Diplomacy, according to an official statement from the Burkinabe ministry. Under the framework of the partnership, both countries plan to deepen academic and scientific ties through the exchange of expertise, shared information, and the organization of joint initiatives in research and innovation. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Minister Thiombiano said the…

Several industrial facilities in western Mali’s Bafoulabé district were targeted over the weekend in coordinated attacks by heavily armed assailants, causing extensive material damage and the reported abduction of three workers, according to company officials. Ibrahima Diawara, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Cement, told Anadolu Agency that his factory was among at least three sites attacked. He said two other industrial facilities were also hit but declined to provide further details on the condition or whereabouts of the abducted employees. Security sources and witnesses said the attackers, estimated at around 160 men travelling on roughly 100 motorcycles, struck multiple locations…

Nearly nine million voters were registered to participate in the legislative and municipal elections held on Sunday in Benin Republic, as vote counting continues and citizens await the final results. The elections, conducted under tight security, come just one month after authorities thwarted an attempted coup on December 7, 2025. As ballots are being tallied, attention is now focused on the official proclamation of results, which is expected later this week. The polls involved the election of 109 members of the National Assembly and more than 1,800 municipal councillors. Those elected will serve extended seven-year terms following the constitutional revision…