Author: kajarbi54

The Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB) on Monday formalized an agreement with its partners to develop a national standard for organic fertiliser, a move aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture across the country. The signing ceremony took place at the Central Project Coordinating Unit (CPCU) in Banjul. Director General of TGSB, Papa Secka, explained that the initiative was prompted by the wide variety of organic fertiliser products and production methods currently in use, highlighting the need for a standardized specification. He added that the government is particularly focused on organic fertilisers, in line with the Gambia National Fertiliser Policy, which encourages the…

The Chairman of the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) in The Gambia, Modou A. Sise, has called on political, religious and community leaders to promote tolerance and peaceful dialogue as the country prepares for the 2026 presidential election. Sise made the appeal over the weekend during a structured dialogue session with political actors and community representatives in Jarra Bureng in the Lower River Region. The event was organized in partnership with CRS Gambia under the HOPE Project and forms part of broader efforts aimed at strengthening civic awareness and preventing election-related tensions. Similar dialogue sessions were also held in…

Authorities at the United States Embassy in Kampala say 43 visa applicants have been arrested since July last year for allegedly attempting to use forged documents to obtain travel visas to the United States. The suspects were intercepted during the visa application process at the embassy and later handed over to the Uganda Police Force for prosecution. Speaking on Monday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the embassy’s Senior Regional Security Officer, James V. Bloomer, said the arrests followed repeated attempts by applicants to present counterfeit documents. “Since July of last year, we have had 43 people who attempted…

Malian authorities have dismissed claims of a petrol shortage after panic buying led to long queues at fuel stations across parts of the capital, Bamako, on Friday. Motorists rushed to refuel after messages circulating on social media and messaging platforms suggested that gasoline supplies in the country were about to run out. In a statement issued on March 13, 2026, Mali’s Crisis Coordination and Management Center (CECOGEC), through the Interministerial Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management, said the country is not facing any shortage of fuel. Officials said the sudden rush at petrol stations appeared to have been triggered by…

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is reviewing Israel’s formal response to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding allegations of violations of the Genocide Convention in Gaza. The response was filed on March 12, according to a statement from the department. “South Africa will now assess Israel’s submission and determine whether to request permission from the Court to provide additional written arguments or proceed directly to the oral hearings,” the statement said. The department underscored that despite three binding ICJ rulings obliging Israel to prevent acts of genocide, facilitate humanitarian aid, and observe a ceasefire in…

Vote counting is underway in the Republic of Congo following Sunday’s presidential election that could see the re-election of long-serving President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (06:00 GMT) and closed at 6 p.m. (17:00 GMT). More than 3.2 million Congolese were registered to vote, though analysts and civil society groups expected turnout to fall below the nearly 68 percent recorded in the 2021 election, when Sassou Nguesso secured 88.4 percent of the vote. The 82-year-old leader faced a weak field of challengers, with two of the country’s most prominent opposition figures imprisoned and several…

Madagascar’s Transitional President, Michael Randrianirina, has appointed anti-corruption chief Mamitiana Rajaonarison as prime minister after dissolving the entire cabinet and dismissing the country’s previous premier. Randrianirina announced the appointment in a televised address on Sunday, saying the former senior gendarmerie officer and career civil administrator would lead the formation of a new government. The transitional leader, who seized power last October and has pledged major reforms, said Rajaonarison would guide the administration “on a clean path” and help restore public confidence in state institutions. “The Malagasy nation needs bold decisions. We are now at a turning point,” Randrianirina said during…

The Ghana Embassy in Qatar has announced plans to organize a potential emergency evacuation for its nationals living in Qatar following growing security concerns across parts of the Middle East. In a notice issued on March 15, 2026, the embassy said the initiative is being considered by the government after an earlier advisory released on March 6 regarding the evolving regional security environment. According to the embassy, the proposed evacuation would be conducted as a one-way arrangement from Qatar to Ghana. Ghanaian nationals currently residing in Qatar who wish to participate in the evacuation have been asked to reconfirm their…

The Nigerian Navy has arrested 37 suspected illegal miners and destroyed an illegal refining site as part of ongoing operations against crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta. Personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS) Pathfinder and Soroh carried out the arrests and destruction during separate operations in Rivers and Bayelsa States under Operation Delta Sentinel. Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed that a naval patrol discovered an illegal refinery along the Alakiri River in the Ojekiri area of Rivers State during an anti-crude oil theft operation. The site contained approximately 10 dugout pits holding…

The Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) says it is facing increasing financial pressure as it struggles to recover approximately N$700 million (over $41 Million) in electricity bills that have remained unpaid for more than 90 days. According to NamPower’s head of electricity pricing, Desdemona Lubinda, the amount of outstanding debt has remained at around N$700 million on average over the past six years and is now rising further. Lubinda warned that the growing debt burden is unsustainable because the utility relies on those payments to meet its financial obligations, including settling accounts with electricity suppliers and covering operational expenses. She explained…