Author: kajarbi54

Liberia and Monaco have opened a new chapter in bilateral relations with the formal accreditation of Liberia’s ambassador-designate to the Principality of Monaco. During a formal ceremony, His Excellency Dr. Teeko Tozay Yorlay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to Monaco, presented his Letters of Credence to Prince Albert II, reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations and expanding cooperation between the two nations. Ambassador Yorlay conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the Government, and the people of Liberia. He highlighted Liberia’s high regard for Monaco’s leadership in environmental protection, humanitarian action,…

Nigeria has received its first shipment of the long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir, marking a major step in expanding the country’s HIV prevention options. The drug, designed for HIV-negative individuals at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, is administered twice a year, unlike traditional Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) pills, which must be taken daily. The shipment follows an agreement reached at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where Nigeria and other global leaders secured a significant price reduction for the drug. Previously estimated at around $28,000 per individual annually, the cost of Lenacapavir has now been reduced to…

Gambian lawmakers have called for the restitution of cultural artifacts removed from several communities during the colonial era without consent or due process. The demand emerged during a parliamentary debate on a motion titled “The Restitution of Gambian Cultural Artifacts and Sacred Heritage Removed During Colonial Rule, with Special Attention to Salikenni Village.” Presenting the motion, the member for Baddibu Central, Sulayman Saho, said the artifacts represent important symbols of the spiritual heritage, communal memory, and cultural sovereignty of the Gambian people. Saho noted that many of the items are currently held in museums, archives, and private collections in the…

Somali military forces have captured a strategic area in southern Somalia long used as a hideout by the Al-Shabaab terror group, the Defense Ministry announced Wednesday. The operation targeted Hawaadley in Middle Shabelle as part of the recently launched Operation Badr, aimed at dismantling sites the al-Qaeda-linked militants use as bases and supply depots. Officials said the military successfully destroyed multiple Al-Shabaab positions and storage facilities. Security forces continue to clear the area and pursue remaining insurgents, with the Defense Ministry vowing that counterterrorism efforts “will continue to intensify.” Operation Badr is supported by international partners, including Ugandan troops serving…

Malian authorities have unveiled a Special Mines Brigade to strengthen oversight of the country’s gold sector, combat illegal mining, and secure mining areas. The transitional government approved the creation of the brigade during a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday. The unit will operate nationwide, with judicial police powers, to monitor gold mining sites, report offences, and enforce mining regulations. Officials said the decision comes amid a surge in illegal gold extraction, mineral trafficking, and the use of prohibited chemicals in certain areas, which pose significant environmental and safety risks. Frequent accidents at artisanal mining sites and security challenges linked…

Gambia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abdoulie Jobe, has disclosed serious contractual and construction failures surrounding a multimillion-dalasi eco-lodge development programme intended to boost tourism in rural communities. Speaking before the National Assembly of the Gambia on Wednesday, the minister told lawmakers that several eco-lodge projects worth more than 118 million dalasis remain incomplete years after payments were made to the contractor. The revelation came during a question-and-answer session in response to a query from the member for Sami, Alfusainey Ceesay, who asked the minister to provide the status of eco-lodge developments, particularly the Mungo Park eco-tourism project in…

Ghana and South Korea have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening cooperation in maritime security, climate action and digital technology, as the two countries move to deepen economic and strategic ties. The agreements were finalised on Wednesday following bilateral talks between John Dramani Mahama and Lee Jae-myung, marking a new phase in relations between Ghana and South Korea. Speaking after the meeting, President Mahama said the agreements reflected the long-standing partnership between the two countries, underpinned by shared democratic values and a commitment to human rights. He noted that the relationship has enabled both nations to align…

Nigeria has suspended the issuance of new petrol import licences, saying increased domestic refining capacity is now sufficient to meet most of the country’s fuel demand. The decision was disclosed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in its February 2026 State of the Midstream and Downstream Fact Sheet, which highlighted a sharp rise in local supply, largely driven by output from the Dangote Refinery. According to the report, the refinery supplied an average of 36.5 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per day to the domestic market in February, while imports averaged about 3 million…

Senegal’s parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial amendment that doubles the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations to 10 years, introducing one of the region’s strictest anti-LGBTQ+ measures. The government-backed bill was passed overwhelmingly, with 135 lawmakers voting in favor, none opposing, and three abstaining. The law now awaits the president’s signature to come into effect. The legislation targets what the penal code defines as “acts against nature,” raising the previous maximum sentence from five years to a decade. It also increases fines for promoting homosexuality from 1.5 million CFA francs ($2,676) to 10 million CFA francs ($17,700), while prohibiting…

The Gambia’s Minister of Finance, Seedy Keita, said the country generated D747.3 million from mining activities between 2021 and 2025. The minister disclosed this on Wednesday, while responding to a question from Hon. Alhagie Mbowe, the National Assembly member for Upper Saloum. Mbowe asked the minister to provide details of revenue generated from the mining sector between 2021 and 2025, including the institutions involved, contributions made to host communities, and taxes paid by mining companies. In his response, Keita said revenues generated from the sector during the period amounted to over D747 Million . Mbowe also requested information on contributions…