Global Pulse

标签： Africa

非洲

  • UAE welcomes UN assessment mission to Sudan’s Al Fasher, calls for unhindered aid access

    UAE welcomes UN assessment mission to Sudan’s Al Fasher, calls for unhindered aid access

    The United Arab Emirates has formally welcomed the deployment of a United Nations assessment mission to Sudan’s besieged city of Al Fasher, characterizing the development as a critical advancement toward reestablishing humanitarian corridors for civilians trapped in the conflict-ridden region. Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, emphasized that this initial access must evolve into a consistent and reliable operational framework rather than merely symbolic gestures.

    Minister Al Hashimy articulated the urgent necessity for unimpeded aid distribution, stating that assistance must rapidly reach Al Fasher and extend to all vulnerable communities throughout Sudan. She stressed that such operations must adhere strictly to international humanitarian law while ensuring civilian protection. The UAE official further commended United States diplomatic leadership in facilitating the mission and acknowledged the extraordinary efforts of UN agencies, OCHA, and humanitarian partners operating under perilous conditions.

    In her statement, the minister issued a direct appeal to all conflict parties to permit comprehensive humanitarian access across all viable routes nationwide. She called for an immediate humanitarian truce without preconditions, noting that UAE stands prepared to activate its humanitarian logistics capabilities and operational hub resources to accelerate life-saving assistance delivery once access is secured.

    The UAE continues to collaborate with regional and international partners through multilateral frameworks including the Quad, advocating for sustained humanitarian access and an immediate nationwide ceasefire. Additionally, the Emirates has urged the international community to enhance financial support for OCHA and humanitarian organizations to scale operations commensurate with the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding across Sudan.

  • UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policy

    UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policy

    The United Kingdom has implemented stringent visa restrictions against citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo following unsuccessful negotiations regarding the repatriation of illegal migrants and foreign national offenders. This decisive action comes after the DRC government declined to implement necessary changes aligned with the UK’s recently overhauled asylum framework announced in November.

    According to ministerial statements, the Democratic Republic of Congo failed to meet requirements established under Britain’s strengthened asylum regulations. Consequently, fast-track visa processing for Congolese applicants has been suspended, and preferential treatment previously afforded to VIPs and political figures from the DRC has been revoked indefinitely.

    In contrast, the Home Office confirmed that Angola and Namibia have committed to enhanced cooperation regarding citizen repatriation, thereby avoiding similar sanctions. Both nations had initially faced identical threats alongside the DRC for inadequate collaboration on migration matters. A government insider revealed that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood remains prepared to extend visa bans to additional countries demonstrating reluctance to accept returning citizens.

    Officials characterized the agreements with Angola and Namibia as the inaugural success stemming from last month’s comprehensive asylum system reforms. These pacts are projected to facilitate the removal and deportation of thousands of individuals lacking legal residence status in the UK.

    The transformative asylum reforms include provisions establishing temporary refugee status, terminating guaranteed housing support for asylum seekers, and creating new capped ‘safe and legal routes’ for UK entry. Minister Mahmood had previously emphasized that visa penalties would target nations failing to cooperate with returns policies, including an ’emergency brake’ mechanism suspending visas for countries with elevated asylum claims until cooperation improves.

    Home Office investigations revealed that returns processes for the DRC, Angola, and Namibia were systematically obstructed through bureaucratic delays, including unprocessed paperwork and requirements for individuals to sign their own documentation—effectively granting them veto power over removals. While acknowledging some preliminary engagement from Congolese authorities, the UK government warned that additional measures, including a comprehensive visa ban, remain imminent unless cooperation improves substantially.

    Home Secretary Mahmood stated: ‘We expect all nations to adhere to established international rules. When their citizens no longer possess legal right to remain here, they must accept responsibility for their return. I express gratitude to Angola and Namibia for their constructive cooperation. The Democratic Republic of Congo now faces a clear choice: accept your citizens or forfeit entry privileges to our nation.’

  • Meet UAE teens who built app to save grandparents’ sea stories from being forgotten

    Meet UAE teens who built app to save grandparents’ sea stories from being forgotten

    Four ambitious Emirati high school students have pioneered an innovative artificial intelligence application dedicated to safeguarding the United Arab Emirates’ rich maritime legacy from fading into obscurity. Mohammed AlNuaimi and Khaled AlHammadi, both aged 17, alongside 16-year-old collaborators Saeed AlHashmi and Majid AlHammadi, invested two years developing Sanara—an iOS platform that transforms traditional fishing implements and marine artifacts into interactive cultural repositories.

    The application, named after the Arabic term for ‘fishing hook,’ employs sophisticated AI scanning technology that enables users to capture images of maritime objects through their smartphone cameras. The system instantly generates detailed explanations about the historical utilization and cultural relevance of each item. For example, when directed at a gargoor—a conventional fish trap—the application elucidates its functional purpose and historical significance within Emirati seafaring traditions.

    Despite commencing with no prior expertise in Swift programming language, the determined quartet from Grade 12 at Applied Technology High School mastered the necessary technical skills through self-directed learning. Their most formidable challenge involved perfecting the AI recognition mechanism, which required approximately two weeks of iterative testing and model retraining to achieve operational reliability.

    The development process extended far beyond digital research, incorporating ethnographic fieldwork at the Emirates Heritage Village and conducting in-depth interviews with community elders, including their own family members. The team even filmed their application presentation aboard a traditional dhow while adorned in authentic fishing attire to demonstrate their commitment to cultural authenticity.

    Beyond the core scanning functionality, Sanara incorporates educational modules covering pearl diving customs, traditional Nahma sea chants, regional marine biodiversity, and Reef Words—a vocabulary-based game centered on heritage terminology. Since its debut on the iOS App Store, the application has garnered approximately 1,000 global downloads, receiving positive feedback for its seamless integration of contemporary technology with cultural preservation.

    The project recently secured victory in the National iOS Design Competition organized by Sandooq Al Wattan, culminating in a showcase presentation at ADNEC. While the AI recognition system remains in beta phase with occasional identification inaccuracies, the developers continue to refine its capabilities. They intend to pursue further application enhancements post-graduation, aspiring to inspire younger Emiratis to engage with their maritime ancestry and ensure these oceanic narratives endure for future generations.

  • Dubai: Nervous Kyrgios, unfazed Sabalenka prepare for ‘Battle of the Sexes’

    Dubai: Nervous Kyrgios, unfazed Sabalenka prepare for ‘Battle of the Sexes’

    Dubai prepares to host a groundbreaking tennis spectacle as Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios and women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka gear up for a revolutionary ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition match at Coca-Cola Arena. The unprecedented encounter, scheduled for December 28, represents a modern reinterpretation of tennis’ most iconic cross-gender competition.

    During Saturday’s media engagement at Atlantis the Royal, the contrasting personalities of both athletes emerged distinctly. Kyrgios, known for his flamboyant court presence, revealed unusual vulnerability acknowledging pre-match nerves about facing the unknown under global scrutiny. Conversely, Sabalenka projected characteristic composure, stating her familiarity with pressure and social media dynamics while expressing desire for a competitive battle.

    The event commences with profound historical context, echoing the legendary 1973 match where Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs before 90 million viewers worldwide. However, organizers emphasize this contemporary iteration transcends mere competition, positioning itself as a cultural moment celebrating gender equality in sports rather than proving women’s capabilities.

    Competition will unfold on a specially configured ‘equaliser court’ featuring modified dimensions and single-serve regulations designed to emphasize tactical intelligence over raw power. Sabalenka humorously noted the adjustments favor her opponent, while Kyrgios countered that the format creates necessary competitive balance given their respective serving capabilities.

    Both athletes bring extraordinary credentials to the exhibition. Sabalenka recently achieved historic back-to-back US Open victories, while Kyrgios ranks among only three players to defeat all ‘Big Three’ legends—Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal. Despite their established careers, both competitors recognize this event’s unique significance in inspiring future generations and demonstrating sports’ unifying potential.

    With sold-out attendance anticipated and substantial digital engagement, Dubai reinforces its status as a hub for innovative sporting experiments. Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishments CEO Ahmed Al Khaja characterized the event as a historic convergence of diverse industries creating a memorable moment for global audiences.

    Beyond entertainment value, this match symbolizes tennis’ evolving landscape where gender, showmanship, and athletic excellence intersect to captivate worldwide attention through bold innovation.

  • Dubai Police warn of accident on E311 near Global Village

    Dubai Police warn of accident on E311 near Global Village

    Dubai Police authorities issued a public safety advisory on Saturday, December 27, 2025, following a traffic incident on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311). The collision occurred opposite Global Village on the Dubai-bound carriageway, prompting immediate police response and traffic management measures.

    Motorists traveling through the affected corridor were advised to exercise heightened caution and anticipate possible delays due to ongoing emergency operations. Police communications emphasized the importance of maintaining traffic flow and avoiding unnecessary slowdowns near accident sites.

    Authorities reiterated their longstanding warning against rubbernecking—the dangerous practice of slowing down to observe accident scenes. This behavior not only violates UAE traffic regulations carrying a financial penalty of Dh1,000 but also creates secondary hazards. Rubbernecking can impede emergency response teams attempting to reach collision sites and potentially trigger chain-reaction accidents, thereby exacerbating risks to public safety.

    The timely notification demonstrates Dubai Police’s continued commitment to proactive traffic management and accident prevention strategies. Such real-time advisories have become increasingly important on Dubai’s major roadways, particularly during peak travel periods and near high-traffic attractions like Global Village.

    Commuters were encouraged to monitor official channels for updates regarding traffic normalization and to adhere to all police directives when passing through affected areas.

  • Somalia, African nations condemn Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

    Somalia, African nations condemn Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

    A significant diplomatic rupture has emerged following Israel’s groundbreaking decision to formally recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state. The announcement, made on December 26th, has triggered vehement condemnation across Africa and from key regional players, escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa.

    Somalia’s government denounced the recognition as a ‘deliberate attack’ on its territorial integrity, asserting that Somaliland remains an inseparable part of its national territory. The African Union echoed this position, with Commissioner Mahamoud Ali Youssouf warning that Israel’s move risks ‘setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for continental peace and stability.’

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the decision as extending the spirit of the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements brokered by the Trump administration between Israel and several Arab nations. Netanyahu personally invited Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to visit Israel, highlighting potential economic partnerships. President Abdullahi hailed the development as a ‘historic moment’ and the beginning of a strategic partnership, sentiments celebrated by crowds in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa.

    The Palestinian Authority issued a sharp rebuke, alleging Israel had previously identified Somaliland as a potential relocation site for Palestinians from Gaza—a claim that adds another layer of controversy to the recognition. Regional powers including Turkey, Egypt, and Djibouti joined in condemning what they characterized as ‘overt interference’ in Somalia’s internal affairs, reaffirming their support for Somali unity.

    Strategic analysts suggest Israel’s move may be motivated by Red Sea security interests, particularly concerning countering Houthi influence from Yemen. Somaliland’s strategic location on the Gulf of Aden offers potential naval advantages. The recognition represents Israel’s continued efforts to expand diplomatic ties in Africa and the Middle East, though recent conflicts have complicated normalization efforts with several Arab states.

  • African regional bodies reject recognition of Somaliland by Israel

    African regional bodies reject recognition of Somaliland by Israel

    NAIROBI, Kenya — Continental governance institutions have issued forceful condemnations of Israel’s unprecedented recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, marking the first such international acknowledgment since the region declared autonomy from Somalia in 1991. The African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf declared Saturday that any recognition of Somaliland’s sovereignty constitutes a direct threat to continental peace and stability, reaffirming that the territory remains constitutionally part of Somalia.

    The diplomatic controversy emerged Friday when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced a joint declaration with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, framed within the context of the Abraham Accords normalization initiative. This move triggered immediate backlash from multiple African regional bodies and neighboring nations.

    Somalia’s federal government categorically rejected what it termed an ‘unlawful violation’ of its territorial integrity. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), East Africa’s primary political bloc, issued a statement emphasizing that unilateral recognition contravenes multiple international statutes including the UN Charter and African Union Constitutive Act.

    Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, currently mediating Israel-Hamas negotiations, joined the condemnation through social media channels, expressing full solidarity with Somalia’s sovereignty. The recognition timing remains diplomatically puzzling, though previous reports indicated Israeli officials had explored with Somaliland the potential resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza—a proposal since abandoned by the U.S. administration.

  • The best players who never won Afcon?

    The best players who never won Afcon?

    As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations captivates audiences in Morocco, a poignant narrative emerges—the tale of African football’s most celebrated talents who, despite legendary careers, never clinched the continent’s most coveted prize. BBC Sport Africa’s Ian Williams delves into the stories of five iconic players whose trophy cabinets remain incomplete without the Afcon title. The Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament brimming with passion and national pride, has historically eluded even some of the sport’s most extraordinary African athletes. These players, revered for their skill, dedication, and contributions to football, experienced the heartbreak of falling short on the continental stage. Their careers, otherwise decorated with club honors and individual accolades, are marked by this singular absence. Williams’ profile serves as both a tribute to their greatness and a reminder of football’s cruel unpredictability. The piece explores how factors ranging from formidable opponents to sheer misfortune prevented these stars from achieving international glory. As a new generation competes for the 2025 title, their stories underscore the immense difficulty of securing African football’s ultimate triumph and highlight how even brilliance offers no guarantee of tournament success.

  • Porcelains shine light on China-Kenya links

    Porcelains shine light on China-Kenya links

    On the historic island of Lamu, Kenya, where monsoon winds once guided merchant vessels to East African shores, archaeological evidence continues to illuminate a centuries-old narrative of transoceanic exchange. The Lamu Museum houses an extensive collection of Chinese porcelain artifacts—from Tang dynasty celadon to Ming dynasty blue-and-white ceramics—that testify to a trading relationship spanning over a thousand years.

    Curator Mohammed Mwenje explains that these porcelain fragments, primarily excavated from ancient Swahili settlements including Shanga, Manda, and Gedi, represent more than mere commercial transactions. “In the 17th through 19th centuries, owning Chinese porcelain symbolized status and prestige,” Mwenje notes. “Families utilized these artifacts for home decoration, tomb ornamentation, and impressing distinguished visitors.”

    The collection gains particular historical significance from its association with Admiral Zheng He’s legendary 15th-century voyages during the Ming Dynasty. The Chinese navigator’s fleet reached the East African coast approximately 620 years ago, leaving material evidence that challenges conventional timelines of Sino-African engagement.

    Beyond museum walls, local residents like Mansur Ile have become inadvertent custodians of this shared heritage. For fifteen years, Ile has meticulously gathered porcelain shards from abandoned homesteads and coastal areas, creating a personal archive that documents the region’s commercial past. Similarly, the Shee family in Siyu village preserves porcelain fragments handed down through generations, maintaining oral traditions that trace their ancestry to Chinese sailors.

    Archaeological potential remains largely untapped across Lamu’s ancient sites. Fishermen regularly recover ceramic jars from nearby waters, suggesting the possible existence of a significant shipwreck from China’s maritime era. Previous Sino-Kenyan archaeological collaborations attempted to locate such wreckage but were hampered by inadequate equipment and challenging oceanic conditions.

    Academic researchers like Rachel Maina from the University of Wisconsin-Madison are now exploring the sociocultural dimensions of these connections, examining how contemporary communities perceive their historical ties to China. Maina’s work seeks to complement archaeological findings with narratives from local perspectives.

    Despite imperial China’s withdrawal from large-scale maritime activities following the Ming voyages, the 20th century witnessed renewed diplomatic and cultural connections between China and Kenya after the latter’s independence in 1963. The porcelain collection in Lamu—currently mostly in storage—awaits comprehensive scholarly investigation and public exhibition to fully articulate its historical significance.

  • One general, one mathematician: The men competing for power in two African elections

    One general, one mathematician: The men competing for power in two African elections

    This Sunday marks a pivotal moment for two African nations as Guinea and the Central African Republic (CAR) conduct presidential elections under dramatically different political circumstances, yet with striking parallels in their incumbents’ pursuit of extended power.

    In the Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra seeks a controversial third term following constitutional amendments that eliminated term limits. The mathematician-turned-politician, initially elected as a consensus figure following periods of rebel rule, now faces opposition boycotts despite the unexpected participation of his main rival, Anicet-Georges Dologuélé. The landlocked nation, among Africa’s poorest, has endured decades of instability but maintains fragile multi-party politics with recent progress in rebel disarmament and a hybrid national-international court addressing human rights crimes.

    Meanwhile, Guinea presents a contrasting narrative of military transition. General Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted 83-year-old President Alpha Condé, now seeks constitutional legitimacy through elections. Despite allowing eight challengers, Doumbouya has dominated the campaign while excluding prominent opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo. His methodical constitutional review and maintained Western relations distinguish him from neighboring juntas that have embraced Russian partnerships.

    The elections carry significant implications for regional stability. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) views Guinea’s electoral process with relief following the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the bloc. Both nations’ transitions—despite concerns about democratic backsliding and human rights records—represent cautious steps toward normalization in a region battered by coups and jihadist insurgencies. International partners appear inclined to support these imperfect processes rather than risk further destabilization, particularly with Sudan’s conflict looming near CAR’s border and security challenges persisting across the Sahel.