Global Pulse

标签： Africa

非洲

  • Kenyan police investigate alleged disappearance of ex-foreign minister

    Kenyan police investigate alleged disappearance of ex-foreign minister

    Kenyan authorities have launched a high-priority investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Raphael Tuju, the nation’s former Foreign Minister, who vanished under circumstances suggesting possible abduction. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when Tuju and his driver were en route to a scheduled radio interview in Nairobi.

    According to official police reports, the former minister’s vehicle was discovered abandoned with its hazard lights activated along a roadway in Karen, an affluent suburb of the capital. Authorities noted that all attempts to contact Tuju proved futile as his mobile phone remained switched off.

    The disappearance unfolds against the backdrop of an intense legal confrontation involving Tuju’s substantial business assets. Court documents reveal a protracted financial dispute with lenders seeking to recover approximately $15 million in outstanding debts linked to properties owned by Dari Limited, a company under Tuju’s ownership. Despite multiple legal petitions, Tuju has been unsuccessful in preventing the auction of these properties.

    In recent developments, Tuju had formally reported to police that he was being followed by an unmarked vehicle prior to his disappearance. He had also publicly alleged that dozens of police officers forcibly took control of his Karen property, ejecting his staff and security personnel. The former minister contended that influential government officials were orchestrating efforts to seize his assets, though these claims remain unaddressed by state authorities.

    Police have established a specialized task force coordinating with multiple government agencies to locate the missing statesman. In an official statement, law enforcement urged public cooperation while simultaneously requesting that Tuju’s family provide unrestricted access to relevant locations and information.

    The case has drawn significant political attention, with prominent opposition figures openly speculating about state involvement in Tuju’s disappearance. Governor James Orengo explicitly characterized the incident as a kidnapping, while Lawmaker Otiende Amollo demanded immediate police action to ensure Tuju’s safety and return.

  • Work begins to connect Kenya, Uganda via rail

    Work begins to connect Kenya, Uganda via rail

    In a landmark event for East African infrastructure development, Kenyan President William Ruto and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni have officially launched construction on the critical Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting their nations. The ceremony in Kisumu, Kenya, marks the commencement of the 107-kilometer Kisumu-Malaba segment that will complete the nearly 1,000-kilometer rail corridor stretching from Mombasa’s Indian Ocean port to the Ugandan border.

    The project, stalled for six years due to funding challenges, represents a significant revival of regional integration ambitions. President Museveni emphasized the strategic importance for landlocked Uganda, stating: ‘Transport is very critical for us. Rail transport is essential for heavy cargo over long distances.’ He further highlighted that the railway would extend benefits beyond the two nations to Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    President Ruto framed the project as transformative for East Africa’s economic geography, drawing parallels with the historic Uganda Railway built over a century ago that connected Mombasa to inland East Africa and spurred the development of cities like Nairobi. ‘Infrastructure development does not just connect places; it often creates them,’ Ruto declared. ‘It determines where opportunity lives, where investment flows and where prosperity takes root.’

    The SGR extension continues Kenya’s infrastructure partnership with China, with Chinese contractors having built the Mombasa-Nairobi and Nairobi-Naivasha sections using primarily Chinese financing. Song Hailiang, Chairman of China Communications Construction Company, identified the project as a key Belt and Road initiative, committing to ‘high standards of quality and efficiency’ in its construction.

    Since its initial launch in 2017, the SGR has already transported over 15 million passengers and 45 million metric tons of freight, reducing logistics costs and alleviating highway congestion. The new extension is expected to further stimulate economic activity along the corridor through the development of industrial parks, logistics hubs, and enhanced agricultural trade access.

  • Kenyans fighting illegally for Russia in Ukraine to be granted amnesty

    Kenyans fighting illegally for Russia in Ukraine to be granted amnesty

    In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Kenya has successfully negotiated the safe return and amnesty for hundreds of its citizens who were illegally recruited to fight for Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi announced the agreement following high-level talks in Moscow, marking a pivotal resolution to a six-month crisis that has affected numerous African nations.

    The Kenyan government estimates that approximately 252 citizens were unlawfully conscripted through deceptive recruitment schemes that promised lucrative civilian employment in Russia. Instead, these individuals found themselves coerced into military service, often signing contracts in Russian without comprehension of the terms. Many reported being forcibly deployed to front-line combat operations in Ukraine.

    Minister Mudavadi’s negotiations yielded multiple critical concessions from Moscow: immediate cessation of further Kenyan recruitment through Russia’s ‘stop list’ mechanism, disengagement and repatriation for those unwilling to continue fighting, and medical care for wounded personnel. Current statistics indicate 44 Kenyans have already returned home, while 11 remain missing or confirmed killed in action. Another 38 are hospitalized under restricted access in Russian medical facilities, with approximately 160 still actively deployed.

    The resolution carries particular significance given Kenya’s legal framework that prohibits citizens from serving in foreign armies without presidential authorization or dual citizenship status. Violations of Section 68 of the Kenyan penal code carry potential ten-year prison sentences, making the amnesty provision essential for returning fighters.

    This development follows intensified pressure from affected families and reveals a broader pattern of recruitment across Africa. Ukrainian intelligence assessments suggest over 1,700 individuals from 36 African countries have been recruited by Russian forces. Recent parallel incidents include South Africa’s repatriation of 17 citizens from Ukraine’s Donbas region under similar circumstances.

    Both nations have committed to enhanced cooperation against human trafficking and illegal recruitment networks, with Kenyan authorities having already shuttered more than 600 suspicious recruitment agencies. The agreement represents a notable diplomatic achievement in protecting vulnerable workers from exploitation in global conflict zones.

  • Sudan army denies deadly Eid strike on key hospital in Darfur

    Sudan army denies deadly Eid strike on key hospital in Darfur

    A devastating aerial strike on el-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur state has killed 64 people and injured 89 others, including 13 children and medical staff, according to World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The attack occurred on Friday night during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, marking one of the deadliest assaults on healthcare facilities in Sudan’s nearly three-year civil war.

    The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which controls the western Darfur region, accused the Sudanese military of conducting a drone strike that destroyed the hospital’s top floor and critical emergency departments. The army issued an official denial, expressing surprise at the allegations and claiming adherence to international humanitarian laws.

    WHO verification confirms this attack brings the total documented healthcare facility assaults to 213 since conflict erupted in April 2023, resulting in 2,036 fatalities. Dr. Tedros declared the hospital completely non-functional, depriving thousands of civilians in East Darfur and surrounding villages of essential medical services. He implored combatants to cease targeting medical infrastructure, stating: ‘Enough blood has been spilled. Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine.’

    The conflict originated from a power struggle between former allies—the national military and RSF paramilitaries—who jointly seized power in a 2021 coup. Current UN statistics indicate over 150,000 fatalities and approximately 12 million displaced persons, representing nearly one-third of Sudan’s population. The United Nations has classified the situation as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

    East Darfur’s strategic significance has intensified as it serves as a crucial corridor connecting RSF-controlled western territories to the capital Khartoum, which the army recaptured last year. The bordering Kordofan region has emerged as a new frontline with near-daily drone strikes.

    The Emergency Lawyers rights group has demanded an independent investigation and accountability for perpetrators. Eid celebrations across Sudan were notably subdued this year amid ongoing violence, despite US-led peace initiatives showing minimal progress in resolving what has become one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts for civilians.

  • Africa’s solar boom faces higher costs as China cuts export subsidies

    Africa’s solar boom faces higher costs as China cuts export subsidies

    NAIROBI, Kenya — China’s strategic move to eliminate value-added tax rebates on solar panel exports and gradually phase out manufacturing incentives for battery storage equipment is poised to increase renewable energy costs across Africa, where nations heavily depend on Chinese technology imports.

    The policy changes, scheduled to take effect April 1 for solar panels and progressively through 2027 for batteries, emerge as Chinese manufacturers face mounting financial pressures after intense competition drove solar module prices down to historic lows. This price war saw costs plummet from $0.25 per watt in 2022 to just $0.07 per watt by 2025, dramatically accelerating global solar adoption but leaving many companies with substantial losses.

    Energy experts project the removal of VAT rebates will establish a firmer global price floor rather than cause immediate price shocks. “We anticipate gradual price increases rather than dramatic spikes,” explained John van Zuylen, CEO of the Africa Solar Industry Association. “The entire recent solar boom was built on artificially cheap Chinese pricing. That era is now ending.”

    African nations already pay premium prices for solar equipment due to transportation complexities, smaller import volumes, and various tariffs. Wangari Muchiri, an Africa-focused clean energy analyst, noted that “removing the rebate will add to existing costs, especially when considering shipping, logistics, and other import fees.”

    The battery storage sector faces particular challenges as incentives phase out through 2027. Van Zuylen emphasized that “batteries matter more than panels for Africa because storage is what makes solar reliable for off-grid and backup users.” Higher costs may disproportionately affect smaller users and could delay project timelines due to supply chain adjustments and stockpiling rushes.

    Despite these headwinds, solar energy is expected to maintain its competitive advantage across much of the continent. “Even with higher panel prices, solar will remain significantly cheaper than alternatives like diesel,” Muchiri affirmed. Solar currently supplies approximately 3% of Africa’s power generation, with demand continuing to grow as storage technologies improve reliability.

    The policy shift has drawn attention to Africa’s limited local manufacturing capacity and heavy dependence on Chinese imports. Basil Abia, co-founder of Nigerian energy research firm Truva Intelligence, suggested that “countries that use this moment to accelerate local manufacturing will emerge stronger. Those that do not will remain exposed to Beijing’s next industrial policy adjustment.”

    Industry leaders characterize the changes as significant but manageable, noting that while the VAT removal may slow Africa’s clean energy transition, it is unlikely to reverse the continent’s steady progress toward renewable energy adoption.

  • ‘Peace is a gradual thing’: How land, cattle and identity fuel a deadly Nigerian conflict

    ‘Peace is a gradual thing’: How land, cattle and identity fuel a deadly Nigerian conflict

    In the heart of Nigeria’s Plateau State, a complex humanitarian crisis unfolds against a backdrop of historical tensions and competing narratives. The April 2025 nighttime assault on Zike village, where 52 members of the Christian Irigwe community perished, represents just one episode in a decades-long cycle of violence that has claimed thousands of lives.

    Eyewitness Joseph Ize Zino recounts the terror of that night: ‘Around midnight, I heard the first gunshots. All of us in the house, we ran. That was how we survived.’ As he hid in surrounding fields, he heard attackers chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while proclaiming ‘We will finish them today.’

    The conflict defies simple characterization. While Christian communities describe targeted persecution, Muslim Fulani herders tell mirror stories of victimization. Ardo Wada Waziri, a 70-year-old Fulani elder, remembers the 2001 violence that shattered generations of coexistence: ‘The Irigwe youth just went into our settlements and set them on fire. Fifty-two of our people were killed.’ His own son fell victim to an ambush mere months ago.

    Beneath surface-level religious tensions lies a multifaceted struggle over land rights, political representation, and economic survival. The state’s classification system creates entrenched divisions—’indigenes’ (predominantly Christian farmers) receive preferential access to resources, while ‘settlers’ (including Muslim Fulani with generations of residence) face systemic marginalization.

    The competition for diminishing resources intensifies as Nigeria’s population grows. Traditional symbiotic relationships between farmers and herders have deteriorated into violent confrontations. Aliyu Abdullahi Isa, a 25-year-old Fulani herder, explains the economic stakes: ‘A cow is worth around 1 million naira ($700)—that represents a family’s wealth built over generations.’ His family lost everything when attackers killed 37 cattle and stole 48 others, murdering his 14-year-old brother in the process.

    Despite the violence, islands of coexistence persist. In Mista Ali, Chief Dr Danladi Akinga Kasuwa demonstrates how determined leadership can prevent conflict escalation. ‘Muslim, Christian, no problem. The Fulani are our brothers, the indigenes are our brothers, all,’ declares the Christian traditional ruler who immediately convened community leaders during the 2001 violence to prevent local spillover.

    International involvement adds another dimension to the conflict. Recent US military intervention—including missile strikes against suspected Islamist hideouts and deployment of 200 training personnel—has focused primarily on combating extremist groups rather than addressing underlying communal tensions.

    Grassroots initiatives offer glimmers of hope. British-funded agricultural projects bring together farmers and herders from opposing communities. As Berom farmer Amos explains while working alongside Fulani friend Abdullahi: ‘We are all together, Berom and Fulani. That’s unity. We want to live together in peace like it was before.’

    The path to lasting peace remains fraught with challenges. Jacob Choji Pwakim, founder of Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse, identifies how criminal elements profit from instability: ‘Some people do not want peace restored because they benefit from it—cattle rustling, robbery, kidnapping.’

    Ultimately, the solution may lie in local relationships rather than national policies. As Abdullahi observes while working alongside former adversaries: ‘We have started to see change.’ Amos adds: ‘Peace is a gradual thing that you build and build. We will continue until we get a perfect peace.’

  • Rwanda batter becomes youngest women’s T20 centurion

    Rwanda batter becomes youngest women’s T20 centurion

    In a spectacular display of youthful talent, 15-year-old Rwandan cricketer Fanny Utagushimaninde has rewritten the history books with a record-shattering performance at the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20 Tournament in Lagos. The opening batter scored an unbeaten 111 runs from just 65 deliveries on her international debut, propelling Rwanda to a commanding 122-run victory against Ghana.

    Utagushimaninde’s remarkable innings established two significant international records: she became the youngest woman ever to score a Twenty20 international century at 15 years and 223 days, surpassing the previous record held by Uganda’s Prosscovia Alako. Additionally, her 111-run tally now stands as the highest individual score by any woman on their T20 debut, exceeding Australian Karen Rolton’s 96 against England in 2005.

    The teenage prodigy reached her century in the 18th over with a clip through mid-wicket off Ghana seamer Elizabeth Annor, completing the milestone in just 59 balls. Her dominant performance helped Rwanda post an imposing total of 210-3 from their 20 overs, which proved insurmountable for Ghana who managed only 88-8 in response.

    Utagushimaninde, who developed her skills through a schools program supported by the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation, described the achievement as “a dream” moment in her cricketing journey. She attributed her success to relentless hard work, confidence, and passion for the sport while expressing gratitude to coaches, teammates, and supporters.

    Rwanda coach Leonard Nhamburo praised the historic performance as a testament to both Utagushimaninde’s dedication and the growing development of cricket in Rwanda. The record for youngest men’s T20 century remains with France’s Gustav Mckeon, who was 18 years and 280 days when he scored 109 against Switzerland in 2022.

  • Megaproject expected to unlock vast potential

    Megaproject expected to unlock vast potential

    Kenya has inaugurated a monumental infrastructure endeavor—the 263-kilometer Standard Gauge Railway extension from Naivasha to Kisumu—designed to catalyze economic transformation in the nation’s western regions. This strategic project connects to the existing Chinese-built Nairobi-Mombasa line, creating an integrated transport network that penetrates Kenya’s agricultural heartlands while extending toward vital trade routes across East and Central Africa.

    President William Ruto emphasized the project’s critical role in consolidating Kenya’s position as the logistical nexus for the region during Thursday’s launch ceremony in Narok. “A railway terminating at Naivasha remains incomplete,” Ruto stated, “as it fails to reach western Kenya’s primary production zones or integrate with Kisumu’s lake transport ecosystem on Lake Victoria.”

    The railway’s implementation addresses pressing logistical challenges. Current transport inefficiencies see cargo from Mombasa Port requiring over 100 hours to reach Kampala, Uganda, despite nearly 70% of the port’s 7.37 million metric tons of first-half 2023 cargo being Uganda-bound. The new corridor will directly link Nairobi’s industrial district with key agricultural zones—Narok, Bomet, Kericho, and Nyamira—before terminating at Kisumu’s commercial hub.

    Economic revitalization stands as a central objective. Western Kenya produces substantial tea, maize, sugar, and rice harvests, while Lake Victoria sustains extensive fishing industries. The railway is projected to reduce transport costs, increase freight capacity, generate employment during construction, and alleviate road congestion by transitioning cargo from trucks to rail.

    China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) will execute the project as part of the Belt and Road Initiative framework. Chairman Song Hailiang committed to implementing enhanced environmental safeguards, building upon the ecological protection model established by the Nairobi-Mombasa line—a project previously recognized by the UN Environment Programme. “Green design and low-carbon construction will be implemented throughout the route,” Song affirmed, “with alignment optimized to avoid ecologically sensitive areas.”

    Kenyan officials highlighted the project’s significance for regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, anticipating strengthened trade connections across East and Central Africa through this transformative infrastructure development.

  • Secretive deal leaves deportees from the US stuck in Equatorial Guinea with ‘no more hope’

    Secretive deal leaves deportees from the US stuck in Equatorial Guinea with ‘no more hope’

    In a controversial immigration enforcement practice, the United States has been deporting migrants with legal protection status to third countries through clandestine agreements with authoritarian regimes. A 28-year-old East African refugee experienced this firsthand when, despite a U.S. immigration judge granting him protection under the Convention Against Torture, he was forcibly transferred to Equatorial Guinea—a West African petrostate with no asylum system.

    The refugee, who fled ethnic persecution in his home country, spent 13 months in U.S. detention centers before being handcuffed and placed on a charter flight operated by Omni Air International. He is among 29 individuals from nine African nations currently detained in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, where they face inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and pressure to return to the dangerous countries they originally fled.

    This practice stems from secretive agreements between the Trump administration and at least seven African nations, including Equatorial Guinea, which received $7.5 million according to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A February report revealed the U.S. has spent approximately $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to third countries—a legal maneuver that immigration experts describe as circumventing U.S. and international laws protecting refugees from being returned to life-threatening situations.

    Meredyth Yoon, litigation director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, stated: ‘The U.S. is deporting people to third countries to circumvent laws that forbid sending a person to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened. Once deported, these individuals face impossible alternatives: indefinite detention without access to counsel, or forced deportation to the very countries they fled from.’

    The Department of Homeland Security defended the actions, stating all deportees ‘received due process and had a final order of removal,’ while denying allegations of coercion or physical abuse by ICE officers. Meanwhile, UNHCR reports it is assisting Equatorial Guinea in developing an asylum system, though currently no protection framework exists for those stranded in what refugees describe as a hopeless limbo.

  • Uganda reintroduces rhinos into a protected area where they have been extinct since 1983

    Uganda reintroduces rhinos into a protected area where they have been extinct since 1983

    In a landmark conservation achievement, Ugandan wildlife authorities have successfully reintroduced rhinoceroses to Kidepo Valley National Park after four decades of local extinction. This ambitious rewilding initiative represents a significant victory in the ongoing battle to restore species decimated by poaching activities.

    The translocation operation, executed this week, involved transporting multiple southern white rhinos from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in central Uganda to the northeastern protected area spanning over 400 kilometers. The first two specimens arrived on Tuesday, followed by additional animals on Thursday, all carefully transported in specialized metallic crates designed for their safety during the lengthy journey.

    James Musinguzi, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, heralded the achievement as “the beginning of a new rhino story for Kidepo Valley National Park,” acknowledging the crucial support from conservation partners who provided technical expertise, financial backing, and logistical coordination.

    The reintroduction program benefits from extensive preparation, with the new rhino habitat featuring comprehensive infrastructure including protective fencing, access roads, and fire management systems. Conservation authorities plan to expand the population further later this year with additional transfers, potentially including specimens from Kenya.

    Jeff Morgan of Global Conservation, one of the participating organizations, emphasized the broader significance: “This translocation demonstrates Uganda’s renewed stability for tourism, enhanced national park protections, and offers both local citizens and international visitors the extraordinary opportunity to observe rhinos in their natural environment.”

    Despite these advances, conservation challenges persist. Poaching remains an ongoing concern in Uganda’s protected areas, though intensified security measures have substantially reduced incidents. Rhinos continue to be targeted for their horns, which command exorbitant prices in illegal wildlife markets—sometimes exceeding the value of gold—primarily driven by demand for medicinal and ornamental purposes in certain Asian markets.