Global Pulse

标签： Africa

非洲

  • Drone strike reportedly kills at least 1 person in the eastern Congo city of Goma

    Drone strike reportedly kills at least 1 person in the eastern Congo city of Goma

    GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo — A deadly drone assault struck the heart of Goma on Wednesday, resulting in at least one confirmed fatality and escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Congolese forces and M23 rebels. The explosions targeted areas near Lake Kivu and a private residence situated approximately 50 meters from the home of former President Joseph Kabila Kabange.

    According to M23 representatives and local witnesses, the attack claimed the life of Karine Buisset, a French national serving as a UNICEF employee who was present in the residence during the strike. While M23 officials reported three casualties, local residents confirmed observing only one body, and the exact death toll remains unverified.

    The rebel group immediately attributed responsibility for the drone strikes to the Congolese government, which has not issued any official response to the allegations. The incident has drawn international attention, with French President Emmanuel Macron expressing condolences to Buisset’s family and emphasizing the critical need to respect humanitarian law and protect aid workers in conflict zones.

    This attack represents the latest escalation in violence that has gripped eastern Congo since January 2025, when Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched rapid offensive operations across the region, capturing strategic urban centers. The conflict has persisted despite diplomatic intervention efforts led by the United States and Qatar, creating one of Africa’s most severe humanitarian emergencies with approximately 7 million displaced persons.

    The February drone strike that eliminated a key M23 spokesperson and operational commander demonstrated the increasing sophistication of aerial warfare in the conflict. Wednesday’s attack marks a significant geographical expansion of hostilities, bringing the violence directly to Goma’s urban center and threatening humanitarian operations throughout the region.

  • Chinese martial arts take root among Kenyan youths

    Chinese martial arts take root among Kenyan youths

    In the heart of Kiambu County, Kenya, a cultural phenomenon is taking root as Chinese martial arts transform the lives of young practitioners. Sixteen-year-old Kenyn Boro, known affectionately as ‘the Master’ among her peers, exemplifies this growing movement. Her dedication to wushu extends beyond personal practice to teaching classmates at her secondary school and even transforming her family living room into an impromptu training space where she instructs her mother and brothers in fundamental forms and tai chi after school hours.

    Boro’s nine-year journey in martial arts began at age seven, making her the sole remaining practitioner from her original beginner group. Her perseverance has yielded significant rewards, including three medals at the Kenya Wushu National Championships since 2021. Her mother, Ruth Wanjiru, observes that ‘Kung fu has made her responsible and highly disciplined,’ highlighting the character development accompanying physical training.

    This personal story reflects a broader national trend. The Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation reports that in Kiambu County alone, over 4,000 students across 24 public primary schools now practice through organized clubs. Federation President Ngaruiya Njonge, who began his own martial arts journey in 2000 under a China-trained local coach, believes wushu’s expansion into schools, institutions, and even the military could foster greater discipline and resilience nationwide.

    ‘Kung fu changes children in ways they can’t always describe,’ Njonge explains. ‘If they abandon it, they risk drifting into bad habits. That is why we keep encouraging them to train.’

    The federation’s growth to eight branches across major towns including Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Eldoret hasn’t been without challenges. Funding shortages and limited training venues constantly test the organization’s sustainability, with Njonge occasionally contemplating cessation. However, witnessing student transformations reinvigorates his mission: ‘I can see what I’ve taught them in their performances at the tournament. It’s alive—it wakes me up, again and again.’

    These efforts have blossomed into substantive cultural exchange with China. In September 2025, supported by the Chinese embassy in Nairobi, Njonge accompanied two students on an immersive trip to China where they trained under Chinese instructors, learned tai chi, and visited the legendary Shaolin Temple in Henan province.

    One participant, Elvis Munyasya, expressed admiration for Chinese practitioners’ skill level: ‘Wushu comes from China, and I was very excited to see how they train at modern schools there.’ His decade-long passion for martial arts, initially sparked by the 2008 film ‘The Forbidden Kingdom’ starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li, has now evolved into a desire to improve his Chinese language skills to deepen his understanding of wushu and enhance communication with Chinese instructors.

  • A Senegal boarding school that drew students from the US is at the center of an abuse investigation

    A Senegal boarding school that drew students from the US is at the center of an abuse investigation

    DAKAR, Senegal — An American-affiliated boarding school in Senegal faces serious allegations of physical abuse and mistreatment of students, prompting a major investigation by Senegalese authorities and international concern. The American Dara Academy, which marketed itself to U.S. families as an affordable institution combining Quranic studies with American curriculum, is now at the center of a child welfare scandal that has resulted in mass student withdrawals and campus closures.

    According to extensive accounts gathered by The Associated Press, students reported being subjected to brutal punishment techniques in a designated ‘magic room’ where supervisors allegedly beat disobedient pupils. Testimonies describe children being forced to strip to their underwear or remain naked while holding heavy rocks in stress positions, with intensified beatings administered if they failed to maintain the painful poses.

    Senegal’s national gendarmerie, child protective services (AEMO), and Ministry of Justice have launched a coordinated investigation into the institution. In late January, authorities arrested the school’s director—a dual American-Guinean citizen—and three administrators. The director has since been released to house arrest while investigations continue.

    The school enrolled 311 students across two campuses, including 120 U.S. citizens, predominantly children of West African immigrants born in America and Europe. A formal complaint from the U.S. Embassy in Dakar dated January 12 detailed severe corporal punishment incidents involving American students, identifying the director and administrators as primary perpetrators.

    Students described being beaten with sticks and steel rods on their legs, backs, genitals, and heads, with abusers allegedly targeting areas less likely to show visible marks. Victims reported receiving threats that their parents in the U.S. could face immigration consequences if they disclosed the abuse to authorities.

    The Toubab Dialaw campus, where most abuses occurred, has been closed after investigations revealed appalling conditions including trailer classrooms, no running water, frequent power outages, and makeshift zinc latrines. Approximately 250 students have withdrawn, with about 100 Americans returning to the U.S. Remaining students were transferred to the better-equipped Dakar campus, which now operates under police security.

    While Senegalese law permits limited corporal punishment in homes under ‘right of correction’ principles, the systematic nature of these alleged abuses and involvement of international students has elevated the case’s significance. UNICEF and children’s rights organizations have long documented the persistence of corporal punishment in Senegalese institutions despite partial legal restrictions.

    The Ministry of Justice confirms that children are now in official care and charges will be filed against those found responsible, though specific allegations remain undisclosed during the ongoing investigation.

  • Arrests, accusations and arguments – the Mugabe family after losing power

    Arrests, accusations and arguments – the Mugabe family after losing power

    The arrest of Bellarmine Mugabe, youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late president Robert Mugabe, has reignited global scrutiny of the controversial first family’s legacy. The 28-year-old appeared in a Johannesburg court for a bail hearing on attempted murder charges after allegedly shooting a 23-year-old man in an upscale suburb in mid-February.

    This incident represents the latest in a series of legal controversies surrounding the Mugabe offspring, who grew up shielded from Zimbabwe’s economic hardships while enjoying extraordinary privilege. According to Dumisani Muleya, managing editor of Zimbabwe’s NewsHawks website, the Mugabe children were “protected from the broader realities of the Zimbabwean political and socio-economic situation” throughout their upbringing.

    The family’s substantial wealth—including $10 million in cash, multiple properties, and extensive business holdings—was revealed in court documents following Robert Mugabe’s 2019 death. Despite Grace Mugabe’s 2013 claims that their wealth came from private business ventures rather than official corruption, the family’s lavish lifestyle frequently contrasted starkly with Zimbabwe’s widespread poverty.

    Bellarmine and his brother Robert Jr. have faced repeated legal troubles, particularly in South Africa. In 2017, Bellarmine sparked outrage by flaunting a $60,000 watch on social media just weeks before his father’s ouster. Both brothers have faced assault charges and have been evicted from luxury accommodations for disruptive behavior.

    The Mugabe matriarch Grace faces her own legal challenges, including an outstanding arrest warrant in South Africa for allegedly assaulting a model with an extension cord in 2017. Though she claimed diplomatic immunity at the time, the protection was revoked after her husband’s fall from power.

    While most family members have reconciled with Zimbabwe’s current government, Bellarmine’s ongoing legal troubles continue to highlight the complex legacy of a family that dominated Zimbabwean politics for nearly four decades.

  • Jihadis intensify attacks against Nigeria’s military, killing officers and carting away weapons

    Jihadis intensify attacks against Nigeria’s military, killing officers and carting away weapons

    ABUJA, Nigeria — In a significant escalation of violence, jihadi extremist factions have executed a series of coordinated assaults against Nigerian military installations in the northeastern region over the past week. Security analysts report these meticulously planned operations resulted in multiple casualties among defense forces and the seizure of substantial military assets.

    The intensified attacks, primarily concentrated in Borno and Yobe states as well as the Lake Chad basin, demonstrate unprecedented tactical coordination among militant groups. According to verified security assessments, extremists conducted at least six separate assaults during the weekend, successfully appropriating military vehicles and hardware during their raids.

    Military spokesperson Sani Uba confirmed the loss of several personnel, including officers, though precise casualty figures remain undisclosed. The Nigerian Armed Forces characterized these incidents as deliberate attempts to overwhelm defensive positions through synchronized offensive actions.

    This resurgence of violence occurs despite enhanced international support, including the deployment of approximately 100 U.S. military personnel providing training and logistical assistance under a renewed security partnership. While American intelligence surveillance has facilitated aerial campaigns against militant hideouts, the persistence of sophisticated attacks underscores the enduring operational capabilities of extremist networks.

    Analysts including Vincent Foucher of France’s National Center for Scientific Research note the remarkable coordination displayed in these simultaneous attacks represents a tactical evolution for groups like Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Video evidence disseminated by ISWAP showcases captured weaponry and vehicles, though independent verification remains pending.

    Security experts indicate these assaults serve dual purposes: demonstrating military dominance while replenishing armaments through targeted base raids. Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa observes that vulnerable military installations effectively provide armed groups with weapon procurement alternatives.

    The ongoing crisis highlights structural challenges in regional security governance, including limited force deployment capacity and the military’s necessity to rapidly transition between multiple conflict zones. Despite periodic successes against jihadist elements, the persistent vulnerability of bases continues to enable militant regrouping and rearmament.

  • African firms favor China for business deals

    African firms favor China for business deals

    A comprehensive survey by Standard Bank reveals a significant reorientation in African trade patterns, with businesses increasingly favoring China and Asian markets over traditional Western partners. The Africa Trade Barometer, which surveyed over 2,000 companies across 10 African nations representing 68% of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, indicates a pronounced pivot toward Eastern economic alliances.

    The data demonstrates that 35% of African enterprises now prefer Asia as their primary trading partner, with China maintaining its dominant position as the leading source of inputs for 67% of respondents. This preference is attributed to competitive pricing, extensive product variety, and exceptional supplier responsiveness from Chinese partners.

    Conversely, North America ranked as the least preferred trading partner, selected by merely 4% of businesses. Philip Myburgh, Head of Trade at Standard Bank’s business and commercial banking unit, identified high shipping costs and recent policy shifts as contributing factors to this decline. The expiration of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act in September 2025, coupled with new tariffs ranging from 10% to 30%, has accelerated this trade diversion.

    The research anticipates continued expansion of China-Africa trade relations, particularly as African economies depend on Chinese inputs to drive industrialization efforts. This outlook is strengthened by China’s recent announcement of implementing zero tariffs on goods from 53 African countries with diplomatic relations, effective May 1, 2026.

    Grace Mutembo, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, welcomed the tariff elimination as a transformative opportunity for African exporters. Zambia, which maintains longstanding economic ties with China including infrastructure projects like the Tanzania-Zambia Railway refurbishment, seeks to increase value addition in agriculture and mining before exporting to Chinese markets.

    Experts emphasize that African exporters must enhance production capacity and comply with technical requirements—including health standards, supply chain logistics, and financial arrangements—to fully capitalize on Chinese market access. Sandile Swana, former business lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, stressed the importance of understanding these comprehensive market requirements for successful trade engagement.

  • Madagascar military leader dissolves government in surprise move

    Madagascar military leader dissolves government in surprise move

    In a dramatic political development, Madagascar’s military ruler Colonel Michael Randrianirina has abruptly dissolved the national government, dismissing both the prime minister and the entire cabinet. The unexpected decision was announced through an official statement from the presidential spokesperson on Monday.

    The declaration stated that ‘the government has ceased its functions,’ indicating that Randrianirina will appoint a new prime minister in accordance with constitutional provisions. No explicit justification was provided for this sweeping governmental overhaul.

    Colonel Randrianirina originally assumed power last October following weeks of youth-led protests against former president Andry Rajoelina, who had secured a controversial third term in the 2023 elections. The demonstrations primarily addressed chronic shortages of electricity and clean water, eventually gaining military support that facilitated the transfer of power.

    The military leader had previously committed to organizing fresh elections within a two-year timeframe. This pledge aligned with demands from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which had instructed Madagascar’s authorities to present a detailed roadmap for democratic restoration by February’s end.

    However, the recent dissolution suggests potential complications in the transition process. Leaders of the Gen Z movement, whose grassroots activism contributed to Randrianirina’s rise, have expressed dissatisfaction with the current administration’s inclusivity and representation in decision-making bodies.

    Local media reports indicate that activist groups identifying as Gen Z and Gen Y movements recently issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding Randrianirina’s resignation, citing disappointment with his governance performance. These groups had previously rejected the October appointment of businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as prime minister, criticizing the selection process as non-transparent and questioning his connections to the previous administration.

    With permanent secretaries temporarily managing ministerial operations until a new cabinet forms, this governmental dissolution potentially signals a significant recalibration of Madagascar’s political trajectory under military leadership.

  • Q&A: Activists, ‘sister-friends’ Gloria Steinem and Leymah Gbowee channel their bond into a new book

    Q&A: Activists, ‘sister-friends’ Gloria Steinem and Leymah Gbowee channel their bond into a new book

    In an extraordinary convergence of activist legacies, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee and feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem have transformed their transcontinental friendship into an inspirational children’s book. Their collaboration, “Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together For All,” represents both a dual biography and a call to action for future generations.

    The relationship between the Liberian peace activist and the American feminist icon began two decades ago through filmmaker Abigail Disney, who documented Gbowee’s peace movement work. Despite their different continents and distinct activist battles—Gbowee’s focus on peace and women’s rights in Liberia versus Steinem’s lifelong feminism advocacy—their connection proved instantaneous and profound.

    “I was just starstruck,” Gbowee confessed regarding her first encounter with Steinem, while the 91-year-old activist countered that Gbowee herself had become a “global celebrity” since winning the 2011 Nobel Prize for her transformative work in Liberia.

    The book, illustrated by Kah Yangni, traces both women’s childhoods: Steinem’s unconventional education traveling across America in a trailer with her antique-dealer father, and Gbowee’s upbringing in Liberia’s timber-rich landscape. It chronicles their parallel discoveries of injustice and their subsequent commitments to activism.

    A pivotal moment in their friendship occurred during an Easter Sunday conversation in 2009 when Gbowee questioned her place in the feminist movement. Steinem’s kitchen-table wisdom about the necessity of supportive “sisters” provided the emotional sustenance that sustained their bond and ultimately inspired this literary project.

    Conceived during pandemic isolation, the book intentionally bridges generational and geographical divides. While technically targeted at ages 11 and up, both authors emphasize its universal message of love, acceptance, and activism that resonates across gender and age boundaries. The work stands as testament to how shared commitment to social justice can forge powerful connections that span oceans and decades.

  • Guinea opposition leader urges ‘direct resistance’ after 40 parties dissolved

    Guinea opposition leader urges ‘direct resistance’ after 40 parties dissolved

    Guinea’s political landscape faces unprecedented consolidation as authorities dissolved 40 opposition parties in a sweeping decree, prompting exiled opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo to declare open political warfare against President Mamady Doumbouya’s administration.

    The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization issued the late Friday decree shuttering headquarters and local offices of numerous political organizations, including the Rally of the People of Guinea (associated with former President Alpha Condé) and Diallo’s Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea. The government mandate additionally prohibits using dissolved parties’ logos, acronyms, and symbols while confiscating all organizational assets.

    Official justification cites non-compliance with legal requirements, specifically failure to submit mandatory financial statements. However, multiple affected parties vehemently dispute these allegations, maintaining full compliance with all legal obligations according to Reuters reports.

    This dramatic political purge occurs merely two months after former junta leader Doumbouya formalized his presidential position through a contested election that excluded key opposition figures. Diallo, responding via social media video statement on Sunday, characterized the decree as a declaration of war against political dissent, asserting that “the head of the junta and his malevolent clique want to rewrite the country’s history by erasing from the political landscape all forces likely to overshadow his nascent one-party state.”

    The opposition leader concluded that peaceful political change through dialogue or democratic processes has become impossible, leaving “direct resistance” as the sole remaining path toward change. Jean-Marc Telliano, former minister and president of the dissolved Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea, similarly pledged to pursue all legal avenues to restore political rights.

    Doumbouya, who seized power through a 2021 coup overthrowing President Condé, faces mounting international criticism for systematically dismantling democratic institutions and suppressing political freedoms since assuming control.

  • Ghana calls on Commonwealth to condemn attack on its peacekeepers in Lebanon

    Ghana calls on Commonwealth to condemn attack on its peacekeepers in Lebanon

    Ghana has issued a formal appeal to the Commonwealth for a decisive condemnation of Friday’s missile strike targeting United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, which left four Ghanaian soldiers wounded. The attack occurred at approximately 18:00 local time, striking a base of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) where the Ghanaian battalion was stationed.

    Addressing Commonwealth counterparts at a meeting in London on Sunday, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa characterized the assault as “an attack on every principle that the UN Charter exists to defend.” While not explicitly attributing responsibility, Ablakwa emphasized the urgent need for investigation and accountability.

    The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed all injured personnel are in stable condition, with three sustaining minor injuries. One critically wounded soldier successfully underwent surgical procedures and is reportedly responding well to treatment.

    Social media documentation revealed extensive damage to battalion facilities, with videos showing significant structural impact and fires at the peacekeeping compound.

    The incident occurs amid escalating cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. While Lebanese President Joseph Aoun attributed the strike to Israel, Ghanaian officials have maintained diplomatic caution regarding attribution. The Iranian-backed Shia group had previously claimed rocket and drone attacks targeting Haifa, Israel, citing retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Ghana’s foreign ministry has formally lodged a protest with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who echoed calls for accountability, stating “those responsible must be held accountable.” As one of the longest-standing contributors to UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, Ghana’s appeal carries significant weight in international diplomatic circles.