Africa

Deadly clashes in Sudan’s Darfur region leave scores dead, many wounded

Published

6 months ago

May 28, 2024

Deadly clashes in Sudan’s Darfur region leave scores dead, many wounded

Khartoum, Sudan – More than two weeks of fierce fighting between Sudan’s military and the notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over control of the major city of el-Fasher in western Darfur have resulted in at least 123 fatalities and over 930 injuries, an international aid group reported on Sunday.

Doctors Without Borders described the violence in el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, as indicative of the brutal intensity of the conflict and called on the warring factions to take greater measures to protect civilians.

The clashes, which escalated earlier this month, have forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. El-Fasher has emerged as a focal point of the confrontation between the military and the RSF, supported by Arab militias commonly referred to as janjaweed, and stands as the last stronghold under military control in the vast Darfur region.

Sudan’s conflict erupted in April last year following escalating tensions between military leaders and the RSF, leading to widespread violence and displacement across the country. The unrest has claimed over 14,000 lives, with thousands more wounded, amidst reports of rampant sexual violence and other atrocities.

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The dire situation has pushed Sudan’s population to the brink of famine, with the UN food agency warning of the imminent risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and other regions if humanitarian aid is not permitted to reach those in need.

The RSF has bolstered its forces in recent months, intensifying efforts to seize control of el-Fasher. Alongside its militia allies, the RSF has encircled the city and launched significant offensives on its southern and eastern fronts.

Renewed clashes erupted on Thursday in the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons in the Salam neighbourhood, as well as in the city’s southwestern areas, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration.

The violence escalated further on Saturday when a shell struck the residence of an aid worker from Doctors Without Borders near the main market, resulting in the aid worker’s death.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, condemned the “tragic” killing and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

With hundreds of thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire, Nkweta-Salami emphasized the urgent need for peace and urged all parties involved to prioritise the protection of civilians and facilitate unhindered humanitarian access to affected areas.

Deadly clashes in Sudan’s Darfur region leave scores dead, many wounded

Africa

Ex-Liberian warlord, Prince Johnson, dies at 72

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2024

Trends Admin

Prince Johnson, a former Liberian warlord

Ex-Liberian warlord, Prince Johnson, dies at 72

Prince Johnson, a former Liberian warlord infamous for his role in the gruesome killing of ex-president Samuel Doe during Liberia’s civil war, has died at the age of 72.

“It is true that he died this morning,” confirmed family member Moses Ziah to Reuters on Thursday.

Family spokesperson Wilfred Bangura also verified that Johnson, who had been managing high blood pressure, passed away earlier in the day.

Johnson gained international notoriety during Liberia’s brutal civil wars, which spanned from 1989 to 2003 and left over 200,000 dead, with thousands more subjected to rape and mutilation. More than one million people were displaced by the violence.

His rise to infamy was cemented in 1990, when a widely circulated video showed him presiding over the torture and execution of President Doe. The footage captured Johnson drinking beer and watching as his men cut off Doe’s ear before killing him.

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In later years, Johnson expressed remorse for Doe’s murder and sought to reconcile with the late president’s family.

Despite being named by Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission as one of those responsible for war crimes—including killings and sexual violence—Johnson was never prosecuted.

After the war, he transitioned into politics, becoming a senator for Nimba County in 2006. Over the years, Johnson wielded considerable influence in Liberia’s presidential elections.

In 2011, he endorsed former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and in 2017, he supported George Weah in his victory over Joseph Boakai. By 2023, however, Johnson had switched allegiance back to Boakai, who defeated Weah in a run-off election.

Ex-Liberian warlord, Prince Johnson, dies at 72

Africa

ECOWAS small business group proposes railway corridor for member states

Published

5 days ago

November 25, 2024

Trends Admin

ECOWAS small business group proposes railway corridor for member states

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the ECOWAS region, under the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC), have called for the establishment of a railway corridor linking all member countries, alongside the existing road network.

The proposal was made at the end of their inaugural exhibition and workshop, which took place from November 21 to November 23 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the event, organized by the ESBC in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission and Ivory Coast’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, brought together small business operators from across the region.

The coalition highlighted the challenges faced by SMEs in transporting goods and services within the ECOWAS subregion.

They emphasized the need for better communication and a clearer understanding of cross-border trade obligations, as well as improvements in the movement of goods and people.

While ECOWAS has confirmed the free movement of goods and people under existing protocols, it clarified that such movements still require compliance with formalities and customs duties.

Addressing transportation and trade barriers

NAN reports that during the workshop, members of the ESBC presented a range of proposals to address transportation challenges.

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They called for an end to cross-border harassment and corruption, which they attributed to the imposition of unnecessary taxes.

They also suggested that local Small Business Coalitions (SBCs) should be empowered to issue certificates of origin to entrepreneurs to streamline trade processes.

Additionally, the coalition proposed the establishment of online training platforms for SBCs to enhance their capacity to support SMEs.

Proposals for improving access to information and financing

The coalition also noted the importance of access to information for the success of SMEs and urged them to take advantage of policies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ECOWAS frameworks.
They called for greater awareness of these initiatives to help SMEs navigate trade barriers.
Furthermore, reports inform that the coalition underscored the need for the harmonization of fiscal policies across the ECOWAS region and advised SMEs to choose suitable business models and consult advisory firms for better guidance.

Innovation and sustainable development for SMEs

The coalition also discussed the need for greater innovation and sustainability in the region’s SMEs to enhance their competitiveness.
They proposed training programs focused on certification, efficient technology transfer, and increased research to help businesses expand across borders.
Despite the availability of financing mechanisms for SMEs, the coalition pointed out that many small businesses struggle to access these funds due to inadequate resources and poor absorption capacity.
In response, they suggested focusing on promoting new business models suited to African realities and learning from the BRICS nations’ approach to economic development.

Future initiatives for strengthening SMEs

ESBC proposed several initiatives to further support SMEs in the region.
These included the creation of an ESBC television network to raise awareness, the establishment of a dedicated bank for SME financing, and the development of strategies to encourage a common currency within ECOWAS.
They also called for the removal of customs and monetary barriers and the establishment of international shipping lines to improve logistics. To address the needs of landlocked countries, the coalition proposed facilitating better access to ports for these nations.
The ESBC concluded that substantial work remains to be done to enhance the competitiveness and growth of SMEs in the ECOWAS region, particularly in the areas of innovation, financing, and cross-border trade facilitation.

ECOWAS small business group proposes railway corridor for member states

Africa

Boyfriend of murdered Kenyan journalist arrested

Published

3 weeks ago

November 10, 2024

Trends Admin

George Mwenda Mutegi and Lilian Achieng Aluko

Boyfriend of murdered Kenyan journalist arrested

A man has been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of Kenyan journalist, Lilian Achieng Aluko, whose body was discovered in a house in Kahawa West, Nairobi, Kenya.

Lilian, who was a presenter at Radio 44, a local radio station, was found dead at her boyfriend’s house with injuries on her face and a stab wound at the back on November 1, 2024.

A day before her death, the 33-year-old had informed her family that she would be spending the night at her boyfriend’s place.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in a statement on Friday said the suspect, believed to be Achieng’s boyfriend, was apprehended in the Kaanwa area of Tharaka Nithi County.

The DCI worked closely with local authorities in Meru County to track down the suspect, whose movements had been monitored since he disappeared on November 1.

Police investigations revealed that Achieng and the suspect spent the evening at a local spot before heading to the suspect’s house in Kahawa West.

“George Mwenda Mutegi, the prime suspect in the monstrous murder of Ms Lilian Achieng Aluko has been arrested after days of scrupulous manhunt. Mutegi was smoked out of his hideaway at Kaanwa area of Tharaka Nithi county,” the statement read.

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“The suspect’s arrest by a combined team of hawkshaws from DCI Hqs augmented by their Meru counterparts is a culmination of days of meticulous investigations launched on 1st November, 2024, the night Mutegi is believed to have murdered his girlfriend. After the heinous killing, Mutegi disappeared and erased his footprints.

“Police and the neighbours would only wake up to a slain Achieng, whose lifeless body lay soaked in blood with a stab wound at the back of her right ear and visible injuries on her face and hips.

“Probing the case, police found out that the two lovebirds had on the fateful night had a good time at a local establishment, before retreating to the boyfriend’s place of abode in Kahawa West.

“In an ugly turn of events, the attention of the neighbours was drawn to loud screams from Mutegi’s locked house, which were quickly deafened by loud noise from his sound system.

“Unaware that the distress call was the last Achieng would ever make, the neighbours went back to their houses hoping that the duo would resolve their issues.

“That night, the life of a 33-year-old lady with a blossoming career as a presenter at a local radio station was ended.

“The suspect is currently being processed for arraignment as the DCI continues to investigate all other cases of a similar nature to ensure justice for all victims.”