Africa

Death toll surpasses 2,000 from strong quake in Morocco

Published

3 years ago

September 10, 2023

Death toll surpasses 2,000 from strong quake in Morocco

Rescuers were searching for survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck overnight about 50 miles from the city of Marrakesh.

Search and rescue efforts were intensifying on Saturday night, nearly 24 hours after a powerful and deadly earthquake surged across western Morocco, as emergency teams raced to prevent more deaths in remote mountain villages that are not easily accessible.

The quake, which struck in the High Atlas Mountains shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, has killed more than 2,000 people and raised the specter of a humanitarian disaster in a seismically vulnerable area of Africa.

The office of King Mohammed VI said that he had ordered the government to rapidly provide shelter and rebuild houses for those in distress, “particularly orphans and the vulnerable,” but that certain areas were inaccessible during darkness, preventing rescue workers from reaching them until after dawn on Sunday. The king also did not clarify whether Morocco would formally request foreign assistance to allow outside rescue teams to intervene.

At least 2,012 people were killed, according to Morocco’s Interior Ministry, and at least 2,059 were injured, more than 1,400 of them critically. The quake, which had a magnitude of at least 6.8 according to a preliminary report from the United States Geological Survey, was the strongest to hit the area in more than a century.

“I never felt anything like this in my life,” said Raja Bouri, 33, who lives in the outskirts of Marrakesh. “It felt like a plane fell on me..”

The temblor was indiscriminate in its demolition, rippling through the densely populated medinas of Marrakesh and the rural villages ringing the city, where walls of earthen homes shook, cracked and collapsed. Some roads have been blocked by landslides, said Sami Fakhouri, the acting head in Morocco of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

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Local news media posted images of rubble-strewn streets and footage of people panicking as the shaking began. Some residents returned to their apartments after the quake ended, but many others in areas near the quake’s epicenter, fearful of aftershocks, spent the night sleeping on the streets.

“My husband and four children died,” one woman told Moroccan state television. “Mustapha, Hassan, Ilhem, Ghizlaine, Ilyes. Everything I had is gone. I am all alone.”

Here’s what to know about the earthquake:

France, a former colonial power in Morocco, was among the first to offer help. The French Embassy in Morocco opened a crisis hotline and the mayor of the southern French port city of Marseille said that he would send firefighters to help with rescue efforts in Marrakesh, a sister city.
Moroccan authorities announced three days of national mourning to honor victims of the deadly earthquake. In a statement carried by the state news agency, the office of King Mohammed VI said that after a crisis meeting with officials in Rabat, the capital, he had ordered the government to rapidly provide shelter and rebuild houses for those in distress, “particularly orphans and the vulnerable.”
Several governments and charity groups, including Doctors Without Borders, have offered to send aid and rescue teams. Even countries with a history of conflicted relations with Morocco — like Israel and Algeria — have pledged to provide assistance. Here’s how to help.
Marrakesh is known for its old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was founded in the 11th century and which attracts tourists with its open-air markets, uneven cobblestone streets and labyrinthine passageways.
The precise strength of the quake was not yet fully clear. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated it at 6.8. But a Moroccan agency said it measured 7.2., which the U.S.G.S. said could be more accurate. Initial readings of magnitude are measured automatically, and need to be revised by seismologists.

Death toll surpasses 2,000 from strong quake in Morocco

Africa

Nigeria Apologises Over ‘Igbo King’ Controversy in South Africa as Protests Turn Violent

Published

3 days ago

April 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Cars Torched as South Africans Protest Alleged Nigerian ‘Igbo King’ Coronation

Nigeria Apologises Over ‘Igbo King’ Controversy in South Africa as Protests Turn Violent

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has formally apologised following a diplomatic and social backlash over the alleged coronation of an “Igbo king” in Eastern Cape Province.

The controversy began after reports emerged that Solomon Eziko was crowned “Igwe” of Kugompo in South London, a town in the Eastern Cape. Videos and images from the event circulated widely, triggering outrage among locals who viewed the development as an attempt to establish a foreign traditional authority within South Africa.

The situation escalated on Monday as protests turned violent in parts of the province. Demonstrators reportedly torched vehicles and buildings linked to foreign nationals, while angry residents marched through affected areas demanding swift government intervention.

Some protesters issued strong warnings, with calls for the deportation of Nigerians associated with the event and threats of further unrest if authorities failed to act. The unrest highlights longstanding tensions around immigration and economic competition involving foreign nationals in South Africa.

In a statement dated March 26, the Nigerian High Commission clarified that the Igbo East London gathering was purely a cultural festival and not a coronation. The mission stressed that the event had been widely misunderstood and did not amount to the installation of a traditional ruler.

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Providing context, the Commission explained that Igbo cultural practices often include symbolic ceremonies that may resemble coronations but are not political in nature. It cited traditions such as the New Yam Festival (Iri Ji), masquerade displays (Mmanwu), traditional marriage rites (Igba Nkwu), and chieftaincy title ceremonies as integral parts of Igbo heritage.

On Tuesday, Deputy High Commissioner Olajide Ogunmadeji addressed protesting groups, offering an apology and reaffirming Nigeria’s respect for South African institutions.

“They are only celebrating their cultural activity. It is not a political or traditional institution,” Ogunmadeji said.
“I offer our apology to the traditional institutions in South Africa. We are sorry for what has happened. The embassy would never encourage the undermining of authority or institutions.”

Authorities in Eastern Cape have reportedly taken steps to restore calm, while community leaders continue engagements to prevent further escalation.

The Nigerian mission also issued a security advisory urging Nigerians living in South Africa to remain vigilant, limit movement, and suspend socio-cultural gatherings. It warned against inflammatory comments on social or mainstream media that could worsen the already tense situation.

The incident has drawn attention to the sensitive nature of traditional leadership structures in South Africa, where such institutions are formally recognised and regulated by law. Analysts say misunderstandings involving cultural expressions by foreign communities can quickly escalate into broader diplomatic and security concerns.

While the apology appears to have eased tensions slightly, stakeholders in South Africa continue to demand clear assurances and accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Nigeria Apologises Over ‘Igbo King’ Controversy in South Africa as Protests Turn Violent

Africa

Burkina Faso Junta Leader Traoré Orders Citizens to ‘Forget Democracy’

Published

3 days ago

April 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré

Burkina Faso Junta Leader Traoré Orders Citizens to ‘Forget Democracy’

Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has urged citizens to set aside discussions about democratic governance, declaring that “democracy isn’t for us” as his junta consolidates control over the country. The comments came during a televised interview on state-run RTB on Thursday, highlighting the government’s rejection of elections and civilian rule.

Traoré seized power in a September 2022 coup, overthrowing a previous military government. Since then, his administration has extended a transition to civilian governance by five years, keeping him in power amid the country’s decade-long jihadist insurgency, which has caused thousands of deaths.

During the broadcast, Traoré dismissed the prospect of elections, saying: “We’re not even talking about elections, first of all. People need to forget about the issue of democracy.” Analysts note that his remarks signal a deepening authoritarian grip and a departure from the democratic transition initially promised after the coup.

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The junta has also taken sweeping political actions, including dissolving the independent electoral commission in October 2025 and banning all political parties in February 2026. These measures have virtually eliminated organized political competition and restricted civilian participation in governance.

International observers, including the United Nations, have urged Burkina Faso to restore civic freedoms and reverse the ban on political parties, warning that the country’s democratic institutions are under serious threat. Traoré’s administration has also expelled or suspended several international media outlets, limiting independent reporting.

The military government cites security concerns as justification for its authoritarian policies, framing its rule as necessary to combat the persistent insurgency in the Sahel. However, critics argue that such measures consolidate power and undermine political accountability.

Burkina Faso continues to face significant humanitarian and security challenges, with Traoré’s rejection of democratic governance raising concerns about the country’s long-term stability and its relations with the international community.

Burkina Faso Junta Leader Traoré Orders Citizens to ‘Forget Democracy’

Africa

Anti-Immigrant Protest in South Africa Targets Nigerians, Others

Published

2 weeks ago

March 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Anti-Immigrant Protest in South Africa Targets Nigerians, Others

Durban, South Africa – Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Durban yesterday as the controversial civic group March and March led an anti-immigrant protest, demanding stricter immigration laws and tighter border controls. The protest specifically targeted Nigerians and other foreign nationals, amid claims that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs, straining public services, and contributing to rising crime.

Joining the march were members of the political party ActionSA and the vigilante anti-migrant group Operation Dudula, who called for the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals. The protest marked the first anniversary of March and March raising immigration issues in public forums.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma stoked tensions with rhetoric widely condemned as xenophobic, questioning why undocumented foreigners are allowed access to public facilities such as healthcare. “If you are saying you can’t refuse them healthcare, then why must it be public? Make them pay for their own healthcare if they want to be here in the country milking our resources,” she said.

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ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba defended his party’s participation, arguing that the government has been too slow to enforce immigration laws. “We are seeing our government allowing our country to be flooded by groups from all over the world — Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mexico, all over the world. So, we are saying to our government this is unacceptable,” Mashaba said.

Protesters, including local resident Muzi Xaba, claimed that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from South Africans. “Our duty is to deal with labour as well as civil matters. We must remove foreigners and then hire South Africans,” he said. Anti-migrant activists also blamed foreign nationals for increasing crime and weakening local communities, fueling ongoing tensions in South Africa.

Police in Durban deployed additional personnel to maintain order and prevent clashes, using rubber bullets and teargas in some areas to disperse the crowd. Authorities warned that further unrest could escalate into violence or property damage.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) advised Nigerians in South Africa to avoid protest areas and shelter in place for safety. Officials stated they were not aware of targeted attacks but urged vigilance amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Efforts to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment were unsuccessful.

South Africa has a long history of anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly against Nigerians, Zimbabweans, and Somalis. Analysts warn that protests such as these could exacerbate xenophobic tensions, disrupt communities, and strain diplomatic relations if not addressed through dialogue and legal enforcement.

Anti-Immigrant Protest in South Africa Targets Nigerians, Others