Author: Opalim Lifted

Senegalese authorities barred access to the social media app TikTok on Wednesday, broadening a crackdown on dissent only days after dissolving the major opposition party and detaining its head. A power battle between Pastef party head Ousmane Sonko and President Macky Sall has resulted in violent protests at times, most notably on Monday, and has harmed Senegal’s status as West Africa’s most stable democracy. During the previous three years, the area has seen a surge of military coups, including one in Niger just a week ago. Senegal disbanded Pastef and limited internet access on Monday, claiming dangers to the country’s…

Following days of skirmishes between the federal troops and local militias, mobile internet service was disrupted in areas of Ethiopia’s Amhara region on Thursday, according to five locals. A simmering conflict has erupted this week between the Fano militia and federal authorities, who were friends during the two-year civil war in the adjoining Tigray area that concluded last November. According to a diplomatic source, the battle was sparked by a military effort to force Fano rebels out of specific locations. On Thursday, two citizens in Amhara’s capital, Bahir Dar, and three in Gondar, the country’s second-largest city, reported that mobile…

Pope Francis held a private meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse during a five-day visit to Portugal. In a statement, the Vatican said the gathering had been held on Wednesday in an “atmosphere of intense listening”. A report this year concluded that at least 4,815 children had been abused in Portugal and that the Church had sought “systematically” to conceal the issue. At an evening service in Lisbon, the Pope said the Church must listen to “the anguished cry of the victims”. He added that the scandal “calls us to a humble and ongoing purification” and that widespread anger…

Australia’s national gallery will return three 9th and 10th Century bronze sculptures to Cambodia after they were found to be stolen. It follows a decade-long investigation carried out by the two countries to determine the origin of the works. Cambodia’s government welcomed the historic move as “an important step towards rectifying past injustices”. It comes amid a global push to return looted cultural goods. The three artworks originally came from the Champa Kingdom, which once inhabited Vietnam and parts of Cambodia. The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) says it purchased the sculptures in 2011 for A$2.3 million (£1.18 million; $1.5…

Despite the introduction of Starlink, 5G infrastructure, and other efforts to increase internet coverage, cable research found that Africa still has sluggish internet speeds. The Sub-Saharan area ranks 12th (second to last) in the global broadband speed league table. Surprisingly, Northern Africa is ranked lowest. According to Cable, the data was collected over a 12-month period that ended on June 30, 2023. During that period, it performed 1.3 billion speed tests across 220 countries and territories. Some nations aren’t included in the study because less than 100 samples were collected from each of them, according to Cable. Eritrea, North Korea,…

Following a nationwide protest on Wednesday, organized labour (NLC) has resolved to halt further action in its opposition to the elimination of fuel subsidy. This was the result of a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and labour representatives. The meeting was attended by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, and his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo. Earlier in the day, employees protested around the country over the current administration’s decision to eliminate gasoline subsidies. The demonstrations occurred after weeks of impasse between them and the administration. The NLC, TUC, and other affiliate unions…

ECOWAS defence chiefs wrapped up a two-day conference on Thursday to address last week’s coup in Niger, promising to send a clear statement about their opposition to unlawful takeovers. In its efforts to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum’s leadership, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has imposed sanctions, threatened military involvement, and made diplomatic overtures. It is unclear if the conference of defence chiefs in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, would offer more details on the bloc’s threat to allow the use of force if coup leaders do not return Bazoum by a Sunday deadline—its toughest position yet following a succession…

Lionel Messi scored his third consecutive goal for Inter Miami in a 3-1 victory over Orlando City on Wednesday, propelling his Major League Soccer club into the League Cup’s last 16. The game was delayed by 95 minutes due to a rainstorm, but once it began, Messi had little time to calm down and scored in the seventh minute. The Argentine started his move at the half-way line and ran into the area as Robert Taylor chipped the ball over numerous defenders. Messi then chested the ball down and volleyed it in from the six-yard box. Orlando levelled 10 minutes…

Dr. Olalekan Balogun, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has promised his cooperation to the EFCC in combating the threat of illicit mining in Ibadan and Oyo State in general. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja. Oba Balogun made the commitment, according to Uwujaren, when the Acting Zonal Commander of the EFCC’s Ibadan Command, ACE I Halima Rufa’u, paid him a visit on Tuesday. He praised the acting zonal commander for visiting his palace at a time when the war against illicit mining in Ibadan was intensifying. Olubadan was also pleased…

The US is planning to evacuate some of its staff and families from its embassy in Niger after military troops took authority there, according to a US official, even though the mission will stay open and top leadership will continue to function from there. In the war against Islamist rebels, Niger is an important Western ally. Foreign nations have decried the seizure, saying that it will give the terrorists an advantage. According to an anonymous spokesperson, a final decision was still pending, but it seemed probable. “This is a prudent move in case the security situation deteriorates, and the core…