Displaying items by tag: Africa

The mental health crisis at Kiryandongo refugee camp is escalating, with suicides and suicide attempts surging. Between January and October 2024, 41 suicides and over 130 attempts were recorded, highlighting the profound psychological distress faced by refugees. Many are haunted by memories of past trauma, such as bombings. These ongoing fears disrupt daily life and contribute to widespread mental health struggles. Despite the existence of psychosocial support programs, resources at the camp are insufficient to meet the overwhelming demand. With over 1.7 million refugees in Uganda, local healthcare services are under immense pressure, but specialised care is often inaccessible due to high costs. The UNHCR is calling on governments, the private sector, and international donors to increase funding for mental health programs to address this urgent need.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, has been elected Namibia's president, becoming the country’s first female leader. She secured 57% of the vote, avoiding a predicted run-off. Declaring her win as a mandate for ‘peace and stability’, Nandi-Ndaitwah continues her SWAPO party's 34-year dominance since the country's independence. However, opposition parties have disputed the results, citing technical issues such as ballot shortages and extensions of voting periods. Long queues left some voters waiting up to twelve hours, and critics claim that these  problems violated election laws. The main opposition candidate, Panduleni Itula, who trailed with 25.5%, described the election as ‘neither free nor fair’. Nandi-Ndaitwah's political journey began in the 1970s independence movement, followed by a 1990 parliamentary debut and several ministerial roles. Despite SWAPO’s legacy, growing youth discontent highlights challenges ahead as Namibia grapples with unemployment and inequality.

The authorities have arrested fourteen individuals, including a wounded teenage boy, after they emerged from an illegal gold mine in Stilfontein, where hundreds of miners remain trapped underground. The miners, called zama zamas, search abandoned mines for gold, often risking arrest, deportation, or violence. Operating in over six thousand defunct mines, they endure dangerous conditions, relying on contractors for food and supplies. This underground economy is dominated by criminal syndicates which exploit the miners, sometimes forcing them to work under threat. Efforts to remove the miners include blocking shafts and restricting supplies. Officials estimate 350-400 miners remain underground, but some reports put the number at as much as four thousand. The government is looking at ways of getting the miners out, but fears of  poisonous gases and armed syndicates are complicating rescue plans.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced Al-Hassan Mahmoud to ten years in prison for war crimes committed during his tenure as head of the Islamic police in Timbuktu, Mali. He was found guilty of torture, overseeing public amputations, and organising brutal floggings, including of children, under the al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group, which seized the city in 2012. The presiding judge described the sentence as ‘proportionate to the gravity of the crimes’, acknowledging the harm caused to victims. However, Al-Hassan was acquitted of charges of rape and sexual slavery: the ICC acknowledged that sexual violence had occurred, but said he was not directly responsible. Rights groups expressed disappointment, noting testimonies of women being raped in detention. In 2016 the ICC sentenced another Ansar Dine member to nine years for destroying Timbuktu’s ancient shrines.

Bethany Ashcraft joined a mission trip to Liberia, encountering extreme poverty and spiritual warfare. Working alongside a team of medical professionals, she witnessed firsthand the impact of the drug 'Kush' on local people, causing disturbing symptoms. Amid her medical duties, Bethany prayed for patients, leading to surprising healings. One Muslim woman, after accepting Jesus, experienced a complete healing. Throughout the week, as Bethany prayed, some individuals manifested demonic behaviour, which was resolved through prayer, demonstrating God’s power. This experience strengthened Bethany’s faith and inspired her desire to continue witnessing God’s tangible impact on others.

On the second day of COP29 in Baku, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres called on industrialised nations to fulfil their commitments in financing climate adaptation, emphasising the importance of doubling funds to $40 billion annually by 2025 and contributing meaningfully to the new Loss and Damage fund. Highlighting the gap between pledges and actual needs, he warned that unfulfilled promises equate to lost lives and hindered development. Although international adaptation finance to developing nations rose to $28 billion in 2022, the Glasgow Climate Pact target will only marginally reduce a $187 to 359 billion yearly adaptation gap. Africa, particularly vulnerable to climate impacts, sees minimal benefit from renewable energy growth, representing only 0.5% of global deployment last year. African leaders have stressed the urgent need for innovative funding to drive green industries, create jobs, and bolster resilience. With climate impacts consuming up to 9% of African budgets, equitable financing is critical to building sustainable economies and empowering youth.

The UN’s political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo has condemned the continuing flow of weapons to the conflict in Sudan, urging an immediate halt to external military support. Both the army and the paramilitary RSF are escalating their operations and recruiting new fighters, fuelled by substantial foreign backing. She said that this external support is prolonging the conflict and worsening the humanitarian crisis, which has so far claimed over 24,000 lives and displaced 11 million people. The civil war, ignited in April 2023 by a power struggle between two rival leaders, has led to widespread atrocities, with both sides accused of war crimes, including ethnic cleansing. Despite calls for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations, both sides remain entrenched, partly due to the continued influx of arms. The UN Security Council is discussing a resolution which urges the warring parties to allow unhindered humanitarian aid deliveries, as more than half of the country’s population of 50 million faces severe food shortages.

British actor Idris Elba plans to move to Africa within the next decade to support its burgeoning film industry. He wants to develop film studios in Zanzibar and Accra, emphasising the importance of Africans telling their own stories. With his roots in Ghana and Sierra Leone, Elba feels a deep connection to the continent and wants to be directly involved in creating an environment where African film-makers can thrive. He stresses the need for better facilities, government support, and investment to showcase Africa's diverse cultures beyond the usual depictions of trauma. Elba believes the continent’s film industry has great potential, but it requires an enabling environment and more infrastructure to flourish. He hopes to contribute to this transformation by being on the ground, working with local talent, and building a stronger global understanding of Africa through its storytelling.

A military airstrike on a mosque in Wad Madani, in the centre of Sudan, has killed 31 people, according to local activists. The attack occurred after evening prayers and was reportedly carried out using barrel bombs. Many victims have not yet been identified, as rescue teams are still working through the remains of dozens of charred and mutilated bodies. Since April 2023, Sudan has been ravaged by conflict between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in widespread death and displacement. The two sides are battling for control of Al-Jazira state, a key agricultural area, currently controlled by the RSF. Both groups have been accused of war crimes, including targeting civilians and looting.

Fifty elephants have been relocated from the overcrowded Mwea National Reserve to a larger national park, 75 miles away, to reduce environmental strain and human-wildlife conflict. The reserve, which ideally could support 47 elephants, had a population of 156. The tourism minister, Rebecca Maino, noted that the rising elephant population is a sign that poaching is under control, but the overcrowding had resulted in elephants straying into nearby farms in search of food. Local residents expressed relief that the animals had been moved, as their presence had become a growing problem. The elephants arrived safely in their new home, and the $93,000 project is set to enter a second phase, with plans to relocate another fifty elephants soon.