Ethiopia Heads to Polls Amid Regional Instability
Ethiopia is scheduled to carry elections on June 1, 2026. The nation faces inner safety challenges and heightened competitors for energy within the Horn of Africa. Regional powers like Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel are pushing for affect on this strategically important area, already destabilised by Sudan’s battle and disputes over the Pink Sea. Analysts have mentioned that tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the Nile River proceed to form regional politics. Kebour Ghenna, govt director of Initiative Africa and a former opposition candidate, says opposition events are fragmented and weak as this election approaches. Greater than 50 million Ethiopians have registered to vote, in response to the Nationwide Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). Over 10,400 candidates from numerous political events and unbiased candidates are competing at each the federal and regional ranges.
WHO Chief Requires Ceasefire as Ebola Disaster Deepens in DR Congo
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The Director-Basic of the World Well being Group (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo because the nation battles a resurgence of Ebola within the conflict-hit jap area. The journey is supposed to indicate assist for the African nation amid the continuing lethal Ebola outbreak. Since mid-Could, the DR Congo has recorded 105 confirmed instances and 10 deaths. Neighbouring Uganda has reported seven instances and one demise. Tedros appealed to armed teams to declare a ceasefire in order that well being employees can attain folks and halt the unfold of the illness. The present Ebola outbreak is attributable to a pressure of the virus often called Bundibugyo. There’s presently no vaccine or remedy. He acknowledged the exhaustion, insecurity and distrust confronted by residents, whereas urging communities and younger folks to assist prevention efforts. Tedros mentioned WHO groups would stay on the bottom for so long as essential to assist comprise the outbreak and strengthen well being programs.
Angola Confirms 13 Mpox Instances
Angola has recorded 13 confirmed instances of mpox within the northern provinces of Cabinda and Uige, in response to Well being Minister Silvia Lutucuta. 9 instances had been reported in Cabinda and 4 in Uige. In line with the minister, within the province of Cabinda, there have been instances identified since final 12 months, highlighting that this 12 months the area has reported, to date, 5 constructive instances of Mpox. Lutucuta appealed to the inhabitants to proceed to look at the prevention measures which have been handed on by the well being authorities to keep away from the unfold of the illness within the nation. The minister mentioned well being authorities are supplying doses of monkeypox vaccine to Angolan provinces that share the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), as one of many preventive measures towards monkeypox. She mentioned that no Ebola instances have been detected in Angola regardless of the outbreak within the neighbouring DR Congo. Well being officers proceed border screening measures, together with temperature checks, and have urged residents to keep away from consuming wild recreation and travelling to affected areas.
Nigeria Warns of Deepfake Movies Forward of Elections
Nigeria’s Presidency has raised alarm over a surge in deepfake movies and manipulated on-line content material allegedly geared toward weaponising spiritual tensions forward of the election season. In a public service announcement, the Presidency mentioned it had noticed a sample of coordinated digital misinformation concentrating on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu via fabricated movies and false audio overlays circulated throughout social media platforms and messaging apps. The Presidency warned that the development mirrored a deliberate technique by “determined actors” to distort info, manufacture outrage, and inflame spiritual tensions as political exercise intensifies. The Presidency urged Nigerians to be cautious earlier than sharing inflammatory content material on-line, warning residents at all times to query who stands to profit from the unfold of divisive narratives. It additional known as on residents to confirm info earlier than sharing and to withstand makes an attempt to destabilise nationwide unity via misinformation.
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Ghana Welcomes Pope’s Apology for Catholic Church Function in Slavery
Ghana has welcomed Pope Leo XIV’s apology for the Catholic Church’s historic position in slavery, calling it an “act of ethical braveness” that helps international efforts towards “reality, human dignity and justice”. The Pope issued the clearest apology but for the Church’s involvement in legitimising slavery and its delay in condemning it for hundreds of years. The apology was revealed on Monday within the Pope’s first main educating doc of his papacy, which additionally targeted on the hazards of synthetic intelligence (AI). Ghana was a significant hub for the transatlantic slave commerce when tens of millions of individuals had been captured and loaded onto ships, by no means to return dwelling. Ghana has lengthy been main efforts for compensation and apologies from Western nations for the slave commerce.
