Big cat juju: Mystical beliefs in wildlife powers in Senegal fuelling rapid decline of lion and leopard populations in West Africa
The gris-gris, prescribed by influential religious leaders called marabouts, are crafted from bits of skin with written prayers or Quranic verses sewn inside. They are widely used across Senegal; police don them for protection, wrestlers for strength and politicians for clout. Average citizens wear them to ward off curses that other people may have put on them for a variety of reasons – matters of romance, perhaps, or jealousy at economic success.
While it’s known Rwanda is chief architect of scramble for eastern Congo’s minerals, world powers are shy to rein it in
The M23 rebel group entered the outskirts of Bukavu, a city of about 1.3 million in eastern DRC, in mid-February 2025. This happened two weeks after Goma, another city in the region, came under the control of M23 rebels. With support from the Rwandan army, M23 already controls vast territory in eastern DRC.
Chief Justice Koome says Kenya’s judiciary is committed to fighting runaway corruption
Chief Justice Martha Koome giving her keynote speech as she chaired the 31st National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) meeting at the Pride Inn Paradise Hotel, Shanzu.
Kenya tourism sector earnings to rise to 650 billion shillings in 2025, minister says
Kenya tourism sector earnings are expected to jump to Ksh650 billion ($5 billion) this year from Ksh452.2 billion last year, Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano said on Wednesday. Miano said the 2024 earnings were up 20 per cent compared with a year earlier. The sector alongside tea exports and remittances are...
Trump denounces Ukrainian President Zelenskiy as ‘dictator’ and warns he risks losing his country
Trump’s outburst followed Zelenskiy’s comments on Tuesday that the US president was parroting Russian disinformation when he asserted that Ukraine “should never have started” the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
At least 430 killed in Sudanese RSF paramilitary attacks in White Nile State, aid agencies say
The war in Sudan has killed more than 24,000 people and driven over 14 million people – about 30 per cent of the population – from their homes, according to the United Nations. An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have escaped to neighbouring countries.
M23 rebels set eyes on Butembo city after the capture of Goma and Bukavu in eastern Congo
Also on Tuesday, the M23 captured the town of Kamanyola, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of Bukavu, after they overcame resistance from the Congolese army in the evening, said Steve Mubalama, a civil society representative in the town.
Uganda president on spot after famished opponent Besigye is denied bail despite Supreme Court ruling
Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, is a prominent opposition figure in Uganda. For years he was the most serious challenger to President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, before the recent rise of the opposition figure known as Bobi Wine.
Under fire Kenya president rapped as ‘genocide-washing’ and ‘criminally irresponsible’ for hosting faction in Sudanese war
The African Union in a statement published on Wednesday voiced “deep concern over the continued escalation of the conflict between the two warring parties, particularly the non-stop perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
62-year old man in central Kenya handed 10 years in jail for sodomising mentally sick minor
The complainant told the court that the accused took advantage of his disability to commit the heinous act and threatened him not to inform anyone on what transpired. The victim further narrated that he has known the accused person for a long time since he lives near their home and most times he sees him in a shop next to their home.
