NEWS - The African Mirror

Jan

13

2024

Four Ukrainians on UN helicopter that was seized by Somali militants

NEWS

FOUR Ukrainians were on a United Nations helicopter seized by al Shabaab militants in central Somalia this week, Ukraine's foreign ministry said. The U.N.-contracted chopper with nine aboard was conducting a medical evacuation when a technical problem forced it to land near Hindhere village, an area controlled by the Islamist group. "Our citizens were members of the helicopter crew of the UN Mission in Somalia ... Their identities have been established," Ukrainian spokesman Oleh Nikolenko wrote on Facebook. He said the aircraft belonged to a private Ukrainian company contracted to the United Nations, and that the government was contacting it to…

Jan

13

2024

By KRISHNA N. DAS

India pledges ‘appropriate action’ after completing cough syrup bribe probe

NEWS

INDIA will take "appropriate action" after completing an investigation into a complaint that a drug regulator helped switch samples of cough syrup linked to the death of children in Gambia in return for a bribe, two officials said. The World Health Organization (WHO) linked the syrups made by India's Maiden Pharmaceuticals to the deaths of 70 children in 2022, though India's government said subsequent tests at an Indian government laboratory showed the syrups were not toxic. Maiden, whose factory is based in Haryana state, denies wrongdoing. Reuters reported in June last year that a lawyer named Yashpal accused Haryana's drug controller, Manmohan…

Jan

13

2024

By The African Mirror

Protesters in Libya threaten to shut down oil and gas facilities

NEWS

PROTESTERS have threatened to shut down two oil and gas facilities near the Libyan capital Tripoli, with one group that is campaigning against corruption issuing a 72-hour ultimatum. The group called the Corruption Eradication Movement said in a video statement online that it would "stop the pumping of gas from the Mellitah complex", a joint venture between Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italy's Eni. Any halt would disrupt the supply of gas through the Greenstream pipeline between Libya and Italy. Eni declined to comment and NOC was not immediately available for comment on the latest threat. The protesters demanded…

Jan

13

2024

By ANGE ADIHE KASONGO and BENOIT NYEMBA

Hundreds dead as Congo River basin submerged by generational floods

NEWS

THE Congo River has risen to its highest level in more than 60 years, causing flooding throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congo Republic that has killed more than 300 people over the past months, according to authorities. Poor urban planning and weak infrastructure have made some African countries vulnerable to flash floods after intense rains, which have become more frequent due to climate change. Ferry Mowa, a hydrology specialist at the DRC riverways authority, part of the transport ministry, said his office had flagged the high water level in late December, warning that almost the entire flood…

Jan

12

2024

By STEPHANIE VAN DEN BERG, ANTHONY DEUTSCH and TOBY STERLING

At World Court, South Africa accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza

NEWS

SOUTH Africa accused Israel of carrying out genocide in Gaza and demanded that the U.N.'s top court order an emergency suspension of Israel's devastating military campaign in the Palestinian enclave. On the first of two days of hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa said Israel's offensive, which has demolished much of the coastal enclave and killed more than 23,000 people according to Gaza health authorities, aimed to bring about "the destruction of the population" of Gaza. "The intent to destroy Gaza has been nurtured at the highest level of state," Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, advocate of the High Court of…

Jan

12

2024

By The African Mirror

Reaction to South Africa’s UN court case against Israel’s war in Gaza

NEWS

SOUTH Africa accused Israel of subjecting Palestinians to genocidal acts at the opening of hearings at the top U.N. court on a case the country brought against the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Israel says the case is baseless. The following are reactions to the proceedings that began at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT ISSUED IN RAMALLAH IN THE ISRAELI-OCCUPIED WEST BANK "South Africa's case before the International Court of Justice... is a historic event in the process of the joint Palestinian and South African struggle in the face of injustice and genocide. "Holding Israel, the…

Jan

12

2024

By ABDI SHEIKH

Somalia says it’s working to rescue hostages from UN helicopter

NEWS

SOMALIA'S government is working to rescue the passengers of a U.N. helicopter that was captured by al Shabaab militants, a spokesperson said, but military officers said it would be difficult to access the area where they were taken. The U.N.-contracted helicopter was conducting an air medical evacuation when a technical problem forced it to make an emergency landing near Hindhere village in central Somalia, an area controlled by the militants. Two Somali men and several foreigners were on board, and many were taken hostage by the militants, two officers told Reuters. It was not clear exactly how many were captured and whether…

Jan

12

2024

By AHMED KINGIMI

At least 20 feared dead in Nigeria boat accident, officials say

NEWS

AT least 20 people are feared dead in an accident involving two passenger boats travelling from Andoni to Bonny island in Nigeria's coastal Rivers State, local officials said, the first such accident to hit the region this year. Erastus Awortu, chairman of Andoni local government area, said the incident occurred on Tuesday night along the Andoni waterways. "When we learned of the tragic development, we immediately dispatched our team to join the first responders on a rescue mission at the scene of the incident," Awortu said in a statement, without providing further details about survivors. Overcrowding and poor maintenance are…

Jan

11

2024

By ANTHONY DEUTSCH and STEPHANIE VAN DEN BERG

Israel, South Africa trade barbs on eve of genocide case

NEWS

SOUTH Africa and Israel exchanged allegations on the eve of hearings at the top U.N. court which will hear South African claims that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in its Gaza offensive. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, also known as the World Court, will hold sessions on Thursday and Friday in a case brought in late December accusing Israel of failing to uphold its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention. Both countries are parties to the convention, which obliges them to not commit genocide and also to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as "acts committed with…

Jan

11

2024

By The African Mirror

UN helicopter carrying ‘several’ foreigners captured by al Shabaab in Somalia

NEWS

AL Shabaab militants captured a United Nations helicopter carrying two Somali men and several foreigners when it made an emergency landing in an area controlled by the Islamist group, a military official said. The aircraft encountered a defect shortly after taking off from Beledweyne city in central Somalia, Major Hassan Ali told Reuters, before it landed near Hindhere village, bordering Galguduud region. "Two Somali men and several foreigners were onboard. It was also carrying medical supplies and it was supposed to transport injured soldiers from Galguduud region," he said. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) later confirmed there…