Africa

US President Trump described the US strike on Islamic State in Northwestern Nigeria as “terrorist scum”. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that Thursday’s strike against terrorists had been planned “for quite some time”. US Africa Command stated Thursday’s strike took place in Sokoto state. Monitoring groups report “There doesn’t appear to be killings of Christians at a greater rate than Muslims in Nigeria.” Nigeria is evenly divided between Muslims and Christians.

There have been fatalities following a helicopter that crashed in Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The victims include a pilot from Zimbabwe, a guide and a doctor from Tanzania, and two more from the Czech Republic. The helicopter crashed at Barafu Camp standing at a height of 4,670-4,700 meters in elevation on Wednesday. Based on information reported in the dailies in Tanzania, the chopper was carrying out a medical rescue operation at the time of the accident. Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa forms the continent’s peak with a 6,000-meter height. Annually, 50,000 visitors visit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania because of its exquisite scenic landscape and the scenic snow-capped mountain peaks at sunrise

Fifty of 315 children kidnapped from St Mary’s School in Niger State Nigeria have escaped and reunited with families. Major search continues for the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers taken by gunmen Friday. Armed men stormed school at 2am taking students from boarding facility. Pope Leo XIV expressed immense sadness and urged swift action. Authorities ordered schools closed in multiple states after kidnappings. More than 20 schoolgirls also kidnapped Monday in Kebbi state. President Tinubu cancelled foreign trips including G20 summit to address security concerns.

Group of 20 leaders gathered in South Africa Saturday for summit boycotted by United States. G20 envoys agreed on draft declaration without US input that includes climate change references despite Trump administration objections. Trump boycotted over discredited claims of white persecution and rejected the agenda on climate adaptation and debt relief. South Africa’s top agenda items focus on climate disasters, green energy financing and critical minerals. The United States will host G20 in 2026 but South Africa rejected an offer to send charge d’affaires for handover.

China has announced it will remove all import taxes on goods coming from African countries. This major trade decision affects 52 African nations that have a friendly relationship with China.  The announcement came during the China-Africa cooperation meeting, just as African countries are worried about higher taxes on their products going to America. China wants…

Bill Gates, the billionaire who built Microsoft, has promised to give his $200 billion fortune over the next 20 years to make healthcare and education better in Africa. At the headquarters of the African Union, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gates, who is 69 years old, explained to delegates that his vision was humble but grand:…