🇳🇬 Gunmen kidnap 227 pupils from school in Nigeria
Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped more than 200 school pupils in the northern town of Kuriga on Thursday, a teacher, local councillor and parents of the missing children said, in the biggest mass abduction from a school since 2021.
"The number of the kidnapped from the secondary section based on the statistics we took together with the parents is 187 while that of the primary section is 40 for now," said teacher at school.
Local councillor for Kuriga Idris Maiallura said he had been to the school and said the gunmen initially took 100 primary schools pupils but later freed them while others escaped.
Parents and residents blamed the kidnapping on lack of security in the area.
Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani visited Kuriga and promised to get the students released, his office said, but did not say how many pupils were missing.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped more than 200 school pupils in the northern town of Kuriga on Thursday, a teacher, local councillor and parents of the missing children said, in the biggest mass abduction from a school since 2021.
"The number of the kidnapped from the secondary section based on the statistics we took together with the parents is 187 while that of the primary section is 40 for now," said teacher at school.
Local councillor for Kuriga Idris Maiallura said he had been to the school and said the gunmen initially took 100 primary schools pupils but later freed them while others escaped.
Parents and residents blamed the kidnapping on lack of security in the area.
Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani visited Kuriga and promised to get the students released, his office said, but did not say how many pupils were missing.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
💰🇿🇲 IMF review mission to Zambia tentatively scheduled for mid-April
The International Monetary Fund will assess the economic impact of a devastating drought on Zambia in a visit tentatively scheduled for mid-April, the fund said.
Zambia is planning to start rationing electricity next week as a devastating drought that has been declared a national disaster affects hydropower generation, as well as food production.
A preliminary IMF assessment is that crop losses appear to be significant and the need to import energy will negatively affect the current account balance, though the drought would not have a significant economic effect over the medium term, said IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack in a scheduled press conference.
#IMF #Zambia
@africaintel
The International Monetary Fund will assess the economic impact of a devastating drought on Zambia in a visit tentatively scheduled for mid-April, the fund said.
Zambia is planning to start rationing electricity next week as a devastating drought that has been declared a national disaster affects hydropower generation, as well as food production.
A preliminary IMF assessment is that crop losses appear to be significant and the need to import energy will negatively affect the current account balance, though the drought would not have a significant economic effect over the medium term, said IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack in a scheduled press conference.
#IMF #Zambia
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Binance begins to cut off Nigeria currency transactions
The world's largest cryptocurrency firm, Binance, has begun stopping all transactions using Nigeria's local currency - as a dispute continues with the authorities.
The Nigerian government has accused the company of causing the naira to lose value, by manipulating foreign exchange rates.
The central bank governor has also claimed that cryptocurrency firms are being used for money laundering.
Last week officials demanded almost $10bn in compensation from Binance.
With the weakening of the naira, many Nigerians see crypto exchanges as a way to protect their savings.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
The world's largest cryptocurrency firm, Binance, has begun stopping all transactions using Nigeria's local currency - as a dispute continues with the authorities.
The Nigerian government has accused the company of causing the naira to lose value, by manipulating foreign exchange rates.
The central bank governor has also claimed that cryptocurrency firms are being used for money laundering.
Last week officials demanded almost $10bn in compensation from Binance.
With the weakening of the naira, many Nigerians see crypto exchanges as a way to protect their savings.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇬🇭 Ghana Deputy Finance Minister John Kumah has died, finance ministry says
Ghana's Deputy Finance Minister John Kumah has died, the finance ministry's spokesperson said on Thursday.
Kumah died in the company of his doctor while an ambulance was taking him from Ejisu - the constituency where was MP - to the capital, Accra, about 235km away.
"We decided this morning to take him to Accra so that he takes the next available flight to continue his treatment in Germany," Kumah's spokesperson, Bismarck Owusu Twumasi, told.
Kumah, a lawyer by training and a father of six, assumed office as deputy finance minister in 2021.
Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has led the country in paying tributes to Kumah.
#Ghana
@africaintel
Ghana's Deputy Finance Minister John Kumah has died, the finance ministry's spokesperson said on Thursday.
Kumah died in the company of his doctor while an ambulance was taking him from Ejisu - the constituency where was MP - to the capital, Accra, about 235km away.
"We decided this morning to take him to Accra so that he takes the next available flight to continue his treatment in Germany," Kumah's spokesperson, Bismarck Owusu Twumasi, told.
Kumah, a lawyer by training and a father of six, assumed office as deputy finance minister in 2021.
Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has led the country in paying tributes to Kumah.
#Ghana
@africaintel
🇪🇬🇵🇸🇮🇱 Egypt sees tourism numbers picking up despite shadow of Gaza war
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza caused a drop in tourism to Egypt compared to expectations in the last quarter of 2023, but the number of visitors picked up in the first two months of the year, the country's tourism minister said.
In addition to the effect on tourism, attacks on Red Sea shipping have jeopardised another of the main sources of hard currency for Egypt's struggling economy - receipts from traffic through the Suez Canal.
Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa said 3.6 million tourists visited in the October-December 2023 period. Although this was the second highest number on record for a final quarter, it was 600,000 below the record 4.2 million that had been expected, Issa said.
"Culture tourism is probably where we've seen the most significant impact," Issa said, naming Luxor, Aswan and the greater Cairo region.
#Egypt #Palestine #Israel
@africaintel
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza caused a drop in tourism to Egypt compared to expectations in the last quarter of 2023, but the number of visitors picked up in the first two months of the year, the country's tourism minister said.
In addition to the effect on tourism, attacks on Red Sea shipping have jeopardised another of the main sources of hard currency for Egypt's struggling economy - receipts from traffic through the Suez Canal.
Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa said 3.6 million tourists visited in the October-December 2023 period. Although this was the second highest number on record for a final quarter, it was 600,000 below the record 4.2 million that had been expected, Issa said.
"Culture tourism is probably where we've seen the most significant impact," Issa said, naming Luxor, Aswan and the greater Cairo region.
#Egypt #Palestine #Israel
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇪🇬💰 Egypt secures IMF deal after pound plunge, bumper rate hike Egypt secured an expanded $8 billion deal on Wednesday with the International Monetary Fund, hours after the central bank unshackled its currency and delivered a 600 basis points rate hike in…
🇨🇩 ICRC chief urges warring parties in the eastern DRC to exercise constraint
A sharp increase in the number of civilians wounded by heavy weapons in eastern DR Congo is threatening to overwhelm health facilities already struggling to provide care, the director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.
On a five-day visit to the country, Robert Mardini said the upsurge in fighting between the army and M23 militants in the North Kivu province was further worsening one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises.
Speaking at the Lushangala camp for internally displaced people in Goma, he said civilians were in the firing line and urged constraint.
"I call on all parties to the conflict and their allies to respect the rules of war, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention. This is not an option, but rather an obligation, which is binding on all parties to the conflict,” he said.
#DRC
@africaintel
A sharp increase in the number of civilians wounded by heavy weapons in eastern DR Congo is threatening to overwhelm health facilities already struggling to provide care, the director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.
On a five-day visit to the country, Robert Mardini said the upsurge in fighting between the army and M23 militants in the North Kivu province was further worsening one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises.
Speaking at the Lushangala camp for internally displaced people in Goma, he said civilians were in the firing line and urged constraint.
"I call on all parties to the conflict and their allies to respect the rules of war, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention. This is not an option, but rather an obligation, which is binding on all parties to the conflict,” he said.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇺🇳🇲🇿 UN running out of money to help Mozambique terror victims
"Wars and other natural phenomena are attracting the world’s attention and leaving Mozambique’s situation almost invisible," warns the UN's refugee chief.
The country's mineral-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been plagued by Islamist violence, and the UN says it only has 17% of the funding it needs to provide short-term relief to the many locals who need urgent aid.
"I appeal to the World Bank and other partners to support Mozambique in development projects, to not only avoid a humanitarian crisis, but also stop the spread of terrorism in the world," UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said.
"As a United Nations organisation, [we] are committed to providing a large-scale response to the humanitarian drama in Cabo Delgado, but unfortunately, without sufficient resources, we will have no alternative but to do less of what we should do."
#UN #Mozambique
@africaintel
"Wars and other natural phenomena are attracting the world’s attention and leaving Mozambique’s situation almost invisible," warns the UN's refugee chief.
The country's mineral-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been plagued by Islamist violence, and the UN says it only has 17% of the funding it needs to provide short-term relief to the many locals who need urgent aid.
"I appeal to the World Bank and other partners to support Mozambique in development projects, to not only avoid a humanitarian crisis, but also stop the spread of terrorism in the world," UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said.
"As a United Nations organisation, [we] are committed to providing a large-scale response to the humanitarian drama in Cabo Delgado, but unfortunately, without sufficient resources, we will have no alternative but to do less of what we should do."
#UN #Mozambique
@africaintel
🇧🇫 IS belatedly claims Burkina Faso church attack
The Islamic State group (IS) has belatedly said it carried out the 25 February attack on a Catholic church in north-eastern Burkina Faso, in which at least 15 people were killed.
Terrorists said that IS militants armed with guns attacked a church in the village of Essakane in Oudalan province, near the border with Mali, during Sunday service.
"As the mujahidin entered the church gate, they opened fire on the Christians, killing over 15 of them," the group said.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
The Islamic State group (IS) has belatedly said it carried out the 25 February attack on a Catholic church in north-eastern Burkina Faso, in which at least 15 people were killed.
Terrorists said that IS militants armed with guns attacked a church in the village of Essakane in Oudalan province, near the border with Mali, during Sunday service.
"As the mujahidin entered the church gate, they opened fire on the Christians, killing over 15 of them," the group said.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🇿🇲 Zambia braces for power rationing as drought bites
Zambia has announced it will start rationing its electricity, as the effects of the drought that's hitting much of southern Africa continues to bite.
Eight hours of load shedding per day will begin by the start of next week, announced the managing director of the state-owned power company Zesco.
Victor Mapani said the move was a result of the low water levels at Kariba Dam which is used to generate most of Zambia's hydroelectricity.
He said Zambia would continue importing power from Mozambique to cushion the energy deficit on the economy.
Mapani advised consumers to use alternative sources of energy.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has declared the drought a national emergency and urged local and international partners to help in fighting its effects.
#Zambia
@africaintel
Zambia has announced it will start rationing its electricity, as the effects of the drought that's hitting much of southern Africa continues to bite.
Eight hours of load shedding per day will begin by the start of next week, announced the managing director of the state-owned power company Zesco.
Victor Mapani said the move was a result of the low water levels at Kariba Dam which is used to generate most of Zambia's hydroelectricity.
He said Zambia would continue importing power from Mozambique to cushion the energy deficit on the economy.
Mapani advised consumers to use alternative sources of energy.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has declared the drought a national emergency and urged local and international partners to help in fighting its effects.
#Zambia
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇨🇩 Congolese journalist denied provisional release after months in detention A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has rejected an appeal for the provisional release of journalist Stanis Bujakera, who has been in detention for more than five months.…
🇨🇩 DR Congo prosecutor seeks 20-year jail sentence for journalist
A prosecutor in the DR Congo has asked a court in the capital Kinshasa to sentence journalist Stanis Bujakera to 20 years in prison, one of his lawyers said on Friday.
Bujakera, a Congolese national who works for international media outlets including Reuters, was detained on September 8 and later charged with spreading false information about the death of a prominent opposition politician.
He denies the charges.
"The prosecutor has requested that our client be sentenced for the sum of all offences to a cumulative penalty of 20 years, and the payment of one million Congolese francs ($364)," Bujakera's lawyer said.
"We are waiting for the court to rule." The court is likely to issue a verdict next week.
#DRC
@africaintel
A prosecutor in the DR Congo has asked a court in the capital Kinshasa to sentence journalist Stanis Bujakera to 20 years in prison, one of his lawyers said on Friday.
Bujakera, a Congolese national who works for international media outlets including Reuters, was detained on September 8 and later charged with spreading false information about the death of a prominent opposition politician.
He denies the charges.
"The prosecutor has requested that our client be sentenced for the sum of all offences to a cumulative penalty of 20 years, and the payment of one million Congolese francs ($364)," Bujakera's lawyer said.
"We are waiting for the court to rule." The court is likely to issue a verdict next week.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇿🇦🇲🇿 South Africa builds concrete wall to keep out Mozambicans
Concrete barriers are being built along a stretch of the South Africa-Mozambique border to prevent people crossing over to steal and smuggle vehicles.
South African authorities have budgeted close to $2.7m (£2.1m) to build the wall. It's made up of three sections: an 8km (5 mile) barrier near Tembe Elephant Park; an 8km-long stretch near iSimangaliso Wetland Park; a 9km wall from the western boundary of Tembe Elephant Park towards Pongolo River.
Building works on the Tembe Elephant Park section "are currently underway," according to a joint briefing by the South African government and KwaZulu-Natal province.
"The impact of the project has been positively received by the community and the South African National Defense Force," it added.
#SouthAfrica #Mozambique
@africaintel
Concrete barriers are being built along a stretch of the South Africa-Mozambique border to prevent people crossing over to steal and smuggle vehicles.
South African authorities have budgeted close to $2.7m (£2.1m) to build the wall. It's made up of three sections: an 8km (5 mile) barrier near Tembe Elephant Park; an 8km-long stretch near iSimangaliso Wetland Park; a 9km wall from the western boundary of Tembe Elephant Park towards Pongolo River.
Building works on the Tembe Elephant Park section "are currently underway," according to a joint briefing by the South African government and KwaZulu-Natal province.
"The impact of the project has been positively received by the community and the South African National Defense Force," it added.
#SouthAfrica #Mozambique
@africaintel
🇺🇸🇷🇺🇨🇫 US issues sanctions on Russian, Central African Republic entities over Wagner ties
The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on two entities it accused of advancing Russia's "malign activities" in the Central African Republic (CAR) and enabling the Wagner mercenary group, the U.S. Treasury Department said.
The entities, a CAR-based timber company and a Russia-based company, sought to benefit financially "from illicit natural resource extraction and provided material and financial support to the Wagner Group and other organizations" tied to Wagner's former owner Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the Treasury said.
The action targets CAR-based Bois Rouge SARLU for its ties to Wagner and St. Petersburg-based Broker Expert for its support of Bois Rouge, it said.
#USA #Russia #CAR
@africaintel
The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on two entities it accused of advancing Russia's "malign activities" in the Central African Republic (CAR) and enabling the Wagner mercenary group, the U.S. Treasury Department said.
The entities, a CAR-based timber company and a Russia-based company, sought to benefit financially "from illicit natural resource extraction and provided material and financial support to the Wagner Group and other organizations" tied to Wagner's former owner Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the Treasury said.
The action targets CAR-based Bois Rouge SARLU for its ties to Wagner and St. Petersburg-based Broker Expert for its support of Bois Rouge, it said.
#USA #Russia #CAR
@africaintel
🇸🇸🇺🇸 South Sudan elections not on path for credible process, US official warns
Elections set to be held in South Sudan in December are not on a path for a credible process without urgent action, a senior U.S. State Department official warned on Friday.
South Sudan is planning national elections later this year to choose leaders to succeed the current transitional government, which includes President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, whose respective forces battled each other during the 2013-2018 civil war.
On the likelihood the elections proceed in December as planned, the U.S. official said: "I give it 50/50."
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that the U.S. would look to options including sanctions and adjusting its diplomatic platform in the country if elections were to be delayed or violence breaks out.
#SouthSudan #USA
@africaintel
Elections set to be held in South Sudan in December are not on a path for a credible process without urgent action, a senior U.S. State Department official warned on Friday.
South Sudan is planning national elections later this year to choose leaders to succeed the current transitional government, which includes President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, whose respective forces battled each other during the 2013-2018 civil war.
On the likelihood the elections proceed in December as planned, the U.S. official said: "I give it 50/50."
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that the U.S. would look to options including sanctions and adjusting its diplomatic platform in the country if elections were to be delayed or violence breaks out.
#SouthSudan #USA
@africaintel
🇺🇸🇿🇦 US Treasury's No. 2 to visit South Africa next week
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo will visit South Africa next week, a Treasury spokesperson told, where he will seek to advance the economic relationship between the two countries "even as ties have been marked by tensions."
The spokesperson said Adeyemo will discuss issues such as illicit finance, clean energy transition, investment in young entrepreneurs and leaders, work against wildlife trafficking and U.S. sanctions in his visit.
He will meet with government counterparts, business leaders and students, among others, on the trip from March 11-15, the spokesperson said. The trip will include visits to Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The trip comes as relations between Washington and South Africa have been marked by tensions over the past two years.
#USA #SouthAfrica
@africaintel
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo will visit South Africa next week, a Treasury spokesperson told, where he will seek to advance the economic relationship between the two countries "even as ties have been marked by tensions."
The spokesperson said Adeyemo will discuss issues such as illicit finance, clean energy transition, investment in young entrepreneurs and leaders, work against wildlife trafficking and U.S. sanctions in his visit.
He will meet with government counterparts, business leaders and students, among others, on the trip from March 11-15, the spokesperson said. The trip will include visits to Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The trip comes as relations between Washington and South Africa have been marked by tensions over the past two years.
#USA #SouthAfrica
@africaintel
🇸🇳 Senegal kicks off short election campaign after poll delays
Senegalese presidential candidates launched their shortened campaigns on Saturday, two days after a court confirmed the election would be held on March 24, ending weeks of uncertainty and kick-starting a competition that remains wide open.
The new date leaves the 19 candidates little more than two weeks, rather than the usual 21 days, to drum up support. It also means that for the first time campaigning in the majority Muslim nation will take place during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday night.
"We will have to adapt everything," opposition candidate and former mayor of the capital Dakar, Khalifa Sall, told.
The campaign period also coincides with the Christian period of Lent.
#Senegal
@africaintel
Senegalese presidential candidates launched their shortened campaigns on Saturday, two days after a court confirmed the election would be held on March 24, ending weeks of uncertainty and kick-starting a competition that remains wide open.
The new date leaves the 19 candidates little more than two weeks, rather than the usual 21 days, to drum up support. It also means that for the first time campaigning in the majority Muslim nation will take place during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday night.
"We will have to adapt everything," opposition candidate and former mayor of the capital Dakar, Khalifa Sall, told.
The campaign period also coincides with the Christian period of Lent.
#Senegal
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Nigeria pauses controversial expatriate tax
Nigeria has paused a controversial annual levy that would require businesses employing expatriates to pay $15,000 for a director and $10,000 for other workers.
President Bola Tinubu imposed the tax over a week ago, but it was met with widespread condemnation.
The Ministry of Interior said the levy would be paused for "dialogue among stakeholders".
It comes after a meeting was held to discuss the levy on Friday in Abuja.
The Ministry of Interior said the tax was intended to "discourage abuse" of the expatriate quota.
It said it hoped the levy would create "employment opportunities for Nigerians while closing wage gaps between expatriates and local workers".
Dele Kelvin Oye, national president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, welcomed the pause.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Nigeria has paused a controversial annual levy that would require businesses employing expatriates to pay $15,000 for a director and $10,000 for other workers.
President Bola Tinubu imposed the tax over a week ago, but it was met with widespread condemnation.
The Ministry of Interior said the levy would be paused for "dialogue among stakeholders".
It comes after a meeting was held to discuss the levy on Friday in Abuja.
The Ministry of Interior said the tax was intended to "discourage abuse" of the expatriate quota.
It said it hoped the levy would create "employment opportunities for Nigerians while closing wage gaps between expatriates and local workers".
Dele Kelvin Oye, national president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, welcomed the pause.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇿🇼🇺🇸 Zimbabwe forcibly removed USAID officials on assessment mission, US says
The United States on Friday said Zimbabwean officials last month "abruptly detained and deported" U.S. Agency for International Development officials who had been in the country on an assessment mission.
The U.S. State Department said Zimbabwe's actions undermined its claims of wanting to pursue international reengagement following human rights concerns in the African country.
#Zimbabwe #USA
@africaintel
The United States on Friday said Zimbabwean officials last month "abruptly detained and deported" U.S. Agency for International Development officials who had been in the country on an assessment mission.
The U.S. State Department said Zimbabwe's actions undermined its claims of wanting to pursue international reengagement following human rights concerns in the African country.
#Zimbabwe #USA
@africaintel
🇺🇸🇿🇼 US condemns deportation of aid workers from Zimbabwe
The US has accused Zimbabwe of harassing, detaining and deporting several of its nationals who were in the country as aid workers.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said government officials and contractors had been "verbally and physically" intimidated.
They were there to "support civic participation, democratic institutions and human rights", the agency added.
On Monday, the US announced fresh sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior government officials, whom it accuses of corruption and human rights abuses.
USAID's administrator, Samantha Power, said that some of its members had been subjected to "overnight detention, transportation in unsafe conditions, prolonged interrogation, seizure of and intrusion into personal electronic equipment".
#USA #Zimbabwe
@africaintel
The US has accused Zimbabwe of harassing, detaining and deporting several of its nationals who were in the country as aid workers.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said government officials and contractors had been "verbally and physically" intimidated.
They were there to "support civic participation, democratic institutions and human rights", the agency added.
On Monday, the US announced fresh sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior government officials, whom it accuses of corruption and human rights abuses.
USAID's administrator, Samantha Power, said that some of its members had been subjected to "overnight detention, transportation in unsafe conditions, prolonged interrogation, seizure of and intrusion into personal electronic equipment".
#USA #Zimbabwe
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇳🇬 Gunmen kidnap 227 pupils from school in Nigeria Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped more than 200 school pupils in the northern town of Kuriga on Thursday, a teacher, local councillor and parents of the missing children said, in the biggest mass abduction from…
🇳🇬 At least 28 Nigerian schoolchildren escape captors
At least 28 of the nearly 300 schoolchildren kidnapped by gunmen have escaped, Nigeria's Kaduna state governor has told.
Nigeria's army is leading a search for the children taken in the northern town of Kuriga on Thursday.
Troops are working with police and local search teams to comb the forests within Kaduna and neighbouring states.
Gangs of motorcycle-riding armed men took nearly 300 primary and secondary school children between the ages of eight and 15, school authorities and parents said.
Almost every family in the town is thought to have a child among those kidnapped.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
At least 28 of the nearly 300 schoolchildren kidnapped by gunmen have escaped, Nigeria's Kaduna state governor has told.
Nigeria's army is leading a search for the children taken in the northern town of Kuriga on Thursday.
Troops are working with police and local search teams to comb the forests within Kaduna and neighbouring states.
Gangs of motorcycle-riding armed men took nearly 300 primary and secondary school children between the ages of eight and 15, school authorities and parents said.
Almost every family in the town is thought to have a child among those kidnapped.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Gunmen kidnap 15 students in dawn raid on Nigerian school
Gunmen kidnapped at least 15 students from a school in Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto state in a dawn raid on Saturday, the school's owner and a resident said, days after some 300 students were abducted by a gang in northern Kaduna state.
The gunmen forced their way into the school premises in the Sokoto village of Gidan Bakuso and started firing shots sporadically, waking and causing panic among the students, who ran for cover, said school owner Liman Abubakar Bakuso.
"They succeeded in abducting 15 of my students, the oldest being 20 and 15, but all the others are below 13," said Bakuso.
"We are in a state of panic and have been praying hard for their safe release," he told.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Gunmen kidnapped at least 15 students from a school in Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto state in a dawn raid on Saturday, the school's owner and a resident said, days after some 300 students were abducted by a gang in northern Kaduna state.
The gunmen forced their way into the school premises in the Sokoto village of Gidan Bakuso and started firing shots sporadically, waking and causing panic among the students, who ran for cover, said school owner Liman Abubakar Bakuso.
"They succeeded in abducting 15 of my students, the oldest being 20 and 15, but all the others are below 13," said Bakuso.
"We are in a state of panic and have been praying hard for their safe release," he told.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
🇺🇸🇰🇪🇭🇹 Blinken talks to Kenyan president about Haiti crisis, says State Deputy
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the Haiti crisis and the two men underscored their commitment to a multinational security mission to restore order, the State Department said on Saturday.
Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated while Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Nairobi seeking a deal for the long-delayed U.N.-backed mission.
Kenya announced last year it would lead the force but months of domestic legal wrangling have effectively placed the mission on hold.
In a statement, the State Department said Blinken and Ruto "underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission".
#USA #Kenya #Haiti
@africaintel
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the Haiti crisis and the two men underscored their commitment to a multinational security mission to restore order, the State Department said on Saturday.
Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated while Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Nairobi seeking a deal for the long-delayed U.N.-backed mission.
Kenya announced last year it would lead the force but months of domestic legal wrangling have effectively placed the mission on hold.
In a statement, the State Department said Blinken and Ruto "underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission".
#USA #Kenya #Haiti
@africaintel