• Dhaka Sun, 26 JANUARY 2025,
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Drone Attack on Sudan Hospital Kills 67
Peacekeepers Killed in Heavy Fighting with M23 in DR Congo
South Africa, Malawi and Uruguay on Saturday announced that soldiers from their respective armies were killed as they battled to halt the advance of M23 rebel fighters in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said that nine of its soldiers were killed during a pitched battle with M23 fighters as they attempted to advance on the city of Goma, the key city in the mineral-rich east. South African military says M23 advance halted "The M23 hostile forces had launched a full-scale attack on our troops with the intention of taking over Goma but were unable to advance due to the heroic resistance put up by our gallant fighters," the SANDF said in a statement. South Africa's military said its forces were able to halt the advance and push the M23 rebels back. The SANDF said that the number of injured had yet to be confirmed and some had varying degrees of injuries. Two of the dead South African soldiers were part of the UN peacekeeping force, while the other seven South Africans were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission, also known as SAMIDRC. "The rebel group M23 attacked the SAMIDRC in Goma to which SAMIDRC retaliated and successfully repelled the armed group," the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat posted on X.  "SADC commends the actions of the brave men and women from SAMIDRC who sacrificed their lives for the Region," it added. Malawian and Uruguayan peacekeepers also killed Before South Africa's military confirmed the number of its dead, the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) said that three of its peacekeepers were killed. "We confirm the loss of three of our courageous soldiers who were part of the SADC Mission in the DRC," spokesman Emmanuel Mlelemba said. "These soldiers fell in the line of duty during an encounter with the M23 rebel group operating in eastern DRC. As the situation remains volatile, further details will be shared later," he added. A Uruguayan member of the UN peacekeeping force was also killed while four others were wounded, Uruguay's military announced Saturday. UN Security Council reschedules emergency meeting to Sunday The UN Security Council has moved an emergency meeting from Monday to Sunday, following a request from Kinshasa. Diplomats on Saturday said the emergency talks would take place at 10:00 a.m. (1500 GMT). The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, Bintou Keita, is expected to speak. Kinshasa has also announced it was pulling its diplomats from Kigali, according to a letter from the foreign ministry to the Rwandan Embassy dated January 24. The UN peacekeeping force, also known as MONUSCO, entered the DRC more than two decades ago and has around 14,000 peacekeepers on the ground. Experts from the DRC, the United States and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 armed group. The rebels are mainly composed of ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army over a decade ago.
Fuel Tanker Explosion in Nigeria Kills 77
Abandoned South African Gold Mine Claims Over 100 Lives
40 Farmers Killed in Gunmen Attack in Nigeria
Sierra Leone Declares Public Health Emergency over mpox
Ethiopia and Somalia Restore Diplomatic Ties
Ethiopia and Somalia renewed their diplomatic relations during a visit of Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud to Addis Ababa on Saturday. Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed "agreed to restore and enhance their bilateral relations through full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals." The two emphasized that regional stability requires "strong cooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust, confidence and respect."  The restoration of Ethiopia-Somalia diplomatic ties came just one month after the Horn of Africa neighbors reached a peace deal brokered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Why were Ethiopia and Somalia at odds? Relations between the two East African neighbors have been tense since last year when landlocked Ethiopia made a deal with Somalia's breakaway region Somaliland. At the time Ethiopia agreed to lease land along its coastline to establish a marine force base. In return, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland's independence. The port deal sparked a row between the two neighbors, with Somalia accusing Ethiopia of undermining its sovereignty. In April 2024, Somalia expelled the Ethiopian ambassador in Mogadishu and recalled its representative in Addis Ababa.  During Mohamud's visit on Saturday they reiterated their commitment to the deal and its "spirit of friendship and solidarity." They also discussed deepening trade, and security cooperation against "extremist militant groups." 
Thousands Evacuate over Volcanic Eruption Fears in Ethiopia
Authorities have begun to evacuate residents in northeastern Ethiopia after a volcano showed signs of potentially dangerous activity , officials said Friday. Civilians from the Afar region were relocated to temporary shelters, according to the state-owned Fana Broadcasting, which quoted a regional administrator in the area. Shiferaw Teklemariam, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission, said it was premature to describe the activity as an eruption, adding that authorities were exercising caution. "The community; some are already leaving those areas. We are also preparing to do it in a well-organized manner. It [moving the community] will be done based on predictions," he told Reuters. Officials warn of possible volcanic eruption The Ethiopian Geological Institute shared a video on its Facebook page showing what appeared to be dust and smoke rising from the long-dormant volcano of Mount Dofen.  However, not all triggers of volcanic activity lead to full-blown eruptions. Region prone to earthquakes and tremors A magnitude 5.8 earthquake, which occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles), hit Ethiopia on Saturday, according to the US Geological Survey and the German Research Center for Geosciences. The same area also saw a magnitude 5.5 quake on Friday, said the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center. Dozens of earthquakes and tremors have been recorded in the area in recent months.
Devastating Road Accident in Ethiopia: At Least 66 Dead
A tragic road accident in Ethiopia has claimed the lives of at least 66 people, with four others injured. The incident occurred at the Gelana Bridge in Bona Zuria Woreda, located in the southern region of the East African country. According to separate reports on Monday (December 30) by Reuters and The Guardian, local officials confirmed the death toll. Reuters, citing AFP, reported that at least 66 people were killed, while The Guardian noted that over 60 fatalities were confirmed by local health authorities in southern Ethiopia. The Sidama region, where the accident occurred, is approximately 300 kilometers south of the capital, Addis Ababa. The Sidama Regional Health Bureau stated on Facebook, "A total of 66 people have died in a vehicle accident." However, no further details about the incident were provided. The bureau mentioned that the accident happened on the Gelana Bridge in Bona Zuria Woreda and added, "Four injured passengers are receiving treatment at Bona General Hospital." Blurred images shared by the bureau showed a crowd surrounding a partially submerged vehicle, with some people appearing to assist in retrieving it from the water. Other photos depicted the bodies of the deceased, covered with blue tarpaulins and laid on the ground.
Chad Goes to Polls amid Opposition Boycott
Chad is voting in legislative, provincial, and local elections on Sunday, despite an opposition boycott, as the country moves toward a political transition after three years of military rule. Voting booths will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (0500 to 1700 GMT) for the approximately eight million registered voters, overseen by a hundred foreign observers and representatives of different political parties. Soldiers, members of the police forces and nomadic people began voting on Saturday. Opposition alleges fraud However, the opposition is boycotting the elections, leaving the field open to candidates aligned with Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno. The military first steered Itno into power in 2021 after his father's death. The elder Idriss Deby Itno had ruled the Sahel country with an iron fist for three decades before his son took control.  In May, the younger Itno won a disputed presidential election. His government is presenting these polls as a step toward transition to democratic rule. Opposition leader Succes Masra criticized the process, alleging fraud and urging a boycott. "It is better to stay at home," Masra said in a Facebook live on Saturday "The fabricated results are already in the computers," he said. Meanwhile, the opposition party PDPT reported missing ballots in the southern city of Bongor and called for vigilance against alleged fraud. Voting amid security challenges Voting is being held amid Boko Haram attacks, tensions with France, and allegations of interference in Sudan's conflict. The legislative elections in Chad, the first since 2011, are taking place under heavy criticism of the government for autocratic practices and repression, highlighted by a media blackout due to a strike by online journalists. In the May presidential election, Chad banned 2,900 EU-trained observers from monitoring the poll.
Prison Riot in Mozambique: At Least 6,000 Inmates Escape
A riot in a prison in Mozambique's capital has resulted in the escape of at least 6,000 inmates, authorities have confirmed. This comes amid post-election violence that has gripped the southern African nation for several weeks. Mozambique's police chief, Bernardino Rafael, stated that the inmates escaped from Maputo Central Prison on Christmas Day, describing the incident as a rebellion. He added that during the escape, clashes occurred between security forces and the prisoners, leaving at least 33 inmates dead and 15 others injured. Initially, officials reported that around 1,500 inmates had escaped, but updated reports now indicate that the number has risen to 6,000. The Electoral Observation Platform, a monitoring organization, reported that since the controversial election on October 9, clashes between protesters and security forces have resulted in at least 151 deaths.
Nearly 100 Killed in Fuel Tanker Explosion in Nigeria
A fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria, a West African country, has claimed the lives of nearly 100 people. At least 50 others have been injured in the incident, which took place in the northern region of the country, police said on Wednesday. Police spokesperson Lawan Shiisu Adam told the French news agency AFP that the tanker overturned late Tuesday night in Jigawa state, located in northern Nigeria. As people gathered to collect the spilled fuel, the tanker exploded. “We have confirmed 94 deaths so far,” Adam said, adding that at least 50 people were injured in the explosion. In an interview with the American news agency AP, Lawan explained that many people rushed to gather fuel after the tanker overturned, but an unexpected explosion triggered a massive fire, causing the fatalities. The fire resulting from the explosion could not be fully extinguished until early Wednesday morning, according to Adam. This incident follows another tragic fuel tanker explosion last month in the north-central Niger State, where a collision between a tanker and a truck killed at least 48 people. Fatal accidents involving trucks are common on Nigeria’s major highways, with experts attributing the accidents to reckless driving, poor road conditions, and overcrowded vehicles.
Heavy Snowfall Forces Road Closures in South Africa
Heavy snowfall caused major disruptions in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province on Saturday. Motorists were forced to spend the night in their vehicles as one of the country's main highways, the N3, was blanketed with unusually thick snow. Roads in the area have been closed, and traffic authorities have warned motorists to delay journeys and keep clear of the area. Portion of N3 highway closed "Heavy snowfall continues to blanket the busiest N3 highway, particularly between Warden and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal, making travel extremely dangerous," South Africa's Department of Transport said in a statement. "The ministry is deeply concerned about the situation, especially as many travelers spent the night stranded at filling stations and along the N3, unable to move due to the road closures," the department said, adding that various emergency services were being deployed to the area. Authorities said that no deaths or injuries had been reported thus far. Road safety organization Arrive Alive warned that visibility along the N3 was poor and that the cold and wet conditions were set to continue. "The risk remains high for more snowfalls and the formation of black ice as temperatures drop into the night," the group warned and made a series of posts on X, showing the extent of the snowfall. South Africa's Border Management Authority said three border posts with the kingdom of Lesotho had been closed as "the current conditions pose a significant danger." Many road users posted videos on social media showing cars, trucks and minibusses stuck in deep snow. Motorist Muhammad Goolam told the Newzroom Afrika channel that he and his children had spent the night in his car outside the town of Harrismith, situated 270 kilometers (170 miles) southeast of Johannesburg. "Over 13 hours, food supplies out, I don't see us managing to drive out of here without any assistant from emergency personnel," he said.  
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