AFRICA DYNAMITE 🌍

S outh African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on August 11, 2023 that he had pardoned former President Jacob Zuma and other political offenders. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court, but was released on medical parole in September 2021. The pardons have been met with widespread criticism, with many people accusing Ramaphosa of rewarding corruption and impunity. Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court in July 2021 for refusing to testify before the Zondo Commission, which is investigating corruption allegations during his presidency. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, but was released on medical parole in September 2021 after serving just two months of his sentence. The pardons announced by Ramaphosa on August 11 also include: Schabir Shaik, a businessman who was convicted of corruption and fraud in relation to the arms deal scandal. Mzi Khumalo, a former ANC MP who was convicted of fraud and corruption in relation to the security cluster tende...

The UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, warned on August 12, 2023 of a humanitarian crisis in Darfur, as fighting between government forces and rebels intensifies. Perthes said that the fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and is preventing aid from reaching those in need. Darfur is a region in western Sudan that has been plagued by conflict for over two decades. The conflict began in 2003 when rebel groups took up arms against the government of Sudan, accusing it of neglect and discrimination. The government responded with a brutal campaign of violence, which led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions more. The fighting in Darfur has recently intensified, with government forces and rebels engaging in heavy clashes. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and has made it difficult for aid agencies to reach those in need. Perthes said that the humanitarian situation in Darfur is "extremely worrying....

At least seven worshippers were killed and dozens more injured when part of a mosque collapsed during Friday prayers in the city of Gombe, Nigeria, on August 12, 2023. The collapse occurred at the Al-Fatima Mosque in the Gombe metropolis, just as worshippers were observing the Zuhr (afternoon) prayer. The mosque is located in the Dadin Kowa area of the city. The cause of the collapse is still unknown, but eyewitnesses said it may have been due to structural defects. Some said that the mosque had been built on a weak foundation, while others said that the collapse may have been caused by heavy rains that had fallen in the area in recent days. The collapse sent shockwaves through the city, and rescue workers were quickly dispatched to the scene. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, where they are being treated for their injuries. The death toll is expected to rise, as some of the injured are in critical condition. The government of Gombe State has announced a three-day mourning pe...