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Devastating Flash Floods Claim 50 Lives, Displace 700,000 in Somalia

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Devastating Flash Floods Claim 50 Lives, Displace 700,000 in Somalia

Devastating Flash Floods Claim 50 Lives, Displace 700,000 in Somalia

In a tragic turn of events, flash flooding in Somalia has claimed the lives of 50 individuals and forced almost 700,000 people from their homes, according to a government official.

The dire situation is exacerbated by heavy rains that began on Tuesday, contributing to the country’s ongoing crisis.

The Horn of Africa region is grappling with torrential rainfall and floods associated with the El Nino weather phenomenon. This has led to a significant loss of life and widespread displacement, particularly in Somalia, where bridges have been destroyed, and residential areas are submerged.

At a press briefing on Monday, Mohamud Moalim Abdullahi, the director of the Somali Disaster Management Agency, revealed, “Fifty people died in the disaster… while 687,235 people were forced to flee their houses.”

He further warned that the anticipated rains between November 21st and 24th may intensify the flooding, posing additional threats to lives and property.

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported on Saturday that the number of people displaced by heavy rains and floods in Somalia “has nearly doubled in one week.”

The disaster has affected a total of 1.7 million people, causing damage to roads, bridges, and airstrips in several areas. This has hindered the movement of people and supplies, resulting in increased prices of essential commodities, according to OCHA.

Save the Children, a British charity, expressed deep concern on Thursday, stating that over 100 people, including 16 children, have lost their lives, and more than 700,000 have been displaced in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia due to flash flooding.

The Horn of Africa remains one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, experiencing extreme weather events with heightened frequency and intensity. The current crisis follows the region’s recovery from the worst drought in four decades, characterized by multiple failed rainy seasons that left millions in dire need, devastated crops, and decimated livestock.

Humanitarian groups emphasize the urgent need for global intervention, citing the El Nino weather phenomenon’s expected persistence until at least April 2024.

As climate change continues to pose a severe threat to the region, these organizations stress the importance of immediate action to alleviate the suffering and mitigate the long-term impact on vulnerable populations.

Devastating Flash Floods Claim 50 Lives, Displace 700,000 in Somalia

Africa

Escalating Jihadist Retaliation Claims Over 120 Lives in Burkina Faso

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Escalating Jihadist Retaliation Claims Over 120 Lives in Burkina Faso

Escalating Jihadist Retaliation Claims Over 120 Lives in Burkina Faso

Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed on Wednesday that jihadist groups in Burkina Faso have intensified attacks on civilians, particularly targeting those accused of collaborating with government forces or refusing to join their ranks.

The conflict, fueled by insurgents linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, has plagued the West African nation for nearly a decade, spilling over from neighbouring Mali.

Under military leader Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso has recruited thousands of civilian volunteers, known as VDPs, to assist in the fight. However, this move has provoked increasingly violent reprisals from jihadist factions, leading to tragic consequences for local communities.

HRW documented seven attacks between February and June, resulting in the deaths of at least 128 civilians.

These assaults, including a massacre in a Catholic church and strikes on displaced persons camps, were attributed to al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and ISIS-linked Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS).

Witnesses claimed some attacks were motivated by civilians’ involvement with government forces.

“We are between a rock and a hard place,” a 56-year-old villager lamented, describing the dire situation faced by many.

HRW’s report also highlighted that some villagers were killed after being forced by authorities to return to areas previously overtaken by jihadists.

In response, Burkina Faso’s justice minister dismissed HRW’s claims of slow prosecutions, asserting that human rights violations by insurgents are being investigated.

The junta, which came to power following a coup in 2022, faces growing criticism for its handling of the crisis, with analysts noting a further deterioration in security under Traore’s leadership.

Despite Traore’s promises to restore stability, the conflict shows no signs of abating, with HRW citing the recent massacre in Barsalogho, where hundreds were killed, as one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s history.

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Tunisian court jails opposition leader, bans him from presidential elections

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A Tunisian court sentenced opposition party leader Lotfi Mraihi, a potential presidential election candidate, to eight months in prison on a charge of vote buying, his lawyer said on Friday.

The court also banned Mraihi, leader of the Republican Union Party and one of the most prominent critics of President Kais Saied, from running in presidential elections for life, his lawyer Omar Ismail said.

Mraihi will appeal the sentence, Ismail added.

Opposition parties, many of whose leaders are in prison, have accused Saied’s government of exerting pressure on the judiciary to crack down on his rivals in the 2024 elections and pave the way for him to win a second term.

Elected president in 2019, Saied has not officially announced his candidacy for the vote expected to be held on Oct. 6.

Still, it is widely anticipated that he will seek a second term.

He said last year he would not hand power to what he called non-patriots.

The opposition says fair and credible elections cannot be held unless imprisoned politicians are released and the media can do its job without pressure from the government.

In 2021, Saied dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree in a move the opposition have described as a coup.

Saied said his steps were legal and necessary to end years of rampant corruption among the political elite.

(Reuters/NAN)

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Nigerian, South African Defence Chiefs Unite Against Continental Security Challenges

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Nigerian, South African Defence Chiefs Unite Against Continental Security Challenges

Nigerian, South African Defence Chiefs Unite Against Continental Security Challenges

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has called for stronger ties between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to tackle the complex security issues facing Africa.

Gen. Musa made this appeal during an official visit to his South African counterpart, Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, in Pretoria, South Africa. The call for enhanced cooperation was highlighted in a statement released by Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, Acting Director of Defence Information, on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The meeting is a panacea to addressing the multifaceted challenges bedevilling the continent,” Gen. Musa emphasized. He underscored the importance of mutual cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties to combat regional security threats.

During their closed-door meeting, both leaders discussed various strategies to address these challenges, focusing on the exchange of expertise and forging stronger ties for the betterment of the continent.

Gen. Musa was honoured with Cannon Gun Salutes, a mark of high regard, during his visit. Brig.-Gen. Gusau noted the significance of the meeting between the two largest economies and military powers in Africa.

The meeting also saw the presence of SANDF Chiefs of Intelligence, Policy and Plans, International Affairs, and Joint Operations, among other departmental chiefs, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the discussions aimed at enhancing regional security cooperation.

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