Nairobi, Kenya – April 2025 In a first-of-its-kind wildlife crime case, four individuals including two Belgian teenagers, have been charged in Kenya for trafficking more than 5,000 rare live ants. The case, described as “unprecedented” by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), highlights a growing global trade in lesser-known species, particularly rare insects.

The suspects are Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both aged 19, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan citizen were arrested in separate operations earlier this month. Authorities say the group was attempting to smuggle the ants out of the country using specially modified containers.

KHARTOUM, Sudan – April 15, 2025, As Sudan’s brutal civil war enters its third year, the country’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced the formation of a rival government, escalating fears of a formal split in Africa’s third-largest country.

The declaration came Tuesday, coinciding with the second anniversary of the conflict’s outbreak on April 15, 2023 a war the United Nations has labeled the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with over 13 million people displaced, including more than 3.5 million who fled across borders.

Libreville, Gabon - In a decisive election following the 2023 military coup, Brice Oligui Nguema has claimed a resounding victory in Gabon’s presidential election. Provisional results from the Ministry of the Interior show Oligui Nguema securing 90.35% of the vote. This election marks a pivotal moment in Gabon’s return to constitutional rule after a military-led transition that ousted long-time ruler Ali Bongo.  

Brice Oligui Nguema, the leader of Gabon’s transitional government, received 90.35% of the vote.  Alain-Claude Bilie Bie Nze, his closest competitor, garnered only 3.02% of the vote. The election saw a 70.4% voter turnout. Approximately 920,000 voters, including over 28,000 overseas, were registered. 94.8% of polling stations operated satisfactorily, with 98.6% deemed transparent. 69.6% of observed polling stations had representatives from Oligui Nguema. 8.2% of observed polling stations had representatives from Alain-Claude Bilie Bie Nze.

Rebero, Rwanda – As the National Commemoration Week concluded at the Rebero Genocide Memorial, Rwanda paid tribute to politicians who bravely opposed the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Prime Minister Dr. Ngirente joined Senate President François Xavier Kalinda and other senior officials in honoring these individuals, whose courage and sacrifice continue to resonate in Rwanda’s journey towards healing and unity.

Senate President François Xavier Kalinda emphasized the significance of the annual commemoration held every April 13th. “It is essential that we remember these politicians who were killed because they stood against the genocide,” Kalinda stated. “Their dedication to fighting the genocide against the Tutsi serves as a powerful lesson for the future of our country.”

Myanmar is reeling from the devastation caused by a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday. The tremor, which hit during Friday prayers, has killed over 2,000 people and injured thousands more. As the country struggles with the aftermath, rescue efforts face challenges due to damaged infrastructure, communication breakdowns, and ongoing conflict.

Myanmar’s ruling junta declared a week of national mourning following the earthquake. Flags flew at half-mast across the country in sympathy for the victims. The confirmed death toll has surpassed 2,000, and more than 3,900 people have suffered injuries. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors, but the situation grows more desperate with each passing day. Over 270 people remain missing, and hopes of finding more survivors fade.

The fragile hope for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suffered a significant blow as the M23 rebel group announced its withdrawal from scheduled peace talks with the Congolese government, set to begin Tuesday in Luanda, Angola. This cancellation throws into disarray efforts to resolve the escalating conflict in the mineral-rich eastern region, a conflict that has already displaced millions. 

The M23 Rebles, cited two primary reasons for its decision. First, the group pointed to the recent European Union sanctions imposed on its members, deeming them a major impediment to meaningful dialogue. Secondly, the rebels accused the Congolese army of continuing military offensives, creating an environment they considered “impracticable” for negotiations. 

The government of Rwanda has severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, ordering all Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. The move, announced today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accuses Belgium of “pitiful attempts to sustain its neocolonial delusions” and of actively undermining Rwanda’s interests.  

Rwanda alleges that Belgium has “clearly taken sides” in the regional conflict and is “systematically mobilizing against Rwanda” through “lies and manipulation.”

“Belgium has consistently undermined Rwanda, both well before and during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially in acting against Rwanda,” the official statement declares.  

The International Conference on Green and Sustainable Development (ICGSD 2025) has commenced in Kigali, marking a significant step towards positioning universities as pivotal drivers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference, hosted by the University of Kigali (UoK) in partnership with North-West University and the University of Fort Hare, has drawn together leading academics, policymakers, industry experts, and advocates to address critical environmental challenges and explore sustainable solutions.

Ngororero, Rwanda: The vibrant hills of Ngororero district in Rwanda’s Western Province, Hindiro sector, served as the backdrop for a powerful celebration of International Women’s Day. This year, marking the 50th commemoration of the event in Rwanda.

The day was a testament to Rwanda’s commitment to gender equality. Hon. Kazarwa Gertrude, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Rwanda, said; “Men, our brothers, support your wives, Build strong families together. Women and men, we thank you for your collective contributions to our nation. Continue working hand-in-hand across all sectors; economic, governance, and social.”

On Thursday, a renewed cluster of Ebola cases has been detected in Uganda, prompting the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to call for intensified monitoring and contact-tracing efforts. This development follows Uganda’s declaration of an Ebola outbreak in January, centered in the capital, Kampala, after the death of a male nurse at the national referral hospital. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a second fatality, a four-year-old child, further heightening concerns. According to Africa CDC officials, a new cluster comprising three confirmed and two probable cases has emerged since the last briefing. Notably, two new districts have reported Ebola cases, expanding the outbreak’s reach beyond the initially affected three districts.