South Africa appoints us special envoy amid diplomatic tensions
South Africa appointed Makebish Jonas as a special envoy for the United States after Donald Trump returned to presidency to ease escalating diplomatic tensions. President Cyril Ramaphosa said Jonas will advance South Africa’s diplomacy, trade and bilateral priorities. Former Deputy Finance Minister Jonas has made headlines for allegations of corruption against wealthy families related to former President Jacob Zuma. The move comes after the US expelled South African ambassador Ebrahim Lasor last month for his comments about the Trump administration.
Hundreds of genocide victims found in Rwanda
The bodies of 320 genocide victims against Tutchi in 1994 have been recovered in Nyamata Sector in Bugesara district for the past four days. The body was found near the Nyamata Genocide Memorial by construction workers digging near the road to expand the area’s water supply network. The excavation that began in Gatare Village on April 10th initially discovered 10 bodies, and the next day more than 30 people, a total of 320 people were discovered. It was once a church where more than 40,000 Tutchis were massacred in one day, and was part of the former Nyamata Commune, a murder zone during the genocide. Many victims were buried in large graves using bulldozers, while others were killed in Road Block after fleeing Nyamata Church. The Nyamata Church was later converted to the Genocide Memorial, and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
MSF condemns armed plunder of hospitals in South Sudan
Medesin strongly condemned the armed looting of hospitals and facilities in Uran, Uran, Upper Nile, South Sudan, after dozens of armed men stormed the facility on the morning of April 14th. More than 100 patients were affected, including patients who received trauma, childbirth and pediatric care. MSF reported that staff were not injured, but expressed deep concern about the safety of both the team and the patient.
Attempts to smuggle giant ants blocked in Kenya
Four men — two Belgians, one Vietnamese and Kenyan — pleaded guilty in Kenya to attempting to smuggle hundreds of protected African harvester ants abroad in what Kenya’s Wildlife Service (KWS) called “landmark cases.” The insects worth up to US$220 each were hidden in specially modified test tubes and syringes designed to survive for up to two months. Photos of illegal hauling shared by KWS showed hundreds of containers of these containers packed with cotton wool, each with two or three ants. KWS described the incident as the first large-scale insect biosis in Kenya, noting a troubling shift in the trend of human trafficking from symbolic mammals to ecologically important but lesser-known species.
Electric Bodabo reduces pollution and saves lives in Uganda
Motorcycle taxis known as Boda Bodas in Uganda account for 70% of all vehicles, making them essential for short-distance travel, especially in busy areas. However, most run on gasoline, releasing contaminants related to diseases such as asthma, heart disease and lung cancer, contributing to more than 30,000 premature births in Uganda every year. Researcher Gabriel Okello studied the potential benefits of switching to electric bodas. His research found that switching to electric boda borders reduced particulate matter by 15%, air pollution-related deaths reduced by 18%, child mortality rates reduced by 12%, reduced driver fuel costs and increased profits by 11%. Electric Bodus also proved to be more profitable due to reduced fuel and maintenance costs. Uganda’s mostly renewable power makes shifts even more feasible.
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Hundreds of mostly elderly women accused of “magic” need emergency protection
Ghanaian authorities have failed to protect and support the human rights of hundreds of people who were accused of witchcraft and ritual attacks, and have been forced to flee the community for fear of their lives, Amnesty International reports. The report documented poor living conditions across four informal camps in northern Ghana, where more than 500 defendants lived between the second half of 2023 and early 2024, limiting medical care, food, safe housing, clean water and livelihoods. The report shows how threats, physical assaults, and even possible death accusations began in families or among community members following tragic events such as illness or death. Older women in poverty with health and disabilities are at greater risk, not just women who do not comply with the stereotypical gender roles.
