South Africa’s Constitutional Court Ruling Establishes Rights of Asylum Seekers and Condemns Visa Renewal Policy
In a groundbreaking decision, the Constitutional Court has declared that the South African Home Affairs’ policy, which assumes that asylum seekers have “abandoned” their applications if they fail to renew their visas within one month of the visa’s expiry date, violates fundamental principles of refugee law. The court’s ruling emphasises that asylum seekers must be […]
Severe Drought Threatens Zimbabwe’s Food Security as Maize Harvest Expected to Halve in 2024
In a concerning announcement made on Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, revealed that the country’s staple maize harvest is predicted to plummet to 1.1 million tons in 2024. This drastic reduction, attributed to an El Nino-induced drought, highlights an impending grain deficit that poses a significant risk to food security in impoverished households. With […]
Aberdeen Chosen as Second Headquarters for Department for Energy Security, Boosting Scottish Economy and Net Zero Efforts
In a significant development, Aberdeen has been selected as the second headquarters for the Department for Energy Security, as part of the UK Government’s plans to relocate civil service roles outside of Westminster. The move is expected to be completed by 2027, with the aim of shifting 22,000 Civil Service positions away from the capital […]
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi Highlights Achievements and Future Plans in State of the Nation Address
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi delivered a State of the Nation Address during the opening of the country’s Parliament, outlining the government’s successes and ambitious plans ahead of the upcoming elections next year. In his address, President Masisi emphasised the importance of various sectors, including tourism, agriculture, mining, real estate, creative industries, sport, manufacturing, science and […]
Kenya Sends Farm Workers to Israel to Address Labour Shortage
Kenya’s labour ministry has announced that it will send 1,500 farm workers to Israel, following in the footsteps of Malawi, which sent 221 young people to work on Israeli farms recently. The workers will be deployed on renewable three-year contracts with a guaranteed net monthly income of $1,500. Israel has turned to Africa to fill […]
Edinburgh Sees Increase in Approved Housing Plans Replaced by Student Accommodation, Raising Concerns
Heritage organisation, the Cockburn Association, has raised concerns over a growing trend in Edinburgh where approved housing plans are being scrapped in favour of student accommodation after receiving consent for mainstream homes. The association views this shift as worrying and indicative of investors prioritising the more lucrative market for Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). Terry Levinthal, […]
Burkina Faso Adopts Bill Making National Languages Official, Demoting French to Working Language
The Burkinabè government has passed a bill revising the Constitution, officially recognising national languages as the country’s official languages, while relegating French to the status of a “working language.” The bill, which is part of the transitional government’s mission to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, aims to initiate political, administrative, and institutional reforms. […]
Seychelles Declares State of Emergency After Flooding and Explosions
Seychelles, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, declared a state of emergency following a massive blast at an explosives depot, which occurred after deadly flooding hit the country. Three people lost their lives in the flooding, according to the president. The explosion took place in the industrial area of Providence, located around 7 […]
UK Immigration Minister Resigns Over Rwanda Asylum Transfer Legislation
In a significant development, UK Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has resigned over the government’s proposed legislation regarding the Rwanda asylum transfer scheme. Jenrick stated that the new law “does not go far enough” in providing sufficient safeguards for the success of the policy. The government’s plan to transfer certain asylum seekers to Rwanda has faced […]
German Troops Begin Withdrawal from Gao as UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali Winds Down
The withdrawal of German troops from Gao, Mali, has commenced as the United Nations (UN) undertakes the dismantling of its peacekeeping mission in the country by the end of this year. Starting on Tuesday, personnel stationed at Camp Castor, which supports the activities of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), began disassembling […]