Connect with us

Musings From Abroad

Food containing insecticides kills 9 people at funeral in Peru

At least nine people died and dozens more became ill after eating contaminated food at a Peruvian funeral

Published

on

At least nine people died and dozens more became ill after eating contaminated food at a Peruvian funeral.

Initial tests by the country’s health department found insecticides in the food served to mourners on Monday in Ayacucho, a southern Andean region of Peru.

Fifty-two people became ill, according to Peru’s civil defense agency.

A statement from the health ministry said two of the victims, a 2-year-old baby and a pregnant woman, are both expected to make full recoveries.

Read Also: Claims of witch-hunt as 4 million Bengalis risk losing India citizenship

“My condolences and solidarity with the families of the deceased in Ayacucho, who died from suspected food poisoning,” Minister of Health Silvia Pessah said in an official tweet.

The ages of the deceased ranged from 12 to 78-years-old.

Peru’s civil defense agency Indeci said that a number of patients had been evacuated from the southern Andean region to the capital city of Lima.

Musings From Abroad

Like in Mali, Burkina Faso, others, Russia offers military support to Somalia 

Published

on

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov says his country is willing to grant Somalia’s army military equipment to aid its fight against terrorism.

Lavrov made the position known when he met his Somali counterpart, Abshir Omar Jama in Moscow on Friday.

He said Russia remained interested in meeting the material needs of the Somalian army in its fight against extremists that remain on Somalian territory including al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda.

More than one million Somalis have been internally displaced due to varying attacks by Al-Shabab, an al-Qaida offshoot in East Africa, leading to a lack of food and water and relocation to areas where global humanitarian supplies can be accessed.

Al-Shabaab has control over vast landmasses in southern Somalia where much of the country’s most fertile land is located. The control has made its recruitment easier as it guarantees food security in exchange for joining the organisation.

The government recently launched what has been referred to as its most serious operation against the al-Shabab extremist group in over a decade.

Russia has been strategic in its defence relations in Africa, with a strong presence in countries like Mali, Mozambique, Libya and Guinea, and recent links with Burkina Faso, most of which are under military juntas. The countries have been accused of engaging mercenary groups like Russia’s Wagner Group, amid various allegations of rights abuses.

Some international observers claim Russia and the West’s stances on conflicts on African soils are largely influenced by economic interests with a target on natural resources like oil, gas, gold, diamonds and many more.

Continue Reading

Musings From Abroad

Germany extends decade-long military presence in Mali

Published

on

Germany has extended the period of its military presence in Mali for a year with the decade-long mission now set to end in 2024.

Germany’s defence ties with Mali have endured some setbacks in the period of the mission. Last year, the country announced that it was suspending its participation in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali after the West African nation refused to grant a civilian aircraft carrying German troops permission to use its airspace.

The German parliament voted 375 to 263 to leave the German troops in the country for another year. There was one abstention.

The majority of the 1,000 German soldiers stationed in Mali’s northern town of Gao have been tasked with conducting reconnaissance for the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA.

Around 12,000 military men are stationed in the nation with MINUSMA. Chad, Bangladesh, and Egypt are the three countries that contribute the most.

Mali under the current Junta of Colonel Goita has been on a thread of breaking diplomatic relations with allies, particularly over the alleged government’s decision to engage the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked private military company, to support its fight against insurgents.

It started by breaking defence alliance with the French, the junta also quit the anti-jihadist force, the G-5 force, but has continued to enjoy good relations with Russia.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Uncategorized7 hours ago

Kenya, Russia sign deal to boost trade cooperation

Kenya’s presidency has revealed that the country is set to sign a trade pact with Russia focused on boosting cooperation...

Sports9 hours ago

Ndidi, Iheanacho, Daka suffer relegation with Leicester City

The three African players at Leicester City, Nigerian internationals, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, as well as Zambian striker, Patson...

Tech9 hours ago

Nigeria’s identity verification startup, Youverify takes expansion drive into Kenya

Nigeria’s identity verification regtech startup, Youverify has taken its African expansion drive into Kenya after successfully launching its operations in...

Metro9 hours ago

WHO tells Zambia to grow sustainable crops instead of tobacco

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has admonished the Zambian government to encourage farmers to plant more food crops instead of...

Metro9 hours ago

Ugandan President, Museveni signs anti-gay bill into law

The Ugandan anti-gay bill which was presented by the parliament to President Yoweri Museveni for assent has finally been signed...

Culture10 hours ago

South African amputee dancer, Musa Motha dazzles at ‘Britain’s Got Talent’

South African amputee dancer, Musa Motha has entered the history books at the “Britain’s Got Talent” reality show after leaving...

Politics10 hours ago

Bola Tinubu sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th President on Monday, May 29 at Eagle Square in the...

Politics12 hours ago

Embattled Senegalese opposition leader, Sonko arrested

Embattled Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko was arrested on Sunday by the police during a march across the country. Last...

Politics14 hours ago

Mali warns United States against disinformation against it

The military government in Mali has asked the United States to desist from disinformation about the country and its defence...

Behind the News1 day ago

Behind the News: All the backstory to our major news this week

In the past one week, there were lots of important stories from around the African continent and we served you...

Trending