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Week after ‘unilateral truce’, Ethiopia’s Tigray region receives UN food aids

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Following the declaration of a unilateral truce by the Ethiopian government last week, a convoy of trucks carrying food aid has entered territory controlled by fighters loyal to the fugitive leaders of Ethiopia’s Tigray region on Friday.

The truck is the first humanitarian convoy to move into the Tigray region since Dec. 14, the United Nations World Food Programme said.

The U.N. estimates that 90% of Tigray’s 6 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. It says 100 trucks must enter every day to feed people there.

“WFP-led convoys to Tigray are back on the road & making steady progress,” the agency said on Twitter. It added that the trucks “arrived in Erepti” carrying over 500 metric tons of food supplies “for communities on edge of starvation.” The UN World Food Programme concludes.

The Tigray Region is the northernmost regional state of Ethiopia. The Region is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob, and Kunama people. Formerly known as Region 1, its capital and largest city are Mekelle. Tigray is the fifth-largest by area, the fifth-most populous, and the fifth-most densely populated of the 11 regional states in Ethiopia. 96 percent of Tigrayans are Orthodox Christian.

Erepti is a district in the neighboring state of Afar, into which the war has spilled in recent months. Fighters loyal to the outlawed party of Tigray’s leaders — the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF — are present in six districts in Afar, having entered the region in December.

The spokesperson of the TPLF, Getachew Reda, confirmed on Twitter that 20 WFP trucks had crossed into territory controlled by their fighters and are now on their way to Mekele, the Tigray capital. The Tigray fighters had said they would observe the humanitarian truce declared by the government if aid started to reach Tigray.

“This is one good step in the right direction,” Getachew added. “The bottom line, though, isn’t about how many trucks are allowed but whether there is a system in place to ensure unfettered humanitarian access for the needy!”

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Metro

Zambian revenue agency warns businesses to pay tax arrears or face sanctions

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The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has warned businesses and taxpayers to settle their outstanding tax arrears on or before December 31, 2024, or stand the risk of facing stiff sanctions, including interest charges.

Oliver Nzala, ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, who gave the warning, advised taxpayers experiencing cash flow challenges to consider entering a Time to Pay Agreement (TPA) with the Commission to avoid penalties.

He noted that the flexible arrangement would allow them to spread their tax payments over monthly installments, easing the burden of settling the arrears in one lump sum.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Nzala reminded businesses that tax compliance was mandatory for renewing trading licenses and permits with local councils in 2025.

“As the financial year draws to a close, taxpayers must fulfill obligations such as submitting tax returns and paying outstanding taxes to avoid penalties,” Nzala said.

He added that support would be available for taxpayers approaching the December 31 deadline while encouraging taxpayers to act promptly to avoid the end-of-year rush, emphasizing that failing to meet the deadline could lead to accumulating interest on any unpaid amounts.

“To provide extra support, ZRA service centers and contact lines are open, ready to assist taxpayers,” he said, while extending appreciation to those who contribute to national development through their tax payments.

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Metro

President Tinubu congratulates Trump on US election victory

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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has congratulated USA president-elect, Donald Trump, on his electoral victory after defeating vice president Kamala Harris to stage a return to the White House.

Tinubu, who conveyed the congratulatory message in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he looked forward to working with him and further strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States.

The statement reads:

“President Bola Tinubu extends his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

“President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

“President Tinubu says, ‘Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.’

“According to President Tinubu, Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He congratulates them on their commitment to democracy.

“President Tinubu believes that, given President Trump’s experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

“Acknowledging the United States’ influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.”

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