Metro

60 African migrants feared dead after boat sinks off Cape Verde coast

Published

9 months ago

August 17, 2023

At least 60 African migrants are feared dead after a boat carrying them sank off the coast of Cape Verde on Wednesday night, authorities say in a statement on Thursday.

Cape Verde emergency service officials said that almost all migrants on board the boat which was heading for the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory, enroute Europe, were thought to be from Senegal and had been lost at sea for over a month before they were discovered.

The officials added that 38 people, including women and children aged between 12 and 14, were rescued from the boat which sank on the island of Sal, an archipelago that sits around 600km off the coast of West Africa. It is one of the most dangerous journeys any migrant can make, according to the officials.

Safa Msehli, the spokeswoman
for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said the vessel was first spotted on Monday and a report was made to the police.

“The wooden pirogue style boat was seen on Monday almost 320km (200 miles) off Sal, a part of Cape Verde, by a Spanish fishing boat, which then alerted authorities,” Msehli told journalists.

“The survivors said the boat left the Senegalese fishing village of Fasse Boye on 10 July with 101 people on board.

“Nearly all those on the boat had grown up in the community and some local families were still waiting to hear whether their relatives were among the survivors,” she said.

“The survivors may have ended up in Cape Verde, but it was almost certainly not their intended destination,” she added.

The Senegalese Foreign Affairs ministry which has been alerted to the incident, said it was liaising with authorities in Cape Verde to arrange the repatriation of nationals.

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Metro

‘Rights must go with responsibilities,’ traditional leader cautions on use of social media

Published

2 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Mansa, Luapula Province: Annette Katema, the Head Woman of Chitumbi Village in Mansa District, voices concerns about the detrimental effects of irresponsible social media usage.

In a recent interview with Zambia Monitor, Katema argued that social media platforms were contributing to delinquency among the youth, particularly platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook.

“Children are being exposed to inappropriate content on WhatsApp, which is harmful to their upbringing. Social media platforms are fostering moral decay,” remarked Head Woman Chitumbi.

She stated that this trend undermined the cultural values that were essential for societal cohesion.

Katema expressed reservations about the prevalence of nudity and offensive language on social media, calling for stricter moderation.

She advocated for proactive measures to steer young people away from harmful online content, suggesting the revitalization of traditional recreational activities like playhouses and sports.

“Instead of solely relying on punitive measures, let’s invest in creating positive alternatives to counter the allure of social media,” Katema proposed.

She urged the youth to uphold traditional values alongside their digital rights, stating the importance of responsible behavior online.

“We should not lose respect in the name of digital rights because rights should go with responsibilities,” the traditional leader said.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

President Tinubu finally returns to Nigeria amid speculations over his absence

Published

6 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

After spending the last two weeks out of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has finally returned to the country.

Tinubu, who returned to Nigeria on Wednesday morning, had departed the country two weeks ago, on April 23, for The Netherlands for a three-day official visit, honouring an invitation from the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

While in the European country, Tinubu participated in the Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum, which brought together heads of conglomerates and organisations in both countries.

After his engagements in The Netherlands, Tinubu, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, proceeded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend a World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development which held between April 28–29.

However, after the summit, the president did not return to the country as he was said to have proceeded to London for a private visit which gave room to speculations over his health.

The Nigerian Presidency did not also help matters as there was no official statement on the President’s engagements, nor were they willing to douse the tension created by his absence, leading to Nigerians raising posers with the hashtag #WhereisTinubu.

In a tweet on Tuesday evening, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had revealed that Tinubu would be back in the country on Wednesday.

“President Bola Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” he had written.

The recent foreign trip was Tinubu’s 20th since assuming office on May 29, 2023, effectively logging 96 days abroad, which has made him one of Africa’s most globe-trotting leaders.

In his less than one year in office, President Tinubu has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom (twice); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic, New Delhi, India.

He has also taken a trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; Doha, Qatar; and The Hague, The Netherlands.