Africa

Major General Anita Asmah has been appointed as Head of Mission and Force Commander for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNDOF, making her the first African woman to hold this position

The Hôpital Mère-Enfant in Bingerville, near Abidjan, has confirmed the success of the country's very first operation to separate Siamese twins

The heavy rains that have hit the country in recent weeks are bringing benefits to the water reserves; Namibia Water Corporation confirmed that the main dams have seen a significant increase of water levels

The South African Communist Party will participate in local elections as an independent formation; it is the first time in the history of democratic South Africa

Four political leaders opposed to the military's transitional management called for the publication of a clear timetable for elections scheduled by August 2025; "failure to publish it immediately will be considered a major obstacle to democratic process"

A new attack attributed to jihadist groups in the north, near the border with Niger and Burkina Faso, resulted in the death of 28 soldiers; attacks have increased in the area in recent years, with 121 soldiers killed from 2021 to the end of 2024

There are 3,2 million children under 5 years of age who suffer from hunger in the country, of whom about 772.000 are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, said Eva Hinds, Unicef Sudan's Protection and Communications Officer

The Basta Movement, one of the opposition parties in Sao Tome and Principe, called for the resignation of the government as a 'necessary and long overdue measure' and awaits a new prime minister 'who is up to the country's challenges'

13 confirmed dengue fever cases, no casualties, were reported in the first days of 2025; 2024 was dubbed by media 'the year of the return of the Dengue': to curb infections, health Authorities visited over 6.000 patients in 1.000 households

The Cricket Sierra Leone is preparing to host the first training course for 20 ICC-certified Level 1 cricket coaches/tutors this January 2025 with two cricket experts from the International Cricket Council

The Ministry of Defence said it had launched an anti-crime military operation in the west coast military zone; any political objective was denied, and the operation is to be attributed only to maintaining security and stability in the area