Prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has been deported from Saudi Arabia and barred from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. Gumi, a cleric based in Kaduna, confirmed this development in a statement shared on his official Facebook page on Monday. According to Sheikh Gumi, although he had secured a visa for the pilgrimage, he was denied entry into Medina due to his political views. “Despite having been granted a visa, the Saudi authorities refused to let me enter because of my views on global politics,” he wrote. Gumi had traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of a delegation…
Author: Tosin Onisuuru
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), has officially commenced his final Annual Meetings as the institution’s leader, marking the conclusion of a transformative decade at the helm. Addressing the media at a welcome breakfast in Abidjan, Adesina reflected on his ten-year journey, describing it as a period of relentless service and unwavering dedication to Africa’s development. “It has been a decade of relentless purpose, enduring passion, and tireless service,” he stated, emphasizing the Bank’s achievements and the progress made under his leadership. A Decade of Impact When Adesina assumed the presidency in 2015, the African Development…
A new report by SBM Intelligence reveals that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s sit-at-home orders in Nigeria’s southeast have resulted in over 700 deaths over the past four years. The separatist group, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government, has enforced these orders through violent tactics, including arson, looting, and targeted killings, creating an atmosphere of fear in the region. The SBM report highlights that civilians who defied the weekly Monday stay-at-home orders—and other days designated by IPOB—were among those killed. Clashes between IPOB members and security forces also contributed to the rising death toll.…
Uganda’s military has announced the immediate termination of all military cooperation with Germany, citing allegations that Berlin’s ambassador in Kampala has engaged in subversive activities within the East African nation. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi said, “The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany.” Magezi stated that the decision was based on credible intelligence that the current German ambassador to Uganda, His Excellency Mathias Schauer, was actively involved in subversive activities in the country. However, no…
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has called on the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) to refund visa application fees for all Zambians whose applications are rejected. Speaking on Friday, May 23, 2025, President Hichilema expressed deep concern about the high costs and frequent rejections of visa applications, which have affected many Zambians seeking to travel for tourism, business, or education. According to Block TV, the President argued that visa fees should only be charged for successful applications, stressing that rejected applicants should not be forced to pay for administrative processes that ultimately deny them entry. “It’s unacceptable that…
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The decision came after Harvard filed a lawsuit, intensifying its ongoing dispute with the White House. Harvard argued that the administration’s attempt to bar foreign students was a “blatant violation” of both legal and free speech protections. The administration, however, claimed Harvard wasn’t doing enough to combat antisemitism and alleged discriminatory practices in its admissions – claims the university firmly denies. US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued the temporary restraining order on Friday, effectively halting the Department of Homeland Security’s…
Indian border troops have shot and killed a Pakistani man who allegedly crossed the international frontier and ignored warnings to halt, according to the Border Security Force (BSF). The incident, which took place on Friday evening in Gujarat state’s Banaskantha district, follows a recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after four days of intense cross-border clashes that claimed more than 70 lives. The BSF reported that its personnel noticed a suspicious individual approaching the border fence, which lies beyond the international boundary. “Despite repeated challenges, the intruder continued moving forward, prompting our troops to open fire,” the BSF said…
The Nigerian government has formally charged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after she alleged that two prominent politicians—Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello—were plotting her assassination. In April, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed in a live interview that Akpabio and Bello had discussed plans to “eliminate” her. Both men have strongly denied the allegations. Prior to that, she had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment—an allegation he also refuted. The Office of the Attorney General has now filed a case with the High Court, stating that her public claims defamed the reputations of both Akpabio and Bello. The charge sheet, obtained by the…
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Senate has voted decisively to strip former President Joseph Kabila of his immunity from prosecution, a move tied to accusations of his involvement with the M23 rebel group. In a secret session held late Thursday, 88 senators voted in favor of lifting Kabila’s immunity, with only five opposing the motion. Authorities in Congo allege that Kabila supported the M23 insurgency in the eastern region, which has been linked to crimes against humanity, including the massacre of civilians and security personnel. As part of a broader crackdown, his political party is facing suspension and its leaders’…
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has been released by Tanzanian authorities after being detained while attempting to attend a court hearing in the treason case against Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu in Dar es Salaam. The news was confirmed on Thursday by both the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. Mwangi was received in Kwale County, southeastern Kenya, by KNCHR officials. The activist had traveled to Tanzania to observe Lissu’s court appearance on Monday — a case that has drawn international attention to a widening crackdown on critics of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s…
