Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 15:26

🇹🇩 Chad will not invite forces from other countries, including Russia, following the withdrawal of French troops, states the ministry of foreign affairs

💬 "The withdrawal of French troops from Chad in no way implies their replacement by other forces, including Russian," Chad's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abderaman Koulamallah said, as cited by a French newspaper.

According to the minister, "Chad has the means to defend itself."

However, the newspaper noted that Chad has "found other security partners." For instance, the African country's army recently used Turkish-made drones against the extremist group Boko Haram*.

🇦🇪 The publication considered the UAE to be Chad's most preferred ally, as they supply military equipment to the African country. Furthermore, in October, the UAE granted Chad a loan amounting to over a billion dollars.

*Boko Haram, or Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other states

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 14:53

🇷🇺 Putin arrives at the central office of Russia's Sber company for a AI Journey 2024 conference

First, he was shown an exhibition on the AI advancements.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 14:21

#sputnikviral | 🇻🇪 A resident of Venezuela captured the moment a freight train derailed in Ciudad Piar, Bolivar State

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 13:48

🇷🇺 Russia is in dialogue with all Middle Eastern states and intends to continue this, the Kremlin states

💬 "Russia maintains dialogue with all countries in the region, and we intend to continue doing so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

🇸🇾 Furthermore, Moscow has no information about the alleged execution of a cousin of the toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Peskov said.

💬 "We have no information. Of course, we are now closely monitoring everything that is happening in Syria... We will continue to look very carefully, of course, and get out of the realities that are taking place on the ground," Peskov said.

Russia fulfilled its mission at the time, providing assistance to Syria, spent a lot of effort, and Moscow currently would like to see an early stabilization of the situation in Syria so that it would be possible to reach the prospects of bringing the situation back to a legitimate course, the spokesman added.

Peskov also commented on Israel's actions in Syria, saying that are unlikely to contribute to stabilizing the situation.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 13:23

❗️ The Russian Direct Investment Fund together with 20 companies from six countries, is working on the creation of the BRICS alliance for the AI development, its CEO says

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 12:58

🇰🇪😂 Some Kenyans are fuming over Ruto's $3.9 million Grammy gamble, but others are finding humor in imagining the glitzy chaos of such an event on home turf

The trending meme saga, "If Grammy Awards Were Hosted in Kenya," has hilariously racked up 4 million views on X, turning potential embarrassments into shared comic relief

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 19:33

🇳🇪⚽️ "We based ourselves on the intrinsic quality of the players": Niger selects footballers for the African Nations Championship qualifying preliminaries

A Sputnik Africa correspondent visited the Nigerien Football Federation's national technical center to speak with specialist Douala Harouna about the Mena A' team selection criteria.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 18:48

🇸🇳 Senegal urges ECOWAS to cooperate with the AES for the stability of the region

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation with Sahel countries, noting that this cooperation is crucial for fighting terrorism, addressing migration issues, and developing trade relations.

He also pointed out that the Alliance of Sahel States is currently facing a terrorist threat, and it is essential to maintain strong ties between its members.

Relations between ECOWAS and the AES deteriorated after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew, citing external influence and threats to their national interests. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had earlier called on the Senegalese leader to facilitate the return of the AES countries to ECOWAS.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 18:01

📱 Try Sputnik Africa's easy-to-use app!

⚡️ Breaking news, exclusives, podcasts and more, at a fast speed and with less internet traffic.

Download it now:

👉 APK file link

👉 GetApps

👉 Galaxy Store

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 17:19

🇨🇩 🦠 The mysterious disease outbreak in DR Congo affects mostly children, a WHO investigation finds

The undiagnosed disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is raising serious health concerns, particularly among children and severely malnourished individuals, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed this in a recent update.

The WHO reported 406 cases and 31 deaths between October 24 and December 5 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango Province.

The illness is characterized by fever, headache, cough, runny nose, and body aches, but its cause remains unknown. The WHO highlighted that all severe cases involved severely malnourished patients, with the majority of reported cases being children under five.

🗣 "The area is rural and remote, with access further hindered by the ongoing rainy season […] These challenges, coupled with limited diagnostics in the region, have delayed the identification of the underlying cause," the WHO said, noting the prevalence of malaria in the region and suggested that it may be a contributing factor, or that multiple diseases could be involved.

Local authorities previously reported 143 deaths in November from an unidentified illness with similar symptoms, including breathing difficulties and anemia. This prompted the WHO to dispatch experts to investigate the outbreak and determine the underlying cause.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 16:35

📌 Major world events by the evening of December 9

🟠 Syria expects sanctions to be lifted after a change of power in the country, Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said;

🟠 Russia is currently negotiating to ensure the safety of the country's citizens, employees of the embassy and other missions in Syria, Sergey Naryshkin, the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, said;

🟠 Austria and Germany are suspending consideration of applications for asylum for Syrians;

🟠 The Council of the European Union approved the payment of €4.2 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine; This is the second tranche from a €50 billion EU fund, as stated by the EU Council;

🟠 The Canlaon volcano in the Philippines sent a column of ash and smoke 3 km high;

🟠 Russia is waiting for the leaders and military crews of the CSTO countries at the parade on May 9, 2025 in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 15:42

🇹🇩 Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno elevated to the rank of Marshal of Chad by the country's parliament

The national councilors approved this decision with 160 votes in favor (91.4%), against only two votes against (1.1%) and six abstentions (3.4%), according to the media.

The country's presidency has not yet commented on the information.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 14:54

📹 Russia's Federal Security Service puts an end to the operations of an international fraud call center chain in Russia

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 14:07

🇸🇾🇩🇿 Algeria urges the parties to the Syrian conflict to prioritize the security and stability of the country

🗣 "Algeria is following with great attention the recent developments in the situation and the accelerated changes underway in the Syrian Arab Republic and calls on all Syrian parties to unity and peace and to work for the preservation of the security and stability of the country and the unity and integrity of its territory," the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

The ministry also urged to "preserve the country's assets and resources" and to provide it with "institutions resulting from the will of the Syrian people, far from any foreign interference."

Beginning with a major offensive in Aleppo and Idlib provinces on November 27, Syrian opposition forces captured several major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Deraa, and Homs, by December 7, subsequently announcing the formation of a transitional government on December 8.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 13:18

#sputnikviral | 🇨🇳 Winter on the Great Wall of China: Traversing the wall's steepest sections can be dangerous – or fun, if you're careful enough

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 15:08

🇿🇲 Zambia's Constitutional Court bars ex-president Lungu from 2026 presidential election

"Edgar Chagwa Lungu has therefore been twice elected and has twice held office. […] The constitution makes the 1st respondent [Lungu] ineligible to participate in any future elections as a presidential candidate," read the ruling by the court.

Lungu first took office for the remaining 20 months of President Michael Sata's term following his death in 2015, and was elected president for a second full term in August 2016, according to media reports.

⚖️ The court rejected the ex-president's argument that his first term should not be counted, as a full term as well as the argument that earlier orders confirmed Lungu's candidacy for the 2021 presidential election, in which he lost to Hakainde Hichilema.

"[Edgar Lungu's] term of office that ran from January 25, 2015 to September 13, 2016 constituted a term of office. The 1st respondent's "[Edgar Lungu's] term which ran from September 13, 2016 to August 2021 constituted his second term," the court noted in the ruling.

🗳 According to Zambia's constitution, "term of office for a president is five years", and "a person who has twice held office as president is not eligible for election".

Lungu accepted the verdict but accused the court of political manipulation, while the government reportedly welcomed the ruling as upholding democratic principles and ensuring fair elections.

"I accept this verdict. I accept it not with resignation but with resolve," ex-president said on his social media account.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 14:43

🇫🇷🛫🇹🇩 One of France's fighter jets could not take off from Chad due to a malfunction

A French Mirage fighter jet was unable to take off due to an engine malfunction, reported a French newspaper citing sources in the African country.

According to them, only two fighter jets managed to leave, while the last of the three did not take off; it must now leave the country "within 48 hours." French planes, which "require regular flights," were unable to take off after Chad announced the termination of the defense agreement, the newspaper explained.

A French diplomat told the publication that Paris wanted to use the swift withdrawal of its fighter jets to demonstrate its desire to "act quickly and affirm its commitments."

💬 "We requested a prompt withdrawal, and we got it," stated a Chadian official.

He also noted that he was surprised at how quickly the French authorities complied with Chad's demands.

On November 29, Chad's Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed about the decision to terminate the defense cooperation agreement with France. On December 5, Chad’s Prime Minister Allamaye Halina appointed members of the commission to implement the decision to end military cooperation with France.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 14:03

🇷🇺 NATO weapons in the Ukrainian military are mainly used by nationalist units, the deputy commander of the special forces company of the 56th separate special forces battalion of the "Southern" battlegroup with the call sign "Mulya" told Sputnik

At the same time, according to the commander of the special forces group of this battalion with the call sign "Sych", during the retreat from Novgorodsky and Dzerzhinsky areas (former New York and Toretsk), Ukrainian soldiers leave working NATO grenade launchers right at their positions.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 13:30

#sputnikviral | 🇵🇭 🌋 Nearly 40,000 people have been evacuated in the Philippines due to the eruption of the Kanlaon volcano, local authorities said

Dozens of earthquakes were recorded in the disaster area on Wednesday alone, and nearby villages are already covered in ash.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

11 Dec 2024 13:14

🇷🇺 🇸🇾 Press Secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova spoke on the situation in Syria on Sputnik radio

"The most important thing now is the safety of our citizens, everything necessary is being done to ensure it," she stressed.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 19:55

#sputnikviral | 🇨🇱🐢 Fishermen in Chile find a turtle completely covered in lepadomorpha barnacles

After the uninvited passengers were removed from the turtle's body, the animal was released back into its natural habitat.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 19:11

#sputnikviral | 🇻🇳👨‍🌾 Vietnamese farmers develop unusual harvesting method

Footage from social media

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 18:26

🇿🇦🌍💰 South Africa to push for better credit terms for Africa and other developing nations during G20 presidency

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola highlighted the significantly higher cost of capital for African countries compared to industrialized nations. He emphasized the need for "revolutionary solutions" to lower interest rates on loans, arguing that Africa shouldn't face higher rates than developed countries for comparable loans.

This focus was a key topic during the G20 Sherpas' meeting in Johannesburg, which began December 9. A meeting participant told Russian media that securing low-interest loans for African countries to develop rare earth metal and energy transition technology projects is a primary objective.

Pretoria assumed the G20 presidency from Brazil on December 1. The Sherpas' two-day meeting aims to establish the G20's agenda for the next year, Zane Dangor, Director-General of the South African Foreign Ministry and South Africa's G20 Sherpa, said.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 17:42

🇷🇺🇲🇾 Malaysia can take advantage of all the benefits that BRICS offers in terms of cooperation and political leadership, a Russian deputy foreign minister says

On the sidelines of the XV Asian Conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Malaysia, Andrey Rudenko commented on the Malaysia's decision to join BRICS as a partner country.

He also noted that this year had been very fruitful for Russian cooperation with Malaysia, citing numerous high-level meetings and expressing hope for significant breakthroughs in both political and trade-economic spheres, with the latter currently lagging behind political interaction.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 16:58

🇹🇿 Tanzania's compressed natural gas mother station is 67% complete and expected to open in January, country's oil company reports

The initial completion of the compressed natural gas (CNG) station was delayed due to a shipment issue. However, the equipment has now arrived, and according to the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), the project, which began in August, is expected to be finished within the next month and a half.

The completed Sam Nujoma station is expected to serve 1,000 – 1,500 vehicles daily. The project, worth approximately $5.8 million, also includes smaller satellite stations.

To meet the growing demand for CNG, currently fueling 4,500 vehicles, Tanzania plans to issue licenses to private operators for 13 new CNG stations by June. Additionally, the country aims to increase natural gas production by approximately 24,000 cubic meters.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 16:06

◾️Highly recommend you dive into this channel Follow The Islander for more than just news: they deliver sharp geopolitical analysis and investigative reports you won't find anywhere else. The Islander transcends mere multipolarity and challenging the MSM narrative; it's about championing a just peace. Join!

◾️ Follow:
The Islander

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 15:21

More statements by the Syrian opposition:

🔸 The opposition seeks to disband all armed groups and establish a unified military administration in the country.

🔸 The opposition also advocates for the formation of a transitional government.

Earlier, the head of the Syrian armed opposition exclusively told Sputnik that they hoped to build positive relations with both Russia and the international community in order to establish an independent and democratic state based on UNSC Resolution 2254.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 14:32

🇷🇺 Russia can never be ‘conquered’, Putin assures

The Russian president highlighted the contributions of those who served in Russia's special military operation while presenting them with awards at a ceremony dedicated to Heroes of the Fatherland Day.

“On our side, we hold the truth, the might of firepower, as well as the strength of spirit,” he stressed.

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 13:46

🇷🇺 The Ukrainian army lost over 1,500 soldiers and 36 drones in the past 24 hours, the Russian MoD reports

More key statements from the ministry's daily briefing:

🟠 The Sever grouping's strike on two enemy brigades resulted in 75 Ukrainian soldier casualties;

🟠 The Zapad group improved their tactical situation after hitting three Ukrainian brigades and repelling nine counterattacks; As a result, Ukraine lost 455 soldiers and one M198 and one M119 howitzers from the US, as well as one FH-70 and one L119 howitzers from the UK;

🟠 The Yug grouping advanced into enemy defenses, hitting three Ukrainian brigades and repulsing a counterattack; As a result, the Kiev army lost 240 soldiers, one US M119 howitzer, and two ammunition depots;

🟠 The Tsentr grouping occupied more advantageous positions, struck three enemy brigades and repelled 10 counterattacks. The Ukrainian army lost 555 fighters, as well as two US M113 armored personnel carriers.

🟠 Improved frontline positioning by the Vostok grouping, following strikes on four Ukrainian brigades and the repulse of two counterattacks, resulted in Kiev army losses of 150 servicemen and the destruction of a UK FH-70 howitzer;

🟠 The Dnieper grouping's strikes on three enemy brigades resulted in 55 Ukrainian casualties;

🟠 Russian air defenses shot down 10 US HIMARS rockets and 36 drones.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸

Sputnik Africa

09 Dec 2024 12:55

🇷🇺 Russia will do everything possible to achieve sustainable and long-term peace in the Middle East, Russian deputy foreign minister states

🗣 "We [...] support the two-state solution of a Palestinian state independent of Israel. And we will do everything in our power to achieve sustainable and long-term peace," Andrey Rudenko told Sputnik on the sidelines of the XV Asian Conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Malaysia.

According to Rudenko, the situation in the Middle East is one of the issues on which the positions of Russia and Malaysia are almost completely in line.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸