A Chinese national, Zhang Kequn, has been sentenced to one year in prison for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen garden ants out of Kenya. Zhang was arrested at Nairobi’s main airport while trying to board a flight to China with over 2,000 ants concealed in his luggage. Initially pleading not guilty, he later changed his plea. Kenyan authorities report that these ants, which can sell for approximately $220 each, are increasingly sought after by collectors in Europe and Asia. After serving his sentence, Zhang will be deported and has 14 days to appeal the decision, a move his lawyer has indicated he intends to pursue.
In Nigeria, prosecutors have dropped terrorism financing charges against former justice minister Abubakar Malami and his son. Malami, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, now faces a revised charge sheet that focuses solely on the alleged illegal possession of firearms. The amended charges state that firearms and live ammunition were recovered from Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi, a town in northwestern Nigeria. Both Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, pleaded not guilty during a recent court hearing, and the case has been adjourned until May 26 for trial. Additionally, Malami is facing money laundering charges alongside his wife and son.
Despite significant progress in measles vaccinations, Africa remains off track in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases. Since 2000, measles vaccinations have saved nearly 20 million lives on the continent, protecting over 500 million children through routine immunization. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have released a detailed analysis of immunization targets in Africa, covering progress from 2000 to 2024. While 44 countries have introduced a second dose of the measles-containing vaccine into their routine programs, immunization coverage remains uneven, and many children continue to be missed. WHO and Gavi are urging continued investment and strong political commitment to sustain these gains and protect future generations.
Zimbabweans residing in the United Kingdom are planning a protest against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 on Independence Day in London. The demonstration, organized by the Citizens Protest Movement, will take place outside Zimbabwe House and will focus on protecting the diaspora vote. This protest follows the completion of public hearings on the Bill and increasing pressure from Zanu PF to pass amendments that would allow Mnangagwa to remain in power until 2030 without a referendum. Divisions within Zanu PF have deepened, with some members supporting the extension while others demand adherence to the 2013 Constitution and a national referendum.
In Sudan, the ongoing civil war has been described by the United Nations as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis for women and girls. Now in its fourth year, the conflict has seen sexual violence used as a weapon of war, particularly by paramilitaries fighting against the Sudanese army. Survivors and witnesses have reported brutal attacks, displacements, and family separations, especially in regions such as Nyala and El-Fasher. Mass atrocities and killings of civilians have been widely documented, with women and girls disproportionately affected by the violence.
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