A driver of Somali origin and an SSPDF soldier were injured when the vehicle was ambushed in Abiemnom County in Ruweng Administrative Area (RAA) on Sunday.
The local authorities said they suspected armed youth from Mayom County were behind the attack.
Abiemnom County Commissioner Mario Deng Ayol told Radio Tamzaju Sunday that the incident happened at 6:30 a.m. in the area on the border of Abiemnom and Mayom County in Unity State.
“Armed youth were involved in the attack on the Somalia vehicle, which was coming from Bentiu Town and going to Juba through the Abiemnom road,” he explained. “The attackers were not identified, but we suspect they are from Mayom County because two weeks ago, armed youth from there overran the headquarters of Abiemnom County and killed over 46 people and severely injured other people during the fighting.”
Commissioner Deng added: “The wounded people were transferred to Abiemnom Hospital and I went to hospital to see them and they are recovering.” Radio Tamazuj
Operating room with modern monitors and equipment. [Courtesy]
The healthcare has emerged as the top sector in industries with most Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven solutions. A recent study by Yijin Hardware indicates that the health sector leads with an AI engagement score of 100, reflecting a large number of AI start-ups and extensive financial support.
According to the study, the global AI start-up investments in healthcare amount to $4.2 billion including medical AI-analysis of X-rays and MRIs, administrative automation and drug development. Currently, the study indicates there are 11,228 healthcare-specific active AI start ups across the world.
The research aimed at assessing the level of AI dependency across various industries in 2025. The research takes into account global investments in AI start-ups, the number of industry-specific AI start-ups, interest in AI technologies reflected through Google search volume, and top uses for AI technologies in the industry.
To value this, the researchers analysed three key metrics including search volume for AI in industry-specific terms, number of AI-related start ups and global AI start-up investment. Each metric was assigned a weight based on its relevance to the level of AI adoption.
This included a 50 per cent on the number of AI-related startups, 30 per cent on AI investment and 20 per cent on search volume.
After applying the weights to each metric, the data was normalized on a scale from 1 to 100, with 100 representing the highest AI adoption within the industry.
The final ranking is based on the AI engagement score, which was calculated using the key factors described above.
According to the research, the finance sector ranks 2nd in the list of the most AI-driven industries in 2025, with a score of 72.4. There is a similar number of AI start ups, 11,057, but the funding is smaller. Global investments sum up to $2.1 billion, two times less than for healthcare with the main AI uses in the sector including fraud monitoring and trading automation. The marketing and advertising sector is third, getting an AI engagement score of 60.9.
According to the report, there is more interest in AI innovations in the sector from the general public than in finance, with 241,000 monthly searches.
The global funding comes to $1.1 billion for over 9,970 AI start-ups. Legal services follow closely with fourth place and a score of 58.1. The number of AI start-ups in the industry is a little lower than in marketing & advertising, but the finding is much smaller at $0.4 billion, 5 times less than for finance and 10 times less than for healthcare.
Education and learning is fifth in the ranking of the most AI-driven industries in 2025, with an AI engagement score of 41.8.
The innovations in this sector are the second most popular, with over 399,000 queries each month.
Most popular AI innovations in the industry are related to virtual tutoring and test grading automation.
With regards to the least AI-driven industries, construction is the least AI-driven sector with a minimal possible score of 1.
The report indicates there are less than 700 active startups in the sector, with a total funding of $200 million, the lowest in the list.
Insurance takes second place among the least AI-driven industries of 2025, getting an AI engagement score of 5.2.
The public interest towards AI innovations for insurance is higher than for construction, with 61K monthly queries and there are currently 678 active startups in the industry.
Real estate holds third place, scoring 5.4. The funding for it is the same as for insurance AI innovations, at $600 million globally, although there are more startups for AI in the sector than in insurance or construction, with 799.
Manufacturing ranks 4th, getting an AI engagement score of 9.5. The general interest in AI in the industry is similar to insurance, but the startups gather more funding, with $900 million.
The most explored directions for AI innovations in manufacturing are machine failure detection and quality control.
Agriculture closes the ranking of the least A-driven industries with fifth place and a score of 11.4.
The report indicates there are over 1,700 start-ups focused specifically on AI in agriculture, developing technologies for spotting insect pests and monitoring crop health.
At the same time, the funding for AI in agriculture is smaller than for manufacturing or real estate at $500 million.
Yijin Hardware spokesperson said the clear divide in AI adoption across industries reveals a growing innovation inequality that could permanently transform competitive landscapes.
“This widening gap is not just about efficiency gains, it represents a fundamental reimagining of how entire sectors function, with early AI adopters positioned to completely redefine market rules while technological laggards face increasingly difficult catch-up challenges,” said the spokesperson.
According to them, as algorithms become more sophisticated, this digital divide threatens to become permanent, potentially creating entirely separate economic ecosystems operating at dramatically different speeds and capabilities. By Patrick Vidija, The Standard
Reopening Goma Airport is a short term aim of a joint EAC/SADC effort to end fighting in eastern DR Congo.
Withdrawal of the terminated Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – to start on as yet unspecified date – will be by road.
This is a point from discussion of a revised withdrawal plan at a meeting last Friday (11 April) attended by chiefs of the three defence forces that contributed troops and equipment to the mission. They are generals Rudzani Maphwanya (SA National Defence Force), Jacob Mkunda (Tanzania People’s Defence Force- TPDF) and Paul Phiri (Malawi Defence Force). Also present at the Dar es Salaam headquarters of the TPDF for the meeting was Professor Kula Theletsane, Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs.
Initial deployment for the mission, under the acronym SAMIDRC, was in December 2023 to the eastern DRC under the command of South African Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu. Its termination, to be followed by a phased withdrawal, was made public by the regional bloc on 13 March. The announcement came two months after all three SAMIDRC troop contributing countries (TCCs) reported deaths in action against M23 (Mouvement du 23 Mars) with South Africa – 14 – bearing the brunt.
On 6 February, two weeks after the fatalities during combat around Sake and Goma in North Kivu province, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera ordered his soldiers to start preparing for withdrawal from Goma and surrounds in the eastern DRC.
A one-page SAMIDRC communique date 11 April advised of a delay in the re-opening of Goma airport, stating it “could cause further delays” in the SAMIDRC withdrawal. It also noted withdrawal will be by road from Goma through Rwanda to the designated general assembly area of Chato in Tanzania, adding the SADC Secretariat will “engage” Rwanda to facilitate safe passage for SAMIDRC troops.
The three TCCs were tasked with “beefing up” the withdrawal planning element with operations, intelligence and logistics experts. They will be tasked to “conduct reconnaissance and develop instructions for withdrawal”.
The SADC planning elements will lead and direct the SAMIDRC Force Commander on formulating a withdrawal plan adhering to guidelines permitted by the TCCs.
The M23/Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) claims SAMIDRC forces are carrying out joint operations with DRC government forces (FARDC), Wazalendo militia and other elements around Goma which, according to a 12 April statement by the M23, “violate the existing SADC agreements and delay therefore the rehabilitation of Goma airport; compel the AFC/M23 to demand the immediate withdrawal of SAMIDRC forces; and constrain us to demand the immediate surrender of FARDC troops stationed within Monusco facilities to our organisation.”
“Despite our restraint in response to these persistent criminal acts, the AFC/M23 finds itself compelled to reconsider its position to prioritise the security of the Congolese population and that of the SAMIDRC elements present in the liberated areas,” the statement said.
Fighting has been taking place north of Goma since last Tuesday. It is believed that DRC government forces and Wazalendo militia forces that retreated into the Virunga national park are clashing with M23 rebels in the area. It is highly unlikely that SAMIDRC forces are involved.
“Why would SAMIDRC conduct ops now? They’ve got a deal with M23 and are withdrawing, once Goma Airport is opened. I suspect it’s just the FARDC and supporters on an offensive, putting SAMIDRC at risk,” defence expert Dean Wingrin stated.
“Demanding an immediate withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops means they cannot be airlifted out. Would they have to depart via Kigali? What about all the equipment? Plans for an orderly and phased SAMIDRC departure are rapidly falling apart,” he stated.
A withdrawal by land complicates things for the SAMIDRC troops, as a long logistic trail through Rwanda was not something they were wanting. It is slow, rough roads and reliant on Rwanda to agree to the plan, Wingrin pointed out.
“It also appears Rwanda/M23 have set up anti-aircraft systems to repel any potential air attack near Goma/Sake, scared of a SAMIDRC attack. Nothing is confirmed, apart from M23 making up an excuse to cancel the original withdrawal agreement.”
African Defence Review Director Darren Olivier said that he has not heard anything that would substantiate the M23’s claim of SAMIDRC involvement in fighting around Goma. “My sources say the SAMIDRC troops in Goma and Sake remain in their bases with only limited logistics traffic. M23 appears to be inventing a reason to renege on the agreement.”
“At a guess, I suspect that the ongoing FARDC counter-offensive toward Goma may have spooked M23 leadership enough that they’re looking to remove disarmed SAMIDRC troops from their bases. Either to remove a perceived risk or to put pressure on SADC to pressure Kinshasa. Whatever the reason, this just made a safe and orderly withdrawal of SAMIDRC a more tenuous and less likely outcome. I would hope that diplomacy and cooler heads prevail.”
Olivier added that the M23’s demand that Monusco hand over surrendered FARDC troops within their bases is unexpected given that they know Monusco can’t comply with it. “It might be setting the stage for future clashes of some sort with Monusco, but it’s not yet clear why they’d want to.”
“The situation is deteriorating rapidly with the renewed fighting and M23’s reneging on the earlier ceasefire and withdrawal agreement it signed with SADC. Odds of a good outcome for SAMIDRC are shrinking fast,” according to Olivier. DefenceWeb
Kenyan athlete Emmanuel Kipchumba Kemboi has been slapped with a two-year ban for doping. In a statement on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed the sanctions against the Kenyan athlete after laboratory tests established the presence of Triamcinolone acetonide.
Nonetheless, Emmanuel Kipchumba Kemboi will be required to surrender medals, participation money, and any award earned since October 6, 2024.
“On the basis that the Athlete has admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations under Rule 2.1 ADR and Rule 2.2 ADR, in accordance with Rule 10.2.1 ADR, the AIU confirms by this decision the following consequences for a first Anti-Doping Rule Violation: a period of ineligibility of two (2) years commencing on April 7, 2025; and disqualification of the Athlete’s results on and since October 6, 2024, with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money,” the verdict read in part.
Investigations
According to AIU, Emmanuel Kipchumba Kemboi was ordered to present samples on October 6, 2024, at the EDP Lisbon Marathon held in Lisbon, Portugal.
On December 17, 2024, the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Lisbon, Portugal, reported an adverse analytical finding in the sample based on the presence of Triamcinolone acetonide, AIU explained.
“It was not apparent that the adverse analytical finding was caused by an ingestion of the relevant prohibited substance through a permitted route,” AIU stated.
“Therefore, on March 28, 2025, the AIU notified the athlete of the adverse analytical finding in accordance with Article 5.1.2.1 of the ISRM, including that the adverse analytical finding may result in anti-doping rule violations pursuant to Rule 2.1 ADR and/or Rule 2.2 ADR. The athlete was also informed of his rights, inter alia, to request the B sample analysis, to request copies of the laboratory documentation supporting the adverse analytical finding, and to admit the anti-doping rule violations,” it added.
However, on April 2, 2025, the athlete wrote to the AIU admitting the Use of Triamcinolone acetonide. Following his admission, he has been barred from taking part in any races for the next two years. By Lutta Njomo, People Daily
For the first in over a decade, the government is deploying judges, prosecutors, and investigators to Leer County in Unity State to deliver formal justice through a mobile court from 15 April to 9 May 2025.
The joint initiative of the Judiciary of South Sudan, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and the Unity State government is supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS.)
The Leer mobile court aims to address serious criminal cases, including murder, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and forced and early marriage. To underscore the importance of justice delivery, the Governor of Unity State and senior representatives from the Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), and National Prisons Service of South Sudan (NPSSS) are expected to join the opening of the court on 15 April.
The deployment follows the training of 20 new investigators in southern Unity, with a focus on handling SGBV and CRSV-related offences. On 28 March, UNMISS facilitated the advance deployment of prosecutors and investigators to begin receiving and processing criminal complaints. More than 60 cases had already been reported prior to the arrival of the court, and additional cases are expected to follow. The court is expected to handle a combination of criminal and civil matters.
“Mobile courts, while not a substitute for formal justice structures, play a vital and innovative role in restoring public faith in South Sudan’s rule of law architecture,” said Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political), UNMISS.
The Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience (RSRTF) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba have provided financial resources for the Leer mobile court. UNMISS
Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.
To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854. If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.
We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.
