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Shuyan Wang, also known as Elizabeth Mrembo, has taken Tanzania by storm as a media sensation at the age of 60. The Chinese Tanzanian woman is making waves as a music producer, fashion model, and now, a rising star in the world of music videos and film.

With an impressive following of 1.2 million on Instagram, Elizabeth's mission involves bridging cultural divides and deepening the bond between Tanzanians and Chinese people - celebrating a remarkable 60 years of friendship. CGTN

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received US$118 million from the United States Government, through USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, to provide life-saving assistance to over 1 million displaced people in Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The number of displaced people in Eastern Africa has doubled over the past four years, rising from 13.2 million in 2020 to 26.5 million in 2024. This increase is largely due to conflict, with the war in Sudan forcing record numbers of people from their homes, as well as extreme weather events such as the 2020-2023 Horn of Africa drought. 

“People who have lost their homes and livelihoods represent a significant portion of those WFP aims to reach across eastern Africa this year. This funding from the US is critical to ensure we can maintain support for these vulnerable displaced people, many of whom rely almost entirely on humanitarian assistance to survive,” said Laurent Bukera, WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa.

The growth in the number of displaced people in recent years has not been matched by a growth in resources, forcing WFP to make difficult decisions about who receives food assistance and how much. None of the displaced people that WFP supports in Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, or Uganda are receiving a full ration (equivalent to 2,100 kilocalories) due to funding pressures.

The timely contribution from the US will enable WFP to provide cash transfers and in-kind food assistance to over one million displaced people, including refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, internally displaced persons, and some food-insecure host communities. In Rwanda, it will prevent a pipeline break in WFP’s refugee operation, ensuring continuity and stability for the most vulnerable through early 2025.

Burundi: WFP supports over 60,000 refugees and asylum seekers with food assistance in the form of cash and in-kind at 75 percent of a full food ration. Burundian returnees receive food assistance for 3 months on arrival. WFP supports an average of 4,200 returnees per month.

Djibouti: WFP supports 23,000 refugees and asylum seekers with food assistance in the form of cash and in-kind at 70 percent of a full food ration.

Kenya: WFP supports 650,000 refugees and asylum seekers with food assistance in the form of cash and in-kind at 40 percent of a full food ration.

Republic of Congo: WFP supports over 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers with food assistance in the form of cash at 70 percent of a full food ration.

Rwanda: WFP supports over 120,000 refugees, asylum seekers with food assistance in the form of cash and in-kind at 75 percent of a full ration for the most vulnerable refugees. People classed as moderately vulnerable receive a 37.5 percent ration and support through livelihood strengthening activities that support a transition to self-reliance.

Tanzania: WFP supports 191,000 refugees and asylum seekers with in-kind food assistance at 82 percent of a full food ration.

Uganda: WFP supports 1.4 million refugees and asylum seekers with food assistance in the form of cash and in-kind at 60 percent of a full ration for the most vulnerable refugees and a 30 percent ration for those classed as moderately vulnerable. New arrivals receive a full ration for the first three months. WFP also supports 52,000 refugees and Ugandan nationals with livelihood strengthening activities that support a transition to self-reliance.  WFP

A Sudanese Airfoce jet. (Courtesy photo)

UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric who was briefing the media in New York on Thursday said there were reports of another 20 people killed in another attack in Khartoum.

“Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that there were also reports yesterday that at least 20 people were killed by heavy artillery fire in Omdurman in Khartoum State, in an area controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), HE SAID.

“As we have said repeatedly, and I think that the Secretary-General has been very clear on this, the large-scale violence we have seen against civilians, in North Darfur, Aj Jazirah, and Khartoum and beyond, underscores the need for immediate de-escalation.”

Dujarric added: “Our humanitarian colleagues stress that after almost 20 months of conflict, the bloodshed in Sudan must stop now.”

He urged all parties to respect international law, and international humanitarian law and protect civilians.

“The parties must do all they can to spare civilians and civilian objects,” the spokesperson stated. Radio Tamazuj

The African Union (AU) has urged Ethiopia and Somalia to implement "without delay" an agreement aimed at ending tensions between the neighbours over Ethiopia's access to the sea, calling the deal an "important act."

The two countries have been at loggerheads since landlocked Ethiopia struck a deal in January with Somalia's breakaway region Somaliland to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base.

In return, Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 in a move not recognized by Mogadishu, said Ethiopia would give it formal recognition, although this was never confirmed by Addis Ababa.

Somalia branded the deal a violation of its sovereignty, setting international alarm bells ringing over the risk of renewed conflict in the volatile region.

Following hours of Turkish-brokered talks, Ankara announced late on Dec. 12 that an "historic" agreement had been reached between Somalia and Ethiopia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he believed the agreement would help Ethiopia gain its long-desired access to the sea. Technical talks are set for next year. 

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had flown into Ankara for the talks following two previous rounds that made little progress.

Speaking in the Turkish capital after the agreement, Mohamud said the neighbours had "mutual interests in cooperating together."

"We belong to a region where peace and stability is first priority for our people's lives," he said.

African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat stressed the "important act" taken by the leaders to find a deal but emphasized the urgency to "implement, without delay, the relevant measures adopted."

He did not give any indication in the statement, posted on social media platform X, of what measures had been agreed.

East Africa's regional bloc IGAD (the Intergovernmental Authority on Development) also welcomed the agreement as an "important step."

It "demonstrates a commitment to resolving bilateral issues amicably," IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said.

According to the text of the accord published by Türkiye, the parties agreed "to put aside differences of opinion and contentious issues, and to move resolutely forward in cooperation towards common prosperity."

They agreed to work closely together on commercial arrangements and bilateral agreements that would ensure Ethiopia's "reliable, safe and sustainable access" to the sea "under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia."

 

To that end, it said they would start technical talks no later than the end of February which would be completed "within four months", with any differences to be dealt with "through dialogue, where necessary with Türkiye's support."  Daily News

The government has announced plans to fast-track dual citizenship applications for Kenyans who renounced their citizenship before the 2010 Constitution.

Immigration and Citizen services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the decision will attract Diaspora investments and skilled migration.

The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of national government committed to fast-tracking and clearing backlogs of citizenship and permanent residence applications.

According to the Kenya Constitution, 2010 and the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, Kenyan citizens who have acquired other nationalities are required to disclose their other citizenship within 3 months of becoming a dual citizen.

More to follow…By Simon Ndonga, Capital News

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