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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sudan 'on brink' of health crisis with cholera outbreak
War-torn Sudan is now "on the brink" of a public health disaster as cholera and other deadly diseases spread, aid group, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned. In just one week, Sudan's Health Ministry recorded that 172 people have died due to a cholera outbreak, posting on Facebook that most of the new cases are in Khartoum state. According to local doctors, cited by Sudanese media, drone attacks have caused power outages at water purification stations, which has left people with no choice but to use unclean water. IRC country director for Sudan Eatizaz Yousif said the civil war - now in its thrid year - "is fuelling the resurgence of cholera". In a statement, the IRC emphasised that cholera vaccine coverage was "low" and "essential supplies dwindling". The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned of reports of "thousands of suspected cholera cases" in Khartoum since the middle of last month. Its medical co-ordinator in the country, Slaymen Ammar, stated that "the conflict has clearly compromised basic infrastructure". In a press release, he said that healthcare in parts of the capital was "either unavailable or unaffordable", adding that "many of the remaining health workers had no choice but to leave" due to fighting. Mr Ammar adds that the few remaining health facilities are overwhelmed. As many as 500 cases of cholera were reported in just one day in the past week in Khartoum, MSF said. Aside from the Khartoum area, cases were also cited in northern and southern Sudan, the AFP news agency reports. Most people with cholera have mild symptoms or none at all. However, the disease can be a fatal if it causes severe diarrhoea, requiring antibiotics and IV fluids for treatment, according to the World Health Organization. More than 150,000 people have been killed during Sudan's conflict, which began over two years ago when Sudan's army and the RSF began a vicious struggle for power. Millions have been forced from their homes and the conflict has plunged the country into what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. No water, no power - Port Sudan reeling after week of attacks Drone attacks raise stakes in new phase of Sudan's civil war WATCH: 'They ransacked my home, and left my town in ruins' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sudan 'on brink' of health crisis with cholera outbreak
War-torn Sudan is now "on the brink" of a public health disaster as cholera and other deadly diseases spread, aid group, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned. In just one week, Sudan's Health Ministry recorded that 172 people have died due to a cholera outbreak, posting on Facebook that most of the new cases are in Khartoum state. According to local doctors, cited by Sudanese media, drone attacks have caused power outages at water purification stations, which has left people with no choice but to use unclean water. IRC country director for Sudan Eatizaz Yousif said the civil war - now in its thrid year - "is fuelling the resurgence of cholera". In a statement, the IRC emphasised that cholera vaccine coverage was "low" and "essential supplies dwindling". The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned of reports of "thousands of suspected cholera cases" in Khartoum since the middle of last month. Its medical co-ordinator in the country, Slaymen Ammar, stated that "the conflict has clearly compromised basic infrastructure". In a press release, he said that healthcare in parts of the capital was "either unavailable or unaffordable", adding that "many of the remaining health workers had no choice but to leave" due to fighting. Mr Ammar adds that the few remaining health facilities are overwhelmed. As many as 500 cases of cholera were reported in just one day in the past week in Khartoum, MSF said. Aside from the Khartoum area, cases were also cited in northern and southern Sudan, the AFP news agency reports. Most people with cholera have mild symptoms or none at all. However, the disease can be a fatal if it causes severe diarrhoea, requiring antibiotics and IV fluids for treatment, according to the World Health Organization. More than 150,000 people have been killed during Sudan's conflict, which began over two years ago when Sudan's army and the RSF began a vicious struggle for power. Millions have been forced from their homes and the conflict has plunged the country into what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. No water, no power - Port Sudan reeling after week of attacks Drone attacks raise stakes in new phase of Sudan's civil war WATCH: 'They ransacked my home, and left my town in ruins' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigerian government sues senator over assassination claims
The Nigerian government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country's top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to "eliminate" her. Both have denied the accusation. Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the Senate president of sexually harassing her - an allegation he has also denied. The government has now filed charges with the High Court, saying Akpoti-Uduaghan's assassination allegation defamed Akpabio and Bello. In the charge sheet, seen by the BBC, Nigeria's attorney general referenced a live interview broadcast by Nigeria's Channels TV last month. In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke of "discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello... to eliminate me". The attorney general said this statement, and others made in the same broadcast, could harm Bello and Akpabio's reputations. Akpoti-Uduaghan has not responded publicly to the charges against her and no date has been set for her to appear in court. The case marks the latest twist in a row that has engrossed Nigeria, raising questions about gender equality in the socially conservative nation. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of just four women out of 109 senators. After accusing Akabio of sexual harassment in February, she was suspended from the Senate for six months without pay. The Senate's ethics committee said the suspension was for her "unruly and disruptive" behaviour while the Senate was debating her allegations. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters argued that the committee was targeting her because of the allegations she had made against the senate president. In March, she told the BBC she felt the Senate "operates like a cult". She also said that because her security detail had been removed, she feared for the safety of her two-year-old child. Additional reporting by Nkechi Ogbonna in Lagos 'Nigerian Senate is run like a cult', suspended MP tells BBC How some Nigerian women are being cut out of their parents' inheritance Nigeria's fierce political rivals share joke at pope's inaugural mass Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sudan rebels entirely pushed out of Khartoum state, army says
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group, which has been engaged in a two-year war with Sudan's army, has been entirely pushed out of Khartoum state, says the military. "Khartoum State is completely free of rebels", the army said in a statement published by Sudan's News Agency. The announcement comes nearly two months after the military recaptured Khartoum city - including the presidential palace - from its rivals in a major victory. Earlier on Tuesday, fighting had broken out between the warring groups in the city of Omdurman - which is also in Khartoum state and part of the capital region. The army said on Monday that it had started a "large-scale offensive" in Omdurman, according to the AFP news agency. The RSF has not yet commented on the army's latest claim. Khartoum had once been at the heart of Sudan's government, but the country's military leaders were forced to move east to Port Sudan after their rivals took control of the area. Until recently Port Sudan had been viewed as relatively safe, however it was at the centre of escalating fighting when it came under drone attack earlier this month, which the army blamed on the RSF. The attacks hit key infrastructure and led to water shortages and worsening blackouts. The war has also had diplomatic reverberations, with relations souring between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after Sudan accused the gulf nation of supporting the RSF, which it denies. Those accusations continued on Tuesday, with Sudan saying the UAE was responsible for an attack on Port Sudan earlier this month, Reuters news agency reported. The UAE has strongly denied the accusations, describing them as "unfounded allegations". Since the civil war erupted three years ago, thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced from their homes - creating the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Both the army and the RSF have been accused of war crimes, which they deny. Drone attacks raise stakes in new phase of Sudan's civil war Inside Khartoum, a city left in ruins Sudan war: A simple guide to what is happening Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Chad PM arrested over alleged links to deadly clashes
Chad's former prime minister and opposition leader, Succès Masra, has been arrested over alleged links to clashes which took place on Wednesday in the south west of the country, a public prosecutor has said. He is suspected of spreading hateful messages on social media linked to the violence in which at least 42 people died, Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye said. Masra's Transformers party said he had been "kidnapped" by military officers in the early hours of the morning" and denounced his detention, which it says was "carried out outside of any known judicial procedure". Masra is a fierce critic of President Mahamat Déby and claimed to have defeated him in elections last year. Masra said his victory had been stolen "from the people" although the official results said Déby had won with 61% of the vote. Wednesday's clashes broke out in the village of Mandakao, in Logone Occidental province near the Cameroonian border. "Messages were circulated, notably on social networks, calling on the population to arm themselves against other citizens," Mr Kedelaye said. It is not entirely clear what caused the violence, but one source told the AFP news agency that it is believed it was triggered by a land dispute between farmers from the Ngambaye community and Fulani herdsmen. There has been a troubling recent pattern of violence between local farmers and herders, with the farmers accusing the latter of grazing animals on their land. More than 80 others have also been detained in connection with the clashes. Masra briefly served as interim prime minister of the transitional government between January and May 2024. His party boycotted legislative polls last December due to concerns over the transparency of the electoral process. The Déby family has ruled Chad for more than three decades. The military installed Déby as Chad's leader after his father, Idriss Déby Itno, was killed by rebels in 2021. Additional reporting by Chris Ewokor A quick guide to Chad Why does France have military bases in Africa? Chad's military ruler wins presidential poll Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
