United News of Bangladesh

Nine African migrants died after being exposed to freezing temperatures near Morocco’s border with Algeria, according to rights groups in the North African country. The Moroccan Association of Human Rights said the bodies of seven men and two women were found in Ras Asfour, a remote mountainous area known for severe winter conditions. The group said the migrants died from extreme cold after their bodies were unable to withstand the temperatures. According to the organisation, one of the deceased was from Guinea, while the others were from different sub-Saharan African countries. Their identities have not been fully established. Morocco’s Interior Ministry did not immediately comment on the incident. Each year, thousands of migrants attempt irregular crossings from North Africa to Europe in search of improved living conditions. From Morocco, some try to enter Spain via the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla by scaling border fences or swimming, while others attempt to reach the Canary Islands through the Atlantic Ocean. Moroccan security forces regularly report intercepting such migration attempts. North Africa continues to serve as a major transit region for migrants seeking entry into southern Europe. Cooperation and security agreements between North African countries and the European Union have strengthened border controls in recent years. Many migrants who fail to cross initially remain in the region for extended periods, working in informal sectors such as construction, agriculture and domestic work, or relying on assistance while waiting for opportunities to attempt sea crossings. The Moroccan Association of Human Rights said six of the bodies were buried last week, while two were retained at the request of relatives. The group said it would continue to monitor the case. Earlier this week, the Moroccan Organization of Human Rights called for measures including more humane border management, the decriminalisation of irregular migration and residence, and the creation of a system to track missing migrants to help prevent similar incidents.  

Multiple women have accused members of a new Russian military unit operating in Mali of rape and other sexual assaults, according to an Associated Press investigation that sheds light on widespread but largely hidden abuses in the country’s protracted conflict. The allegations involve Africa Corps, a Russian force that earlier this year replaced the Wagner mercenary group and is assisting Mali’s military in operations against extremist groups. Refugees who fled to neighboring Mauritania told the AP they survived or witnessed sexual violence, including attempted rape and abductions, allegedly committed by fighters they described as “white men.” Victims and their families spoke anonymously, citing fear of retaliation. One reported victim was a 14-year-old girl treated for a severe infection linked to sexual assault. In other accounts, women described armed men entering homes, undressing them and threatening violence. One mother said she saw her 18-year-old daughter dragged away by armed men and has not seen her since. The U.N. and aid groups say sexual violence has been committed by all sides in Mali’s conflict, including extremist groups such as al-Qaida-linked JNIM. A women’s health clinic in central Mali reported treating 28 women in six months who said they were assaulted by militants. Abuses remain under-reported due to stigma, fear of reprisals and lack of access to medical care. Aid workers warn this silence hinders accountability and deepens trauma among survivors. Similar accusations were previously leveled against Wagner mercenaries. In a 2023 report, the U.N. documented dozens of rapes during a deadly operation in Moura village, after which Mali expelled the U.N. peacekeeping mission, making independent investigations more difficult. As fighting intensifies, more than 150,000 Malians have fled to Mauritania. Aid agencies say many survivors never seek help, despite growing humanitarian needs along the border.

Eritrea has withdrawn from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), accusing the East African regional bloc of working against its national interests, as the United Nations voiced concern over rising tensions between Eritrea and neighboring Ethiopia. In a statement issued Friday, Eritrea’s foreign ministry said it was leaving IGAD because the organization had “lost its legal mandate and authority,” offered no strategic benefit to member states, and failed to contribute meaningfully to regional stability. Eritrea previously exited the bloc in 2003 before rejoining two years ago. IGAD responded by saying Eritrea had not actively participated in the organization’s activities since its return. IGAD comprises eight countries — Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda — and focuses on cooperation in areas such as trade, transport, agriculture, natural resources and environmental policy. The withdrawal comes amid renewed friction between Eritrea and Ethiopia, with both sides accusing each other of interference. Concerns have grown over the possibility of another conflict despite a peace deal signed 25 years ago. Ethiopia has recently stated its desire to regain access to the Red Sea through Eritrea, which it depended on for trade before Eritrea’s independence in 1993. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s remarks calling the loss of sea access a “mistake” have been viewed by Eritrea as provocative. The United Nations urged both countries to recommit to peace, respect sovereignty and uphold territorial integrity. It cited the 2000 Algiers Agreement, which ended decades of border conflict, calling it a vital framework for maintaining stability. Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of harboring intentions to seize its Red Sea ports, while Ethiopia claims Eritrea is preparing for war and supporting rebel groups within Ethiopia.  

A Sudanese military cargo aircraft crashed while attempting to land in the country’s east, killing everyone on board, military officials said Wednesday, marking the latest in a series of deadly aviation incidents amid Sudan’s ongoing war. The Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane went down on Tuesday at the Osman Digna Air Base in Port Sudan after suffering a technical malfunction during its landing attempt, according to two officials who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to brief the media. They did not specify the number of crew members on the aircraft. Relatives confirmed that pilot Omran Mirghani was among those killed. His uncle, well-known Sudanese journalist Osman Mirghani, publicly mourned him on social media. The military has not issued an official statement about the crash. Sudan’s aviation safety record has long been poor, and fatal crashes are common. In February, a military plane plummeted into a densely populated neighborhood in Omdurman, killing at least 46 people, including women and children. The latest crash comes as the Sudanese military faces mounting losses in its conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In October, the army lost control of el-Fasher, its final foothold in Darfur, and earlier this week withdrew from the nation’s largest oil processing facility in Kordofan. The RSF has been accused of severe abuses in el-Fasher, including executions, rape and other crimes. U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said Wednesday that investigators believe war crimes — and possibly crimes against humanity — were committed during the group’s takeover of the city. Türk warned that similar atrocities could unfold in Kordofan as RSF attacks escalate, urging an immediate ceasefire. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has killed more than 40,000 people — a figure rights groups say is a major underestimate — and pushed parts of Sudan to the brink of famine.  

Nineteen people were killed and 16 others injured after two four-story residential buildings collapsed overnight in Morocco’s third-largest city, Fez, authorities said Wednesday. The buildings, home to eight families, fell in one of the city’s older neighborhoods. Rescue teams continue searching for potential survivors, while the surrounding area has been evacuated as a precaution. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the collapse or how many residents remain unaccounted for. Fez, a host city for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, is famous for its historic walled medina, bustling souks, and traditional tanneries. However, much of the city faces deteriorating infrastructure, and building collapses have become a recurring concern. Earlier this year, a similar incident in May killed 10 people in a building that had already been scheduled for evacuation. Experts say enforcement of building codes is often lax, particularly in older, densely populated neighborhoods. Moroccan citizens have previously protested gaps in basic services, criticizing government spending on stadiums while infrastructure, health care, and education remain underfunded. The Fez collapse marks the second deadly building accident in the city this year, highlighting ongoing concerns about urban safety in Morocco.  

Police patrolled largely deserted streets in Tanzania’s major cities on Tuesday as the government moved to block planned demonstrations against the disputed October election, urging people to stay home for Independence Day. Activists had called for nationwide protests against the ruling party’s victory in the October 29 vote, which sparked three days of unrest that left hundreds dead and saw more than two thousand people detained. Vehicles, polling centers and fuel stations were torched as protesters demanded the cancellation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s reelection, which officials declared with more than 97 percent of the vote. On Tuesday morning, police trucks and foot patrols were seen across Dar es Salaam, the administrative capital Dodoma and Arusha. Roadblocks were set up near key government offices, including President Hassan’s heavily guarded workplaces in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. Public transport in Dar es Salaam was halted after bus owners pulled their vehicles from the roads, fearing a repeat of October’s destruction. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba had asked nonessential workers to stay home. Independence Day celebrations were cancelled last month, with the government saying the funds would instead go toward repairing damaged infrastructure. The country’s two main opposition parties were barred from challenging Hassan, who first took office after the 2021 death of President John Magufuli. Leading opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who had called for electoral reforms before the vote, has been jailed since April on treason charges. Human Rights Watch on Monday condemned what it described as a sweeping crackdown on activists, saying at least ten people have been arrested since mid-November over social media posts about the planned protests. Amnesty International urged authorities to allow peaceful assembly and warned against another internet shutdown like the one imposed after the October vote. The UN human rights office appealed on Friday for Tanzanian authorities to avoid force and work to ease tensions. In Kenya, dozens of activists voiced support for Tanzanian protesters and called for an investigation into killings and disappearances during the October unrest. The Tanzanian government has set up a commission to investigate the post-election violence, but its report has not yet been released.  

The Suez Canal has recorded a notable rise in traffic and revenue since the start of Egypt’s current fiscal year in July, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said Monday. SCA Chairman Osama Rabie told an IMF mission that 5,874 vessels transited the waterway since July 1, generating 1.97 billion U.S. dollars — a 17.5 percent year-on-year increase. Net tonnage grew 14.4 percent to 247.2 million tonnes, while total vessel numbers rose 5.2 percent. Rabie said long-term indicators point to continued recovery, projecting revenues of 8 billion dollars in FY 2026/27 and 10 billion dollars in FY 2027/28. Last month, he estimated revenues would reach 4.2 billion dollars in 2025, compared with 3.9 billion dollars in 2024 — still below the record 10.2 billion dollars in 2023, when regional tensions disrupted traffic. Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi forces in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since late 2023 prompted many shipping lines to reroute around Africa, sharply reducing canal transits. Rabie noted that attacks have stopped since the Gaza ceasefire in October.

A mass shooting carried out Saturday by multiple suspects in an unlicensed bar near the South African capital left at least 11 people dead, police said. The victims included three children aged 3, 12 and 16. Another 14 people were wounded and taken to the hospital, according to a statement from the South African Police Services. Police didn’t give details on the ages of those who were injured or their conditions. The shooting happened at a bar inside a hostel in the Saulsville township west of the administrative capital of Pretoria in the early hours of Saturday. Ten of the victims died at the scene and the 11th died at the hospital, police said. The children killed were a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. Police said they were searching for three male suspects. “We are told that at least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking and they started randomly shooting,” police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe told national broadcaster SABC. She said the motive for the killings was not clear. The shootings happened at around 4.15 a.m., she said, but police were only alerted at 6 a.m. South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides. The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, authorities say. There have been several mass shootings at bars — sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa — in recent years, including one that killed 16 people in the Johannesburg township of Soweto in 2022. On the same day, four people were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in another province. Mathe said that mass shootings at unlicensed bars were becoming a serious problem and police had shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales. Recent mass killings in South Africa have not been confined to bars, however. Police said 18 people were killed, 15 of them women, in mass shootings minutes apart at two houses on the same road in a rural part of Eastern Cape province in September last year. Seven men were arrested for those shootings and face multiple charges of murder, while police recovered three AK-style assault rifles they believe were used in the shootings.  

UN humanitarian agencies expressed deep concern on Thursday over escalating armed violence affecting civilians in southeastern Central African Republic (CAR). The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ambushes in the Mboki region over the past weekend killed several civilians and heightened intercommunal tensions. The attacks also led to the destruction of multiple homes and the displacement of around 1,000 people, many of whom sought refuge at a local Catholic church. Mboki has experienced repeated clashes, and humanitarian access remains severely restricted due to insecurity and poor communications, OCHA noted. Last week, two staff members from a local NGO collaborating with the UN Population Fund were injured by stray bullets while providing essential food, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support. While some areas of CAR have seen improvements in security, violence continues to worsen conditions in other regions, with roughly 50,000 people currently in need of humanitarian assistance, OCHA said. The International Crisis Group highlighted in its November CAR report that although the state’s overall security has improved and the country no longer faces an existential threat, pockets of insecurity persist in rural areas. Armed groups continue to attempt control over mining sites and engage in banditry, further destabilizing local communities. The UN and humanitarian organizations stressed the urgent need for protection measures and continued support to assist affected populations amid ongoing insecurity.

The United States will restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members responsible for mass killings and violence against Christians, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday. “The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement posted on social platform X. The secretary added that the policy would apply to other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom. The restrictions are in line with a new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, he said. Attacks in Nigeria have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups, and ethnic clashes. Nigeria’s population of about 220 million people is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. The West African country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough. Also, there has been an uptick in the activities of armed gangs in the central part of the country who kidnap locals for ransom. Last month, President Donald Trump said he has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.