United News of Bangladesh

Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote on Monday opened his refinery to public ownership, seeking to raise $1.6 billion from retail investors across Africa through what is being described as the continent's largest initial public offering (IPO). Dangote, Africa's richest man, described the offering as an IPO "for the people," saying he wants everyone to have an opportunity to own a stake in the refinery. Shares of the sprawling Lagos-based refinery are being offered at 5,250 naira ($4) each, with investors required to purchase at least 10 shares. Dangote will retain an 87% stake in the refinery, the largest in Africa. The refinery's huge scale and prospects for returns have fueled enthusiasm among retail investors, particularly as global oil prices have risen following the U.S.-Iran war. "I will be a fool not to partake in it and see how it goes. I am placing a lot of emphasis on his name and on the refinery being the biggest in Africa," Abuja-based operations manager Titi Adetoye told The Associated Press, saying she hopes to purchase as many as 1,000 shares. Nigerian digital investment platform Bamboo said users were experiencing difficulties accessing its platform because of "higher than expected traffic trying to get into the Dangote IPO." For decades, Nigeria has depended heavily on foreign refineries to process its crude oil because of poorly maintained state-owned refineries, many of which have operated below capacity or remained idle for years. The launch of the $19 billion Dangote refinery in 2024 changed that dynamic, turning the energy-rich country of more than 210 million people from an importer of refined petroleum products into an exporter. "It is going to be a game-changing IPO for Nigeria's markets," said Mohammed Saidu, head of research and investment analysis at Lagos-based TrustBanc. He predicted that the offering could bring millions of new investors into the market. However, the IPO has also prompted questions over Dangote's decision to retain such a large stake and the refinery's valuation following the offering. At $49 billion, the valuation is more than twice the refinery's construction cost. Officials of the refinery have rejected suggestions that the valuation is inflated. "It is not something someone can classify as people-driven if you still own 87% of the refinery and there are many ways that narrative breaks down," said Joachim McEbong, a senior West Africa analyst at Control Risks. Some investors have also expressed reservations about the IPO. Abdulkabeer Tijani, a Lagos-based researcher and regular investor in Nigerian stocks, said the shares might already be overpriced at 525 naira ($0.40) each. "(The share price) puts a bigger duty on the refinery, which suggests that to justify an even higher valuation from the roughly 47 trillion naira ($49 billion), the refinery needs to generate very substantial profits and cash flow consistently," Tijani said. The Dangote refinery reached its full production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day earlier this year. Dangote announced plans last year to raise the refinery's capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day. Company officials say the expansion would make it the world's largest refinery, surpassing India's Jamnagar refinery. Dangote is also seeking to expand his refining business into East Africa and has proposed constructing a refinery in Kenya by 2030.

At least 21 people were killed in a road accident in the Western Cape province of South Africa, local media reported on Monday. The accident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. (2130 GMT) on Sunday night on the N1 highway between Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka in the province, involving two minibus taxis and a station wagon, according to media reports. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.  

Eight people, including two minors, were killed in a head-on collision in South Africa's northeastern Mpumalanga Province early Sunday morning, local authorities said. The crash, involving a Toyota sedan and a Volkswagen sedan, occurred at about 1:30 a.m. local time (2330 Saturday GMT) on the N17 toll road between Ermelo and Davel, near the Ermelo Toll Plaza, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison said. It said that seven of those killed were traveling in the Volkswagen, while the eighth victim was the driver and sole occupant of the Toyota, and no other injuries were reported. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Authorities said reckless or negligent driving had not been ruled out as a possible factor.

At least 22 people were killed and several others injured in a fire that broke out early Saturday at a wedding venue in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a local official said. The fire erupted in a building housing a reception hall on the premises in Lingwala commune while a wedding ceremony was underway, Norbert Mushinga, head of the commune, told reporters at the scene. "The provisional death toll stands at 22 and could rise," Mushinga said, adding that property inside the building was also destroyed by the blaze. Several injured people were taken to hospitals across Kinshasa for treatment, he said. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Mushinga said authorities are investigating possible factors, including electrical faults and decorations at the venue. 

Schools reopened across the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday for the new academic year, even as parents and teachers expressed concerns over the continued spread of Ebola in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak. The reopening comes as the deadly virus continues to spread rapidly. Government figures showed that 2,950 people had died from Ebola among 6,100 confirmed cases as of Tuesday. The teachers’ union in Ituri had urged authorities to postpone the reopening of schools over health concerns. However, the government went ahead with the academic calendar. UNICEF said it is working with authorities to strengthen measures aimed at preventing Ebola transmission in schools. Several schools in Ituri, particularly government-run institutions, saw low attendance on the first day. A number of parents chose to keep their children at home. Aimerance Vahweka, a parent in Bunia, the provincial capital, said she was surprised by the decision to reopen schools and decided not to send her child back yet. “I do not really see an increase in prevention measures,” she said. Education officials said schools were being provided with noncontact infrared thermometers, hand sanitizers and hand-washing facilities as part of preventive measures. Teachers are also educating students about hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing and the proper use of hand sanitizer, said Etienne Ndjabu, a teacher at a private school in Bunia. Health and education experts, however, warned that significant challenges remain, particularly because many schools do not have reliable access to clean water and funding for the response remains insufficient. “There are also significant logistical challenges, particularly in remote areas, where the delivery of equipment and learning materials may be delayed,” said Greg Ramm, director of Save the Children in Congo. Children aged four and below have been particularly vulnerable, with the highest case-fatality rate among all age groups at 60%, according to available health data. Dounia Dekhili, UNICEF emergency coordinator in DRC, said authorities need to balance the protection of students, teachers and communities with children's right to education. The current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, is reportedly the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history and has reached more than 60 health zones. Authorities believe the virus had been circulating undetected in communities since at least February. The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak could surpass the scale of the West African Ebola epidemic of 2014-2016. The response has also been affected by repeated strikes by health workers over delays in salary payments. Efforts to control the outbreak have been further complicated by the absence of an approved vaccine or specific treatment. Congolese authorities have begun administering thousands of doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which the WHO says may offer some protection. Ongoing conflict between government forces and rebel groups in eastern Congo, attacks targeting health workers and large-scale population movements have also made containment efforts more difficult.

Voters in Guinea-Bissau went to the polls Sunday in a referendum on a proposed new constitution that would expand presidential powers and reduce parliamentary representation ahead of the country’s December general election. The referendum is being held as the West African nation seeks to return to democratic rule following a military takeover last November after a disputed presidential election in which former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias both claimed victory. The proposed constitution, drafted by the military-backed National Transitional Council, would strengthen the president’s authority over the prime minister and reduce the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65. The authorities argue that a smaller parliament would facilitate more effective debate, while clearer presidential powers would help resolve longstanding tensions between the president and prime minister, which they blame for political instability. Gen. Tomás Djassi, head of the armed forces, said the constitutional changes were intended to prevent recurring conflicts between the two top executive offices and clarify the president’s role as the country’s national symbol. Opposition parties, however, have urged voters to boycott the referendum, arguing that the proposed constitution would concentrate power in the hands of the military leadership and weaken parliament, the prime minister and political parties. Muniro Conté, spokesperson for the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, said the proposed charter could deepen political and social divisions and undermine the will of voters. The military takeover last year further deepened concerns over democratic governance in West Africa, where several countries have come under military rule in recent years. Guinea-Bissau, which gained independence from Portugal in 1973, has experienced repeated coups and attempted coups. A failed coup attempt was reported just one month before last year’s military takeover. The country, home to about 2.2 million people, has significant natural resources but more than half of its population lives in poverty. It is also considered a major transit point for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, which analysts say contributes to its political instability. Nearly 915,000 voters are registered for Sunday’s referendum. However, many citizens say they are unfamiliar with the proposed constitution. Some residents have decided to boycott the vote, while others plan to vote against the proposal. Political analysts have also questioned whether the military government has the legitimacy to amend the constitution, amid growing public discontent. Guinean political analyst Paulino Quadé questioned who drafted the proposed constitution, whose interests it serves and who would ultimately benefit from the changes.

Armed men ambushed a patrol traveling to a remote area of South Sudan on Monday, killing two U.N. peacekeepers, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said. Although violence is widespread in the African country, attacks targeting U.N. peacekeepers are rare. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Seven others were wounded, including three peacekeepers, two members of the South Sudanese police and two civilian staff members, UNMISS said in a statement. The two peacekeepers killed and the three wounded were from Ethiopia, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said. The patrol was traveling to the Pajut area in Jonglei state when it came under attack. UNMISS said it deployed a “Quick Reaction Force” to secure the area and assist with the emergency response. “Such deadly violence targeting UNMISS personnel who are serving to support peace in South Sudan is unacceptable,” Anita Kiki Gbeho, head of UNMISS, said in the statement. The deaths bring to nine the number of peacekeepers killed by militias since Jan. 1, Dujarric said, warning that attacks against U.N. peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the ambush “in the strongest possible terms” and called for a prompt investigation leading to the prosecution of those responsible, Dujarric said Monday. “The secretary-general reaffirms the United Nations' commitment to stand with the victims and their families during this profoundly difficult time,” the spokesperson said. Government forces in South Sudan have been fighting fighters and militias loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar, who was suspended last year as vice president and faces charges including treason and other offenses. Machar has rejected the allegations as politically motivated. A 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and Machar, who is currently under house arrest, has effectively collapsed, raising fears that the country could return to full-scale civil war. More than 450 incidents of violence against humanitarian workers and assets were reported between January and July, according to U.N. figures. That was more than double the number recorded during the same period last year. The conflict intensified in December after opposition forces seized government outposts in Jonglei. The government has conducted a counteroffensive since January, including aerial bombardments and ground attacks, despite its stated commitment to the peace agreement. The United States has called for dialogue between Kiir and Machar. Earlier this year, Washington urged “urgent action to uphold peace and mitigate the risk of civil war through an immediate return to dialogue among the parties to the 2018 peace agreement.”

South African police have arrested four people in connection with the killing of former world boxing champion Zolani Tete, authorities said Monday. Tete was sitting in his car outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, last week when two armed men wearing balaclavas opened fire on the vehicle, police said. Tete was reportedly waiting for the gate of his residence to open when the attackers ambushed him. A woman who was inside the vehicle was also shot and injured. She was later taken to a hospital for treatment. Police said one of the four suspects was arrested two days ago and was due to appear in court on Monday. The other three suspects are expected to appear in court at a later date. Tete won the World Boxing Federation flyweight title in 2007 and held it until 2008. He later captured the World Boxing Organization bantamweight title in 2017 and again in 2019.

The Ebola outbreak spreading rapidly in Congo has yet to reach its peak and could be several times larger than currently reported, according to data from Congolese health authorities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The World Health Organization says the outbreak is advancing at an unprecedented pace and could eventually surpass the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people. The latest outbreak has so far resulted in 2,516 deaths among 5,290 confirmed cases in Congo’s vast eastern region. The spread has been fueled by a highly mobile population, including people displaced by armed conflict, as well as widespread mistrust of health authorities. Only about 10% of current cases are linked to known contacts, far below the 90%-95% level considered necessary to bring an outbreak under control, according to Yap Boum, head of emergency preparedness and response at the Africa CDC. Boum told reporters Thursday that authorities may be detecting only 30%-40% of the actual cases. Rapid spread raises alarmBy the 13th week after the outbreak was officially declared, Congo had recorded about 10 times as many cases and seven times as many deaths as the West African Ebola outbreak had recorded at a comparable stage, according to Africa CDC data. The 2014-2016 outbreak eventually caused more than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths. Congo’s previous deadliest Ebola outbreak, from 2018 to 2020, recorded about 3,400 cases and more than 2,200 deaths. The current outbreak is progressing much faster, with confirmed cases increasing at roughly 18 times the previous rate and deaths at about 13 times the rate. Experts are particularly concerned that the outbreak may have started in the mining town of Mongbwalu as early as February, months before authorities officially declared it on May 15. Contact tracing remains limitedAfrica CDC data from the past three weeks shows that health workers have traced 82% of the 19,630 contacts already identified. However, the agency estimates that nearly 100,000 contacts should have been identified based on an average of 60 contacts per confirmed case. That means the actual contact-tracing rate is only about 16% of what was expected. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Its symptoms can also be milder than those associated with the more common Ebola virus, potentially leading some patients to delay seeking medical help. Outbreak reaches new provinceThe number of affected health zones has expanded from three at the beginning of the outbreak to 56 across six provinces. Bas-Uele province, which had previously reported no cases, has recorded two cases in separate locations during the past week and a half, according to government data. There are signs of improvement in some areas, however. South Kivu province, for example, has gone 79 days without reporting a new case. Most deaths occur outside treatment centersCommunity deaths, meaning those occurring outside Ebola treatment centers, have increased steadily. They accounted for 97% of reported deaths on Aug. 17, according to Africa CDC figures. Yet only about 20% of health alerts are coming from communities, highlighting the challenge of persuading people to report suspected cases. The overall case fatality rate stands at 46.7%, but it is considerably higher in some areas. In North Kivu, one of the country's most populous provinces, the fatality rate has reached 68.2%. Health officials say people are often delaying or avoiding treatment because of misinformation, reliance on traditional remedies, fears of isolation and concerns about being quarantined for symptoms that may turn out to be caused by other illnesses. The relatively mild early symptoms of the Bundibugyo strain may also discourage people from seeking care quickly.

Fierce clashes between Somali government forces and militias in the southwestern city of Baidoa have killed dozens of fighters and left at least four civilians dead and 98 others injured, a hospital official said Tuesday. The fighting erupted early Monday after militia groups attacked government positions on the outskirts of Baidoa, a city of more than half a million people, many of whom have been displaced by conflict and drought. Somali government officials said nearly 30 attackers were killed, while authorities in the South West state claimed the death toll among the attackers was around 50. The figures could not be independently verified, and no official toll was immediately available for government casualties. Dr. Abdikafi Omar Mohamud, head of the emergency department at Bay Regional Hospital, said four civilians were killed and 98 others wounded in the clashes. The injured included 28 women and an elderly man who was struck by stray bullets. The violence further strained health services already struggling to care for residents and displaced people in Baidoa, located about 245 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of Mogadishu. Mohamud said the hospital had only 40 beds available and was forced to set up an emergency tent to treat the large number of casualties. Medical staff were also facing shortages of essential medicines. Calm returned to Baidoa on Tuesday, with security forces patrolling major streets and inspecting buildings and vehicles damaged during the fighting. Residents gradually came out of their homes, although troops maintained a strong presence in key areas. The clashes began shortly after 5am Monday when two explosions were heard near a military base east of Baidoa. Heavy fighting then broke out around another military position in Bonkay, south of the city, before armed men entered Baidoa and exchanged gunfire with government forces. Samira Gaid, a regional security analyst at Balqiis Insights, said fighters loyal to former South West state President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen managed to push government troops out of parts of the city for about six hours before being forced back. She said fighters from al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked extremist group, separately attacked two Somali military positions around Baidoa. The timing of the attacks raised allegations that the group may have coordinated with Laftagareen's forces. The federal government said the attackers included Laftagareen-aligned militias and al-Shabab fighters. It said its forces killed nearly 30 attackers and captured several others. South West Internal Security Minister Isak Mohamed Korsaar said government forces recovered the bodies of al-Shabab fighters and detained others. “The militias that attacked us were not alone,” Korsaar told reporters, saying authorities had confirmed that al-Shabab fighters had joined the assault. The latest clashes came amid months of political tensions over the leadership and electoral process in South West state. The federal government rejected Laftagareen's disputed indirect re-election in March. Federal forces took control of Baidoa on March 30, prompting Laftagareen, who had led South West since 2018, to announce his resignation. Gaid warned that continued political disputes could provide extremist groups with opportunities to expand their influence. “When elite disputes are settled militarily, they create the conditions that the terrorist group exploits,” she said, adding that Somali civilians ultimately bear the consequences.