United News of Bangladesh

At least nine people were killed and 10 others wounded early Sunday when a group of gunmen opened fire at a pub in Bekkersdal, a township 46 kilometers west of Johannesburg, authorities said. The attack marks the second mass shooting in South Africa within three weeks. Police said around 12 unidentified suspects arrived in a white mini-bus and a silver sedan, targeting patrons at KwaNoxolo tavern in the Tambo area before firing indiscriminately as they fled. Some victims were shot outside the pub on nearby streets. Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, told the AP that the assailants, some wearing balaclavas, were armed with one AK-47 rifle and multiple nine-millimeter pistols. Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that an e-hailing driver was among those killed after dropping off a client. Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations, together with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit, launched a manhunt for the suspects. Mass shootings at bars, or shebeens, have occurred repeatedly across South Africa in recent years. Earlier this month, multiple suspects attacked an unlicensed bar near the capital, leaving at least 12 dead and 13 injured. In 2022, a similar attack in Soweto killed 16 people, while another left four dead in a separate province. South Africa recorded nearly 26,000 homicides in 2024, averaging more than 70 deaths per day, making it one of the countries with the highest murder rates globally. Firearms remain the leading cause of homicide, and while the country enforces strict gun control laws, illegal weapons are frequently used in violent crimes. Authorities continue to investigate the latest attack as the community reels from the deadly incident.

South African authorities have launched a manhunt following a deadly shooting at a licensed tavern in a township near Johannesburg that claimed nine lives and wounded at least 10 others. Police said around a dozen unidentified assailants arrived at the scene in two vehicles in Bekkersdal and opened fire on people inside the tavern. The attackers continued firing indiscriminately while escaping, leaving multiple casualties behind. The incident occurred at approximately 1:00am local time on Sunday, equivalent to 11:00pm GMT on Saturday, according to police officials. South Africa remains among the countries with the highest homicide rates globally. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime data for 2023–24 show the country records about 45 murders per 100,000 people. Source: BBC

Africa is bearing the brunt of the Trump administration’s newly expanded travel restrictions, yet reactions across the continent of 1.5 billion people were largely subdued Wednesday as governments assessed the impact and next steps. The updated measures, announced Tuesday, add 20 countries to the travel ban, making it broader and more punitive than restrictions during Trump’s first term, which mainly targeted Muslim-majority nations and were reversed in 2021. Of the five countries newly added to the full ban list, four are in Africa — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and South Sudan, which already faced significant restrictions. Syria and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents were also included. Other countries, including Sierra Leone and Laos, moved from partial to full restrictions. Twelve of the 15 countries under partial restrictions are African, including Angola, Benin, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The remaining partial restrictions apply to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Tonga. The African Union urged the U.S. to implement border measures in a “balanced, evidence-based” manner, warning that the ban could harm educational, commercial, and diplomatic ties built over decades. Officials in affected nations expressed caution. Sierra Leone said it hoped to engage Washington for a review, while Mali’s foreign ministry described it as “too early to comment.” Analysts and citizens described the restrictions as unfair and likely to strain U.S.–Africa relations. “It paints all Nigerians with the same brush,” said Nigerian lawyer Ramlah Ibrahim Nok, highlighting concerns about educational, business, and tourism travel. Experts warned the measures may push African nations to seek partnerships elsewhere. The timing also raises practical concerns. Sports fans worry about attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., while in South Sudan, activists see the ban as a diplomatic warning over delayed peace agreement implementation. “The decision may penalize Malians who do business with the United States,” said resident Mohamed Keita, reflecting broader unease over the policy’s impact. Source: AP 

Attacks on hospitals and other medical facilities in conflict-ravaged Sudan have killed more than 1,600 people so far this year, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday, underscoring the scale of devastation caused by the war. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency has recorded 65 assaults on health centers since January, which have also left at least 276 people injured. The latest incident occurred Sunday, when a drone struck a military hospital in Diling, the capital of South Kordofan province — an area that has emerged as a major battleground between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to Tedros, the attack killed nine people and wounded 17. “Each attack further denies people access to health care and essential medicines,” he said in a post on X, adding that medical needs persist even as damaged facilities await repair and services struggle to resume. 34 dead, 80 injured as airstrike hits hospital in rebel-held Myanmar region The Sudan Doctors Network, a group of medical professionals monitoring the conflict, accused the RSF of carrying out the drone strike on the hospital in Diling. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the casualties in Diling were part of a wider toll of at least 104 people killed in attacks across the Kordofan region since Dec. 4. Health facilities have increasingly been caught in the crossfire. In October, an RSF assault on the Saudi Hospital in the Darfur city of el-Fasher left at least 460 people dead, according to the WHO. The agency said armed fighters also abducted doctors and nurses during the attack. Sudan descended into violence in April 2023 after a power struggle between the military and the RSF erupted into open warfare in Khartoum and rapidly spread nationwide. Renewed fighting in central Sudan displaces 2,000 in 3 days: UN agency Now in its third year, the conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives, according to U.N. estimates, though humanitarian groups warn the actual toll is likely far higher. The war has also triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 14 million people and fueling disease outbreaks and famine in several regions. Source: AP 

Sudan has topped a global watchlist of humanitarian crises for the third consecutive year as a devastating war continues to ravage the northeastern African nation, an international aid group said on Tuesday. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) placed Sudan at the top of its annual Emergency Watchlist, which identifies 20 countries facing the risk of worsening humanitarian conditions in 2026. The IRC urged the international community to urgently scale up humanitarian funding, warning that global aid has dropped by about 50 percent this year and that 2025 is on track to become the deadliest year on record for aid workers. The occupied Palestinian territories and South Sudan ranked second and third on the list due to severe humanitarian challenges. Other countries on the watchlist include Ethiopia, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Ukraine, Syria and Yemen. Although the listed countries account for only 12 percent of the world’s population, they represent 89 percent of people in need of humanitarian assistance, with 117 million displaced worldwide, the IRC said. It warned that these countries are expected to host more than half of the world’s extremely poor by 2029, describing the situation as a breakdown of the post World War II international order. The group said many of the conflicts are fueled by struggles for power and profit. In Sudan, it noted that warring parties and their international backers have benefited from the gold trade, with devastating consequences for civilians. David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the IRC, said the watchlist reflects deep global misery but also serves as a warning, calling on the international community to act before 2026 becomes even more dangerous. The IRC also called for binding global actions, including suspending the use of veto power at the UN Security Council in cases involving mass atrocities. Sudan descended into chaos in April 2023 when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted into open warfare. The conflict has been marked by mass killings, sexual violence and ethnically motivated attacks, which the United Nations and international rights groups have described as war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to UN figures, more than 40,000 people have been killed, though aid groups say the actual death toll could be far higher. The war has displaced more than 14 million people and triggered widespread disease outbreaks and famine in parts of the country, creating what aid agencies describe as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Both the military and the RSF have been accused of violating international law, with most atrocities attributed to the RSF. The United States has accused the group of committing genocide in the Darfur region. The latest wave of violence was reported in late October after the RSF captured el-Fasher, the military’s last stronghold in Darfur. Witnesses said RSF fighters went door to door, killing civilians and carrying out sexual assaults. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity were committed in the city. Satellite imagery analyzed by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab indicated widespread and systematic killings, including attacks on civilians trying to flee or sheltering in residential neighborhoods. The RSF has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations.  

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.