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♦️ Breaking & exclusive stories, analysis, opinions 👉 About Africa in other languages: Amharic: @sputnik_ethiopia French: @sputnik_afrique 💬 Contact us https://t.me/Africa_Sputnik_bot
Durov Questioned in Paris: Between Serious Investigation and Humorous Street Mix-Up
A Sputnik Africa correspondent filmed an unusual scene when the founder of Telegram was leaving the Paris courthouse.
A passerby greeted him without, obviously, recognizing him and wished him a good stay in the French capital 🇫🇷🤷🏻♂️
This Monday, Pavel Durov was questioned by investigating judges in charge of investigations into the platform's potential complicity with criminal activities ⚖️
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AES Troops to Participate in Benin's Independence Parade
Ahead of its 65th independence anniversary, Benin is extending an invitation to troops from the Alliance of Sahel States for a military parade in Cotonou on August 1.
🪖 Four foreign contingents, including two from the AES, will join Beninese soldiers in the event, Wilfried Houngbédji, government spokesperson, announced.
The move, despite ongoing regional tensions, represents a significant diplomatic gesture. Earlier, General Tchiani accused Benin of harboring armed groups in its northern territories.
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🚨THROWBACK: "Trump will bring order, and soon they’ll be sitting at their master’s feet, gently wagging their tails"
That’s how Vladimir Putin described, back in February, the way European leaders would behave under Trump.
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Tanzania’s Electoral Commission Registers Around 8 Million New Voters, Exceeding Target Ahead of Polls
New voter registrations exceeded projections by 136.79%, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairperson Jacobs Mwambegele said. The commission had initially aimed to register 5.58 million new voters, representing 18.77% of the 2019/2020 voter roll.
Mwambegele also noted that 4.29 million existing voters updated their registration details, representing 98.23% of the 4.36 million target, which is approximately 15% of previously registered voters.
In addition to new registrations and updates, INEC removed almost 100,000 ineligible names from the voter register. These removals represent 16.78% of the projected 500,000 ineligible names. Mwambegele also stated that around 9,000 individuals who registered multiple times have been identified and will face legal action.
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🎥🎥 Russian FM Lavrov speaks at the Territory of Meanings Forum
Watch live on Telegram
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#viral | 🎆 China's Liuyang Transforms Sky Into Living Galaxy With 26 Fireworks Shows in 2025, Attracts 1.5 Million Tourists
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❗️ News and Information on the Special Military Operation, Russia-Ukraine conflict :🚀 🚀 🚀 /channel/Slavyangrad
Join Slavyangrad chat. Your opinion matters.
/channel/+5vjQfD5RwOgzMjgx
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Algeria Revokes Privileged Airport and Port Access for French Diplomats Amidst Escalating Tensions
This retaliatory action follows reports that Paris is considering restricting Algerian diplomats' movement in France—and comes after France already stripped 80 Algerian officials of their diplomatic privileges.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry stated that, based on the principle of reciprocity, it has withdrawn all access privilege cards for French embassy personnel in Algeria.
❗️The ministry also summoned the French chargé d'affaires in Algiers due to continued obstructions faced by the Algerian embassy in Paris.
👉 The diplomatic dispute appears to stem from France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a stance opposed by Algeria, which supports a referendum on the territory's self-determination.
Previous escalations include Algeria expelling French civil servants and diplomats, with France responding in kind. France has also imposed visa requirements for Algerian diplomats and civil servants.
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Touadéra to Seek Third Term as Central African President
President Touadéra announced his intention to run for president in December during a congress of his party, the United Hearts Movement, in Bangui.
He won the election in 2016 and was reelected in 2020.
👉 At the end of the year, the Central African Republic will hold a triple election: local, legislative, and presidential.
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👁 Ukraine Watch is on the outlook for all things political and beyond — 7 days a week of breaking news, rapid translations and immersive longreads: all with a Russkie twist.
🌍 The African nations stand as our closest allies in dethroning colonialism and globalism.
👍 Join Ukraine Watch — endorsed by Sputnik Africa and other major Telegram channels.
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Major Medical (and Robotic!) Breakthrough in Morocco
The Sheikh Khalifa International University Hospital in Casablanca reached a historic milestone by performing the first robot-assisted visceral surgery.
🤖 On July 24, Dr. Choukri El Mehdi performed a rectal resection to treat colorectal cancer using the Da Vinci surgical robot. The Da Vinci robot is renowned worldwide for its precision and minimally invasive capabilities.
🔸This success marks the second phase of robotic surgery deployment in Morocco, following a series of urological operations.
Photo: Maghreb Arabe Press
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🌍 Africa, special selection: add this folder with the best channels of the news from the continent. ⤵️
👉👉 /channel/addlist/lwYcxR-tjCBiODBi 👈👈
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Top African Countries by Ship Market Value – IndexBox Report
👇 The following economies dominated Africa's ship and ferryboat market by value in 2024:
🇰🇪 Kenya – $195 million
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone – $142 million
🇳🇬 Nigeria – $44 million
Together, these nations account for over 80% of Africa’s total vessel market value, highlighting concentrated investment in maritime transport.
Other key insights from the report:
🔹 Africa still relies heavily on imported vessels, with Nigeria being the top importer ($26 million, 25% of total import value). However, local production grew to 133 ships ($503 million) in 2024.
🔹 The continent’s ship market is projected to reach $615 million by 2035, growing at 2.5% annually in value.
🔹 Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Senegal lead in vessel purchases by volume, consuming 46, 42, and 35 ships, respectively.
🔹 Sierra Leone, Kenya, and South Africa dominate local shipbuilding, contributing 65% of Africa’s production.
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🔊 UK will recognize Palestine, BUT NOT NOW — Starmer
The British Prime Minister says that recognizing the State of Palestine must be part of a broader plan that guarantees lasting security for both sides of the conflict.
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From Molecules to Missions: How a 2006 Email Sparked a Russian–Ethiopian Scientific Alliance
A scientific journey that began nearly 20 years ago with a shared fascination for caffeine molecules is now evolving into a full-scale international collaboration.
🤝 What started in 2006 as remote research between Dr. Maxim Evstigneev (Sevastopol State University (SevGU), Russia) and Professor Abebe Belay (Adama University, Ethiopia) has matured into a formal agreement for long-term cooperation in the emerging field of nanobiotechnology.
🌱🔬 This renewed partnership draws on unique strengths: Ethiopia’s rich biodiversity—especially its endemic, plant-derived nanoparticles—and SevGU’s advanced analytical technologies.
The two universities are laying the groundwork for a joint master’s program in biophysics and nanobiotech, set to launch in 2026. It includes dual-teaching formats, student exchanges, and collaborative lab work.
🔜 Initially, a leading Ethiopian professor will join SevGU’s lab full-time under two major state-supported research projects. A pilot group of Ethiopian students is also expected to study in Sevastopol, potentially expanding to include other African universities and fields like marine biology.
🎯 The ultimate vision? A Russian–Ethiopian research center on nanobiotech—bridging continents through science, education, and shared innovation.
📹 What makes Ethiopia’s role in this project unique? Watch Dr. Evstigneev explain in his own words in the video👆🏽
Building Value, Not Just Extracting It: South African Think Tank Head Outlines Africa’s Vision in a Changing Global Order
Africa must go beyond being a source of critical minerals and instead strategically industrialize by creating regional value chains, Dr. Philani Mthembu, Executive Director at the Institute for Global Dialogue, emphasized on the sidelines of the third Valdai Russia-Africa conference in Pretoria.
💸 He underlined the importance of climate finance, tackling debt, and reforming global lending practices — especially the overreliance on the US dollar — calling for alternatives within BRICS and beyond.
Speaking to Sputnik Africa, Mthembu stressed Africa’s potential in agriculture and proposed more Russia-Africa collaboration in this area, stating, "Russia is not just a military power, it's an agricultural power."
🇿🇦 Regarding South Africa’s G20 presidency, he noted it allowed the country to elevate key Global South priorities like industrialization, critical minerals, and debt reform. He also acknowledged growing geopolitical pressure: "South Africa has been facing backlash from the United States..."
🤍🎯 Finally, Dr. Mthembu warned against losing sight of BRICS' founding mission — reforming global financial structures — and called for resilience through domestic and regional payment systems, particularly amid increasing Western sanctions.
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Morocco Revolutionizes Its Aviation Industry in Less Than 10 Years
The country is establishing itself as a major aeronautical hub in the Maghreb region and beyond thanks to its ambitious industrial strategy.
✈️ Key figures:
✅Exports of aeronautical components:
From 3.73 billion dirhams ($412.9 million) in 2014 to 17.2 billion dirhams ($1.9 billion) in 2024 — an increase of 460%.
✅ Global sector exports: From 7.69 billion dirhams ($851.28 million) to 26.44 billion ($2.92 billion), a 244% increase (+13% per year on average).
🔐 Keys to success:
✅ Training: Morocco's Institute of Aeronautical Professions (IMA) trains a world-class workforce, attracting giants like Boeing.
✅ Infrastructure: Proximity to Europe, competitive costs, free trade agreements, and political stability.
✅ Local ecosystem: A dense network of subcontractors reinforces industrial integration.
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Africa's 'Strength Lies in Unity' & Its 'Future Depends on Integration & Development': Expert
The third Russia-Africa Valdai Conference kicked off in Pretoria. Sputnik Africa gathered key insights from the event so far:
👉 The most important task of the conference is "to form and expand the community of African and Russian experts," Andrey Bystritsky, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the International Valdai Discussion Club, emphasized;
"Africa is not an arena for yet another geopolitical scramble, but a space of mutually beneficial cooperation," Roman Ambarov, Ambassador of Russia to South Africa said;
"Our prosperity depends on the integration, peace and economic empowerment of Africa," he stated.
South African President Condemns 'Deliberate Starvation' of Palestinians in Gaza
Addressing the Liberation Movements Summit in Gauteng, Cyril Ramaphosa denounced the "crimes against humanity and genocide committed by the apartheid state of Israel" and called for an immediate halt to the bombardment of civilians.
He urged Israel to allow unimpeded entry and distribution of essential aid, particularly food, and demanded global action to prevent the killing of children and babies through starvation.
Ramaphosa also addressed the broader context of anti-colonial struggle and the need for economic justice, urging liberation movements to unite against "a new scramble for Africa."
He highlighted the "renewed offensive" against progressive policies and multilateralism, warning of a deliberate effort to divide and control the continent through transactional diplomacy and economic coercion.
“This time, it is not a scramble for territory. It is a digital, economic, ideological, and ecological scramble,” Ramaphosa told African leaders.
Attack on Church in DRC: Death Toll Rises to 43, UN Reports
Here's what we know so far:
🟠The tragedy unfolded in the Blessed Anuarite parish in Komanda, Ituri province;
🟠The attack occurred during the night from Saturday to Sunday;
🟠19 women, 15 men, and nine children were killed, the UN Mission in the DRC reported;
🟠Several young people were abducted, and their whereabouts remain unknown, according to the parish priest;
🟠The attack is attributed to Allied Democratic Forces rebels;
🟠The Congolese armed forces condemn the incident as a "large-scale massacre."
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Major World News by the Evening of Sunday, July 27
🟠 Putin visited the Russian Navy's headquarters on Navy Day, where he was awarded a medal.
🟠 The first direct flight between Moscow and Pyongyang is being planned, and Russia and North Korea are considering further developing relations between their countries.
🟠 Defendants in National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine criminal cases have testified against Zelensky, according to a Ukrainian political scientist.
🟠 The number of obese people worldwide has surpassed 1 billion.
🟠 The second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake +4 (UNFSS+4) kicked off in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Government leaders, United Nations officials, and representatives from international organizations gathered for the three-day event.
🟠 More than 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured since October 7, 2023, according to Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Additionally, over 300 UN personnel have been killed in Israeli operations in Gaza in the same period.
🟠 The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will hold talks in Malaysia on July 28, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced.
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Former French Intelligence Agent Jailed for Allegedly Orchestrating Child Rapes in Africa
The 58-year-old former military man, reportedly arrested on Monday and detained on Friday, faces charges of:
🟠aggravated human trafficking,
🟠child rape and sexual assault,
🟠possessing child pornography.
❗️The suspect is accused of ordering and paying for the sexual abuse of children, particularly in Kenya, and filming these acts for his own gratification.
🚨The crimes came to light after an American foundation dedicated to fighting child sex crimes discovered the videos online and alerted French police.
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Major World Events by Morning of July 27
🟠In the DRC, the M23 rebels have threatened to boycott the peace process over the prisoner issue;
🟠Thailand and Cambodia engaged in artillery fire for a fourth consecutive day on Sunday, but both sides expressed willingness to negotiate a ceasefire under US mediation;
🟠Israel announced a daily "tactical pause" in its military operations and the establishment of humanitarian corridors;
🟠In Cameroon, 13 candidates will be in the running for the upcoming presidential election;
🟠Russian air defense systems destroyed and intercepted 99 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
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📹 RUSSIA CAPTURES UKRAINIAN DRONE WITH US TECHNOLOGY IN ZAPOROZHYE
Russian soldiers have downed a Ukrainian drone packed with equipment from US-based Silvus Technologies. The Russian military is now analyzing it to extract crucial flight data and technical specs.
This wireless tech is typically used in military drones and public safety systems.
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Russian Navy Displays Strength in 'July Storm' Exercise
Each fleet has demonstrated its capabilities:
🟠The Baltic Fleet successfully destroyed a simulated enemy ship using drones and helicopters.
🟠The Pacific Fleet sank a mock submarine in waters near Kamchatka.
🟠Jets from the Northern Fleet conducted precision strikes, hitting over 20 targets.
🟠The Caspian Flotilla intercepted and shot down a cruise missile with the Pantsir-M system.
🟠In the Barents Sea, a submarine hunt was carried out using depth charges.
🟠The Baltic Fleet simulated blockade operations with minelayers.
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#viral | 📹 Nothing Stops Play: Saint Petersburg Child Swings in the Rain After Record Heat
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Cote d'Ivoire Artist Makes History With World Record
Mylène Amon officially entered the Guinness World Records by folding 203 Japanese origami flowers in one hour.
🏆 The announcement was confirmed on July 25 by an official statement. After an unsuccessful attempt in February to create 130 portraits in 120 hours, Mylène persevered.
"I changed my approach, but I remained true to my love for paper art," she said.
Foreign Investor Interest in Zimbabwe Stocks Rises in Q2 2025, Signaling Potential Recovery
This rise in interest, attributed partly to an improving economic outlook and the stability of the new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, boosted market turnover despite a slight decrease in overall market value, according to the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange's (ZSE) quarterly newsletter.
🆙 Foreign participation on the ZSE rose to 26.53% in Q2, up from 15.39% in the previous quarter;
🆙 Foreign trades jumped 153.94% to 743.6 million ZiG ($27.7 million);
🆙 Total market turnover on the ZSE saw a 53.14% increase, reaching 1.49 billion ZiG ($55.6 million);
📉 However, the total market value declined by 3.08% to 62.64 billion ZiG ($2.34 billion), and the ZSE All Share Index fell by 3.91%.
🆙 On the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, which is dollar-denominated, turnover reached $15 million in Q2, while market capitalization slipped to $1.25 billion.
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Fourteen Killed in Central Nigeria Market Attack
The victims, including women and infants, were killed when armed attackers ambushed a passenger vehicle returning from a popular weekly market in Nigeria's Plateau State, according to media reports.
🚌 The attackers intercepted the vehicle and opened fire on the passengers, Farmasum Fuddang, chair of the Bokkos Cultural Development Forum, told media outlets on Friday.
👉 The attack highlights the ongoing intercommunal conflicts in Plateau State, where hundreds of people have been killed in such conflicts in recent years. This has prompted calls for increased security in rural areas.
Plateau police have not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack.
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Nigeria's Defense Industry Takes Off: Focus is on Domestic Weapon Production, Officer Says
🛠"In-house" weapon development allows Nigerians to avoid international restrictions and build self-reliance in defense capabilities, Colonel Nanpon Gambo told Sputnik Africa.
Nigeria has been following this strategy for decades; that is why now it is capable of producing its own drones, the officer pointed out.
🎯Current efforts concentrate on training the manpower in technical skills so that local specialists could supervise the future homegrown weapon production on their own, he added.
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