UN chief ‘appalled’ by Darfur’s ethnic and sexual violence

UN chief António Guterres says he is appalled by reports of large-scale violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. His spokesperson says Mr Guterres has called on all warring parties to stop fighting and commit to a durable cessation of hostilities.

“He is highly worried about the increasing ethnic dimension of the violence, as well as by reports of sexual violence,” Stéphane Dujarric said.

“With nearly nine million people now urgently requiring humanitarian aid and protection in Darfur, he stresses the need for an end to looting and widened access so aid can reach those who most need it.”

Earlier the UN’s head of mission for Sudan, Volker Perthes, said these attacks appeared to have been committed by Arab militia and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“These reports are deeply worrying and, if verified, could amount to crimes against humanity,” he said in a statement.

.Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has announced it will jointly lead a conference on the humanitarian response to the war in Sudan next week. Saudi Arabia and the US have been trying to mediate in the eightweek conflict between the army and the RSF.

At least 78 migrants are known to have drowned when their boat capsized off the southern coast of Greece, with many more possibly missing.

Officials have been quoted as saying the vessel may have been carrying up to 400 people. More than 100 have been rescued, but the operation has been hampered by strong winds. The Greek coast guard said the boat had been spotted by a surveillance plane from the EU’s Frontex agency on Tuesday

Boat crossing Mediterranean capsizes killing migrants Ghana arrests made over viral sexual assault video

Four men have been arrested in north-eastern Ghana for their alleged involvement in a viral video in which a woman was stripped naked and sexually assaulted as a crowd looked on.

The woman, believed to be from the Fulani community, was eventually able to free herself and run off.

The incident happened in the market of Zebilla, a town in Upper East Region where there have been long-standing tensions between semi-nomadic Fulani herders and local people.

The communities often quarrel over grazing rights for cattle and access to water. The tensions recently resulted in the killing of a young man from the town who was allegedly killed in a fight by Fulanis. afternoon, but that the passengers refused any help.

Local reports suggest the assault on the woman may have been in revenge for that killing.

Police described the incident as “inhumane and degrading” and said arrangements were being made to offer the woman psychosocial support.

The suspects in custody were also helping with inquiries to make further arrests, the police added.

Authorities said the vessel appears to have been on its way from Libya to Italy.

Saudis flock to Kenyan carbon credits auction

More than a dozen companies, mainly from Saudi Arabia, are bidding for two million tonnes of carbon credits at an auction in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Demand for carbon offsets is growing fast as companies seek to reach their target of net-zero emissions.

The organisers of the auction say almost three-quarters of the carbon credits are being generated by projects in Africa, including supplying efficient cooking stoves in Kenya and Rwanda. Large companies looking to offset their own carbon emissions

Mozambique fisherman in jihadist area given new kit

- including the airline Saudiawill be bidding in Nairobi.

Within the next decade, the global market for these voluntary carbon credits is expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

But critics have in the past questioned the quality of some so-called green projects set up in Africa.

There is also some concern that with an option to buy carbon credits, companies including airlines are not under enough pressure to cut their own emissions.

Nigerians welcome student loans but questions linger

The governor of the jihadisthit northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado has visited fishermen who have returned to the coastal village of Pangane.

Most people have fled this area, which has witnessed some of the worst attacks since the Islamist insurgency erupted in 2017.

But the group of young fisherman have decided to move back because since a regional force deployed around two years ago to Cabo Delgado to help the Mozambican army regain control of the towns, the violence has reduced.

Nigerians

in capital, Abuja, tell the BBC they welcome President Bola Tinubu’s new student loan bill, but are questioning how it will work in practice.

The new policy, which the president signed into law on Monday, offers financial support for poorer students in higher education by enabling them to easily get interestfree loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to cover tuition fees.

However, students could face two years imprisonment or a 500,000 naira ($1,000; £790) fine if they default on repayments once eligible to do so.

“I think it’s a very good idea and it’s going to help students,” one young woman tells the BBC, adding that people should not just “collect loan and relax”, referencing the strict rules regarding repayment or jail time.

One student says the policy is good as fees have increased exponentially.

Cabo Delgado Governor Valige Tauabo made the trip to Pangane to show his appreciation for their return - though it is not officially sanctioned by the authorities given that the militants are known to still operate at a low level. He gave them fishing equipment and supplies to help them re-establish themselves.

Jihadists were reported to be moving through the area on Sunday.