Invasive mosquito sparks malaria fears across Africa

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia 

A fast-spreading invasive mosquito is raising alarm across Africa, as scientists warn it could fuel a resurgence of malaria in major cities.

The mosquito, known as Anopheles stephensi, is unlike traditional malaria carriers. It thrives in densely populated urban areas, breeding in water containers around homes and buildings, making it far harder to control.

Even more concerning, the species has developed resistance to nearly every major insecticide currently used to fight mosquitoes, undermining one of the world's most effective malaria control strategies.

Health experts fear its rapid spread could put millions more people at risk of infection, particularly in growing African cities where malaria has historically been less common.

Scientists are now racing to find new ways to stop the mosquito, from biological controls to innovative technologies and next-generation insecticides.

As this resilient species expands its reach, researchers warn that staying ahead of the threat will require urgent action and global cooperation.

FIFA's President's pot boiling to the maximum degrees

GENEVA, Switzerland 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure after abandoning a controversial plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

Criticism is now coming from inside FIFA itself. 

Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger called the decision to scrap the proposal "absolutely necessary," while FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström described the episode as a "sad and reproachable series of events."

The plan, which aimed to create a new commercial company to manage tournaments including the World Cup, collapsed after fierce opposition from UEFA, which reportedly threatened to boycott FIFA competitions.

The fallout is also threatening Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president. 

Several national football associations have withdrawn their support, while Jordan's football chief has accused FIFA of pressuring federations to back Infantino.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 5/8/2026

 

Uganda’s military unveils statue of Netanyahu’s brother who died in 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue

KAMPALA, Uganda 

Uganda’s military unveiled a monument to an older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was killed during a hostage rescue operation in the East African country in 1976.

The statue of Yonatan Netanyahu holding an assault rifle was unveiled on Saturday by Ugandan military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who said he commissioned the monument to pay tribute to the soldier’s courage. Among those attending the ceremony were Israelis including Barak Orland, a businessman in Uganda.

Kainerugaba is the eldest child of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his presumed heir apparent.

The statue is outside the airport terminal in the town of Entebbe where Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu was struck by a bullet as he led Israeli commandos in a mission to rescue 106 passengers who had been taken hostage on an Air France flight. He was the only Israeli commando killed in the mission.

“Today, this memorial stands not only in remembrance of a distinguished soldier, but also as a tribute to the enduring values he embodied: courage in the face of danger, unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives, and steadfast devotion to duty,” Kainerugaba said at the ceremony.

The hijackers, two Palestinians and two Germans, separated dozens of Jewish and Israeli passengers from the rest and threatened to kill them if Israel did not free dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

A week of negotiations followed as Israel planned the rescue operation. The commandos broke into the airport on July 3, 1976 and saved all but three hostages killed in the crossfire. Dozens of Ugandan soldiers were killed in the operation that lasted less than an hour.

Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who had severed ties with Israel, was a supporter of the Palestinian independence cause.

Israel’s success humiliated and enraged Amin. The operation was criticized by the Organization of African Unity — the African Union’s predecessor organization — which saw the raid as a violation of Uganda’s sovereignty.

The rescue is a seminal event in Israeli history, widely seen as one of the country’s greatest military successes, and the Israeli prime minister has previously said his brother’s death in the raid “changed the course” of his life.

Ties between Uganda and Israel are cordial.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said he supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 4/8/2026

 

Sudan army drone strike on court session kills 35, rights group says

DARFUR, Sudan 

Thirty-five people were killed in a drone strike by the Sudanese army on a traditional court session in the north of the Darfur region, a local rights organisation has said.

Dozens more were reported injured in Sunday afternoon's attack.

The Emergency Lawyers Group, which monitors violence against civilians, said the attack occurred in Ghara al-Zawiya village that is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The army has not commented.

The RSF holds most of Darfur, in the west of the country, as the two sides continue to fight in the three-year-long civil war that has devastated the country, killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes.

Sunday's "court session was being held under a tree with the participation of local community leaders," a witness is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

Four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed in the attack, according to the witness.

The privately owned Darfur 24 website quoted a local resident who said that two drones flew over the town "before launching more than four missiles".

The Emergency Lawyers Group called for an investigation into the drone strike and condemned the targeting of the court saying that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are a "grave violation of international humanitarian law".

It also noted that drones are being increasingly used "to target civilian areas and gatherings, which exacerbates the risks faced by the population".

The RSF has also been accused of war crimes including drone attacks on civilians over the past three years.

The paramilitary group's siege and attack on el-Fasher, one of Darfur's main cities, last year bore the "hallmarks of genocide" according to a UN fact-finding mission.

The RSF has denied the accusations.

English FA to drop support for Infantino's re-election

LONDON, England 

English Football Association (FA) plans to formally withdraw its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, dealing him a major blow just days after he dropped his bid to sell some of his equity to private investors.

The FA said it will write to FIFA to formally withdraw its support for Gianni's fourth term.

This comes just moments after the Welsh and Finnish Associations had dropped their support for Gianni's candidature.

The British Prime Minister Andy Burnham alsosaid Sunday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was not the right man to lead world soccer’s governing body in the latest fallout from the now abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

On Saturday, European soccer's governing body UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership — possibly paving the way for a challenge to Infantino’s presidency. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) said FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.”

Infantino was forced into a backdown over his controversial plans to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary that would run its top competitions.

Infantino’s plans fell apart after UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed Thursday to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan.

Despite Infantino's climbdown, UEFA said it would work with other confederations to "devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.”

30 African countries included in permanent visa bond scheme

WASHINGTON, United States 

Nationals from 50 countries, including 30 in Africa, will face security deposits of up to 20,000 U.S. dollars when applying for certain business and tourist visas under a permanent visa bond program announced by the United States. 

Officials say the measure aims to curb visa overstays, but critics warn it could deter legitimate travelers.

The U.S. Department of State has made permanent a visa bond program requiring certain applicants from 50 countries to post security deposits of up to 20,000 U.S. dollars before receiving a visa.

The rule took effect on August 3, 2026, and applies to applicants seeking B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas. Consular officers may require a bond as a condition for issuing a visa, with the deposit forfeited if the traveler violates the terms of their stay after entering the United States.

The permanent policy expands a pilot program introduced in August 2025.

During the trial, applicants could be asked to pay bonds of 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 dollars. Under the finalized rule, the lowest tier has been scrapped, while the 10,000- and 15,000-dollar levels remain. A new maximum bond of 20,000 dollars has been introduced.

Thirty of the 50 countries covered by the program are in Africa, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The measure means eligible applicants from those countries may be required to provide a refundable financial guarantee before obtaining visas for business or tourism, depending on an assessment by U.S. consular officers.

The State Department said the program is designed to reduce visa overstays, citing results from the pilot phase that it said demonstrated the bond requirement encouraged compliance with U.S. immigration rules.

However, immigration observers and tourism advocates argue the higher deposits could place travel beyond the reach of many prospective visitors, particularly from lower-income countries. They also warn the policy could reduce international tourism and affect businesses in U.S. destinations that rely heavily on foreign travelers.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 3/8/2026