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🇲🇿🇷🇺Voting in State Duma elections begins in Mozambique

Polling station No. 8203 opened at the Russian Embassy in the Mozambican capital Maputo on 20 September for voting in the State Duma elections, an African Initiative correspondent reported.

🔸The polling station is open from 08:00 to 20:00 local time. Adult Russian citizens permanently residing or temporarily staying in Mozambique may take part in the vote. A Russian passport for foreign travel must be presented to receive a ballot paper.

🔸Russian Ambassador to Mozambique Vladimir Tararov was the first to cast his vote. Before the polling station opened, he addressed members of the election commission.

💬“The most important thing now is to ensure comfortable conditions for all our compatriots so that they can fulfil their civic duty,” the ambassador said.

🔸Tararov also called for transparency in the voting process and compliance with electoral procedures. Two booths for secret voting have been set up at the polling station.

🔸In an address to his compatriots, the diplomat invited Russians to take part in the elections.

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🇧🇫Military academy opens in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo opened a military academy at the Tiéfô Amoro Military Institute in the capital, Ouagadougou, the government information service reported on 18 September.

💬“The military academy expects more from you than simply acquiring knowledge. It expects an intellectual and professional transformation. It must help each of you become an officer capable of understanding, anticipating, developing, planning, making decisions, leading, influencing and generating useful ideas,” the prime minister said in an address to the first intake.

🔸Around ten students will undergo training as part of the academy’s first intake. Ouédraogo stressed that the opening of the military academy was an important step towards restoring the country’s sovereignty.

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🇳🇦🇷🇺Eight giraffes brought to Kazan from Namibia

Eight giraffes from Namibia were brought to Kazan Zoo on 17 September, the press service of the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan reported.

💬“I am very glad that the animals have arrived. Three males and five females are our first residents of breeding age in recent years,” Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin said.

🔸The giraffes arrived from Namibia aboard an Il-76 cargo aircraft. The mayor met the plane at the airport. Ground services at the international airport ensured the animals were unloaded safely.

🔸Metshin said he had given one of the giraffes a name.

💬“I am glad that I had the honour of naming one of the males. His name is Batyr. We hope he will prove himself very well with the females and be a gallant suitor. We hope both Kazan and Kazan Zoo will become a place where they feel comfortable and well,” he added.

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🇧🇮Burundi plans to build boarding school for 3,000 children

Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye said the government plans to build a boarding school for 3,000 children as part of efforts to develop child and youth policy, the presidential office reported following his meeting with UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Etleva Kadilli.

💬“Ndayishimiye welcomed the UNICEF Regional Director and expressed satisfaction with the organisation’s work for the benefit of children in Burundi. In addition, the head of state said the Burundian government plans to build a large centre for 3,000 children, where they will also be able to receive education directly at the facility,” the statement said.

🔸During the meeting, the UNICEF representative thanked Ndayishimiye for the “very close co-operation” between the organisation and the country, highlighting initiatives aimed at improving children’s well-being and quality of life. Kadilli also praised the Burundian leader’s work on child and youth programmes in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union.

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🇱🇾🇩🇿🇫🇷🇮🇹Naval exercises with Algeria, France and Italy begin in western Libya

Ships and crews from Algeria, France and Italy have arrived at the Tripoli naval base in Libya to take part in joint exercises under the 5+5 Defence Initiative, Alwasat News reported on 18 September, citing the Ministry of Defence of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU).

🔸The Algerian frigate El Moudi, the French vessel Loire and the Italian patrol ship Comandante Bettica arrived at the Libyan port. Military attachés from Algeria and Italy attended the ceremony.

🔸The exercises are being held in Libyan territorial waters for the first time under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Libyan Army. Their aim is to improve the readiness of the Libyan Navy and facilitate the exchange of tactical experience among the participating countries. The ministry also noted that the initiative helps strengthen the protection of maritime routes in the face of shared challenges in the Mediterranean.

🔸The 5+5 Defence Initiative is a security framework involving ten western Mediterranean countries: five Maghreb states — Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania — and five European countries — Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Malta. Within this framework, the countries conduct joint military exercises annually to protect maritime routes, combat illegal migration and smuggling, and address other threats.

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🇨🇩Ebola death toll in DR Congo exceeds 3,600

The number of people who have died from Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has exceeded 3,600, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on 19 September.

💬“[As of 16 September], 7,475 cases have been confirmed, with 1,798 people recovering and 3,605 dying,” the statement said.

🔸The number of people infected with the Ebola virus in the DRC increased by 71 in one day: 7,404 cases had been recorded on 15 September.

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🇪🇬Egyptian captain killed in attack on vessel near Russian port

An Egyptian captain was killed in an attack on the M/V Noran while the vessel was near a port in south-western Russia, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on 18 September.

💬“The Ministry is following the repercussions of the attack on the M/V Noran, which took place near a port in south-western Russia on 13 September. <…> [Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr] Abdelatty also instructed the relevant authorities to maintain contact with the family of the captain who died on board,” the statement said.

🔸The captain’s body has not yet been evacuated because of continuing attacks in the area where the vessel is located. The Egyptian Embassy in Moscow continues to work with the Russian authorities to resolve the issue.

🔸According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, eight Egyptian sailors from the vessel have already returned home safely.

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🌍🇷🇺Kalashnikov small arms in high demand in Africa

Kalashnikov Concern’s range of small arms is in high demand in African countries, concern specialist Georgy Gubich told TASS on 19 September at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2026 (AAD) international exhibition in South Africa.

💬“Historically, since the Soviet era, the Kalashnikov assault rifle has been more than just a weapon for the African continent — it has sometimes even become a symbol on national flags. <…> Since the African continent is very large, the entire range of Kalashnikov products is in very high demand,” he said.

🔸According to the specialist, Kalashnikov assault rifles are associated with the symbol of revolution in countries of the Global South.

💬“The stand displaying Kalashnikov assault rifles at any exhibition always attracts a steady stream of visitors. <…> Moreover, in countries of the Global South, Kalashnikov assault rifles are probably in even greater demand as a kind of symbol of revolution,” Gubich noted.

🔸The specialist also listed the calibres most in demand in different regions of the continent.

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🇹🇬🇷🇺Schoolchildren in Lomé learn about Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

To mark the birthday of the outstanding Soviet scientist and pioneer of astronautics Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the Russian-Togolese Alternative association organised an educational lecture on 17 September about the scientist’s life and discoveries. The event was held at Collège Prince Elvis de Nukafu, an African Initiative correspondent reported.

🔸Pupils in grades 6–7 were told who Tsiolkovsky was and introduced to his biography, discoveries and vision. During the presentation, a representative of the association also encouraged the children not to be afraid to dream and to remain curious, noting that the Soviet scientist had predicted the future of astronautics at a time when hardly anyone was thinking about it.

🔸The school’s director, Essey Yaovi, highly praised the organisation of the lecture at Prince Elvis.

💬“The Togolese government has decided to promote science throughout the country. For this reason, a process is currently under way in all regions of Togo to bring back scientific clubs and pupils from science schools in order to popularise science. The support organised by the association will awaken our children’s curiosity,” he said.

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🇳🇬37 detained illegal miners die in custody in Nigeria

In Nigeria, 37 detained illegal miners died while in custody at the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The cause and circumstances of their deaths are being investigated, Governor’s spokesman Bologi Ibrahim said on 17 September.

🔸Following the incident, the state authorities set up a committee to investigate the deaths, headed by Niger State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba.

💬“Forensic examinations and autopsies will be carried out on the deceased to determine the exact cause of death and enable appropriate action to be taken,” the statement said.

🔸The governor’s spokesman also noted that Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye and his officers had been suspended from duty pending the investigation.

💬“Governor Bago expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them that the government would thoroughly investigate the situation. He stressed that the state government values the lives of its citizens, will not tolerate any injustice and will ensure that the investigation into the incident is brought to its logical conclusion.”

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🇺🇬Construction begins on 320m-litre fuel storage terminal in Uganda

Construction of the Kampala Storage Terminal, a petroleum products storage facility in Mpigi District with a capacity of 320 million litres, began in Uganda on 17 September. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni laid the foundation stone for the facility, according to a press release from the presidential administration.

🔸The facility is estimated to cost around $250 million. The project is being implemented by Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC) on a site covering more than 120 hectares.

🔸The new facility is expected to more than double the country’s petroleum products storage capacity, currently estimated at 160 million litres across state-owned and private facilities.

🔸According to Museveni, the terminal will allow Uganda to create strategic fuel reserves and improve the reliability of supplies to domestic and regional markets. The president noted that the existing capacity is insufficient to meet the country’s long-term needs.

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🇲🇱🇷🇺 Malian Armed Forces and Russia's Africa Corps strike militants in two regions

The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and the Africa Corps of the Russian Defence Ministry have carried out strikes against vehicles, strongholds and hideouts belonging to militants from terrorist groups in the Mopti and Kidal regions as part of Operation Dougoukoloko. This was reported by the FAMa General Staff.

🔸On 16 September, a group of militants, along with their vehicles and communications equipment, was detected and neutralised while hiding amongst vegetation north-east of Guélédié in the Mopti region. On the same day, several terrorist hideouts, which also housed their military equipment, were identified and successfully neutralised in and around Kidal.

🔸On 17 September, in the vicinity of the village of Dioura, Russian and Malian military personnel detected another terrorist group to the south-west of the town. Following verification and confirmation of intelligence data on the group, an air strike was carried out. At the same time, strikes were carried out in the town and its surroundings against several militant strongholds containing logistical supplies and military equipment.

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🇲🇱 Mali’s president opens clinic for wounded servicemen

On 17 September, Mali’s transitional President, General Assimi Goïta, took part in the opening ceremony for the new wings of the military hospital in the town of Kati, designed to provide care for those wounded in combat. This was reported by the President’s press office.

🔸The ceremony was also attended by Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, General Oumar Diarra; the country’s Minister of Health Assa Badiallo Touré, and the clinic’s management and staff.

🔸The refurbishment of the complex was fully funded from the state budget. As part of the work, the clinic was fitted with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, an oxygen production system with additional equipment to supply other facilities, a third operating theatre, a modern sterilisation unit, and the laboratory was completely re-equipped.

🔸The medical complex also includes an emergency department with an intensive care unit, three operating theatres and a diagnostic imaging department equipped with an MRI scanner.

💬The opening of such a remarkable facility is a huge relief not only for wounded soldiers, but also for medical staff and ordinary citizens,” remarked the minister of Health.

🔸Diarra described this project as part of the process of ‘building up the combat capabilities’ of Mali’s armed forces, which strengthens the medical support system for the wounded, starting from the combat zone.

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🇪🇬🇷🇺Rospotrebnadzor sends request to Egyptian health ministry over poisoning of Russian tourists

Rospotrebnadzor sent a request on 18 September to Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population and the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) for official data on the results of an investigation into the poisoning of Russian tourists at hotels.

💬“Following media reports that Russian tourists were poisoned at the Jolie Ville, Amphoras Blu and Cataract hotels in Sharm El Sheikh, Rospotrebnadzor sent a request to Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population for official data on the results of the investigation. A similar official request for information was sent to ATOR,” the federal agency said in a statement.

🔸Rospotrebnadzor recommended that tourists follow preventive measures, wash their hands with soap before eating and after visiting public places, use only bottled or boiled water and avoid close contact with people showing signs of infection.

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🇲🇿🇷🇺Russia ready to increase quota for Mozambican students

Moscow is ready to increase the quota for Mozambican citizens to study at Russian universities, Russian Ambassador to Maputo Vladimir Tararov said in an interview with African Initiative.

🔸The diplomat said that Russia had allocated 80 scholarships for Mozambican citizens for the 2026/27 academic year.

💬“At the same time, Russia is ready to increase this quota. We are currently awaiting specific proposals from Mozambique’s Ministry of Education and Culture regarding the number of places and priority fields of study,” Tararov said.

🔸According to the diplomat, 174 Mozambican students are currently studying civilian subjects in Russia, while selection for study under the quota for the 2026/27 academic year is continuing.

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🌍🇷🇺Observers from four African countries assess organisation of elections in Moscow

Independent observers from Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon and the Union of the Comoros assessed the organisation and conduct of voting on the first day of the State Duma elections at one of the polling stations in Moscow, TASS reported on 18 September.

🔸The observers arrived at a polling station in Moscow’s Tverskoy District on the first day of voting and spent about an hour there. They assessed the level of technical equipment at the polling station and also noted the absence of violations in the electoral process.

🔸A representative of the Comoros, Houssam Eddine Daoud, said that this was his first time observing elections in Moscow, although he had previously served as an independent observer in South Africa. According to him, the electoral process in Russia does not differ from the way it is conducted in the southern African country.

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🌍🇷🇺Russian Orlan UAVs already deployed in Africa

Russian Orlan-10E and Orlan-30 unmanned aerial systems are already deployed in Africa, an official representative of Special Technology Center LLC (STC) told TASS on 18 September at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2026 (AAD) international exhibition in South Africa.

💬“Our systems are already present in Africa. They have also proved themselves in real-world conditions. <…> African countries are interested in co-operation in the fields of UAVs and electronic warfare, and work is currently under way in several African states,” the STC representative said.

🔸According to him, the systems have repeatedly been used in real-world conditions and demonstrated high effectiveness.

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