Sputnik Africa

🇨🇩 Unknown persons attempted to poison the Minister of Justice in the DR Congo

💬 "The tests conducted revealed the presence of poison [in Constant Mutamba's body]," Actualite portal quoted people close to the offical as saying. "Serious measures are being taken to care for the minister."

The media outlet does not report on Mutamba's physical condition or where he is.

🕵️ According to a statement from the DRC Ministry of Justice, the minister's office was broken into on the night of September 2. Later, experts found traces of white powder in the office itself and in the corridor leading to it. They were also found in the refrigerator used by the minister.

According to Actualite, the poisoning occurred after Mutamba had already begun reforming the DRC's judicial system. It threatens the dismissal of judges suspected of corruption.

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🇩🇪 German official suggests Rwanda asylum plan on illegal migration using UK-funded facilities

🇷🇼 Joachim Stamp, Germany’s federal migration commissioner, proposed that accommodation, originally intended for people deported from the UK under a now-scrapped plan, could be repurposed for Germany’s asylum processes.

However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reportedly expressed skepticism about processing asylum claims abroad, making it unlikely that the idea will move forward.

🇬🇧 The UK government had canceled its controversial Rwanda scheme, which aimed to deter illegal Channel crossings by sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. Meanwhile, the German government faces similar migration pressures, with debates intensifying following the rise of the anti-immigration AfD party.

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🇿🇦 Unveiling the unknown: Genetic and environmental factors behind cleft lip and palate

Only about 5% of cleft lip and palate cases can be traced back to genetics, leaving a staggering 95% in the realm of the unknown, Professor Anil Madaree, Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal told Sputnik Africa.

This uncertainty points to a complex interaction between genetic makeup and environmental factors that researchers have yet to fully unravel.

💬 "There is a connection between the gene-environment association," said professor Madaree. "Certain environmental conditions will cause it, like malnutrition or maybe during the pregnancy, the mother's not getting enough vitamins, etc., but we're not exactly sure."

This condition primarily impacts individuals from Southeast Asia and is relatively uncommon in Africa. Nevertheless, the challenges in Africa are significant due to the lack of awareness and medical infrastructure in many regions.

👨‍⚕️ Addressing these issues, organizations like Operation Smile, with which Madaree is deeply involved, work tirelessly to provide care and build local capacity. He emphasized that it's not only about performing surgeries, "but more importantly is to try and educate the local people, all the healthcare workers […] [to make] a long-lasting impact."

Sputnik Africa also talked to Tshepo Manetja, one of Madaree’s patients. He finally underwent the much-anticipated surgery in 2019, which proved to be successful.

💬 "I was nervous but so excited to finally be receiving surgery for a condition I’d had to live with all my life," Tshepo recalled.

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🇧🇫 Burkina Faso rolls out new biometric passports, now without the ECOWAS logo

This move underscores the nation's intent to exit the regional alliance.

Earlier this year, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali announced their plans to leave the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Despite efforts from the bloc to change their minds, the determination remains strong.

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🇪🇬🗡 Egyptian archeologists have made a stunning discovery: the sword of Pharaoh Ramesses II

This remarkable find was unearthed during excavations in the Beheira Governorate in northern Egypt.

According to Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, the discovery highlights the historical and archaeological significance of the El-Abqain fort, which was believed to be one of the key military outposts in ancient times.

Ramesses II is famed as one of the greatest rulers in Ancient Egyptian history. He is believed to have reigned for over 60 years during the 13th century BCE, an era marked by Egypt's substantial military victories and expansive territorial conquests.

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