Headline

Oilwatch Africa, 53 Other CSOs Condemn Murder Of Maseko, Swaziland-base Human Rights Lawyer

Published

2 years ago

January 24, 2023

Editor

The civil society community in Africa and around the globe has condemned in strong term the “gruesome assassination” of a Swaziland-base human
rights lawyer, Thulani Maseko.

The CSOs, while describing Maseeko as a “highly decorated human rights lawyer,” demanded that the state assumes its responsibility of arresting the perpetrators and make sure citizens are protected.”

A statement e-signed by Oilwatch Africa and 53 other CSOs, and made available to INFO DAILY, said the “brutal murder of
Maseko raises serious concerns about the heightened threat to human and environmental rights defenders and the overall rule of law in Swaziland.”

The statement added that “the assassination of Maseko marks an ugly turn in the attempts to
cripple dissent and eliminate the defenders of the masses on our
continent.”

The statement reads in part, “Oilwatch Africa and other civil society organisations in Africa and beyond condemn the murder of this renowned activist in his own home and demand that the state assumes its responsibility of arresting the perpetrators
and protecting citizens.

“Thulani Maseko was well-known as a campaigner committed to the respect of human rights and the use of dialogue as the key tool for the resolution of political disputes and conflicts.

It added: “Human right defenders have been the target of executions,
torture, beatings, arbitrary arrest and detention, death threats, and
harassment as well as restrictions on their freedom of movement in
Swaziland and elsewhere in Africa.”

The CSOs, while stating that, as a family, African human and environmental rights campaigners, they shared in the grief of Maseko’s, recalled how the human rights lawyer was arrested for alleged contempt of court charges.

“During one of Maseko’s life challenges, he was arrested allegedly for
contempt of court charges for having questioned the way the then Chief Justice was conducting the affairs of the Judiciary.

“He was sentenced to
two years without an option of a fine. Sadly, he had to endure that
imprisonment and completed the sentence before the Supreme Court
accepted that his arrest and sentence were unlawful in the first place and an infringement on his right to freedom of expression,” the statement recalled.

They, therefore, called on United Nations, African Union, and governments and individuals to prevail on Swaziland to respect human rights.

“African governments must ensure they create an environment where human
rights of all citizens are respected, and activists are not targeted for
standing up to injustice. No more bloodshed!,” It added.

Headline

We’ve ‘Refrained’ From Further Strikes On Iran After Trump Call, Says Israel

Published

7 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Israel “refrained” from further strikes on Iran on Tuesday after a call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s office announced.

Trump had angrily accused both Iran and Israel of violating the ceasefire he had announced late on Monday but hours later he posted that it was now in effect.

“Following President Trump’s conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel refrained from further strikes,” a statement said.

Headline

Nine Countries With Nuclear Weapons In The World

Published

10 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Since the first atomic bomb was developed in 1945, only a small number of countries have acquired nuclear weapons.

Concerns about the spread of these weapons led to the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968, which aimed to prevent further proliferation. At the time, only a few states had nuclear capabilities.

However, since then, the number has grown to nine, with North Korea being the only country to withdraw from the NPT and subsequently develop nuclear weapons.

Combined, the United States and Russia possess roughly 87 per cent of the world’s total nuclear inventory and about 83 per cent of the warheads stockpiled for military use. Of the estimated 12,241 nuclear warheads worldwide, around 9,614 are part of active military stockpiles, ready for deployment via missiles, aircraft, ships, or submarines.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), these are the nine nuclear-armed states and their estimated warhead counts:

Russia – 5,459 nuclear weapons

United States – 5,177 nuclear weapons

China – 600 nuclear weapons

France – 290 nuclear weapons

United Kingdom – 225 nuclear weapons

India – 180 nuclear weapons

Pakistan – 170 nuclear weapons

Israel – 90 nuclear weapons

North Korea – 50 nuclear weapons

Headline

FULL LIST: Nigeria Emerges As Africa’s Third Most Formidable Military Force

Published

1 day ago

June 23, 2025

Editor

Nigeria has secured the third position among African nations with the most formidable military forces in the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index, according to Global Firepower’s annual report cited by The PUNCH on Monday.

The index evaluates 145 countries based on over 60 metrics, including troop numbers, equipment capabilities, financial resources, logistical efficiency, and geographical advantages to assess military strength.

In the 2025 rankings, Egypt maintains its lead as Africa’s top military power, followed by Algeria in second place and South Africa in fourth. Nigeria’s rise to third underscores its growing military capabilities, driven by investments in personnel, equipment, and counter-terrorism efforts.

Here is a list of African countries ranked in the 2025 Global Firepower Index.

1. Egypt (19)

2. Algeria (26)

3. Nigeria (31)

4. South Africa (40)

5. Ethiopia (52)

6. Angola (56)

7. Morocco (59)

8. Democratic Republic of the Congo (66)

9. Sudan (73)

10. Libya (76)

11. Kenya (83)