Mauritania
At least 69 people have drowned and seventeen are missing after a small boat they were traveling in capsized off the coast of Mauritania. According to survivors, the boat was carrying about 160 people, mostly from Gambia and Senegal. The dugout canoe was traveling to Spain’s Canary Islands, which has become a major route for West Africans trying to claim asylum in Europe. Spanish aid group Caminando Fronteras estimates 9,000 people died on the route just last year.
More from BBC here.
South Sudan
Proximities has covered the war in Sudan several times over the last few weeks. But the situation in neighboring South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, is now looking precarious. Government forces and rebel groups have been fighting for two days, according to a spokesperson for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition rebel group, who said one rebel fighter and two government soldiers were killed. The violence could threaten a fragile 2018 peace deal that was signed after years of fighting between forces loyal to the government of President Salva Kiir and fighters allied with his former deputy Riek Machar.
More from Africa News here.
Egypt
Egyptian police have been rounding up famous teenage TikTokers with millions of followers. The police announced dozens of arrests and said they are investigating at least 10 cases of unlawful financial gains. Others are accused of violating family values. It’s not the first time TikTokers have been targeted in the country where social media has often proved a powerful counterweight to the media, most of which is tightly state controlled. Mariam Ayman, a 19-year-old with 9.4 million followers, has been in prison since August on indecency charges. Critics say the arrests are an attempt to crack down on free speech.
More from Reuters here.
Succint and insightful.
Hi could you please include more news from the Pacific Rim? I appreciate the information on Africa but would like to see more on Asia and the Pacific nations.