Breaking News In Africa Today – 16 July 2024

Somali Car bomb: A car bomb has exploded outside a cafe in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, killing at least nine and injuring 20 others according to reports. The al-Qaeda-linked armed group, al-shabab, has claimed responsibility for the senseless attack on civilians.

Kenya – Suspected Serial Killer Confesses: The Kenyan Police have reported that a 33-year old suspect had been apprehended in connection with the nine bodies discovered at an abandoned quarry in Kware. According to the Acting Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, the suspect had been arrested at about 3am local time (00:00 GMT) in a joint operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Police Service. The suspect has apparently confessed to the murder of 42 women. A second suspect, who was in possession of a mobile phone from one of the deceased was also arrested and detained.

Gambia’s parliament confirms ban on female genital mutilation will remain. Gambian lawmakers have voted to uphold a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). This follows the introduction of a new controversial bill that sought to overturn the ban. According to reports, only five out of the 53 Senior Judges voted for the new bill, hailing this a victory for women’s rights after much international and local right organisations applied pressure due to concerns that Gambia would become the first country to reverse the ban on the practice.