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Angola in Turmoil as Four Killed, 500 Arrested in Violent Protests

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Angola in Turmoil as Four Killed, 500 Arrested in Violent Protests

 

Violence erupted in Angola’s capital city, Luanda, on Monday as thousands of protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against rising petrol prices.

 

The protests, which began as a three-day strike by taxi drivers, have escalated into one of the most widespread and disruptive waves of protest the country has seen in recent years.

 

According to eyewitnesses, roads were blocked, shops were looted, cars were destroyed, and clashes broke out between demonstrators and police.

 

The situation worsened at night, with reports of gunfire in parts of the capital.

 

As of Tuesday, pockets of protests continued in Luanda, with further clashes with police and more looting of shops.

 

Demonstrations have also spread to the central city of Huambo.

 

The protests were sparked by the government’s decision to raise the price of diesel by over 33%, a measure introduced in early July as part of plans to remove fuel subsidies in the oil-rich nation.

 

This move has resulted in higher fares for urban Angolans who rely on taxis and has also driven up the price of staple foods and other basics.

 

A prominent local activist, Laura Macedo, told the BBC that the fuel price issue is just the last straw that has reignited widespread public discontent.

 

“People are fed up. Hunger is rife, and the poor are becoming miserable,” she said.

 

However, President João Lourenço has dismissed such concerns, saying that protesters are using petrol prices as a pretext to undermine the government.

 

He pointed out that even after the increase, the price of diesel in Angola remains around 40 US cents per litre, and there are not many countries in the world with prices this low.

 

The average monthly wage in Angola is just 70,000 kwanzas ($75; £56), and a promise by the presidency to increase this to 100,000 kwanzas has not materialized.

 

As frustrations spilled over Monday, groups of protesters took to the streets in various parts of Luanda, chanting against fuel price increases, nearly five decades of rule by the governing MPLA party, and expressing their frustration with the country’s current state of affairs.

 

The state-run media in Angola came under heavy criticism on social media for continuing with its regular programming and failing to cover the demonstrations.

 

The MPLA warned young people not to join the protests and said that these “acts of vandalism are deliberately intended to tarnish and hinder the joyful celebration” of Angola’s 50th anniversary of independence.

 

According to local authorities in Luanda, the strike originally announced by taxi organizations had been called off following negotiations with authorities.

 

However, “groups of unidentified individuals, without any legitimate representation of the taxi sector, resumed the call for strike actions, promoting intimidation and violence, including attacks on vehicles circulating on public roads, even those not providing taxi services”.

 

A major taxi association, Anata, has distanced itself from the violence but vowed to continue the three-day strike, saying “the voice of the taxi drivers reflects the outcry of the Angolan people”.

 

As of Tuesday, major shops, banks, and other businesses have remained closed.

 

Some civil servants have returned to work, but many people who work for private companies have stayed at home on the advice of their employers.

 

Police warn they are patrolling the streets and will continue to “intervene where there are still disturbances” to “re-establish public order and peace”.

 

The situation remains tense, and it is unclear how the government will respond to the protests.

 

Four people have been killed, and 500 have been arrested in connection with the protests, according to police.

 

The protests have brought the city to a standstill, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.

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President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians and political actors to embrace peaceful politics and strictly adhere to the Electoral Act as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.

In his 2026 Easter message, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to decisively tackle terrorism and banditry through strengthened local initiatives and international partnerships.
Tinubu acknowledged the nation’s lingering security challenges, while commending the efforts of the Armed Forces. He assured citizens that his government was deploying adequate resources and forging strategic alliances with foreign partners to address the threats.

He also referenced his recent visit to Jos, where he commiserated with victims of violence and reassured residents of improved security across the country. The President stressed the importance of unity and collective responsibility, noting that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of fear and instability. He said, “No nation can thrive where fear prevails, and no progress can be sustained
without peace,” urging Nigerians to support lawful efforts and reject forces threatening the nation’s stability.

On the economy, Tinubu defended ongoing reforms, admitting their short-term impact on citizens but insisting they were necessary for long-term growth and prosperity. He expressed optimism that key economic indicators showed Nigeria was on the right path, describing the current phase as a transition
towards a more stable and prosperous future.

Tinubu further urged political stakeholders to act with maturity and responsibility, adding that democracy thrives in an environment defined by restraint, accountability, and informed participation.
The President, therefore, wished Nigerians a Happy Easter, thanked them for their continued support, and pledged his administration’s commitment to justify the confidence reposed in it.

#politics #Tinubu #reforms #terrorism #electoralact

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CARICOM Scribe Barnett to Speak at Caribbean Energy Week

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CARICOM Scribe Barnett to Speak at Caribbean Energy Week

 

The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, Carla Barnett, is set to participate in the 2026 edition of Caribbean Energy Week scheduled to hold in Paramaribo, Suriname.

 

Barnett is expected to join heads of government, ministers responsible for energy and environment, as well as industry leaders at the high-level forum taking place from March 30 to April 1. She will deliver remarks on the opening day of the event.

 

Organisers of Caribbean Energy Week 2026 said the forum would bring together stakeholders across hydrocarbons, renewable power, mining and carbon credits to showcase investment-ready projects and deepen regional collaboration.

 

They noted that the event would serve as a platform to forge strategic partnerships and accelerate investment flows into the Caribbean’s energy sector.

 

The organisers added that the multinational gathering is also designed to strengthen the region’s ongoing energy transition by harnessing synergies in logistics, technology and partnerships, including engagement with African stakeholders.

 

Caribbean Energy Week is spearheaded by Energy Capital Power in collaboration with other strategic partners.

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Melania Trump Rallies 45 Nations on AI-powered Education 

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Melania Trump Rallies 45 Nations on AI-powered Education 

 

By Boniface Ihiasota

 

In what officials described as a landmark diplomatic and technological engagement, the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, on Wednesday hosted First Spouses from 45 countries at the White House for a high-level global summit on artificial intelligence and education.

 

The event, exclusively covered by Diaspora Watch Newspaper’s Boniface Ihiasota, was held under the “Fostering the Future Together” initiative and is regarded as the largest international assembly ever convened by a US First Lady within the White House.

 

The summit followed a prior day of engagements, including a four-part working session and a technology expo hosted at the US State Department, where delegates examined evolving global frameworks for digital learning and innovation.

 

At the core of Wednesday’s summit were policy presentations from nine countries, including the United States, France, Poland, United Arab Emirates, and Morocco, detailing national strategies for integrating artificial intelligence into education systems and broader socio-economic planning.

 

In her keynote address, Mrs. Trump framed the summit as the beginning of a new international coalition aimed at empowering children through technology-driven education.

 

“We are fostering the future together,” she declared, urging participants to move beyond dialogue into actionable commitments, including regional collaborations, legislative frameworks to protect children, and expanded access to digital tools for underserved populations.

 

She outlined three defining pillars expected to shape the next generation globally: the application of artificial intelligence to personalise learning experiences, the emergence of humanoid educators as in-home academic support systems, and the strategic use of technology and education to drive economic growth, particularly in the United States.

 

A defining moment of the summit was the unveiling of “Figure3,” an American-made humanoid system, introduced as a symbolic and practical demonstration of the next phase of artificial intelligence deployment.

 

The presentation marked the first time a humanoid technology of its kind has been formally showcased to international leaders in a diplomatic setting at the White House.

 

Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Trump emphasised a paradigm shift in the evolution of AI.

 

“The future of AI is ‘personified’ – it will be formed in the shape of humans. Very soon, artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility,” she said.

 

She explained that because human environments are inherently designed for people, humanoid systems would naturally integrate into everyday life, navigating and operating more effectively than traditional digital interfaces.

 

To illustrate this vision, she introduced a conceptual AI-powered humanoid educator named “Plato,” designed to bring centuries of human knowledge directly into homes.

 

According to her, “Plato” would provide instantaneous access to disciplines such as literature, science, philosophy, mathematics, history, and the arts, while offering a fully personalised learning experience tailored to each student’s pace, prior knowledge, and emotional state.

 

“Plato is always patient, always available,” she said, adding that such systems would significantly enhance students’ analytical abilities, critical thinking, and independent reasoning skills.

 

She further noted that the integration of AI in education could free up time for children to engage in social interactions, sports, and creative pursuits, thereby promoting a more holistic development model.

 

Despite her optimism, the First Lady cautioned against unregulated technological expansion, stressing that child safety must remain central to all innovation efforts.

 

“As discussed, we must balance our tech optimism with caution. The safety of our next generation is always paramount,” she said.

 

Mrs. Trump also used the platform to call for deeper collaboration between governments and the private sector, stressing the role of leading global technology companies such as Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Zoom, Adobe, Palantir, and X, which she described as “best-in-class companies” driving innovation globally.

 

She said meaningful progress would depend on a coordinated model in which private enterprise delivers innovation, governments provide scale, and capital markets finance the distribution of emerging technologies.

 

According to her, the “Fostering the Future Together” initiative is built on the premise that efficiencies derived from artificial intelligence will transform key sectors such as commerce, healthcare, and food security, ultimately lifting global economies.

 

Positioning the moment within a broader historical context, Mrs. Trump described the current era as “The Age of Imagination,” comparing it to transformative periods such as the Industrial Revolution, the advent of electricity, the race to the Moon, and the birth of the internet.

 

She warned that artificial intelligence could potentially reset the global order and rebalance power among nations, making it imperative for countries to equip younger generations with the skills required to thrive in an AI-driven world.

 

Focusing on the United States, she stressed the need to produce the most technologically fluent and highly educated generation, noting that such an outcome would secure long-term economic superiority, drive GDP growth, attract global investment, and consolidate control over intellectual property.

 

“Our coalition can make this vision real by supporting concrete initiatives that equip young people with the skills they need,” she said.

 

She therefore called on global leaders to inspire innovation across sectors, including media, fashion, healthcare, and defence, urging them to harness artificial intelligence to build new industries and optimise production systems.

 

“Let’s foster the future together,” she emphasized.

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