🔅 From Epic Jogs to Tragic Capsizes

Kush Crackdowns, Genocide Remembrance, and a Madlad's Marathon Across the Continent

Photo of the Day

Asmara’s Opera Theatre, Eritrea — Photo by Sailko

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Spotlight Stories

British Madlad Completes Epic Jog Across Africa, Earns Nickname "Hardest Geezer"

Photo by Karmishth Tandel

Russ Cook, a 26-year-old British man with a penchant for understatement, has just completed a feat that would make even Forrest Gump say, "Whoa, slow down, buddy." Known by his totally modest nickname, the "Hardest Geezer," Cook set out nearly a year ago to become the first person to run the entire length of Africa. And this weekend, he completed just that.

Starting from the southernmost point of the continent, Cook put one foot in front of the other for 9,941 miles, reaching the northernmost point in Tunisia. Along the way, he ran the equivalent of 376 marathons, which is approximately 376 more marathons than most of us will ever run in our entire lives.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing (or running, in this case). Cook managed to go missing in the jungle of the Democratic Republic of the Congo once, because apparently, even the "Hardest Geezer" can take a wrong turn now and then. Thankfully, he found his way back to the trail, much to the relief of his fans who had been following his journey on social media.

So, the next time you're feeling lazy for skipping your morning jog, just remember Russ Cook, the "Hardest Geezer," and his incredible 352-day run across Africa. And then maybe consider taking up a less intimidating hobby, like extreme knitting or competitive napping.

The money he has raised during the challenge, known as Project Africa, will be donated to The Running Charity, which supports the mental health of young people with complex needs or who are homeless, and Sandblast which educates people about Sahrawi culture.

Mozambique Ferry Capsizes, Tragedy Strikes Amid Cholera Outbreak

Mozambique Island — Wikimedia Commons

At least 94 people, including children, lost their lives when an overloaded fishing boat masquerading as a ferry capsized off the northern coast of Mozambique.

26 people are still missing, leaving families and loved ones in a state of anguish and uncertainty.

Lourenco Machado, an administrator from the country's Maritime Transport Institute, broke the news on state television, revealing that the vessel was not only overloaded but also unlicensed to transport people.

The ill-fated boat was carrying passengers from Lunga in Nampula province to Mozambique Island when it encountered what initial reports suggest was a tidal wave.

However, state broadcaster TVM and Jaime Neto, secretary of state for Nampula province, have pointed out that the passengers were actually fleeing a cholera outbreak.

Rwanda Marks 30 Years Since Genocide, President Vows "Never Again"

Panorama of Genocide Victims, By Adam Jones, Ph.D. - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame led commemorations on Sunday to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide that claimed the lives of more than 1 million people. In a solemn ceremony at a genocide memorial in Kigali, Kagame and his wife, along with 37 visiting leaders, laid wreaths to honour the victims, whose remains are interred at the site.

The 1994 genocide, which lasted 100 days, saw Hutu extremists systematically massacre Tutsis and moderate Hutus in a brutal campaign of violence.

In his speech at a separate ceremony, Kagame emphasized that the conditions that led to the genocide would never be allowed to exist again in Rwanda's politics. He stated, "Genocide is populism in its pure form, because the causes are political the remedies must be as well." It's a powerful reminder that the road to healing and reconciliation is paved with political and social reform.

Kagame, who has been president since 2000 and effectively in control since his rebel force marched into Kigali to end the genocide, highlighted the progress Rwanda has made in the past 30 years. However, his leadership has also faced criticism from human rights groups for the alleged suppression of opposition and for the support of M23 rebels in neighbouring DRC.

Sierra Leone Says "No More Kush" as President Declares National Emergency

Photo by Jakob Owens

Sierra Leone's President, Julius Maada Bio, has had enough of the country's latest party crasher: a deadly synthetic drug called kush. In a late-night address, Bio declared a national emergency on substance abuse, vowing to crack down on the drug that's been wreaking havoc on the nation's youth.

Kush is a potent cocktail of marijuana, fentanyl, and tramadol:

It has been causing a buzz in all the wrong ways since it hit the streets of Sierra Leone about four years ago. The government says hundreds have died and scores more have been left with psychiatric damage after indulging in the cheap and highly addictive drug.

Bio, clearly not amused by the drug's destructive consequences, announced a five-step strategy for a drug-free future, which will be overseen by a national task force involving all sectors of society.

The problem is, kush is super accessible in Sierra Leone, where around a quarter of the population lives in poverty. The drug's low price has made it a hit among disillusioned, unemployed youth who are looking for an escape from reality. And it's not just Sierra Leone's problem – neighboring Liberia is also dealing with the kush crush.

Local communities, fed up with the drug's impact, have been calling on the government to step in and help them deal with users for some time now.

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Food for Thought

“You must attend to your business with the vendor in the market, and not to the noise of the market."

— Beninese Proverb