Kenyan Police Arrest Constable in Blogger's Death Amidst Protests; Fishmeal Industry Devastation in Gambia; Nigeria's Pet Food Crisis

Kenya: Protests and Police Accountability

• ✊ Protests erupted in Nairobi demanding accountability after a political blogger, Albert Ojwang, died in police custody.
• 🚨 A police constable has been arrested in connection with Ojwang's death, which pathologists concluded was due to violent assault, contradicting initial police claims of self-harm.
• 📈 President William Ruto ordered a full investigation, while Police Chief Elliot Lagat faces calls to resign and has been summoned by the Senate.
• ⚠️ Rights groups report a high number of police-related killings and disappearances in Kenya, often occurring during protests.

Gambia: Environmental Impact of Fishmeal Industry

• 🐟 Gambians are increasingly concerned about the devastating impact of a growing fishmeal processing industry on their shores.
• ☠️ Paradise Beach has become a "dead zone" with dead fish and dying plant life, linked to pollution from Chinese fishmeal factories.
• 📉 The industry processes vast amounts of fish daily, putting immense pressure on marine species, particularly affordable staples like Bonga and Sardinella.
• 🏭 Factories discharge untreated wastewater directly into the ocean, causing skin rashes and environmental degradation.
• 💰 Profits from these foreign-owned operations are not staying in Gambia, and the fish are used for animal feed abroad, not local consumption.

Nigeria: Cost of Living Crisis Affects Pet Owners

• 📈 Nigeria's cost of living crisis has led to soaring prices for essential goods, impacting even affluent dog owners.
• 🐶 Pet ownership, a relatively recent trend for companionship and protection, is becoming a luxury due to increased costs.
• 🛒 Dog owners are struggling to afford imported pet food, with prices doubling, leading some breeders to scale back operations.
• 🛍️ Local producers are stepping in as imported pet food becomes out of reach, with a projected decline in imports.

International News Briefs

• 🇨🇳 China plans to sign a deal removing tariffs on goods from 53 African countries, extending duty-free market access.
• 🇲🇱 Mali's adopted bill grants leader Assimi Goïta a 5-year renewable term, amidst postponed election dates.
• 🇧🇮 Benin's Electoral Commission declared the ruling party won all parliamentary seats, but opposition parties allege the vote was rigged.
• 🇿🇦 The death toll from flooding in South Africa's Eastern Cape province has risen to 78.
• 🇹🇩 Chad retaliated against a US travel ban by barring US citizens, though diplomatic efforts are underway to find middle ground.
• 🇫🇷 The body of Hisham Marowi, a Tunisian man killed in a racist attack in France, was returned to his hometown, sparking calls for the harshest sentence for his murderer.