00:06In Ethiopia, Tigray's peace forces are seeking to move on from the TPLF.
00:12Since joining federal forces, they have claimed several strategic positions.
00:18In Guinea, opposition leader Aliouba was granted a presidential pardon on Friday
00:23after spending nearly two years behind bars.
00:29E-Ri-Cha is one of East Africa's largest indigenous cultural gatherings.
00:34Every year, it brings together participants from across Oromia
00:37as well as from other parts of Ethiopia.
00:41Hello and welcome to Africa News Today.
00:44The capture of Mekele marks a major setback for the TPLF.
00:49The group launched an offensive on September 23rd against federal forces
00:53before withdrawing from the Tigray capital under pressure from the peace forces,
00:58a breakaway militia that is now allied with Addis Ababa.
01:05Residents cheered as Ethiopia's federal forces and allied fighters from the Tigray peace force
01:12entered Mekele, the capital of the northern Tigray region.
01:19Leaders and forces of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front had withdrawn ahead of the advance.
01:27By Sunday, army troops were patrolling the city as businesses remained closed over fears of unrest and looting.
01:37Personally, I don't feel much joy.
01:40The streets themselves are quiet, unlike before.
01:44Shops are closed.
01:46It's deeply saddening to see it like this.
01:49The youth of Tigray have been left behind compared to the rest of Ethiopia.
01:55They've been set back.
01:57We weren't building and developing.
01:59We were at war.
02:03The TPLF has long been the dominant force in Tigray,
02:08ousting a government-appointed administration earlier this year.
02:17Our main objective is to eliminate the influence that the ruling group in Tigray held over the people.
02:27Until now, the people of Tigray have been living in darkness.
02:34They're fighting to break free from it.
02:41Through persistent struggle, we achieved our goal, and the people can finally feel relief.
02:51The TPLF and government forces began fighting again on September 23rd,
02:56sparking fears of a return to civil war.
03:03In Guinea, opposition leader Ali Ubao is now a free man.
03:07He had been held in prison since December 2024.
03:10His release have initially been expected in December this year.
03:14Guinean opposition politician Ali Ubao jailed for insulting Junta leader General Mahmadi Dumbuya
03:20has been granted a presidential pardon after nearly two years behind bars.
03:25The pardon frees one of Guinea's key opposition figures as rights groups and political opponents
03:30accuse the military authority of tightening their grip on dissent since taking power in 2021.
03:36Dumbuya granted pardon to 217 prisoners to mark Guinea's Independence Day.
03:41Ba, who heads the liberal democratic movement or model, had been detained since December 2024.
03:49Ba was serving a two-year sentence for fending and insulting the head of state.
03:54Ba was convicted of a remark calling on Guinean religious leaders to break their silence about the political situation.
04:00He also described the ruling National Committee of Rally for Development, or CNRD, as incompetent.
04:11In Goma, children are paying a heavy price as conflict, poverty, and the risk of Ebola continue to affect their
04:18lives.
04:19In response, a local initiative is focusing on education, psychosocial support, and health prevention.
04:26Drums, singing, and smiles marked a day of solidarity in Goma.
04:32The NGO Samaritan Assistance from Vulnerable People provide schools, supplies, and Ebola protection keys
04:39to children affected by conflict and poverty.
04:42The aim is to meet essential needs in a region still facing the consequences of conflict and the epidemic.
04:50These orphaned children are human beings, but they are often forgotten in awareness campaigns.
04:55We have now prioritized these children so that they can have the same understanding of the Ebola virus.
05:02In the beneficiary schools, this initiative goes beyond material assistance.
05:07Through its mental health and psychological support programs in schools,
05:11the organization aims to help children facing trauma linked to conflict, displacement, and difficult living conditions.
05:20Our region has been in this situation for more than 30 years.
05:25We really need to focus on investing in these children so that this situation can be contained
05:30and does not spread to future generations.
05:34In doing so, we will be limiting what is known as intergenerational trauma.
05:41In the classrooms, teachers are on the front line witnessing the consequences of this situation.
05:48In some pupils, trauma is expressed through aggressive behavior or difficulty concentrating.
05:58They have nothing, and every hour we spend with them here, we can feel the poverty they are living in.
06:05Psychologically, they are traumatized because they live away from their parents.
06:09That is already a serious problem affecting their mental health.
06:16Nearly two years after the fighting that marked the capture of Goma,
06:19the consequences of the conflict remain visible in the daily lives of many children.
06:24For education teams, the challenge is to provide them with a stable environment in which to learn,
06:30while also helping them rebuild their lives.
06:37In the heart of Addis Ababa, the Oromo are celebrating Iricha,
06:42one of Ethiopia's most important traditional festivals.
06:46Despite renewed tensions in the north, the capital's cultural life carries on.
06:51Tens of thousands of Oromo gathered in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa,
06:56on Saturday to celebrate the Thanksgiving festival of Iricha.
07:00The gathering took place amid reports that federal forces had entered Michele,
07:06the capital of the northern region of Tigray.
07:09Participants used the occasion to call for peace.
07:13Even though peace has been disturbed in the past years, the Oromo are now celebrating Iricha beautifully,
07:20but there are wars in various places.
07:22I say that needs to be stabilised as much as possible, and this government has a role in that.
07:28Children shouldn't miss their education, mothers shouldn't be harmed, children shouldn't be harmed.
07:35Fears of renewed conflict between the government and Tigrayan rebels have been mounting for weeks.
07:41Fighting erupted ten days ago as the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front launched attacks on neighbouring states.
07:48For those in the north, create an agreement so the war stops.
07:53To the government and to those who are fighting, peace comes first.
07:57The people are the ones that are dying.
08:00This won't take you anywhere.
08:01The people are dying and are being harmed.
08:06I want everyone to agree, whether in Ethiopia or Oromia.
08:10I want us to live freely everywhere, regardless of the borders, from Wollega to Tigray to the Amhara region,
08:18so that we can go about our business as usual.
08:24Tigrayan forces have reportedly left Michele.
08:27But on Thursday, their leader implied they would continue guerrilla-style attacks,
08:33as they did when the city fell to government forces in 2020.
08:39As every week, African News brings you our agenda, with the key dates to remember.
08:45From October 7th to 9th, the Confederation of African Football, CAF,
08:50will bring together leading decision-makers, coaches and experts in African football in Cape Verde.
08:56The historic strategic conference aims to define the next steps in the development of African football towards 2030.
09:06On October 8th, in London, Tanzania will continue its European investment tour.
09:11The focus will be on agriculture and agribusiness, critical minerals, as well as digital innovation and fintech.
09:21From October 8th to 10th, we head to Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
09:27for the second edition of the World Festival of Music and Tourism.
09:30The event will showcase, among other things, Congolese Roomba,
09:34which is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
09:43That brings us to the end of African News Today.
09:47Stay with us for more news on our channels and across our platforms, in French and in English.
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