Mines Minister Rufin Beltoungou said the government would formally ​suspend activity at the site in Zamboye ⁠until further notice following the disaster ​on Tuesday.

Beltoungou said the dead were of 35 Central ​Africans, 12 Cameroonians and two Chadians.

A senior official at a local mining association had said on Wednesday ​that more than 100 people had ​been killed.

A prosecutor said rescue efforts were continuing, ‌and ⁠said the number of casualties was still being established.

Artisanal mining is a vital source of work and income across Africa, but ​informal operations often ​function ⁠with limited oversight, inadequate safety measures and little emergency capacity, making ​collapses and other fatal accidents frequent.

Cameroon ​has ⁠pledged to formalise parts of the sector, seeking to improve regulation, safety and tax ⁠collection.

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The 93-year-old leader arrived at Yaounde’s Nsimalen International Airport aboard a chartered flight from Geneva, Switzerland, after spending more than 10 weeks abroad, local media reported.

Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, left Cameroon on June 7 for what the civil cabinet described as “a brief private stay in Europe”.

The president, accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya, arrived at about 4:45 p.m. local time on Thursday before departing in a motorcade for the Etoudi Unity Palace.

He waved through a half-open window to hundreds of supporters of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), who lined the capital’s streets to welcome him home.

The supporters waved party colours and banners hailing the president as the motorcade made its way through Yaounde following his arrival at the airport.

Biya’s prolonged absence fuelled widespread speculation about his health and ability to govern, in spite of repeated assurances from authorities that the president would return to Cameroon.

His absence also raised questions about political succession in a country where power remained highly centralised around the presidency and concerns persisted over a potential transition.

Opposition politicians had called on the Constitutional Council to determine whether someone should temporarily assume the presidency during Biya’s prolonged absence from the country.

The council, however, took no action on the opposition’s request, leaving Biya in office throughout his absence and without an interim successor being designated.

Under Cameroon’s Constitution, in the absence of a vice president, the president of the Senate should assume interim duties if the presidency became vacant through death, resignation or permanent incapacity.

Biya had not appointed a vice president in spite of the reintroduction of the position in April, while critics said the unclear succession framework created uncertainty over a potential transition.

They argued that the absence of a clear succession arrangement could complicate the transfer of power should Biya became permanently unable to govern the Central African nation.

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This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Raphael Oni, Special Assistant on Digital Media and Public Diplomacy, Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

It said the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, said this during a virtual roundtable on: “South Africa’s Xenophobia in Comparative Perspective,” convened by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Enikanolaiye was quoted as saying that the crisis must be tackled through stronger migration governance, responsible leadership, and deeper people-to-people ties across the continent.

The minister said that Nigeria views the challenge that surrounds Afrophobia as one that must be understood without denial or exaggeration.

According to him, the violence is bearing particularly African, post-colonial and post-apartheid character, hence the more accurate term, Afrophobia.

He decried the contradiction of citizens from countries that stood with South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, now being targeted as unwanted outsiders.

Enikanolaiye also said that the ministry had directed the NIIA to undertake a comprehensive study documenting Nigeria’s support for the liberation struggle.

He said Nigeria’s financial commitment was over 60 billion dollars, in addition to the nationalisation of British Petroleum, scholarships, and hospitality extended to South African leaders in Nigeria.

Enikanolaiye said, “The relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is not reducible to trade statistics or diplomatic communiqués.
“There is history in that relationship. There is blood, sacrifice and solidarity in that history,” he said.

He expressed concern over the loss of lives, stressing that since June, 2022, not less than 90 Nigerians had been killed in Afrophobic violence, with fresh attacks and displacements recorded in 2026.

He warned that the continued violence undermined South Africa’s international reputation, eroded investor confidence, threatened regional integration, and diminished the moral authority earned during its liberation struggle.

“To break the cycle, Nigeria is urging South African authorities to strengthen migration systems that are transparent and humane, and to ensure that the enforcement of immigration laws remained solely with the state,” he said.

The minister cautioned against vigilantism and called on political leaders to guard their language, saying rhetorics that painted migrants as criminals or job thieves fostered an environment where violence thrive.

He underscored the need for public discourse grounded in facts and data, rather than misinformation and social media rumors.

“Nigeria calls for the full activation of existing Nigeria–South Africa early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms to detect and defuse tensions before they escalate,” he stated.

Enikanolaiye reiterated the need to deepen people-to-people diplomacy.

He said this was to be done by mobilising businesses, universities, religious and traditional institutions, youth groups, civil society, and the media to rebuild trust, and promote a shared African identity.

He said that Nigeria, together with Ghana, would be presenting the matter at the next Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

While acknowledging South Africa’s willingness to discuss push and pull factors, he insisted Nigeria’s priority attention must be given to the hate-driven violence and attacks causing anguish among African nationals.

“What Africa needs now is not mere tolerance, but belonging to a continent where a Nigerian in Johannesburg and a South African in Lagos are regarded first as Africans with equal dignity,” he said.

Enikanolaiye reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad, while citing Tinubu’s direct intervention in the recent repatriation of Nigerians from South Africa.

He commended the heads of mission in Pretoria and Johannesburg for ensuring that the exercise was carried out promptly.

The minister also assured of Nigeria’s resolve to work with South Africa, the AU, ECOWAS and other partners to ensure African integration.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa.

He stated that the returnees were accompanied by two officials from the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He noted that the repatriation was facilitated through the procurement of flight tickets by good-spirited private individuals, whose generous support enabled their safe return to Nigeria.

He added that upon arrival, the returnees were received by Amb. Haruna Ali-Gombe, the Director, African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who welcomed them on behalf of the Federal Government.

Ebienfa said “they were handed over to relevant government agencies for necessary documentation and profiling ahead of their reunification with their families.”

He reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare and safe return of all Nigerian citizens abroad, and profound appreciation to the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.

He expressed appreciation to the private individuals who sponsored the exercise and agencies involved in ensuring smooth reception and reintegration process.

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The digital system, launched at international airports, allows eligible travelers to apply for travel authorisation online before travelling to South Africa, local media reported on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa said the initiative would make travelling to the country faster and more predictable, thereby helping to attract more international visitors.

He said increased tourist arrivals would stimulate activities in accommodation, restaurants, tours, air travel and other services connected to the tourism industry.

According to him, the system was developed partly from experience gained during South Africa’s hosting of the G20, when travellers from countries such as China, India and Indonesia were processed to attend meetings.

He said the government planned to expand the system to more countries.

The president added that the digital platform could eventually be extended to work, study and other immigration applications.

Ramaphosa described tourism as an important component of South Africa’s economic development, saying increased visitor numbers would create opportunities for local communities and support job creation.

He said the launch was part of efforts to build a more accessible and technology-driven tourism environment.

The president said simplifying travel procedures and expanding digital services would help create favorable conditions for international visitors and unlock the potential of the country’s tourism sector.

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One order seeks to deny automatic citizenship to certain children whose parents are not U.S citizens, including children of foreign government employees and people classified as “alien enemies.”

The other seeks to ban so-called “birth tourism,” a term used to describe people visiting the US for the purpose of giving birth so that their child obtains U.S citizenship.

Executive orders set policy but are not legally binding.

At the beginning of his second term, Trump signed an order aimed at sharply restricting birthright citizenship.

This is an Attempt to deny automatic citizenship to children born to parents who were in the US only temporarily or without valid residence papers.

In June, the Supreme Court rejected his order, stating that since 1868, children born in the US have automatically received citizenship under the 14th Amendment to the constitution.

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“Nonimmigrant students (F visas) and exchange visitors (J visas) would be admitted for the length of their specific program, not to exceed a maximum period of four years ,” the department said in a statement released on its website.

The final rule, it said, “officially eliminates the ‘duration of status’ loophole” that allowed foreign students, exchange visitors and others to remain in the United States indefinitely “without routine government oversight.”

Duration of Status allows foreign individuals to remain in the United States for as long as they are actively maintaining the purpose of their visa, instead of giving a fixed calendar date when they must leave the country.

“For nearly half a century, the outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, accusing thousands of foreign students of abusing the U.S. immigration system.

In a statement, Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, a U.S.-based association of international educators, depicted the DHS decision as a misguided and unnecessary policy shift.

He said the decision would injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively.

“It tells the world’s brightest students and scholars that the United States is becoming less welcoming, less predictable, and less committed,” Aw said.

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“Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges,” Trump said.

“We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”

The U.S. president said that Iran’s military has been “degraded to a very low level” after repeated U.S. strikes and that the attacks will continue “until I say it’s enough.”

Trump’s remarks came amid the latest escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran.

On Tuesday, U.S. forces launched another round of strikes against Iranian targets for a fourth day in a row and reimposed the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

“U.S. forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas,” the U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

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Trump made the remarks during a telephone interview on Fox News’ Fox & Friends programme on Monday.

He said the U.S. would become the “guardian” of the strait.

According to him, friendly nations benefiting from the route should reimburse Washington.

“We are going to guard it. We are going to get paid,” Trump said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global oil exports. Iran’s blockade of the waterway has raised global energy prices and inflation concerns.

Tehran announced the closure on Saturday, July 11 after what it described as an unauthorised transit.

Iran later said shipping would remain suspended until stability and calm were restored.

Trump accused Iran of repeatedly violating previous agreements with the U.S.

He warned that Washington would respond forcefully to further breaches.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said normal shipping would resume only after U.S. military operations in the waterway ceased.

The Guards warned that continued U.S. intervention could further disrupt global oil and gas markets.

U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged missile and drone attacks over the weekend and on Monday.

The latest fighting has intensified regional tensions and cast doubt on last month’s interim agreement to reopen the strait and suspend hostilities while further negotiations continue.

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“We have our deal done with Iran. It should be successful.

“It goes to a second stage, which I think will be easier,” Trump told reporters on the sideline of the G7 summit in France.

Trump also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must now be “more responsible with respect to Lebanon.”

The summit kicked off on Monday in Evian, a town on the shores of Lake Geneva in eastern France.

The three-day summit, according to the agenda, would focus on a range of issues, including the Ukraine crisis, Middle East tensions and the development of artificial intelligence.

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