🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Four children drown in Kolda floods, bringing total deaths to five since start of rainy season
via SeneNews1 min read
The beginning of the rainy season in Kolda has been marked by tragedy, with four young boys drowning in a pit. These incidents, which bring the total number of weather-related deaths to five, highlight the need for vigilance during this dangerous season. The four young boys, all under 8 years old, were found drowned in a pit filled with runoff water in the village of Kandiama, located in the commune of Sinthiang Koundara in the Vélingara department. According to reports, the children died after falling into this excavation filled by the first rains of the season, plunging their families and the entire locality into deep sadness. This tragedy occurred just days after another weather-related death. On the night of June 8-9, a student in his twenties was fatally struck by lightning during a period of heavy rain. With these two tragedies, the death toll has now risen to five since the start of the rainy season in the Vélingara department. These events underscore the need for increased vigilance during the rainy season, particularly around pits, temporary ponds, and high-risk areas, to prevent further tragedies. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families during this difficult time.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadPatrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football CAF, announced on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, during a press conference in Johannesburg, that he will not run for a third term leading the continental body in 2029. Motsepe, who was re-elected in March 2025 for a second four-year term, stated, "By the next World Cup, I will no longer be at CAF. I will attend as a mere spectator." He also denied rumors of seeking the South African presidency, stating, "South Africa does not need me to get into politics," and dismissed any ambition to run for FIFA president. During the same conference, Motsepe confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations CAN will expand from 24 to 28 teams, starting with the next edition in 2027, which will be held in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
Must ReadMalian football is in mourning following the death of Kalilou Traoré, affectionately known as "Kati Kalou" by his fans. The former international player and bronze medalist at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations passed away at the age of 38 due to a road accident in Paris. Born on September 9, 1987, in Kati, Kalilou Traoré began his professional career with Real Bamako before moving to Morocco to play for Wydad Casablanca in 2006, with a loan spell at Hassania Agadir. His career then took him to Europe, first to NK Istra 1961 in Croatia, then to OB Odense in Denmark, before joining FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in France in 2012, where he concluded his playing career. Traoré earned 17 caps for the Mali Eagles between 2010 and 2013, scoring his only international goal in a qualifying match against Botswana. He was a key member of the Malian generation that made history by winning the bronze medal at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, an achievement that remains one of Mali's best continental results.
Following the announcement of Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's new political party, French lawyer Juan Branco, who defended Pastef, has voiced strong opposition. Branco, in a statement on social media, denounced the move as a betrayal of Pastef's founding ideals of sovereign rupture. He cited an encounter where President Faye allegedly offered the US President a golf course, which Branco deemed humiliating and contrary to national dignity. Branco also linked Kiiraay's creation to the memory of Pastef activists who suffered during political repression, stating that no redemption is possible for President Faye. He recalled the deaths of men and children, imprisonment of women, and torture of students during that period, asserting that these acts will not be forgiven. This criticism follows previous sharp remarks by Branco against President Faye, including after Ousmane Sonko's dismissal as Prime Minister in May, when Branco referred to it as the greatest betrayal in Senegalese history. The creation of Kiiraay is seen by some within Ousmane Sonko's camp as an attempt by President Faye to distance himself from Pastef's political influence, exacerbating a deep rift between the two Senegalese executive figures.