2025

Seventeen South Africans trapped in Donbas spotlight a growing, ugly global trade in fighters Seventeen South African men — sixteen reportedly from KwaZulu‑Natal and one from the Eastern Cape — have been left stranded in Ukraine’s embattled Donbas region after answering offers that promised steady pay and work abroad. The men say they were recruited for what they believed would be lucrative civilian jobs, only to discover they were expected to join armed units in one of the war’s most dangerous theaters. The episode,…

Senate ends longest US government shutdown with 60-40 vote, but many questions remain The US Senate on Monday approved a compromise measure to reopen the federal government, ending what lawmakers called the longest shutdown in American history but stopping short of resolving a host of lingering political and practical problems. The 60-40 vote — carried by nearly every Senate Republican and eight Democrats — restored funding for agencies whose budgets expired on Oct. 1 and pushed a final decision on health insurance…

Opinion/Analysis A pragmatic embrace: What Somalia’s deals with Algeria really mean On a crisp day in Algiers, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Algeria’s Abdelmadjid Tebboune signed a set of agreements that, on the surface, read like a conventional exercise in diplomacy: memorandums, scholarship pledges and cooperation pacts. But beneath the ritual of ceremonial pens and ministers exchanging folders there is a subtler story about how fragile, resource-rich states seek partners beyond the usual Western and…

Struggling with Identity: The Complex Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia In a world increasingly divided by borders and policies, the story of Kilmar Abrego Garcia reflects themes of migration, humanity, and the intersection of law and compassion. As the Trump administration intensifies its efforts to deport Garcia, complexities deepen—not only regarding his physical journey but also with regard to the lives that are often caught in the gears of governmental machinery. A Troubling Journey At the heart of Garcia's case is a…

The Bongos on Trial: A Nation Grapples with Legacy and Accountability In a courtroom echoing with tension and significant societal implications, the wife and son of former Gabonese President Ali Bongo, along with eleven close associates, have entered the dock, facing a litany of serious charges, including treason, corruption, and the embezzlement of public funds. This unfolding legal drama has captured the attention not only of Gabonese citizens but also of the international community, as it brings to the forefront urgent…

A new citadel of memory rises beside the Great Pyramid Just a short walk from the ancient silhouette of Khufu, a modern glass-and-stone landmark opened its doors to the public this week: the Grand Egyptian Museum, known simply as GEM. With room for some 100,000 objects spanning roughly 7,000 years of history, the complex is being presented not only as the world’s largest archaeological museum but as a statement of national pride and a fresh engine for tourism. The building’s broad terraces and sunlit atrium create a…

Zimbabwean opposition figure Job Sikhala detained in South Africa; party blame and questions about evidence When Job Sikhala, a senior opposition politician from Zimbabwe, was arrested in South Africa this week after police say they found blasting cartridges and capped fuse connectors in his vehicle, supporters and fellow opposition figures immediately cried foul. Sikhala — who has accused Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF of orchestrating the incident — now faces an uncertain legal fight in a country that has long been a refuge…

BBC at a crossroads: independence, accountability and a $1bn legal threat What happened A storm that began with the editing of a single interview has swept to the upper echelons of the BBC, laid bare tensions about impartiality and placed Britain’s most trusted broadcaster at the centre of a wider global argument about media, power and truth. On Sunday Tim Davie, the director-general of the BBC, resigned after a report found that footage used in a Panorama documentary had been selectively edited to portray former US…

Sudan on the Brink: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds The conflict-ridden region of North Darfur in Sudan finds itself at a precarious juncture. The United Nations' migration agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has sounded an urgent alarm: without immediate funding and secure access for relief deliveries, humanitarian efforts could come to a standstill. The Dire Humanitarian Situation Despite escalating needs, the IOM's statement paints a grim picture: dwindling resources, perilous aid routes, and access…

Escalating Tensions in Sudan: Calls for International Attention Amid the harsh realities in Sudan, the nation's foreign minister, Mohieldin Salem, has voiced a pressing concern that echoes the sentiments of many who witness the ongoing turmoil: the international community’s silence. Salem's recent remarks highlighted the urgent need for a unified global response to the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in regions like el-Fasher, North Darfur, and Bara, North Kordofan. A Cry for Action Meeting with Amy…