Congo-Brazzaville Advises Citizens to Confirm Details Before 2026 Elections

Congolese Electoral Commission Urges Voter Verification Ahead of 2026 Presidential Election The electoral commission in the Republic of Congo is urging registered voters to verify their names on the provisional voter's roll in preparation for the upcoming presidential elections. This call to action is accompanied by banners displayed throughout Brazzaville, highlighting the critical nature of this verification process. As the nation gears up for the 2026 presidential election, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, now 81 years…

Mozambique’s displaced face growing hardship amid ongoing crisis

Human Rights Watch said Monday that thousands of civilians displaced by recent attacks by an Islamist armed group in northeastern Mozambique are sheltering in overcrowded, inadequate conditions and urgently need food, health care and protection. Between Nov. 10 and 23, 2025, attacks in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces killed 33 people and forced about 108,000 people from their homes, the rights group reported. Among the displaced are an estimated 70,000 children, HRW said. "Displaced people in northern Mozambique,…

Rebels Capture Crucial City in DR Congo Despite U.S. Peace Efforts

M23 Rebels Seize Key City in Eastern DR Congo Amid Rising Tensions Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have reportedly entered the eastern DR Congo city of Uvira, an essential military base located near the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. This unforeseen advancement has triggered panic among residents, forcing thousands to flee in fear. Witnesses stated that the M23 forces marched in without opposition, declaring they had "liberated" the city, although local officials maintained that government troops still controlled the area. This…

Rebels Advance Into Major DR Congo City Amid U.S.-Facilitated Peace Efforts

Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels Capture Strategic City in Eastern DR Congo Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have reportedly entered the eastern DR Congo city of Uvira, a crucial military base located near the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. The takeover has triggered widespread panic and forced thousands of residents to flee, raising alarms about the regional stability. Witnesses reported that the M23 rebels marched into Uvira unopposed, claiming to have "liberated" the city. However, government officials insist that their troops remain…

Legendary Zimbabwean Sungura Musician Nicholas Zakaria Passes Away

Nicholas Zakaria, a pioneering figure in Zimbabwe’s sungura music and a founding member of the Khiama Boys, has died. He was 66. Zakaria — widely known by his stage name "Madzibaba" — was celebrated for his deft guitar work and a voice that helped shape the rhythmic, guitar-driven sound that defines sungura. His family said he was a "talented musician and beloved member of our community" who left an indelible mark on Zimbabwean music. As one of the early members of the Khiama Boys, Zakaria performed with and influenced a…

Rwanda and DR Congo: Genuine Peace Progress or Just an Illusion?

A Historic Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda After three decades of violence, proxy wars, and relentless political maneuvering, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a peace agreement that is being heralded as historic. Yet, in the Great Lakes region—a landscape marked by the tumult of conflict and fragility—optimism walks a delicate line alongside skepticism. As the ink dries on this pivotal document, questions linger: Will this truly signal the dawn of durable…

Honouring Mthunzi Gxashe, Desmond Tutu’s Longtime South African Aide

Mthunzi Gxashe, a close aide and son-in-law to Archbishop Desmond Tutu who served as the clergyman’s spiritual companion during his retirement, has died in Johannesburg, his family and associates said. Gxashe was widely regarded at home and abroad for his long association with Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and moral voice of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. In retirement years, Gxashe was described by those around Tutu as a constant presence — helping to manage daily affairs, offering spiritual support and…

Malawi Sugar Vendors Compelled to Camp Outside Distribution Centers

Malawi is facing an acute sugar shortage that has pushed traders and consumers to camp outside distribution sites overnight in hopes of securing supplies, heightening public anger and putting pressure on President Peter Mutharika’s administration to act. Traders outside the offices of the principal sugar distributor in the central town of Nkhotakota say long lines and overnight vigils have become routine as supplies run low. Some vendors accused big businesses of hoarding sugar to force an artificial shortfall that drives…

DR Congo Faces Its Most Severe Cholera Crisis in a Quarter-Century

Cholera Outbreak in the DRC: A Crisis Unfolding The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently grappling with its worst cholera outbreak in 25 years, reporting a staggering 64,427 cases and 1,888 deaths since the year's onset. Among these, 14,818 cases involved children, leading to 340 tragic child fatalities, according to UNICEF. This health crisis has severely disrupted children's education and wellbeing, thrusting them into a world of illness while forcing them to bear witness to the suffering and loss of…

Malawi Eliminates School Fees to Ensure Free Education for All

President Peter Mutharika has announced the cancellation of almost all school-related fees in Malawi, saying the move fulfills a key campaign promise and ordering that "no public school should be requesting learners to make contributions towards the School Development Fund and any other fees, except boarding fees." The directive, disclosed in a presidential statement, is intended to reduce the financial barrier to primary and secondary education and to boost enrollment and completion rates. Malawi currently posts a primary…