Botswana has scrapped the sections of its penal code that outlawed same-sex relations, a decisive move that cements one of the continent’s most significant advances for LGBTQ rights. The change formalises a 2019 High Court judgment that struck down the provisions as unconstitutional. Activists from Legabibo say the amendment underscores the government’s commitment to human rights, even as momentum elsewhere on the continent moves in the opposite direction. Several nations, including Senegal, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali,…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a "public health emergency of international concern," highlighting the potential threat to neighboring regions. Although this outbreak has not escalated to a pandemic level, countries bordering the DRC are alerted to a heightened risk of the virus spreading. According to the WHO, as of Saturday, the Ituri province in the DRC reported 80 suspected deaths, eight confirmed laboratory cases, and 246…

Sunday May 17, 2026 Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say the country is confronting a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Ituri province, where the death toll has climbed to at least 80 as authorities step up screening and contact tracing efforts to slow the spread. A fresh outbreak of Ebola has been reported in eastern DRC, where tens of people have died as a result. / Reuters Authorities announced the outbreak on Friday, saying 65 people had died and 246 suspected cases had been identified. By Saturday, they…

Sunday May 17, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s stalled political transition has drawn fresh concern from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which is pressing the country’s leaders to stay at the table after talks between the federal government and opposition figures failed to bridge major divides. In a statement released Saturday from Djibouti, the IGAD Secretariat said it had followed consultations held in Mogadishu from May 13 to 15 between the Federal Government of Somalia and opposition stakeholders. The…

Sunday May 17, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — Israel’s newly named ambassador to North Western State of Somalia said Saturday that ties with the self-declared republic are moving ahead rapidly, with cooperation on the table in security, energy, infrastructure, technology, trade and other fields. In an interview with Israel’s N12, Michael Lotem, Israel’s non-resident ambassador to North Western State of Somalia, said North Western State of Somalia had signaled strong interest in deepening relations after Israel formally recognized it…

Saturday May 16, 2026 Photo: Somali regional state The Somali Regional State Disaster Risk Management Bureau has dismissed reports portraying Ethiopia’s Somali Region as gripped by drought, saying the picture presented is outdated and fails to reflect the improvement brought by the current Gu rains. In a statement sent to Addis Standard, the Bureau said it had reviewed recent coverage that pointed to malnutrition, drought and acute water shortages across the region. It acknowledged that climate-related vulnerabilities remain…

Somalia’s 2026 election process is shaped by a multi-step plan that includes voter registration, new voting rules, and a phased roll-out across federal member states. Below is a clear timeline of major dates and milestones that have been reported as the country moves toward elections under a renewed political framework. What Happened Over the past year, Somalia has advanced election preparations through voter registration, local voting experiments, and negotiations over how the country should conduct elections.…

Saturday May 16, 2026 UNICEF/UN0591078/Taxta On 3 February 2022 in Somalia, a child feeds on a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) packet while his mother holds him waiting to receive assistance at Community Empowerment and Development Action Health Centre in Dolow. Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s most vulnerable children are being pushed to the front of a deepening global hunger emergency, with aid agency CARE warning that conflict in the Middle East and the disruption of major shipping lanes are driving up the price of…

From the stage of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, President Paul Kagame delivered a sharp critique of global sanctions, saying they are wielded unevenly and weaponized against weaker states. He argued that the way sanctions are imposed reflects raw power rather than justice, advantaging countries with greater strategic or economic clout. During a session moderated by CNN anchor and correspondent Eleni Giokos, African leaders were pressed on how they are navigating escalating geopolitical strains — from disputed mineral…

Friday May 15, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Friday received 25 tons of food aid from Russia, a timely delivery as conflict, drought and deepening food insecurity continue to drive humanitarian needs across the country. The handover took place in Mogadishu during a ceremony attended by Information Minister Abdifatah Qasim Mohamud, Somali Disaster Management Agency Chairman Mohamud Moalin Abdulle and Russia’s ambassador to Somalia and Djibouti. Mohamud said the support arrived at a crucial moment for families and…