Eye on Africa

Somalia: Allied forces report 56 al-Shabaab killed in Lower Juba operation Jubbaland State forces, the Somali National Army and U.S.-trained Danab commandos launched a coordinated sweep across Jamaame district on Sunday, striking multiple militant sites at once. Authorities described the multi-front push as a highly planned operation aimed at weakening al-Shabaab’s rural grip. Security officials said at least 56 al-Shabaab fighters were killed and 20 others captured alive. The allied units moved simultaneously to overwhelm…

Helicopter Crash Report: Bad Weather to Blame, Committee Concludes In a grave revelation that has echoed through the corridors of Ghanaian governance, a specialized committee investigating the tragic helicopter crash from August, which resulted in the untimely deaths of eight officials, has attributed the disaster to adverse weather conditions. The findings were shared with President John Mahama, shedding light on a moment that left a deep scar on the nation. The Investigation Findings The committee's report emphasized…

Somalia says E-Visa has choked ISIS travel pipeline Somalia’s defense minister says a new national E-Visa system has sharply curtailed the movement of ISIS fighters into the country’s northeast, where the group has long maintained a foothold in the Calmiskaad mountains. Ahmed Moallin Fiqi said that since the digital visa rollout, no foreign ISIS members have entered Somalia to join militants in the remote range. The statement underscores Mogadishu’s bid to tighten border controls after years of porosity exploited by…

Aliko Dangote signs US$1 billion investment deal with Zimbabwe Aliko Dangote, widely regarded as Africa’s richest man, has signed a landmark US$1 billion investment agreement with the government of Zimbabwe, officials said, marking a significant vote of confidence in the country's economy under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Deal scope and sectors According to the terms announced after a meeting between Dangote and President Mnangagwa, Dangote’s conglomerate will channel funds into cement manufacturing, power generation…

Tragedy Strikes Amid Recruitment Drive in Accra In a devastating turn of events, at least six individuals lost their lives in a stampede at a sports stadium in Accra during a Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise. As the day was meant to represent opportunity for many, it quickly spiraled into chaos, reflecting the urgent need for safety protocols and effective crowd management. The Onset of Tragedy The scene at the stadium was one of eager anticipation, yet it transformed into tragedy when a surge of…

Students abducted, beaten and dumped 120km away — a fresh front in Zimbabwe’s political crackdown Two student activists from Chinhoyi University of Technology — Marlvin Saint Madanda and Lindon Zanga — were abducted in broad daylight during Students Representative Council (SRC) campaign activity and later found injured and incapacitated 120 kilometres away, in Shamva. The incident, condemned by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, has reopened raw questions about the targeting of youth activists, the politicisation of campus…

Somali president holds consultation with leading Quran scholar in Mogadishu Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met prominent Quran reciter and scholar Sheikh Abdirashid Sheikh Ali Sufi in Mogadishu on Friday, in what Villa Somalia called an important consultation and information-sharing session. The discussions focused on mobilizing public awareness around national priorities and strengthening the role of religious leaders in peace-building. The meeting underscored the government’s outreach to clerics as it pursues…

Tensions Rise as Nigerian Minister Confronts Army Officer: A Deep Dive into Power Dynamics A viral video capturing a heated exchange between Nyesom Wike, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, and Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, a junior army officer, has ignited discussions about authority, accountability, and public conduct among leaders. The incident, which revolves around a disputed plot of land, raises questions not only about the individuals involved but also about the broader implications for governance in…

South Africa tightens its inflation anchor — a test of credibility for monetary and fiscal policy South Africa’s National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank have agreed on a new inflation objective: a 3% target with a one percentage point tolerance band. That shifts the nominal anchor to 3% (effectively a 2–4% acceptable range), and — according to reporting — is part of a fragile compromise between the Government of National Unity and the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement after three failed attempts to pass the…

Mogadishu begins voter card rollout for local council elections Somalia’s electoral commission on Saturday began issuing voter cards in Mogadishu, a step the capital has seldom seen after years marked by conflict, displacement and political uncertainty. The process opened across multiple districts with steady turnout and orderly lines as residents prepared to participate in upcoming local council polls. Distribution started in Hamarjajab, Waberi, Shangani, Hamarweyne, Boondheere, Abdiaziz and Shibis districts. Officials…