Southern Africa

Windhoek — Namibia’s ruling Swapo party captured a decisive share of seats in Monday’s local authority elections, winning just over 52% of all seats nationwide, electoral authorities said, marking an increase of nearly 40% compared with the 2020 local polls. Officials also reported turnout was low, with fewer than 40% of registered voters casting ballots. The results reaffirm Swapo’s standing after three decades in national government, but analysts cautioned the party’s gains do not translate into uncontested control at the…

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday praised South Africans for their unity and hospitality after Pretoria successfully hosted the G20 Leaders' Summit — the first time the gathering was held on African soil — and more than 130 related meetings. In a nationally broadcast address, Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to citizens whose cooperation, he said, helped South Africa present a “People’s G20” to visiting heads of state and delegations. He said global leaders had commended the country’s warm welcome and the spirit of ubuntu…

Namibian Politician Breaks with Controversial Past Adolf Uunona, a prominent figure in northern Namibia, has legally removed "Hitler" from his name. This move symbolizes a departure from a legacy he never embraced. The change reflects Uunona's desire to clarify his identity. He has been a respected leader in the Ompundja constituency. The decision addresses international misunderstandings and jokes. Legacy of a Name Uunona's name has been a subject of intrigue and misunderstanding due to its historical…

South Africa on Monday accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of repeating "misinformation and distortions" after a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform that accused the government of "horrific Human Rights Abuses" against white farmers — charges the African nation says it and Afrikaner leaders have long rejected. The South African Presidency said the allegations are being used to justify what it called punitive measures that undermine efforts to reset the bilateral relationship. "It is regrettable that despite the…

Windhoek — Namibian health authorities have confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after a patient admitted to a Windhoek health facility tested positive, officials said Friday. The viral disease, also known as Congo Fever, can be severe and is tracked closely because of its high fatality risk and potential for human-to-human transmission. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said the single confirmed case required "urgent intervention" given the disease’s severity and capacity to spread. Officials did not…

JOHANNESBURG — The G20 summit in Johannesburg ended with a broad declaration aimed at addressing climate change, inequality and Africa’s development, marking a diplomatic victory for host South Africa even as the United States staged a boycott, organizers said Friday. President Cyril Ramaphosa described the outcome as a reaffirmation of multilateralism and said the summit elevated African priorities on the global agenda. The declaration commits the group to measures intended to advance renewable energy, strengthen disaster…

Renewed Commitment at the G20 Summit The Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg concluded with a declaration emphasizing multilateral cooperation amidst global challenges. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted this commitment despite significant geopolitical tensions and the absence of the U.S. President. President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the summit's declaration for unity in addressing global issues. U.S. President Donald Trump boycotted the summit due to unfounded allegations against South Africa’s…

Historic G-20 Summit in South Africa Moves Forward Without U.S. The G-20 summit in South Africa made an unprecedented move by adopting its declaration without the United States, which boycotted the event over diplomatic tensions. This break in protocol signals a significant step for the summit hosted in Africa for the first time. The declaration was adopted at the start of the summit, a departure from standard procedure. South Africa positioned this as a victory amid U.S. absence. Key focuses include climate…

Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane has ordered a halt to the recruitment of new commissioners for Lesotho's electoral commission after a high court application challenged the constitutionality of the process. The applicants, who moved to the High Court, raised concerns about what they described as a "peculiar manner" in which an employment consulting firm was procured to assist the commission, and cited other unspecified irregularities that they say have marred the selection exercise. After hearing arguments from the parties,…

SOUTH AFRICA — South Africa faces what health researchers call a “vaping crisis” among adolescents while a long-promised overhaul of the country’s tobacco laws sits largely dormant. The draft Tobacco Bill published in 2018 — designed to extend smoke-free public spaces, introduce plain packaging and ban point-of-sale displays for both cigarettes and electronic cigarettes — has yet to clear the long road from proposal to law, leaving regulators and public-health advocates alarmed as youth nicotine use climbs. A 2024 study of…