West Africa

Zimbabwe’s Human Rights Report: A Pattern of Violence, State Complicity and Vulnerable Lives When the Zimbabwe Peace Project released a terse but damning account this week documenting more than 3,000 victims of rights abuses in a single month, it read like a catalogue of a nation trapped between political control and social distress. The group documented at least 121 distinct incidents in August, finding that women and people with disabilities were disproportionately affected. Nearly half of the violations, the report says,…

House GOP moves to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar over posts about Charlie Kirk killing; Democrat calls effort “baseless” WASHINGTON — A fresh clash over speech, identity and the limits of political punishment is heading for the House floor, where Republicans are moving to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for her online activity following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Omar, a Somali-born lawmaker who has long attracted outsized attention from the right, is calling the push meritless and rooted in…

South Africa hold Nigeria to 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein as qualification drama deepens Bloemfontein — Nigeria's Super Eagles left South Africa on a knife edge after a 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on Saturday, a match that keeps both teams' World Cup qualification hopes very much alive but leaves the path forward markedly different for the two nations. The result means South Africa sit six points clear at the top of their group and can all but seal progression if they pick up a single point from the two…

Students Stand Up for Quality Education in Tamale Amid Protests In a scene that unfolded under the scorching sun of northern Ghana, students of Tamale Technical University took to the streets, their voices melding into a chorus of discontent. Their grievances were clear: an increase in tuition fees that they deemed excessive and a perceived lack of accountability from university authorities regarding infrastructure and welfare issues. The situation escalated quickly, as police were reported to have fired warning shots to…

Niger State’s Sermon Approval Policy: Balancing Law and Freedom In a striking move emblematic of the complex interplay between governance and religious expression, the governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, recently announced a controversial policy requiring local clerics to submit their sermons for government approval. This initiative, presented as a strategy to counter “anti-people and anti-government” messages, has stirred the passions of locals, illuminating the ongoing struggle for religious freedom in emerging…

South Africa’s top court strips a colonial rule from the registry — and opens a conversation about names, identity and equality In a ruling that reaches beyond bureaucratic formality, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a colonial-era provision that barred husbands from taking their wives’ surnames. The decision — prompted by two couples who challenged the Department of Home Affairs after being denied the right to assume or hyphenate their spouses’ names — requires Parliament to amend the…

Power Struggles: Nigeria's Energy Crisis Deepens Amid Grid Failures As dawn broke over Nigeria, the promise of a bright new day dissipated with the abrupt darkening of homes, businesses, and schools across the nation. This week, the fragile electricity grid experienced yet another unsettling partial collapse, affecting around 30 states and plunging millions into darkness. The incident, which unfolded between 11 am and 12 pm on an otherwise ordinary day, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges that the…

Simone Gbagbo's Candidacy: A Historic Turn in Ivory Coast's Political Landscape In an unexpected twist within Ivory Coast's tumultuous political arena, former First Lady Simone Gbagbo has been cleared to run in the upcoming presidential elections slated for October 25th. Her candidacy marks not only a significant moment in her personal narrative but also a potentially transformative chapter for a nation still grappling with the scars of conflict and political division. A Legacy of Resilience Simone Gbagbo, once a…

Türkiye-Somalia Relations: A Robust Partnership with Deep Roots In the heart of Mogadishu, the air thrums with the whirl of advanced Turkish-made helicopters, a testament to the deep and evolving relationship between Somalia and Türkiye. This strong cooperative bond has its roots in shared challenges and mutual goals, particularly in defense and economic development, as noted by Somalia's Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi. A Relationship Forged in Adversity Reflecting on the pivotal year of 2011, Fiqi recalled President…

Ghana Welcomes the First Wave of West African Deportees: A Complex Narrative of Immigration and Diplomacy In a significant development that highlights the intricate web of international relations and the human stories behind immigration policy, Ghanaian President John Mahama recently announced the arrival of the first group of West African deportees from the United States. The event, which saw 14 individuals—predominantly Nigerians—and a Gambian citizen land on Ghanaian soil, unfolds amid broader geopolitical dynamics…