South Africa’s World Cup journey began under the bright lights of the Estadio Azteca with an early setback, as Bafana Bafana slipped to a 2-0 defeat against tournament co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City. The tone was set almost immediately: within the opening nine minutes, Mexican striker Julián Quiñones punished a defensive error, pouncing on a blunder to drive home the first goal. Mexico continued to look the more dangerous side, led by a lively Raúl Jiménez who repeatedly tested South Africa’s back line and emerged as the…

Friday June 12, 2026 Raul Jimenez (up C) and Jesus Gallardo (up L) of Mexico vie for a header during the match. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez struck in either half as co-host Mexico opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday. Quinones pounced on a turnover to put Mexico ahead early in the Group A contest, and South Africa’s task grew tougher when Sphephelo Sithole was shown a red card for dragging down Brian Gutierrez. Jimenez later headed in…

Vast mineral riches were supposed to lift Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, but a new report argues they instead helped light the fuse of an insurgency. The study, Mozambique Exposed, details how resentment tied to natural resources became a potent recruitment message for militants, as residents watched the area’s wealth extracted amid allegations of corruption and abuses by security forces. According to the report, the discovery of ruby deposits in Cabo Delgado in 2009 transformed the province into the source of…

Even as Ebola resurges and violence grips eastern DR Congo, a fierce political fight is unfolding over a constitutional change that has put the country on edge. The proposal could open the door for President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. Lawmakers in the National Assembly have approved a referendum bill seen as a gateway to sweeping constitutional reform, pushing it through despite opposition boycotts and claims that the ruling camp aims to skirt term limits. Tshisekedi has said he would pursue a third mandate only…

Boko Haram factions, alongside various extremist organizations, are increasingly harnessing TikTok and other social media channels for their propaganda efforts, taunting authorities while sharing content related to kidnappings and acts of violence—a troubling trend that raises alarms about digital security in Nigeria. A recent online video associated with Boko Haram depicted captured individuals, accusing the government of downplaying casualty statistics before it was swiftly taken down. This incident illustrates a…

For many African migrants in South Africa, daily life had become so punishing that returning home felt like the only viable option — a reality underscored by one of the returnees who thanked the Nigerian government and the individuals who helped make the journey back possible. The returnee said conditions in South Africa had grown unbearable for many African migrants, prompting appreciation for those who facilitated their return to Nigeria. Responding to questions about the legal status of Nigerians living in South Africa,…

In a bid to fortify the frontline against Ebola, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) will set up joint medical camps on the Congolese side of their shared border, a move intended to strengthen the response and speed treatment for suspected patients. President Yoweri Museveni announced the plan in an address on the Ebola situation, saying the effort is designed to bring healthcare closer to affected communities and deter risky cross-border travel that can accelerate transmission. He emphasized that…

A brutal burst of gunfire that witnesses say lasted more than an hour has prompted a major police deployment to a settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, as investigators race to unravel a massacre and find those responsible. Provincial and district detectives, crime intelligence officers, and forensic experts have been deployed to investigate the massacre and track down the killers. Jumpers resident Gugu Magaqa said the gunfire rang for more than an hour before an eerie quiet fell over the settlement in Cleveland,…

As the crisis in the Central Sahel fades from media attention, the United Nations has revealed a grim reality: millions are in desperate need of humanitarian aid. The challenges of civilian displacement, climate disruptions, and widespread hunger are rapidly transcending national borders, creating a regional emergency. According to UN reports, armed factions are extending their reach throughout the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, leaving communities devoid of governance and safety. Particularly vulnerable are…

Rwandan troops and the M23 armed group carried out a sweeping campaign of abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch alleged, citing forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, torture, and killings of civilians and captured fighters between mid-2024 and December 2025. In a 78-page report, the group said thousands of people — including children as young as 12 — were seized across North and South Kivu and transported to detention and training camps in Rumangabo and Tshanzu. Detainees were subjected to…