Africa

In a bold move, Burkina Faso's media authority has put a halt to operations of the French news outlet TV5Monde, levying accusations of "disinformation" and "apology for terrorism" against the network. This suspension stems from the broadcaster's coverage of the ongoing insurgencies affecting Burkina Faso and its neighbor, Mali, which highlighted rising insecurity and purported human rights abuses by the security forces. Human Rights Watch has characterized this action as a component of a wider initiative aimed at stifling…

A High Court in Abuja has found former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman guilty on 12 counts related to fraud and money laundering. This ruling emerges from a thorough investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which uncovered unauthorized misappropriation of public funds during Mamman's term in office under former President Muhammadu Buhari. In a pointed critique within the ruling, the presiding judge remarked, "... instead of establishing a legacy aimed at resolving the nation's chronic power…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signaled a firm response to unrest, with his spokesperson saying he expects law enforcement to act against violent demonstrators, while stressing that South Africans are not xenophobic, as protests against undocumented immigrants spread across several major cities in South Africa.

Branding the sanctions “untimely and counterproductive,” politicians aligned with the Mouvement Sauvons la RDC — a movement co-founded by Joseph Kabila — condemned the measures, warning they could deepen the country’s protracted crisis. The pushback from the opposition comes as diplomatic efforts gather pace to tackle the conflict in eastern DR Congo, with parallel tracks seeking to address both the regional dynamics and the internal drivers of instability.

Nigeria's national electricity grid continues to face severe instability, plagued by frequent system failures that interrupt power distribution nationwide. Since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023, the grid has experienced at least 20 significant collapses, as reported by industry statistics compiled by early 2026. In response to these ongoing challenges, Joseph Tegbe, the minister-designate for power, has committed to addressing the persistent issue of grid failures, provided he is confirmed and officially takes…

In a concerning development, Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi addressed Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Health following the alarming confirmation of Hantavirus in a severely ill British national in South Africa. Additionally, the health minister reported on a woman who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport and unfortunately succumbed to her condition in South Africa. Her husband, who also fell ill, later died in St Helena. Both individuals were among the passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not publicly stated why Inspector General Joseph Shikongo was removed, but the decision comes in the wake of a serious State House security lapse in which an intruder slipped into the President’s private quarters without detection. The breach triggered swift and widespread outrage. Among the critics was former Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga, who said the incident laid bare “catastrophic weaknesses” across the police chain of command. Shikongo, 62, had led the force since…

JOHANNESBURG — Fear is spreading among African migrants in South Africa’s biggest cities as xenophobic tensions rise in Pretoria and Johannesburg, sparking urgent security alerts from several diplomatic missions. Foreign nationals have been told to close their businesses and remain on high alert after a wave of anti-migration demonstrations. This week, diplomats from Ghana and Nigeria issued formal warnings to their citizens, urging them to steer clear of protest areas to reduce the risk of violence. In Pretoria,…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s low-key weekend trip to Zimbabwe carried a sharp warning for Emmerson Mnangagwa, according to former ally Rutendo Matinyarare: drop any plan to dismiss Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and rethink Constitutional Amendment Bill No.3, the measure seen as paving the way for Mnangagwa to stay beyond his two-term limit. Ramaphosa visited Mnangagwa at Precabe Farm in Kwekwe, where he was photographed alongside a tight circle of the Zimbabwean leader’s allies who back the proposed…

In a stark warning about the state of Liberia's democracy, former President George M. Weah has leveled serious accusations against President Joseph Boakai's administration, claiming it is systematically undermining the rule of law. In a recent meeting with Nicola Clase, Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, Weah outlined a series of alleged violations perpetrated by the current government. Among these, he pointed to an outright disregard for Supreme Court rulings, incidents of police brutality, and what he…