Africa

CPJ Urges Mali to Lift Ban on Jeune Afrique as Media Repression Grows The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Malian authorities to reverse a ban on the privately owned French magazine, Jeune Afrique. The publication faced accusations of "glorifying terrorism" and engaging in "defamation and incitement to hatred," marking a worrying trend for media freedom in the region. This latest move follows a succession of bans on French media by the Alliance of Sahel States—comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina…

Ghana's Multidimensional Poverty Rate Declines but Disparities Remain A recent report indicates that Ghana's multidimensional poverty rate has steadily decreased from 23.9% in the first quarter of 2025 to 21.9% by the third quarter. This report assesses poverty through four key indicators: health, living conditions, education, and employment, offering a more comprehensive view of poverty beyond mere income levels. At the report's launch in Accra this week, Senior Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu emphasized the…

In a stunning display of skill and strategy, the global football landscape shifted dramatically on January 22, 2026. Major matches across different leagues provided fans with electrifying moments, altering league standings and igniting discussions about upcoming tournaments. At the heart of these matches was the highly anticipated clash between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga. As is tradition, the infamous El Clásico was more than just a battle for points but also a clash of iconic legacies. Barcelona secured a…

Irish trainee field guide rescued by helicopter as deadly floods swamp Kruger National Park PHALABORWA, South Africa — In the pitch black and pouring rain on a hillside above the Olifants River, Kim McNaughton waited for the thump of rotor blades. The trainee field guide from County Monaghan had scrambled to higher ground with colleagues after floodwaters cut off their safari lodge in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, washing away a nearby bridge and turning escape routes into impassable mud. “Survival mode just kicked…

Gunmen Kidnap Worshippers from Churches in Kaduna State, Nigeria Authorities in Nigeria's Kaduna State have confirmed that gunmen kidnapped scores of worshippers from three churches on Sunday, reversing an earlier denial of the incident. This distressing event has sparked outrage and fear within the local communities, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region. The Kaduna Police Commissioner initially dismissed the reports of the kidnappings as "falsehoods peddled by conflict entrepreneurs" seeking to "cause…

Former First Lady's Foundation Ordered to Surrender Records Amid Investigation A court has ordered the Clar Hope Foundation, owned by former First Lady Clar Marie Weah, to surrender its administrative and financial records concerning the construction of the foundation's massive complex outside Monrovia. The order follows a request from the government's Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT), which is investigating allegations that illicit funds were used to finance the sprawling facility—a claim the…

Mozambique floods: UNICEF warns “deadly threat” to children as rains swell rivers Maputo, Mozambique — Severe flooding sweeping southern and central Mozambique poses a “deadly threat” to children, the U.N. children’s agency warned Monday, as heavy rain and rising rivers strain already swollen dam systems and authorities brace for more water to arrive from neighbouring countries. UNICEF’s warning comes as rescue and relief needs grow in parts of the country hit by what local media described as floods as severe as those…

Former President Lazarus Chakwera accused his successor, Peter Mutharika, on Thursday of overseeing a campaign of intimidation and “unlawful arrests, and the abuse of due process” aimed at silencing opposition figures, calling the pattern a “dangerous collapse” of the rule of law. In a formal statement, Chakwera said he has notified President Mutharika of what he described as politically motivated actions against leaders of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). “This includes individuals whose only crime is exercising their…

South African officials say the school taxi driver involved in the Vanderbijlpark crash did not have a valid operating licence, authorities announced Wednesday. The disclosure, made by provincial transport officials, raises immediate questions about the legal status of the vehicle and the oversight of school transport in the area. Officials did not provide further details about the driver’s identity, the nature or severity of casualties, or exactly when the licence lapsed. Vanderbijlpark, an industrial city in Gauteng…

Israel wary of Egypt’s expanding role in Somalia and Horn of Africa TEL AVIV — Israel is watching with growing unease as Egypt deepens its political and security footprint in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa, a volatile corridor that funnels global trade through the Red Sea and toward the Suez Canal. Israeli broadcaster i24 News, citing Israeli security sources, reported that Cairo has intensified its backing for Somalia’s federal government and is closely scrutinizing Israel’s reported move to recognize North Western…