African

South African singer Tyla has won her second Grammy, taking the Best African Music Performance award for "Push-to-Start," a track from her debut album, the Recording Academy announced Monday. The victory makes Tyla the first artist to win the category twice after her 2024 win for the global hit "Water." The award caps a rapid rise for the Johannesburg-born performer, whose blend of pop, R&B and South African township sounds has found a wide international audience. The Recording Academy recognized "Push-to-Start" amid a…

Egypt Assumes AU Peace and Security Council Leadership, Vows to Prioritize Sudan and Somalia CAIRO — Egypt on Sunday took over the rotating monthly leadership of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, pledging to prioritize efforts to address the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia. The one-month presidency, which began Feb. 1, comes as the continent confronts overlapping crises, including armed violence, fragile political transitions, food insecurity and climate-related pressures, according to Egypt’s Ministry of…

Egypt takes helm of AU Peace and Security Council, puts Sudan and Somalia atop agenda CAIRO — Egypt on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, pledging to focus its one-month term on the crises in Sudan and Somalia while advancing a broader agenda linking peace, security and governance across the continent. The presidency, which began Feb. 1, comes amid what Cairo described as escalating and overlapping challenges in Africa — from protracted armed conflicts and fragile…

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s government accused Israel on Tuesday of multiple diplomatic violations, alleging that official Israeli channels launched “insulting attacks” against President Cyril Ramaphosa and that Israeli officials failed to inform the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) about visits by senior Israeli representatives. The allegations were set out in a government statement that cited two specific breaches: the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to attack…

IShowSpeed Gains Ghanaian Passport Amid Tour Celebrating African Culture Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known globally as IShowSpeed, has officially received his Ghanaian passport following a significant visit to the West African nation. This milestone not only marks a personal achievement for the acclaimed content creator but also symbolizes a deeper connection to his roots, as he revealed that his mother is Ghanaian. Ghana served as the penultimate destination on IShowSpeed's extensive African tour, which encompassed 20…

North Western State of Somalia leader meets Eric Trump in Davos as recognition push and investment pitch intensify DAVOS, Switzerland — Jan. 23, 2026 — North Western State of Somalia’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, met Eric Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum as the unrecognized East African territory seeks both international recognition and private investment, according to people familiar with the encounter. The discussion, held Wednesday in a hotel conference room steps from the Davos Congress…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has welcomed an appellate ruling that clears the way for the country’s elected representatives to take their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly, ending months of legal uncertainty over Somalia’s participation in the regional body. In a statement issued Tuesday, the ministry congratulated the nine lawmakers chosen by Somalia’s Federal Parliament to represent the country in EALA, calling the court’s decision a key step toward…

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…

Legal Block Lifted: Somali MPs to Join East African Legislature DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — The regional appellate court for the East African Community has overturned earlier decisions that barred nine Somali parliamentarians from taking their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly, clearing the way for Somalia’s first full participation in the EAC’s lawmaking body. Somalia’s Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC, Ilyaas Cali Xasan, confirmed the development after weeks of legal deliberations. “This ruling strengthens…

NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — A regional appeals court on Monday cleared Somalia’s representatives to take their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly, overturning earlier rulings that had blocked their participation and ending a months-long legal dispute over the country’s nomination process. The decision paves the way for Somalia’s full engagement in the East African Community’s legislative body and removes a significant obstacle to Mogadishu’s regional integration efforts since joining the bloc. Somalia’s ambassador to…