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Mogadishu begins voter card rollout for local council elections Somalia’s electoral commission on Saturday began issuing voter cards in Mogadishu, a step the capital has seldom seen after years marked by conflict, displacement and political uncertainty. The process opened across multiple districts with steady turnout and orderly lines as residents prepared to participate in upcoming local council polls. Distribution started in Hamarjajab, Waberi, Shangani, Hamarweyne, Boondheere, Abdiaziz and Shibis districts. Officials…

G20 in Johannesburg: A test of multilateralism as the Global South takes the stage The 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg will be historic: the first time the grouping meets on African soil. Under South Africa’s presidency and the banner "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," Pretoria aims to pivot the world’s premier economic forum toward issues that disproportionately affect the Global South — debt distress, climate resilience, and stark global wealth gaps. But the summit opens under an unusual cloud. President Donald…

Protests Ignite in Côte d'Ivoire as Election Day Approaches As Côte d'Ivoire braces for a presidential election on October 25, a palpable tension fills the air, marked by the recent announcement from the country’s leading opposition parties. On the heels of their leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, being barred from contesting, a call for daily nationwide protests rings through the streets of this West African nation. The situation has quickly escalated into a scenario that echoes the political turmoil of…

Five Years of Silence: The Unfolding Legacy of Cameroon’s Protest Crackdown As Cameroon approaches the presidential elections scheduled for October 12, the shadows of repression linger longer than ever. This month marks five years since the violent crackdown on protests led by the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) in September 2020—an event that has left a lasting scar on the nation’s collective conscience. A Dark Chapter in Cameroon’s History The protests, which erupted in response to long-standing grievances regarding…

The Shifting Sands of Malian Security: An Unfolding Crisis In the heart of West Africa lies Mali, a nation steeped in rich history, cultural diversity, and remarkable resilience. Yet, beneath its vibrant exterior, a tumultuous struggle for security has been escalating, leading to alarming consequences for its people. The country's complex political landscape, particularly after the military coups of 2020 and 2021, remains under scrutiny as external military alliances continue to prove ineffective. A Legacy of Discontent…

Millions vote in Malawi in high-stakes rematch driven by economic angst Millions of Malawians queued at polling stations across the southern African country on Tuesday to choose a new president in what has become a symbolic test of the nation’s democratic institutions and a high-stakes rematch between President Lazarus Chakwera and former president Peter Mutharika. From the market stalls of Blantyre to the maize fields of rural districts, the atmosphere was charged. Campaign posters still hung on lamp posts, and the thrum…

Ballots Arrive on Time in Malawi, But Trust Remains the Real Battleground Ballot papers for Malawi’s presidential and parliamentary elections due on September 16 arrived on schedule this week, prompting cautious relief from political parties and election officials — and renewed calls for what many see as the only thing that will keep the peace: uncompromising transparency during voting and counting. Logistics delivered, but the memory of 2019 lingers “We welcome the punctual delivery of ballots,” said a senior official…

Somalia’s president brings a climate plea to Addis Ababa as Africa seeks a united front ADDIS ABABA — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday as leaders from across Africa convened for the second Africa Climate Summit, a gathering that has shifted in recent years from platitudes to a sharpened insistence: poor nations deserve more money, and faster, to cope with climate shocks. Mohamud was greeted at Bole International Airport by senior Ethiopian officials and joined other high-level…

High-rise in Gaza city razed as Israel presses for tactical offensive; civilians urged to flee south An Israeli strike levelled a roughly 15-storey residential tower in Gaza city on Thursday, the second such collapse in as many days, as the Israeli military intensified warnings for residents to head south toward a so-called “humanitarian zone” ahead of a planned ground offensive. Video circulated by Israeli officials showed the building buckling and disintegrating into a cloud of dust and concrete. Israel’s defence…

Protest Looms as Hungary's Orbán Visits Dublin for Football Match As the sun begins to set over Dublin, anticipation builds for tomorrow's match between Ireland and Hungary at the Aviva Stadium. Yet, this seemingly innocuous sporting event has ignited a firestorm of controversy, particularly due to the presence of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a figure whose right-wing policies have drawn sharp criticism across Europe. Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has pledged to protest Orbán's attendance, emphasizing a commitment…