With the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Senegal stands out as a formidable contender, having made a significant impact in past tournaments. The Lions of Teranga first captured global attention during their maiden appearance in 2002, reaching the quarter-finals. They continued to assert their presence with strong performances in 2018 and 2022. Senegal's journey reflects a broader trend in African football, where the continent's representation has notably expanded. Since the inaugural participation of a single African…

Zimbabwe is once again in the spotlight over workers’ rights after the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) added the country to its watch list in the 13th edition of the Global Rights Index, a report that documents labour-rights violations around the world. In its assessment, the ITUC groups Zimbabwe among countries where labour conditions are deteriorating, pointing to what it describes as a rollback of workers’ rights fuelled by state harassment, arbitrary arrests of trade unionists, and limits on collective…

In a significant counteroffensive, the Nigerian military announced the rescue of 360 individuals from the clutches of Boko Haram in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State. This operation marks a critical blow to the militant organization, which has been infamous for its abductions. The rescued individuals were reportedly held under dire conditions, having been seized from various communities in the area. Tragically, two infants lost their lives due to exhaustion, a grim reminder of the challenges faced by those enduring…

With pressure mounting on the streets and online, President Cyril Ramaphosa has gone on national address to unveil a sweeping set of steps aimed at tightening South Africa’s grip on illegal migration, as anti-foreigner marches grow and anger over stubbornly high unemployment boils over. Ramaphosa said the package will target multiple pressure points in the system: tougher enforcement against employers who hire undocumented migrants; dedicated immigration courts designed to accelerate deportation processes; reinforced border…

The U.S. government's recent decision to slash the number of embassies offering visa services in Africa from 50 to 20 has sparked concerns among Malawians, particularly regarding their nation’s exclusion from this select group. Reports from the Nyasa Times indicate that many citizens are left questioning whether they are "paying the price for failures at home." As the changes take effect, Malawians will find themselves needing to journey to regional hubs beyond their borders to apply for visas, attend necessary interviews,…

The United Nations says weapons looted during Libya’s 2011 conflict are now stoking violence across West Africa, turning up in the arsenals of extremist groups in Nigeria and throughout the Sahel. Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, told delegates at the UN headquarters in New York that the illicit arms trade fueled by that looting is amplifying insecurity in the region. Speaking on the proliferation of illicit arms, Nakamitsu warned that weapons diverted or…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled plans to send envoys across Africa and to other regions of the world, signalling a stepped-up diplomatic push as South Africa grapples with mounting migration pressures. Ramaphosa said the initiative is aimed at widening international cooperation on migration, arguing that countries must work in concert to confront the underlying drivers of population movement. He also rejected the characterisation of South Africa’s approach as xenophobic, framing the outreach as an effort to build…

In a fresh push to tighten their ties, South Africa and Kenya have signed six new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) designed to broaden cooperation across key sectors, from trade and maritime transport to skills development, gender equality, arts and culture, and sport. The agreements were concluded during Kenyan President William Ruto's State Visit to South Africa, marking another step in what both governments describe as a deepening strategic partnership. The latest set of MoUs brings the total number of bilateral pacts…

With Ebola still flaring in the Democratic Republic of Congo, frontline medics are straining to contain the disease while research teams worldwide sprint to produce a vaccine tailored to the specific strain driving the crisis. The epicentre lies in Ituri province in the country’s northeast, where ongoing conflict, mass displacement, a sizable migrant population, and underfunded clinics create a perfect storm that complicates efforts to halt transmission.

South Africa has begun rolling out a new line of defense against HIV: a six-monthly preventive injection that is now available free of charge at hundreds of public health facilities. The anti-HIV jab, which prevents HIV through sex, is currently stocked at 360 government clinics across six provinces, according to the health department’s list of clinics. The provinces included in the initial rollout are Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape. The Northern Cape, Limpopo and the…