current events

The aspirations of former Senegalese President Macky Sall to ascend to the role of UN Secretary-General have hit an impasse following the African Union's (AU) decision to withhold formal endorsement. On March 27, the AU announced that 20 out of its 55 member nations either opposed Sall's candidacy or sought an extension on the tightly constrained 24-hour deadline. Djiby Sow, a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), emphasized that this outcome does not reflect discord among African nations. Instead,…

President Paul Kagame issued a stark warning against genocide denial and the rewriting of history, insisting that the record of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi is incontrovertible and not open to erasure. He dismissed narratives portraying the killings as a spontaneous eruption. Kagame noted that the historical record has been firmly established by international tribunals and Rwanda’s Gacaca court process, which generated millions of case files nationwide. He also underscored that clear warnings were available before…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s move to appoint seven new deputy ministers has drawn swift criticism from political analysts and opposition figures, who argue the decision will meaningfully inflate government spending. They describe the plan as poorly conceived, saying it places fresh strain on the national budget. Each of the seven deputies will earn N$65 000 a month — N$780 000 a year — adding nearly N$1.7 million annually to the wage bill for public office bearers. Critics also questioned whether the appointees can…

Zimbabwe’s central bank says the rollout of the new ZWG notes is ready, with distribution set after banks completed the logistics and operational plans required for a "seamless" transition, according to an official statement. Central Bank Governor John Mushayavanhu said the "Big Five" series has already been deployed nationwide in volumes sufficient to meet demand, remaining within existing daily and weekly withdrawal limits, and will be introduced in phases.

Relentless downpours have left a deadly mark on Angola, with at least 29 people killed in Luanda and Benguela provinces, the Civil Protection and Firefighters (SPCB) said. The severe storms tore through communities, toppling 114 houses in Benguela and damaging several others, while floodwaters swept away four vehicles. In Luanda, authorities reported six deaths, one person missing, and more than 33,000 residents affected as neighborhoods struggled with rising waters. The flooding inundated thousands of homes and battered…

The passage of a UN resolution condemning the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as the "most serious crimes against humanity" has stirred a complex mix of reactions worldwide. Proposed by Ghana, the resolution notably refrains from explicitly calling for reparations but does "encourage member states to support initiatives aimed at reparatory justice." Celebrated by many throughout Africa and its diaspora, the resolution has also attracted skepticism, particularly from the United States. Critics…

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is prompting a significant shift in oil procurement strategies among European and Asian buyers, who are increasingly turning to African oil-producing nations. These countries not only offer lower insurance costs but also promise more consistent delivery timelines compared to the high-risk regions of the Middle East. According to industry analysts, leading African energy players—namely Nigeria, Libya, Angola, Gabon, Mozambique, Namibia, and Tanzania—are being regarded as safer…

At least two people have been confirmed dead and dozens remain unaccounted for after a migrant vessel capsized in the Mediterranean, rescuers said, as survivors and witnesses described a desperate scramble at sea. The small craft, which set off from Libya, overturned inside a search-and-rescue area that is officially the responsibility of Libyan authorities. German NGO Sea-Watch reported that two merchant ships passing nearby pulled 32 people from the water and transported them to Lampedusa, the Italian island that serves…

After more than 40 years in power, President Paul Biya is poised to install a vice-president for the first time in his rule, following parliament’s approval of contentious constitutional changes. The move revives a position that was abolished in 1972. The amendment hands the aging leader sweeping control over the vice president’s office: Biya can appoint and dismiss the deputy at his discretion, and the vice president may exercise only those authorities the president delegates. In the event of the president’s death,…

In a dramatic turn of events, the military announced the successful rescue of 31 worshippers who had been taken hostage during a violent assault on a church in northwestern Kaduna state. The attack unfolded in Ariko village, where both a Catholic and an evangelical church were targeted during Easter services. Tragically, seven individuals lost their lives, with the military reporting that five bodies were discovered at the scene. This horrific incident occurred despite a directive from the police chief for a "massive…