With tensions simmering in South Africa and protesters demanding tougher action on immigration, Ghana has started flying home its nationals in a move aimed at heading off the threat of xenophobic violence. Ghanaian authorities began repatriating the first group of citizens from South Africa as fears grew over anti-immigrant demonstrations and the possibility of attacks on foreigners. Around 300 people were expected to depart from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, and 800 Ghanaians have registered to return…

In a groundbreaking move for regional connectivity, the Republic of Congo has declared that, starting January 1, 2027, all African citizens will enjoy visa-free entry into the country. This initiative aims to simplify cross-border travel and enhance regional integration across the continent. This new policy is set to facilitate travel for various purposes, including business, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges. It embodies the Republic of Congo's commitment to the African Union's broader integration agenda and…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has put the National Assembly on notice: if lawmakers push ahead with an impeachment process over his conduct in the Phala Phala saga, he says he will be “compelled” to ask the Western Cape High Court for an interdict to stop it. The warning revives a controversy that has dogged Ramaphosa since 2022, when an independent panel concluded he might have committed serious misconduct linked to the theft of large sums of cash that had been hidden in a sofa at his private farm. Ramaphosa has repeatedly…

The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm over a rapidly deteriorating Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning that relentless violence and a deepening humanitarian emergency are undermining efforts to contain the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the epicenter lies in Ituri Province, a conflict-hit area where nearly five million people live amid persistent insecurity and a severe humanitarian crisis. Ongoing attacks are forcing civilians to flee alongside health…

Vast stretches of Mozambique’s farmland remain untouched, and a new Agriculture and Livestock census is putting hard numbers on just how much potential lies idle. According to the survey, only 18% of the country’s 36 million hectares of arable land is currently under cultivation, underscoring both the scale of opportunity and the obstacles farming families face in boosting crop production. Speaking at the launch of the report, Minister of Planning and Development Salim Vala said the findings point to a central reality for…

In a surprising turn of events, Senegal's Parliament has appointed Ousmane Sonko as Speaker, just a few days following his dismissal from the government by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political rift between the two former allies and comes after months of escalating tensions within the administration.

Windhoek residents who turned on their taps to find brownish water are seeing the effects of a sudden strain on the city’s supply system, officials say. The city has linked the discolouration to an interruption in water supply from the Namibia Water Corporation following damage to the pipeline that feeds water from the Von Bach Water Treatment Plant to Windhoek. The disruption has led reservoir levels across Windhoek to drop significantly, and the city says the lower levels allowed residue that had settled at the bottom of…

Malawi’s power crunch is deepening, electricity officials have warned Parliament, as the national grid struggles to keep pace with soaring demand while being hobbled by frequent equipment failures, fuel shortfalls, and aging infrastructure. Representatives of the nation’s electricity company told lawmakers that Malawi is generating far less power than it requires, describing a system under strain from breakdowns and obsolete equipment even as consumption continues to climb.

Zimbabwe’s opposition politics and civil society circles are mourning the death of Linda Masarira, an outspoken human rights activist and party leader, who has died aged 43. Masarira founded and led the Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) in 2019. Tributes have begun to pour in from those who worked alongside her. Close friend Abigale Mupambi remembered Masarira as a “comrade to many,” reflecting the breadth of her relationships across activism and political organising. Over the past decade, Masarira became…

In a dramatic shift in the political landscape, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has removed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko from his post and disbanded the existing government, following a prolonged period of escalating tensions. This rift between the two leaders has intensified over the past few months, originating from their collaborative efforts to vanquish the candidate of the former ruling party during the March 2024 presidential elections. Despite the upheaval, no information has yet emerged regarding the selection of…