governance

Unity Schools Reopen Amid Enhanced Security Measures The government has announced the reopening of 47 unity schools that were closed in November following a surge in school abductions. With the implementation of strengthened security measures around affected campuses, academic activities have fully resumed. In a recent statement, the Ministry of Education explained that the closures had been prompted by mass abductions in Kebbi and Niger states. Notably, at least 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from a school in Kebbi, while…

In a significant shakeup within Nigeria's petroleum regulatory landscape, President Bola Tinubu has replaced the heads of two pivotal agencies following the resignation of their chief executives. The changes affect the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), marking a notable turn in the country’s oil and gas governance. The resignations of Farouk Ahmed, head of NMDPRA, and Gbenga Komolafe, head of NUPRC, come in the wake…

GABORONE — Botswana has urged farmers and other stakeholders along its border with South Africa to be on high alert after an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) was reported in Limpopo Province, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement. The ministry called on livestock owners and the public to report any signs of the viral disease — including drooling and ulcers in the mouth, on the muzzle or on the hooves — to the nearest veterinary office or to the Botswana Police Service. “Reports of suspect animals should…

Trump Expands Travel Restrictions, Targeting 15 Additional Countries President Donald Trump has expanded United States travel restrictions to include an additional 15 countries, predominantly in Africa, a move that is poised to exacerbate tensions in U.S.-Africa relations and disrupt travel, education, and business connections across the continent. Among the newly added countries, 11 are African: Angola, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This…

At least 37 people were killed after flash floods struck Morocco’s coastal Safi region following hours of torrential rain that swept cars and debris through the port city, local authorities said Monday. Dozens of people were treated in hospitals, and emergency services reported at least 70 homes flooded in the old city centre. Some roads into and out of Safi were blocked by water, mud and wreckage, hampering relief efforts and isolating neighbourhoods. “It is a dark day for the city,” residents told local media, urging the…

A Surge of Coups in Africa: Understanding the "Coup Belt" Eight African countries are currently under military rule, an alarming situation that has intensified recently. Within just eight weeks, two successful coups and one foiled attempt have unfolded, raising concerns that a new dimension of instability is emerging in Africa’s political landscape. This phenomenon has led to the emergence of a "coup belt" stretching across the continent, particularly concentrated in the predominantly French-speaking Sahel region. Jakkie…

Opposition Accuses Nigerian Government of One-Party Drift Ahead of 2027 Elections Opposition politicians in Nigeria have sounded the alarm over what they describe as the government's drift toward a de facto one-party state. They contend this shift is being executed "through coercion," primarily by weaponizing state institutions, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a joint statement that has drawn significant attention, key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar…

Congolese Electoral Commission Urges Voter Verification Ahead of 2026 Presidential Election The electoral commission in the Republic of Congo is urging registered voters to verify their names on the provisional voter's roll in preparation for the upcoming presidential elections. This call to action is accompanied by banners displayed throughout Brazzaville, highlighting the critical nature of this verification process. As the nation gears up for the 2026 presidential election, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, now 81 years…

Ghana Deports Israeli Nationals Amid Diplomatic Tensions Ghana has taken the significant step of deporting three Israeli nationals, a move that appears to be a direct response to the treatment of Ghanaian citizens at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. This escalating diplomatic conflict underscores the intricate and often fraught relationships between nations in the region. In a troubling incident, seven Ghanaians, including four members of an official delegation attending a cyber-security conference in Tel Aviv, were…

Human Rights Watch said Monday that thousands of civilians displaced by recent attacks by an Islamist armed group in northeastern Mozambique are sheltering in overcrowded, inadequate conditions and urgently need food, health care and protection. Between Nov. 10 and 23, 2025, attacks in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces killed 33 people and forced about 108,000 people from their homes, the rights group reported. Among the displaced are an estimated 70,000 children, HRW said. "Displaced people in northern Mozambique,…