governance

Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane has ordered a halt to the recruitment of new commissioners for Lesotho's electoral commission after a high court application challenged the constitutionality of the process. The applicants, who moved to the High Court, raised concerns about what they described as a "peculiar manner" in which an employment consulting firm was procured to assist the commission, and cited other unspecified irregularities that they say have marred the selection exercise. After hearing arguments from the parties,…

Kebbi Officials Dispute Claims of Religious Context in Schoolgirls' Abduction Local officials in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kebbi are vehemently contesting statements made by U.S. lawmaker Miley Moore regarding the recent abductions of schoolgirls in the region. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Moore claimed that the attack occurred in a "Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria," calling for prayers for the twenty-five schoolgirls kidnapped in this incident. He also urged the Nigerian government to take more…

SOUTH AFRICA — South Africa faces what health researchers call a “vaping crisis” among adolescents while a long-promised overhaul of the country’s tobacco laws sits largely dormant. The draft Tobacco Bill published in 2018 — designed to extend smoke-free public spaces, introduce plain packaging and ban point-of-sale displays for both cigarettes and electronic cigarettes — has yet to clear the long road from proposal to law, leaving regulators and public-health advocates alarmed as youth nicotine use climbs. A 2024 study of…

Thousands of South Africans joined an online and street-level protest this week calling on the government to declare gender-based violence (GBV) a national disaster, a demand activists say is necessary to match the scale of attacks on women across the country. The movement, which began on social media and crystallised in a coordinated "G20 Women's Shutdown," asked women to withdraw from work and the economy for a day, wear black, and lie down for 15 minutes at noon to honour those killed. Organisers urged supporters to turn…

Nnamdi Kanu Convicted of Terrorism and Treason in Nigeria Separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu has been convicted of terrorism, treason, and other charges in Nigeria after a decade-long trial. He has been sentenced to four life sentences, along with additional terms to be served concurrently. The prosecution had sought the death penalty; however, Judge James Omotosho stated that executions are now "frowned upon." Omotosho’s ruling emphasized that Kanu used a series of broadcasts to incite violence and killings in support of his…

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promoted Lieutenant Gen. Emmanuel Matatu and named him head of the Zimbabwean Defence Force (ZDF), and elevated Major Gen. Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to lieutenant general as commander of the Zimbabwean Armed Forces, the presidency said in a statement. The statement said the appointments and promotions were made “in keeping with the country’s Constitution.” It gave no further detail on the timing of the handovers, the officials’ previous postings or any accompanying changes to the defence…

Sovereign debt crisis imperils developing economies as G20 gathers in Johannesburg Global economic experts are raising the alarm: sovereign debt in many developing countries, especially across Africa, has reached a critical stage and risks triggering wider instability if left unaddressed. With G20 leaders preparing to meet in Johannesburg this month, analysts say the summit is an urgent opportunity for coordinated action on debt sustainability and finance for development. The warning follows reporting that many low- and…

India offers aid as Botswana confronts acute medicine shortages India has offered to assist Botswana in addressing a severe shortage of essential medicines, officials said during a visit by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The offer was announced by Botswana President Duma Boko at a joint media briefing, underscoring the urgency of the country’s health supply crisis. President Boko announced the offer while briefing the media alongside visiting Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Available reports put the stock of essential…

Bridge Collapse in DR Congo Mine Claims 32 Lives In a tragic incident underscoring the perils faced by artisanal miners, at least 32 individuals have lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) due to the collapse of a bridge at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine. The bridge, which was unable to withstand the weight of overcrowding caused by unauthorized miners, gave way under the strain, leading to the catastrophic event. Unauthorized Access: A Prelude to Disaster This disaster highlights a…

Namibia’s plan to revive a flag carrier revives familiar risks — and questions The government of Namibia has moved from intention to action in its plan to relaunch a national airline, confirming a new state-owned entity — Namibia Air Pty Limited — and the appointment of an interim board. Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi says market analysis, traffic forecasting and a business model are under way, and that the carrier could be operational in the next financial year. Opposition parties have urged caution, warning…