Legal and Judicial Affairs

Opposition Leader Anicet Ekane Dies in Custody, Escalating Tensions in Cameroon Anicet Ekane, the prominent opposition leader and head of the Manidem party, has died at the age of 74 after being held for several weeks at a military garrison in Yaoundé. His family and legal representatives claim he was denied essential medical care during his detention, where he struggled to breathe while facing serious charges, including hostility against the state, incitement to revolt, and calls for insurrection. Ekane's arrest on…

Windhoek — Namibia’s ruling Swapo party captured a decisive share of seats in Monday’s local authority elections, winning just over 52% of all seats nationwide, electoral authorities said, marking an increase of nearly 40% compared with the 2020 local polls. Officials also reported turnout was low, with fewer than 40% of registered voters casting ballots. The results reaffirm Swapo’s standing after three decades in national government, but analysts cautioned the party’s gains do not translate into uncontested control at the…

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission warned this week that technology‑facilitated gender‑based violence (TFGBV) is moving from the margins into the mainstream, forcing many women and girls to silence themselves online and offline. The statement, released to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, said that journalists, activists, politicians and young women in Zimbabwe are among the most affected and urged stronger enforcement of existing laws. "Women and girls are increasingly…

President Daniel Chapo on Friday rejected as false allegations that Mozambique’s security forces committed serious human rights violations in Palma, Cabo Delgado, after a London-based investigation and a criminal complaint tied the abuses to activities surrounding a major gas project. The allegations were published Sept. 26 by Politico and were paired with a criminal complaint filed in France by the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR). The complaint accuses French energy giant TotalEnergies, which…

Army Rescues 12 Girls Abducted by Boko Haram in Borno State In a significant operation, troops under Operation Hadin Kai have successfully rescued 12 girls abducted by Boko Haram and ISWAP militants in the Mussa District of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Borno State. The victims, aged between 15 and 20, were kidnapped on November 23 while working in their farmlands. One girl managed to escape and return home safely, leaving 12 others in captivity. Acting on actionable intelligence, the army conducted a targeted…

Diplomatic Efforts for Peace in Eastern DRC Stalled Amid Rising Tensions Peace in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remained elusive as diplomatic efforts repeatedly stalled, with brief moments of progress quickly overshadowed by setbacks. Despite a symbolic handshake between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's Paul Kagame in October, analysts, including Timo Roujean of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, viewed such gestures as empty rhetoric amid unresolved questions about any potential peace…

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday praised South Africans for their unity and hospitality after Pretoria successfully hosted the G20 Leaders' Summit — the first time the gathering was held on African soil — and more than 130 related meetings. In a nationally broadcast address, Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to citizens whose cooperation, he said, helped South Africa present a “People’s G20” to visiting heads of state and delegations. He said global leaders had commended the country’s warm welcome and the spirit of ubuntu…

Lilongwe — A court in Lilongwe has issued a warrant authorizing a search of former President Lazarus Chakwera’s residence over allegations that he is unlawfully holding four State-owned security dogs, according to court records and an affidavit filed with the court. The affidavit says the animals are normally deployed to State House and other presidential security installations and were allegedly moved into Chakwera’s custody without the required approval. The warrant empowers investigators to enter the former president’s…

Ever-increasing security challenges in Nigeria, such as the mass school abductions of hundreds of students and staff in Kebbi and Niger states, have sparked national outrage and urgent calls for action. These tragic incidents have not only highlighted the vulnerabilities of educational institutions but also raised pressing questions about the government's ability to protect its citizens. The Kebbi civil society coalition condemned the abductions as direct attacks on education, a fundamental right for all children. Their…

Students Escape from Kidnapping in Niger State Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations In a harrowing incident that has sparked national outrage, fifty out of more than 300 students and 12 teachers kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State have successfully escaped and have been reunited with their families. The escape comes amidst an intensifying military-led search and rescue operation aimed at locating the remaining victims, who are still held captive by their abductors. This kidnapping incident follows a troubling…