A grim wave of vigilante killings has left at least 60 people dead, driven by panic over rumours that men’s genitals were being “shrunk” or “stolen.” Eyewitnesses said accusations alone were enough to spark instant fury, with crowds rapidly coalescing into mobs that beat or killed the alleged culprits. The unrest erupted in mid-April in Cabo Delgado province and has since spilled into other parts of the country. Authorities have responded with hundreds of arrests. People who claimed to be victims of the purported attacks…

In a tragic incident that has heightened concerns over civilian safety, an airstrike by the Nigerian military in Tumfa market, Zamfara State, has reportedly led to the deaths of at least 100 civilians. Amnesty International is urgently calling for an investigation into the strike, describing it as part of a troubling pattern of attacks that have taken a heavy toll on innocent lives. However, military officials have refuted claims of civilian casualties in this latest operation. This aerial bombardment coincided with another…

South Africa’s top court has drawn a clear line in the sand: foreign nationals whose asylum bids have already been rejected may not file fresh applications. In its ruling, the Constitutional Court warned that permitting repeat filings without a legal framework to govern them would fuel a “never-ending cycle,” stall deportations, and overwhelm the system with administrative disorder. Leon Schreiber, the minister of home affairs in South Africa’s coalition government, hailed the judgment as a “major victory” against what he…

The acquittal of former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, who faced a $6 million corruption investigation, has ignited discussions surrounding the integrity of the judicial system. A civil society organization, the Independent Societal Watch Advocates, has characterized the verdict as a testament to judicial independence, asserting that justice should not be confined to mere convictions. This perspective comes in the wake of significant backlash from the ruling Unity Party, particularly from its Youth Chairperson, Melvin…

Human Rights Watch has urged authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to safeguard free speech and ensure people can voice dissent without intimidation or harassment, following fresh accounts of journalists, activists, and opposition figures being arbitrarily detained. In a statement, the organization said the tightening grip on critics comes amid mounting political friction over a potential constitutional revision. Opponents warn that such a change could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to sidestep the country’s…

Tragedy strikes the Lake Chad Basin as over 40 Nigerian fishers are feared dead following airstrikes launched by Chad aimed at Boko Haram positions. Abubakar Gamandi Usman, the chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, expressed grave concerns that some fishers might have been directly struck during the assaults, while others reportedly drowned while attempting to escape in overcrowded boats. As of now, no bodies have been recovered from the water. The Chadian government described the air raids as…

Defying mounting pressure, President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will stay in office after the Constitutional Court’s judgment on the Section 89 impeachment process connected to the 2020 theft of cash at his Phala Phala farm, where thieves reportedly made off with thousands of dollars stashed in furniture at the game property. Ramaphosa says he will launch a legal challenge to the report that cleared the way for parliament to weigh impeachment proceedings. He denies any wrongdoing and maintains the funds were the lawful…

Migration has emerged as a pivotal issue both in Africa and globally, fueled by factors such as conflict, job scarcity, economic disparities, unstable governance, environmental challenges, and the universal human pursuit of improved living conditions. While the phenomenon of migration is longstanding, the resulting tensions have escalated into more perilous and politically fraught confrontations. Recent xenophobic incidents in South Africa serve as a stark reminder that hostility toward foreign nationals can never be…

President Félix Tshisekedi has ignited a political backlash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after saying he would consider a third term if citizens called for it, a statement that opposition leaders swiftly denounced. The constitution restricts presidents to two terms, and Tshisekedi said any modification would be decided by referendum. His critics counter that Article 220 expressly forbids changing presidential term limits, accusing him of laying the groundwork to prolong his time in office. The dispute…

South Africa’s top court has struck down Parliament’s 2022 move to halt impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa, ruling the decision unconstitutional in a judgment that immediately reshapes the political landscape. The Constitutional Court sided with opposition parties, which argued that lawmakers from the ruling party improperly shut down a process designed to test grave allegations against the head of state. The dispute traces back to an independent panel’s findings that the President had a case to…