Legal and Judicial Affairs

Rediscovering a National Hero: The Legacy of Herbert Macaulay and the Power of Presidential Mercy in Nigeria In a remarkable gesture aimed at reconciliation and acknowledgement of historical injustices, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has recently granted presidential mercy to 175 individuals. Among those honored is a name that resonates deeply within the annals of Nigeria's fight for independence: Herbert Macaulay. The Weight of History Herbert Macaulay, often hailed as Nigeria's foremost nationalist, played a pivotal…

Benin Faces Growing Security Threats: A Call for Collective Action In a somber moment for a nation typically celebrated for its stability, Benin has found itself reeling from a deadly attack on a police station near its border with Nigeria. The incident, which took place on October 5, resulted in the tragic loss of several members of the security forces and sent ripples of fear and uncertainty through communities already grappling with rising violence. From Stability to Strain For decades, Benin has stood as a beacon of…

Uniting Against a Growing Crisis: President Boakai's Call to Action on Drug Abuse In a compelling address that resonates with the challenges faced by many nations today, President Joseph Boakai is urgently navigating the dangerous waters of drug abuse in Liberia—a crisis that has become a nationwide concern. As he unveiled new logistical support for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), including 15 new vehicles that symbolize a tactical response to the escalating drug trade, he emphasized that this issue is not solely a…

South Africa’s extension of Zimbabwean permits buys time — but not certainty South Africa’s government has quietly pushed the clock forward on a fraught and long-running migration question: officials announced an 18-month extension of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), prolonging its validity until May 28, 2027. For tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who live and work in South Africa, the move offers temporary relief — but not a long-term answer to legal limbo, social exclusion and political friction that have animated…

Lesotho court forces five displaced families to share compensation with host community — a ruling that raises bigger questions about justice for the uprooted In a decision that closed a six-year legal fight, a Lesotho court has upheld a controversial policy requiring five families uprooted by the construction of the Mohale Dam to share their lump-sum compensation with the broader community that now houses them. Justice Kopo ruled this week that the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority’s (LHDA) distinction between rural…

The Resignation that Shakes Nigeria's Technology Landscape In a dramatic turn of events, Nigeria's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has stepped down following revelations that have thrown his academic credentials into question. This unexpected resignation not only highlights the fragility of trust within the ranks of Nigeria's political elite but also touches upon deeper issues of accountability, integrity, and public trust in governance. Storm Brewing in the Political Arena The sequence of…

The Rise of a Trailblazer: Tomaino Hermine Patricia Ndam Njoya in Cameroon’s Presidential Race In a political landscape dominated by male figures, Tomaino Hermine Patricia Ndam Njoya stands out remarkably as the only female candidate in Cameroon’s upcoming presidential election on October 12. The mayor of Foumban and chairwoman of the Democratic Union for Cameroon (UDC) is not just making history; she is also challenging the established order represented by longtime president Paul Biya, who has held power for over four…

U.S. sends second batch of deportees to Eswatini amid legal challenges and diplomatic push The United States quietly flew a second group of 10 people to Eswatini this week, Eswatini government officials confirmed, deepening a controversial pattern of repatriations to African countries under the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration agenda. The detainees—reported to include nationals from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba—are being held at Matsapha Maximum Security Correctional Centre near Manzini as authorities…

Why Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado remains a conflict zone eight years on: beyond bullets and boots October marks the eighth year since an insurgency erupted in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, transforming a once-quiet coastal region into one of Africa’s most persistent and destabilising conflicts. Attacks continue on a near-daily basis, villagers and analysts say, even as Maputo leans heavily on military responses — deploying national forces, foreign troops and private security contractors to regain control. A…

South African activists held by Israel after Gaza aid attempt are “in good health and high spirits,” Pretoria says South Africa’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said a group of its citizens detained by Israeli authorities after attempting to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip are “in good health and high spirits,” and that efforts to secure their safe return are “advancing steadily.” The detained activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla — a civil society initiative that sought to reach Gaza by sea amid a protracted…