matter

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s efforts to hold more direct elections, after decades of indirect, clan-based voting, matter beyond its borders because they are closely tied to the country’s fight against the al-Shabab insurgency, the security of busy shipping routes off the Horn of Africa and the stability of an aid-dependent state where international partners are trying to shift responsibility for security to Somali institutions. Somalia has long selected many officials through clan-based negotiations and indirect…

South Africa’s Ambassador to France Found Dead in Paris; Family Seeks Answers South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, was found dead outside a Paris hotel on Sept. 30, 2025, about 24 hours after his wife reported him missing, authorities and family members reported. The circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear, and the ambassador’s family has demanded answers amid confusion over how his mobile phone came to be discovered far from his body. Immediate facts and family concern The swift reporting of…

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, tensions remain between Joseph Kabila's Common Front for the Congo (FCC) and Félix Tshisekedi's Cap for Change (Cach). The former president's political family accuses members of his successor's political platform of bribing to overthrow the parliamentary majority. After many statements in the press from the FCC, the tension has increased slightly in the two days.…