In a statement read on national television late on Thursday, the junta alleged that Yann Vezilier was working “on behalf of the French intelligence service”. Mr Vezilier is yet to comment on the accusation.

His picture was also broadcast, alongside those of a number of army generals arrested recently for allegedly planning to overthrow the military government.

“The conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved,” Mali’s Security Minister Gen Daoud Aly Mohammedine said in the televised address.

France, Mali’s former colonial ruler, is also yet to comment on the man’s arrest and allegations of destabilisation.

The West African nation has been gripped by a security crisis fuelled by an Islamist insurgency since 2012 – one of the reasons given for the military takeover but attacks by jihadist groups have continued and even increased.

Following days of speculation about the alleged coup plot, Gen Mohammedine confirmed that “fringe elements of the Malian armed security forces” had been detained for seeking to “destabilise the institutions of the republic”.

“These soldiers and civilians” were said to have obtained “the help of foreign states”, the minister said.

The French national acted “on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel” in Mali, the minister added.

He also confirmed the arrest of two army generals, including Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region, who was recently dismissed from his position.

At least 55 soldiers have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged attempted coup, security sources told AFP.

Gen Mohammedine said a full investigation was under way to identify “possible accomplices” and that “the situation is completely under control”.

Political tension has been rising in recent weeks, which have seen the arrest of former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maïga over accusations of harming the reputation of the state and embezzlement.

Mara, a recent outspoken critic of the military government, has been in detention since 1 August, while Maïga is facing judicial sanctions.

In May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests, which Mara described as a severe blow to reconciliation efforts initiated by the military leaders last year.

Junta leader Gen Asimi Goïta, who seized power in both 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year, but these have never been held.

In July, the transition period was extended by five years, clearing him to continue leading the country until at least 2030.

Alongside its neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, it has enlisted the help of Russian allies to contain the jihadist attacks in the region after breaking ties with France – but there has been no significant improvements in security.

Source: BBC

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Davido and his wife, Chioma, lost their three-year-old son in October 2022 after he drowned in a swimming pool at their Banana Island residence in Lagos.

In a recent interview with ABC News’ Rocsi Diaz, the singer described the incident as life-changing, saying it gave him a deeper perspective on resilience and purpose.

He added that the strength he and his wife showed during the difficult period has inspired many, with several people approaching him to thank him for encouraging them to stay strong in their own hardships.

The host asked, “Having to go through the loss of your son at that period, being able to step away and look back into your career, gave you a refocus and reappreciation of how you wanted to move going forward.”

Davido responded, “Of course, it changed my life. I know how many people who randomly come to me at the airport to tell me how my strength has inspired them in hard times. I was telling my wife the other day that I’m proud of how we bounced back. Now, we got twins. They are big and shouting everywhere. For us to be able to go through the loss of our son and be able to bounce back in a major way is huge.”

Source: Vanguardngr

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The call was made by Mr. Joshua Osih, President of the Social Democratic Front, while speaking on a panel at the African Political Parties Summit 2025.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Osih highlighted how AI is transforming political communication and strategy. He emphasized that political parties must integrate AI into their operational frameworks to remain relevant in today’s fast-changing world.

He also cautioned that, while social media has revolutionized political communication, it comes with risks that must be managed carefully.

“Social media has shortened attention spans. AI can help distill political programs into content tailored to individual voters,” he said.

Mr. Osih further stressed that African political parties must be open to new approaches that embrace technological advancements to strengthen engagement and reach.

The African Political Parties Summit, now in its second day, is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, August 14, 2025.

Source: MyJoyOnline

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Dr. Boateng expressed concern over Africa’s current divisions along political and geographical lines, noting that these barriers make it difficult for citizens to travel freely across the continent.

He said such fragmentation hampers development and progress, and called for a more unified approach to governance led by political parties.

Highlighting the economic implications, Dr. Boateng stressed that instead of leveraging Africa’s 1.4 billion population, divisions have confined businesses to small domestic markets, limiting their growth potential.

“We need to think as one continent and not different countries. Made in Africa is what will save us; made in Africa is what will industrialize us,” he said. He further called on African political parties to collaborate to harness the continent’s collective strength for sustainable development.

Source: Myjoyonline

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The collaboration, unveiled on August 5, 2025, aims to mobilise new funding streams to expand sustainable transport infrastructure and services, including electric buses, motorcycles, and charging stations.

By leveraging carbon markets and climate finance, the partners plan to deliver high-impact, investable projects that reduce emissions and drive inclusive economic growth.

EcoSecurities CEO Pablo Fernández said the partnership combines the company’s expertise in climate finance with Energy Quest’s deep local knowledge to “catalyze investment in low-carbon transport solutions.”

Energy Quest Founder Lesley Arthur emphasised the importance of strong partnerships and coordinated financing to scale e-mobility.

She noted that the initiative will engage governments, investors, and development partners through platforms like the EV Revolution Africa Conference.

Transport emissions in Africa are rising at nearly 4% per year, with Ghana’s transport sector accounting for 17% of national greenhouse gas emissions.

Both organisations say e-mobility presents a vital opportunity to reverse this trend while improving air quality and energy security.

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Dr Phillemon M. Chamburuka, representing the Association of University Teachers, has asked the High Court to order the Vice Chancellor, UZ Council, and other officials to postpone the ceremony until an independent forensic audit of the 2024–2025 second semester is completed.

He argues that proceeding under the current conditions would harm both students and the university’s reputation, warning that some qualifications may later be invalidated if based on flawed processes.

Dr Chamburuka describes a chaotic semester marked by industrial action that led to some courses being inadequately or not taught. Exams were set, moderated, and marked without the standard academic safeguards required by university policies.

Court documents include a confidential Senate report detailing major lapses in teaching, supervision, and examinations. Issues highlighted include inconsistent project marking, ignored invigilation protocols, and incomplete or improper grade moderation.

A memo from the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, dated May 27, acknowledged “serious gaps in the teaching and assessment cycle” but recommended proceeding with exams to protect the academic calendar.

Further communications revealed grading discrepancies, with final marks differing significantly from moderated scores without clear justification.

The University of Zimbabwe Students Union warned that holding graduation amid such doubts would damage the university’s reputation and undermine the value of its degrees.

The Council of Social Work also cautioned that graduates from compromised programmes might be registered as professionals without adequate training.

Dr Chamburuka says repeated efforts to engage the UZ Council were ignored, prompting the court action after the graduation date was announced on the university website.

The draft court order seeks to halt all graduation preparations, mandate an independent audit, and require the release of its findings before any degrees are awarded.

University officials have yet to comment, and the case is pending a hearing date.

Source: iharare.com

Wednesday’s strike on the Nyala airport killed at least 40 suspected mercenaries from Colombia and destroyed a shipment of arms and equipment that were sent by the United Arab Emirates to the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, according to two Sudanese military officials and an adviser to a Darfur rebel leader allied with RSF.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to brief the media. The adviser also requested anonymity for his safety.

Sudan plunged into chaos when simmering tensions between the military and RSF exploded into fighting in April 2023 in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country.

The fighting has turned into a full-fledged civil war that killed tens of thousands of people, displaced more than 14 million people and pushed parts of the country into famine. The war has been marked by atrocities, including mass killings and rape in what is being investigated as war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.

‘New equation of deterrence’

State-run Sudan TV reported the aircraft had taken off from a military base in the Arab Gulf region, and that Sudanese fighter jets struck it when it landed at the Nyala airport. It described the strike as a “blatant message” and a “new equation of deterrence” against foreign interference in Sudan’s affairs.

In an emailed response to The Associated Press, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry denied the accusations as “unfounded allegations” that “lack any evidentiary basis.” It said the allegations were part of Sudan’s government’s “ongoing campaign of disinformation and deflection.”

There was no immediate comment from RSF.

Responding to the reports, Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on X overnight that he ordered an investigation into the mercenaries’ killing.

RSF seized Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province, last year as part of the paramilitary group’s push to control the entire region of Darfur. The Sudanese government has accused RSF of turning the city’s civilian airport into a military hub to receive weapons shipments and smuggle gold.

The Sudanese military has repeatedly struck the airport, saying it targeted aircraft delivering military supplies and mercenaries to RSF.

U.N. experts confirmed in a report released in April that Colombian mercenaries were present in Darfur and that those mercenaries were hired by a private security firm to support RSF.

According to the report, the Colombian Foreign Ministry acknowledged that Colombian mercenaries were in Darfur and announced the establishment of a special immediate response group to ensure the safe return of its nationals.

UAE bars Sudanese planes

The Sudanese aviation agency, meanwhile, said that the UAE barred Sudanese planes on Wednesday from landing at its airports, in what it called a “surprise, uncoordinated” measure.

The Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that a Sudanese airliner was also barred from taking off at the Abu Dhabi airport, according to a report by the state-run SUNA news agency.

Relations between the military-allied government in Sudan and the UAE have been frayed over Abu Dhabi’s alleged support to RSF. The Sudanese government severed ties with the UAE earlier this year over the allegations.

RSF besieges el-Fasher

In other war developments, satellite imagery analyzed by the U.S.-based Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab, or HRL, showed that RSF has imposed a total blockade on el-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur that was still under the military’s control.

HRL said in a report Wednesday that “there is no route of the city that RSF doesn’t control,” and that civilians attempting to get out need to pass through a 50-meter-wide (50-yard-wide) RSF control point.

RSF has been attempting to take over el-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur province, for more than a year to complete its control of Darfur’s five provinces.

The paramilitaries have repeatedly attacked the city. HRL said that it had documented the bombardment by RSF of two markets, three schools and two mosques in the city since June.

Earlier this year, RSF conquered the sprawling Zamzam displacement camp on the city’s outskirts, killing hundreds of people and forcing the camp’s population to flee.

Source: Associated Press

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U.S government announced the imposition of the tariff on July 31, 2025.

The tariff affects African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Malawi, Lesotho and Madagascar.

By this, Ghanaian goods entering the U.S will be subject to a 15 percent duty, raising export costs significantly.

A basket exporter to the U.S and Chief Executive of Trade Aid, Nicholas Aponkerah told Joy Business the tariff could collapse Ghanaian businesses that mainly export to the U.S.

He recounted that the recent sharp appreciation of the cedi has already affected exports.

“This tariff situation coming together with the recent sharp appreciation of the cedi is a double sword situation. There is an urgent need for government to intervene to address the challenges”, he pleaded.

He stated that businesses that export to the U.S heavily contribute to the economic gains of the country.

Other countries affected

In addition to the 15 percent tariffs on African nations, the US also imposed a steeper conditions on other countries including, South Africa and Libya which face 30 percent tariff. Tunisia face 25 percent duty.

Globally, the tariffs also affects a number of countries including Mexico, China, Canada, Germany, Japan Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India ,Italy ,United Kingdom, Switzerland, Thailand , France Malaysia among others.

Source: Myjoyonline

The decision was announced by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, who described the development as ‘an abomination’ and a serious departure from biblical truth.

The announcement came during the opening session of the 14th Church of Nigeria Conference of Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers, held on Tuesday at the Church’s national secretariat in Abuja.

With the theme ‘Called as a Watchman’, the event brought together legal minds from across the Church to discuss matters of doctrinal integrity, justice, and governance.

Primate Ndukuba delivered the keynote address titled ‘The Decade of the Reign of God: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects.’

Reacting to the Church in Wales’ elevation of a lesbian bishop, the Primate said, “We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales.”

He compared it to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church (USA), which had also led to Nigeria severing ties with that province.

“Just as the Church of Nigeria took steps after the election of Gene Robinson in the United States, we are severing every tie and relationship with the Church of Wales,” he said.

Primate Ndukuba also criticised what he described as the growing influence of revisionist teachings within sections of the Western Church.

“These individuals have not relented from their evil agenda; rather, they have intensified it. What they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God,” he declared.

Despite cutting formal ties with the Church in Wales, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its support for orthodox Anglicans in the region through platforms such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

“We pray that the Church of God in Wales will rise up, and that the faithful among them will stand strong. We, the Church of Nigeria, alongside GAFCON, will stand with them,” Ndukuba assured.

Looking ahead, the Primate said the Church of Nigeria plans to expand its global mission, with new registrations underway in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.

“We feel that the Lord is calling us back to Europe for mission,” he said.

The Primate also used the opportunity to highlight the Church’s ongoing contributions to the GAFCON movement.

He revealed that the Church of Nigeria had recently contributed $2.5 million to the GAFCON Endowment Fund and was planning a local Nigerian GAFCON Endowment worth $2.3 million to support orthodox Anglican work and mission.

On constitutional and legal matters, Ndukuba urged legal officers to strengthen the Church’s internal reforms and national engagement.

“You are to understand yourselves to be watchmen for the Church. You defend the Church against all forms of aggression. As modern-day watchmen, we must first listen to God, then speak His truth in love, knowing our duty lies in obedience,” he said, calling on legal professionals to support the Church’s constitutional review and advocate for a new Nigerian constitution.

Source: Vanguard Nigeria

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Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, nearly 13 million people have fled their homes, driven out by relentless aerial bombardments, random shelling, and violent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The scale of devastation is unprecedented, with civilian infrastructure — including hospitals, schools, and places of worship — being repeatedly targeted. Most recently, the RSF claimed responsibility for downing a military drone over El-Fashir in Darfur, accusing the army of conducting indiscriminate airstrikes in heavily populated areas.

A similar attack on Turra Market in North Darfur earlier this year left over 100 civilians dead, drawing condemnation from local human rights group, Emergency Lawyers, which labelled the incident a war crime and called for accountability.

The UN Human Rights Office continues to receive reports of escalating violence, including airstrikes on towns such as Kabkabiya and Nyala, with scores of civilian casualties. Even Christian churches and evangelical schools have not been spared.

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced linking the Sudanese military to resurgent extremist groups, including factions of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The group, once ousted by Sudan’s 2019 revolution, is alleged to have formed new alliances with the army, attempting to reclaim influence through the ongoing conflict.

Though one such battalion, Al-Baraa Ibn Malik, recently declared its withdrawal from the battlefield, experts have dismissed this as a tactical move designed to manipulate public perception.

Further complicating the crisis are revelations of foreign arms deals. According to an investigation by The Washington Post, the Turkish defence manufacturer Baykar covertly supplied the Sudanese army with at least $120 million worth of drones and missiles in late 2024.

Supported by satellite data and internal communications, the report indicates that these advanced weapons, including the TB2 drones, have been used in recent strikes, intensifying the war’s toll on civilians.

As the humanitarian catastrophe deepens, international observers warn that Sudan’s conflict — marked by shifting alliances, extremist resurgence, and foreign intervention — could destabilise the wider region unless urgent diplomatic and humanitarian interventions are made.

There is a music section with a set of drums. Sash-wearing church wardens move around to enforce order.

But it is also different. For hours, the only sounds are exclamations and thunderous bursts of drums, with their vibrations the cues for when to pray, kneel or respond to the preacher’s calls for “Hallelujah.”

This is a church for deaf people in Somolu, a mixed-income suburb, where about 50 to 60 people worship weekly.

Imoh Udoka, a father of two children, has attended the church for 36 years. He was 9 years old when he contracted meningitis, losing his hearing as well as access to his faith. Most churches in Nigeria do not have accommodation for deaf people.

Then Udoka, now a teacher of sign language, discovered the church via community outreach. “Here in this church, we have access to worship God in our sign language,” he told The Associated Press.

‘God also understands us’

Remi Akinrenmi is one of the pastors. Every Sunday, he mounts the pulpit with charismatic energy to preach in sign language. His big frame makes for a commanding presence.

On one Sunday, he preached about the sinister consequences of jealousy. On another, he preached the importance of faith. Attendees waved their hands above their heads in response to “Praise the Lord.”

Most important for Akinrenmi is that members see the church as a community.

“There was no community for us before the deaf church started,” he said. “Now, we see each other and say, ‘Oh, you are deaf, too. I am also deaf.’ And we are now together and have formed a community.”

God understands every language, he said: “With sign language, God also understands us.”

Disability advocates say that in the absence of inclusive churches and institutions, churches like this and a handful of affiliates in southern Nigeria are crucial, especially in African societies where the perception of people with disabilities is influenced by traditional beliefs. Some see a disability as a divine punishment.

“An exclusive space like this church offers them an opportunity for a safe space to be able to connect and relate,” said Treasures Uchegbu, founder of Speaking Fingers, a sign language advocacy group in Lagos. “They can say, ‘I am not a deaf person just standing alone, I have other deaf people around.’”

How the church came to be

The church organises evangelism outreach programs to other deaf communities in Lagos. It also runs a teaching unit for sign language, a vital tool for understanding the world better, according to Akinrenmi.

Hearing children of church members also attend the classes to better relate to their parents and others, and some hearing students attend church services for immersion learning.

The church started in 1956 in colonial Nigeria as the Christian Mission for Deaf Africans. In today’s Nigeria, an estimated 10 million people out of the population of 220 million are deaf or have difficulty hearing.

There is limited infrastructure in Nigeria for people with disabilities, and laws to improve their welfare and prevent discrimination are barely enforced. Efforts by advocates to push for more inclusive legislation have not materialised. They blame a lack of political will.

Oluwakemi Oluwatoke-Ogunjirin, a 49-year-old worker with the Lagos state government, was born deaf. She attended hearing churches with her family, but always felt lost.

Depending solely on public infrastructure in other parts of life, she struggles to get by. But at the church, she said, she has found a community where she can feel safe and understood.

“The church goes beyond faith; we have people like ourselves that we can talk to as friends,” Oluwatoke-Ogunjirin said.

With the church’s help, she has improved her sign language and can communicate widely, breaking the isolation she grew up with.

“The sign language makes life very easy for us,” she said. “It helps us communicate beyond the church.”

Most of them were worshippers taking part in a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda when they were attacked by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters. Nine of those killed were children, the UN peacekeeping mission said.

Nearby shops and businesses were looted and set on fire.

The ADF emerged in Uganda in the 1990s, accusing the government there of persecuting Muslims, but is now based over the border in DR Congo, where it regularly attacks civilians of all religions, as well as in Uganda.

It has since become part of the Islamic State’s Central African Province, which also includes a group in Mozambique.

According to research by BBC Monitoring, nearly 90% of IS operations are now carried out by affiliates in Africa.

The attack claimed at least 43 people, including 19 women, 15 men and nine children, the UN peacekeeping mission, Monusco, said.

“These targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law,” said Monusco deputy chief Vivian van de Perre.

The Congolese military said “about 40 people were surprised and killed with machetes and several others were seriously injured”.

It said “these terrorists have decided to take revenge on defenceless peaceful populations to spread terror”.

Lt Jules Ngongo, the Congolese army spokesman in Ituri province, where the attack happened, said it was meant to divert attention from their ongoing joint military operation with the Ugandan military targeting the militant group.

He said the army would continue to hunt down the ADF “to their last stronghold” and called on the people “to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious presence to the defence and security forces”.

In 2021, DR Congo invited Ugandan troops into the country to help tackle the ADF. Attacks however still continue.

Komanda is in DR Congo’s mineral-rich Ituri province, which has been fought over by various armed groups for many years.

Last week, Monusco condemned a “resurgence of violence”, this month, citing earlier ADF attacks on 8-9 July which it said had resulted in 47 deaths.

After breaking away from supporting President Paul Biya earlier this year, Bello Bouba Maïgari is running in a presidential race for the second time in his political career.

The same goes for Maurice Kamto and Cabral Libii, with both also changing political party affiliations for the elections.

The flood of applications meanwhile remains dominated by men: out of the 81 total applications, only seven female candidates declared their intention to run in the presidential elections, among them Eliane Véronique Eboutou and independent candidates, Mbengono Zouame Epse Ndzie Ngono Guyleine and Géneviève Zeh Amvene.

Biya’s grip on power is unlikely to be broken. Among the men, it is the incumbent President and oldest head of state in Africa Paul Biya who dominates the list.

The 92-year-old, who has held power for the past four decades, recently declared his intention to run for office again despite growing concerns over his health and ability to lead the country.

Some local media speculated that the number of candidates could point to a growing wish for political change from the population, as well as a fracturing of Cameroon’s political landscape.

Despite Biya’s age, the President’s grip on power is unlikely to loosen through elections whose democratic nature is doubted, according to analysts.

Last week, Biya also reshuffled top military ranks in what was seen as a way to ensure his renewed run for the presidency would have the army’s backing.

The country now waits for the decision of the electoral council, set to approve or reject each application in the coming weeks. The final list of candidates can be published at the latest 60 days before the election.

BBC

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Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi did it in dramatic style – dressed in military-like uniform and surrounded by masked police officers with automatic weapons, he called a press conference to accuse Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of having ties to criminal gangs.

He also said his boss had closed down an elite unit investigating political murders after it uncovered a drug cartel with tentacles in the business sector, prison department, prosecution service and judiciary.

“We are on combat mode, I am taking on the criminals directly,” he declared, in an address broadcast live on national TV earlier this month.

South Africans have long been concerned about organised crime, which, leading crime expert Dr Johan Burger pointed out, was at a “very serious level”.

One of the most notorious cases was that of South Africa’s longest-serving police chief, Jackie Selebi, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 after being convicted of taking bribes from an Italian drug lord, Glen Agliotti, in exchange for turning a blind eye to his criminal activity.

But Gen Mkhwanazi’s intervention was unprecedented – the first time that a police officer had publicly accused a cabinet member, let alone the one in charge of policing, of having links to criminal gangs.

The reaction was instantaneous. Mchunu dismissed the allegations as “wild and baseless” and said he “stood ready to respond to the accusations”, but the public rallied around Gen Mkhwanazi – the police commissioner in KwaZulu-Natal – despite the province also being Mchunu’s political turf.

#HandsoffNhlanhlaMkhwanazi topped the trends list on X, in a warning shot to the government not to touch the 52-year-old officer.

“He’s [seen as] a no-nonsense person who takes the bull by the horn,” Calvin Rafadi, a crime expert based at South Africa’s University of Johannesburg, told the BBC.

Gen Mkhwanazi first earned public admiration almost 15 years ago when, in his capacity as South Africa’s acting police chief, he suspended crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, a close ally of then-President Jacob Zuma.

Mdluli was later sentenced to five years in jail for kidnapping, assault, and intimidation, vindicating Gen Mkhwanazi’s view that he was a rotten apple within the police service.

Gen Mkhwanazi faced enormous pressure to shield Mdluli, with his political bosses assuming that the officer, aged only 38 at the time, would be “open to manipulation [but] they were grossly mistaken”, said Dr Burger.

Not only did he push ahead with Mdluli’s suspension, he also made claims of political interference during an appearance in Parliament.

While this move earned him brownie points with citizens, his public outburst did him no favours and he was axed barely a year into the job and shunted back into obscurity for a number of years.

He made a dramatic comeback in 2018 when then-Police Minister Bheki Cele appointed him to the provincial police chief post, with one of his major tasks being to investigate killings in a province where competition for political power – and lucrative state tenders – is fierce.

It would be the disbandment of this investigative unit by Mr Mchunu that led to Gen Mkhwanazi’s explosive briefing a fortnight ago, complaining that 121 case dockets were “gathering dust” at the national police headquarters.

“I will die for this [police] badge. I will not back down,” Gen Mkhwanazi said, in line with his reputation of being a brave and selfless officer who cannot be captured by a corrupt political and business elite.

A survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSCRC) shows that public trust in the police stands at an all-time low of 22%,

The police force has long been plagued by issues of political interference, corruption and a seeming inability to effectively tackle the high crime levels.

The crisis has also reached the force’s upper structures, with about 10 different police chiefs since 2000 – one has been convicted of corruption, and another currently faces criminal charges.

“The dysfunction is across all levels,” Gareth Newham of the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies (ISS) think-tank told the BBC, adding that “there are many dynamics within the police service that need to be fixed”.

But Gen Mkhwanazi’s tenure has not been without controversy. He was the subject of an investigation by the police watchdog, following a complaint that he interfered in a criminal investigation into a senior prisons official.

However, he was cleared of the charge last month, with the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) saying the complaint was “designed to derail a committed officer who has been unrelenting in his fight against crime and corruption”.

Gen Mkhwanazi’s team has also faced criticism for their heavy-handed approach towards criminal suspects, who are sometimes shot dead in confrontations with officers under his command.

Mr Newham said that with Gen Mkhwanazi seen as the “cop’s cop”, the public was willing to turn a blind eye to his officers’ alleged abuses because “they want to have a hero in the police”.

With Mchunu sent packing, South Africa will have a new acting police minister from next month – Firoz Cachalia, a law professor who comes from a renowned family of anti-apartheid activists, and served as minister of Community Safety in Gauteng, South Africa’s economic heartland, from 2004 to 2009.

In an interview with local TV station Newzroom Afrika, Cachalia said that Gen Mkhwanazi’s decision to go public with his explosive allegations was “highly unusual”, but if they turned out to be true then “we will be able to see in retrospect that he was perfectly justified in doing what he did”.

So Gen Mkhwanazi’s credibility is on the line – either he proves his allegations against Mchunu, or he could fall on his sword.

But for now he has cemented his reputation as a brave police officer who took on his political bosses twice.

Source: BBC

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The interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV reported.

Since seizing power in September 2022, the coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections, which would lead to a return to civilian rule.

A nationwide vote was due last year, but the junta extended the period of transition to democracy until July 2029, allowing leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré to remain in power and free to contest the next presidential election.

The AFP news agency quotes Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo as saying that the electoral commission was “subsidized” with around $870,000 (£650,000) a year.

Abolishing the commission would “reinforce our sovereign control on the electoral process and at the same time limit foreign influences,” he added.

After coming to power three years ago amid criticism that the civilian authorities were failing to deal with a growing Islamist insurgency, the military leaders have rejected the assistance of former colonial power France in favour of Russia.

Rights groups have since accused the army of targeting civilians in its attempt to quash the militants, as well as suppressing political activity and the freedom of expression.

There are also question marks over the effectiveness of the military operation. In the first half of 2025, jihadist group JNIM said it had carried out over 280 attacks in Burkina Faso – double the number for the same period in 2024, according to data verified by the BBC.

BBC

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She spoke at an event organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and the Ghana Armed Forces in Accra on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

The award recognises the dedication and efforts of a military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and aims to enhance awareness and understanding of mainstreaming gender perspectives within UN peacekeeping missions.

Speaking at the event, Squadron Leader Syme reflected on her deployment to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in Sudan.

According to her, the experience was a defining and humbling moment in her career, as it provided an opportunity to engage in humanitarian work and human rights advocacy, including efforts to combat female genital mutilation.

Her commitment and dedication during her deployment in Sudan earned her global recognition—an honour she says she will forever cherish.

UN Women’s Senior Gender Specialist, Dr. Afua Ansre, commended Squadron Leader Syme on her achievement, stating that it perfectly embodies the core mission of UN Women.

“Her achievement stands as a testament to the fact that empowering women within peacekeeping leads to stronger teams, more inclusive peace processes, and a greater positive impact on communities,” she lauded.

Dr. Ansre described the event not just as a platform to celebrate an individual accomplishment, but also as an illustration of the tangible results that stem from advancing the ideals and objectives of the UN and UN Women.

“When women lead, participate in, and shape peace operations, it sends a powerful message: inclusive peacekeeping, as championed by the UN, is fundamental to building sustainable peace and achieving true gender parity.”

She added, “Her recognition is also a call for us to renew our efforts to break down the barriers women face in the security sector and to promote their sustained leadership.”

Dr. Ansre reaffirmed UN Women’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every woman and girl has the opportunity to contribute to, influence, and benefit from peace and security initiatives—ultimately championing a world that genuinely leaves no one behind.

“Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme’s recognition as Military Gender Advocate of the Year is not merely a personal milestone but a testament to the transformative change that occurs when women are empowered to lead and contribute meaningfully to conflict resolution and peacebuilding,” she said.

“Her work with UNISFA demonstrates how the integration of gender perspectives strengthens teams, enhances mission outcomes, and leaves a lasting impact on the communities served,” she added.

For her part, the Chief Gender Policy Advisor at the Ghana Armed Forces, Captain Veronica Arhin, described the remarkable achievement as a moment that not only celebrates the excellence of one of Ghana’s own but also reaffirms the country’s unwavering commitment to gender equality in peacekeeping operations.

“We acknowledge Squadron Leader Syme, a Ghanaian officer who has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Military Gender Advocate Award for her outstanding contribution to gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping. Her dedication, courage, and skill have placed her on a global stage—highlighting what Ghana has long believed: that inclusion and diversity are fundamental pillars of effective leadership and conflict resolution,” she said.

She emphasised that this is the second time a Ghanaian officer has received this award, the first being in 2022, with Captain Ezra as the recipient.

“These achievements speak volumes and send a clear message that gender mainstreaming is not merely a checkbox exercise in the Ghana Armed Forces, but a steadfast commitment being translated into action,” she stated.

Captain Arhin announced that, in celebration of Squadron Leader Syme’s award, the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, together with the Military High Command, honoured her with a citation at Burma Camp on Wednesday.

“This gesture signifies that recognition of gender advocates should not only come from abroad, but must be proudly celebrated at home as well. These are moments that inspire future generations—especially young ladies—to envision themselves as leaders in spaces where their forebears were once excluded. As we celebrate Sharon today, let us remember that peace cannot be achieved, let alone sustained, where voices are silenced and perspectives excluded,” she charged.

UN Women champions the inclusion and empowerment of women within all aspects of peace and security and serves as an advocate for the Women’s Peace and Security agenda, ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated across the work they do with the United Nations and partners.

It also builds bridges between the UN, governments, the military, and civil society to drive policies and actions that foster gender equality in peacekeeping.

In addition, UN Women provides technical support and guidance to ensure its missions reflect the voices and needs of women and girls, especially in conflict and post-conflict contexts.

Source: Joseph Odotei

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“Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” he said in a post on X.

He added that his decision to go for an eighth term came after “numerous and insistent” calls by people from all regions in Cameroon and the diaspora.

Biya’s administration has faced criticism over corruption, embezzlement, bad governance, and failure to tackle security challenges. There have also been concerns about his health and ability to govern.

His absence from the public for more than six weeks last year led to speculation about his well-being and unfounded rumours that he had died.

His candidacy was expected but not formally confirmed until Sunday’s social media post.

Biya has never lost an election since taking power in 1982, and if he wins another seven-year term he could be president until he is nearly 100.

There have been growing calls from inside and outside Cameroon for him to step aside and give way for fresh leadership in the central African nation.

His candidacy follows a recent political divorce from key allies from the northern regions, who had been crucial in helping secure votes in previous elections from that part of the country.

Two of these men prominent minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary and former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, recently quit the ruling coalition and separately announced plans to run in the election.

Last month, Tchiroma said the Biya administration he belonged to had “broken” public trust and he was switching to a rival party.

Multiple opposition figures, including 2018 runner-up Maurice Kamto, as well as Joshua Osih, Akere Muna, and Cabral Libii, have also announced their candidacies.

However, members of the governing Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement and other supporters have since last year publicly called for Biya to seek another term. He was already the de facto candidate as the party leader.

Biya abolished term limits in 2008, enabling him to seek the presidency indefinitely.

He won the 2018 elections with more than 71% of the vote although opposition groups accused the process of widespread irregularities.

BBC

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This means citizens from these regions no longer need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), do not have to fill out lengthy forms, and are not required to pay any visa fees.

Moreover, this will allow eligible travelers to show up at the border and enter the country hassle-free.

However, the privilege does not extend to Libya and Somalia because they pose security risks, according to the government.

What the Visa Changes Mean

Further, the changes now allow African visitors to stay in Kenya for up to two months, while East African Community (EAC) nationals benefit from a six-month stay as per existing free movement protocols within the EAC.

According to the cabinet, the decision will enable Kenya to support open skies policies and encourage growth in the tourism sector.

Additionally, President William Ruto believes that simplifying entry procedures will make it easier for travelers to move across borders, strengthening ties between Kenya and the rest of the continent.

In a January 2025 notice, the government stated that it was introducing several other measures to improve the travel experience.

“As part of efforts to support open skies policies and tourism growth, a key proposal is to grant ETA exemptions to all African countries, except Somalia and Libya, due to security concerns,” a dispatch from the cabinet read in part.

Kenya also promised to put in place measures that allow travelers to receive ETA approval instantly, or within 72 hours, depending on operational capacity

In addition, the government promised to introduce a new passenger information system to enhance pre-screening, strengthen security, and streamline passenger processing at entry points.

Kenya Introducing Nomad Visas

On the other hand, in October 2024, the president announced the introduction of the digital nomad work permit will allow individuals working remotely to live and work in Kenya.

According to Ruto, the government was expanding its cyber optic footprint, to allow tourists to remain connected to the internet and work, even as they explore different parts of the country.

Also, he announced the introduction of the electronic travel authorization to give tourists permission to explore the country for 12 hours.

Therefore, individuals with connecting flights do not have to wait at the terminals. Instead, they will be able to explore various cities and attraction sites.

Source: thekenyantimes.com

In Sunday’s live televised speech to the nation, Ramaphosa also announced a judicial commission would probe the claims, which he said undermined the constitution and threatened national security.

He added that law professor Firoz Cachalia had been appointed as interim police minister.

Mchunu denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement that he “stood ready to respond to the accusations” against him.

In his speech, the president said that the allegations against Mchunu, which include interference in investigations into political killings and corruption within law enforcement agencies, “call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation”.

He said the judicial commission, led by the country’s deputy chief justice, would examine all the claims.

The commission will also investigate current and former police officials, as well as members of the national executive, Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa has been under growing public pressure to act swiftly over the high-profile case.

Mchunu, 67, is an influential figure in Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) party.

Political analysts have suggested he could run for a leadership position at the ANC’s next elective conference in 2027.

In a statement, Mchunu said: “I welcome and respect the president’s decision and pledge my commitment to the process.

“Honour and integrity are the virtues I personally subscribe to and which we all need to make efforts to uphold.”

The allegations were first made public by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police boss Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi last Sunday.

He claimed Mchunu was receiving financial support from an allegedly corrupt businessman to fund his “political endeavours”.

Gen Mkhwanazi also detailed a sequence of events he claimed led to the “orchestrated” disbandment of a task force that was set up in 2018 to investigate the killing of politicians, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal.

He said the team’s investigations had uncovered links to high-profile individuals – including politicians, police officials, and businesspeople tied to a drug cartel syndicate – and this is why the team was disbanded.

When he dissolved the unit earlier this year, Mchunu said it was not adding value in the province, despite many cases remaining unsolved.

According to Gen Mkhwanazi, a total of 121 case files were allegedly removed from the unit on the minister’s instruction and without the authorisation of his boss, the national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola.

“These case dockets have, since March, been sitting at the head office ever since without any investigation work done on them. Five of these dockets already had instructions to [effect] arrests,” Gen Mkhwanazi said.

He also alleged Mchunu had ties to a controversial businessman who was “financially supporting” the minister’s political career.

Vusimuzi Matlala had a lucrative contract with the police before it was abruptly cancelled when he was arrested for attempted murder in May. Gen Mkhwanazi shared copies of text messages and a payment allegedly made by Mr Matlala to prove this.

Source: BBC

The movement had mobilised citizens to demonstrate against the rising cost of living, the arrest of public commentators, and controversial constitutional reforms.

Protesters also called for the resignation of President Faure Gnassingbé, who was recently appointed President of the Council of Ministers following the country’s transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system.

At a press briefing held in Lomé on Wednesday, July 9, Togolese authorities confirmed the issuance of arrest warrants.

Minister for Security, Calixte Madjoulba, announced that investigations were actively underway to apprehend the organisers.

“Rest assured, investigations are ongoing. Arrest warrants have been issued. The countries where these individuals reside are urged to cooperate. Wherever they are, we will pursue them,” the minister declared.

Government officials accused the M66 movement, whose members are reportedly living abroad, of manipulating the public to incite unrest.

Colonel Hodabalo Anate, Minister of Territorial Administration, described the calls for protest as “acts of subversion” and likened them to terrorism.

“It is terrorism when you invite citizens to engage in gratuitous violence,” he stated, adding that unauthorised demonstrations cannot be considered legitimate democratic expression.

Despite the government’s crackdown and a shutdown of certain social media platforms in recent days, opposition to the current administration continues to mount.

Authorities have insisted that the local elections to elect mayors—scheduled for July 17—will proceed as planned, rejecting calls from opposition parties for a postponement.

Meanwhile, the M66 movement has called for renewed demonstrations on July 16 and 17.

Some political analysts argue that the arrest warrants are part of a broader strategy to silence dissent.

“Rather than initiating dialogue with actors across the socio-political landscape, particularly youth-led movements, the authorities are opting for suppression,” said Kao Atcholli, President of the Association of Torture Victims of Togo.

Civil society organisations have reported at least seven deaths and numerous arrests during the June protests, which were met with force by security personnel.

In response to public outcry, the government has launched a judicial inquiry into the fatalities recorded during the demonstrations.

Source:  Albert Kuzor and Ekou Blame  

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The move underscores the refinery’s ambition to dominate fuel supply in Africa and beyond, potentially reshaping energy trade flows in the region and boosting access to refined products for southern African nations.

The 650,000 barrels per day refinery, built at a cost of $20 billion by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, started operations last year and has been ramping up production and seeking new markets.

The sources, who were briefed on the development, said the storage tanks would be used to supply gasoline and diesel to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Dangote was also considering supplying fuel to the southern Democratic Republic of Congo, the sources said.

A Dangote spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. It was not immediately clear how much the project would cost, but the second source said construction of the storage tanks would begin shortly in the port city of Walvis Bay.

A Namibia Ports Authority official confirmed the plans and said the storage tanks would be housed within the Walvis Bay harbour.

A source said last month that a Dangote gasoline cargo was heading to Asia, the first time the refinery was selling gasoline outside the West Africa region.

Dangote refinery says at full capacity, the plant would produce enough to meet demand in Nigeria, which has sharply cut imports of processed fuels, and export the rest.

Source: Reuters

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Dr Fortune Gomo, 39, was treated by paramedics but died in South Road, in the city’s Lochee area on Saturday afternoon.

Kyler Rattray, from Dundee, made no plea and was remanded in custody when he appeared in private at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Dr Gomo, who was originally from Mutare in eastern Zimbabwe, had graduated with a PhD from Dundee University, and recently started working for Scottish Water.

A statement released by the Zimbabwean embassy on Monday night said Dr Gomo had been fatally stabbed.

It announced that an embassy team had been sent to Dundee to “engage with Scottish authorities on the ongoing investigation” and would support and assist Dr Gomo’s immediate family.

The statement also said the team would “ensure that Zimbabwean citizens are treated with dignity and that justice is pursued diligently”.

Dr Gomo’s family in Zimbabwe told BBC News they were still in shock at the news of her death.

Her brother Regis Nyatsanza said she would have turned 40 in a few weeks, and they had recently been discussing how she might celebrate.

Speaking from Harare, he said his sister was the eldest of four siblings and was seen as the “deputy parent” of the family.

“Two weeks ago, we were laughing about throwing her a big 40th birthday bash but she said she had achieved most of what she wanted,” he said.

“After all the struggle, she had everything she wanted, and so she was going to have a quiet celebration.”

A friend of Dr Gomo, Angela Machonesa, wrote on Facebook that she had been at school and university with her in Zimbabwe, and that her death had left her devastated.

She said: “Her brilliance in the classroom was only matched by her emotional intelligence. She was the kind of person you’d go to when you needed clarity, not just of mind, but of heart.

“We are heartbroken. We are angry. We are disoriented. But we are also united in one voice: Fortune Gomo mattered. Her life mattered. Her legacy must never be forgotten.”

Collections have been started in Dundee to raise money for Dr Gomo’s family and many floral tributes have been left at the scene of her death in South Road.

A message attached to one of the said: “We’re utterly shocked that this has happened in our community. May the angels watch over you.”

Videos widely shared on social media showed members of the local black community seeking reassurances and more information from police officers on duty near the scene on Sunday.

Police Scotland acknowledged that Fortune Gomo’s death had caused great shock throughout Dundee.

In a statement, it said: “Police Scotland is committed to having safer communities and senior officers have met with representatives from the local community to provide reassurance and support during this incredibly difficult time.”

The statement said the 20-year-old suspect had been arrested shortly after the incident, and that police believed there was no wider threat to the public.

Officers also said they were aware of “misinformation being shared on social media”, and urged the people not to speculate on the circumstances of Dr Gomo’s death, saying it could cause further distress to her family.

‘Exceptional scientist’

After leaving Zimbabwe, Dr Gomo had studied in the Netherlands. She had spent the past 10 years continuing her academic and professional career in the UK.

She spent several years in water-related research after completing her doctorate in geography and environmental science at the University of Dundee.

Six months ago she began working full-time for Scottish Water as a senior resource planner. Simon Parsons, director of environment planning at Scottish Water, offered the company’s deepest sympathies to her family and friends.

He said: “Fortune was an exceptional scientist and a senior service planner in our water resources planning section based in Dundee, where, having joined us in February, she had already become a highly valued and respected member of our team.”

Police have said Dr Gomo’s family are being supported by specialist officers.

Det Supt Peter Sharp, leading the investigation, said inquiries were continuing but there was no wider risk to the public.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Police Scotland.

Source: BBC

Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have chosen the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new political home after breaking away from their respective parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).

This is one of the biggest shake-ups in Nigerian politics since the end of military rule in 1999.

Some political heavyweights from Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) party have also thrown their weight behind the formation.

Why have they joined forces?

The announcement is the culmination of a series of talks between the leaders to put up a united front in the 2027 election, rather than splitting their vote.

Tinubu won the 2023 election with just 37% of the vote after opposition supporters were divided between Abubakar who got 29%, and Obi with 25%.

Obi had broken away from the PDP after the party chose Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

At their unveiling with the ADC, interim chairman David Mark said it was an attempt to save the country’s democracy and to stop Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.

Both the PDP and LP are also battling internal crises which some believe were instigated by external forces.

Analyst Shehu Iliyasu said Abubakar and Obi are learning the lessons of the last election.

“Both Atiku [Abubakar] and Obi felt they came so close in 2023 and would have maybe won on a joint ticket so they want to amend their mistake by working together this time around,” he told the BBC.

Who else is in the ADC?

Tinubu’s biggest challengers in the last elections, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are the face of the coalition.

Although there’s a long way to go before candidates are officially announced, political commentators are predicting that 78-year-old Abubakar will have another shot at the presidency – it would be his fifth attempt – with former Anambra governor Obi, 63, as his vice-presidential pick.

Other political heavyweights in the coalition include former Senate President David Mark, who like Atiku is leaving the PDP, along with its former chairman Uche Secondus, and former Tinubu ally turned foe Nasir El-Rufai and powerful minister in the last dispensation Rotimi Amaechi.

Is the ADC a new party?

No. The politicians are joining an already existing party which has an acronym closer to the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) they wanted to register.

The party was originally named Alliance for Democratic Change when it was formed in 2005, but it was renamed the African Democratic Congress by the time the party was registered with the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).

The ADC’s Jamilu Danladi said they were sceptical of getting ADA ready in time and that is why they instead went for the ADC.

Registering a new political party is a difficult process. The Inec chairman recently announced that it had received over 100 applications from associations and groups that have submitted letters of intent to become political parties.

Many of those won’t make it, as apart from other conditions, the group must have a presence in at least 24 out of Nigeria’s 36 states and have a headquarters in Abuja.

The ADC’s Dumebi Kachikwu came fifth in the last presidential election and it currently has two members of parliament in the lower chamber.

Despite not being one of the big parties in Nigeria, the ADC has a good national spread and an active political machinery in each state, which will no doubt be boosted with the money and support of the political heavyweights who have joined it.

Its first presidential candidate in 2007 Professor Pat Utomi was instrumental in it getting national acceptance as he’s a renowned economist.

Can Obi and Abubakar work together again?

This is the question on the lips of many, as Obi’s large support base do not want to see him play second fiddle to anyone else – and this is why he quit the PDP to join the Labour Party in the last election.

Obi himself has dismissed speculation that he would be the vice-presidential candidate, while Abubakar would go for the top job.

“I’m going to contest for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I believe I am qualified for it,” he said in an interview with Channels TV.

While Abubakar’s supporters feel with him being the only former vice-president seeking the presidency, every other politician naturally comes second.

When both politicians worked together in 2019 with Obi serving as Abubakar’s running mate, they lost to the APC’s Muhammadu Buhari.

When Obi left the PDP for LP in 2022, it was a peaceful separation without rancour.

The former governor said at the time that he was moving to LP because it aligned with his aspirations.

As if both knew fate would bring them back together, neither spoke ill of the other either before or during the 2023 campaign.

Inec provisions says the procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions in the country should be through primaries or consensus.

It remains to be seen whether the ADC will be able to find a consensus or if it will have to hold a potentially divisive primary election to choose its presidential candidate.

What are their chances in 2027?

Analyst Ben Kenneth say he believes the coalition has a better chance of defeating Tinubu than last time.

“If you look at what Atiku and Obi got in the last election, it’s clear to see that they would’ve won assuming they worked together, so it’s a good thing they have realised they need each other,” he told the BBC.

However, another analyst Sani Hamisu feels 73-year-old Tinubu has a better chance now than in 2023.

“In Nigeria and Africa, when a leader is in office seeking a second term, he hardly loses, it is very rare and that’s why I feel Tinubu has a better chance now than when he wasn’t in office in 2023,” he said.

Is Tinubu going to run again?

The ruling APC has already endorsed the current president, whose tenure expires on 29 May 2027, to seek a second term.

However, questions over his health will linger as he’ll be 75 by the next election and 79 if he were to be elected and finish his second term.

Some media reports say his recent trips abroad were for medical reasons but the presidency has denied that, saying the president is healthy and in good shape.

The APC says it is not bothered by his rivals joining the ADC which it does not see as a real threat.

Acting chairman Ali Bukar Dalori told BBC Hausa the coalition would have no impact on the APC.

“Nobody is talking about a coalition except in Abuja. Even in Abuja, they are in a hotel, and when they are defeated in elections, they will leave the country,” he said.

What does this mean for the PDP and Labour Party?

The country’s biggest opposition party, the PDP had ruled out joining the ADC, preferring to face the APC on its own.

The Labour Party also called on its supporters to remain focused and resolute behind the party, denying any plans to join a coalition.

For the LP, losing Peter Obi who single-handedly raised its profile to new heights will be a huge blow, and some say it’s unlikely to recover in the near future.

The other biggest loser to the coalition is the PDP which has lost several big names.

Analyst Iliyasu Hadi believes the PDP is set to lose its status as the country’s biggest opposition party to the ADC.

“When you look at the calibre of politicians in the ADC and those remaining in the PDP, it’s clear to see that the ADC will soon become Nigeria’s main opposition party, [it’s] just a matter of time,” he said.

For the moment, neither party seems to have any other candidate of the calibre of either Abubakar or Obi.

However, they do control 11 states, which gives them a strong base, as long as those governors don’t defect to either the APC or the ADC.

Source: BBC

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Much of the city centre is deserted, with businesses shut and a heavy security presence on the streets. Some schools have advised students to stay at home.

Hundreds of early-morning commuters and overnight travellers were stranded at checkpoints, some located more than 10km (six miles) from the city centre, with only a few vehicles allowed through.

Within the city, roads leading to key government sites – including the president’s official residence, State House, and the Kenyan parliament – are barricaded with razor wire.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the police said it was their constitutional duty to protect lives and property while maintaining public order.

Monday’s protests, dubbed Saba Saba (Swahili for 7 July), commemorate the 1990s struggle for multiparty democracy in Kenya.

These demonstrations have been organised primarily by young people, demanding good governance, greater accountability, and justice for victims of police brutality. They are the latest in a wave of anti-government protests that began last year.

On 25 June, at least 19 people were killed and thousands of businesses looted and destroyed in a day of nationwide protests that were being held in honour of those killed in last year’s anti-tax protests.

Recent demonstrations have turned violent, with reports of infiltration by “goons”, who are accused of looting and attacking protesters. Civil society groups allege collusion between these groups and the police – accusations the police have strongly denied.

On Sunday, an armed gang attacked the headquarters of a human rights NGO in Nairobi. The Kenya Human Rights Commission had been hosting a press conference organised by women calling for an end to state violence ahead of Monday’s protests.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the original Saba Saba protests – a key moment that helped usher in multiparty democracy in Kenya after years of one-party rule.

The response by the then government under President Daniel arap Moi was brutal. Many protesters – including veteran politician Raila Odinga, who is now working with the government, were arrested and tortured, while at least 20 people were reportedly killed.

Since then, Saba Saba has come to symbolise civic resistance and the fight for democratic freedom in Kenya.

BBC

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Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his official state visit, Prime Minister Modi praised the country’s democratic resilience and steady progress.

“When we look at Ghana, we see a nation that shines with courage, rises above history, and transforms challenges into creativity and grace. Your dedication to democratic ideals and inclusive growth truly makes Ghana a beacon of inspiration for Africa,” he said.

The visit forms part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between Ghana and India, with key focus areas including trade, technology, education, and cultural exchange.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, where he laid a wreath in honour of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah.

Source: AdomOnline

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The pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer survived with “serious injuries and severe burns”, Ugandan military spokesman Maj. Gen. Felix Kulaigye said, adding that an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway.

“We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter,” Farah Abdulle, one of the staff at the airport, told Reuters news agency.

Somalia’s state-run news agency reported that the fire was quickly contained by the emergency services at the Aden Adde International Airport.

Ugandan troops are part of an 11,000-strong African Union (AU) force helping the government fight the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, which has been waging a brutal insurgency in Somalia for more than two decades.

The helicopter that crashed had been conducting a “routine combat escort mission,” Maj. Gen. Kulaigye said, without giving further details.

The head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Maalim, told the BBC that the helicopter had come down in the airport’s military section after flying in from the Balidogle airbase in the Lower Shabelle region, about 90km (56 miles) northwest of Mogadishu.

The crash delayed the departure of a Turkish Airlines passenger plane, but domestic flights continued to operate normally.

BBC

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As cities in the ECOWAS region face mounting challenges from rapid urbanization, climate change, and increasing disaster risks such as floods and droughts, the workshop aims to promote sustainable and resilient urban development across the continent.

The event is part of the Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA)—implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)—which supports the African Union Commission’s Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP). The programme was developed with support from the UNDP Sahel Resilience Project and funded by Sweden.

RIA plays a vital role by offering technical expertise and facilitating the exchange of knowledge on risk-informed urban development. Through its cross-sectoral and inclusive approach, it empowers municipalities and other urban stakeholders—especially those in informal settlements—to develop strategies that strengthen disaster risk management and urban resilience.

In partnership with Connective Cities (CC), RIA has launched a series of workshops designed to equip municipal experts with tools to develop or refine urban disaster risk management strategies, drawing on both regional and international best practices, and linking them to financing opportunities.

The initiative also emphasizes collaboration with civil society organizations, including women’s and youth groups, residents of informal settlements, and private sector stakeholders, to develop innovative and transformative solutions to urban challenges.

Moreover, the project promotes peer-to-peer learning and cooperation between African cities and their counterparts in Europe and Germany, supported by the German Association of Cities and Connective Cities’ extensive networks.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting with representatives from the 12 participating cities, Ria Hidajat, Head of Project for Resilience Initiative Africa, stated:
“Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in urban areas are the key issues we want to address.”

Prof. Emmanuel Osuteye, Technical Advisor on Urban Settlement at the AUC, added that all participating cities’ mayors would receive free capacity building on flood prevention, disaster preparedness, and mitigation of urban heat island effects.

Also speaking at the event, the Project Manager of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa noted that mechanisms are being put in place to assess the initiative’s impact in the 12 cities and ensure it delivers tangible, long-term benefits.

Ten days after the president’s killing, following trials by a kangaroo court, 13 of his cabinet were stripped, tied to stakes and then executed by a firing squad on a beach next to an army barracks in the capital, Monrovia.

None of the 14 corpses has been found but each man got a state funeral at a ceremony attended by President Joseph Boakai and other dignitaries.

The event was seen as an act of reconciliation and part of a process of the country coming to terms with its violent recent past.

Eugene Shaw via Getty Images

Moses Kollie Garzeawu / BBC

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Dr Eze gave a sharp assessment of ongoing unrest in Togo and the growing demand across Africa for accountable governance, especially on issues of term limits and people-centred democracy.

“Africa is witnessing the emergence of a new political dispensation,” Dr Eze declared.
“This is championed by a new generation of leadership. New political cultures are emerging, and new forms of people power.”

He warned that those in power who fail to “read in between the lines… will be on the wrong side of history.”

His remarks come in the wake of recent protests in Togo, where constitutional amendments—widely seen as an attempt to allow President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his rule indefinitely—have sparked widespread opposition.

Dr Eze, a former head of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), argued that these developments are not isolated.

“Even while I was still heading WANEP, post Emmanuel Bombande’s era, we had alluded to that. When Mali happened, we were very clear that there were remaining countries that would soon go in the same direction—and we have been vindicated.”

He noted that over the past decade, new intersectional, intergenerational, and de-tribalised coalitions and pressure groups have emerged across the continent.

He cited movements in Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, and the Sahel—such as Occupy Parliament, Recall Your MP, Text Your MP, End SARS, and Free Senegal—as examples of non-partisan, non-ethnic mass actions.

“These are not movements built on political ideologies. They are organising around socioeconomic justice, rather than even stolen elections or human rights violations. And they are asking a simple question,” he explained.

According to Dr Eze, the driving force behind this activism is a frustrated generation demanding to reclaim their promised future.

“These are people who have been promised over time that the future belongs to you. They now want to interrogate that future.”

He described this shift as a redefinition of democracy in Africa.

“In my opinion, the reimagination of democracy in Africa can no longer belong to the political elites. The youths are asking critical questions. The women are asking critical questions.”

He stressed that this groundswell is not limited to urban centres.

“It is happening in rural centres as well. They are questioning what democracy is delivering for them.”

Dr Eze insisted that states can no longer dictate the meaning of democracy.

“The states can no longer decide what democracy should deliver to the people. The people are saying, ‘This is what we want democracy to deliver.’”

He identified term limits as a recurring fault line triggering instability in the region.

“To that extent, term limits have always been a very controversial issue and a trigger to most of the political instabilities we have had, at least in West Africa.”

His final warning was emphatic:
“That’s why history does not lie.”

In a world of tariffs and international conflict, gold appeals to investors as one of the few remaining stable assets. Everyone wants a piece of the action, from central banks to large institutions like hedge funds, and retail investors. But few know where their gold comes from, or much about the conflicts it may be fuelling in the countries where it is mined.

For the governments of West Africa’s Sahel region, the stakes are even higher. Gold is a lifeline for the military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who are beleaguered by jihadist insurgencies, regional isolation, and the ravages of climate change.

“Because gold prices have been at a historic high… the military governments are hoping that they will be able to benefit directly,” Beverly Ochieng, a senior researcher at global consultancy firm Control Risks, told the BBC.

Together, the three Sahel states produce around 230 tonnes of gold per year, according to the World Gold Council’s estimates, or about $15bn (£11bn) at the current market rate.

A lack of records for artisanal and small-scale gold mining means that this figure is probably an underestimate.

The combined gold production in these three states surpasses any other country in Africa, making the Sahel region a major global contributor to the gold market.

The governments say that the proceeds from the lucrative sector are benefitting citizens through increased “sovereignty” – though Russian firms are increasing their stake in the industry at the expense of Western-owned firms.

For example, Mali’s junta leader Gen Assimi Goïta laid the foundation stone last month for a gold refinery, in which a Russian conglomerate, the Yadran Group, will have a minority stake. The refinery will reportedly create 500 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs.

Burkina Faso is also building its first-ever gold refinery and has set up a state-owned mining company, requiring foreign firms to give it a 15% stake in their local operations and to transfer skills to Burkinabé people.

Fake AI media campaigns have even been launched to celebrate the country’s charismatic 37-year-old military ruler Capt Ibrahim Traoré, for commanding such an important revenue stream for the nation.

“Mining gold from deepest dirt. But souls are rich and true,” croons an AI-generated Rihanna in one recent song, pouring her silky, auto-tuned praise on Capt Traoré.

The reality is very different, according to Ms Ochieng, who explained that Burkina Faso and its neighbours need quick cash to fund counterinsurgency campaigns.

In the case of Mali, much of this has been outsourced to Russian mercenaries, including the Wagner Group and its successor, Africa Corps, which falls under the command of Russia’s defence ministry.

Africa Corps has been involved in military training in Burkina Faso, but the junta officially denies its presence.

Although public spending transparency in the countries is poor, the governments are thought to devote large portions of their budgets to national security.

Military spending in Mali trebled since 2010, amounting to 22% of the national budget by 2020.

The governments are fighting jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS).

But campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Malian government and the Wagner Group of committing atrocities against civilians, including unlawful killings, summary executions, and torture.

It has documented similar atrocities by Burkina Faso’s military and its allied militias.

For their services, the Wagner Group and now Africa Corps are often paid directly in gold or in mining concessions, according to Alex Vines of the London-based Chatham House think-tank.

“Very little [of the gold revenues] will trickle down to Malians and Burkinabés,” he told the BBC, adding that in fact the armed insurgents themselves may be benefiting from gold.

Since the coup in Mali in 2021, brutal government tactics against communities suspected of harbouring or sympathising with jihadists have increased, pushing more civilians to join the very groups they are fighting.

Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate which is the most active jihadist group in the region, staged an unprecedented number of attacks targeting Burkina Faso military during the first half of 2025, a sign of the group’s growing strength.

The armed groups are also literally cashing in on the increased global appetite for gold.

A large proportion of gold mining in the Sahel is from the artisanal and small-scale sector, which is often informal, meaning it takes place on unlicensed and undeclared sites away from government oversight, according to a 2023 report on gold mining in the Sahel by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Armed groups, including jihadist groups, and Sahel governments are in competition for control over many of these small-scale gold mines.

Gold provides an important revenue stream for militant groups, which appear to be expanding their territorial influence in both Mali and Burkina Faso.

The UNODC believes that most gold from this type of mining ends up in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a global centre for gold refining and trading.

“You do see overlap of violent extremist groups moving onto artisanal production areas for control,” said Dr Vines.

The global spike in gold prices may be prolonging and exacerbating conflict in the Sahel – but, unfortunately for the diggers in artisanal gold mines, it has not led to owners increasing their wages.

One gold miner in Mali’s northern Kidal region agreed to respond to written questions from the BBC on condition of anonymity, for fear of his safety.

He estimated that, on a “good day”, he earns 10,000 to 20,000 CFA francs, or approximately $18 to $36 (£13 to £26).

The amount he is paid has not increased alongside global gold prices, he said.

“Prices went up, but the extra profit goes to mine owners… It’s risky and uncertain, but for many of us, it’s the only option,” he added.

Dr Vines, who formerly worked as a blood diamond investigator for the UN, is concerned that gold has become Africa’s new main conflict commodity.

He noted that gold has not received the same international attention as diamonds, which fuelled bloodshed in several African states throughout the 20th Century, especially during the 1990s.

Intervention by human rights groups and the UN led to the establishment of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in 2003, which did much to end the sale of so-called “blood diamonds” on the open market.

But attempts to crack down on “blood gold” have been less successful.

This is partly due to a lack of unified ethical standards. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), a major authority in the gold market, requires refiners to comply with standards based on guidelines set by a global body, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OED).

The UAE’s enforcement of these regulations has historically been patchy.

In 2021, the country announced its own standards for ethical gold mining – however, the framework remains voluntary. The issue of enforcement has caused tensions in the past between the Gulf state and the LBMA.

Tracing technology represents another hurdle.

“There is no ‘DNA testing’ for gold. With a lot of effort, you can trace diamonds before they get polished and cut… But I haven’t seen ways of tracing the origins of a gold nugget,” Dr Vines said.

Gold is smelted early on in the value chain, making it nearly impossible to trace and connect to potential conflict zones, he explained.

Dr Vines believes that it is likely that some blood gold from the Sahel ends up in UK markets.

“[Gold] gets smelted in [the] UAE, then goes onto the jewellery manufacturing industry, or into dentistry, or bullion. Some of it clearly comes into the UK. And once it is here, there is no way of testing what it is.”

Another reason that it will be difficult to repeat the successes of the Kimberley process, according to Dr Vines, is because the certification system was not designed to deal with state governments.

“Kimberley was designed to deal with armed non-state actors in places like Sierra Leone and Liberia,” he said.

For now, gold’s importance for Sahel governments and the patchy enforcement of ethical gold standards mean that the commodity is likely to continue changing hands, regardless of its origin.

Unfortunately for some communities in the Sahel, that may mean paying for the trade in blood.

Source: BBC

“Boniface is no more. We have just viewed his body,” family spokeswoman Emily Wanjira told the BBC.

Boniface Kariuki was shot as police cracked down on a protest in the capital, Nairobi, against the death in detention of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, 31.

Kariuki, a mask vendor, was shot at close range on 17 June and later admitted to the main public referral hospital in Nairobi for treatment.

He spent nearly two weeks on a life-support machine, before his family were told by doctors that his heart was still beating but his brain had ceased to function.

Doctors had carried out several operations, but some bullet fragments were reportedly still lodged in his brain.

News that he was brain dead had sparked further public anger over alleged police brutality, with increasing demands for justice.

Many Kenyans have also urged the government to settle the hospital bill after Mr Kariuki’s family had appealed for public donations.

Two police officers have appeared in court over his shooting, but have not yet been asked their pleas. They remain in custody pending the outcome of investigations.

On Sunday, Mr Kariuki’s family urged authorities to speed up investigations and ensure they get justice.

Kenya has seen a wave of protests in recent weeks, fuelled by accusations of police brutality.

At least 19 people were killed last Wednesday, rights groups say, however the authorities have blamed the violence on protesters, saying they set out to attack police stations and officers.

On Monday, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin told journalists that a total of 485 people have been arrested for a range of alleged offences, including murder, terrorism, rape, looting, destruction of property and attacks on police officers.

“No-one will hide behind peaceful protest to commit criminal acts,” Amin said. “We are analysing CCTV footage, mobile phone data, and digital communications to track those involved in the violence. More arrests will follow.

“Intelligence and arrest records reveal that some individuals had specific instructions to attack public institutions and security installations,” he added.

The DCI chief also said that at least 11 police officers were seriously injured during the protests – some with life-threatening wounds.

Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen last week described the protests as “terrorism disguised as dissent”.

He urged officers to “shoot on sight” civilians who attacked police stations, sparking further criticism from lawyers and rights groups.

In another related development, a Kenyan High Court ordered Police Insp Gen Douglas Kanja to produce missing blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia within 24 hours, or appear in court the next day to explain his whereabouts.

He was reportedly detained by security officers last week but has not been seen since.

Source: BBC

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Civic rights groups say at least seven people have been killed during a crackdown on protesters who are calling for Togo’s leader, Faure Gnassingbé, to step down and release political prisoners.

Seven bodies were recovered from rivers in the capital city Lomé, according to a coalition called Le Front Citoyen Togo Debout which accuses security forces and militias of committing abuses.

The Togolese government has denied these deaths were linked to last week’s demonstrations.

It is now threatening legal action against the protest organisers, calling the protests a “campaign of disinformation and hatred” that was orchestrated from abroad.

He said Africa should stop waiting for foreign investors and start backing local businesses as the true engine of development.

Speaking during a Fireside Chat at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja, Aliko Dangote declared that no meaningful development will happen in Africa without empowering indigenous businesses.

“If local businesses don’t believe in their country—with all the information and exposure they have to turn things around—how can you convince foreign investors that things are better?” he asked pointedly.

Aliko Dangote argued that African countries must prioritise local industry over external capital, insisting that sustainable economic transformation must come from within.

“It is local businesses that will bring the real development, not foreign investors,” he emphasized.

He added that just as American leaders advocate “America First,” it is time for Africa to embrace an ‘Africa First’ philosophy, leveraging the continent’s vast natural and human resources to fuel homegrown prosperity.

Aliko Dangote also acknowledged the harsh realities of doing business across the continent. He pointed to regulatory instability, policy inconsistency, and hostile business environments as key challenges stifling local enterprise.

“Each time there’s a change in political leadership, new governments often reverse the gains of the previous ones,” he lamented. “That hurts businesses and makes it hard for them to grow.”

Despite these hurdles, Aliko Dangote believes African governments can raise the needed capital for infrastructure and development from within the continent, especially if they build alliances and support policies that favour indigenous firms.

The CEO of Dangote Group sent a clear and urgent message: “Africa’s transformation won’t be imported. It must be built by Africans, for Africans, starting with bold investment in local business”.

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The suspect, identified as Augustine Marimo, allegedly targeted undergarments hung out to dry on washing lines and left in communal bathing areas.

His actions were exposed during a traditional court session where several victims were summoned to testify before the community.

One of the women, who requested anonymity, said she initially attended the hearing out of curiosity to verify circulating rumours. However, she was left stunned when she recognised a pair of panties that once belonged to her late sister — an emotionally significant item she hadn’t realised was missing.

The thought that it had been used in a sex ritual was described as “sickening.”

According to the woman, Marimo did not deny the accusations. Instead, he reportedly gave an unnerving account of how he used the stolen underwear. He allegedly confessed to placing the panties on his bed, masturbating on them, and imagining himself having sex with the women they belonged to. He described the experiences as vividly real, despite the complete absence of consent or awareness from the women involved.

The same woman revealed that her marriage had begun to deteriorate around the time her underwear disappeared. She described how intimacy with her husband ceased nearly two years ago. Although he initially showed concern, their relationship had since grown distant and emotionally cold.

Further disturbing revelations emerged when Marimo reportedly claimed he was driven by a mysterious spiritual voice urging him to steal the panties and perform the rituals. He allegedly told the court that the voice warned him not to reveal its origin, threatening severe consequences if he disobeyed.

Although he was widely expected to run for office again, it is the first confirmation from his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

Uganda will hold its general election in January, in which voters will also elect lawmakers.

Museveni, 80, has been in power since 1986 and is Africa’s fourth-longest-ruling leader. The ruling party has changed the constitution twice in the past to allow him to extend his rule.

In a video posted late on Monday by state broadcaster UBC on social media platform X, the chairperson of the ruling party’s electoral body Tanga Odoi said Museveni would pick up forms on June 28 to represent the party in the polls.

“The president … will pick (up) expression-of-interest forms for two positions, one for chairperson of the party and the other to contest if he is given chance for presidential flag bearer,” Odoi said.

NRM and other political parties are at present vetting and clearing their candidate for the polls.

Museveni’s closest opponent will be pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine who came second in the last polls in 2021 and has already confirmed his intention to run in 2026.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the 2021 results, saying his victory had been stolen through ballot stuffing, intimidation by security forces and other irregularities.

Rights activists and critics have long accused Museveni of using patronage and security forces to maintain his grip on power, but he has denied the accusations and says his long rule is due to popular support.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met European diplomats in Geneva who urged him to revive diplomatic efforts with the US over his country’s nuclear programme.

His Israeli counterpart, Eyal Zamir, said in a video address that his country should be ready for a “prolonged campaign” and warned of “difficult days ahead”.

Fighting raged into the night with the Israeli military announcing a new wave of attacks against Iranian missile storage and launch infrastructure after Iran launched missiles towards central Israel.

Explosions were heard close to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. Reports say a building was set on fire in central Israel by falling shrapnel.

Araghchi said Iran was ready to consider diplomacy only once Israel’s “aggression is stopped”.

Iran’s nuclear programme was peaceful, he insisted, and Israel’s attacks violated international law. Iran, he added, would continue to “exercise its legitimate right of self-defence”.

“I make it crystal clear that Iran’s defence capabilities are non-negotiable,” he said.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN accused Iran of having a “genocidal agenda” and posing an ongoing threat, adding that Israel would not stop targeting nuclear facilities until they were “dismantled”.

US President Donald Trump said Iran had a “maximum” of two weeks to avoid possible American air strikes, suggesting that he could take a decision before the 14-day deadline he set on Thursday.

“I’m giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum,” Trump told reporters.

The aim, he said, was to “see whether or not people come to their senses”.

The US president was also dismissive of the talks between Araghchi and foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany and the EU.

“Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe,” Trump said. “They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this.”

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the US had provided a “short window of time” to resolve the crisis in the Middle East which was “perilous and deadly serious”.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the ministers had invited the Iranian minister to “consider negotiations with all sides, including the United States, without awaiting the cessation of strikes”.

Barrot added that there could be “no definitive solution through military means to the Iran nuclear problem” and warned that it was “dangerous to want to impose a regime change” in Iran.

Israel was also hit by a new round of Iranian strikes on Friday with the Israeli military reporting an attack of 20 missiles targeting Haifa.

One Israeli woman died of a heart attack, bringing the Israeli death toll since the conflict began to 25.

The Israel Defense Forces said they had attacked ballistic missile storage and launch sites in western Iran.

Over the past week, Israeli air strikes have destroyed Iranian military facilities and weapons, and killed senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Iran’s health ministry said on Sunday that at least 224 people had been killed, while a human rights group put the unofficial death toll at 639 on Thursday.

Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel in response to the air strikes.

The Home Office said Julius Malema had been deemed “non-conducive to the public good” and that it was “undesirable” to grant him entry.

In a letter released by Malema’s party, the Home Office cited his vocal support for Hamas, including a speech he made after the 7 October attacks in which he said his own party would arm the group if it came to power.

The UK said Malema had made “statements calling for the slaughter of white people [in South Africa] or hinted that it could be an acceptable option in the future”, and also cited this as a reason for its decision.

His Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, which came fourth in South Africa’s parliamentary election last year, condemned the decision as “cowardice” and said it would stifle democratic debate.

The EFF said the UK had distorted Malema’s views on how the “genuine frustrations of Africans who are excluded [from the economy] at the behest of a white minority may lead to social violence and resistance” in South Africa.

Malema and the party would not “trade” their “revolutionary beliefs in exchange for a visa”, the EFF said.

“The UK and all of its allies can keep their visas, and we will keep our Africa and a commitment to support the oppressed of the world, especially the Palestinian people,” the party added.

Malema featured prominently in a video played last month by President Donald Trump during a visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the White House.

In the video, Malema is seen singing “Shoot to kill” and “Kill the Boer”, which Trump says incites violence against the ethnic Afrikaner group.

However, South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that the lyrics do not amount to hate speech and were a “provocative way” of advancing the EFF’s political agenda – which was to end “land and economic injustice” .

The court added that a “reasonably well-informed person” would understand that when “protest songs are sung, even by politicians, the words are not meant to be understood literally, nor is the gesture of shooting to be understood as a call to arms or violence”.

Malema is a fierce critic of what he sees as “Western imperialism”, and advocates the nationalisation of white-owned land in South Africa to address the legacy of colonialism and the racist system of apartheid.

White-minority rule ended in South Africa in 1994, with the rise of Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress (ANC) to power.

This is the second time Malema has been denied entry to the UK in just two months.

The first time the UK government said he had submitted his application too late – this time, a British official in South Africa told the BBC it was a “substantive decision”.

The Home Office said he has no right of appeal and was likely to be denied any future applications, according to the letter released by the EFF.

A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC: “It is our longstanding policy not to comment on individual cases.”

Some of Malema’s critics in South Africa are likely to welcome the UK’s decision, and will hope that he will be more cautious in his public statements in the future.

But his supporters are likely to argue that he is being targeted for expressing views that the UK finds uncomfortable.

Official statistics show that South Africa’s unemployment rate has risen to 33%, with black people being worst-affected.

The EFF’s support-base, made up largely of young people, believes that more radical action is needed to tackle racial inequality and injustices.

The party got less than 10% of the vote in last year’s election, and fell from third to fourth spot after losing support mostly to former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation) party.

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It noted that this significant demographic shift presents an unparalleled opportunity, requiring renewed commitment and collective accountability from all partners to invest in the continent’s youngest generation.

A statement issued by UNICEF Ghana to mark the Day of the African Child indicated that in Ghana, the demographic trend holds particular significance, as children currently make up approximately 45 per cent of the population.

This, the statement said, underscores the vital local relevance of the Day of the African Child’s objectives and the critical need for collaborative efforts to secure Ghana’s future.

“This Day of the African Child is more than just a commemoration; it’s a critical call to action,” said Mr. Osama Makkawi Khogali, UNICEF Country Representative in Ghana.

“We face an urgent need to invest in foundational learning, health, nutrition, protection, digital inclusion, and job-readiness. Equipping this generation is essential not just for them to survive, but to truly thrive. Africa’s future is global, and immediate, bold action from all of us is imperative,” he added.

The annual observance, held on June 16, honours the courageous students who participated in the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa, protesting educational injustices.

The day remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing need to champion the rights and welfare of all African children, as outlined in the 48 articles of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The statement noted that the Day of the African Child serves as a reminder for governments, communities, and individuals to renew their commitment and shared responsibility to ensure every African child—particularly those in Ghana—has access to quality education, healthcare, protection, dignity, opportunity, and a safe environment.

It emphasised that investing in Ghana’s children, along with others across Africa, is paramount to national development and, by extension, the future of the world.

UNICEF is the world’s leading child rights organisation, operating in over 190 countries and territories to reach every child, everywhere. It is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of all children, including their right to health and survival.

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Unlike the dozens of political activists abducted by suspected security agents over the last year, the 31-year-old schoolteacher was taken to a police station, and officers shared their phone numbers with his family.

“When they came, they were so soft. They were not violent,” said Nevnine Onyango, who was present when the officers arrived, accusing her husband of insulting their “boss”. “So that is what gave me even more confidence.”

The next morning, a family member called with the news that Ojwang, the father of their three-year-old son, was dead.

In the week since, the blogger’s death has become a lightning rod in a nation just one year removed from mass youth-led protests that were fuelled, in part, by disgust at pervasive police violence.

Hundreds took to the streets of the capital Nairobi this week, with vehicles set ablaze and the police responding with teargas.

Demonstrators cited Ojwang’s death as evidence that nothing had changed one year after more than 60 people were killed during protests initially sparked by proposed tax hikes.

Ojwang was arrested in Homa Bay, in western Kenya, as part of an investigation triggered by a formal complaint from the deputy chief of the national police force, Eliud Lagat, according to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Kenya’s government-funded police watchdog.

Lagat had stated he was the target of alleged false and malicious information published on the social media platform X, IPOA said.

Kenya’s police chief initially implied that Ojwang had died by suicide but later apologised after an autopsy found that his wounds – including a head injury, neck compression and soft tissue damage – pointed to assault as the cause of death.

President William Ruto said on Wednesday that Ojwang had died “at the hands of the police”, which he said was “heartbreaking and unacceptable”.

Three people have so far been arrested in the case: the policeman in charge of the police station in Nairobi where Ojwang was found dead, a police constable and a closed-circuit television technician at the station.

Reuters was not able to reach Lagat for comment. A police spokesperson said Ojwang’s death resulted from a crime committed by “a couple of individuals” who are not representative of the national police service.

“We want to see justice served,” the spokesperson said.

SUPPOSED TO PROTECT, NOT HARM

It is not clear what Ojwang posted that got the attention of the police. His social media accounts no longer appear to be active.

According to IPOA, which is investigating his death, Lagat’s complaint triggered a probe that led to the arrest of another blogger.

Interrogations of that blogger identified Ojwang as a person of interest, IPOA said.

And so, last Saturday at lunchtime, police officers arrived at Ojwang’s home on motorcycles.

“There are some remarks that he had made about their boss, that the boss is corrupt,” his wife Onyango said they told him. They did not identify their boss.

They first took Ojwang to the local police station before telling his family they would transfer him to Nairobi, nearly 300 km (185 miles) away, she said.

She last heard from him at around 9 p.m. (1800 GMT) the Saturday of his arrest when he called her from Nairobi’s Central Police Station. She said he sounded worried and asked if she would be able to come to the city.

Onyango is now hoping for answers – and accountability – from IPOA’s investigation.

“We always see these things on television, and it actually reached my door,” she said of police abuses. “These people are supposed to protect us. They’re not supposed to harm us.”

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The phrase his administration presses on Europe to assume more of the costs of its own defence is “burden sharing”. This is the challenge that Washington is now throwing down to African armies too – and they are far less comfortably resourced to take it on.

Moreover, having paid dearly in lives and money, in the struggle to hold back the spreading reach of jihadist armed groups across the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin and Somalia over recent years, they could be forgiven for feeling that they already carry much of the burden – and for the sake not just of their own continent but the wider international community too.

Benin, which has lost more than 80 soldiers in jihadist attacks since the start of the year, is just one example.

“The epicentre of terrorism on the globe” is how the Sahel was described a few days ago by Gen Michael Langley, who as head of US Africa Command (Africom) oversees the American military presence south of the Sahara.

In briefings and interviews over the past few weeks, he has graphically outlined the threat that jihadist groups will present if their push southward towards the Gulf of Guinea succeeds.

“One of the terrorists’ new objectives is gaining access to West African coasts. If they secure access to the coastline, they can finance their operations through smuggling, human trafficking and arms trading. This not only puts African nations at risk but also raises the chance of threats reaching US shores.”

Gen Langley has admitted that the current upsurge in militant attacks is “deeply concerning”.

Yet he has also repeatedly hammered home a core message: the US is minded to rein back its own sub-Saharan military operations, leaving local armies to take on more of the defence burden.

Some 6,500 personnel are currently deployed in Africa by the US military and a 2019 list published by Africom mentioned 13 “enduring” American bases across the continent and a further 17 more temporary facilities.

But some of these installations, including the purpose-built drone base at Agadez in Niger, have already been shut down, in particular after military juntas seized power in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020.

And it now looks as if the once-ambitious American operational footprint will be pruned back quite a lot more.

Perhaps we will see more air power deployed from offshore to hit militant targets – Gen Langley says there have been 25 strikes in Somalia this year, double the 2024 total – but a much thinner permanent on-the-ground military presence.

“Some things that we used to do, we may not do anymore,” he recently told a conference in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, that brought together chiefs of defence staff and other senior officers from 37 countries.

“Our aim is not to serve as a permanent crutch, but to achieve US security objectives that overlap with our partners. We should be able to help African nations build the self-reliance they need to independently confront terrorism and insurgencies.”

In the bluntness of his language Gen Langley reflects the stark change of outlook and policy that has come from January’s change of power at the White House.

“We have set our priorities now – protecting the homeland.”

What matters to the no-longer-so-new Trump II administration, the general made clear in a Pentagon publication last week, is fighting terrorists – particularly those who might attack the US.

Other priorities are countering the spread of Chinese military influence across Africa and protecting freedom of maritime navigation through key trade choke points such as the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.

In some respects, the focus on training and capacity building that Gen Langley now expounds is not so very different from the approach of previous American administrations, Republican as well as Democrat.

He lauds the National Guard State Partnership Program, through which individual US states have been helping to build the capacity of government security forces across Africa and other parts of the world – for the past three decades.

France too is pursuing this approach, with the closure of bases in Chad and Senegal, while those in Ivory Coast and Gabon have been handed over to their governments, with only small French training teams left behind to work alongside African colleagues.

However, in other respects, the Trump administration’s Africa strategy represents a drastic shrinkage in outlook and – critics might argue – a conscious retreat from addressing the factors that drive instability, conflict and terrorism, particularly in the Sahel, which is among the poorest regions on the planet.

For under President Joe Biden the US looked far beyond the military realm alone in its efforts to counter the both the growing reach of jihadist groups and other sources of violence. And Gen Langley, as Africom chief, was an articulate exponent of this much broader thinking.

Only last year, in an interview with the Associated Press news agency, he outlined what he described as a “whole of government” response to the proliferation of conflict, stressing the importance of good governance and action to tackle the fragilities of African states and the impacts of desertification, crop failure and environmental change.

This approach openly recognised that recruitment by armed groups and the spread of violence is fuelled not only by jihadist ideology, but also by a host of social and economic factors, including the stresses now afflicting farming and pastoralist livelihoods.

Gen Langley himself does not seem to have abandoned this analysis, recently noting how Ivory Coast had countered the jihadist threat to its northern border areas by complementing security force deployments with development projects.

He could equally have pointed to the success of a similar approach pursued by the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, before he was deposed in the July 2023 coup.

But of course, these days Africom must operate within the context of a US foreign policy radically reshaped under Trump.

There are even rumours that it could be downgraded to become a subsidiary of the US command in Europe and Gen Langley suggests African governments should tell Washington what they thought of this idea.

Already the separate Africa unit at the radically slimmed down National Security Council at the White House is reportedly being wound up and integrated into the Middle East-North Africa section.

Its director, Gen Jami Shawley, an Africa specialist appointed to the role only in March, has now been assigned to more general strategic functions.

Addressing Congress this week, Gen Langley warned about China’s and Russia’s African ambitions: Beijing’s agility at capitalising on the US’s absence and Moscow’s ability to seize military opportunities created by chaos and instability.

Given these concerns, some might wonder if the general is discreetly signally his doubts about a slimmed down Africa strategy.

Meanwhile, under the “efficiency drive” led, until recently, by tech billionaire Elon Musk, the American government’s main international development agencies, USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, have been effectively shut down.

The spine of the new US economic engagement with Africa is now private sector trade and investment.

But business generally needs to operate in a stable and secure context – which Africa’s most fragile and violence-prone regions cannot offer.

And in winding up the American development agencies, the Trump administration has stepped aside from funding the rural projects and social programmes that sought to address land and water pressures and lack of economic opportunity, the key drivers of conflict – and the jihadist groups’ recruitment of frustrated rural young people.

For the fragile regions that are the main sources of jihadist violence the US response is reduced to the purely military, and now it is seeking to shift even most of that on to the shoulders of African states that already struggle to respond adequately to a plethora of challenges and responsibilities.

Paul Melly is a consulting fellow with the Africa Programme at Chatham House in London.

Among the growing wave of changemakers is Precious Baba, a passionate malaria activist whose recent outreach efforts have made a lasting impact in two underserved communities: Mashambanhaka Primary School in Zimbabwe and the slums of Duala, Cameroon.

Recognising that prevention remains the most effective defence against malaria, Precious recently donated dozens of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to students at Mashambanhaka Primary School.

In rural Zimbabwe, where access to healthcare is limited and many homes lack basic mosquito protection, her gesture could mean the difference between life and death.

Her intervention not only aims to reduce transmission among school-aged children—a group highly vulnerable to infection—but also to strengthen attendance and learning outcomes.

Understanding the intersection between health and education, Precious also distributed sanitary pads to girls at the school. By addressing menstrual health alongside malaria prevention, she empowered young girls to remain in class with dignity and confidence.

Her mission then took her to Duala, Cameroon, where she extended her outreach to children living in densely populated slum communities—areas often overlooked by public health programmes.

With mosquito nets in hand and a message of hope, she met families in their homes, offering both comfort and a critical line of defence against malaria.

In environments plagued by poor drainage and inadequate sanitation, malaria spreads fast. But through her actions, Precious Baba is helping slow that spread—one mosquito net at a time.

Her work is a shining example of community-driven malaria prevention. By bridging the gap between policy and the people it’s meant to protect, she’s showing that real change doesn’t always begin in government offices—it often starts with someone who cares enough to act.

With her feet firmly on the ground and her heart set on lasting change, Precious Baba isn’t just distributing mosquito nets—she’s offering a future free from malaria.

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Israel said it was declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of a missile and drone strike by Tehran.

An Israeli military official said Israel was striking “dozens” of nuclear and military targets. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days.

“Following the preemptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

Two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Israel had begun carrying out strikes on Iran and there was no U.S. assistance or involvement in the operation.

CNN reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was convening a cabinet meeting.

Crude oil prices jumped more than $3 a barrel on the news.

Iran’s state TV said several explosions were heard in Tehran and the country’s air defence system was on full alert.

U.S. and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran’s escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators. But the talks have appeared to be deadlocked.

Trump said on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran “could very well happen” but reiterated his hopes for a peaceful resolution.

U.S. intelligence had indicated that Israel was making preparations for a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, and U.S. officials said on condition of anonymity that Israel could attack in the coming days.

Israel has long discussed striking its longtime foe Iran in an effort to block Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The U.S. military is planning for the full range of contingencies in the Middle East, including the possibility that it might have to help evacuate American civilians, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Ruto urged caution in concluding the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, which follows years of extrajudicial killings and disappearances that the president has repeatedly promised to stop in the face of rising public anger.

Police initially said Ojwang, 31, was arrested in western Kenya on Friday for allegedly defaming the country’s deputy police chief online, and died “after hitting his head against a cell wall”.

His wounds, including a head injury, neck compression and soft tissue damage, pointed towards assault as the cause of death, according to pathologist Bernard Midia, who was part of a team that conducted an autopsy.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority, the police watchdog, has launched an investigation and named five police officers who arrested Ojwang in Homa Bay County and escorted him to Nairobi’s central police station.

On Wednesday, Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja apologised for the police’s implication that Ojwang died by suicide.

“Based on the report by IPOA… it is not true… He did not hit his head against the wall,” Kanja told a Senate hearing.

The death of Ojwang, who wrote about political and social issues, has drawn widespread condemnation from rights groups and touched off protests outside the mortuary where his body was examined in the capital Nairobi.

“This tragic occurrence, at the hands of the police, is

heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Ruto said in a statement.

“As we mourn his passing, let us patiently but vigilantly follow the progress of the investigations without making premature judgements or drawing conclusions.”

Two days after Ojwang’s arrest, on June 8, police took him to hospital where he was declared dead, IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku told the Senate hearing, adding that the IPOA attended Ojwang’s post-mortem examination.

“We are committed to ensuring that everyone who was involved in the crime is brought to justice expeditiously and that no interference from any quarter is brought to bear on the investigation,” Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told the Senate.

This contradicts police claims that Albert Ojwang “sustained head injuries after hitting his head against a cell wall”.

His death has sparked widespread outrage in Kenya, with rights groups demanding that police be held accountable. Mr Ojwang, 31, was detained following a complaint by the deputy police chief, who accused him of tarnishing his name on social media.

“The cause of death is very clear; head injury, neck compression and other injuries spread all over the body that are pointing towards assault,” state pathologist Bernard Midia said.

Police have not yet commented on the findings.

Mr Ojwang, a digital creator who microblogged on X and Facebook on topical political and social issues, was arrested in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, on Friday.

He was detained over a post on X that was allegedly critical of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.

He was subsequently transferred over 350km (220 miles) to the capital, Nairobi, and booked into the Central Police Station on Saturday.

Police said he was later found unconsciousin his cell with self-inflicted injuries.

But an autopsy, conducted by five pathologists who released a unanimous report, revealed that Mr Ojwang had severe head injuries and suffered neck compression and multiple soft tissue trauma.

Dr Midia, who led the team of pathologists, said that Mr Ojwang did not hit himself on the wall, as police had said in a statement on Sunday.

He said if Mr Ojwang had done this, the pattern of injuries would have been different, and frontal bleeding on the head would be seen.

“But the bleeds that we found on the scalp… on the skin of the head were spaced, including on the face, sides of the head and the back of the head,” Dr Midia said at a press conference.

“There were also multiple soft tissue injuries spread all over the body, including the head, neck, upper limbs and the trunk and lower limbs… these were injuries that were externally inflicted,” he added.

The injuries were consistent with “external assault” and there were also signs of a struggle, according to the pathologists.

Mr Ojwang’s father, Meshack Ojwang, has appealed to President William Ruto to help him get justice for his son.

“Help me as a taxpayer. The officers who picked up my son saw our home was humble and assumed we didn’t matter,” the father said.

Ruto has not yet commented.

The Digital Content Creators Association of Kenya paid tribute toMr Ojwang, saying: “Albert was more than a content creator – he was a voice of the youth, a symbol of resilience, and an embodiment of the dreams and hopes of a generation that uses digital platforms to inspire change. His legacy will not be silenced.”

Faith Odhiambo, president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), said the autopsy report clearly showed that Mr Ojwang had been “tortured” and “brutally murdered” in police custody.

“We will continue to pile pressure until every single officer involved is held personally liable. We won’t accept more excuses,” Ms Odhiambo said.

Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has condemned Mr Ojwang’s “horrifying” death, saying it added to a long list of “young and defenceless Kenyans whose lives have been taken too soon, in brutal and senseless circumstances, at the hands of the police”.

Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja earlier suspended several officers who were on duty at the time of Mr Ojwang’s death.

Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an inquiry into his death.

But human rights groups have demanded more action, terming the blogger’s death as a possible attempt to silence the digital community through intimidation and fear.

A crowd of activists, holding placards and chanting “Stop killing us”, protested on Monday outside Nairobi City mortuary, where Mr Ojwang’s body is being kept.