Pope condemns Equatorial Guinea’s human rights record
Pope Leo concluded his four-nation African tour in Equatorial Guinea, delivering a sharp critique of the oil-rich nation’s human rights record and extreme wealth inequality. Visiting a notorious prison in Bata, the pontiff condemned the highly punitive justice system and highlighted reports of routine detainee abuse. He urged officials to expand political freedoms and redirect […]
US senators question Africa terror funding gap
Bipartisan US senators have raised concerns that the Trump administration’s tough stance on terrorism in Africa is not backed by sufficient funding or diplomatic capacity. During a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing, State Department officials defended their new “interest-driven” strategy as a pragmatic shift away from aid dependency. However, lawmakers highlighted gutted humanitarian programs, widespread […]
Sahel juntas accuse neighbors of fueling terrorism
A widening diplomatic rift in West Africa escalated after Mali and Niger accused neighboring states and foreign powers of harboring and supporting armed terrorist groups. Speaking at a security forum in Senegal, Mali’s foreign minister alleged that regional neighbors are secretly fueling the very insurgencies they publicly condemn. Niger’s foreign minister echoed these explosive claims, […]
Nigeria’s new election law still needs fixes
Nigeria’s new 2026 Electoral Act introduces critical overhauls ahead of the 2027 elections, mandating electronic voter accreditation, enforcing electronic result transmission, and securing financial autonomy for the electoral commission. However, political analysts argue that the legislation fails to address deeper structural vulnerabilities. They urge immediate supplementary reforms, including stripping the presidency of the power to […]
TPLF move threatens Ethiopia’s stability
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) announced it is reinstating the regional parliament, effectively dissolving the interim administration established by the 2022 Pretoria Agreement. The TPLF accused the federal government of violating the peace accord, withholding funds for civil servants, and provoking armed conflict. Federal advisors condemned the move as a direct repudiation of the […]
Xi pledges cooperation with Africa on conflict spillovers
China’s President Xi Jinping has pledged closer cooperation with African nations to manage the economic and security spillover effects of the Middle East conflict, positioning Beijing as a partner in crisis response and development. State media reported that Xi has also urged a joint Sino-African call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to hostilities […]
France backs South Africa’s G20 place
France’s ambassador to South Africa, David Martinon, declared that Pretoria must be allowed to attend the upcoming G20 summit in the US, despite President Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to bar the African nation. The exclusion violates the G20’s consensus-based framework and follows the US boycott of last year’s summit hosted by Pretoria. Furthermore, Martinon denied […]
Sall touts experience in bid for UN leadership
Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has positioned his four decades in public service as a key asset in his bid to become UN secretary-general despite his lack of direct UN experience. During a public hearing before the 193 member states, Sall outlined a vision of preventive diplomacy, structural streamlining, and global debt reform. To secure […]
