News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Democracy at stake in Tanzania after opposition election ban
Military leader wins Presidential election in Gabon
New S.Africa envoy ‘once’ called Trump racist, homophobic and narcissistic
France to expel 12 Algerian officials, and recalls ambassador
UN humanitarian office to reduce staff in some African nations
India launches its biggest naval exercise in African waters.
TOP NEWS
UNITED NATIONS
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
THIS WEEK AHEAD
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
Togo’s Gnassingbé begins formal AU mediation of Congo conflict
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé has been appointed as the African Union’s new mediator in the ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group. This role marks a significant shift in the AU’s efforts to resolve the crisis, as Gnassingbé replaces Angolan President João Lourenço, who stepped down to focus on Angola’s presidency of the AU. The conflict in eastern DRC has intensified since January 2025, when the M23 launched a rapid offensive, capturing key cities like Goma and Bukavu in North Kivu province. Despite previous mediation efforts by Angola, progress has been limited. Talks scheduled in Luanda failed after the M23 withdrew following EU sanctions on some of its leaders.
Southern African bloc denies M23 claims of its involvement in joint ops in DR Congo
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Monday “firmly” denied any involvement of its Democratic Republic of Congo mission (SAMIDRC) in joint military operations in Congo as claimed by the M23 rebels and their allies. The SADC expressed “deep concern” over the allegations made by the rebels in a statement. The M23 and the Congo River Alliance (AFC) said in a statement on Saturday that SAMIDRC engaged in joint military operations in the eastern city of Goma alongside the Congolese military (FARDC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) — an armed group operating in eastern Congo — and pro-government Wazalendo militia. “SAMIDRC has not participated in any joint operations as claimed. These assertions are both inaccurate and misleading,” the Southern African bloc said. The SADC said SAMIDRC is executing a “structured and coordinated” withdrawal from Congo, in line with the SADC Summit’s decision, which directed the termination of the SAMIDRC mandate. The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to its agreements with the M23 leadership and to supporting peaceful efforts for lasting stability in eastern Congo.
Rwanda says accusations mask Western resource ambitions in Congo
Rwanda is under Western pressure for allegedly backing rebels in Congo, but its Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe asserts that the real driver is their scramble for the DRC’s vast mineral wealth. Rwanda is facing mounting international pressure — particularly from Western powers — over accusations that it backs rebel groups in neighboring Congo. But according to Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, the real motivation behind the criticism is not concern for regional stability, but rather “unspeakable economic interests” in the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo. Kigali denies backing the M23 rebels, who have seized territory in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, but that hasn’t stopped the US, UK, and Belgium from imposing penalties earlier this year. In response, Rwanda severed ties with Belgium, its former colonial ruler. Speaking at the 2025 Antalya Diplomacy Forum in the Turkish Mediterranean city, Nduhungirehe said Belgium’s actions were particularly difficult to accept for Rwanda. “It was Belgium that mobilized the international community, economic partners, to take sanctions against Rwanda, and so under these conditions,” he said, adding that this made it increasingly difficult for Kigali to maintain diplomatic relations with Brussels… He added that it was “regrettable” that the West chose to impose sanctions at a time when the political process to resolve the crisis was showing promise. Still, he played down the impact of the sanctions on Rwanda’s economy and development
ETHIOPIA
Many disabled veterans in Tigray left without care
The head of the Ethiopian National Rehabilitation Commission, Temesgen Tilahun, said there are more than 43,000 Tigrayan former combatants. … “Tigray has too many individuals with disabilities who need support, especially medicine, and the situation is extremely dire,” said Gebrehiwot Gebrezgiabher, commissioner for the Tigray Disaster Risk Management Commission. “We are too overwhelmed to support them without more financial support.” The Mekelle Ortho-Physiotherapy Center, which has operated in Tigray for nearly three decades with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross, is trying to fill the gap. The group has treated disabled combatants, providing prosthetic limbs and mobility aid such as crutches. But it is unable to help everyone who needs support without more funding. “Over the years, we have delivered a total of 180,000 services. However, this number pales in comparison to the 65,000 we have provided in just the last three years,” manager Birhane Teame said. Teame urged international organizations to assist his group “in alleviating the burden” in Tigray.
Govt repatriates over 15,680 nationals stranded abroad
The Ethiopian government has announced the repatriation of more than 15,680 nationals stranded in difficult conditions abroad over the past month. In a statement issued late Sunday, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs said the returnees were brought home as part of a renewed national initiative to assist Ethiopians facing hardship overseas. A total of 15,684 citizens were repatriated during the one-month period. The East African country launched the latest round of repatriation on March 12, aiming to return home over 50,000 nationals, primarily those trapped in difficult circumstances across various Middle Eastern countries. Most of the returnees were undocumented migrants living illegally in foreign countries, the ministry said. Over the past week alone, more than 3,360 Ethiopians were repatriated from Saudi Arabia on nine separate flights. Among them were minors under the age of 18.
KENYA
Kidneys for cash: Inside a global organ trafficking network
An international network is said to be exploiting poor, vulnerable Kenyans as organ donors, reaping substantial profits by selling these organs to patients in Germany and other countries. A months-long collaborative investigation conducted by German media outlets Der Spiegel, ZDF, and DW, traced the paths of organ sellers and buyers, analyzed documents, spoke with whistleblowers and medical professionals, and uncovered the how an international network exploiting vulnerable people at both ends: The young, desperate for money, and the old, desperate for a life-saving organ. DW spoke to four young men who say they sold their kidneys for as little as $2,000 at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret. Each recipient pays up to $200,000 for a kidney — a figure corroborated by multiple sources…The man behind MedLead is an Israeli citizen called Robert Shpolanski who, according to a 2016 indictment by the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court has been accused of having performed “a large number of illegal kidney transplants” in Sri Lanka, Turkey, the Philippines and Thailand, together with a man called Boris Wolfman who allegedly headed the criminal network. Wolfman was accused of already having been involved in illegal transplantation activities elsewhere… The founder and chairman of the Mediheal Group is Swarup Mishra. The Indian native is a former MP and is said to have good relations with Kenyan President William Ruto – despite persistent organ trafficking accusations…
Govt’s findings, recommendations on alleged organ trafficking
The Ministry of Health says it investigated claims of possible organ trafficking in Kenya. In a statement on Tuesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the Ministry received concerns about a rise in foreign nationals, especially from Israel, receiving kidney transplants in Kenya. An international medical group raised fears that some of these cases might involve an organised group trying to bypass the country’s medical rules. To look into the matter, the Ministry formed a special team of experts. This included doctors, transplant specialists, ethicists, government officials, and medical regulators. The team carried out an investigation between December 5 and 8, 2023. Their focus was to check whether the claims were true, inspect how transplant services were being run at a hospital in Eldoret, and recommend next steps. The hospital under review had official permission to perform kidney transplants. Over five years, it had done 372 transplants—mainly for patients from Kenya and East Africa, and a few from countries like Israel, the U.S., and the UK. The team found that while all kidney donations reviewed had consent forms, there were gaps. In some cases, it was not clear how the donor and recipient were related. Some medical tests were also done in India without Ministry approval.
NCBA Bank, backed by Kenya’s richest families, fined by regulator
NCBA Bank, the flagship banking subsidiary of NCBA Group has been fined by Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) for violating provisions of the Data Protection Act. NCBA Group, a Nairobi-based holding company with subsidiaries in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, was formed in 2019 from the merger of NIC Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa. Partly owned by Kenya’s influential Kenyatta, Merali, and Ndegwa families, NCBA is steadily deepening its local presence while scaling across the region. The fine, prompted by a customer complaint, comes as regulators tighten oversight of financial institutions, reinforcing the push for compliance with Kenya’s data privacy laws amid rising digital risks. The ODPC investigation found that NCBA failed to act on customer Brian Githaiga, whose sensitive account information was repeatedly sent to an unauthorized third party. Regulators, however, ruled that NCBA mishandled the deletion process and breached the customer’s right to data privacy. The fine underscores intensifying regulatory scrutiny of customer data practices across Kenya’s financial sector. While the penalty is modest – Ksh250,000($1,933), it highlights the growing reputational risks banks face for mishandling personal data — as authorities move to enforce Kenya’s 2019 privacy laws more aggressively.
Authorities target precious metals dealers to curb money laundering
Kenya is targeting traders involved in precious metals as the new frontier to curb money laundering and combat terrorism financing. The Kenyan government says it has tightened its response to money laundering after it was grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2023. The grey list contains countries that are actively working with the FATF to address loopholes in countering money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. It is usually an indication of cooperation to end the vice, but with tasks pending to be accomplished.
‘Prized’ Ants smugglers arrested
Four men have pleaded guilty in Kenya to trying to smuggle hundreds of highly sought-after ants out of the country. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which is more used to protecting larger creatures, such as lions and elephants, has described this as a “landmark case.” The contraband included giant African harvester ants, which are valued by some UK dealers at up to £170 ($220) each. The case showed a “disturbing shift in trafficking patterns – from iconic mammals to lesser-known species that are vital to ecological balance”, the KWS said. … The exact number of insects involved is still being evaluated but KWS spokesperson Paul Udoto told the BBC this was the country’s first case of “bio-piracy” on this scale. The four suspects – two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan – were arrested after what the KWS has described as “a co-ordinated, intelligence-led operation”. Pat Stanchev, the general manager of insect-dealing website Best Ants UK, said that it is their “big and beautiful size” that makes them attractive for those who want to keep them as pets. He does not sell the giant African harvester ant but told the BBC that he is aware of people who try to pass on illegally imported insects. In Kenya, the ants are protected by international bio-diversity treaties and their trade is highly regulated.
MAURITIUS
Ex-finance minister released on bail after corruption charges
A court in Mauritius on Monday granted bail to former finance minister Renganaden Padayachy who was charged with embezzlement last week. Padayachy was charged alongside former central bank governor Harvesh Seegolam. They are accused of embezzling about $6.7 million from the Mauritius Investment Corporation. The fund was set up to help cushion companies from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The two have denied wrongdoing. Seegolam was the first to be released on bail last week. The government of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has accused the previous administration of Pravind Jugnauth – under which the two former officials served – of lying about economic growth, the budget deficit and public debt for years. Jugnauth himself was arrested in February on money laundering charges. He was freed on bail after days.
SOMALIA/LESOTHO
Elon Musk announces Starlink Licence for Somalia and Lesotho
Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has received the green light to begin operations in Lesotho and Somalia—another step in its growing presence across Africa. The move comes as countries across the continent ramp up efforts to improve digital connectivity and attract foreign investment. In Lesotho, the mountain kingdom surrounded by South Africa, regulators have granted Starlink a 10-year license. The government sees this as part of a broader push to modernize its digital infrastructure and strengthen ties with international partners, especially the United States. The approval also comes at a delicate time, as Lesotho faces new U.S. tariffs on major exports such as diamonds and garments for brands like Levi Strauss & Co. Somalia, meanwhile, is preparing for a major leap forward in digital access. The country’s communications regulator has issued Starlink a national license, allowing it to operate across one of the least connected regions in the world. Starlink is already active in several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Mozambique.
SOMALIA
National voter registration campaign underway
Somalia launched a national voter registration campaign Sunday in the capital Mogadishu, marking a major step ahead of contentious local elections set for late June. Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chairperson of the national independent electoral and boundaries commission, announced during the launch that voter registration will begin on Tuesday, with citizens expected to report to registration centers that day. This marks the first time in nearly five decades that Mogadishu residents will visit registration centers. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged in 2023 to move Somalia away from its clan-based indirect voting model. The Cabinet has approved two bills to transition the Horn of Africa nation to one-person, one-vote presidential elections, scheduled for 2026.
SOUTH SUDAN
Opposition party seeks an international probe into alleged government abuses
The main opposition group in South Sudan demanded Monday an international probe into alleged rights abuses in recent fighting that saw government troops target areas loyal to the group’s longtime leader, Riek Machar, who is under house arrest. Machar, the country’s vice president whose political rivalry with President Salva Kiir has repeatedly threatened to tip South Sudan back into civil war, is accused of subversion. Since March, fighting has engulfed the north, where government troops battled a rebel militia known as the White Army, widely believed to be allied with Machar, with dozens killed. The rebels overran an army base in the town of Nasir, a Machar stronghold. Government troops responded with airstrikes and also attacked opposition forces’ barracks outside the capital, Juba. Spokesman Pal Mai Deng from Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition said the international community should investigate “airstrikes using chemical weapons” in areas such as Nasir
SUDAN
Sudan’s RSF claims control of major Darfur camp, civilians flee
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of a major camp for displaced people in North Darfur, the paramilitary group said on Sunday, after a four-day assault the government and aid groups have said left hundreds dead or wounded. The fighting has centered around the Zamzam camp, which, along with the nearby Abu Shouk camp, hosts some 700,000 people displaced by Sudan’s war. The assault has destroyed shelters, markets, and healthcare facilities, aid groups said. The RSF said the camp was being used as a base by what it called “mercenary factions.” But humanitarian groups denounced the assault as a targeted attack on vulnerable civilians, including women, children and elderly people, who are already facing famine. The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), a Darfur militia allied to the national army, has been fighting the RSF around the city of al-Fashir, around 15 km (9.3 miles) from Zamzam, with the help of other local armed groups. Tens of thousands of camp residents have fled to al-Fashir on foot, overwhelming shelters, and are now sleeping outdoors without food, water, or medicine, SLA spokesperson El-Sadiq Ali El-Nour said on Sunday. The city – the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur province – came under heavy shelling and RSF ground attacks on Sunday, the SLA said, calling for military support from Sudan’s armed forces and allied factions.
Up to 400,000 displaced from Darfur camp after Sudan RSF takeover, UN agency says
Between 60,000 and 80,000 households – or up to 400,000 people, – have been displaced from Sudan’s Zamzam camp in North Darfur after it was taken over by the Rapid Support Forces, according to data from the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration. The RSF seized control of the camp on Sunday after a four-day assault that the government and aid groups have said left hundreds dead or wounded. The United Nations said on Monday that preliminary figures from local sources show more than 300 civilians were killed in fighting on Friday and Saturday around the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps and the town of al-Fashir in North Darfur. This includes 10 humanitarian personnel from Relief International, who were killed while operating one of the last functioning health centres in Zamzam camp, said a U.N. spokesperson. Rights groups have long warned of possible atrocities should the RSF succeed in its months-long siege of the famine-stricken camp, neighbour to the army’s only remaining stronghold in the Darfur region, al-Fashir. Satellite imagery showed burning buildings and smoke in Zamzam on Friday, echoing prior RSF attacks.
Sudan’s news blackout stokes fear and confusion after refugee camp attacks
Sudan’s information blackout has left relatives of those in Sudan’s Zamzam refugee camp struggling for news of their safety after it was overrun by militiamen at the weekend. Campaigners said the dearth of information on the violence, which has reportedly killed hundreds of civilians, highlighted the need for the London talks to prioritize restoring communications to allow communities under attack to warn each other, to give better access to healthcare and to facilitate human rights documentation. Altahir Hashim is part of a group of Darfuris abroad who have raised funds to buy and airdrop satellite phones into Darfur as well as walkie-talkies to allow local communication during emergencies. He said the communications blackout also made it difficult for people to receive money sent from relatives abroad through mobile banking systems. The limited information that has emerged from Zamzam has often relied on satellite communications – whether through imagery, phones or the Starlink service, which uses satellites rather than land-based communication towers to provide internet. But these services can be unreliable and are costly, meaning that while they are used by some activists in Darfur, others remain unable to be contacted. One video shared by the group North Darfur Observatory for Human Rights showed people fleeing Zamzam with their belongings strapped to camels and donkeys.
London Conference tries to rally aid for Sudan but peace elusive
Diplomats and aid officials from around the world met Tuesday in London to try to ease the suffering from the 2-year-old war in Sudan, a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 14 million and pushed large parts of the country into famine. The African Union, which co-hosted the one-day conference with Britain, France, Germany and the European Union, called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities.” The EU and its member states pledged €522 million ($590 million) in aid for 2025, as German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told the conference that “no amount of humanitarian assistance will be sufficient if this war continues.” Meanwhile, the United Kingdom announced £120 million (€141 million) in funding for the coming year to deliver food for 650,000 people in Sudan. U.K Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged that achieving peace would take time, renewed international effort and “patient diplomacy.” The main aim of the conference was not to negotiate peace, but to relieve what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. … The war has driven parts of the country into famine and pushed more than 14 million people from their homes, with more than 3 million fleeing the country, to neighboring countries including Chad and Egypt. Both sides in the war have been accused of committing war crimes.
Leaked UN experts report raises fresh concerns over UAE’s role in Sudan war
Pressure is mounting on the United Arab Emirates over its presence at a crucial conference in London aimed at stopping the war in Sudan after a leaked confidential UN report raised fresh questions over the UAE’s role in the devastating conflict. The UAE has been accused of supplying weapons to Sudanese paramilitaries via neighbouring Chad, a charge it has steadfastly denied. However an internal report – marked highly confidential – detected “multiple” flights from the UAE in which transport planes made apparently deliberate attempts to avoid detection as they flew into bases in Chad where arms smuggling across the border into Sudan into has been monitored. The 14-page report – completed last November and sent to the Sudan sanctions committee of the UN Security Council – was written by a panel of five UN experts who “documented a consistent pattern of Ilyushin Il-76TD cargo flights originating from the United Arab Emirates” into Chad, from where they identified at least three overland routes potentially used for transporting weapons into neighbouring Sudan. They found that the cargo flights from airports in the UAE to Chad were so regular that, in effect, they had created a “new regional air bridge”. They noted that flights demonstrated peculiarities, with planes often disappearing for “crucial segments” of their journey, a pattern that the experts said “raised questions of possible covert operations”. However, the experts added that they could not identify what the planes were carrying or locate any evidence that the planes were transporting weapons.
Audio: Two years into Sudan’s civil war. What’s next?
Sudan’s civil war has entered its third year. The Sudanese military has retaken the capital, Khartoum, but fighting is escalating in Darfur, where the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has attacked the country’s largest camp for displaced people. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, is there any hope for peace?
Video: Khartoum before and after: footage shows destruction wreaked by war in Sudan
At the end of March, the Sudanese army took full control of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which it had been fighting since April 2023. After seizing several key sites across Sudan’s capital, the army forced the RSF to retreat, marking a critical turn in the country’s civil war. Footage from the capital shows a city devastated by two years of fighting, which has left many of Khartoum’s most important landmarks badly damaged. Here is ‘before’ and ‘after’ footage to illustrate the scale of the destruction:
Animated maps show two years of war in Sudan
Since April 15, 2023, a brutal struggle for power between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, has turned cities into battlegrounds and forced more than 14 million people to flee their homes. In recent weeks, the SAF has taken the capital, Khartoum, and forced the RSF to retreat. … At least 32,973 people have been reported killed across Sudan, though the actual death toll is likely much higher, especially when accounting for deaths caused by indirect reasons such as the spread of disease, malnutrition, and lack of adequate healthcare.
Analysis: Sudan has an opportunity to turn the corner on war
TANZANIA
Opposition party faces elections exclusion after leader charged with treason
Tanzania’s main opposition party faces exclusion from general elections set for October after its leader was charged with treason last week. The CHADEMA party on Saturday boycotted an event for all parties to sign a code of ethics, violating a legal requirement for parties to participate in polls, Ramadhani Kailima, a director with the Independent National Electoral Commission, told reporters. … Tundu Lissu, the leader of CHADEMA, was charged with treason on Thursday following his arrest at a public rally in which he called for electoral reforms ahead of elections. The opposition leader was forced into a police vehicle late Wednesday following a speech at a rally in the southern town of Mbinga, which is more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital. Tanzania will elect the president and members of parliament in the October elections.
Democracy at stake after CHADEMA election ban
Tanzania’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has barred the country’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, from participating in October’s general election. INEC cited CHADEMA’s refusal to sign the electoral code of conduct to justify the suspension. The ban also implies that the opposition party will not be allowed to compete in any elections until 2030. However, CHADEMA is disputing the decision by INEC, saying it is unilateral and does not follow the dictates of the law. “The ban is an insult to the intelligence of Tanzanians and CHADEMA party,” Regemeleza Nshala, CHADEMA party Attorney General, told DW. “The law does not prescribe a ban on parties that refuse to sign the electoral code. It provides for a penalty. You cannot interpret the word penalty to constitute a ban,” he said. CHADEMA party leader Tundu Lissu remains in custody after being charged with treason for demanding electoral reforms.
WEST AFRICA
GABON
Coup leader wins election for presidency
Gabon’s military leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema – who in 2023 led a coup that ended a near-60-year dynasty – has won Saturday’s presidential election with more than 90% of the vote, provisional results show. Ahead of the vote, critics argued that the new constitution and electoral code were designed to give Oligui Nguema a comfortable pathway to the top job. Some opposition heavyweights who could have posed a serious political challenge were excluded from the race. His election victory consolidates his grip on power, nearly two years after he masterminded the demise of President Ali Bongo, whose family had been in power in Gabon since 1967.
Nguema vows to rebuild Gabon after landslide vote win
The commanding win of junta leader Brice Oligui Nguema in Gabon’s presidential election over the weekend gives him a seven-year mandate to turn the page on more than half a century of father-and-son rule by the Bongo family. The 50-year-old – who ousted President Ali Bongo in a 2023 coup, then ran for office – will now have to deliver on pledges to diversify an oil-reliant economy and end corruption. He will also have to show he can break with the administrations he once backed – for all the talk of a fresh start, he is a distant cousin of Ali Bongo. Rogers Orock, a Gabon expert at Lafayette College in the United States, said there was reason to fear that “this new order is old wine – authoritarian despotism that Gabonese have historically had to deal with – in a new bottle”. Nguema has faced questions about his own finances. A 2020 investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, a global network of investigative journalists, found he had bought three properties in the U.S. state of Maryland for a total of more than $1 million in cash. He declined to respond to questions from OCCRP, saying his private life should be respected, and has not commented further.
GHANA
Ghana bans foreigners from gold market by April 30
Ghana has ordered foreigners to exit its gold trading market by the end of the month, a new government body said on Monday, as the West African country looks to streamline gold purchases from small-scale miners, increase earnings and reduce smuggling. Africa’s leading gold producer is shifting away from a system in which local and foreign companies with export licenses can buy and export gold from artisanal or small-scale mining. Under the new system, the newly created gold board known as GoldBod is the only entity allowed to buy, sell, assay and export artisanal gold, Monday’s statement said, and older licenses have ceased to be valid. … Finance minister Cassiel Ato Forson said in January that the creation of GoldBod would allow Ghana to benefit more from gold sales while maintaining the national currency’s stability.
IMF and Ghana agree to review to unlock $370m
The International Monetary Fund and Ghana’s government have reached a staff-level agreement on a fourth review of its $3 billion loan programme, unlocking another $370 million on completion by the Fund’s Executive Board. The gold, oil, and cocoa-producing nation is recovering from its most severe economic crisis in decades, with its cocoa and gold industries facing challenges. The IMF said in a statement on Tuesday that Ghana’s overall performance under the programme had deteriorated markedly at the end of 2024. However, authorities had since taken measures to address policy and reform slippages, it added.
IVORY COAST
Tidjane Thiam claims important win in nationality case
Despite being accused by a dissident member of his own party of lying about his Ivorian nationality, Tidjane Thiam is continuing his bid for the October 2025 presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire. The judge in charge of emergency proceedings declared herself not competent to rule in the case brought by Valérie Yapo, who had sought the removal of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) leader. Tidjane Thiam remains the main opposition figure against the camp of outgoing President Alassane Ouattara, which has yet to name its own candidate. Thiam’s nationality has been a source of controversy among his critics, who claim he lost his Ivorian nationality — a situation that would disqualify him from running. But his lawyers say Thiam holds a certificate of Ivorian nationality, which was required for him to renounce his French nationality on March 19. The judge’s pronouncement boosts the former investment banker’s electoral path, allowing him to attend the PDCI’s upcoming convention, where he is expected to be formally nominated as the party’s presidential candidate. But the saga is far from over. Numerous technicalities remain and can still be invoked to block Thiam’s candidacy.
MALI
Authorities shut Barrick Gold’s office over alleged non-payment of taxes
Malian authorities have shut the Canadian miner Barrick Gold’s office in the capital Bamako over the alleged non-payment of taxes, two sources close to the matter told Reuters, in the latest escalation of a protracted dispute over mining revenues. Barrick Gold did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has previously denied any wrongdoing. The Toronto-based miner and Mali have been in a dispute since 2023 over the implementation of the West African country’s new mining code that gives Mali’s government a greater share in the gold mine. Staff in Bamako cannot access the office premises, one of the sources said, adding that the closure did not affect Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex in western Mali, where operations have been suspended since mid-January. Operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex were suspended after the government in January seized around three metric tons of gold stock from it, accusing the company of not fulfilling its tax obligations. That tax dispute is separate from the one cited for this week’s office closure, one of the sources said. The two sides have been negotiating to resolve the dispute and that Barrick had reportedly, in Fe signed an agreement to end it that awaits approval from the Malian government. One of the sources who spoke about the shutdown of the head office and two other sources said a resolution to the dispute was expected as soon as next week.
NIGERIA
Scores killed in attack by gunmen in central Nigeria
Monday’s attack comes exactly one week after another raid claimed 52 lives. Gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers raided two villages in Plateau state’s Bassa district before shooting and hacking their victims. At least 51 bodies were recovered by rescue teams. Dozens more were injured. A resident interviewed said a mass burial was conducted for the victims. Plateau – in Nigeria’s centre – is one of the country’s most ethnically diverse states. Inter-communal fights pitting mostly Christian farmers and predominantly Muslim herders are common. Amnesty International said the gunmen also destroyed and looted homes. In a statement, the organization blamed ‘inexcusable’ security failures for Monday’s attack.
$2.32bn spent WBank and IMF in loan repayment in 2024
Nigeria has spent a total of $2.32bn in servicing its debt to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 2024. This is a significant increase from the $998.92m paid to both institutions in 2023, according to data from the Debt Management Office. Analysis of the 2024 external debt service report showed that Nigeria paid $689.44m to the World Bank, comprising $663.23m to the International Development Association and $26.21m to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. n comparison, the total amount paid to the World Bank in 2023 stood at $597.19m, while the IMF received $401.73m. This means total payments to the two Bretton Woods institutions rose by over 134 per cent year-on-year, driven largely by repayments to the IMF. The country’s total external debt servicing for 2024 amounted to $4.66bn, up from $3.5bn in 2023. Of this, multilateral creditors accounted for the largest portion at $2.62bn or 56 per cent of the total. The IMF’s share alone accounted for 35 per cent of Nigeria’s total external debt servicing in 2024 and about 62 per cent of the total paid to multilateral lenders. Commercial creditors received $1.47bn in 2024, a decrease from $1.93bn in 2023. Bilateral creditors were paid $570.67m, compared to $344.57m in the previous year. The decline in commercial debt servicing was not enough to offset the sharp rise in payments to multilateral lenders, particularly the IMF.
Nigerians fear savings lost as investment app freezes them out
Angry Nigerians are turning to social media to describe how they have been locked out of their accounts on the digital financial platform, CBEX. People have posted videos of themselves crying, saying that they could not withdraw their investments and worried that their money had gone. Some angry customers ransacked a CBEX office in the south-west city of Ibadan, carting off chairs, air-conditioners and a solar panel. CBEX has not yet publicly commented. The company had promised that investors would double their money every month. Nigeria is currently facing straitened economic times and many are desperate to find a way to boost their income. The problem was first noticed over the weekend, but the anger boiled over when Monday came and people were still not able to access their money. Some investors who made complaints on the private messaging service Telegram received responses from CBEX. They were told that the problem was the result of a hack and things will be resolved soon. Nigeria’s financial regulator, the Security and Exchange Commission, has not yet commented. For some, the situation brings back painful memories from 2016 when another popular financial scheme, called MMM, froze its transactions, leaving many investors heartbroken. Members were supposed to receive a 30% return on their investment in just 30 days. It launched in Nigeria in November 2015 and according to its founders, had up to three million members before it collapsed.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
A US envoy appointed to try to mend ties
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas as Special Envoy to the United States of America has been largely welcomed. Jonas is tasked with resetting the relationship between South Africa and the US, which has soured in recent times after US president Donald Trump cut of funding and then accused the country of persecuting white farmers. The US last month expelled SA’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, over remarks he had made about the Trump administration. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, on Monday clarified that Jonas would not be serving as an ambassador but as a special envoy, focused on advancing SA’s diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities. Magwenya also confirmed that Ramaphosa was still pondering on who to appoint as ambassador and Jonas would pave the way for the appointment after negotiations. “There is a distinct difference between an ambassador and a special envoy. A special envoy is not burdened with bureaucratic aspects. He reports directly to the president, working closely with stakeholders on specific issues,” Magwenya explained.
New US envoy called Trump racist, homophobic and narcissistic in a 2020 speech
South Africa’s new special envoy to the United States, Mcebisi Jonas, a former deputy finance minister, appointed on Monday is already under scrutiny for calling U.S. President Donald Trump a racist, homophobic and narcissistic “right-winger” in a speech in 2020. The new South African envoy’s speech criticizing Trump and his first term was delivered five days after the election where Joe Biden defeated Trump. His comments have been circulated in the media. Jonas was delivering South Africa’s annual Ahmed Kathrada Lecture, where public figures are invited to give a speech for the foundation of Kathrada, one of the anti-apartheid activists put on trial by the white minority government in the 1960s and imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela. Jonas’ speech largely focused on inequality, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting the ideas of globalism and international trade. “Hopefully the defeat of Trump will deal a blow to the deglobalization lobby,” he said.
Govt reopens inquest into apartheid-era death of Nobel winner Luthuli, 58 years later
South African prosecutors on Monday reopened an inquest into the apartheid-era death of Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Luthuli 58 years after the government declared he was accidentally killed when a train struck him. Luthuli at the time in 1967 led the African National Congress, which became South Africa’s ruling party at the end of white minority rule in 1994. The current government’s National Prosecuting Authority has reopened a number of apartheid-era cases. It has cited the complexity of reconstructing old cases and investigations as one reason for long delays. Also being reassessed is the death of anti-apartheid activist and lawyer Griffiths Mxenge, who was killed near Durban in 1981, stabbed 45 times and with his throat slit. Another case is looking at the deaths of the so-called Cradock Four, activists who were killed by apartheid-era security forces in 1985…Luthuli’s family and others have long called for an independent probe.
South Africa Rugby won’t bid to host World Cup: “We can’t afford it”
SA Rugby won’t bid for Rugby World Cup (RWC) tournaments because the country’s economy is not strong enough. With unsuccessful hosting bids in 20211, 2015, 2019 and 2023, the only RWC ever hosted on South African soil remains the famous 1995 showpiece. And with Australia and the USA hosting the 2027 and 2031 World Cups respectively, recent reports suggested that South Africa would enter the bidding war with Spain and three Middle Eastern countries for the right to host the 2035 event. This news was amplified by deputy minister of sport, art and culture Peace Mabe, who told the media that the government would support a bid to host the Rugby World Cup if corporate stakeholders came on board to make it financially viable. However, Mark Alexander has poured cold water on the idea when he told explained that the country couldn’t afford to bid for either the 2035 or 2039 Rugby World Cup tournaments because the economy is not strong enough. SA Rugby would also have to spend millions of rands to upgrade stadiums.
ZIMBABWE
EU suspends debt aid to Zimbabwe over ‘draconian’ new law
The European Union (EU) has frozen debt relief aid to Zimbabwe after President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed a controversial law targeting civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Mnangagwa, on Friday, signed the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill into law, ignoring the advice of four United Nations human rights rapporteurs who described it as an assault on democratic principles. The law amended five major pieces of legislation and triggered sweeping changes to Zimbabwe’s regulatory framework for civic groups and NGOs. It gives the authorities extensive powers to monitor and control the operations of voluntary organisations, including the ability to scrutinise their ownership structures, funding sources and affiliations. President Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu PF first mooted the new law in 2019, accusing civil society organisations of being conduits for external funding for opposition parties. His predecessor, Robert Mugabe, had in 2005 refused to sign into law a similar bill, following criticism that it was too draconian…The EU funding that were suspended were meant to ease the arrears clearance and debt resolution process being spearheaded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
France says it will expel 12 Algerian officials as tensions rise
Tensions between France and Algeria, never far from the surface, flared as the two countries engaged in tit-for-tat expulsions of officials working at each of their embassies and consulates. In response to Algeria’s decision of Monday to expel 12 officials working at the French embassy and consulates, the French presidency announced on Tuesday that it would “symmetrically” proceed with the expulsion of 12 consular and diplomatic “Algerian agents.” “The Algerian authorities are responsible for this brutal deterioration of our bilateral relations,” it said. France also said it was recalling its ambassador to Algeria. Algeria’s decision came after the arrest in France on Friday of an Algerian official accused of involvement in the kidnapping last year of an Algerian influencer known as “Amir DZ.” “This disgraceful act, by which the minister of the interior sought to humiliate Algeria, was perpetrated with no regard for the consular status of the agent,” Algeria’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
MOROCCO/WESTERN SAHARA
Oman latest to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara
Oman has formally reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, joining over 100 countries in backing Rabat’s 2007 Autonomy Plan as the basis for resolving the decades-long dispute. In a joint statement, Oman praised Morocco’s leadership in promoting regional peace and reiterated its commitment to opening a consulate in Dakhla or Laayoune — echoing similar moves by the UAE, Jordan and others. The show of support adds to mounting international recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces. Recent endorsements from the US and France have bolstered Rabat’s diplomatic position, as over 40 countries voiced support at the UN Human Rights Council in March. France recently stated its position on Western Sahara is now “no longer subject to discussion,” while the US reiterated that Morocco’s Autonomy Plan remains the only viable solution.
UNITED NATIONS
UN office forced to reduce staff in some African nations amid budget shortfall
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced a 20% reduction in its global workforce, citing a significant funding shortfall of nearly $60 million. OCHA is responsible for coordinating international humanitarian responses to crises such as conflicts and natural disasters, plays a critical role in ensuring that aid reaches vulnerable populations swiftly and efficiently. The 20% staff reduction is expected to have significant implications for African countries on the affected list—Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Eritrea, and Libya—all of which are already grappling with complex humanitarian emergencies. In Nigeria, OCHA’s downsizing could disrupt emergency food distribution, displacement assistance, and health services in conflict-ridden areas. Zimbabwe’s reduced presence may diminish international visibility for ongoing crises, making it harder to mobilize donor funding. Cameroon’s staffing cuts could limit the UN’s ability to respond swiftly to shifting conflict dynamics. Eritrea’s reduced personnel risk silencing avenues for humanitarian needs observation, while Libya’s fewer staff may lead to declined inter-agency coherence and slower response to conflict flare-ups.
AFRICA-GENERAL NEWS
India launches its biggest naval exercise in African waters
India has launched its biggest-ever joint naval exercise with African nations, part of a push to boost its influence on the continent and presence in the Indian Ocean, where China is exercising growing commercial and military clout. Indian government and military officials, including deputy defence minister Sanjay Seth, inaugurated the six-day exercises, which are being co-hosted by Tanzania and will include eight other countries including Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and South Africa in Dar es Salaam on Sunday. Analysts said the manoeuvres were part of New Delhi’s broader ambitions to play a more assertive role in maritime operations, including anti-piracy efforts, and deepen ties on the continent, where its influence has been diminished by rivals including China as well as emerging competitors Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Indian officials said they planned to make the exercises — which will include both a “harbour phase” and a “sea phase” — a biennial event.
Colombia’s VP calls on former colonial powers to confront past as UN forum opens
Colombia’s Vice President Francia Marquez, an advocate of slavery reparations, urged former colonial powers to take responsibility for their past wrongs and called for a global reparations fund, at a United Nations forum on Monday. In her opening speech at the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) in New York, Marquez said the fund would be used to help eradicate legacies of slavery and colonialism, without providing further details. “Colonial states, states that fostered… that form of domination based on the definition of race have to assume the responsibility of restoring the human dignity of people of African descent,” Marquez earlier told Reuters in an interview. While the issue of reparations has gained momentum worldwide, from Africa to the Caribbean, so has the backlash. Many of Europe’s leaders have opposed even talking about reparations. Marquez, a celebrated environmental activist, was elected in 2022 and is Colombia’s first Black woman vice president.
AFC marks record revenue
The revenue reported by infrastructure investor Africa Finance Corporation for the 2024 financial year. The firm is the lead developer of the multi-country Lobito Corridor rail project — connecting the mineral-rich areas of DR Congo and Zambia — for which it is mobilizing half of the $1 billion financing cost. Last year marked the first time the Lagos-based AFC saw revenues reach $1 billion, with a 23% year-on-year revenue increase “driven by improved asset yields, prudent cost-of-funds management and sustained traction in advisory mandates.” AFC’s total assets increased 16% to $14.4 billion. Last year, it invested $150 million in the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, one of Africa’s largest copper producers in DR Congo.
AfDB pushes for rechanneling of IMF eserves to Africa’s Poorest Nations
The president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has criticised the deeply unequal distribution of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), noting that Africa received only $33 billion out of the $650 billion global allocation—a mere 4.5%. Dr Adesina made the remarks in a statement describing the SDR distribution model as structurally flawed and ill-suited to addressing the needs of the world’s most financially vulnerable regions. The Special Drawing Right (SDR) is an international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement member countries’ official reserves. Allocations are typically based on a country’s IMF quota share, favouring larger and wealthier economies. “Africa, the continent with the greatest need and least fiscal room to manoeuvre, was effectively left behind during one of the most challenging global crises in decades,” he said, referencing the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that while Africa was among the worst hit by the economic fallout, its allocation of SDRs failed to match its pressing financial requirements, severely limiting its ability to fund recovery and development programmes.
Africa needs innovative financing solutions to prevent health systems from collapsing, say experts
African health care leaders said innovative financing solutions will be essential to prevent the collapse of health systems on the continent, with the departure of donor aid funding creating a more important role for startups and public-private investments. The abrupt withdrawal of USAID funding earlier this year, following a trend of cutbacks from other Western nations, has left a nearly $12 billion shortfall in financing critical services such as maternal and child health, HIV treatment, pandemic preparedness, and disease control. Last week the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) outlined urgent reforms to secure sustainable funding, focusing on domestic financing, health taxes, and public-private investments to close infrastructure gaps. “If we do not act now, we risk losing 20 years of progress in health security, with preventable diseases returning in force and overwhelming already fragile systems,” said Jean Kaseya, director-general of Africa CDC.
IFAF expands Flag Football Championships to Africa ahead of LA28
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) is launching its first African Flag Football Championships on June 20-21, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt. This expansion aims to globalize the sport ahead of its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The championships will serve as a qualification pathway for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships. “As a sport, you can’t say you are a global sport and you exclude Africa. It’s impossible,” said NFL Africa Lead Osi Umenyiora, a British Nigerian former defensive end who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. IFAF President Pierre Trochet said the championships would create opportunities for new players as the sport is determined not to become a “one-and-done” Olympic entrant. “LA is the beginning of the story for us and a commitment that is shared with IFAF and the entire team of the NFL to look for a future edition – ’32 and beyond – and it’s just as a result that those continental competitions are growing so fast,” said Trochet.
Video: The Dark Side of Conservation | True Crime Reports
How far will Western powers go for conservation? In 2015, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, guards shot and killed an Indigenous boy searching for herbs with his father. This tragedy spotlights the violence faced by Indigenous communities from international conservation efforts. Is human life the cost of wildlife protection?
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OpEd: Power drives global affairs today, not rules – what Africa’s strategies should be
THIS WEEK AHEAD
Apr. 14-16: GITEX Africa tech conference takes place in Marrakech.
Apr. 14-16: The African Union Commission holds its AU Agribusiness Youth Strategy dialogue for Island States in Mauritius.
Apr. 15: The World Bank launches its “Unlocking Efficiency” report on creating and enforcing energy regulations.
Apr. 16: South Africa publishes retail trade sales data for February.
Apr. 17: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivers a speech on the global economy to kick off the 2025 Spring Meetings in Washington, DC.
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