Author: fatimah

Ghana has committed US$1.47 billion to stabilising its energy sector, a move the government says is intended to reverse years of financial strain and rebuild trust among international partners. In a statement released on Monday, the Ministry of Finance said the intervention was necessary to address long-standing payment defaults that had placed the sector under severe pressure, particularly in relation to gas supplies from the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) field. Officials noted that accumulated arrears before the current administration took office had exhausted a US$500 million World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee, a facility designed to shield investors from payment…

Aziz Akhannouch, president of Morocco’s ruling National Rally of Independents (RNI), has announced that he will not contest the country’s next parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 2026. The decision was confirmed during a meeting of the party’s political bureau on Saturday. Akhannouch also said he would not seek re-election as RNI president at the party’s eighth national congress, set for February 7. He cited adherence to the party’s internal regulations, which limit the presidency to two terms, as the basis for his decision. Despite stepping aside, Akhannouch expressed confidence in the RNI’s organisational strength and political influence, saying the party…

The Nigerian government has reached an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to formalise a new framework aimed at strengthening the country’s tertiary education sector. In a statement, the Ministry of Education said the agreement underscores the government’s commitment to constructive engagement with organised academic bodies and its preference for resolving labour disputes through dialogue rather than industrial action. The agreement follows years of negotiations between the government and ASUU over longstanding challenges affecting public universities, including funding gaps, infrastructure deficits, and conditions of service for academic staff. The document was signed on behalf of the Ministry…

Egypt’s pro-government coalition has secured a decisive victory in the country’s parliamentary elections, according to final results announced over the weekend by the National Elections Authority. The electoral body confirmed the outcome of the three-month-long vote after releasing results for the final 49 seats, handing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his allies a parliamentary supermajority widely seen as sufficient to support constitutional amendments. Parties aligned under the pro-government National List for Egypt coalition won 164 seats contested by individual candidates. Most of the remaining individual seats were claimed by smaller parties and independents who are broadly considered supportive of the…

At least four people were killed in the early hours of Saturday when unidentified gunmen attacked Damala village in the Woko district of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State. According to the Niger State Police Command, the attackers stormed the community at dawn, killing residents and rustling an unspecified number of cattle. Several shops were also set ablaze before the assailants fled the area. The police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that security forces have since launched an investigation and intensified patrols in and around the affected community. The latest attack comes just a week…

Sudan’s government has pledged to restore security and improve living conditions across the country following its return to Khartoum for the first time since war erupted in April 2023. Prime Minister Kamel Idris made the commitment after arriving in the capital from Port Sudan, which had functioned as the seat of government during the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Addressing residents, Idris described the government’s return as a critical moment in Sudan’s recovery and expressed hope that the period ahead would mark a transition toward peace and stability. He said the government would…

Ghana’s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, could be required to return to his home country following new developments related to his immigration status in the United States, Ghanaian authorities have said. The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, confirmed that the Ghanaian government is actively engaged in the matter and is cooperating with law enforcement agencies in both countries. He made the remarks during an interview with local broadcaster TV3. According to Srem-Sai, the involvement of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency was triggered by immigration concerns rather than arbitrary action. He explained that ICE…

The Ethiopian government has announced an ambitious plan to construct Africa’s largest airport, a $12.5 billion project scheduled for completion by 2030. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, in a statement shared on X, said the Bishoftu International Airport will be “the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history.” The airport will have capacity to park 270 aircraft and handle up to 110 million passengers annually. This is more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia’s current main airport, which is expected to reach its operational limits within the next two to three years. The project forms part of Ethiopia’s broader…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reiterated its call for the establishment of an inclusive transitional government in Guinea-Bissau following the coup d’état of 26 November. The call was made by ECOWAS Chairman and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, during a high-level mission to Guinea-Bissau, where he held discussions with the High Military Command, led by Major General Horta N’Tam. During the meeting, the ECOWAS Chairman restated the bloc’s demand for a short-term transition led by an inclusive government that reflects the political diversity and social composition of Guinea-Bissau. The mission aligns with resolutions adopted…

Burkinabé customs authorities have intercepted a significant cache of explosives, seizing more than 8,000 explosive devices between January 4 and 8 in operations aimed at disrupting illegal trafficking networks. The seized materials, which were intended for illicit use, included 7,165 sticks of explosives and 872 detonating cords. The first interception occurred at the Cinkansé customs post during an intensified screening of travellers. A subsequent operation was carried out a few days later by the Mobile Intervention Unit (UMI) of the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST), leading to the seizure of an additional 165 sticks of explosives and 22 detonating cords.…