Author: fatimah

Burkina Faso has introduced major changes to its public holiday calendar following the unanimous approval of new legislation by the Transitional Legislative Assembly, a move the government says will significantly reduce public spending and improve administrative efficiency. The bill was passed on 9 January 2026, with all 70 legislators present voting in favour. It establishes a new legal framework that separates paid public holidays from dates set aside for national reflection and remembrance. Officials say the reform replaces the existing holiday law enacted in 2015, which had designated numerous historically significant dates as paid holidays. Under the new arrangement, the…

Guinea-Bissau’s transitional authorities have announced new restrictions on political and media communications, warning that statements made without official approval will no longer be tolerated during the transition period. In a statement issued on Friday, the country’s High Military Command, General Horta Inta-A Na Man, said the measures were necessary to prevent actions it claims could fuel unrest or weaken national cohesion. The authorities accused certain individuals and groups, including political actors, of organising covert meetings and using them to encourage disorder and defiance of the transitional framework currently governing the country. The announcement comes weeks after the adoption of a…

Sudan’s military leadership has ordered accelerated legal proceedings and the release of hundreds of female detainees accused of links to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), amid ongoing efforts to review detention practices during the conflict. Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, issued the directive on Friday following an inspection visit to Omdurman Women’s Prison, west of the capital, Khartoum. In a statement shared on X, al-Burhan ordered the immediate release of 400 female inmates, including mothers being held with their children, and announced that all financial penalties connected to public-rights cases would be waived. He also instructed…

The Nigerian government has pledged to strengthen its security response to ongoing insecurity, following renewed threats by US President Donald Trump to carry out airstrikes in regions affected by violent attacks. The government said it would further empower the armed forces to confront security challenges across the country. Vice President Kashim Shettima made the remarks on Friday during a special Jumma’a prayer at the National Mosque in Abuja, held ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, scheduled for January 15. Shettima reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has repeatedly assured Nigerians that his administration…

The Ghanaian government is taking steps to stimulate economic growth, expand job opportunities, and attract investment through the establishment of a 24-Hour Authority, a key initiative under its broader 24-Hour Economy policy. President John Dramani Mahama, during a visit to the Ghana Publishing Company on Thursday, said the authority would serve as the central coordinating body for the 24-Hour Economy initiative. Its mandate includes registering participating businesses, setting operational standards, and overseeing administrative frameworks to support round-the-clock economic activity. Mahama said the initiative is expected to boost productivity, create employment opportunities, and position Ghana as a competitive hub for continuous…

The African Union (AU) and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination and cooperation to promote peace, stability and sustainable development across Africa and globally. The commitment was underscored during the ninth AU-China Strategic Dialogue, jointly held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Discussions at the dialogue focused on advancing modernization, global governance, zero-tariff treatment, the proposed International Organization for Mediation, and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa. Both sides highlighted the importance of closer alignment between the AU’s Agenda 2063 implementation plan and China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, describing it as a…

The Ghanaian government has announced plans to deliver new housing units for members of the country’s security services, as part of efforts to improve welfare and recognise their service to the nation. President John Dramani Mahama revealed the initiative during an end-of-year event of the Ghana Police Service, known as the West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA), held at the Police Headquarters in Accra. The housing programme will be implemented in partnership with a Singapore-based company, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during President Mahama’s official visit to Singapore in 2025. The agreement provides for the establishment of a…

Benin Republic will hold parliamentary and local elections on Sunday, January 11, just one month after a failed military coup attempt in the country. The vote is expected to shape the political landscape ahead of the presidential election scheduled for April 2026, serving as an early indicator of shifting power dynamics. President Patrice Talon’s ruling coalition has tightened its grip on power following the exclusion of the main opposition Democrats Party from the local elections and the upcoming presidential race. The party was barred after failing to secure the required number of sponsorship signatures to validate its candidacy. Although the…

The Confederation of Sahel (AES) has joined several African states in condemning the recent United States military operation in Venezuela, describing the action as an “act of aggression” and a violation of international law. In a statement released on Thursday in Ouagadougou and signed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso and Chair of the AES, the organisation characterised the operation as the “illegal abduction” of President *Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and an “unacceptable interference” in the affairs of a sovereign state. The AES appeal called on the United Nations Security Council to “fully assume its…

President Alassane Ouattara on Thursday departed Abidjan for an official visit to France, 24 hours after the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé and the dissolution of his government. The visit comes at a pivotal moment in Côte d’Ivoire’s political landscape, as the country awaits the formation of a new executive leadership. Accompanied by his wife, Dominique Ouattara, President Ouattara is expected, upon his return, to appoint a new Prime Minister once the Constitutional Council has formally validated the election results and concluded the resolution of outstanding electoral disputes. In the interim, Beugré Mambé and his ministers will continue…