Author: fatimah

Guinea-Bissau’s transitional president, General Horta N’Tam, has been promoted to the rank of major general, the highest military rank in the country’s armed forces. The promotion was confirmed in a decree signed by N’Tam and published on Thursday. Under the decree, the transitional leader was elevated from brigadier general to major general, increasing his rank insignia from two stars to four. Guinea-Bissau has been under military rule since November last year, when the armed forces seized power shortly after the country’s presidential elections. The military takeover led to the removal of former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the suspension of…

Mozambique has received $20 million in flood relief funding from the World Bank to support the country’s response to devastating floods that have affected several provinces since mid-December. The Ministry of Finance announced the funding on Thursday, noting that it was provided under the World Bank’s Regional Emergency Preparedness and Inclusive Recovery Access Programme (REPAIR). According to the ministry, the funds will support immediate humanitarian and recovery efforts after torrential rains destroyed homes, disrupted essential services, and damaged critical infrastructure, leaving thousands of people in urgent need of assistance. Priority interventions include humanitarian relief, public health protection, the restoration of…

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has decried the flagrant repression of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, media houses, and citizens in Nigeria. In its 2025 annual report on free expression, entitled “Reign of Impunity,” the non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting freedom of expression, media freedom, and access to information in Nigeria said a total of 86 incidents of attacks against journalists, media houses, and citizens were documented in 2025. According to the report, the attacks were recorded across 27 states, including the nation’s capital, Abuja, with no single case resulting in a successful investigation or…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of its ban on alcoholic beverages sold in small containers under 200 millilitres, citing a surge in underage drinking and alcohol-related social issues. In a statement on Thursday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that the ban targets only the production and sale of spirit drinks in small sachets, and no alcohol companies have been shut down. She noted that the proliferation of cheap, easily concealed sachet alcohol has contributed to addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and other social vices, particularly among young people. The move…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Guinea following the 2021 military coup that disrupted the country’s constitutional order. According to a statement, the decision was finalised after a summit of the bloc’s Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital. ECOWAS said the installation of a democratically elected president following the December 2025 presidential election, and the legal transfer of power to President Mamadi Doumbouya’s government, has “created an atmosphere conducive to the restoration of democratic governance and respect for the rule of law…

Heavy gunfire and loud explosions were reported overnight near Niger’s main international airport on the outskirts of the capital, Niamey, triggering concern among residents. Witnesses said air defence systems appeared to intercept unidentified objects in the sky during the early hours of Thursday, according to videos and eyewitness accounts circulating locally. Calm was later restored, with officials indicating that the situation had been brought under control, though no further details were provided. The cause of the incident remains unclear, and there has been no confirmation of casualties. As of Thursday morning, the transitional government had not issued an official statement.…

The Algerian government has declared French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet “persona non grata”, following statements it described as “offensive and provocative.” The announcement was made on a national television program hosted by Badis Khenissa, who said, “I say it loud and clear: the French ambassador is persona non grata in Algeria, as his conduct violates diplomatic norms observed worldwide.” Romatet’s new status comes after his appearance via video conference in a documentary broadcast last Thursday by French public channel France 2. The film addressed relations between Algeria and France, and reportedly mentioned the alleged involvement of Algerian authorities in the attempted…

The Nigeria Police Force, through the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC), has dismantled a cybercrime syndicate accused of diverting telecommunications airtime and data resources, with estimated losses exceeding N7.7 billion (approximately $5 million) In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the operation followed a petition from a Nigerian telecommunications company that uncovered unauthorised activities within its billing and payment systems. He explained that compromised login credentials belonging to internal staff were exploited by the suspects to gain unlawful access to the company’s core infrastructure and manipulate its systems for financial gain. According to the police, coordinated…

The Bank of Ghana has announced a ¢100 million (approximately USD $9 million) minimum capital requirement for institutions seeking to operate as Microfinance Banks (MFBs) in the country. The directive, issued on Tuesday, forms part of a broader reform agenda aimed at improving financial stability, strengthening corporate governance, and protecting depositors’ funds within the microfinance sector. According to the central bank, the reforms are designed to address persistent operational and governance challenges while enhancing the long-term sustainability of institutions operating in the sector. Under the new framework, Microfinance Banks will operate as licensed deposit-taking institutions in line with Act 930,…

In southwest Nigeria, the Lagos State government has rejected claims that police used excessive force against residents protesting demolitions and evictions in parts of the state, describing reports of the incident as misleading and inaccurate. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, said allegations that police operatives attached to the state command fired tear gas at protesters contained “distortions and unverified claims capable of inflaming public tension.” The response follows a protest by residents and human rights groups over ongoing demolitions, during which police fired live ammunition…