Author: fatimah

Nigeria recorded 565 deaths linked to terrorist violence in 2024, according to a new report released by the country’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). The report places Nigeria’s figures within a wider continental context, revealing that over 13,900 civilians were killed in more than 3,400 terrorist attacks across Africa during the same period. It further notes that approximately five million people were forcibly displaced across the Sahel and neighbouring sub-regions as a result of insecurity. The NCTC also highlighted the long-term economic toll of terrorism on the continent. Since 2007, terrorist activity has cost Africa an estimated $119 billion, with…

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has issued a bold call for Africa to pursue genuine sovereignty and self-reliance, urging the continent to reduce its long-standing dependence on external assistance and take greater control of its future. Mahama made the remarks while speaking at the Davos Convening of the Accra Reset Initiative, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Reflecting on Africa’s post-colonial trajectory, the president said the continent has struggled to realise its full potential in the decades following independence, remaining ensnared in cycles of conflict and multidimensional poverty. He challenged African nations to “pull themselves up by…

The United States has renewed its call on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts aimed at protecting Christians, urging stronger and more decisive action in response to ongoing security challenges. The appeal was made on Wednesday by US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a high-level US-Nigeria Working Group meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. While acknowledging recent improvements, Hooker stressed the need for a more robust and sustained approach, particularly in light of continued attacks on communities, most notably in the north-east of the country. She said enhanced measures were necessary to ensure the safety of Christians…

The Algerian Senate has rejected 12 articles of a proposed law aimed at criminalising French colonial rule in Algeria between 1830 and 1962, citing concerns over policy alignment and legislative coherence. The draft bill, introduced in December last year by the National People’s Assembly (APN), faced resistance in the Council of the Nation, Algeria’s upper parliamentary chamber, where senators raised formal objections to several of its provisions. In a report issued by its Legal Affairs Committee, the Senate acknowledged the symbolic importance of the initiative but declined to adopt the text in its current form. The committee objected specifically to…

Guinea-Bissau’s transitional leadership has set 6 December 2026 as the date for presidential and parliamentary elections, signalling a renewed commitment to restoring constitutional order following last year’s military takeover. The announcement represents the first formal electoral calendar issued since the armed forces assumed power in November 2025, bringing an abrupt halt to the country’s voting process. The election date was confirmed by transitional head of state Major General Horta N’Tam through a presidential decree released in the capital, Bissau, on Wednesday. The decree references the Transitional Political Charter adopted on 27 November 2025, which outlines the legal framework guiding the…

Burkina Faso’s authorities have confirmed the extradition of former transitional leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba from neighbouring Togo, following allegations linking him to a failed assassination attempt against President Ibrahim Traoré. The confirmation was issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Justice, which said Damiba is now the subject of an ongoing judicial investigation opened on 6 January 2026. The inquiry relates to a range of serious criminal allegations. In an official statement signed by lawyer Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, the ministry said Damiba faces charges including embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, corruption, incitement to commit crimes, aggravated handling of stolen…

The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) is preparing to deepen cooperation with Russia through the signing of new agreements aimed at expanding economic and trade relations. The development follows talks held on Tuesday between Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, and the Russian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Igor Martynov. The meeting laid the groundwork for a forthcoming high-level engagement between Russia and the AES bloc, which comprises Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Officials confirmed that several bilateral agreements are expected to be concluded later this year. Discussions also highlighted plans to strengthen the legal and institutional framework…

Egypt has lost an estimated $9 billion in Suez Canal revenues over the past two years, a setback President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attributes to regional instability linked to the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip. Speaking on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sisi said the losses stemmed directly from disruptions to shipping through the Suez Canal, as ongoing conflict in the region forced vessels to alter routes or suspend transit. “The impact has been significant,” Sisi said, noting that reduced traffic through the canal had affected one of Egypt’s most critical sources of foreign currency. The Egyptian…

Malawi has recorded a second major increase in petrol and diesel prices within four months, raising concerns about rising living costs and broader economic pressures. The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) announced on Tuesday that fuel prices had been adjusted upward by more than 40 percent, citing changes to the country’s fuel pricing framework. Under the new rates, petrol prices have risen by 41.9 percent, while diesel prices increased by 41.3 percent. MERA said the adjustment followed the abandonment of the previous administration’s fixed pricing system, which it described as financially unsustainable and responsible for significant losses within the energy…

Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara has reinstated Robert Beugré as Prime Minister, two weeks after dissolving the government, signalling a move towards political continuity following recent legislative elections. The reappointment was announced on Wednesday in an official statement delivered by the Secretary-General of the Presidency, Masseré Touré-Koné. According to the statement, President Ouattara has instructed the Prime Minister to submit proposals for the formation of a new government without delay. The reshuffle follows parliamentary elections held on 27 December 2025, after which Mr Beugré and several cabinet members secured seats in the National Assembly. Under Ivorian law, holding a parliamentary…