Author: fatimah

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…

Police in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, have confirmed that a mass abduction took place over the weekend, reversing earlier statements that dismissed reports of the incident as false. In a statement issued late on Tuesday, police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said dozens of residents were abducted on Sunday during an attack by armed bandits. He added that security forces have launched operations focused on locating and safely rescuing the victims, as well as restoring calm in the affected communities. Hundeyin explained that the initial denials by police and other officials were aimed at preventing public panic while authorities verified the facts.…

Mali’s transitional government has announced the allocation of 17 billion CFA francs to support members of the armed forces and their beneficiaries, marking the highest publicly disclosed level of social support for military personnel in the country to date. The funding was announced during activities marking Malian Armed Forces Day, an annual event dedicated to recognising the role of the military. Authorities said the allocation will support soldiers deployed across various operational theatres, as well as provide assistance to the families of troops killed or wounded while carrying out missions to defend and secure national territory. The allocation is significantly…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has stepped up efforts to attract American investment, presenting United States officials with a shortlist of state-owned mining assets as part of a proposed minerals partnership, according to two senior Congolese officials. The assets under consideration include deposits of manganese, copper-cobalt, gold, and lithium, all of which are critical to global energy transition and manufacturing supply chains. The list was formally submitted to U.S. authorities last week, marking what officials describe as the most concrete step so far in translating diplomatic engagement into U.S. participation in Congo’s strategic minerals sector. The move follows…

A United States immigration court in the state of Virginia has adjourned proceedings involving Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, until 27 April 2026. The decision was taken on Tuesday following Mr Ofori-Atta’s recent detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). American authorities argue that he no longer holds lawful immigration status after the revocation of his visitor visa. The case was presided over by Immigration Judge David Gardey, who considered issues relating to bond and conducted an initial assessment of the matter. Court filings show that Mr Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Centre in…