Author: kajarbi54

President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, as clashes intensify between pro-government forces and the M23 rebel group. Tshisekedi was received at the Élysée Palace, where the two leaders addressed security concerns, humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the Great Lakes region. The meeting followed reports of the death of M23 military spokesperson Willy Ngoma, who was allegedly killed in a drone strike near the mining town of Rubaya in North Kivu province. In a statement posted on X, Tshisekedi…

Guinean authorities have detained 16 Sierra Leonean soldiers accused of crossing into its territory without authorization, escalating tensions along the shared border. In a statement issued Sunday, the Guinean army said several dozen Sierra Leonean troops entered Guinean territory near Koudaya in Faranah Prefecture, erected a tent, and raised their national flag. “The General Staff of the Armed Forces informs the national and international public that on Sunday, February 22, 2026, several dozen armed soldiers from Sierra Leone unlawfully entered Guinean territory in the area of Koudaya,” the statement said. However, Sierra Leone disputed the account, alleging that Guinean forces…

Malian-owned firm Niangadou Distribution Company (NDC) has acquired approximately 80 service stations previously operated by French energy company TotalEnergies, the company confirmed on Wednesday. The stations were initially sold to Coly Energy Mali in January 2025, a subsidiary of Benin Petro, marking the gradual end of TotalEnergies’ direct presence in Mali’s retail fuel market. One year later, NDC has taken full ownership of the network. The acquisition marks the French group’s withdrawal from Mali after more than 25 years of operations in the country. NDC, led by businessman Mamadou Niangadou, was previously a major fuel importer with a fleet of…

Amnesty International has accused a police unit in Imo State, South-East Nigeria of committing serious human rights violations including torture, extrajudicial killings and extortion. The unit, popularly known as “Tiger Base,” was originally established to combat kidnapping and armed robbery but, according to a report released on Wednesday, has allegedly become a hub of unchecked police brutality in Owerri the state capital. The report, “Tiger Base of Atrocities,” detailed that detainees were often held in overcrowded, inhumane conditions, coerced into confessions, and in some cases shot or disappeared. Former detainees recounted being beaten with rods and cables, cut with knives…

A US court has sentenced former Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) official Paulinus Okoronkwo to 87 months in federal prison for receiving a $2.1 million bribe linked to oil drilling rights in Nigeria. Okoronkwo, a dual US-Nigerian citizen, previously headed NNPC’s Upstream Division, overseeing the country’s oil and gas operations. In August 2025, a jury found him guilty of three counts of transactional money laundering, one count of tax evasion, and one count of obstruction of justice. The court also ordered $923,824 in restitution to the IRS and the forfeiture of $1,039,997 linked to a house purchased with the illicit…

Women and youths play a pivotal role in enhancing regional economic growth and unlocking the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These points were made on Thursday by Trade Director Christopher Mensah-Yawaon during his presentation at the ongoing extraordinary session and seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja. The presentation, entitled “Women, Youth and Informal Cross-Border Traders: Unlocking Inclusive Growth Under AfCFTA,” focused on the contributions of women and youth to national economies. Referencing the high percentage of female traders, which makes up about 74% of cross-border traders, Mensah-Yawaon emphasized that women are key to securing…

The EUCAP Sahel Mali mission has conducted an evaluation visit to the River Brigade of the National Gendarmerie to assess equipment provided under its mandate to support Mali’s internal security forces. The initiative includes targeted training and logistical support aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of units responsible for securing inland waterways. As a result, the River Brigade is better equipped to carry out surveillance, control, and anti-trafficking operations along the Niger River. Beyond routine security patrols, the technical support is also expected to enhance emergency response capabilities, enabling gendarmes to conduct faster and more effective rescue operations in the…

The Economic Community of West African States Commission has concluded a two-day virtual regional sensitization workshop aimed at strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) capacity to engage with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol. Organized in collaboration with GIZ, the training targeted SMEs across the ECOWAS region, focusing on improving understanding of both the ECOWAS E-commerce Strategy and the AfCFTA Digital Trade framework. Representing ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr. Kalilou Sylla, Director of Trade Kolawole Sofola said the workshop was designed to equip SMEs with practical knowledge to leverage emerging digital trade opportunities…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has flagged multi-level collation of results as the biggest threat to Nigeria’s elections, requiring presiding officers to upload images of completed Form EC8A and submit party scores directly into the system. According to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been upgraded with safeguards to prevent manipulation of results transmitted to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, (IReV). The upgraded BVAS was tested successfully in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Area Council, Kano, and Rivers State elections, Amupitan said, warning that staff negligence or indiscipline would be sanctioned. Amupitan…

The race for the Speakership of Uganda’s 12th Parliament has crystallized into a high-stakes, multi-candidate contest, defying early attempts by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) to ring-fence the position. On January 27, 2026, the CEC endorsed incumbent Speaker Anita Annet Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa, citing continuity and stability as Parliament transitions into its 12th term. However, several political heavyweights have since defied the party line, transforming what was expected to be a routine affirmation into a competitive five-way race. The unfolding contest now tests internal NRM cohesion, the durability of cross-party cooperation agreements, and…