Author: Faith Daniel

From the moment Mamadi Doumbouya seized power in September 2021, he struck an imposing figure. Just 36 years old at the time, the broad-shouldered colonel, standing well over six feet tall, wearing military fatigues, mirrored sunglasses, and a red beret, made a strong impression when announcing the coup. A relatively unknown member of an elite army unit, he declared that the government of ousted President Alpha Condé had disregarded democratic principles and that citizens’ rights were being trampled. After more than four years acting as interim president, and despite initially promising not to run, Doumbouya, now 41, was sworn in…

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of Thursday’s election, extending his four decades in power by another five years. The electoral commission announced that Museveni gained 72% of the vote, while his closest challenger, former pop star Bobi Wine, received 25%. Wine condemned the results as “fake” and accused authorities of “ballot stuffing,” though he has not provided evidence and the authorities have not responded. African Union election observers reported seeing “no evidence of ballot stuffing.” Wine has called for non-violent protests in response. Museveni, 81, first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986 and…

Across Uganda’s campaign trail, youth energy is unmistakable. Whether wrapped in the ruling party’s trademark yellow or clad in the opposition’s revolutionary red, young people dominate rallies, roadside gatherings, and public spaces. They chant, sing party anthems, livestream events on their phones, and form the backbone of election mobilisation. Their political loyalties may be starkly divided, but the intensity of belief on both sides is strikingly similar. At a crowded opposition rally in south-western Uganda, Steven Bagasha Byaruhanga voices his hope in challenger Bobi Wine. “Bobi Wine is a good guy. If he gets to power, I believe he can…

Ethiopian authorities say they have intercepted tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition allegedly sent by Eritrea to an armed rebel group operating inside Ethiopia, a claim that has further heightened fears of renewed conflict between the two Horn of Africa neighbours. Eritrea has firmly rejected the accusation, accusing Ethiopia’s government of manufacturing allegations in order to justify a long-planned military confrontation. The claim comes at an especially sensitive time for relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, whose history has been marked by decades of hostility, armed conflict, and fragile reconciliation efforts. Recent diplomatic gains following Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 civil war have…

Severe flooding across South Africa’s northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga has forced the temporary closure of the iconic Kruger National Park, with some visitors and staff evacuated by helicopter as conditions worsened. The flooding follows weeks of relentless heavy rainfall that has left at least 19 people dead across the country. Thousands of homes have been damaged, with some completely swept away by rising waters. Among the victims was a five-year-old boy from the town of Giyani in Limpopo. President Cyril Ramaphosa travelled to the area to assess the destruction and personally met with the child’s family to express…

The United States has accused South Africa’s defence establishment of defying government instructions by allowing Iranian warships to take part in naval exercises off the country’s coast. In a sharply worded statement, Washington said South Africa could not claim to stand for justice while strengthening ties with Iran, accusing the country’s military leadership of ignoring orders to send the Iranian vessels home. South Africa’s defence ministry responded by announcing an internal inquiry to investigate what it described as serious allegations surrounding the incident. The dispute centres on a week-long naval exercise known as Peace Resolve, which began last Friday and…

6 days ago | Lucy Fleming Algeria’s football federation has issued an apology to a Congolese superfan who has captured attention at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco. Michel Nkuka Mboladinga has become famous for supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo by dressing as the country’s first leader, Patrice Lumumba, and standing completely still throughout every match. He would remain on a pedestal, right arm raised, mimicking Lumumba’s iconic statue in Kinshasa, while fans cheered around him. However, after Algeria defeated the Leopards on Tuesday, Algerian forward Mohamed Amine Amoura sparked backlash by mimicking Mboladinga and falling to…

The head of Uganda’s electoral body, Simon Byabakama, has said he has received threats warning him against declaring certain presidential candidates the winners of Thursday’s election. Byabakama, however, insisted he would not be intimidated by these warnings, which he said came from unnamed senior state officials. Responding to a widely shared video, in which a presidential aide claimed the electoral commission would never declare opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, as president, Byabakama stated: “Some people say if you don’t declare so-and-so as president, you will see. I tell them that I am not in the business…

The United States has suspended all aid to Somalia, citing claims that Somali officials destroyed a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized 76 tonnes of donor-funded food aid meant for vulnerable citizens. A US State Department statement emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, or diversion of life-saving aid, and said assistance will resume only if Somalia takes accountability and corrective measures. Somalia denies wrongdoing, stating the warehouse demolition at Mogadishu port did not affect aid storage and that all humanitarian aid remains under WFP control. A WFP staff member confirmed there was no looting, only partial demolition.…

Jersey is returning over $9.5 million (£7 million) in funds deemed “tainted property” to the Nigerian government to support an infrastructure project. The repayment follows a Jersey returns £7m in ‘tainted’ funds to Nigeria Jersey is returning over $9.5 million (£7 million) in funds deemed “tainted property” to the Nigerian government to support an infrastructure project. The repayment follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December by Jersey’s Attorney General Mark Temple KC. This builds on previous agreements that saw more than $300 million (£230 million) repatriated to Nigeria. In January 2024, the Royal Court of Jersey ruled that…