Last week, the National Assembly voted to impeach Gachagua, who played a key role in President William Ruto’s election victory two years ago

International humanitarian organization Save the Children reported that approximately 10 million children in Central and West Africa are unable to attend school due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall. In a written statement, the organization noted that nearly 1 million people have been displaced in Niger, Nigeria, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to the floods. The statement highlighted that the rains have caused significant damage to school buildings, with some even collapsing, and many of those displaced are seeking refuge in schools. Mali and Niger have been the hardest hit by the flooding, with schools expected to open late—one month in Mali and three weeks in Niger. The statement also mentioned that, due to ongoing conflicts and poverty, 36 million children in these four countries were already out of school, and the floods have added another 10 million to this number.

Daniel Chapo, the presidential candidate for Mozambique’s ruling party Frelimo, participated in last week’s general election. Preliminary results released on Wednesday indicate that Frelimo is leading in all 11 provinces, positioning Chapo as the likely next president. However, election observers have expressed concerns about the integrity of the poll, stating it fell short of international standards. Reports of disorganized counting, poorly sealed ballot boxes, vote buying, inflated voter rolls, and intimidation have emerged. Opposition parties have alleged fraud, with at least one calling for a nationwide strike on Monday and another planning to contest the results in court. Frelimo has been in power since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and has faced persistent accusations of election rigging, which the party denies. Final results are expected on October 24.

 Nigeria Police Force confirmed Wednesday that the death toll from a tanker explosion rose to 153. Police spokesman in Jigawa State, Lawal Adam, told Anadolu that 100 people were hospitalized at various facilities. He said the explosion occurred on an expressway in Jigawa state in northwestern Nigeria. The disaster, according to the police, was triggered by residents who had rushed to scoop petrol that had spilled after the tanker overturned. The zonal coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nura Abdullahi, told the Turkish news agency that a mass funeral was held in Majiya town of the Taura local government. The head of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, Haruna Mairiga, put the death toll at 153. Mairiga added that the victims were burned to ashes beyond recognition at the scene of the blast. President Bola Tinubu demanded a comprehensive review of fuel transportation safety protocols across Nigeria following the accident. Vice President Kashim Shettima, on behalf of Tinubu, sympathized with the families of those killed in the accident and prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Niger replaced on Wednesday the names of streets and public squares inherited from the French colonial era with those of prominent African historical figures. The renaming, initiated by the Ministry of Youth and Culture, saw streets and squares in the nation’s capital of Niamey given new names. The locations had long carried names that reminded the public of the hardships and suffering endured under colonial rule, according to Youth and Culture Minister Amadou Abdourahaman. Among the changes, a boulevard previously named after former French President Charles De Gaulle was rechristened as Djibo Bakary Boulevard in recognition of Bakary’s pivotal role in Niger’s independence. In another symbolic gesture, the engraved portrait of French commander Parfait-Louis Monteil on a stone wall in Niamey was removed and replaced with the image of Thomas Sankara, the legendary revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso. Additionally, “Francophonie Square” was renamed the “Alliance of Sahel States Square” to honor the alliance formed by Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. The changes follow another significant cultural shift in Niger. In June 2023, the country replaced its colonial-era national anthem, “La Nigerienne,” composed in 1961 by French composer Maurice Albert Thiriet, with “For the Honor of the Homeland (Pour l’honneur de la Patrie),” which celebrates Niger’s struggle against colonialism.

The Dutch government is seeking solutions to reduce immigration in the country.

Finance Minister Mbadi announces UAE loan talks as Kenya seeks better financing options amid IMF delays.

The years of conflict in eastern Congo have caused a mental health crisis. Aid groups are overwhelmed by the number of people seeking mental health care.

The National Assembly voted last Tuesday to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges, including corruption, undermining the government, and inciting ethnic tensions

With its rich resources and youthful population, Africa attracts attention from international investors

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor announced on Monday the renewal of an investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on allegations of crimes committed in the conflict-ridden North Kivu province since early 2022. Eastern Congo has long been plagued by over 120 armed groups competing for control of the region’s gold and other resources, leading to mass killings and one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced and many lacking access to aid. The most prominent rebel group, M23, gained attention over a decade ago when it seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, near the Rwandan border. The group is named after a March 23, 2009, peace deal that it claims the Congolese government has failed to honor. In August, clashes between M23 and pro-government militias resulted in the deaths of 16 villagers, violating a cease-fire intended to aid the displaced population. The ICC initially opened its investigation in Congo 20 years ago amid ongoing armed conflict. Last year, the Congolese government requested an investigation into alleged crimes by armed groups in North Kivu since January 1, 2022. Prosecutor Karim Khan stated that the recent violence in North Kivu is linked to a long history of hostilities in the region since mid-2002, and therefore, these new allegations will be included in the ongoing investigation. Khan emphasized that the investigation will not focus on specific parties or groups, but will aim to independently and impartially assess the responsibility of all actors involved in crimes within the ICC’s jurisdiction. The ICC has previously convicted three rebels for crimes in the eastern Ituri region, including notorious warlord Bosco Ntaganda, known as “The Terminator,” who was found guilty of murder, rape, and sexual slavery. His 30-year sentence was upheld by appeals judges in 2021.

In Nigeria’s Kogi State, it has been reported that more than 2 million people have been displaced due to flooding. Umar Y. Mahmud, the Disaster Management Officer for the Red Cross in Kogi State, stated that the floods occurred in nine areas of the state as a result of the Niger and Benue rivers overflowing. Mahmud noted that the flooding has displaced over 2 million people and explained that rescue teams are assisting residents in evacuating to camps and villages. “The situation is currently very dire due to the rising Niger River,” he said. He also mentioned that approximately 150,000 hectares of land have been submerged due to the flooding. This year, about 300 people have lost their lives in Nigeria as a result of floods caused by heavy rainfall.

A generous donation of 21,000 tons of rice from South Korea to the WFP in Kenya will provide vital support to thousands of vulnerable individuals affected by the refugee crisis.

The Felebration in Lagos honors the Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, known for his groundbreaking music and political activism.

Kemi Seba, a French-born activist known for his radical anti-Western views and controversial statements, has been arrested in Paris.

The UN’s World Food Program has warned of a potential “full-scale human catastrophe” as millions face starvation.

Major crackdown on Ivory Coast student federation following allegations of murder and violent campus behavior.

On Monday, October 14, Senegal’s government, led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, unveiled its 25-year development plan, “Senegal 2050.” The initiative aims to reduce foreign dependency and debt by focusing on local resources and human capital. Sonko criticized past development models as failures and cited Japan’s success as a potential model for African nations. The program intends to alleviate poverty, triple per capita income by 2050, and achieve annual economic growth of 6-7%. It will be organized around eight development hubs throughout the country. Sonko also addressed the concerning state of public finances, revealing a larger budget deficit and public debt than previously disclosed. He accused the prior government of manipulating financial data, a claim they denied. Meanwhile, credit rating agency Moody’s has downgraded Senegal’s rating.

More than 14,000 people have been vaccinated against mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of a campaign launched in early October, according to the country’s health ministry. Since the campaign began, approximately 14,180 individuals have received the vaccine across three provinces, the ministry announced on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The campaign started on October 5 in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. The DRC aims to vaccinate a total of 2.5 million people using 3.5 million doses, with Health Minister Roger Kamba noting that about 265,000 doses are currently available. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 16 countries in the African region have been affected by mpox, labeling the DRC as the epicenter of the epidemic. Since the start of the year, the DRC has recorded 31,350 suspected cases, including 992 deaths, and 6,169 confirmed cases, with 25 fatalities. The country is facing a high mortality rate due to late diagnoses and limited access to treatment, with only 41 percent of suspected cases tested in 2024. As of October 6, Africa has reported a total of 36,787 suspected cases, including 998 deaths, complicated by several clades of the virus. In mid-August, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. Shortly after, the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, activating its highest alert level for the second time in two years. Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which spreads through close contact. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash, and back pain.

The targeting of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly the Nuba Christians, persists despite the conflict not being framed as a religious war

Health authorities confirm mpox cases rise to 13 across 10 areas, including capital Nairobi

The launch is part of a broader movement in Africa, with 17 nations now having sent more than 60 satellites into orbit

Founded in 859 CE by the visionary Fatima al-Fihri, the University stands as a sign of Morocco’s rich history

The national electricity grid collapsed on Monday, resulting in a nationwide blackout. In a statement on X, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) reported that the grid failure occurred at 6:58 PM, impacting power supply in their service areas. “The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform its valued customers of a general system collapse that occurred at 6:48 PM today, October 14, 2024,” said Ezeh. “This has led to the loss of power currently being experienced across the EEDC network. As a result, all our interface TCN stations are offline, preventing us from providing services to customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. “We are on standby, awaiting detailed information about the collapse and restoration efforts from the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo.” The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) also stated that they are collaborating with stakeholders to restore power. “Please be informed that a system collapse at 6:48 PM has led to a loss of power supply across our network,” EKEDC announced. “The power outage is due to a failure in the national grid at 6:58 PM today, affecting our franchise areas. Rest assured, we are working with relevant stakeholders to restore power as soon as the grid stabilizes. Thank you for your understanding.” Emeka Ezeh, head of corporate communications at EEDC, confirmed that they are unable to supply power to customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.