On August 10, 2024, Constant Mutamba, the Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo, announced the release of nearly 527 prisoners from the Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa. Mutamba also delivered 2,000 mattresses, part of a 7,000-mattress order, to improve conditions for inmates. He emphasized the government’s commitment to the rule of law and pledged further releases of unjustly detained prisoners. He assured that no prisoner would sleep on the floor as new beds are being manufactured and the prison’s health center and several pavilions are being renovated. A new prison is also planned for Maluku. The government previously announced plans to release at least 7,000 inmates from Makala, the country’s largest jail, which, designed for 1,500 inmates in 1957, now holds over 15,000 people under notoriously poor conditions.

Police in Tanzania arrested several key opposition figures Sunday in the southern highlands city of Mbeya. Those arrested include former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu. Lissu, a leading figure in the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) party, was reportedly beaten severely by police before being taken to an undisclosed location, according to party officials. The arrests took place ahead of World Youth Day celebrations, which Chadema’s youth wing, Bavicha, had planned to mark with a public gathering.  Authorities swiftly moved to prevent the event, citing concerns over potential unrest.  The crackdown came at a time when President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been pursuing a reconciliation process with the opposition, raising questions about the sincerity of these efforts. Freeman Mbowe, Chadema’s chairman, condemned the arrests and the police’s actions.  “We strongly condemn the police for arresting our top party leaders, including those from the Chadema Youth Council, Bavicha,” Mbowe said.  He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained. Lissu, who survived a 2017 assassination attempt, has been a vocal critic of the government. His recent declaration to challenge President Samia in the 2025 elections has heightened tensions. Reports suggest that Lissu and Chadema’s Secretary General, John Mnyika, were separated from other detainees, with eyewitnesses claiming that Lissu was brutally beaten before being taken away. Human rights advocate Onesmo Ole Ngurumwa warned that the government’s actions threaten to undermine national unity and democratic reforms as the country approaches local elections in October. “What is happening in Mbeya is a bad sign that we could revert to the dark days. If political meetings are banned, young people might create social movements outside the party system, which are much harder to deal with,” he said.

This revelation hints at possible discussions of a leadership transition within Sudan’s ruling military council, following several military setbacks against the RSF

Sudan’s conflict continues to worsen, with intense fighting in North Darfur causing widespread suffering.

Ghana was the first African nation to gain independence from colonial rule

The opposition has condemned the move, accusing the government of backsliding on democratic reforms.

This outcome has cast doubt over the negotiations, set to commence in three days

Kagame’s overwhelming election victory marks the start of a fourth term as he pledges to prioritize peace in the region.

A landslide at a massive garbage dump in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, has killed at least 21 people, with many more feared trapped.

The integrity of the Paris Olympics is under question after Congolese sprinter Dominique Lasconi Mulamba tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Turkey is stepping up mediation efforts, with a new round of talks scheduled for Monday in Ankara.

Algeria expressed concern over increasing military activity in southwestern Libya, urging all parties to exercise restraint and avoid renewed conflict.

Military court in capital Freetown hands sentences ranging from 50 to 120 years in conviction for attempt on President Julius Maada Bio’s government last year

The arrest comes as the country continues to investigate atrocities committed during Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

Algeria has requested an urgent UN Security Council session to address an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school that killed at least 100 people.

Independent High Authority for Elections in Tunisia accepted the candidacy files of three candidates for the October 6 presidential election, rejecting 14.

Erdogan and Abiy Ahmed review bilateral relations and discuss Israel’s Gaza offensive and Ethiopia-Somalia issues.

Despite rising pollution in the revered Osun river, worshippers continue to flock to its waters for spiritual rituals. Edaoto Agbeniyi, a local musician, has visited the river since childhood, but since 2018, the once-clear waters have turned milky due to toxic metals like mercury and lead from nearby gold mining. The river, a UNESCO Heritage site, remains a significant cultural and religious landmark for the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria. Although contamination has sparked concern among devotees and impacted tourism, it hasn’t diminished the spiritual pull of the river. Thousands attended the annual Osogbo festival this year. “I am angry and sad that the government hasn’t purified the water,” Agbeniyi told Reuters. However, he believes the river’s spiritual essence remains intact. Despite warnings from advocacy groups like Urban Alert, which found high levels of toxic metals in the river, worshippers like Ajoke Adekoya continue to find peace there, pledging to return next year. The government announced cleanup efforts last year, but the river remains polluted according to devotees and civil society organizations.

Uganda is in a state of emergency after a landfill in Kampala collapsed, killing eight people and displacing hundreds.

In recent years, stand-up comedy has seen a remarkable surge in popularity across Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that it will send 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone. According to a written statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the ECOWAS Chairperson Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tinubu met with the chiefs of staff of member countries in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa stated during the meeting that ECOWAS has decided to deploy 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone and that the member countries have pledged to support this effort. Coup Attempt in Sierra Leone On November 26, 2023, a group attacked an armory at the Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown, followed by an assault on a nearby prison. In the prison attack, 2,200 inmates escaped, leading to a partial curfew being imposed across the country. Military spokesperson Issa Bangura reported that in the attack on the Wilberforce Barracks, 19 people, including 13 soldiers and one police officer, lost their lives, and 8 others were injured. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor A. Bah, described the attacks on the barracks and the prison as a “coup attempt.” Several individuals, including military personnel and police officers, have been detained in connection with the coup attempt. Among the suspects, 12, including a bodyguard of former President Ernest Bai Koroma, have been charged with “treason.” Koroma traveled to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, after Sierra Leone’s High Court permitted him to go abroad for medical treatment.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured a gold medal on Friday at the Paris Olympics, triumphing in a challenging tournament marked by intense scrutiny and online abuse. Khelif, who faced misconceptions and attacks questioning her womanhood, defeated China’s Yang Liu 5:0 in the women’s welterweight final. The match took place at Roland Garros, where Khelif was cheered on by enthusiastic crowds waving Algerian flags. Following her victory, Khelif celebrated with her coaches and proudly displayed an Algerian flag. “For eight years, this has been my dream,” she said through an interpreter. “Despite the attacks, my success tastes even sweeter.” The scrutiny Khelif faced stemmed from controversies surrounding her eligibility and false claims about her gender. These issues began after the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified her and another boxer, Li Yu-ting, from last year’s world championships, citing an unclear eligibility test. Khelif, who has competed in IBA events since 2018, responded to critics by emphasizing her authenticity. “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified,” she asserted. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has since banned the IBA from the Olympics, criticizing its governance and sex testing practices. Despite the IBA’s tarnished reputation and amplified disinformation, Khelif excelled in Paris, winning every round in her matches. Khelif’s gold medal is Algeria’s first in women’s boxing and only the nation’s second overall, joining Hocine Soltani’s 1996 gold. The victory has made her a national hero, celebrated in Algeria with public screenings and murals. Her performance in Paris culminated a remarkable tournament, beginning with an unusual first bout where her opponent withdrew early due to injury. Khelif’s resilience and skill shone through, earning her the title of one of the best Olympic boxers. As Khelif enjoys her well-deserved accolade, the spotlight now shifts to Lin, who competes for Taiwan’s first boxing gold medal on Saturday.

By visiting lion farms or participating in canned hunts, they support a cruel trade that threatens the survival of wild lions.

At least nine people were killed and sixteen wounded in clashes between armed groups in Tripoli’s Tajoura suburb.