The controversy arose after social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, claimed that anti-corruption officials were bribed to dismiss money laundering charges against Bobrisky

While the conflict has inflicted widespread suffering, it is important to recognize the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their pursuit of a more stable and equitable future for Sudan

Dagalo emphasized that the RSF remains prepared to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the millions suffering from the ongoing conflict

Gambia boasts a land area of just over 11,000 square kilometers

African countries and partners have pledged more than $800 million towards the continent’s mpox response amid surging infection, the director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced Thursday. Jean Kaseya said $314 million was pledged to a new mpox fund created at a meeting of African heads of state earlier this week, of which $129 million is from the pandemic fund to support 10 countries impacted by mpox, while about $145 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). “Today we have around $814 million,” he said. Money from the pandemic fund will support 10 countries impacted by mpox: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan. “Our team is working with the pandemic fund team on the way to allocate these resources in the 10 countries approved for support,” Kaseya said at a virtual news conference. The funding, created at a meeting of African heads of state earlier this week, is expected to bolster country and regional capacity in critical areas, including disease surveillance, diagnostics, laboratory networks and health workforce while addressing the immediate challenges posed by mpox. The continental preparedness and response plan for Africa has a budget of about $600 million. Kaseya said the US has also committed to provide $500 million to support the continental response plan and 1 million vaccine doses. He said Africa has secured 4.4 million vaccine doses against 10 million doses needed to control the disease spread. A total of 2,910 new cases of mpox, mostly in central and eastern Africa, were recorded last week and 16 new deaths, according to the latest data from Africa CDC. More than 32,000 confirmed cases in 2024 have been recorded on the continent with 840 deaths. Compared to the same period last year, Kaseya said there has been more than a 194% increase in cases in 15 African nations. Mpox cases are steadily increasing across all affected countries, Kaseya said, citing contact tracing and low testing capacity among the challenges. The testing rate on the continent stands at 49.5%, whereby many cases cannot be confirmed. Kaseya said this week Africa CDC would deliver available vaccines from the EU to some affected countries such as Rwanda, the Central African Republic, South Africa, Burundi and Cameroon. Congo, the most affected country in the region, will begin vaccinations in the first week of October. “Our objective is to stop this outbreak in the next six months and we need full support from member states and our partners,” he said.

Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye of Senegal condemned the UN Security Council for its inaction regarding the deaths and instability in the Sahel during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 25. “We cannot accept the Sahel becoming a battleground for foreign rivalries, which only worsen regional destabilization,” Faye stated. He emphasized, “Peace and security in Africa are tied to global peace. The Security Council must fully assume its role as a guarantor of international stability.” He referenced recent comments from Ukrainian officials regarding their involvement in attacks by separatist rebels in northeastern Mali, which drew criticism from Malian authorities. As jihadi threats grow, many Western governments have withdrawn their forces from the Sahel following military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In his ten-minute speech, Faye also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to unfair economic practices that hinder the Global South’s prosperity, highlighting issues like illegal trade and tax evasion. The 44-year-old leader urged for better African representation in multilateral institutions and called on developed nations to enhance their efforts in financing a fair transition to combat the climate crisis. “We must protect our planet without compromising the development rights of vulnerable nations,” he stated. Faye also criticized the unilateral imposition of civilizational norms that undermine global stability and peace.

The Moroccan military said on Thursday that the navy had intercepted 49 irregular migrants off the coast of Tarfaya in the southern Sahara region of the Atlantic Ocean. According to a statement posted on Facebook by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, a navy unit intercepted 49 irregular migrants from Sub-Saharan African countries on a rubber boat near Tarfaya port. The irregular migrants were given medical care before being transported to Tarfaya Port and handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie “for further administrative procedures,” the statement said. On January 23, the Interior Ministry reported halting 75,184 irregular migration attempts, a 6% increase over 2022, and dismantling over 419 human trafficking networks, a 44% rise from the previous year. Migration attempts from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe are increasing due to ongoing conflicts, insecurity, and economic difficulties in the migrants’ home countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met separately with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie and Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Muallim Fiqi in New York. According to a post on the Ministry’s X account, Fidan discussed various issues with his Ethiopian and Somali counterparts at the Turkish House in New York. The post noted that the Ministry is actively seeking a balanced, feasible, and mutually beneficial solution to the tensions between the two countries, based on the Ankara Process. Ethiopia-Somalia Dispute Ethiopia is the largest landlocked country in the world by population. Following Eritrea’s de facto separation from Ethiopia in 1991 and its legal independence in 1993, Ethiopia lost its access to the sea. Consequently, it has kept the issue of access to the Red Sea on the agenda for economic reasons and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland on January 1. This memorandum, which included a pledge to recognize Somaliland, drew significant backlash from Somalia and the international community. Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi stated that with the completion of the agreement, Ethiopia would recognize them as “independent.” In response to Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland, the Somali government withdrew its ambassador from Ethiopia. The Arab League and the African Union condemned the agreement, stating it opens the door to military base construction and port development in the Red Sea. Ethiopian and Somali foreign ministers had previously met in Nairobi on March 9-10 to seek solutions to the crisis between their countries, but no results were achieved from the indirect negotiations. The parties had convened twice in Ankara under Turkish mediation as part of the negotiations known as the “Ankara Process.”

The Kenyan government, for the first time, has officially acknowledged the fatalities and disappearances linked to anti-government protests that have swept the country in recent months. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told the National Assembly Committee on Thursday that 42 people were killed, 132 missing, and 1,208 others arrested during the protests. Protests erupted across Kenya in June and July over tax increases in the Finance Bill 2024, killing at least 50 people, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and other officials. President William Ruto’s administration faced intense scrutiny for how it handled the protests, which also caused widespread property damage. “There were 42 cases of people who lost their lives during the Gen-Z demonstrations, a total of 1,208 people were arrested countrywide during the demonstrations, and most of the cases are still pending before court for various charges,” Kindiki told the committee, emphasizing the government’s commitment to holding those responsible for violence accountable, regardless of affiliation. He added that 132 people have gone missing, as reported by police stations across the country. “Myself and the president himself, have made it clear that this administration does not condone abductions or extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances,” according to him. On extrajudicial killings of protesters, the interior minister was quick to defend authorities who shot at them, saying some cases were justified, citing the case in which thousands of protesters stormed and torched a section of parliament building in Nairobi. “If police never used lethal force during the invasion of parliament, we would never have a Kenya like we have today,” he added. The protests in Kenya, which began in June, were sparked by public dissatisfaction with rising living costs and Ruto’s controversial tax policies. Protests in the major towns of Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa were some of the most intense, with citizens taking to the streets to demand economic reforms, which later evolved into protests calling for Ruto’s resignation. The government’s admission comes amid mounting pressure from civil society organizations and human rights groups, who have been calling for transparency on the number of casualties and missing persons during the protests. In July 2024, the president made a dramatic move by dissolving almost his entire Cabinet in response to widespread protests against his administration’s proposed tax increases. Following this, Ruto removed all Cabinet Secretaries except Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, citing the need for a “broad-based government” to restore trust and improve governance. This reshuffle also coincided with a meeting between Ruto and the then-opposition leader Raila Odinga, which fueled speculation about a potential power-sharing arrangement. The protests, sparked by tax increases in the Finance Bill 2024, swept across Kenya in June and July, leading to the deaths of at least 50 people, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and other authorities

Banknotes totaling 1.5 billion CFA francs were allegedly hidden in suitcases to finance a coup in Bénin, according to the special prosecutor. The announcement of the arrest of several high-profile figures close to the regime was made on Wednesday. Among those implicated are former Sports Minister Oswald Homéky and the commander of Benin’s presidential guard. The coup was reportedly planned for September 27. Special prosecutor Mario Metonou stated, “Starting from August 6, the individuals involved opened a bank account at NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire, with the Commander of the Republican Guard as the beneficiary.” He added that the account had an initial balance of 105 million CFA francs. The alleged mastermind behind the plot is Olivier Boko, a wealthy businessman and close ally of President Patrice Talon, whose term is set to end in 2026. Many are left wondering about the shift in relations between the two, who have historically been aligned. As of now, President Talon has not appointed a successor. More details about the attempted coup are expected to emerge after the Special Prosecutor hears from the defendants on Friday, September 27, reports Africanews correspondent Romuald Vissoh.

The M23 rebel group continues to destabilize eastern DRC, with the Congolese government blaming Rwanda for supporting them.

33 people were killed when defendants stormed 5 banks in Offa town of Kwara State

School fires have long plagued Kenya, with over 60 cases reported in 2018 alone

The story of Abu Bakr II’s expedition continues to inspire wonder and debate

A Tunisian court sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison on Wednesday for falsifying documents, according to his lawyer. This marks Zammel’s second prison sentence in a week, coming just days before the presidential election. The verdict underscores increasing tensions surrounding the election, as opposition and civil society groups express concerns over a potentially rigged process to maintain President Kais Saied’s hold on power. Last week, Zammel received a 20-month sentence for falsifying popular endorsements. “It’s another unjust ruling and a clear attempt to undermine his candidacy, but we will defend his rights until the end,” Zammel’s attorney Abdessattar Massoudi told Reuters. Zammel is one of only three candidates running for president alongside incumbent Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui. Political unrest has escalated in Tunisia ahead of the October 6 election, following the electoral commission appointed by Saied disqualifying three prominent candidates this month amid protests from opposition and civil society groups.

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Africa next month, marking his first trip to the continent while in office, the White House announced on September 24. He will begin his journey in Berlin to strengthen alliances and express gratitude to Germany for its support of Ukraine against Russia, among other issues. Biden will then travel to Angola from October 13-15 to discuss economic ties and security with President Joao Lourenco. They will also explore a rail project linking the Atlantic and Indian oceans. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden’s visit to Luanda will celebrate the evolving U.S.-Angola relationship and highlight America’s commitment to African partnerships. Although Biden aimed to visit Angola last year, plans were delayed due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He has pledged to enhance U.S. relations with African democracies amid growing Chinese influence in the region. Biden had previously promised to visit Africa following a summit with African leaders in late 2022, but 2023 has passed without his visit, despite several high-ranking U.S. officials visiting the continent on his behalf. Earlier on Tuesday, Biden announced over $500 million in aid and 1 million mpox vaccines to support African nations in combating the mpox outbreak. He also delivered his final address to the UN General Assembly as president.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International urged the Kenyan government to investigate the deaths of dozens of protesters during months of demonstrations earlier this year. Rights groups report that over 60 people were killed in the protests, with many more disappearing in the aftermath. The youth-led marches were sparked by a controversial finance bill proposing tax hikes on an already struggling population. Amnesty launched a petition accompanied by a dossier containing footage and interviews with eyewitnesses, lawyers, and medical professionals, arguing that security forces used lethal force against protesters. The organization identified specific rifles, submachine guns, and shotguns employed by the police. Recently, bereaved mothers gathered in Nairobi, demanding justice for their children who were killed or went missing during the protests. This week marks three months since the demonstrations began, yet there has been no thorough investigation into the actions of security forces.

 Benin announced Wednesday evening that it had foiled a coup attempt and arrested Republican Guard Commander Djimon Dieudonne Trvoedjre, former Sports Minister Oswald Homeky, and businessman Olivier Boko on charges of plotting to overthrow the democratic government. Elonm Mario Metonou, prosecutor of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism in Benin (CRIET), said at a press conference in the capital Porto-Novo that Benin’s security forces had foiled the coup attempt. Metonou explained that the first concrete act of the attempt occurred on August 6, when the Republican Guard commander opened an account in an Ivory Coast bank in his name. And in that account, 105 million CFA francs (approximately $178000) were discovered. “To overcome the resistance of the commander of the Republican Guard, they promised and handed over to him on September 24, 2024, in cash, more than 1.5 billion CFA francs (approximately $2.545 million),” the official said. He added that Homeky and Tevoedjre were arrested during the transaction, and Olivier Boko was arrested shortly after. Mario Elonm Metonou declined to provide additional information, saying the investigation is still ongoing to identify all those involved in the coup plot. The coup attempt occurred less than two years before President Patrice Talon’s second constitutional term expired. In 2026, he will have to hand over power to a new president. Earlier on Tuesday, the Objectif 2026 movement, which supports Olivier Boko’s possible candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections, in a statement condemned a “serious attack on fundamental rights and the principles of the rule of law” as a “political attack.”

The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) on Wednesday called on the international community to impose targeted sanctions on Rwanda for allegedly supporting M23 rebel group. In his address to the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, Felix Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of “destabilizing” eastern Congo, where M23 rebels are fighting government forces. “The situation in eastern DR Congo is of particular concern. The resurgence of the M23 terrorist group has caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with nearly 7 million people internally displaced,” he said. There was no immediate reaction from Rwanda. DR Congo and Western countries accuse Rwanda of backing the M23, one of the rebel groups fighting in eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since its resurgence in 2021, a claim Kigali consistently denies. Kigali, in turn, accuses Kinshasa of harboring Rwandan rebels – the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), whose goal is to overthrow the Rwandan government. A recent cease-fire brokered by Angolan President Joao Lourenco has not been fully implemented, with fighting reported between government troops and M23 rebels in North Kivu province. Last month, the Congolese military accused M23 rebels of violating the cease-fire after fighting erupted. DR Congo has been plagued by violence orchestrated by different armed groups for nearly three decades. More than 900,000 people were recently displaced in the three eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri during the first four months of this year, according to the UN.

Another tragic incident involving migrants attempting to reach Europe: 13 bodies are found washed ashore in Tunisia.

The remains were brought back from Zimbabwe and Zambia for a homecoming ceremony and reburial.

At least 28 people were killed and 29 others injured in southern Ethiopia when a bus plunged into a river, with authorities fearing more fatalities due to critical injuries.

Launched in 2022, the academy now has 30 members, with an increasing number of girls eager to learn

Total number of cases rises to 13,922, says Sudanese Health Ministry