The summit will focus on finding a common ground regarding Ethiopia’s port deal with Somaliland and ensuring regional stability.

The deal, which saw Ethiopia leasing 20 km of Somaliland’s coastline in exchange for recognizing its independence, has strained relations between the two countries

UNHCR is appealing for urgent aid to provide shelter, food, and medical care to those affected.

Africa’s tourism industry continues to be a cornerstone of economic development

 The death toll in Nigeria from Lassa fever, a deadly hemorrhagic disease, rose to 163 on Thursday. According to a statement from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Lassa fever outbreak continues to spread across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Nigerian government previously announced that three medications have been identified for treating the disease. During the dry season, which typically runs from November to May, Lassa fever cases tend to increase. In 2023, a total of 1,227 cases of Lassa fever were detected and 219 people lost their lives. Lassa fever, which is also found in several other African countries like Mali, Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, was first detected in Nigeria in northeastern Borno state in 1969. On Jan. 23, 2019, the Nigerian government declared a state of emergency due to a Lassa fever outbreak. The disease is transmitted through contact with rat feces, can spread from person to person, and can cause fatal hemorrhagic fever. Authorities are warning the public to avoid contact with rats and other rodents.

Issa Hayatou, a towering figure in African football, died in Paris on Thursday after a prolonged illness, just one day before his 78th birthday. Born in Cameroon in 1946, Hayatou made a lasting impact on the sport during his nearly three-decade tenure as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), a role he held until March 2017. Under his leadership, African football saw remarkable growth and global recognition, including the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations, increased African representation in the FIFA World Cup, and enhanced football infrastructure across the continent. Hayatou also served as interim president of FIFA from October 2015 to February 2016, stepping in after Sepp Blatter’s suspension. Despite the turmoil, he guided the organization with his renowned composure and authority. Tributes have flooded in worldwide, highlighting his pivotal role in elevating African football to a prominent position on the global stage.

 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called Thursday for international efforts to push for an agreement that would end Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. The move came during a phone call he received from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency. The statement said that El-Sisi, during his conversation with Macron, highlighted Egypt’s “intensive communications” with all parties to halt the escalation in the region and avoid slipping into “a new cycle of uncalculated conflict,” which “threatens to spark a full-scale regional confrontation.” He stressed the importance of international efforts to press forward towards a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, as the continuation of the war in the region is the “main driver” of the current escalation. According to the statement, the two presidents agreed to intensify efforts and coordination in the coming period to ensure the security and stability of the region and to prevent the expansion of the conflict, which threatens the welfare of the region’s people. In a related context, El-Sisi held a phone call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in which he reviewed the latest Egyptian efforts to end the war in Gaza and the exchange of detainees, according to a second statement from the Egyptian Presidency. He emphasized the “priority of delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, alleviating their suffering and advancing a political process based on the two-state solution.” El-Sisi also expressed Cairo’s desire to strengthen bilateral relations and increase trade between the two countries. The region is currently gripped by fears of war, particularly amid threats of military retaliation by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group following the assassination of its top commander, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on July 30 and Iran’s threats to retaliate after the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Tehran on July 31, an attack attributed to Tel Aviv. The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 39,700 people since last October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. Tel Aviv is continuing the war, ignoring the UN Security Council’s resolution to immediately cease hostilities, as well as the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Islamic State extremist group is intensifying its activities amidst the political turmoil in West Africa and the Sahel, with a continued focus on international attacks. On Thursday, a senior U.N. counterterrorism official warned the Security Council that the Islamic State and related terrorist groups could extend their influence over a significant portion of Africa. In his briefing, Vladimir Voronkov, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Counterterrorism, revealed that IS affiliates have expanded their operational areas in West Africa and the Sahel. He described the situation as “challenging and complex,” noting that these groups are causing high casualties and destabilizing the region. Voronkov highlighted that two key IS affiliates, the Islamic State West Africa Province and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahel, have grown their influence. If their reach extends further into northern states, they could control territory stretching from Mali to northern Nigeria. He also noted that IS affiliates have increased their activities in other African regions, including Mozambique, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The move has raised concerns about potential human rights abuses.

Manuel Chang found guilty in Brooklyn court of conspiracy charges linked to $2 billion Mozambique loan scandal.

Nigerian security forces have apprehended seven Polish nationals, including students, on allegations of participating in protests.

‘Job starts now and it is the responsibility of the current regime to fulfill their promises to ensure that the next election will be direct,’ political analyst tells Anadolu

The death penalty has been reinstated in DR Congo with a military court sentencing 26 people to death.

A prominent Zambian opposition figure, Fred M’membe, has been arrested and charged with seditious practices.

Adetshina, who was born in Soweto and raised in Cape Town, has faced intense scrutiny regarding her nationality

Two AFP journalists were among those injured by Kenyan police while covering protests.

They urge the country to respect her right to a fair trial and to protect those involved in truth commissions.

The WHO chief warns that two-thirds of Sudanese people cannot access medical care due to the ongoing conflict, and millions are facing famine.

The country is teetering on the brink of another conflict as military tensions escalate.

Mali accuses Ukraine of terrorism after a deadly attack that killed Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries.

Bayelsa police spokesperson Musa Muhammed reported on Thursday that the boat was carrying traders transporting goods to various coastal communities

The nationwide protests, largely led by youth, began peacefully in June but have since turned violent, resulting in the deaths of over 50 people

Hospitality is more than just a courteous gesture; it is a fundamental way of life

 Eleven people were killed Wednesday in an armed attack on a mining site in Nigeria’s Zamfara state Gunmen on motorcycles attacked the site in the Anka area, according to local media reports. Several people were also wounded in the attack. Nigeria has long faced attacks from armed gangs as well as terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, the West African branch of the Daesh/ISIS, in various parts of the country. Despite a mandatory death penalty for kidnapping in Nigeria, abductions for ransom are common. Armed groups often target villages, schools and travelers in the northern part of the country to demand ransom.