Africa endorses nominees for 2025 election of AU Commission chair
The process has begun for the February 2025 election of a new African Union Commission chairperson. According to the commission, the consideration for nominees will be made based on vision statements outlining how candidates intend to advance the “transformative agenda of the African Union.” Nominees will also be considered based on their game plan for addressing existing and emerging...
Driving progress: Botswana prepares for historic UN conference on landlocked countries
Leaders from landlocked developing countries, (LLDCs) will gather in Gaborone, Botswana, this December to tackle challenges, explore solutions, and build alliances for a more equitable and prosperous future. At the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, known as LLDC3, innovative solutions and strategic partnerships will be outlined and leveraged to “unlock the full potential of these nations.” LLDC3 is set to...
23 African countries are developing 125 new satellites for budding space program
After numerous delays, Senegal has finally launched its first-ever satellite GAINDESAT-1A into orbit. The feat marks the first stage of the African country’s budding national space program SENSAT. “GAINDESAT-1A is an earth observation nano-satellite built by Senegalese engineers and technicians trained by the Centre Spatiale Universitaire de Montpellier (CSUM) via a partnership with the Senegalese government. The nano-satellite was launched...
Kenya to reintroduce controversial tax measures
Kenya’s government is set to reinstate some of the tax measures that were previously scrapped following deadly protests in June, Kenyan Finance Minister John Mbadi has said. In an interview with Citizen TV news agency on Aug. 18, Mbadi explained that while some of the tax measures would be modified and not all would be reinstated, they are necessary to...
Security Council: Africa deserves permanent seat at the table, says Guterres
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Aug. 12 called for urgent reform of the Security Council, criticizing its outdated structure and lack of representation for Africa, which he argued undermines the body’s credibility and global legitimacy. Addressing the Council, he emphasized that its composition reflected the balance of power at the end of World War II and has failed to keep...
Security Council: Africa deserves permanent seat at the table, says Guterres
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Aug. 12 called for urgent reform of the Security Council, criticizing its outdated structure and lack of representation for Africa, which he argued undermines the body’s credibility and global legitimacy. Addressing the Council, he emphasized that its composition reflected the balance of power at the end of World War II and has failed to keep...
Nigeria’s protest movement sparks youth involvement, religious cooperation
The #EndBadGovernance 10-day protest in Nigeria ended early, with organizers vowing to return to the streets if their list of demands are not met. According to Arise News, a global news and entertainment channel, the nationwide protests, which started on August 1 and ended on August 10, “was characterized by peaceful protest and unsustained violence, broken up by police. Violence...
World Court announces Sudan war atrocities investigation ahead of scheduled peace talks
When addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently, Karim Khan, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), spoke of prosecuting atrocities occurring in Darfur in Sudan. “To those on the ground today in Darfur, I am addressing both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Force (RSF), to those that are aiding and abetting them, that are...
Mali cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine, accusing it of aiding a rebel attack in the African country
BAMAKO, Mali—Mali’s government is cutting diplomatic ties with Ukraine over allegations that Kyiv aided an attack in July by armed groups in the West African country in which Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries suffered heavy losses. Mali’s government spokesman, Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, said in a statement Aug. 4 that the decision to immediately cut ties was prompted by comments from a Ukrainian...
War jeopardizes the economies of Sudan and South Sudan
Sudan was once the largest country on the African continent. In 2011 the country was divided by a referendum, resulting in the world’s newest nation-state, South Sudan. Dr. Muhammad Elamin is a consultant physician and clinical toxicologist whose parents are Sudanese. During a wide-ranging interview from his home in the United Kingdom, he spoke with Africa...