Speaking in an interview with Ismail Akwei, Fidel Amakye Owusu questioned whether African governments had done enough to build the internal unity needed to engage major powers on more equal terms.

“How has Africa worked towards integrating so that we could have been on this block as a continent rather than as individual countries? Have we tried that?” he asked, discussing Africa’s position within BRICS.

He argued that individual African countries risk perpetuating existing inequalities in the international system when they engage powerful economies separately instead of coordinating their interests.

“I believe that we’ve not done enough internally. So joining a new organisation as individual states only perpetuates the kind of exploitation that we often face. But if we are going as a continent, our weight is bigger,” he said.

Africa’s collective bargaining power

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa originally formed BRICS, and it has since expanded its membership. The grouping brings together countries seeking greater influence in global economic and political affairs, including in a system long shaped by Western-led institutions.

Fidel Amakye Owusu told Ismail Akwei that the emergence of BRICS reflected the ambitions of major emerging economies to create a counterweight to the existing international order.

He noted, however, that African countries must consider not only the opportunities offered by such groupings but also how effectively they can advance their interests within them, while pointing to Africa’s 54 sovereign states and population of approximately 1.4 billion as potential sources of influence if governments could coordinate their positions more effectively.

“When we are together, 54 sovereign states with 1.4 billion population, when we are talking, we are talking with weight,” he said.

He contrasted that potential collective influence with the negotiating position of an individual African country dealing with major economies such as China and India .

“You are looking at China, over one billion, over 1.4 billion population, India surpassing China’s population. And these giants, we look at Brazil's size, and these giants are sitting there with Ghana, South Africa and others. You can’t negotiate,” he said.

The Ghanaian analyst’s comments come as Ghana explores closer engagement with BRICS. He warned that the country should assess the practical benefits of participation rather than treating membership or association with an international grouping as an achievement in itself.

“You would have to weigh your interests vis-à-vis what the group has to offer and whether, in the long term, you are going to gain some benefits. What are you to gain? And are your citizens really better off joining that group than not?” he advised.

“It is an honour and privilege for Rwanda to be chosen as the destination in the Formula One calendar,” Kagame said, describing the partnership as an opportunity to develop motorsport across Africa.

Domenicali welcomed the agreement, acknowledging Africa's long absence from the championship despite Formula One's global expansion.

“For many years, we have spoken about our desire to return, but always said we would return in the right way, with the right vision and the right partner. That partner is Rwanda,” he said.

FIA President Ben Sulayem emphasised the event's significance beyond Rwanda, describing it as a new chapter for African motorsport.

The proposed circuit will be built in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of Kigali, near the country's new international airport. An exact date for the inaugural race has yet to be confirmed.

Africa last hosted a Formula One World Championship race in 1993 at South Africa's Kyalami circuit, where Alain Prost secured victory for Williams.

Police said the unrest escalated after a South African demonstrator was assaulted and suffered a broken leg. Three foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the attack were arrested.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda confirmed the arrests as officers were deployed to prevent further violence and property damage.

SA First Forum CEO Xolani Zuma called for tighter border controls and South Africa's withdrawal from the 1951 Refugee Convention, blaming undocumented immigration for worsening economic and social pressures.

“We don't have resources,” Zuma said, citing unemployment, housing shortages and limited access to water and education.

The unrest followed tensions over a Constitutional Court ruling on asylum seekers' rights and deportation procedures. Anti-immigration groups argue the ruling complicates deportations, while the government maintains it does not automatically grant legal status to undocumented migrants.

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has approved a settlement requiring The Gambia to investigate the disappearance and unlawful killing of former parliamentarian Mahawa Cham , prosecute those allegedly responsible and return his remains to his family.

The settlement was adopted as a consent judgment on October 6, 2026, following a case brought by eight family members: Binta Jarju, Isatou Fatty, Lamin Cham, Bakary Cham, Fatou Cham, Kaddy Cham, Omar Cham and Limam Cham. Cham, a former member of parliament for Kiang East, disappeared during the rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) concluded in its November 25, 2021, report that he had been unlawfully disappeared and killed. Under the agreement, the Gambian government has committed to investigating and prosecuting the case within one year of the settlement. It must also exhume and surrender Cham's remains to his family, pay an agreed amount of compensation and pursue the case against alleged perpetrators to its conclusion. The family was represented by the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), working with the African Network against Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearance (ANEKED). Cham's son, Lamin Cham, welcomed the settlement but said compensation could not replace his father. He expressed hope that the agreement would bring closure to the family and encourage accountability for other victims.

2. Darboe promises to implement truth commission recommendations within five years

Opposition leader ANM Ousainou Darboe has pledged to implement all recommendations of The Gambia's Truth , Reconciliation and Reparations Commission within five years if elected president. The United Democratic Party (UDP) leader committed a fundraising event organised by the party's GASH chapter in Switzerland, where he outlined his plans for transitional justice, legal reform, economic empowerment and electricity. Darboe argued that genuine national reconciliation would be impossible without first addressing the abuses committed under former President Yahya Jammeh. “We want reconciliation in the country, but you cannot have that if justice does not take place.” He said victims must receive recognition and justice before the country can achieve lasting unity. The TRRC investigated human rights violations committed during Jammeh's 22-year rule, including enforced disappearances, unlawful killings, torture and other abuses. Its recommendations called for prosecutions, reparations and institutional reforms intended to prevent similar violations. Darboe also promised to review and repeal laws his party considers unjust or outdated, saying the UDP has sufficient legal expertise to undertake the reforms within three years. On the economy, he called for greater Gambian participation in strategic businesses and national assets. Referring to the sale of Mega Bank, Darboe argued that Gambians, including those living abroad, should have been given an opportunity to invest before the bank was offered to foreign buyers.

3. Kaur women urge Barrow to expand electricity, roads and employment opportunities

Women in Kaur, Central River Region, have appealed to President Adama Barrow to extend electricity to underserved communities , improve rural roads and create more employment opportunities, particularly for young people. The requests were presented during Barrow's Meet the People Tour in Kaur Wharf Town, where representatives of Lower Saloum, Upper Saloum and Nianija discussed local development priorities. Speaking on behalf of the women, Njie Ceesay welcomed a government-backed revolving loan scheme that allows beneficiaries to borrow money for business activities and repay it over five months so other women can access the funds. She said beneficiaries meet monthly at the chief's compound to make repayments and called for the programme to be expanded to women who have not yet received support. Despite acknowledging government investments in roads and electricity, Ceesay said several communities still lacked power. She identified Jamweli, Kerr Musa, Simbara, Ganjeh, Chamen, Gongkuru and Buduk among the villages needing electricity connections. She also appealed for construction of the Jahwurr–Ganjeh feeder road, including improved links through Kerr Musa towards Kerr Malick. Ceesay said poor road conditions were particularly difficult for schoolchildren travelling from Ganjeh, Gongkuru and Chamen to schools in Jimbala and Kerr Malick. The women also raised concerns about disrupted rainfall, which they said had damaged maize and groundnut harvests, affecting farming households already struggling with limited employment opportunities.

4. New US Ambassador Laurence Socha arrives in The Gambia

The new United States Ambassador to The Gambia, Laurence Socha, arrived in Banjul on Monday, October 5 , to begin his assignment as head of the US diplomatic mission. He was welcomed by Bernard Mendy, Director of the American Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, and Omar Sawh, Deputy Chief of Protocol. Socha becomes the 22nd US Ambassador to The Gambia since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1965. A career member of the US Foreign Service, Socha has nearly 20 years of diplomatic experience, including assignments across Africa, the Americas and Europe. During his career, he has represented the United States in 12 countries across four continents. His appointment comes as Washington and Banjul maintain cooperation on democratic governance, economic opportunities, regional security and exchanges between their citizens. According to the US Embassy, Socha will lead American diplomatic engagement with the Gambian government and work to strengthen the bilateral relationship. He is expected to present copies of his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad before formally presenting his letter of credence to President Barrow.

5. Gambian medical research unit to lead £5 million study into Strep A and heart disease

The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRCG at LSHTM) will play a leading role in a £5 million international research programme investigating how Group A Streptococcus infections contribute to heart disease. Announced by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine on October 1, the programme will examine how exposure to the bacteria during early childhood affects the immune system and increases the risk of later complications. Group A Streptococcus, commonly known as Strep A, causes infections including sore throats and skin infections. Although many infections are treatable, some can lead to serious complications, including rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease develops when the body's immune response to a Strep A infection causes inflammation that damages the heart valves. The condition disproportionately affects children and young adults in vulnerable communities, particularly where access to timely diagnosis and treatment is limited. Researchers will study how immunity develops following early exposure to Strep A and why some people are more likely than others to develop severe disease. The findings could help scientists identify ways to prevent infections and inform the development of future vaccines.

Ishmael, whose firm manages the largest gender lens fund on the continent, says investors routinely write off smaller transactions and women-led businesses as too risky, when in fact the risk they are pricing in is a misperception.

"Usually the funding that is available is focused on larger transactions, they're safer from their perception," she said. "And therefore the smaller transactions, smaller businesses are deemed riskier and lack the appropriate structure for them to receive funding. From our view as Alitheia, that's a misperception. The risk that is being priced in is wrong, and we believe that people are leaving opportunity on the table."

The scale of the gap is stark: The African Development Bank points to a financing shortfall of almost $50 billion for women-led small and medium enterprises across Africa, while less than two per cent of funding goes to female founders or women-led businesses. The cause, she argues, lies partly in who sits at the allocation table: "Bias often happens when allies invest in people that look like them." A broader diversity of allocators, in gender, race and perspective, is already beginning to change that.

Nor does she believe the answer lies in quotas. "I shy away from saying that there needs to be specific policy that says X per cent has to go to a particular group of founders. What I want to see is more visibility on both sides, more diversity on both sides."

Instead, she wants investors to widen their aperture and look beyond what they already find comfortable. "Once you're in Africa, don't just invest in that which is straight up in your face and you know is zero risk. Look beyond that, because you are leaving opportunities on the table."

African money for African businesses

One of the most striking shifts Ishmael has witnessed is the changing face of her own investor base. Alitheia's first funds had no domestic investors at all. The firm's flagship gender lens fund, which closed in 2019, had three out of ten investors from within Africa. The next fund, she says, could be split roughly evenly.

She credits African pension funds in particular for stepping beyond the easy transactions. "In the last twelve to twenty-four months, we've seen more domestic funders come to the table, particularly with the pension funds realising that they need more products to invest in, and they've been a bit too focused on the easier transactions, so to speak, and now many of the domestic investors are stepping out to look at these overlooked opportunities."

The case for green energy

While the US and European nations backtrack on their climate goals, Ishmael insists that investing in renewable energy represents economic wisdom as well as social good.

"If you have ever had the opportunity to come to Lagos, you see generators everywhere and you see a lot of black smoke. And it isn't just about the pollution that's coming out of that black smoke, but it's the cost, not just to lives, but to businesses. Energy is the largest cost bucket for businesses in Africa."

The transition, she says, pays for itself. "There's an abundance of sunshine, just in case anyone's forgetting that, in Africa. Making that transition is cutting costs in our businesses by 50 per cent." Beyond cheaper operating costs, reliable clean energy delivers something the grid cannot: stable production. "Apart from reducing the OPEX, our factories are also able to have stable production time. Whereas relying on the grid or the dirty fuel has resulted in many factories having very choppy uptime."

New ways of powering the economy can also help overcome Africa's relative lack of grid infrastructure, she notes, as electricity can be produced cheaply almost anywhere on the continent.

AI adoption vs enablement

"AI is enabling smaller companies to wield greater output and productivity that's equivalent to maybe three, five times the teams that would have been required to do that for them in the past," Ishmael observes.

Agriculture, Africa's largest employer, is where the biggest short-term gains may be unlocked as weather prediction tools enable farmers to plan harvests and sowing based on hyper-local conditions.

But Ishmael recognises challenges even in being able to implement the technology when electricity and network connections are unreliable. Then there is the need to build data sets relevant to African SMEs rather than importing tools trained elsewhere. And finally comes the question of skills.

Alitheia recently ran a workshop with Google for 300 women-led businesses in Lagos, precisely to bridge that gap. "AI adoption is not the same as AI enablement," Ismael said. "We need to move businesses away from just thinking downloading AI is what's going to drive that productivity and efficiency."

Where the opportunity is

Asked which sectors excite her most, Ishmael points first to financial services, where technology is removing the friction from transactions and widening access. Agribusiness comes next, particularly companies that process African produce for export. "We like agribusinesses in the real economy who are taking agro produce and creating products that can be consumed locally in Africa, but more importantly or as importantly, exported."

Manufacturing follows, with a green and digital overlay. "What I would layer on to that is the ability to green and digitise the real economy. Put money into this essential infrastructure: energy infrastructure and digital infrastructure."

Her portfolio illustrates the thesis. OmniRetail, hailed as one of the fastest growing companies on the 2024 FT Africa list, connects micro retailers to multinationals with digital payments and stock-taking tools. Complete Farmer links smallholder farmers in Ghana to global buyers while helping them improve yields, collect payments and build digital identities. Psaltry and ReelFruit turn cassava, fruit and nut crops into manufactured products for local consumption and export.

The leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia have agreed to deepen coordination on Red Sea security , state sovereignty and regional disputes after a four-country summit hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in New Alamein on October 4. El-Sisi was joined by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. The talks covered the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and wider regional security and economic cooperation. In their El Alamein Joint Declaration, the four leaders reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states and rejected interference in their internal affairs. They also agreed that disputes should be settled peacefully and in accordance with international law. A major focus was the Red Sea. The declaration stressed the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and international trade through the waterway and said responsibility for its governance and security rests with its coastal states.

El-Sisi tells African leaders cross-border disputes need 'dialogue, not confrontation'

President El-Sisi has urged African governments to resolve disputes over borders , natural resources and transboundary rivers through cooperation and international law rather than confrontation. Speaking at the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in New Alamein on October 4, El-Sisi said cross-border challenges “require cooperation, not competition, and dialogue, not confrontation.” His remarks came against a tense regional backdrop involving Ethiopia and several of its neighbours. Egypt remains locked in its long-running Nile dispute with Ethiopia, while Addis Ababa's push for greater Red Sea access has also caused friction in the Horn of Africa. El-Sisi told the summit that sovereignty, territorial integrity, good-neighbourly relations and mutual respect should remain fundamental principles governing relations between African states. Differences over borders and shared natural resources, he said, should be settled through consultation, cooperation and international law. The Egyptian president also linked political stability with economic integration, arguing that stronger trade and investment ties could make African countries more prosperous while reducing sources of instability.

Egypt hosts eighth AU coordination meeting as leaders push continental integration

Egypt hosted the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in New Alamein on October 4, brin ging together African leaders , the African Union Commission and representatives of the continent's Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms. The meeting was hosted by El-Sisi and included Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current AU chairperson, and AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. The Mid-Year Coordination Meeting was established as the principal forum for aligning the work of the African Union with Africa's regional blocs. Its responsibilities include assessing progress towards continental integration, clarifying the division of responsibilities between the AU and regional organisations and coordinating implementation of major African programmes. This year's discussions covered progress on the AU's 2026 theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” alongside institutional reforms and efforts to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). El-Sisi told participants that coordination should produce practical results rather than remain a diplomatic exercise. He called for Africa to move from fragmented initiatives towards greater integration and from common ambitions towards projects that produce tangible benefits for Africans.

Egypt signs $88 million offshore exploration deal with Chevron

Egypt’s state gas company EGAS and Chevron have signed an agreement involving at least $88 million to explore for oil and gas in the Mediterranean’s offshore Lotus block. Signed by EGAS Managing Director Sayed Selim and Chevron exploration manager Andrew Deegan, the deal includes drilling two exploration wells and reprocessing 3D seismic data. The block lies about 200 kilometres off the coast, in waters between 2,000 and 2,800 metres deep, and has not previously undergone deep exploration drilling. Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said the agreement supports Egypt’s efforts to increase domestic oil and gas production. He added that payments of outstanding debts to energy companies have helped restore investor confidence and encouraged firms to resume exploration. Chevron currently invests in six Mediterranean exploration blocks, while Egypt plans to offer further opportunities across its offshore and onshore regions.

Journalist charged after six newsroom staff detained

Egyptian journalist Mohamed Ashraf was charged on Sunday, October 4, with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news , days after authorities detained all six journalists at the independent fact-checking and investigative platform Matsadaash. Authorities accused the outlet of operating without a licence and publishing false news on behalf of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, Ashraf underwent a 10-hour overnight interrogation focused entirely on the outlet’s published work. He was ordered held for 15 days pending investigation, while the whereabouts of his five colleagues remained unknown at the time of reporting. Matsadaash co-founder Abdelrahman Mansour denied any links to the Brotherhood, saying the journalists were arrested for investigating issues affecting people’s lives. Rights groups condemned the detentions as a crackdown on press freedom. Egypt’s State Information Service did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment before publication.

“African pharmaceuticals represent a high-yield, resilient sector that is ready and open for investment,” Mahama said, pointing to the continent’s growing population and the African Continental Free Trade Area as opportunities to expand local production.

He said greater domestic manufacturing could improve health security, create jobs and retain skilled workers. Citing WHO figures, Mahama said Africa faces a shortage of six million health workers while nearly one million trained healthcare professionals and science graduates remain unemployed.

Mahama also argued that local production would reduce costs and help prevent African countries from being pushed to the back of the queue for lifesaving medicines and vaccines during health emergencies, as experienced during COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks.

He called for stronger investment mechanisms, faster implementation of the African Medicines Agency and increased capacity to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients on the continent.

“Let us stop treating health as a line item expense in our budget,” Mahama said. “Let us build the factories, integrate supply chains, fund innovators, and secure our citizens’ future.”

The three-day Alamein Africa Forum began on Friday in New Alamein, Egypt , bringing together around 1,500 officials, business leaders, investors and representatives of financial institutions from across Africa.

The fire reportedly affected structures around the Duraplast Ghana enclave and nearby residential areas in Avenor. Firefighters deployed several engines but initially struggled to reach the blaze, forcing crews to demolish structures blocking access.

Resident Makafui told Viory that he had been told the fire started after a gas cylinder was left inside a room, although authorities have not established the cause. He said businesses, vehicles and other property were damaged. "It has really affected everyone, not just the individuals around here, but the most important thing is the company. It has spoilt most products and stuff over there, and some cars are also burnt and stuff," he added.

Authorities have launched an investigation as emergency services work to determine the full extent of the casualties and damage.

Provincial authorities said all 17 people on board were killed, including 13 military personnel and four civilians, one of them a baby. The death toll was revised upwards as emergency teams recovered more bodies from the wreckage.

Among those killed were Lieutenant-General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, first president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant-General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, auditor general of the Congolese armed forces. Both were returning from an official mission in Kikwit.

The aircraft was travelling from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it crashed in a residential area of Kenge. Authorities said it appeared to have encountered a problem and was attempting to land. No residents on the ground were killed.

President Felix Tshisekedi has ordered an in-depth investigation into the cause of the crash, while investigators have been deployed to the site.

Police said the El Príncipe property was still under construction and lacked running water , electricity, adequate ventilation and a kitchen, with migrants sleeping on mattresses on the floor.

Investigators said different individuals managed the two properties and allegedly charged migrants for accommodation. The scheme reportedly generated more than €10,000, while some migrants allegedly paid by carrying out construction and renovation work.

Three of the 28 migrants were minors and were transferred to care facilities after authorities activated child protection procedures.

Ramaphosa said the government would soon update the public on measures to address gender-based violence and the investigations into the killings. Two women have reportedly been charged over one of the deaths, but police have not established a connection between them and the other eight cases. Heritage Day, a public holiday since 1995, was celebrated this year under the theme “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us”.

The unrest, which began over chronic water and electricity shortages, left at least 22 people dead. Protest leader Herizo Andriamanantena recalled feeling “joy and relief” following the change in power but said only “little changes here and there” followed.

Frustrated by the slow pace of promised reforms, activists organised another march in April. This time, they faced a crackdown from the new authorities.

Andriamanantena and five other activists were jailed and accused of endangering state security and having links to people allegedly planning another coup.

He also called for reforms to the UN and the global financial system, saying developing countries face high borrowing costs, rising debt and limited access to affordable financing.

Ndejembi announced Tanzania's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2029-2030.

Turning to Gaza , he called for the protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian aid while reaffirming Tanzania's support for a two-state solution and Palestinian self-determination.

“The UN must not merely reflect on the balance of power, but serve as a platform for justice , solidarity and progress,” he concluded.

Speaking at the Partners for Multilateralism Summit in New York on Monday, Ruto questioned a global system in which Africa remains without permanent representation on the council. The summit was co-hosted by Kenya, Canada and the European Council.

"Africa cannot remain the only continent without permanent representation in the institution entrusted with international peace and security," Ruto said.

"A continent of 54 countries and more than 1.4 billion people cannot remain at the margins of decisions central to global peace and security," he added.

Ruto Calls for Institutions to Change

Ruto argued that international cooperation itself was not the main problem. Instead, he said institutions created decades ago had failed to adapt to changes in the world.

"International law cannot be a shield for some and a restraint for others," he added. "Defending the charter does not mean defending every institutional arrangement created 80 years ago. Principles can be permanent, while institutions should evolve."

Africa’s lack of permanent Security Council representation has remained a major issue in discussions over UN reform. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also described the absence of permanent African seats as “indefensible.”

The African Union has long pushed for at least two permanent seats and two additional non-permanent seats on the council.

‘Countries Should Not Have to Choose Sides’

Ruto also addressed Africa’s relationships with competing global powers, saying countries should be able to cooperate without being forced into political camps.

"Countries should not have to choose sides in order to cooperate. We cannot rebuild trust by speaking only with those we agree with. Dialogue matters most when positions diverge," he added.

He said African countries were seeking partnerships rather than dependency.

The Partners for Multilateralism initiative, known as P4M, brought together leaders to discuss the future of international cooperation. Ruto, European Council President Antonio Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney appeared together following the summit.

Signatories backed a multilateral system centred on the UN Charter while calling for international institutions to become more representative, inclusive and effective.

The project will include mango plantations, processing facilities, and training and research centres, with more than 1,000 jobs expected to be created. Tourist accommodation is also planned.

Mane said he wanted the project to benefit local farmers, women, young people and families by creating jobs, developing agriculture and making better use of the area's land.

“We are sowing hope. We are sowing ambition,” he said. “Bambali gave me my roots. Bambali gave me my identity. Bambali gave me the courage to dream.”

The Al-Nassr forward has previously funded a school, hospital and other infrastructure projects in Bambali.

“The Government of Spain is going to deploy all the necessary resources to restore normalcy to that autonomous city,” Sanchez said, adding that Ceuta would move forward with the government's “unwavering commitment”.

More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31, according to Spanish government figures, although most later returned to Morocco.

Thousands remain in the enclave, with more than 1,000 minors reportedly without accommodation and around 3,000 other migrants camped on beaches.

A temporary reception centre at Ceuta's port, with capacity for about 1,700 people , filled shortly after opening on Friday. Spain's National Court has admitted a legal challenge over the use of the site but has allowed it to remain open while proceedings continue.

The Spanish government approved a €309 million emergency package on September 1, covering humanitarian reception, security , support for businesses and workers, and essential services.

“We love our country, today and always,” organiser Hassana Soumaila said. “For us as Muslims, this is a duty. We have no weapons other than our prayers.”

The gathering came amid renewed tensions with France after Niger accused Paris of involvement in an August mutiny in Niamey, during which soldiers targeted the airport and presidential palace. France rejected the allegation as “pure fantasy”.

Relations have deteriorated sharply since Niger's July 2023 military takeover, after which France withdrew its troops and closed its embassy.

Niger also continues to battle jihadist violence and has strengthened ties with Russia since ending longstanding security partnerships with France and the United States .

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant and ordered a full investigation, while the state government called for autopsies and forensic examinations to establish the cause of death. The case comes amid continued government crackdowns on illegal and unregulated mining in Niger State, which is rich in mineral resources.

Mauritania has signed a comprehensive agreement with CWP Global to advance the Aman green hydrogen project, one of the country's largest planned renewable-energy developments. The agreement was signed in Nouakchott on September 16 by Energy and Petroleum Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled and CWP Global Chairman Mark Crandall. It establishes a long-term contractual framework for the project's next stages and sets out its fiscal, economic and development terms. Mauritania's Energy Ministry described it as the country's first Global Convention of its kind for a green hydrogen project. The scale is significant. Aman aims to eventually produce around 1.2 million tonnes of green hydrogen and 6.6 million tonnes of green ammonia annually, with potential uses in fertiliser production, food security and clean fuels. Authorities also see opportunities for green steel production and local processing of Mauritania's iron ore. The project dates to 2020, followed by a memorandum of understanding in 2021 and a framework agreement in 2022. It has now reached the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage, with CWP targeting a final investment decision before 2030.

Government reviews school readiness as new academic year approaches

Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay chaired a ministerial committee meeting on September 16 to assess preparations for the 2026–27 school year , focusing on classrooms, equipment, school furniture and teaching staff. The committee reviewed how far authorities had implemented decisions from its previous meeting and assessed whether schools had the infrastructure and human resources required for the new term. Officials reported notable progress in preparing classrooms, equipment and desks and in ensuring sufficient teaching staff. However, the review identified limited shortages in some specialities, which the government said it was addressing through measures already underway. The preparations form part of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani's education agenda under his “My Ambition for the Homeland” programme. The government says improving learning conditions and education quality is a central priority. Staffing is particularly important because Mauritania is simultaneously recruiting more than 1,100 education workers to reinforce schools across the country's regions.

Training begins for 1,132 newly recruited contract teachers

Mauritania's Ministry of Education and Reform of the Education System has announced compulsory training for 1,132 successful candidates recruited as education service providers. The group consists of 891 primary-school teachers and 241 lower-secondary teachers. Their training is scheduled to run from September 21 to October 2, beginning at 8 a.m. each day. Primary teachers will train at Boys' High School No. 1, while secondary teachers will attend the Arabic High School. The ministry has made attendance compulsory and warned that absence will result in final exclusion. The recruitment process began earlier. The ministry announced the district-based competition in August, with applications open from August 20 to 25. The examination itself began on September 3. Ministry Secretary-General Sadafi Sidi Mohamed inspected several examination centres on the opening day and said he was satisfied with the organisation. He urged candidates to recognise the responsibility attached to teaching, describing the profession as a national mission requiring competence and dedication to pupils and the country.

Aoukar programme targets around 100,000 livestock in animal-health drive

Mauritania has launched the 2026 animal-health component of its Aoukar integrated livestock development programme , targeting around 100,000 head of livestock in the country's east. The programme was formally launched in the Dhar district on September 15 under the supervision of Hodh Charghi Governor Isselmou Ould Sidi. It forms part of the first phase of the integrated livestock-development programme for the Aoukar areas. The programme combines preventive and curative veterinary care for small and large ruminants. Veterinary agents will be trained and equipped with medicines, equipment and transport, while the programme will also support Mauritania's annual national vaccination campaign. The regional veterinary delegation in Hodh Charghi is coordinating implementation. Ould Sidi said the programme reflected the importance authorities place on livestock development and support for herders. Livestock is particularly important in rural Mauritania, making animal disease prevention directly relevant to household livelihoods and food security. The initiative is also intended to strengthen veterinary coverage in areas where herders may have limited access to animal-health services.

Cabinet moves on digital harms and plans forum for Mauritanians abroad

Mauritania's Cabinet has approved two government statements dealing with protection from harms in the digital space and preparations for a forum bringing together Mauritanians living abroad. The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani on September 16. The digital-protection initiative comes as the government gives greater attention to the risks associated with increased internet and social-media use. The Cabinet statement frames the issue around protecting people from harmful practices and content in the digital environment. The second statement concerns the organisation of a forum for Mauritanian communities abroad, providing a platform for the diaspora to engage with government institutions and discuss its role in the country's development. The Cabinet meeting also considered a series of appointments, including positions in the Higher Council for Education, Olympic Complex Authority, Higher Institute of Youth and Sports and National Higher Institute of Technical Education.

“Niger is taking an important step in modernising official documents and strengthening the tools that serve the sovereignty, security and mobility of our citizens,” said Abdoul Kader Garba Moussa, Secretary-General of Niger's Interior Ministry.

Moussa said the new passport combines biometric and biographical data to strengthen protection against document fraud , identity theft and transnational threats.

“The AES biometric passport that we are launching today, more than simply the issuance of a travel document, represents a new generation of travel documents,” he said.

The common passport was introduced in January 2025, when Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso formally withdrew from ECOWAS. The three military -led countries have since expanded cooperation under the AES, including establishing a unified military force, a confederal investment bank and a confederal parliament.

Around 77% of children under five in Madagascar experience food poverty , meaning their diets lack sufficient variety and nutrients. Many consume food from only two food groups a day, often dominated by rice or other staples. The consequences are serious. Between May 2026 and April 2027, about 502,000 children under five in the Grand South and Grand South-East are expected to suffer acute malnutrition, including roughly 78,000 severe cases. The figures highlight a wider problem in Madagascar: many families struggle to consistently provide young children with the range of nutritious foods needed for healthy growth.

AfDB forecasts 4.5% growth in 2027, but financing remains a major challenge

Madagascar’s economy is forecast to rebound to 4.5% growth in 2027, according to the African Development Bank, after growth slowed from 4.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025 and was projected at 3% in 2026. However, the AfDB estimates Madagascar needs about $7.27 billion annually until 2030 to finance its development ambitions. AfDB Country Manager Adam Amoumoun said: “To achieve its development ambitions, Madagascar will need to mobilise resources at scale, both domestic and external.” The challenge is compounded by a tax-to-GDP ratio of about 10.5% in 2025 and an informal economy representing roughly 47% of GDP. The AfDB recommends stronger tax administration, greater economic formalisation and financing tools including green, blue and diaspora bonds.

Northern Madagascar begins displacement and disaster-risk mapping

The International Organisation for Migration and Madagascar’s National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) began collecting displacement and vulnerability data in the northern SAVA and DIANA regions on September 10. The first phase covers Sambava, Vohémar, Ambilobe and Ambanja and uses IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). Teams are gathering information from local authorities, health workers, teachers and community representatives about population movements, exposure to cyclones and floods, vulnerabilities and emergency needs. The objective is to identify high-risk communities before disasters occur, giving authorities and humanitarian organisations better information for evacuations, emergency assistance and recovery planning.

Rehabilitated 47-km road connects five rural communes in Fandriana

A 47-kilometre road between Ambinanitelo and Milamaina in Fandriana district has been rehabilitated to improve transport and agricultural market access. The route connects Ambinanitelo, Fiadanana, Sahamadioa, Ambohipo and Milamaina and was financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development through the DEFIS rural development programme. Better road access is expected to help farmers transport crops to markets and obtain seeds, fertiliser and other agricultural inputs more easily. It should also improve residents’ access to healthcare, education and other services. The project was officially received during the weekend preceding September 14 and forms part of wider efforts to reduce the isolation of Madagascar’s rural communities.

Three youth centres equipped to serve 1,500 young people

Around 1,500 secondary-school students in southern and southeastern Madagascar will benefit from newly equipped Youth Corners in Manakara , Mananjary and Milenaka-Toliara II. With support from Norway and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the centres received computers, internet connections, musical instruments, sports equipment and recreational facilities. The centres also provide confidential information and support on sexual and reproductive health, relationships and prevention of gender-based violence, alongside Comprehensive Sexuality Education. The initiative is designed to give young people safe spaces combining digital access, education, recreation and confidential counselling, particularly in areas where access to youth-focused health and social services remains limited.

The move comes as Burkina Faso continues its fight against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Since taking power in 2022, Traore has promoted domestic defence production, while his government has ended military cooperation with France and strengthened security ties with neighbouring Mali and Niger through the Alliance of Sahel States.

The Tunisia Africa Business Council (TABC) has unveiled a five-year programme designed to give Tunisian companies a more structured route into African markets, with plans to create sector-specific business consortiums and strengthen the country’s commercial presence across the continent. The 2025–2030 programme was presented in Tunis on September 12, 2026, as TABC outlined a strategy focused on helping Tunisian businesses move beyond isolated export initiatives towards longer-term operations and partnerships in African markets. A central part of the programme is the creation of sectoral consortiums, bringing together Tunisian companies operating in complementary industries so they can approach African markets collectively rather than individually. The approach is intended to make it easier for businesses to share market knowledge, reduce the costs associated with expansion and compete for larger projects.

Nearly 10,000 students could miss out on university housing in 2026/27

Nearly 10,000 Tunisian students could be left without public university accommodation during the 2026/27 academic year because the number of available beds is not keeping pace with demand. Mohamed Ouled Mohamed, secretary-general of the General Union of Tunisian Students (UGET), raised the warning during an appearance on Diwan FM on September 12. He said accommodation managed by Tunisia's university-services offices does not have enough capacity to meet all applications. The shortage goes beyond the raw number of beds. Ouled Mohamed pointed to deteriorating infrastructure and overcrowding in existing residences and called for students facing difficult social circumstances to be given greater access to exceptional university accommodation. He also questioned how residences are geographically distributed, arguing that accommodation should be located closer to universities to reduce travel difficulties and improve students' living conditions . One proposal is to establish new university towns in less densely populated areas, expanding capacity while reducing pressure on existing residences.

Drug cases triple in five years as Tunisia reviews narcotics laws

The number of drug-related cases recorded in Tunisia has tripled in five years, rising from more than 5,000 cases in 2020 to over 15,000 in 2025, according to the Interior Ministry. Mohamed Ali Chaïbi, a representative of the ministry, disclosed the figures in comments to Tunisian national television reported on September 12. Chaïbi said the increase has more than one explanation. Part of it reflects intensified security operations and a greater number of drug seizures, meaning authorities are detecting more offences. But he said it also reflects a genuine worsening of the drug problem and changes in the criminal activity associated with narcotics. The ministry is now working on revisions to Tunisia's drug legislation to adapt the legal framework to changes in drug-related crime. Chaïbi also argued that law enforcement alone cannot address the problem. Tunisia needs specialised facilities for treating addiction, he said, making treatment and rehabilitation another part of the country's response.

Tunisia urges UN members to strengthen recovery of stolen assets

Tunisia has renewed its call for countries holding stolen and illicitly acquired assets to return the money to developing states, arguing that recovering those funds could finance development and reduce dependence on debt. Tunisia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva appealed for a round-table discussion on the right to development at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council on September 11. Tunisia specifically called on countries where stolen or illicit funds are held to improve mechanisms for returning the assets to the developing countries from which they originated. It argues that money recovered in this way could be invested in development projects, poverty reduction and public services instead of forcing poorer countries to borrow additional funds. The intervention came as the international community marks the 40th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development. Tunisia called for the international community to treat development as a fundamental right and backed adoption of an International Covenant on the Right to Development that would make the principle legally binding.

Tunisia opens passport production unit at its embassy in Belgrade

Tunisia's embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, is opening a machine-readable passport production unit on September 14, allowing passport applications from Tunisians living within its consular jurisdiction to be processed locally. The unit has been installed within the embassy's consular section and will produce MRPs, or machine-readable passports, according to an announcement reported by Tunisia's TAP news agency on September 12. Its launch means eligible Tunisians served by the embassy will have access to passport-production services through the diplomatic mission rather than relying entirely on processing elsewhere. Machine-readable passports contain identity information formatted so it can be electronically read by border-control systems. The technology is standard in modern international travel documents and is governed by specifications established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The move forms part of Tunisia's provision of administrative and consular services to citizens abroad. By installing passport-production capacity directly in Belgrade, authorities are bringing an essential identity-document service closer to Tunisian nationals living in Serbia and other areas covered by the embassy. The unit officially enters service on Monday, September 14, 2026.

Federal health officials have called for urgent mosquito-control measures across Khartoum State, where more than 2.2 million people had returned by the end of June after the army recaptured the capital from the Rapid Support Forces. The influx comes as Sudan’s health system remains severely damaged by the conflict, with the World Health Organisation reporting that 37 per cent of health facilities across the country are still non-functional.

“Africa is a brilliant promise of vitality for an aging world . With 60% of its population under the age of 25. By 2030, 42% of the world's youth will be African,” Lo said.

He added that the Senegalese president had placed particular importance on the success of Dakar 2026, describing the Games as “a true national ambition in service of our youth and the prestige of our country.”

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said seeing the flame arrive on African soil for the first time was an emotional moment.

“The ceremony in Athens was beautiful and it was very emotional. But I think today was even more emotional seeing the flame on African soil for the very first time,” Coventry said.

The Zimbabwean former Olympic champion also expressed confidence in Senegal's preparations, saying the venues would be ready and athletes would receive a warm welcome.

Coventry said she hoped the Games would give visitors an opportunity to experience Africa while inspiring young Africans to believe in their potential. “I know that those youngsters are going to be able to change the world in the future. So I hope this gives them a platform to be inspired and to believe they can do anything,” she said. The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will take place in Senegal from October 31st to November 13th, 2026

General Abdourahmane Abou Zataka will replace Kiaou as army chief of staff, while the decree also reshuffles other senior posts in the Army and Air Force.

The changes follow the August 28-29 mutiny, when soldiers attacked Air Base 101 and other strategic sites across Niamey. State media said dozens of mutineers were killed or arrested before loyalist forces regained control.

Niger's government described the unrest as an attempted destabilisation and accused France of helping orchestrate it. Paris denied the allegation, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot calling it "pure fantasy."

Tiani has ruled Niger since the July 2023 military takeover as the country continues to battle jihadist violence .

A selection committee from the Babiito royal clan announced on Wednesday that Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a UBC news anchor and cousin of the late king, had been chosen as his successor.

The decision was challenged by King Oyo's sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, who produced what she said was a 2022 will naming "a biological son" of the late king as heir. She did not identify the alleged son, whose existence reportedly came as a surprise to members of the Tooro elite.

The selection committee excluded the alleged son from consideration, while the dispute prompted public debate over the succession.

On Thursday, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa said troops had removed the royal guards without notice and surrounded the palace.

"We cannot leave or receive people freely. We are under house arrest," she said.

Dr Richard Lokundu, medical director at Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital, said the absence of restrictions on movement was making contact tracing increasingly difficult.

"We are trying to contain the situation, but we have never imposed restrictions on people's movement," Lokundu said. "These constant movements of the population make the response extremely difficult."

He called for greater public awareness, urging people who have been in contact with confirmed cases to remain in place rather than travel to other communities.

For miners, however, staying away from gold sites can mean losing vital income. Miner Laringa Phanel said hand-washing stations had become part of daily life, with workers washing their hands before working and eating.

Taxi driver Blaise Musa said some residents initially attributed deaths to "mystical causes," but attitudes changed after medical teams arrived and began conducting blood tests.

The Bundibugyo virus outbreak was confirmed in May and spread from Mongbwalu across six provinces in eastern DR Congo. Containment efforts have been particularly difficult in Ituri and neighbouring areas, where armed violence , displacement, a fragile health system and movement along mining and commercial routes have complicated contact tracing.

President Paul Kagame arrived in Oman on September 7, 2026 , for a two-day official visit aimed at deepening political, economic and investment ties between Rwanda and the Gulf state. Kagame and his delegation arrived at the Royal Airport in Salalah, where they were received by the Governor of Dhofar. Oman’s Diwan of Royal Court had announced the visit on September 5, saying it would take place on September 7 and 8 and would focus on issues of mutual interest and ways of expanding cooperation. The visit comes as relations between Rwanda and Oman gain momentum. Diplomatic relations between the two countries date back to 1982, but recent cooperation has increasingly focused on trade, investment, transport and technology. One of the biggest changes has been direct air connectivity. An air services agreement took effect in January 2026, followed by the launch of the first direct SalamAir flights between Muscat and Kigali in July. Oman’s Ministry of Economy says cooperation is also expanding into logistics, artificial intelligence , telecommunications, cloud computing, airport management and dry-port operations.

More than 7,000 pupils ordered to resit national exams after widespread cheating

More than 7,000 Rwandan primary school pupils have been ordered to retake their national examinations after an investigation found widespread cheating during the 2025/26 school year. Rwanda’s Ministry of Education said its investigation found irregularities in 254 examination rooms involving 7,188 pupils across the country. The affected pupils will have to sit the examinations again. The story was reported by BBC Gahuzamiryango on August 31. The examinations had begun on July 7, when Education Minister Joseph Nsengimana officially launched the national primary-leaving examinations in Kigali. According to the BBC report, the Ministry of Education concluded after its investigation that cheating had taken place collectively in the affected examination rooms rather than being limited to isolated pupils. The decision to require thousands of pupils to resit the tests is significant because the ministry has rarely acknowledged examination cheating on this scale in recent years.

Jeannette Kagame tells young leaders that professional success is not enough

First Lady Jeannette Kagame has urged young Rwandans who are increasingly being entrusted with leadership roles to pay equal attention to their families, character and personal relationships. She made the remarks at the Young Leaders Prayer Breakfast in Kigali on Sunday, September 6, organised by the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship under the theme, “Rwanda begins at home: Raising stable families in a complex world .” Kagame said Rwanda had deliberately placed young people in positions of responsibility across institutions. She said that trust is often based on education, intelligence, knowledge, professional experience and values, but argued that these qualities alone do not necessarily prepare people for the challenges of family life. “Being intelligent can help you excel at work, but when it comes to your home, your relationship with your spouse, the way you raise your children and how you protect family unity during difficult times, intelligence alone is not enough,” she said. The First Lady also raised concern about changing attitudes towards marriage among younger generations. She noted that fewer people are marrying, while others are marrying later or choosing not to marry at all.

Rwanda and Oman deepen partnership in aviation, logistics and technology

Beyond Kagame’s official visit, Rwanda and Oman are building a more structured economic relationship centred on connectivity, investment and logistics. The partnership has accelerated considerably in 2026. The implementation of the bilateral air services agreement in January laid the groundwork for direct flights, while SalamAir’s Muscat-Kigali service launched in July, giving the two countries their first direct air connection. The link is significant for Rwanda because it strengthens access to the Gulf and potentially to wider Asian markets, while giving Oman another commercial route into East Africa . The partnership is also moving beyond aviation. Oman’s Ministry of Economy says the two governments are exploring cooperation in artificial intelligence, telecommunications, cloud computing, airport management and dry ports. For Oman, Rwanda fits into its Vision 2040 strategy of diversifying economic links beyond traditional markets. For Rwanda, the relationship offers another source of investment and an opportunity to reinforce Kigali’s position as a regional aviation, logistics and services hub.

Kicukiro court highlights pressure on Rwanda’s busiest primary courts

Kicukiro Primary Court is handling the highest number of cases , drawing attention to the heavy workload facing parts of Rwanda’s judicial system. The briefing itself does not provide the period covered or the precise current caseload, and I could not verify a newly published 2025/26 judiciary figure that supports a specific number. Historical Judiciary reports, however, consistently show Kicukiro among the country’s busiest primary courts. For example, Rwanda Judiciary data for 2023/24 recorded 6,023 cases allocated to Kicukiro Primary Court, compared with 6,097 at Gasabo Primary Court. An earlier Judiciary report recorded 5,648 cases at Kicukiro, including 3,901 substantive cases and 1,747 detention-related cases. Kicukiro Primary Court also continues to handle high-profile criminal cases. On September 3, 2026, it ordered 13 suspects to be held on 30-day remand over allegations linked to the manufacture and distribution of illicit alcoholic drinks. Among those remanded were former Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority Director General Prof. Emile Bienvenue and Samuel Ntihanabayo, owner and manager of Ingufu Gin Factory. Three other suspects, Elizabeth Uwamahoro, Patrick Rwabukumba and Oluwatosin Ajayi, were ordered to face prosecution while out of custody.

"Senegal has simply become too expensive. There is rent, electricity and even food - everything is expensive," march co-organiser Bathie Drizzy said.

Residents said rising food prices were making even everyday Senegalese meals increasingly difficult to afford, while others called for stronger government regulation of prices in shops and markets.

The protest was held near the national electricity company, Senelec and formed part of the citizen-led "30 Days for Fair Prices" campaign, which encourages consumers to report excessive prices and pressure authorities to act.

Senegal is grappling with rising living costs, high unemployment and concerns over public debt, increasing pressure on households already struggling to meet everyday expenses.

"This operation, with international ramifications, was instigated and sustained by a vast network of collusion headed by Macron's French regime," Boubacar said.

He described the mutiny as an attempt to destabilise Niger and said authorities had compiled a "substantial body of evidence" concerning the alleged aggression.

"Niger is not waging war against any country and harbours no such intention," he said. "Niger reserves the right to bring proceedings before international courts."

The government has not publicly presented evidence linking France to the attempted coup. Paris had not responded to the latest accusation at the time of publication, while the French military previously declined to comment on similar claims aired by Nigerien state television.

The unrest began overnight on August 28-29, when mutinous soldiers attacked Air Base 101 at Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport and other sensitive sites, including the presidential palace. Government forces later said they regained control after hours of fighting.

The dispute follows a legal battle between the community and British energy giant Shell over its exit from Nigeria's onshore oil sector and alleged environmental damage in the region.

"Sometimes, it comes like hell's fire itself," said Bubaraye Dakolo, monarch of the kingdom, describing how wind spreads pollution from the flare.

Dakolo criticised a July ruling by the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, which dismissed his lawsuit seeking environmental remediation and compensation for more than 40 years of alleged damage. He has since appealed.

Shell has rejected claims that its operations are chiefly responsible for pollution in the Niger Delta, pointing to oil theft, pipeline sabotage and illegal refining as major causes. The company says it cleans up spills from its facilities regardless of cause.

The resolution nevertheless passed overwhelmingly. Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said longstanding cartographic distortions had helped minimise Africa's perceived size and contributed to an unbalanced view of world geography.

The measure promotes greater use of equal-area maps, including the Equal Earth projection, which preserve the relative size of continents more accurately than the centuries-old Mercator projection.

Dussey said the initiative was not directed against any country or cartographic tradition, but aimed at encouraging projections that better reflect the true proportions of continents.

The African Union has backed the campaign through its "Correct the Map" initiative, arguing that maps can influence how countries and continents are perceived globally.

Tebboune said the timing and locations of some fires were “strange”, pointing to blazes that reportedly started simultaneously in distant areas and late in the evening. Several people have been arrested as investigations continue.

One of the men could be seen climbing onto the pickup's bonnet and reaching the back of the lorry, where he opened its rear doors and began passing boxes of frozen chicken to accomplices.

The unusual heist quickly attracted attention online, with the footage resembling a stunt from an action film .

Egyptian authorities later identified six suspects allegedly involved in the robbery and moved to arrest them, but the case took a violent turn when police tracked them down.

According to Egypt's Interior Ministry, the suspects opened fire on security forces as officers approached, prompting police to return fire.

Three alleged members of the gang were killed in the ensuing shootout, while the three others were arrested, authorities said.

Police said they also recovered firearms and ammunition from the suspects, along with the vehicle allegedly used in the robbery and some of the stolen goods.

Another resident, Chamsiya Idrissa, said explosions continued through the night and were powerful enough to shake homes. Others said they were still waiting for official clarification about what had happened.

Defence Minister General Salifou Mody said a group of soldiers attempted to detain fellow officers at Diori Hamani International Airport, home to the key military airbase known as Base 101, before opening fire on "strategic locations" across the city.

The incident briefly disrupted radio and television transmissions, which the Nigerien Press Agency said resumed at around 10:00 local time. Mody said security forces had contained the unrest and gradually regained control of the affected sites, although sporadic gunfire continued.

The incident poses a challenge to Niger's military-led government under General Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power after President Mohamed Bazoum was removed in July 2023.

"The public is urged to remain calm and go about their daily business freely," the statement said.

Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported overnight in several parts of Niamey, including around Diori Hamani International Airport, where Base 101 is located, and the Plateau district, home to the presidential palace and other key institutions. The ministry's account of the soldiers' actions has not been independently verified.

Niger has been under military rule since the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The authorities, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, have strengthened defence cooperation with neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso as the region continues to face attacks by armed groups.

Diori Hamani International Airport and Base 101 were targeted twice earlier this year, making the complex one of Niamey's most sensitive military sites.

Vienna State Police spokesperson Philipp Haslinger said a national and international manhunt was under way. Surveillance footage showed one of the suspects carrying what appeared to be a real firearm, although it was not used during the robbery.

Investigators have recovered evidence from the museum and are examining DNA and other leads. Police have also appealed to the public for information, with Haslinger saying numerous tips had already been received.

The platinum necklace was created by French jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels in 1939 and features more than 200 carats of diamonds in a sunburst design. Queen Nazli, mother of Egypt's King Farouk, wore it at the 1939 wedding of her daughter Princess Fawzia to Iran ian Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who later became Shah of Iran.

The necklace sold at Sotheby's in New York for about $4.3 million in 2015 before later joining the Van Cleef & Arpels collection. It was on display in Vienna as part of the MAK's "GLANZSTUCKE" exhibition dedicated to the French jewellery house.

Addressing lawmakers after the vote, Ndejembi said his performance should be judged by his service rather than his age. "The weight of this responsibility will not be measured by my youth alone, nor will it be defined by my age," he said.

Ndejembi pledged loyalty to President Samia Suluhu Hassan and said he would work to ensure government spending on development projects translated into services for Tanzanians.

Speaker Zungu said several foreign diplomats had welcomed Ndejembi's appointment. The former energy minister was nominated by President Hassan to replace Emmanuel Nchimbi, whose departure triggered a rapid political transition at the top of government .

Algeria's Civil Protection Agency reported 193 fires across 13 provinces, including 46 that remained active and 147 that had been extinguished. Interior Minister Said Sayoud said 12 people had died, five in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou, and described the toll as “very heavy”. Authorities have launched investigations into the causes of the fires, while President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning.

Attacks on aid workers are similarly prevalent in Yemen, West Africa and Lebanon, where UN staff have reportedly been targeted.

Responders are increasingly caught in the crossfire. The adoption of modern technology has made protection of innocent people even more difficult. Drones, in particular, have claimed many who dedicate their lives to serving the underprivileged.

The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reveals that in Sudan, drones account for at least 80% of civilian deaths in 2026, as seen in the May 8 strikes that killed 26 people in South Kordofan and North Kordofan.

This dynamic complicates the safety of service providers.

In a statement , the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says he is “outraged that attacks on humanitarians are happening more and more often.” 

“Throughout my long career at the United Nations, I could never have imagined a time when my colleagues would be targeted for violence,” he adds.

The growing rate of attacks on local humanitarian workers is also worth noting. For instance, of the 350 aid workers killed in 2025, 349 were local staff. These are not merely numbers or collateral damage – they are real human beings, heroes and heroines who deserve appreciation, not death in the line of duty.

When serving the vulnerable becomes a death sentence, it does not further the cause of peace. Rather, it dampens the spirit of empathy – the binding human bond that requires us to be each other’s keeper – and it fuels the wanton disregard of international law.

“Families are left without aid, children go without food, patients are unable to access healthcare, and others are placed in harm’s way,” says Türk.

In other words, when aid workers are threatened, it prolongs the instability and worsens the suffering of innocent civilians. Ultimately, this situation tightens the noose of poverty and widens inequalities.

These problems aren’t a preserve of those in conflict zones. Gradually, they transform into global challenges, affecting us all.

In Africa, national humanitarians are even more vulnerable. On top of being inequitably remunerated – partly on account of funding cuts – they are more susceptible to attacks, especially in armed conflict situations. Take the Central African Republic, where UNICEF staff and local education workers have been targeted .

These scenarios call for a concerted effort by governments and international players to hold the perpetrators of these atrocities accountable.

Considering that some of the deadliest conflicts are in Africa, regional bodies like the African Union must operationalise existing legal frameworks such as the Kampala Convention , which demands that state parties desist from attacking and harming humanitarian personnel “deployed for the assistance or benefit of internally displaced persons.”

Such protection could be broadened to include personnel operating with refugee populations.

In Africa, where a large number of the displaced live, the reality of the crisis is felt on the ground. It is the Ugandan or Congolese volunteer who stays when the guns are blazing, driven by the desire to save lives. 

If World Humanitarian Day is to mean anything for these extraordinary sacrifices, it should translate to improved protection and better pay.

The article solely represents the views of Simpson Muhwezi, a Ugandan freelance writer and development practitioner.

Parliamentary leaders from Mali and Burkina Faso travelled to Niamey as the Confederation of Sahel States, known as the AES, opened the first session of its new confederal parliament on August 24, 2026. The meeting brings together representatives from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and marks another step in the three countries’ effort to deepen political integration. The inaugural session is being held at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre in Niamey from August 24 to 29. Each AES member state has appointed 15 representatives, creating a 45-member confederal parliament. Representatives from Chad and Togo also attended the opening ceremony. Dr Ousmane Bougouma, president of Burkina Faso’s Transitional Legislative Assembly, presided over the inaugural proceedings. Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, representing President General Abdourahamane Tiani, formally opened the session.

Malian army intensifies Operation Dougoukoloko with strikes across central Mali

The Malian Armed Forces, or FAMa, have continued a series of strikes against armed groups under Operation Dougoukoloko, the nationwide military operation established to restore state authority and combat militant and criminal groups. On August 18, the army said it identified and struck several concentrations of armed fighters about 35 kilometres south-west of San. The following day, prolonged surveillance led to the identification of another alleged militant hideout around Kilimpo in the Bandiagara region. According to the army, the site was struck after further observation and assessment. FAMa said about 20 militants were “neutralised” and several pieces of equipment, including motorcycles, were destroyed. The figure is an official military claim and has not been independently verified. The army said surveillance operations were continuing to assess the impact of the strikes and search for any remaining threats.

Twenty-two Malian soldiers freed in latest prisoner exchange with the FLA

Twenty-two Malian soldiers held by the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, were released on August 23, 2026, in another notable prisoner exchange between Bamako and the Tuareg-led rebel movement . The development was highlighted in the August 24 media briefing as an unprecedented exchange. According to local reporting, the exchange took place in Anefis. In return for the 22 Malian soldiers, authorities released nine prisoners affiliated with the FLA. The precise terms of the arrangement and the identities of those exchanged were not immediately disclosed publicly. The exchange follows a much larger release earlier in the month. On August 13, the Malian military announced that 82 soldiers had been freed after being held by armed groups following coordinated attacks on April 25. The army said the soldiers had been held by groups linked to JNIM and the FLA and attributed their return to what it called “rigorous planning” and coordinated efforts to secure their release.

Abdoulaye Maïga visits Algiers as Mali and Algeria try to rebuild strained relations

Malian Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maïga arrived in Algeria on August 24, 2026, for a working visit aimed at reviving strategic cooperation and resetting relations between two neighbouring countries whose diplomatic ties have experienced significant strain. Maïga arrived at Houari Boumediene International Airport at the head of a senior delegation and was welcomed by Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and Energy and Renewable Energies Minister Mourad Adjal. Later that day, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received Maïga and his delegation. Senior Algerian officials attending the meeting included Ahmed Attaf, Minister of State Brahim Merad, presidential diplomatic adviser Amar Abba, intelligence chief Brigadier General Moussaoui Rochdi Fethi and Algeria’s ambassador to Mali, Kamel Ratib. The visit follows a series of steps by the two governments to repair their relationship. Two weeks earlier, Maïga and Ghrieb spoke by telephone and reaffirmed their commitment to what the Algerian side described as the “relations of fraternity, solidarity and good neighbourliness” between their countries. They also expressed a desire to give bilateral relations “a new dynamic” and restart cooperation in several sectors.

Supreme Court prosecutor says military suspects will soon face trial

Mali’s Prosecutor General at the Supreme Court, Mamoudou Timbo, says judicial proceedings involving people accused in a military case have reached an advanced stage and that those concerned are expected to face trial before a military court. Speaking to state broadcaster ORTM, Timbo said: “The procedure is underway at the military court. The investigation is at an advanced stage.” He added that those involved would “soon be tried by the military court”, although he did not announce a specific date. The case relates to arrests made in August 2025, when Malian security services detained several people accused of attempting to destabilise the institutions of the republic. Those arrested included senior military officers Brigadier General Abass Dembélé and Brigadier General Néma Sagara, as well as French national Yann Christian-Bernard Vézilier. Malian authorities portrayed Vézilier as a French intelligence operative, while France described him as a technical cooperation official protected by diplomatic arrangements. He was eventually convicted on June 5, 2026, and sentenced to 20 years in prison for offences linked to allegations of undermining state security.

The landslide occurred on the Central African side of the border, despite early reports placing the site in Cameroon due to the name Zamboye also being associated with neighbouring Garoua-Boulai.

Central African authorities have since ordered the mine closed over safety and regulatory concerns as rescue and recovery operations continue.

Mohamadou Bawe, chairman of a local gold miners' cooperative in Cameroon, said miners crossed the border to assist with rescue efforts after learning of the collapse.

"This is the border; you can see it here - there's the wire-mesh fence, the Central African Republic, and the river, which forms a natural boundary," Bawe said.

He said miners on the Cameroonian side limit excavation depths and clear surrounding areas to reduce the risk of collapses. "Look at our depths on the Cameroon side; that means it really is two different worlds," he said.

Garoua-Boulai Mayor Adamou Abdon also stressed that the deadly collapse occurred inside the Central African Republic, saying similar place names on both sides of the border had caused confusion.

Her argument comes as the question of reparations for slavery gains renewed international attention in 2026, more than two centuries after an uprising by enslaved people helped change the course of the transatlantic slave trade.

On the night of August 22 into August 23, 1791, enslaved people in the French colony of Saint-Domingue rose against the system that had stripped them of their freedom.

The uprising marked the beginning of the Haitian Revolution and played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. More than two centuries later, August 23 is observed as UNESCO's International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition .

But in 2026, remembrance comes with another question: What is owed to the people and societies that continue to live with the consequences?

The scale of what happened is difficult to reduce to a single number. SlaveVoyages , one of the world's leading databases on the transatlantic trade, estimates that about 12.5 million African men, women and children were forced aboard ships bound across the Atlantic between 1501 and 1866. About 10.7 million disembarked. Researchers estimate that roughly 41,000 voyages departed Africa carrying enslaved people.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has argued that even the language used to describe those millions matters.

“Truth begins with language, with the power that words hold to shape consciousness, to shift perspective, to propel action,” Mahama told a UN event on reparatory justice in March.

“There is no such thing as a slave. There were human beings who were trafficked and then enslaved by people who believed they could own those human beings as chattel, as their personal property.”

From human lives to trillions of dollars

Those people were transported primarily to the Caribbean and the Americas, where their labour became part of economies built around commodities including sugar and other agricultural products.

Centuries later, economists have attempted something much more difficult: putting a financial value on the damage.

A 2023 Brattle Group study prepared for The University of the West Indies and The American Society of International Law's Second Symposium on Reparations Under International Law estimated $100 trillion to $131 trillion in reparations for transatlantic chattel slavery in the Americas and Caribbean.

The researchers calculated between $77 trillion and $108 trillion for harms during enslavement and another $23 trillion for continuing post-enslavement harms. Their calculations covered an estimated 19 million people, including Africans transported across the Atlantic and people subsequently born into slavery. They also acknowledged that some harms could not be given a meaningful financial value.

But compensation has been paid before

The idea of attaching money to the end of slavery is not new.

When Britain abolished slavery across much of its empire in the 1830s, its government approved £20 million in compensation for enslavers for the loss of people who had legally been treated as their “property”.

The Bank of England says the payment was an unprecedented addition to Britain's national debt outside wartime.

The people who had been enslaved received no compensation. Instead, many were required to continue working without wages under an “apprenticeship” system following emancipation.

University College London (UCL) estimates the £20 million paid to enslavers would be worth about £16.5 billion in today's money using one modern-value comparison.

That history adds another dimension to the modern reparations debate. The question is not simply whether governments have ever compensated people for the abolition of slavery, but who was considered entitled to that compensation.

In 2026, the debate reached the UN

On March 25, the United Nations General Assembly voted 123-3, with 52 abstentions, for a Ghana-led resolution recognising the trafficking and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the “gravest crime against humanity.”

Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it.

Before the vote, Mahama told the General Assembly that countries had gathered to “affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice.”

The resolution is not legally binding and does not force countries to make financial payments. But it calls for discussions on reparatory justice, including formal apologies, restitution, compensation, rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition. It also calls for the return of cultural property to countries of origin.

Its adoption moved an argument long championed by African and Caribbean countries further into international diplomacy.

The Caribbean is also pushing ahead. In July, CARICOM leaders approved a revised Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, intended to guide the region's reparations campaign.

CARICOM argues that wealth generated through enslaved African labour helped develop European empires while Caribbean societies were left dealing with the long-term consequences of slavery and colonialism.

What happens after reparations?

Cummings, who is also the founder and publisher of Africa-Caribbean Insights, argues that reparations should address the barriers that have prevented descendants of enslaved people from accessing opportunities to build wealth.

That could mean investment in education, access to capital, entrepreneurship, land and housing opportunities and skills development, creating pathways for people to build businesses and generational wealth.

The real measure, she argues, would be what society looks like afterwards.

“A society with a larger and more economically empowered middle class, more thriving businesses, greater access to quality education, stronger household purchasing power and greater economic mobility,” she told Global South World.

"The ultimate measure of reparations should be whether they help transform people from recipients of compensation into creators of wealth, opportunity and prosperity for generations to come.”

"Yesterday, around 9 - 10 a.m., children , women and elderly men boarded a canoe to go to their farms. Unfortunately, the canoe capsized," eyewitness Salisu Umar Goronyo said, adding that at least 80 people were on board.

Survivor Abdullahi Karani said passengers and local residents worked to rescue victims after the boat overturned.

"We made efforts to rescue some of the victims before other people arrived to support us in the rescue operation, during which many bodies were recovered," he said. Goronyo said his family lost 10 relatives, adding that many of the victims were young women expected to marry this year.

The vessel capsized near Gorau in Goronyo Local Government Area while passengers were travelling to rice farms.

Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency later confirmed 52 deaths as rescue and recovery operations continued.

Zambia Police have summoned opposition leader Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu for questioning over alleged offences linked to national security, days after a tense presidential election and a deadly security operation involving senior opposition figures. The development is among the major stories highlighted in the August 21 media briefing. Mundubile, the presidential candidate of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), finished second to President Hakainde Hichilema in the August 13 election. Police said Mundubile and Zulu had sought refuge with an international organisation and that authorities knew where they were. Police also said the organisation had been assured that the two men would receive due process and would not be harmed. Police said the pair would be questioned over what they described as “various alarming activities” taking place in the country, some allegedly connected to premises owned by or associated with them. Call-out notices were served on their lawyers. Mundubile has previously rejected allegations of a national security plot and described the authorities’ claims as fabricated.

Election monitors say Hichilema won but flag irregularities in 30 constituencies

The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) says its independent assessment confirms that President Hakainde Hichilema received more than the 50% required to win Zambia’s presidential election without a run-off, but it also found serious discrepancies in results from 30 constituencies . The finding is one of the key developments identified in the briefing. CCMG deployed 1,500 stationary observers using its Process and Results Verification for Transparency methodology. It received results from 1,491 of the 1,500 sampled polling stations, representing 99.4% of its sample. Its statistical estimate put Hichilema, of the ruling UPND, at 56.0% ±1.7%, while Mundubile was estimated at 42.3% ±1.7%. Voter turnout was estimated at 53.5% ±0.6%, sharply below the 70.6% recorded in 2021. The official Electoral Commission of Zambia results gave Hichilema 60.49%, or 2,965,326 votes, against Mundubile’s 37.87%, or 1,856,217 votes. CCMG said the official totals did not fall within its estimated ranges because of results from 30 constituencies where official turnout was considerably higher than expected and the additional votes overwhelmingly benefited the UPND.

Law Association demands independent investigation into Mutotwe Kafwaya’s death

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has called for an independent investigation into the death of former Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya , saying conflicting accounts surrounding his death have raised serious questions. The call is highlighted in the August 21 briefing. Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba confirmed that Kafwaya’s family had identified him as the man fatally wounded during a shootout in the Kabulonga area of Lusaka on Friday, August 14. His whereabouts had been the subject of speculation for several days following the security operation. Before confirmation of his death, Kafwaya’s wife, Dinis Ng’andu, had approached the Lusaka High Court seeking an urgent hearing of an application challenging what she believed was her husband’s “continued detention”.

Harry Findlay charged with financing terrorism as High Court judge steps aside

Zambian businessman Harry Findlay has been charged with financing terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism and Non-Proliferation Act, while the High Court judge initially assigned to his case has recused himself. The case is another of the major legal and security stories in the August 21 briefing. Findlay’s lawyer, Milner Katolo, confirmed the charge on August 20. Findlay had earlier filed an application for habeas corpus, challenging his continued detention after being held since August 4, 2026. Katolo said Lusaka High Court Judge Lameck Mwale recused himself from the case on professional grounds. The matter was subsequently sent back to the Judge in Charge for reassignment. Katolo said proceedings had initially started without Findlay being present. “The matter came up this morning at 11:30 hours,” he said, explaining that the proceedings were temporarily stood down until Findlay was brought to court.

ZCCM-IH swings from K39.85bn profit to K4.92bn loss

State-controlled mining investment company ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) recorded a K4.92 billion net loss for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, reversing a huge profit recorded the previous year. The financial result is among the leading economic stories in the briefing. ZCCM-IH reported a group net loss of ZMW4.92 billion, equivalent to US$195.6 million, compared with a net profit of ZMW39.85 billion, or US$1.52 billion, in 2024. The dramatic year-on-year reversal does not mean the underlying business simply lost more than K44 billion through normal operations. ZCCM-IH explained that its 2024 result had been heavily boosted by a one-off exceptional investment gain associated with the Mopani Strategic Equity Partner Transaction, which was not repeated in 2025. The company said the weaker 2025 performance also reflected the implementation of transformation initiatives intended to deliver longer-term shareholder value. Its 2025 results were published as ZCCM-IH continues restructuring and recapitalisation work across major mining investments, including Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the collapse near the Kadey River, while local leaders said miners had repeatedly been warned about the dangers of working during the rainy season. They said economic hardship had pushed some workers to continue mining despite the risks. Artisanal gold mining supports thousands of people in mineral-rich parts of Central African Republic, where miners often work in hand-dug pits and tunnels with limited safety equipment. The Zamboi disaster follows another fatal landslide at an artisanal mine in Kinyeme in June, which reportedly killed at least eight people.

Niger is seeking greater cooperation with US investors in its petroleum sector, according to the 19 August media briefing, as the country looks to attract new capital and partnerships into an industry that has become increasingly important to public finances. The investment push comes against the backdrop of rapidly rising petroleum revenues. Petroleum Minister Hamadou Tini said in June that direct oil revenues paid into Niger’s Treasury rose from 224 billion CFA francs in 2024 to 453.8 billion CFA francs in 2025, more than doubling in a year. He also put cumulative investment in the sector since 2008 by the partnership comprising the Nigerien state, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and SOPAMIN at US$8.34 billion. Tini has also said the government is revising its hydrocarbons code and preparing a new production-sharing contract model to strengthen the state’s negotiating position and increase the economic returns Niger receives from petroleum operations.

Bilma authorities rally security forces following attack in Siguidine

Security has returned to the forefront in the remote Bilma area following an attack at Siguidine, with the prefect of Bilma rallying security forces in response, according to the 19 August briefing. The attached briefing does not provide the casualties, perpetrators, timing or statements from the prefect, and those specific details could not be independently established from accessible reporting. The incident nevertheless comes against a longer pattern of insecurity around Siguidine and the wider Bilma department. In 2024, residents of Bilma publicly condemned several security incidents in the area, including an attack on the Siguidine security post on 4 May 2024. Their declaration also referred to the sabotage of oil-pipeline infrastructure in the Tesker area on 16 June 2024 and the 21 June 2024 abduction of Bilma prefect Amadou Torda and members of his delegation. The population subsequently demanded the immediate and unconditional release of those abducted. Siguidine also lies within an economically important part of Niger. The locality is among communities covered by a social-responsibility assessment linked to the Bilma and Agadem R567 petroleum blocks, underlining how insecurity in the area intersects with the country’s energy and development interests.

Red meat reaches 4,000 CFA francs per kilogram in Niamey as food costs bite

The price of red meat in Niamey has climbed from 2,500 CFA francs to 4,000 CFA francs per kilogram, according to figures highlighted by Niger’s statistics institute in the 19 August media briefing. The increase adds to signs of pressure in the meat market seen earlier in 2026. During Ramadan, the Nigerien Press Agency reported that meat and powdered milk were among products experiencing particularly sharp price increases. Maman Nouri, an association leader quoted by the agency, said beef with bone was selling for approximately 2,700 to 3,000 CFA francs per kilogram, while meat from smaller ruminants was fetching 4,000 to 5,000 CFA francs. Ahead of Ramadan, Commerce Minister Abdoulaye Seydou visited markets and wholesalers to assess stocks of major consumer goods and limit inflationary pressure. Traders had pledged either to freeze prices or reduce them in some cases. Niger had also prohibited exports of live livestock as part of efforts to preserve domestic herds, after previously introducing restrictions involving cereals. The latest figure of 4,000 CFA francs therefore puts meat prices firmly at the centre of household cost-of-living concerns in the capital.

More than 4,100 candidates begin Niger’s 2026 state BTS examinations

A total of 4,115 candidates, including 1,789 girls, are due to sit Niger’s 2026 state Brevet de Technicien Supérieur , or BTS, examinations across the country, according to the media briefing. The examinations are administered through the Office du Baccalauréat, des Équivalences et des Examens et Concours du Supérieur (OBEECS), which has confirmed that convocations for the 2026 state BTS examinations are available to candidates. OBEECS Director-General Professor Alhou Bassirou has stressed that the strict procedures surrounding examinations such as the BTS are intended to protect “transparency, merit and excellence.” He has also called on candidates to prepare seriously and urged everyone involved in administering national examinations to respect professional ethics and their responsibilities. With girls accounting for about 43% of the candidates reported in the briefing, the examination session also provides a snapshot of female participation in Niger’s higher technical and professional education system.

Niger Digital Day reaches Maradi with nationwide push to equip young people for the digital economy

Maradi is hosting the latest stage of the Niger Digital Day 2026 caravan , part of a nationwide initiative designed to strengthen the practical digital skills and employability of young Nigeriens. The media briefing identifies the launch of the Maradi stage as one of the country’s notable developments on 19 August. The 2026 programme runs from 13 August to 10 September and aims to reach more than 800 young people across all eight regions of Niger. Maradi’s activities are scheduled for 18–19 August at Espace Américain, before the caravan moves to Zinder, Tahoua, Agadez, Diffa, Dosso and Tillabéri. Training goes beyond basic computer literacy. The programme covers generative artificial intelligence and web development, including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini; prompt engineering; HTML, CSS and JavaScript; and no-code platforms. It also includes advanced AI and technology entrepreneurship, cyber hygiene and data protection, ethical content creation and storytelling, mobile money and digital finance, and a STEM programme for children aged 8 to 15. The initiative is considerably larger than its previous edition. Digital Niger says that in 2025, more than 15 people involved in the programme travelled through six regions and reached more than 300 young people. The 2026 edition expands the caravan to every region of the country, with a target of more than 800 participants.

Residents later rallied in the streets, calling for justice over repeated violence in the region. Plateau State Commissioner of Police Faniyan Ayodeji said officers had been deployed and efforts were underway to identify and arrest those responsible.

"Everything will be done to track and arrest these wicked and callous criminals," Ayodeji said. "We have already started work and we are already getting results."

Youth leader Joseph Sunday Manset accused Fulani individuals of carrying out the attack and called on the government to designate those responsible as terrorists.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the killings and ordered increased surveillance and patrols in Bin-Per and other vulnerable communities in Mangu. He also urged residents to avoid retaliation and cooperate with security agencies.

Plateau State has experienced years of deadly violence, with disputes involving farming and herding communities repeatedly escalating into attacks. In June, police said at least 20 people were killed in an attack on the Kawel community in Bokkos Local Government Area.