The Africa Edition©️30 June 2025
News That Matters To Africa©️
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning, all you need is two hearts and a diamond. By the end, you wish you had a club and a spade…”
TOP NEWS
EASTERN AFRICA
WEST AFRICA
SOUTHERN AFRICA
NORTH AFRICA
CENTRAL AFRICA
AFRICA-WIDE ISSUES
AFRICAN DIASPORA
UN-AFFAIRS
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
U.S.-Brokered peace deal signed between Rwanda and DRC
Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement on Friday, raising hopes for an end to fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year. The agreement marks a breakthrough in talks held by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and aims to attract billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. At a ceremony with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, the two African countries' foreign ministers signed the agreement pledging to implement a 2024 deal that would see Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo within 90 days. Kinshasa and Kigali will also launch a regional economic integration framework within 90 days, the agreement said. "They were going at it for many years, and with machetes - it is one of the worst, one of the worst wars that anyone has ever seen. And I just happened to have somebody that was able to get it settled," Trump said on Friday, ahead of the signing of the deal in Washington. "We're getting, for the United States, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it. They're so honored to be here. They never thought they'd be coming." Trump later met both officials in the Oval Office, where he presented them with letters inviting Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to Washington to sign a package of agreements that Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, dubbed the "Washington Accord".
ERITREA/ETHIOPIA
Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of using diplomatic communications to ‘rationalize and ignite conflict’
In a statement released on 26 June, Eritrea’s Ministry of Information accused the Ethiopian government of issuing diplomatic communications to the UN Secretary-General and “several Heads of State and Government” to allege “repeated provocations” and “infringements on Ethiopian sovereign and territorial integrity,” calling the effort part of a broader attempt “to rationalize and ignite conflict.” Eritrea further alleged that the “ruling Prosperity Party has been recklessly indulging, for the last two years, in uncalled-for pronouncements” and “provocative saber-rattling,” which it said was part of efforts to acquire Eritrean ports—“legally if possible and militarily if necessary.” According to the Eritrean government, these acts have included “a weapons purchasing spree” and “myriad acts of subversion.” Despite what it referred to as “grave threats” to its sovereignty and regional stability, Eritrea said it has shown “maximum restraint.” The statement from Eritrea came as an unverified letter, allegedly from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and dated 20 June 2025, circulated widely on social media. The circulating letter accuses the “Eritrean regime” of “repeated provocations against Ethiopia” and “infringements on Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” It says these actions “constitute a flagrant violation of international law” and “further exacerbate the fragile peace and security situation in the Horn of Africa.”
KENYA
As Kenya protests police killings, families search for the disappeared
No one seems to know what happened to Emmanuel Mukuria. Not his friends, who said they last saw him being dragged off the streets of the Kenyan capital by unidentified men during an anti-government protest. And not his family, which has spent a year searching for him…At least 60 people were killed by security forces in the protests in Kenya last year] and more than 70 abducted, rights groups say — snatched off the streets by plainclothes officers and held incommunicado without charge or trial. Although most were ultimately released, at least 26 are still missing, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, a state investigative body, leaving behind bereft families desperate for answers — and growing calls for accountability…Mukuria’s relatives had spent a month searching for him in morgues, hospitals and police stations when a bruised young man turned up at their house unannounced, according to Mukuria’s mother…The man told her that her son was still alive, that they had been held together with 200 other young men in Block L8 of the Industrial Area Remand Prison in Nairobi, a pretrial detention facility. The prisoners were kept in the dark, she remembers him telling her, and beaten as they were interrogated about who was funding the protests. After his July visit, the family immediately went to the prison, the first of more than a dozen visits. Each time, officials told them Mukuria was not there…Last month, Kenyan President William Ruto acknowledged the wave of disappearances for the first time but said all those taken had been returned to their families…Not everyone who disappeared was taken during the initial wave of protests. Some were taken months later…In total, 74 people have been “forcibly disappeared,” the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said in April. Some of those who were released have returned with harrowing accounts of their time in detention.
SUDAN
US sanctions on Sudan take effect over chemical weapons use in civil war
United States sanctions against Sudan have officially taken effect following a determination by the Donald Trump administration that Khartoum used chemical weapons during the country's ongoing civil war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The sanctions were triggered by a formal finding made on April 24, 2025, by the Senior Official performing the functions of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. According to the US Government, Sudan employed lethal chemical agents in attacks that targeted its own population, a grave breach of international regulations. According to the notice, all humanitarian US foreign assistance to Sudan under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 has been terminated, although aid deemed urgent for humanitarian purposes or related to food and agriculture will continue. The United States government has also invoked a national security waiver to ensure some flexibility in how these restrictions are applied. The sanctions have also put an immediate stop to all direct arms sales to Sudan under the Arms Export Control Act, including the suspension of licenses for defense articles and services.
TANZANIA
Activists to sue Tanzania’s government over ‘sexual torture’
Two east African activists say they plan to sue Tanzania’s government for illegal detention and torture during a visit in support of an opposition politician in May. Boniface Mwangi, from Kenya, and Agather Atuhaire, a Ugandan, sent shock waves around the region earlier this month when they gave an emotional press conference in which they alleged they had been sexually assaulted and, in Atuhaire’s case, smeared in excrement after their detention in Dar es Salaam. “[The authorities] take you through sexual torture,” Mwangi said at the time. Even in a region accustomed to recurrent rights abuses, the apparent targeting of foreigners by the Tanzanian authorities marked a new and worrying turn in a crackdown on critics and opponents of the president, Samia Suluhu Hassan. In interviews, Mwangi and Atuhaire said they planned to initiate cases in a Tanzanian court as well as through regional and international avenues, including the east African court of justice and the African court on human and peoples’ rights. “We’re not going to let them get away with this,” said Mwangi, a well-known Kenyan photojournalist and activist. Atuhaire, a lawyer, journalist and critic of the government of the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, said: “We need to hold these guys accountable to know that they cannot violate people unprovoked like that.” Mwangi and Atuhaire, who had travelled to Tanzania to attend a court hearing for a treason case against the opposition politician Tundu Lissu on 19 May, say they were taken from their hotel by people they described as security officials, illegally detained and verbally and physically abused... security personnel accused the activists of having travelled to Tanzania to disrupt peace and ruin the country.
UGANDA
Museveni confirms bid for re election
President Yoweri Museveni, 80, announced he will run in Uganda’s 2026 election, extending his nearly half-century rule. In a post on the X platform late on Saturday Museveni said he had "expressed my interest in running for... the position of presidential flag bearer," for his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Museveni said he is seeking reelection to grow the country to a "$500 billion economy in the next five years." Uganda's GDP currently stands at about $66 billion, according to the finance ministry. His confirmation followed a soaring wave of youth-led protests against constitutional amendments that enabled indefinite terms. Analysts warn of deepening political stagnation and potential unrest. Human rights groups argue the announcement complicates any paths toward democratic reforms, as the now entrenched leadership tightens its grip.
WEST AFRICA
GHANA
’I want my wife to know I’m alive,’ says Ghana’s only POW in Ukraine
Joshua, now in his late 30s, worked for five years in Dubai as a fire and rescue officer. Like many Africans abroad, he harboured big dreams. ‘I decided to look for school to further my education,’ he says…By July 2024, Joshua was in Moscow with a short-term student visa, only to be told he was too late to register…Then came Kylian, a Nigerian acquaintance who offered him what seemed like a lifeline – a job as a security guard on lands ‘captured’ by the Russian military. The job came with promises of a fast-tracked Russian passport and a monthly salary of 195,000 rubles (around $2,480) …On 10 July 2024, Joshua signed a contract. Instead of guarding buildings, he was taken to Avangard for two weeks of military training, then to Rostov for weapons instruction. In Donetsk, he received two more weeks of frontline preparation. ‘The commander informed me that I will be taken to the frontline to fight,’ he says. ‘I had no choice [but] to obey. I was at a point of no return.’…Miraculously, Joshua survived…In his dazed escape attempt, he wandered unknowingly into Ukrainian-held territory. On 6 September 2024, he was captured…His tale is not isolated. Joshua is part of a growing number of young African men lured into the Russia-Ukraine war by unscrupulous recruiters. In late 2024, about 14 Ghanaians – duped into military service after being promised jobs in agriculture and security – pleaded publicly for help. Since then, nothing has been heard of them. With unemployment soaring across Africa, foreign conflict zones are increasingly preying on vulnerable young men.
IVORY COAST
African Union court deals heavy blow to Gbagbo's fresh presidency bid
Laurent Gbagbo who ruled Ivory Coast from 2000 until he was forced from power in 2011 had ran to the continental court to challenge his disqualification from seeking the presidency over a criminal conviction. Despite being acquitted on charges of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, Gbagbo still has a conviction in Ivory Coast stemming from the violent post-election crisis that ended his rule. In the petition to the African Court on Human and People's Rights, Gbagbo had argued that the Ivorian state violated his rights. But the court ruled that the 80-year-old had provided insufficient evidence to prove his argument. Gbabgbo is not alone. Former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and banker Tidjane Thiam have also been blocked from the October presidential election on legal grounds. The ruling, if even in Gbabgbo's favor would not have mattered much as Abidjan does not recognize the jurisdiction of the African Union court.
LIBERIA
State funeral for assassinated president Samuel Doe
Hundreds of people gathered on Friday in rural Liberia for the state funeral of former president Samuel Doe 35 years after his assassination, part of the country's ongoing reconciliation efforts over its violent past. Doe's brutal 1990 torture and murder were an early turning point in the two civil wars that killed around 250,000 people and ravaged Liberia's economy. He is being commemorated at his home compound alongside his wife, Nancy, who died in May. The state ceremony is being attended by President Joseph Boakai, who declared a period of mourning this week from Tuesday to Friday, with flags flown at half-mast. The circumstances surrounding Doe's death mark a notorious episode in Liberia's history. Infamous warlord Prince Johnson, a key player in the civil wars (1989 to 2003), appeared in a video watching his fighters slowly mutilate and torture Doe to death while he calmly sipped a beer. Doe's own rise to power was also steeped in violence. His 1980 to 1990 rule remains divisive, remembered by many Liberians as a brutal dictatorship, while others recall some transformative measures he implemented fondly.
SENEGAL
Senegalese man files complaint against France over father's WWII killing
Biram Senghor, 86, is the last surviving descendant of a group of Senegalese soldiers killed by French military in a massacre in Thiaroye in 1944. He has lodged a complaint against the French state, accusing it of concealing the corpse of his colonial soldier father after killing him during World War II, his lawyer said Wednesday, June 25. French authorities have admitted to killing his father M'Bap Senghor, a colonial soldier for France, in December 1, 1944 in Thiaroye, in what is now Senegal. He was among at least dozens killed when the French military cracked down on African soldiers demanding their pay after returning from war-torn Europe. While French authorities at the time said 35 had been killed in the Thiaroye incident, historians say the real death toll could be as high as 400. The Thiaroye episode marks one of the worst massacres during French colonial rule, and questions remain concerning the number of soldiers killed, their identities and the location of their burial. Last year France recognised Senghor and five others among those executed in Thiaroye as having given their life to France. "For a while, they lied to his family. They pretended Senghor was a deserter, that he did not die in Thiaroye, and then they admitted that he had," said Dieng, the lawyer. "They need to tell us where his remains are."... Excavations have been under way since early May in Thiaroye, with experts uncovering human skeletons with bullets in their bodies, some in the chest, according to a source following the project.
TOGO
Nationwide protests erupt in Togo demanding presidential resignation
Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in several parts of Togo’s capital Lomé on Thursday, as President Faure Gnassingbé faced increasing pressure from critics over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely…Civil society groups and social media influencers had called for protests on June 26, 27, and 28, after the government’s clampdown on protests early this month. A coalition of political groups known as “Hands Off My Constitution” said in a Facebook post on Wednesday it “strongly urges Faure Gnassingbé to immediately and unconditionally release all of the roughly one hundred political prisoners, and to take urgent measures to restore purchasing power to the population. It called for an “unprecedented peaceful demonstration.” Togo’s leader Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was in May sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers. The powerful role has not official term limits and he is eligible to be re-elected by parliament indefinitely. Opposition politicians have denounced the move as a “constitutional coup.”
SOUTHERN AFRICA
MOZAMBIQUE
Rise in Violence in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
On June 27th, Mozambican military officials renewed calls for international aid, specifically citing recent attacks in Cabo Delgado province. These attacks, carried out by non-state armed groups, have intensified the humanitarian crisis in the region and disrupted ongoing development projects. The situation in Cabo Delgado remains volatile, with ongoing conflict and widespread displacement impacting both internally displaced persons and returning populations according to the European Commission. The attacks, some claimed by ISIS-linked groups, have led to casualties among both military personnel and civilians, and have resulted in the destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of communities. The renewed appeal for aid comes as TotalEnergies is seeking government approval to resume its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on the Afungi peninsula, which has been under force majeure since 2021 due to the conflict. The attacks have also impacted humanitarian efforts, with aid delivery facing setbacks and a decline in the number of people reached compared to previous. The root causes of the conflict are multifaceted, including poverty, marginalization, and the influence of extremist groups. The humanitarian crisis is further exacerbated by the impact of climate shocks and a deteriorating socio-economic situation.
SOUTH AFRICA
Ruling coalition on brink of collapse
South Africa’s fragile coalition government is under mounting strain, as the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party, abruptly withdrew from President Cyril Ramaphosa's "National Dialogue" initiative on Saturday. DA leader John Steenhuisen also announced that his party would withhold support for the budgets of departments led by ministers accused of corruption. The move follows Ramaphosa's dismissal of Deputy Trade Minister Andrew Whitfield, a DA member, earlier this week over an unauthorized trip to the United States. The DA and Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) are the two largest parties in South Africa's coalition government. DA head Steenhuisen issued an ultimatum to the president, demanding the removal of ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption within 48 hours and threatening "grave consequences" if the demands are not met. That deadline passed on Saturday, with Steenhuisen accusing Ramaphosa of acting with "disrespect, arrogance, and double standards."
Ramaphosa’s 48 hours ends: DA briefs media on Coalition’s future
The Democratic Alliance (DA) briefs the media and South Africa at the expiry of the 48 hour ultimatum given to President Ramaphosa to remove compromised and corrupt Ministers from his National Executive.
AfDB to launch country focus reports across Southern Africa
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is launching its 2025 Country Focus Reports (CFRs) across 13 Southern African countries, starting June 27, 2025. These reports, which are based on the annual African Economic Outlook (AEO), provide in-depth economic analysis and policy options tailored to each nation in Africa. The launch series aims to strengthen the AfDB's role in supporting Africa's economic growth by engaging with stakeholders at the national level. The theme for the 2025 AEO is "Making Africa's Capital Work Better for Africa's Development". Governments are expected to integrate findings into budget cycles. Observers see it as a pivot toward stronger fiscal governance amid constrained global finance. The CFRs translate the macroeconomic insights of the AEO into actionable information for each country. The 2025 reports will address key challenges like geopolitical tensions, post-crisis resilience, and climate urgency. The launches are designed to engage with government officials, business leaders, and development stakeholders in each country. The overarching theme for the 2025 AEO is "Making Africa's Capital Work Better for Africa's Development," highlighting the importance of leveraging capital for sustainable growth.
NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
Algeria–U.S. energy ties grow amid Western Sahara tensions
Algeria is taking strategic steps to expand its energy partnership with the United States as tensions over the Western Sahara dispute continue to mount. This renewed engagement comes as part of Algeria’s broader push to assert economic diplomacy in the face of growing international pressure surrounding the long-standing territorial issue. As U.S. interest in the Western Sahara issue intensifies, reports indicate that Washington may be looking to revive stalled negotiations ahead of a key UN Security Council session scheduled for October. The Trump administration is said to support Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal, prompting Algeria to step up its own diplomatic efforts. In a parallel move on the economic front, Algeria has opened its doors wider to American energy investors. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune recently held back-to-back meetings with top executives from Chevron and ExxonMobil. Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab and Sonatrach CEO Rachid Hachichi were also present, signaling a unified and high-level push for foreign partnership. Central to Algeria’s new approach is a proposed energy law that would allow foreign companies to hold up to 80 percent ownership in new oil and gas ventures marking a major shift from previous investment rules.
LIBYA
The failure of Obama's 'leading from behind' in Libya
Elected on a promise not to send more American troops to the Middle East, President Barack Obama allowed France and the UK to lead the 2011 Libyan intervention, which ultimately resulted in the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. Obama had envisioned a limited coalition effort to prevent mass slaughter by Gaddafi, who was facing growing unrest as part of the Arab Spring. However, before launching the operation, a political framework was necessary. Within Obama’s team, a split emerged: realists advised staying out due to the lack of direct U.S. interests, while interventionists pushed for action on humanitarian grounds. European and Gulf nations also lobbied for U.S. involvement. Obama expressed frustration that allies often pressured the U.S. to act but hesitated to contribute meaningfully themselves. In a 2016 interview with The Atlantic, he lamented their tendency to "push us to act but then [show] an unwillingness to put any skin in the game." The debate in Washington concluded with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supporting the interventionists after visiting Paris, particularly once the Arab League suspended Libya’s membership. When France and the UK proved unable to coordinate the military operation, NATO assumed control within a week. A careful arrangement allowed the U.S. to maintain operational leadership without overtly appearing to lead. The U.S. handled the bulk of the heavy lifting—crippling Libya’s air defenses—before stepping back. It continued to provide essential support in intelligence, targeting, and air refueling. Eight NATO countries conducted airstrikes under French-British leadership, with their jets flying 40% of the missions. Although NATO's “Operation Unified Protector” officially ended on October 31, Libya descended into chaos. The original civilian protection mission morphed into a regime-change effort, endorsed by Obama, Sarkozy, and UK Prime Minister Cameron in an April 2011 op-ed. Gaddafi was killed on October 20, but no government emerged to fill the power vacuum. Reflecting on the intervention years later, Obama admitted: “It didn’t work.” He called Libya a “mess” and blamed European partners for failing to manage the aftermath, saying he had misplaced faith in their commitment to the post-conflict recovery.
CENTRAL AFRICA
CENTRAL AFRICAN REP (CAR)
UN reinforces MINUSCA amid central African instability
The UN is reinforcing its peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, in the Central African Republic (CAR) due to ongoing instability and violence. The Security Council has reiterated its support for MINUSCA and emphasized the need for it to have the necessary capacities to fulfill its mandate and protect civilians. This reinforcement comes as the situation in CAR remains volatile, with armed groups continuing to pose a threat to civilians and the ongoing delivery of humanitarian aid. Bordering South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the region – which is larger than Switzerland – has been a hotspot of conflict due to its strategic importance and limited accessibility. The southeast region of CAR, bordering South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been identified as a hotspot of conflict and insecurity. The UN mission was established in September 2014 following a deadly flare up of inter-communal violence between the mainly Muslim Séléka groups and the mainly Christian anti-Balaka movement.
Explosion at Bangui school kills 29 students, injures over 260
At least 29 students have been killed and more than 250 injured in a stampede at a high school in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. An electrical explosion triggered panic among more than 5,000 students sitting their final exams at Barthelemy Boganda high school, according to local authorities. Most of the victims died at the scene. At least 260 people were injured and are being treated in various hospitals, the country's Ministry of Health said. The incident occurred on Wednesday when power was being restored to an electrical transformer within the school premises after it malfunctioned.
CHAD/SUDAN
How Sudan’s war is driving Chad’s humanitarian collapse
A UN official and a Sudanese refugee talk about life in Chad, where aid is vanishing and camps face a growing catastrophe. As Sudan’s war effects spill into Chad, the country faces the world’s most underfunded refugee crisis. Nearly a million Sudanese, mostly women and children, have fled, but aid is vanishing, disease is looming, and the system is on the verge of collapse.
AFRICA-WIDE ISSUES
Ukraine turns to Africa in its struggle against Russia
Mauritania has become an unlikely staging post for Ukraine's increasingly global struggle with its adversary Russia. Kyiv's new embassy in the country's capital Nouakchott - among eight it has opened in Africa since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine - has overseen food aid deliveries to refugees from neighbouring Mali, embassy and aid officials say. Kyiv is also offering to train Mauritanian soldiers, Ukraine's top envoy to Africa has disclosed, amid tension between Mauritania and Mali, where Moscow backs government forces against Tuareg rebels. Earlier in June, the Kremlin said Russia would increase cooperation with African countries including in sensitive areas such as defence. Russia is the largest weapons supplier to Africa, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Interviews with four senior Ukrainian officials, two aid officials and Western diplomats and analysts for this story, along with access to new missions in Mauritania and Democratic Republic of Congo, reveal new details about Kyiv's Africa strategy and the broader bid to counter Russia's much more entrenched presence. Early in the Ukraine war, many African countries declined to take Kyiv's side at the United Nations, even after Russia's bombing of Ukraine's ports drove up prices on the continent as exports of food and fertiliser of food were curtailed. Months later, Ukraine produced its first Africa strategy, a public document. The stated goals were to counter Russia's narrative and increase trade and investment on a continent that remembers Russian support in the Cold War and Moscow's stance against apartheid. Ukraine wants to persuade African nations that its fight against Russia, its Soviet-era master, has parallels with their own efforts to overcome the legacy of European colonialism...
Nearly 20% of cancer drugs defective in 4 African nations
An alarming number of people across Africa may be taking cancer drugs that don't contain the vital ingredients needed to contain or reduce their disease. It's a concerning finding with roots in a complex problem: how to regulate a range of therapeutics across the continent. A US and pan-African research group published the findings this week in The Lancet Global Health. The researchers had collected dosage information, sometimes covertly, from a dozen hospitals and 25 pharmacies across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Cameroon. They tested nearly 200 unique products across several brands. Around 17% — roughly one in six — were found to have incorrect active ingredient levels, including products used in major hospitals. Patients who receive insufficient dosages of these ingredients could see their tumors keep growing, and possibly even spread. Similar numbers of substandard antibiotics, antimalarial and tuberculosis drugs have been reported in the past, but this is the first time that such a study has found high levels of falsified or defective anticancer drugs in circulation.
Facing global headwinds, Chinese automakers make a play for Africa
Chinese automakers are pushing to unlock Africa's underdeveloped potential, with a focus on electric and hybrid vehicles, as restrictions on exports to the United States and Europe send them on a global quest for new markets. Though home to over a billion people, low incomes and high import duties have long hampered manufacturers' efforts to sell more cars in Africa. Unreliable power availability and a lack of charging infrastructure have meanwhile held back EV uptake. But companies including BYD opens new tab, Chery Auto and Great Wall Motor, are aiming to leverage low prices to advance where others have struggled and use an expansion in South Africa as a stepping stone in a continent-wide strategy. Nearly half of the 14 Chinese automotive brands currently active in South Africa launched only last year. More, including DongFeng, Leapmotor, Dayun and Changan are set to enter the market soon... Chinese carmakers, which are in the midst of a rapid switch to EVs and hybrid production, are facing growing obstacles in the U.S. and Europe. While the African market is still comparatively tiny, industry sources point to massive potential for growth.
Africa’s oil-producing club could soon welcome a new member- here's who might be next
In 2025 alone, two African nations, Sierra Leone and Rwanda, seemed to have positioned themselves as potential entrants into the continent’s oil-producing club, signaling a shift in their long-term economic strategies. The former recently found viabilty in this objective, following a 3D seismic survey. Estimates suggest Sierra Leone's offshore region could contain up to 30 billion barrels of recoverable oil equivalent. Rwanda, meanwhile, has made notable progress in East Africa, concerning its objective of becoming an oil-producing African country. The Rwandan government said earlier this year that it had discovered its first oil in Lake Kivu, which is located along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The discovery, which comprises 13 distinct reservoirs, represents a significant advancement in Rwanda's efforts to diversify its economy.
Editorial: The Guardian view on China, Africa and disappearing donkeys: an unexpected crisis offers a clue to perils ahead
OpEd: The global south needs more than tinkering at a conference: debt forgiveness is the only fair way
OpEd: Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high
AFRICAN DIASPORA
French police officers who beat a black man on camera to stand trial
In late June 2025, a Paris judge ordered the trial of four police officers implicated in the violent arrest of Black music producer Michel Zecler, a case that sparked national outrage. The officers had been charged in November 2020 following the public release of disturbing footage showing Zecler being beaten, kicked, and racially abused for roughly six minutes at the entrance of his studio. The charges brought against them include “willful violence by persons in authority,” falsifying police records, and, for one officer, using a tear-gas grenade inside the building. Though prosecutors initially included racially motivated violence as a charge, that designation was not retained in the final indictment. Instead, three officers face charges of aggravated violence causing extended incapacity (over 45 days), in addition to falsifying public documents; the fourth stands accused of using a weapon during the aggression. Two of the officers were detained, while the remaining two were placed under judicial supervision pending trial, which is expected to proceed before a criminal court. The incident ignited widespread protests in 2020—renewing debates over police conduct and civil liberties—especially amid controversy over France's global security law restricting publication of police images. President Macron condemned the assault as “shaming” and called for strengthened measures to counter discrimination. The upcoming trial, nearly five years on, is being closely watched as a key test of France’s commitment to police accountability and equal justice under the law.
UN-AFFAIRS
UN bids to salvage global development summit after US boycott
Scores of world leaders will be sweltering in the summer sun of southern Spain next week at a once-a-decade United Nations development financing summit aimed at curbing global poverty, disease and the worst-case threats of climate change. Despite the scorching temperatures, though, a major chill looms over the event - the decision early this month by the United States, traditionally the world's largest aid giver and key finance provider, not to show up. UN countries want to close a $4 trillion-a-year funding gap they now estimate prevents the developing world achieving the organization's Sustainable Development Goals that range from cutting infant death rates to minimizing global warming. Critics say the promises at the heart of the conference - called the “Seville Commitment”- are nowhere near bold enough. The measures, agreed by consensus after a year of tough negotiations, include tripling multilateral lending capacity, debt relief, a push to boost tax-to-GDP ratios to at least 15%, and shifting special IMF money to countries that need it most. The run-up, however, has been marred by the U.S. decision to withdraw over what it said was the crossing of a number of its redlines, including the push to triple development bank lending, change tax rules and the use of the term "gender" in summit wording. The European Union only joined the summit with reservations, particularly over how debt is discussed within the UN.