Africa News Live Updates: Welcome to our continuous live coverage bringing you the latest from across Africa. Stay informed with real-time updates, breaking developments, and in-depth reporting as events unfold. Experience the pulse of the continent through dynamic stories and evolving perspectives
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The day’s news from Africa
Africa News Live Updates: From a booming basketball league doubling as a diplomatic bridge to solar-powered campuses tackling energy gaps, Africa’s story is one of transformation and resilience. Today’s headlines reflect a continent in flux—where sports fuel integration, universities pioneer sustainability and whistleblowers reshape governance. As health challenges, infrastructure strains and security debates surface alongside cultural milestones and economic breakthroughs, our live coverage keeps pace with a dynamic Africa pushing boundaries and rewriting its global narrative in real time.
Real-time stories shaping Africa’s present and future
Africa News Live Updates: Welcome to our continuous live coverage bringing you the latest from across Africa. Stay informed with real-time updates, breaking developments, and in-depth reporting as events unfold. Experience the pulse of the continent through dynamic stories and evolving perspectives
July 15, 2025, 05:54:02 (IST)
Nigeria and Algeria advance at Wafcon following a draw
Nigeria secured the top spot in Group B of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, while Algeria claimed the second position, ensuring both teams advance in the tournament, according to a report in BBC. The final group stage match between the two sides, held in Casablanca, ended in a goalless draw, which was sufficient for both nations to progress to the next round of the competition.
July 15, 2025, 05:53:10 (IST)
Rwandan banks to issue new Pan-African payment card
Customers of I&M Bank Rwanda and Bank of Kigali will soon be able to obtain the PAPSSCARD, the continent’s first Pan-African card scheme designed for cross-border transactions, according to a report in The New Times. The card is part of the broader Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), an initiative developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union. The system aims to enable instant and cost-effective payments across all 55 African nations, supporting the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by facilitating intra-African trade and reducing dependence on non-African payment systems.
July 15, 2025, 05:49:57 (IST)
Gabon begins electoral process for local and legislative elections
Gabon has officially launched the electoral process for its upcoming local and legislative elections scheduled for September 27, according to a report in Africa News. The timetable for the vote has now been announced, and the members of the national election commission have been formally sworn in by the country’s Constitutional Court to oversee the proceedings.
July 15, 2025, 05:47:55 (IST)
Kigali bans new diesel buses, prompting concern from transport operators
Public transport operators in Kigali, Rwanda, are expressing concern and requesting clear guidelines following the city’s decision to ban the entry of new diesel-powered buses, according to a report in The New Times. The move is part of a broader strategy to transition the city’s public transport fleet to electric vehicles. In response to the ban, operators are reportedly wary and are calling for flexibility and clear implementation details from city authorities as they plan for future fleet investments and operations.
July 15, 2025, 05:45:29 (IST)
Al-Shabab fighters seize town in central Somalia, displacing thousands
Fighters from the Al-Shabab militant group have seized control of the town of Tardo, located in the central Hiiran region of Somalia, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, Africa News said in a report. The capture of the town by the al-Qaeda-linked group marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in the strategically important region, which has been a key battleground between the militants and government forces.
July 15, 2025, 05:39:30 (IST)
Ghana secures final quarter-final spot at Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
Ghana has secured the final quarter-final spot at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations following a 4-1 victory over Tanzania, as per a report in BBC. The win finalises the line-up for the tournament’s knockout stage. In the same group, defending champions South Africa also ensured their progression by finishing as the top team in Group C.
July 15, 2025, 05:00:15 (IST)
Al-Qaeda affiliate’s rise in West Africa heightens regional instability and resource security risks
The al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM, with up to 6,000 fighters, is now the most powerful militant force in the Sahel, exploiting instability from recent military coups and the withdrawal of Western forces to expand its control across West Africa, according to a report in the Washington Post. Formed in 2017, the group, also known as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, has capitalized on power vacuums left by military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as the departure of French counter-terrorism operations. This expansion is fueling a severe humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement and food insecurity, while also signaling a major geopolitical shift that challenges Western influence and raises concerns for global security and regional economic stability.
July 15, 2025, 04:58:13 (IST)
Presley Chweneyagae, star of Oscar-winning film ‘Tsotsi,’ dies at 40
Presley Chweneyagae, the acclaimed South African actor who starred in the film ‘Tsotsi,’ has died at age 40, according to a report in The Washington Post. Chweneyagae gained international recognition for his lead role in the 2005 drama, which was set in a Johannesburg township. The film went on to win the Academy Award for best foreign-language film, marking a first for South Africa.
July 15, 2025, 04:55:54 (IST)
Rwanda to curb annual loss of 27 million tonnes of soil with agroecology
The government of Rwanda is stepping up its efforts to combat the severe annual loss of an estimated 27 million tonnes of fertile soil, as per a report in The New Times. According to Patrick Karangwa, the new initiative will focus on the widespread adoption of agroecology techniques. This approach aims to enhance soil health, improve agricultural sustainability, and address the significant threat that land degradation poses to the nation’s food security and agricultural productivity.
July 15, 2025, 04:53:10 (IST)
Kenyan writer and critic Ngugi wa Thiong’o dies at 87
Influential Kenyan writer and prominent post-colonial thinker Ngugi wa Thiong’o has died at the age of 87, The Washington Post said in a report. A major figure in African literature, his work consistently grappled with the legacy of colonialism and included sharp critiques of post-independence governments, which led to his imprisonment in Kenya in the late 1970s and subsequent decades in exile. A central element of his legacy was his decision to abandon English in his creative writing, opting instead for his native language Gikuyu as a political act to decolonize African literature and thought.
July 15, 2025, 04:37:35 (IST)
Families in Kenya search for 26 people who disappeared amid police brutality protests
Amid ongoing protests against police killings in Kenya, families are demanding answers about at least 26 people who remain missing after allegedly being abducted by security forces over the last year, according to a report in The Washington Post. Human rights organizations have documented these disappearances, which have occurred in the context of a forceful state response to public demonstrations. The families of the disappeared are continuing their search and calling for accountability from the government for the missing individuals.
July 15, 2025, 03:45:14 (IST)
Kenyan chief’s daughter dies amid allegations against police and prison authorities
A government chief in Nanyuki, Kenya, is grappling with the death of his daughter, an incident that allegedly involves police and prison authorities, Standard Media says in a report. The article describes the chief’s difficult position, caught between his official duties as a state representative and his personal grief and the pursuit of justice for his family. The circumstances surrounding the death have reportedly left the chief’s life shattered.
July 15, 2025, 01:58:24 (IST)
Gulf states channel billions into Africa as China revamps its financial strategy
Gulf states are channelling billions of dollars into key African sectors like logistics, agriculture, and mining as part of their economic diversification strategies, according to a report in Mail & Guardian. This increased investment comes as China is reportedly revamping its financial model on the continent, shifting its Belt and Road Initiative towards smaller projects and more concessional loans amid concerns over debt sustainability. The move by Gulf nations adds another layer of competition for influence and partnership in Africa, a landscape that already includes major players like the US and the European Union.
July 15, 2025, 01:54:46 (IST)
WMO warns of rising dust storms in Southern Africa amid Cape Town water pollution dispute
A new World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report has revealed an urgent need for action against the increasing frequency of dust storms across Southern Africa, according to a report in Daily Maverick. Concurrently, a separate environmental issue is unfolding in South Africa, where researchers and the City of Cape Town are clashing over matters of water pollution, the integrity of related data, and scientific principles.
July 15, 2025, 01:54:38 (IST)
Unesco designates Mozambique’s Maputo National Park a World Heritage Site
Mozambique’s Maputo National Park has been added to Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites, as per a report in Daily Maverick. The designation acknowledges the park’s unique coastal ecosystems, which include marine life, wetlands, and terrestrial wildlife, located in the southern part of the country near the South African border. This status follows extensive rewilding and conservation efforts over the last decade and is expected to significantly boost the nation’s eco-tourism sector and attract further international support for environmental protection.
July 15, 2025, 01:49:56 (IST)
Remote military bases in Lake Chad Basin face increasing threat from terror groups
Remote military bases across the Lake Chad Basin, which includes parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, are increasingly vulnerable to attacks from terror groups such as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, Daily Maverick says in a report. The vulnerability of these bases stems from their isolated locations, insecure supply lines, difficult terrain, and logistical weaknesses. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional military alliance created to combat the insurgency, is hampered by persistent challenges with funding, coordination, and interoperability between national forces. This security crisis is compounded by one of the world’s most severe humanitarian situations, with millions displaced, and is further exacerbated by regional political instability and the effects of climate change, which fuels resource scarcity and conflict.
July 15, 2025, 01:43:36 (IST)
Botswana’s electricity imports increased by 40.8% in Q1 2025 amid local generation shortfalls
Botswana’s electricity imports rose by 40.8% in the first quarter of 2025 amid a steep decline in local generation caused by operational issues at key power stations, according to a report in the Botswana Gazette. The country imported 577,466 megawatt-hours (MWH) of electricity between January and March 2025, a sharp increase from the 410,020 MWH imported during the same period in 2024. This increased reliance on foreign power sources highlights ongoing challenges with domestic energy production and the nation’s goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency.
July 15, 2025, 01:35:44 (IST)
Botswana’s Chobe Holdings reports 18% revenue increase to P638.76 million
Botswana’s only publicly listed ecotourism company, Chobe Holdings Limited, has announced an 18 percent increase in revenue to P638.76 million for the fiscal year ending 28 February 2025, up from P543.14 million in the prior year, according to a report in the Botswana Gazette. The company attributed the significant top-line growth to a combination of improved room yields, strategic upgrades to its lodges, and increased investment in its aviation division.
July 15, 2025, 01:32:42 (IST)
Bismark Tyobeka to chair South Africa’s new nuclear energy expert panel
Professor Bismark Tyobeka has been appointed chairperson of South Africa’s new Ministerial Expert Panel on Nuclear, according to a report in Mail & Guardian. The advisory panel is tasked with providing recommendations to the government on the pace, scale, and procurement approach for any new nuclear capacity. This appointment is part of the government’s effort to find long-term solutions for the country’s severe energy crisis and to inform the implementation of its energy plans.
July 15, 2025, 01:30:16 (IST)
Personal loans drive 6.2 percent rise in Botswana’s household debt
Household borrowing in Botswana expanded by 6.2 percent year-on-year as of March 2025, an increase propelled mainly by the growth of personal loans, according to a report in the Botswana Gazette. The data, published in the Bank of Botswana’s May 2025 Financial Stability Report, indicates that while personal lending surged, the mortgage sector continued to experience lagging growth.
July 15, 2025, 00:23:26 (IST)
German entrepreneurs in Rwanda report business challenges due to visa issues for employees
German entrepreneurs operating in Rwanda are reporting significant business challenges due to difficulties their Rwandan employees encounter when applying for travel visas to Europe, specifically Germany, The New Times says in a report. These visa