Africa News Live Updates: Welcome to our live blog covering the latest from across Africa. Follow real-time updates on political transitions, security and peacekeeping operations, regional integration efforts, econofrica News Live Updates: Welcome to our live blog tracking the latest developments across the continent. Follow real-time updates on political transitions, peacekeeping operations, regional integration, economic innovation, climate impacts, migration, and grassroots activism. Stay informed on Africa’s evolving role in global affairs and its responses to internal and external challenges across sectorsmic innovation, climate impacts, migration trends and grassroots activism. Track the continent’s evolving stance on global affairs and its efforts to tackle internal and external challenges across sectors:
read more
From contested elections in Gabon and a foiled coup in Burkina Faso to escalating violence in Sudan and Uganda, Africa is witnessing a wave of political and security developments. Meanwhile, environmental and human rights concerns are mounting, with mass hippo poisonings in Congo, torture allegations in Tanzania and whistleblower threats in Kenya. Stay tuned as we track the continent’s rapidly unfolding events:
From Gabon to Sudan: A continent confronts crisis and change
Africa News Live Updates: Welcome to our live blog covering the latest from across Africa. Follow real-time updates on political transitions, security and peacekeeping operations, regional integration efforts, econofrica News Live Updates: Welcome to our live blog tracking the latest developments across the continent. Follow real-time updates on political transitions, peacekeeping operations, regional integration, economic innovation, climate impacts, migration, and grassroots activism. Stay informed on Africa’s evolving role in global affairs and its responses to internal and external challenges across sectorsmic innovation, climate impacts, migration trends and grassroots activism. Track the continent’s evolving stance on global affairs and its efforts to tackle internal and external challenges across sectors:
June 27, 2025, 06:17:26 (IST)
Zimbabwe to host cricket tri-series with South Africa in soft power push
Zimbabwe will host a Twenty20 cricket tri-series next month featuring South Africa and New Zealand, an event framed by the country’s political and economic context, AP says in a report. According to political analysts, the series serves as a strategic opportunity for Zimbabwe’s government to project an image of stability and normalcy to the international community following controversial elections. For neighboring South Africa, participation is seen as a way to reinforce its regional leadership and boost national morale amid its own domestic challenges. The event also highlights a broader global trend where national sports bodies face challenges retaining top players, such as New Zealand’s Devon Conway, who prioritize lucrative overseas leagues.
June 27, 2025, 06:16:21 (IST)
Kenyan writer and post-colonial critic Ngugi wa Thiong’o dies at 87
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s most significant writers and post-colonial thinkers, has died at age 87, The Washington Post says in a report. His literary work and essays consistently grappled with the enduring impact of colonialism and critiqued contemporary issues in post-independence Africa, including corruption and authoritarianism. A prominent political activist, Ngugi was imprisoned without trial in Kenya in 1977 for his work and was subsequently forced into exile for more than two decades. A core part of his legacy was his decision to stop writing in English and adopt his native Gikuyu, a move he described as a crucial act of “linguistic decolonization” to challenge the cultural dominance of former colonial powers.
June 27, 2025, 06:16:21 (IST)
Guinean lawyer Mohamed Traoré reportedly abducted and tortured
The reported abduction and torture of lawyer Mohamed Traoré has sparked alarm in Guinea, as per a report in Jeune Afrique. This event is seen as part of a broader crackdown on civil liberties and dissent following the September 2021 military coup. The incident underscores the risks faced by civil society and legal professionals under the ruling military junta, the CNRD, and raises further concerns about the country’s delayed transition back to civilian rule and the erosion of the rule of law.
June 27, 2025, 06:15:17 (IST)
Russian mercenaries in Africa reportedly use Telegram to publicize violent acts
Russian mercenaries associated with the Wagner Group in Africa are reportedly using the Telegram messaging app to publicize violent acts and alleged war crimes, according to a report in Jeune Afrique. This practice is described as a deliberate psychological warfare tactic designed to terrorize local populations and intimidate adversaries. The use of Telegram, which has more permissive content policies than other platforms, allows for the dissemination of graphic material. These actions are part of a broader pattern of documented human rights abuses by the group in countries like Mali and the Central African Republic, and they highlight a key component of Russia’s strategy to exert influence on the continent through unconventional means.
June 27, 2025, 05:30:16 (IST)
Scientists raise alarm over worsening pollution in Rwanda’s Nyabugogo river
Scientists have issued a warning about the escalating pollution of the Nyabugogo river, a critical urban waterway in Kigali, Rwanda, according to a report in The New Times. The increasing contamination is attributed to a variety of sources linked to inadequate waste management, encompassing industrial and domestic wastewater. This environmental degradation poses a direct threat to public health and challenges the country’s national development plans, including its Vision 2050 green growth strategy and its commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals for clean water.
June 27, 2025, 04:31:21 (IST)
Rwanda to begin construction on delayed Kigali sewerage system in July
Rwanda’s government has committed to fast-tracking the long-delayed Kigali Centralized Sewerage System, with construction now scheduled to start in July, according to a report in The New Times. After being marred by delays, the preparatory work for the project is now in its final stage. The system is a critical infrastructure project aligned with Kigali’s rapid urbanization and the country’s national development goals for improved public health and sustainable cities.
June 27, 2025, 04:30:16 (IST)
Dehorning strategy in South Africa leads to 78% drop in rhino deaths
A conservation strategy of removing rhino horns in South Africa has resulted in a 78% reduction in poaching-related deaths, according to a report in The Washington Post. The measure is being implemented by conservationists to protect the animals by removing the object desired by poachers. This direct anti-poaching tactic is part of a wider set of conservation efforts and debates, including the use of advanced surveillance technology and ongoing international discussions about the possibility of a regulated legal trade in rhino horn.
June 27, 2025, 04:30:16 (IST)
Presley Chweneyagae, star of South African Oscar-winner ‘Tsotsi’, dies at 40
Presley Chweneyagae, the South African actor who gained international recognition for his starring role in the 2005 film ‘Tsotsi,’ has died at 40, the Washington Post says in a report. The film, a drama set in a Johannesburg slum, garnered South Africa’s first Academy Award for best foreign-language film in 2006, with Chweneyagae’s performance being central to its success.
June 27, 2025, 04:15:16 (IST)
Mobile loan uptake surges in Rwanda amid digital finance growth
The uptake of mobile loans is surging in Rwanda, driven by the rapid growth of mobile money usage and a broader shift toward more accessible digital financial services, according to a report in The New Times. This increase in digital financing is enabling more people to access credit directly through their mobile devices. The trend aligns with the country’s national strategy for digital transformation and financial inclusion, which has been supported by government initiatives to promote a cashless economy and policies from the National Bank of Rwanda aimed at modernizing the financial sector.
June 27, 2025, 03:15:07 (IST)
Investors and central bank push for lower inflation target in South Africa
Investors are increasingly pressing South Africa to lower its official inflation target from the current 3-6% range, as per a report in the Financial Times. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has also indicated that the existing target keeps long-term price risks ‘higher than they need to be,’ suggesting an alignment with investor sentiment on the need for greater price stability. This push for tighter monetary policy comes amid significant economic challenges for the country, including high unemployment and persistent power cuts, creating a difficult balancing act for policymakers between attracting investment and fostering short-term economic growth.
June 27, 2025, 03:01:22 (IST)
Judge warns Trump administration against deportations to Libya
A federal judge issued a stern warning to the Trump administration, cautioning against any plans to deport immigrants to Libya, the Washington Post said in a report. The judicial order came in response to reports that the United States was preparing to send a plane of immigrants to the North African country, which is currently experiencing significant civil conflict and instability. The judge’s action underscores the legal and humanitarian concerns surrounding the forced return of individuals to a nation widely considered unsafe.
June 27, 2025, 03:01:22 (IST)
Botswana advocacy group urges UN to recognize same-sex unions
The advocacy group Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) has appealed to the UN Human Rights Committee to urge the Botswana government to legally recognize same-sex partnerships, according to a report in the Botswana Gazette. The organization is requesting that the UN push for recognition through various means, including civil unions, domestic partnerships, or full marriage equality. In its appeal, LEGABIBO specifically included the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming women. This action follows a landmark 2019 High Court ruling in the country that decriminalized consensual same-sex relations but did not grant legal status to same-sex unions.
June 27, 2025, 03:01:22 (IST)
AI prompts call for urgent intellectual property reform in Botswana
An intellectual property attorney in Botswana is calling for urgent legal reform to protect the country’s creatives from copyright issues posed by the rapid growth of AI-generated content, according to a report in the Botswana Gazette. The attorney highlights that the explosion of content created by artificial intelligence has established new legal grey zones, creating a risk of “copyright chaos.” The call for reform aims to address how intellectual property laws define originality and authorship in an era where machines can compose music, write poetry, and generate other creative works, thereby safeguarding the rights of human creators.
June 27, 2025, 03:00:15 (IST)
UK minister rejects £24bn plan to bring power from Morocco
The UK government has rejected a £24bn project proposed by the company Xlinks to import electricity from Morocco via undersea cables, according to a report in the Financial Times. UK minister Ed Miliband stated the project did not “stack up,” leading to the decision. In response, Xlinks expressed that it was “bitterly disappointed” by the minister’s view and announced it will now consider other options for its renewable energy project based in Morocco.
June 27, 2025, 02:46:20 (IST)
Faith Kipyegon falls short in bid for first sub-four minute mile by a woman
Kenyan athlete and triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon did not achieve her goal of running the first sub-four-minute mile by a woman during a race on Thursday, according to a report in Standard Media. The attempt at the historic athletic benchmark was unsuccessful, with the report stating she fell well short of the target time.
June 27, 2025, 02:45:15 (IST)
Botswana government secures P500 million for retired soldiers’ benefits
The Government of Botswana has secured P500 million to facilitate the payment of long-awaited retirement benefits owed to members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), according to a report in the Botswana Gazette. The Ministry for State President announced the development, confirming that the funds will be channelled through the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF) to cover the transfer of benefits to the retired soldiers.
June 27, 2025, 02:16:22 (IST)
Africa sees use of AI drones against malaria, mobilization of sovereign wealth funds, and economic hardship in Niger
Recent developments across Africa include the deployment of AI-powered drones to target high-risk malaria areas, as per a report in Africa News. In Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, a meeting of African sovereign wealth funds focused on mobilizing domestic capital to finance infrastructure projects on the continent. Meanwhile, herders in Niger are facing significant economic difficulty due to a ban on livestock exports, which is a result of regional sanctions imposed after the 2023 coup.
June 27, 2025, 02:15:17 (IST)
US-brokered peace deal between Rwanda and DR Congo finalized for signing
A peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, brokered by the United States, has been finalized and is scheduled to be signed in Washington D.C. on Friday, June 27, The New Times says in a report. The deal, which aims to de-escalate tensions fueled by conflict in eastern DR Congo, will be signed by the foreign affairs ministers of both nations. This development follows increased U.S. diplomatic engagement in Africa’s Great Lakes region amid a severe humanitarian crisis linked to the resurgence of the M23 rebel group.
June 27, 2025, 01:45:28 (IST)
Opposition in Togo plans further protests against President Gnassingbe’s rule
Opposition groups in Togo are organizing additional rallies in response to a new political structure that could potentially allow President Faure Gnassingbe to remain in power indefinitely. These planned demonstrations follow earlier anti-government protests, which were met with dozens of arrests by authorities. The movement is reportedly driven significantly by the country’s youth, who are rejecting the changes and challenging the long-standing rule of the Gnassingbe family.
June 27, 2025, 01:45:28 (IST)
Tensions rise in Côte d’Ivoire as supporters rally for banned opposition candidate
Supporters of an unnamed, banned opposition candidate have held rallies in Côte d’Ivoire, raising political tensions ahead of the scheduled October presidential polls, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The demonstrations come amid growing concerns among the public of a potential repeat of the significant election-related violence that occurred in the country following the 2010-2011 elections.
June 27, 2025, 01:31:22 (IST)
AfDB grants $500,000 for Kigali cable car feasibility study
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $500,000 grant to fund a feasibility study for a proposed urban cable car transport system in Kigali, Rwanda, The New Times said in a report. The grant, finalized on June 25, is designated for the initial planning phase to assess the viability of the project’s first stage. This funding is not for construction, which would be subject to the study’s findings and require further financing. The proposed system is part of Kigali’s broader urban modernization efforts and aligns with Rwanda’s national strategy to improve infrastructure and sustainable transport.
June 27, 2025, 01:30:17 (IST)
Heavy police presence in Nairobi ahead of anniversary protests
A significant police presence was deployed in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday in anticipation of protests marking the one-year anniversa