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, economic innovation, climate impacts, migration trends and grassroots activism
read more
From mining policy shifts to sporting pride and diplomatic resets, today’s headlines from across Africa paint a vivid picture of a continent in flux. South Africa leads with a controversial move to reserve artisanal mining licences exclusively for citizens — a decision tied to efforts to curb illegal mining and protect local jobs.
Elsewhere, financial, political and infrastructural challenges dominate. The South African Reserve Bank steps in to protect depositors of a struggling co-operative bank, while an ANC councillor is under scrutiny over a R29 billion corruption scandal. Nigeria, too, finds itself juggling crises — from police arrests of lawyers and withheld exam results to deadly floods and detentions of prominent activists.
But there are also signs of progress and cultural expression: Morocco embraces heritage to bolster tourism, South African women reshape the property market and Ethiopia takes steps to heal diplomatic wounds with Somalia.
Stay with us as we track the latest developments and their wider implications across the African continent:
Africa on the go
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, economic innovation, climate impacts, migration trends and grassroots activism
August 8, 2025, 05:05:04 (IST)
Former head of Rwanda’s water utility arrested over corruption
The former chief executive of Rwanda’s Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) Group, Omar Munyaneza, and two other officials have been arrested over corruption allegations, The New Times says in a report. The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has taken the three individuals into custody and is handling the investigation.
August 8, 2025, 04:15:02 (IST)
DRC conflict escalation fears rise as M23 rebels accuse Kinshasa of ceasefire breach
The Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23) rebel movement has accused the Congolese government of violating a ceasefire with military attacks that it warns could derail the Doha peace process, The New Times says in a report. The group’s vow to respond to hostilities heightens the risk of wider conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region critical for global supplies of minerals such as cobalt and coltan. Increased instability threatens to disrupt mining supply chains, deter foreign investment, and exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis, carrying significant economic implications for the region and international commodity markets.
August 8, 2025, 04:09:51 (IST)
Guinea-Bissau president replaces prime minister ahead of November election
Guinea-Bissau’s president has dismissed Prime Minister Rui Duarte de Barros, who had served since December 2023, and appointed Braima Camara as his replacement, as per a report in AP. This leadership change introduces significant political uncertainty for the West African nation, which has a history of instability. For investors and businesses, such a reshuffle so close to the November general election signals potential shifts in government policy and heightens perceived political risk, which could affect foreign direct investment and the continuity of economic projects. The appointment of Mr Camara, a former coordinator for the Madem G15 opposition party, will be closely watched by international partners for its implications on the country’s political and economic stability leading up to the vote.
August 8, 2025, 04:00:19 (IST)
Kenyan auditor general’s report finds irregular fund diversions from e-Citizen platform
An Auditor General’s report in Kenya has uncovered that funds collected via the government’s e-Citizen platform were irregularly diverted to unauthorised companies and private entities, according to a report in Standard Media. The scrutiny of the official report revealed a system where billions were funnelled away from designated government accounts. These funds were subsequently paid out to what the report terms ‘alien companies and private entities’ through a complex and shadowy financial web, raising significant concerns about the oversight and security of public money collected through the digital services portal.
August 8, 2025, 03:15:02 (IST)
Senegal and Turkey meet to deepen cooperation in key economic sectors
The meeting between Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday signals a strategic move to deepen economic and political ties, Africa News says in a report. This visit, an early foreign policy initiative by Senegal’s new administration, is aimed at diversifying the country’s economic partnerships beyond its traditional allies and securing investment for key sectors. For Turkey, the engagement reinforces its long-standing ‘Africa Partnership Policy’, which seeks to expand its commercial and geopolitical footprint across the continent, particularly in areas like infrastructure, energy, and trade. The talks represent a mutual effort to forge a stronger economic alliance, potentially opening new markets and investment channels between the two nations.
August 8, 2025, 03:09:44 (IST)
South Africa formalises school access for undocumented children, raising fiscal questions
South Africa has enacted new regulations under the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, which clarify and enforce the right of undocumented children to receive basic education, The Star says in a report. These regulations operationalise a 2019 Constitutional Court ruling and provide clear admission guidelines for school officials, addressing previous legal ambiguities. The move has significant fiscal implications, prompting expert debate on the potential strain on an already challenged public education system versus the long-term economic benefits of a more educated population. While hailed by human rights advocates as a major step for social inclusion, the policy is set against a backdrop of national tension over immigration and resource allocation, presenting both implementation challenges and political opportunities for opposition parties to critique the government’s management of public funds and immigration policy.
August 8, 2025, 02:52:59 (IST)
Kigali authorities order review of major settlement site due to planning irregularities
Authorities in Kicukiro District, Kigali, have ordered a comprehensive review of the Karama II settlement site, a 306-hectare area in the Kanombe Sector, after finding that many land plots were improperly designed, The New Times says in a report. The decision has created uncertainty for residents and investors with interests in the site and has prompted scrutiny of the city’s land management and development oversight procedures.
August 8, 2025, 02:50:10 (IST)
South African activists demand anti-debanking law following US move
In South Africa, the ‘Racist Banks Must Fall’ advocacy movement is pushing for new legislation to counter discriminatory ‘debanking’ by financial institutions, according to a report in The Star. The campaign has been bolstered by a recent executive order in the United States, initiated by President Donald Trump, which seeks to ban banks from closing customer accounts for political reasons. South African activists are leveraging the US action as a precedent to address what they describe as systemic bias within the nation’s financial sector and are calling for stronger local regulations.
August 8, 2025, 02:49:46 (IST)
Shift in retail trading puts pressure on South African financial sector
An increasing number of South African retail traders are demanding higher standards of transparency and service from financial brokers, according to a report in The Star. This trend is largely driven by high unemployment, which is pushing individuals to seek alternative income streams through speculative trading, with some aspiring to make it a full-time profession despite investing small amounts of their income. The shift in client expectations is compelling the brokerage industry to enhance communication and build greater trust to retain market share. This development occurs within a wider context of increased regulatory scrutiny on consumer protection within the nation’s financial sector.
August 8, 2025, 02:48:07 (IST)
South Africa’s food price inflation surges to 16-month high
South Africa’s consumer food price inflation has surged to a 16-month high, driven primarily by escalating costs for meat, oils, and vegetables, The Star says in a report. This development is raising significant concerns among economic experts and advocacy groups regarding its severe impact on low-income households and the broader economy. The inflationary pressure is exacerbated by domestic challenges, including persistent power cuts (load shedding), which increase agricultural production and logistics costs. Concurrently, the South African Reserve Bank continues to implement interest rate hikes in an effort to contain overall inflation, a policy that adds financial strain to both businesses and consumers.
August 8, 2025, 02:46:45 (IST)
Former Nigerian senator Ibrahim Musa dies
Ibrahim Musa, a former senator who represented Nigeria’s Niger North Senatorial District, has died after a protracted illness, according to a report in Premium Times. Musa, who served in the Senate from 2011 to 2015, reportedly passed away in a hospital in the capital city of Abuja.
August 8, 2025, 02:42:01 (IST)
Nasarawa state government targets one million children for 2025 malaria intervention
The Nasarawa state government in Nigeria has announced a plan to target one million children for a malaria intervention programme set for 2025, according to a report in Premium Times. As part of the initiative, an official, Mr Gwamna, has urged residents to ensure they get tested for malaria before seeking treatment. He cautioned against self-medication and noted that not all fevers are indicative of malaria, emphasising the importance of a proper diagnosis.
August 8, 2025, 02:32:40 (IST)
Nigeria’s first lady calls for domestic funding to tackle TB epidemic, commissions new diagnostic equipment
Nigeria’s First Lady has commissioned new tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic machines and called for greater domestic funding to address the country’s epidemic, as per a report in Premium Times. The initiative signals a push towards national self-reliance in public health financing and aims to improve healthcare infrastructure. The new machines will be sent to underserved regions to enable faster, more accurate detection of TB, with the stated goal of interrupting transmission and reducing fatalities.
August 8, 2025, 02:30:12 (IST)
Nigerian correctional service opens vocational training centers in Kuje and Suleja prisons
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has opened new examination centers in its Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities to provide inmates with vocational training and certification, according to a report in Premium Times. The initiative will allow inmates to sit for examinations conducted by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), a national body for technical and vocational education. The establishment of these centers in the Kuje facility near Abuja and the Suleja facility in Niger State is part of an effort to focus on inmate rehabilitation and skill acquisition to aid their reintegration into society upon release.
August 8, 2025, 02:29:09 (IST)
Nigeria sets provisional 2026 Hajj fare at N8.5m amid economic pressures
Nigeria’s National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has announced a provisional fare of N8.5 million for the 2026 Hajj, a decision that underscores the significant economic pressures facing Nigerian citizens, Premium Times says in a report. The fare, set after a meeting to review the 2025 operations, reflects the sharp devaluation of the Naira, as pilgrimage costs are priced in foreign currency. This high cost, a tangible impact of the government’s economic reforms, places the religious obligation out of reach for many and highlights the broader challenges of inflation and exchange rate volatility. The announcement also puts pressure on NAHCON to ensure transparent and efficient operations for the upcoming pilgrimage.
August 8, 2025, 02:15:09 (IST)
Lagos governor advocates for legal reforms to ensure sustainable HIV funding
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for significant legal and policy reforms to establish a sustainable financial framework for Nigeria’s HIV response programmes, Premium Times says in a report. The governor’s advocacy centres on creating a durable funding mechanism to ensure long-term public health security. In addition to the financial aspects, Sanwo-Olu urged lawmakers to advance legislation aimed at eliminating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, arguing that such measures are crucial for promoting inclusive access to healthcare services.
August 8, 2025, 02:04:51 (IST)
Seven Ethiopian migrants die on boat bound for Yemen
Seven migrants from Ethiopia have died aboard a vessel en route to Yemen, an incident that underscores the extreme dangers of the “Eastern Route” migration corridor, Africa News says in a report. The migrants were reportedly traveling across the Gulf of Aden, a common but hazardous path for those fleeing conflict and economic hardship in the Horn of Africa. For many, war-torn Yemen serves as a transit country on the way to seeking opportunities in wealthier Gulf states like Saudi Arabia. This event highlights the life-threatening risks involved in these journeys, which are often facilitated by human smuggling networks.
August 8, 2025, 01:56:08 (IST)
Namcor fraud case sees accused linked to Dubai residence, raising financial risk concerns
During a bail hearing for six individuals accused of fraud and corruption, an investigator from Namibia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) stated the commission has intelligence that businessman Malakia Elindi, one of the accused, has lived in Dubai, The Namibian said in a report. This development in the case involving the state-owned National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) introduces potential complexities regarding international asset recovery and highlights governance challenges within strategic state enterprises. The allegation underscores the potential for illicit financial flows, a significant concern for Namibia’s economy that could impact investor confidence and the country’s international financial reputation by heightening perceived business risks.
August 8, 2025, 01:45:12 (IST)
Liberian women lead mass protest against national drug crisis
Women’s groups led a protest of thousands through Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, on Thursday, urging President Joseph Boakai’s government to declare a national emergency over a rampant drug crisis, according to a report in AP. The demonstrators presented a petition to parliament calling for the establishment of a special court for drug-related cases and for increasing the minimum jail sentence for first-degree drug felonies. The protest, directed at the new administration that took office in January 2024, addresses the widespread abuse of synthetic drugs like ‘Kush’ that has devastated the nation’s youth.
August 8, 2025, 00:39:23 (IST)
Rwanda defence force briefs foreign attachés on regional security
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) hosted a briefing for accredited Defence Attachés on Thursday regarding current internal and regional security dynamics, The New Times said in a report. The meeting was intended to inform the international military representatives about Rwanda’s perspective on the security landscape within the country and the surrounding Great Lakes region, which is currently marked by tensions with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
August 8, 2025, 00:34:41 (IST)
Sharks XV to rely on junior Springbok talent for Currie Cup redemption
Following a significant loss, the Sharks XV rugby team is turning to its young talents to seek redemption in South Africa’s Currie Cup competition, as per a report in The Star. The team intends to rely on players from the Junior Springbok ranks for their next match against the Cheetahs. This strategy aims to reverse their recent fortunes by integrating these promising young athletes into the senior team.
August 8, 2025, 00:15:09 (IST)
KwaZulu-Natal announces new healthcare jobs amid scepticism from doctors
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has announced the creation of new healthcare positions in an effort to resolve a provincial staffing crisis, as per a report in The Star. The announcement follows a recent series of protests by unemployed medical professionals demanding action on the issue. However, the promise of new jobs has been met with scepticism by unemployed doctors in the province, who are questioning the credibility of the new commitment to address the healthcare system’s employment shortages.
August 7, 2025, 23:30:26 (IST)
Namibian law allows for prosecution of traditional chiefs, lawyers confirm
Lawyers in Namibia have affirmed that all tradit