Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Tanzanians head to the polls today to elect a new president, parliament, and local leaders in an election expected to extend the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s 64-year dominance. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, 65, is widely expected to win after key opposition figures were barred or jailed, leaving her virtually unchallenged. Major opposition leaders, Tundu Lissu of Chadema and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were disqualified under controversial circumstances, prompting accusations of state repression and democratic decline. Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have reported growing restrictions on media, political freedoms, and opposition movements. Despite initial optimism…

Kenyan authorities have confirmed that all 11 people aboard the plane that crashed in Kwale County on Tuesday were killed. The light aircraft, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was carrying eight Hungarian and two German tourists, along with a Kenyan pilot. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. local time near Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, as the plane was traveling from Diani to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara reserve. Officials said the victims were burned beyond recognition, and there were no survivors. Rescue teams and investigators are working at the crash site to determine…

Speaking on state television, Burhan said military and security leaders had assessed the situation and concluded that remaining in the city would cause “greater destruction.” He stated, “To protect the remaining citizens and the city from further devastation, we have decided to withdraw to a safer area.” Burhan added that the move was part of “a military operation imposed on the Sudanese people,” reaffirming that “the Sudanese Armed Forces will ultimately prevail.” The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have not yet commented on the withdrawal. El-Fasher, under RSF siege since May 10, 2024, has been a major humanitarian hub for all…

Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party is poised to retain power as the country heads into its 2025 presidential election without the participation of major opposition groups. The main opposition party, Chadema, has boycotted the polls demanding electoral reforms, while the ACT-Wazalendo candidate, Luhaga Mpina, has been disqualified. Analysts say this is the first time in over 30 years of multiparty democracy that Tanzania will hold elections with no meaningful opposition. President Samia Suluhu Hassan now faces minimal competition, raising concerns about the erosion of political pluralism and the future of democracy in the country. In Zanzibar, however, the…

British-made weapons and engines recovered from RSF battlefields raise concerns over UK arms exports to UAE. British military equipment has been discovered in Sudan’s war zones, used by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a paramilitary group accused of genocide — according to documents presented to the UN Security Council. The recovered items include UK-made small-arms target systems and engines for armored vehicles, raising questions about Britain’s arms exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been accused of supplying weapons to the RSF. The two dossiers, dated June 2024 and March 2025, reportedly contain evidence compiled by the…

President Alassane Ouattara has officially been declared the winner of Ivory Coast’s presidential election, extending his rule for a fourth term. The country’s Independent Electoral Commission announced on Monday that Ouattara won with 89.77% of the votes cast. Nearly nine million Ivorians were eligible to vote in the October 25 election, but turnout was around 50%, according to the commission. The vote took place amid tension and widespread criticism after two key opposition figures — former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex–Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam — were barred from running due to legal and citizenship issues. Of the remaining four…

The Constitutional Council announced on Monday that Biya secured 53.66% of the vote, while opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma received 35.19%. Tchiroma, a former minister and government spokesperson, had earlier declared himself the victor, alleging widespread manipulation of results — a claim rejected by Biya’s camp. The announcement followed violent protests in Douala on Sunday, where at least four people were killed as opposition supporters clashed with police, demanding transparent results. Several protesters were detained as authorities tightened security across major cities. Biya’s re-election makes him one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders, with his extended rule facing renewed scrutiny…

At least four people have been killed in Cameroon’s commercial capital, Douala, as security forces clashed with opposition supporters protesting alleged election fraud ahead of the official announcement of presidential results. The unrest erupted after hundreds of demonstrators loyal to opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma defied a government ban and marched through the streets, claiming that he had defeated longtime President Paul Biya in the October 12 vote. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons as protesters burned tyres, blocked roads, and attacked police stations in two districts of Douala, according to regional officials. Governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua confirmed…

Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane said on national broadcaster ORTM that all schools, from primary to university level, will remain closed between October 27 and November 9. Classes are expected to resume on November 10, depending on the situation. The shortage has been caused by armed groups blocking major transport routes used by fuel tankers, particularly those serving the capital Bamako. As a result, long queues have formed at gas stations, and public transport has almost come to a standstill. Bamako’s typically crowded streets have fallen silent, with motorcycle taxis and buses unable to operate. Higher education institutions have also…

Vote counting began in Ivory Coast on October 25, 2025, as President Alassane Ouattara appeared on course to secure a controversial fourth term. The election unfolded under tight security and political tension, with incidents of violence reported in several regions. The 83-year-old leader, in power since 2011, was leading by significant margins in early results, particularly in northern regions, while opposition areas saw low turnout. Major opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, were barred from running, fueling protests and accusations of bias. According to officials, turnout stood at around 50%, with at least…

Sudan is experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in recent years. Millions have been displaced, and civilians are living under constant threat amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. In response, the “Stand With Sudan” campaign has emerged as a global movement urging immediate international action. The initiative seeks to amplify awareness of the crisis, mobilize public pressure on governments, and push world leaders to prioritize Sudan in humanitarian and diplomatic efforts. The campaign allows individuals worldwide to send messages directly to their government representatives, calling for stronger measures to protect civilians…

Djibouti’s National Assembly voted on Saturday to amend the constitution and abolish the presidential age limit, a move that effectively allows President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh to seek another term in office. The amendment, which passed with an overwhelming majority, eliminates the previous rule that barred candidates over the age of 75 from contesting the presidency. Lawmakers loyal to Guelleh argued that the change was necessary to maintain political stability and continuity in the small but strategically important Horn of Africa nation. Opposition groups, however, denounced the vote as a “constitutional coup” designed to entrench Guelleh’s rule. They accused the ruling…

The United States has withdrawn Mali from its contentious Visa Bond Pilot Program in a move widely interpreted as an effort to ease escalating diplomatic tensions with the West African nation. The program, which requires certain foreign visitors to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 to ensure their timely departure from the U.S., has faced criticism across Africa for being discriminatory and burdensome. Mali was originally added to the list on October 8, but was notably absent from the latest State Department update released on October 23. According to the update, six other African nations — Mauritania, São Tomé…

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said Sunday it had seized full control of the Sudanese army’s 6th Infantry Division headquarters in El Fasher, the main military base in North Darfur, after months of siege and intense fighting. In a statement, the RSF described the takeover as “a decisive turning point” in its campaign against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), declaring that its fighters had “liberated” the division and were now working with what it called a “founding government” to protect civilians, enable humanitarian aid, and facilitate the return of displaced people. Local activists and residents, however, disputed the RSF’s account.…

Vote counting is under way in Ivory Coast after a tense presidential election, with longtime incumbent Alassane Ouattara, 83, widely expected to win a fourth term in office. Nearly nine million Ivorians were registered to vote on Saturday in a race featuring five contenders. However, key opposition figures were barred or disqualified, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, excluded over a criminal conviction, and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, disqualified for acquiring French citizenship. Critics say these exclusions gave Ouattara a major advantage and left little room for competition. Opposition groups had called for a boycott, making voter turnout a…

Somalia continues to feel Türkiye’s growing influence, not only through infrastructure, health, and education projects but also through personal stories like Daqane’s — young Somalis who studied in Türkiye and returned home to contribute to their nation’s development. “I had no plan to go to Türkiye,” Daqane recalls. “Two Turkish officials came to our school to conduct an exam. I took it, and the next day I learned I had passed. At first, I couldn’t believe it. I was scared — I was young, heading to a new culture, a new language, and a foreign country all alone.” With her…