Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Malawi’s former president Peter Mutharika has staged a dramatic political comeback, winning last week’s general election at the age of 85. Official results released by the Malawi Electoral Commission show Mutharika secured 57% of the vote, defeating incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, who garnered 33%. Chakwera conceded defeat before the final tally was announced, telephoning Mutharika to congratulate him on what he called a “historic victory.” A Familiar Rivalry This election marked the fourth head-to-head contest between the two leaders. Mutharika first came to power in 2014 but lost in 2020 after a court annulled his 2019 re-election due to…

Nigeria Cuts Interest Rates for First Time in 5 Years Nigeria’s central bank has lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, a move seen as a signal of renewed confidence in the country’s economic stability. The Monetary Policy Committee reduced the key lending rate from 27.5% to 27% on Tuesday, alongside a cut in the cash reserve ratio for commercial banks from 50% to 45%. Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso told reporters in Abuja that the decision was driven by “a clear trend of disinflation and the need to support growth.” Annual inflation eased…

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi has dismissed suggestions that his country would “auction off” its vast mineral resources to foreign powers, even as discussions continue with the United States on strategic cooperation. Speaking in New York, Tshisekedi acknowledged Washington’s role in mediating a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda earlier this year but noted that fighting in eastern DRC persists despite the agreement. “We appreciate the mediation efforts, but our minerals are not up for sale,” he said. Peace Deal and Mineral Wealth The US-brokered deal, signed in June, aimed to curb alleged Rwandan support for the…

African heads of state attending the UN General Assembly (UNGA) have called for stronger continental representation in global governance, including permanent seats on the UN Security Council and the full recognition of Palestine as a UN member state. The annual gathering comes under the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights,” with African leaders stressing that the continent’s 1.5 billion people cannot remain on the margins of international decision-making. Security Council Reform in Focus South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Security Council’s current structure undermines its legitimacy, pointing to the dominance of the…

A growing number of young Somalis who studied in Türkiye are now playing key roles in their country’s governance, education, and public service, underscoring the strong ties between the two nations. One such figure is Muhammed Hajj, an advisor in Mogadishu who graduated from Gazi University in Ankara in 2019. Hajj said his education in Türkiye prepared him to immediately return home and contribute to Somalia’s rebuilding process. “I came back to serve my country. The skills I gained in Türkiye are helping strengthen our institutions today,” he noted. Hajj emphasized that Turkish has become a widely spoken language among…

Thousands of Kenyans gathered at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on Sunday for a day of prayers, symbolic acts, and speeches in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The event, which drew participants from across the capital, combined spiritual reflection with activism. A tree-planting initiative was launched to support the Gaza Medical Fund and to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave. Organizers described the campaign as a way to “stand for life and resilience, even in the face of destruction.” Presidential aspirant Boniface Mwangi, addressing the crowd, said the gathering was about more than charity. “We must…

Police in Malawi have detained eight individuals accused of attempting to manipulate vote tallies during this week’s general elections, heightening tensions as the nation awaits official results. Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu confirmed the arrests, identifying the suspects as data entry clerks assigned to tallying centres. Authorities allege they tried to alter figures as results were being processed. The development comes as Malawians anxiously await the presidential outcome, with early tallies suggesting former president Peter Mutharika is in the lead, while incumbent Lazarus Chakwera trails in second place. Seventeen candidates contested the presidency, alongside parliamentary and local council seats. Irregularities and…

France announced on Friday that it has suspended all counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and ordered two Malian diplomats to leave the country, further straining already tense relations between the two nations. According to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the two Malian officials — attached to the embassy and consulate in Paris — were declared persona non grata and instructed to depart immediately. The move comes after Mali declared five French embassy staff members unwelcome earlier this month. Arrest of French National Sparks Row The diplomatic fallout follows the arrest in August of French national Yann Vezilier in…

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — is preparing to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of a broader push for sovereignty and judicial independence. The decision followed an extraordinary summit in Niamey on September 16, where justice ministers from the three countries began formal discussions. Officials argue that the ICC unfairly targets African nations while ignoring global cases elsewhere. Push for a Sahelian Court Niger’s interim Prime Minister Mohamed Toumba said the Court’s actions have become “a tool of repression” serving external interests. To replace it, the AES is developing…

Malawi faces heightened political tension after both the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) claimed victory in the just-concluded general elections, even as the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has yet to release official results. On Wednesday, the MCP issued a statement describing what it called a “resounding mandate” for President Lazarus Chakwera, praising Malawians for their peaceful participation and urging supporters to celebrate with restraint. Party officials stressed that Chakwera’s development agenda had been reaffirmed at the ballot box. The opposition DPP swiftly countered, with spokesperson Shadric Namalomba accusing the president of clinging to…

Chad’s National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved constitutional amendments that extend presidential terms from five to seven years and abolish term limits, paving the way for President Mahamat Idriss Déby to potentially remain in power indefinitely. Lawmakers passed the changes on Monday with 171 votes in favor, one abstention, and none against. A final Senate vote is scheduled for October 13 before the president can sign the amendments into law. President Déby, who took office after the death of his father Idriss Déby in 2021 while he was visiting troops in northern Chad, consolidated his position through a disputed May 2024…

Ballot counting has begun in Malawi following a high-stakes presidential election overshadowed by the country’s deepest economic crisis in decades. Seventeen candidates contested, but the vote is widely seen as a showdown between incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, and his predecessor Peter Mutharika, 85. The two men have a long electoral rivalry: Mutharika won in 2014, while Chakwera defeated him in a court-ordered rerun in 2020 with 59 percent of the vote. Tuesday’s polls saw long lines in the morning, though turnout dropped later in the day, with the electoral commission reporting just over 51 percent – significantly lower than…

South Sudan’s fragile 2018 peace agreement is on the verge of collapse after opposition leader and former First Vice President Riek Machar was formally charged with treason, crimes against humanity, and other offenses. Authorities allege Machar is linked to recent attacks by the White Army militia in Upper Nile State that left hundreds dead. He has been under house arrest since March, but President Salva Kiir’s government has now stripped him of the vice presidency, effectively ending the power-sharing transitional government. The opposition SPLM-IO, led by Machar, has denounced the move as a violation of the peace deal and accused…

Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu made history in Tokyo on Monday, claiming his country’s first-ever gold medal at the World Athletics Championships after a dramatic marathon finish decided by the slimmest of margins. The 33-year-old Simbu crossed the line in 2:09:48, edging Germany’s Amanal Petros by just three hundredths of a second in the closest marathon finish ever recorded at a global championship. Italy’s Iliass Aouani secured bronze with a time of 2:09:53. Simbu, who previously won bronze in the marathon at the 2017 World Championships and finished runner-up at the 2025 Boston Marathon, said he wasn’t certain he had won…

As Malawians prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday, long lines at petrol stations may prove just as decisive as the lines at voting centers. Chronic fuel shortages, inflation above 30%, and rising food costs have fueled frustration across the country. For many citizens, the struggle to buy fuel, food, and basic necessities has overshadowed campaign promises. In some cases, fights have broken out in queues, highlighting the growing tension. A Familiar Contest The presidential race is widely seen as a repeat showdown between incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, and former President Peter Mutharika, 85. Although 15 other candidates…

Days of unrest in Angola’s capital have left deep scars on the country’s large Chinese community, after public anger over soaring fuel costs turned into violence that forced thousands to flee. The protests erupted after the Angolan government moved to cut fuel subsidies, triggering sharp increases in gasoline prices. Demonstrations soon escalated into rioting, with nearly 100 Chinese-owned shops vandalized in Luanda and several factories forced to close. Crackdown Preceded Violence Tensions were already running high after authorities in August shut down 25 illegal Chinese cryptocurrency mining operations, citing excessive strain on the national power grid. Sixty Chinese nationals accused…