14 Killed, Rescue Ongoing After Mine Dump Collapse in South Africa
At least 14 suspected illegal miners died, and eight were injured when a mine dump collapsed Monday night near Rustenburg in South Africa's North West province, police said. Search and rescue teams are still working to reach an unknown number of people who may be trapped, as the miners had reportedly been digging for platinum group metals at a disused site.
Nigerians Squeezed by Rising Costs as Reforms Lure Investors
Millions of Nigerians are struggling with soaring living costs three years into President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms, which include ending fuel subsidies and devaluing the naira — even as investors cheer the changes, with Nigeria's stock market up nearly 60% this year. The World Bank estimates just over half of Nigerians were in poverty last year, up from roughly 42% in 2022, and the cost of jollof rice ingredients has more than doubled since Tinubu took office.
Libyan National Army's Intelligence Chief Killed in Car Bombing
Brigadier Fowzi Mansouri, head of military intelligence for eastern Libya's Libyan National Army, was killed on Monday evening when an explosive device detonated in his car outside his Benghazi home, security sources said. No one has claimed responsibility, and the killing underscores ongoing instability in Libya, which has remained split between rival eastern and western administrations since 2014.
Zambia's Election Overshadowed by Unresolved Dispute Over Ex-President's Burial
Zambia heads to the polls on August 13 with more than 8 million registered voters choosing between President Hakainde Hichilema and a fractured opposition, in a race reshaped by the death of former President Edgar Lungu, whose body remains unburied amid a dispute between his family and Hichilema. Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile has surged in support from former Lungu strongholds, while voters cite cost-of-living pressures — despite inflation cooling to 6.6%, its lowest in eight years — as their top concern.
Trial of Malian Commentator Ras Bath Opens in Bamako
The trial of Malian commentator Youssouf Bathily, known as Ras Bath, and activist Rose opened August 10 before the Bamako Court of Appeal, with both denying charges of criminal association and undermining state institutions. Ras Bath, detained for nearly three years, rejected the accusations in court, while Rose said her social media posts aimed to flag rising prices, not destabilize the government; the trial resumes August 12.
Civil Society Groups Urge DR Congo's Tshisekedi to Drop Referendum Plans
Sixty-five civil society organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo are pressing President Félix Tshisekedi to abandon plans for a constitutional referendum, arguing the country's security and humanitarian crises make it a poor use of resources. The groups warn the move could deepen political tensions, but Tshisekedi's UDPS party says a legal framework for a referendum is needed to fill an existing legal gap.
Ceuta's Leader Demands Detention Center as Migrant Crisis Drags On
Ceuta's regional leader is calling for a detention center to hold migrants awaiting removal, nearly two weeks after roughly 72,000 people crossed into the Spanish territory on Moroccan soil from Morocco in late July. While Spanish officials say most migrants have returned to Morocco, thousands remain, including hundreds of unaccompanied children who can't be deported, and Madrid has boosted security with a 40% increase in Civil Guard numbers.
North Africa Has Spent $320 Billion on Militaries Since Libya's Collapse
Fifteen years after NATO's intervention helped topple Muammar Gaddafi, North African powers including Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt have spent more than $320 billion modernizing their militaries, wary of facing the kind of instability that has gripped Libya since. Libya itself remains divided, with its GDP per capita falling from about $12,000 in 2010 to roughly $6,449 in 2025, even as it holds Africa's largest proven oil reserves.
