Abiy’s Party Secures Another Landslide Election Victory in Ethiopia
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party won 438 parliamentary seats in this month’s elections, securing another overwhelming majority and extending its dominance of national politics. The party won about 90% of the seats for which results were announced, while voting did not take place in Tigray and parts of Amhara due to ongoing instability and security concerns.
Martha Karua Blocked From Entering Uganda
Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda after arriving to join the legal team defending opposition figure Kizza Besigye and lawyer Erias Lukwago. Ugandan authorities did not provide a reason for blocking Karua, whose office said she was detained at Entebbe airport before being returned to Nairobi.
Libyan Militia Leader Sentenced Over Prison Abuse
A Libyan court has sentenced Ossama al-Masri, a former detention center commander in Tripoli, to seven years and four months in prison for violating prisoners’ rights through torture and degrading treatment. The ruling comes more than a year after Italy deported him to Libya despite an International Criminal Court warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
More Than 3,500 Malawians Repatriated From South Africa
Authorities say 3,509 Malawian nationals have now been repatriated from South Africa as anti-migrant tensions continue to grow. South Africa has opened a second temporary processing center near Durban to ease overcrowding at a site where thousands of Malawians have gathered while awaiting deportation.
Kenyan Family Alleges Russia Jobs Program Led Son to War
The family of a Kenyan man killed in Ukraine says he traveled to Russia last year expecting civilian factory work but was allegedly recruited into the Russian military instead. Kenyan authorities say nearly 300 citizens have been caught up in irregular military recruitment linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, with 19 confirmed dead and 32 missing. The mother of Erastus Mundia says the government and Labor Minister Alfred Mutua betrayed families who trusted the Russia work program.
G7 Critical Minerals Push Creates New Opportunities for Africa
A new $64 billion G7 initiative aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains could create opportunities for African countries seeking to process more of their resources locally. Kenya says it is close to a deal with the U.S. that would allow rare earth minerals to be processed domestically, while Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also advancing projects tied to the sector.
Kenya Revives Nairobi Airport Expansion Plan
Kenya has revived plans for a $1.2 billion expansion of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after scrapping a controversial proposal involving India’s Adani Group. The project aims to nearly triple annual passenger capacity and will be financed through airport revenues and funding arranged by African development finance institutions.
Niger Sets Security Conditions for Reopening Benin Border
Niger says it will only reopen its border with Benin if the two countries sign a defense agreement and establish a permanent intelligence-sharing mechanism. The border has remained closed since Niger’s 2023 coup, with talks now focused on security guarantees rather than trade and transport links.
South African Court Halts Sale of Compounded Semaglutide Drugs
South Africa’s High Court has ordered pharmacy group iDexis to stop producing and selling compounded semaglutide medicines while regulatory processes continue. The ruling follows a legal challenge by Novo Nordisk, which argued that the company was marketing unregistered versions of weight-loss drugs containing the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy.
