Today in Africa — November 27, 2025: New Junta Leader Takes Over in Guinea-Bissau, Nigerian Parents Frustrated by Government Efforts to Rescue Abducted Students, Tunisian Political Critic Freed From Prison

Every day, OkayAfrica shares a roundup of news we’re following but haven’t published as full articles. These short updates cover what’s happening on the continent — in culture, politics, and beyond. For more on stories like these, be sure to check out our News page, with stories from across the regions.

New Guinea-Bissau Junta Announce Former Army Chief as Head of State

Mutinous soldiers in Guinea-Bissau have announced General Horta N’Ta as the leader of the new military junta. N’Ta was the army chief of staff until yesterday’s successful coup attempt, and he was also a close ally of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. He was sworn in earlier today, November 27, 2025. The new military head of state will lead a transitional period for at least one year, according to an announcement by the group of military officers. The soldiers gave an address on state television yesterday, saying that they had suspended the country’s electoral process, just before results were scheduled to be announced today. 

In a statement today, the junta said it “assumed the full powers of the State of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau” after discovering an ongoing plan to destabilize the country by disrupting the electoral process. Embaló and his main challenger in the election, Fernando Dias, had both claimed victory in the election, setting up a charged atmosphere before results were meant to be announced. Dias has alleged that Embaló fabricated the coup rather than accept defeat. Embaló was aiming to remain in office for a second term in the coup-prone country. During his first term, he dissolved parliament twice and ruled by decree, and extended his term in office beyond his initial February 2025 mandate.

Dias and the opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) called on citizens to protest the coup, but reports are that activities have picked up in the capital Bissau.

Lack of Action Frustrates Parents of Students Kidnapped in Nigeria’s Niger State

Parents of the students kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state, north central Nigeria, have expressed frustration at the lack of information about rescue efforts by the Nigerian government. School authorities stated that over 300 students were abducted by the armed attackers, a number the state government said was exaggerated. “Nobody from the government has briefed us about the abduction,” Emmanuel Ejeh, father of one of the abducted students, told The Associated Press. Two parents are also reported to have died due to the stress from the kidnapping, with one of them passing away from a heart attack.

This abduction is among the largest events of students kidnapping, with more forcefully taken students than the 276 girls that were abducted in Chibok back in 2014. About 50 students reportedly escaped from the attacker, leaving over 260 students and staff still in captivity. Earlier this week, the Nigerian government announced the release of 24 students who were abducted from a school in Kebbi state just days before the Niger state incident, with the terrorists claiming to have released the students through negotiations. Over 1,800 students have been kidnapped from schools in Nigeria in the last decade-plus, as the country deals with a longstanding insecurity crisis.

South Africa Issues Retort on Trump Directive Barring it from 2026 G20 Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called U.S. President Donald Trump’s directive that South Africa be excluded from next year’s G20 Summit a “regrettable statement.” Trump had said Ramaphosa refused to hand over the G20 Presidency to a U.S. Embassy representative at the close of this year’s summit. He also continued to accuse the SA government of “killing white people and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them,” a claim that has been debunked. In his statement, Ramaphosa said his country “is a sovereign constitutional democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country about its membership and worth in participating in global platforms.”

“It is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by President Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the US, President Trump continues to be vindictive and seek to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country,” Ramaphosa added. South Africa is a founding member of G20 and doesn’t need to be invited to summits, but a host country can place visa restrictions that make it impossible for foreign diplomats to attend.

Critic of Tunisian President Released from Prison

Sonia Dahmani, a rights lawyer and vocal critic of Tunisian President Kais Saied, has been released after serving a year-and-a-half in prison for comments deemed to have insulted the country and spread misinformation. Dahmani said she hopes her release would pave the way for more government critics to be freed. Dahmani was convicted for questioning the Tunisian government’s stance on undocumented migrants during a television appearance. Her lawyer Sami Ben Ghazi said Dahmani’s release was issued after she had served half her term. Under Saied, dissent has been punished, with dozens of critics and opposition figures imprisoned for a myriad of charges, many linked to a draconian cybercrime law.

Malawian Court Issues Search Warrant for Former President’s Home

A Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Malawi has issued a search warrant for the home of former President Lazarus Chakwera, over allegations that he’s holding on to four state-owned security dogs. According to an affidavit sworn by a high-ranking police officer, the dogs were moved to Chakwera’s residence without the needed approval. This follows reports that heavily armed police officers stormed the former president’s home, an event that was criticized by many Malawians and led to several parliament members walking out of a budget review meeting. Chakwera was defeated by his predecessor Peter Mutharika in September’s presidential election, with many Malawians dissatisfied by his handling of the economy.

Liberian Journalists Kick Against Threats by Parliament Speaker

Liberia’s press union (PUL) has condemned “verbal threats” issued against journalists by Parliament Speaker Richard Koon. Earlier this week, Koon came under fire for warning journalists from recording communications by parliament members outside official plenary sessions. He threatened to “grab” and “put [journalists] in jail,” if conversations outside quorum were reported on. “The threats by Speaker Koon signal a clearly dangerous mindset by a certain public official of his kind to weaponize state power by intimidating, harassing, and molesting journalists while restricting the right of the public to know and have access to information,” the PUL said in its statement.

“While it remains to be determined what motivated the Speaker’s threats, it is clear that certain public officials continue to employ old authoritarian tactics in their attempt to return Liberia to the dark days of silencing the press to enhance a culture of secrecy and unaccountability.”