Uganda Races to Resolve Tooro Succession Dispute Before King's Burial
Uganda's government is working urgently to help resolve a royal succession dispute in the Tooro Kingdom so King Oyo Nyimba can be buried tomorrow, Saturday, September 11, kingdom spokesperson Vincent Mugume said. Talks are ongoing between the royal family, the royal clan, and government officials, since the kingdom needs a confirmed successor to perform burial rituals reserved for the new monarch, but Mugume declined to say what would happen if no agreement is reached in time.
UK Charges African Migrants More Than Triple the US Citizenship Fee
New analysis shows the UK charges £1,839 ($2,480) for citizenship — more than five times the actual processing cost and over three times what the US charges — creating a steep financial barrier for African migrants, including the roughly 12,630 Nigerians granted British citizenship in 2024. Rights groups say the fees, layered on top of years of other immigration costs, risk pricing refugees and long-term residents out of citizenship altogether.
Dangote Refinery Opens IPO to Investors Through 40 Approved Channels
Nigeria's Dangote Petroleum Refinery has approved 40 official channels, including 20 banks, 17 fintech platforms, and two mobile operators, through which investors can buy into its upcoming IPO, priced at ₦525 ($0.34) per share with a ₦5,250 ($3.40) minimum purchase. Flutterwave says its platform will let Nigerians both at home and abroad participate digitally, even without an existing bank account, in what CEO David Bird called "the people's IPO."
US Loans $100 Million to Boost American Tech Presence in Africa
The Trump administration has given a $99.6 million loan to Africell, the only U.S.-owned cell network operator in Africa, to expand American technology and counter the dominance of China's Huawei on the continent. The funds will go toward investing in American and European tech for Africell's operations in Angola, as the company also runs networks in Congo, Sierra Leone, and Gambia.
Gambia Bans Unpermitted Protests After Unrest Over Power Cuts
Gambia's police chief announced that no further protests will be allowed without a permit, following days of unrest over prolonged power cuts that saw a police post vandalized and detainees unlawfully released. Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the vandalism, while opposition figure Talib Ahmed Bensouda said the frustration driving the protests goes beyond electricity, pointing to a broader lack of opportunity fueling irregular migration to Europe.
New Ebola Case Emerges Far From DR Congo Outbreak's Epicenter
A man who traveled from South Kivu through Rwanda and Uganda before re-entering the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola and died in the northwestern town of Gwaka, officials confirmed today, Friday, September 11. Authorities fear the patient's use of road and river transport could have exposed a large number of contacts, though local transmission in Sud-Ubangi province hasn't yet been confirmed as part of the country's ongoing outbreak, which has now infected 6,942 people and killed 3,349.
Motsepe-Backed Phosphate Mine Faces Restructuring, Risking 238 Jobs
Kropz, the London-based company behind a $160 million phosphate investment majority-owned by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe's African Rainbow Capital, is restructuring its only operating mine after struggling amid fertilizer industry disruptions tied to the US-Iran war. The move puts 238 contractor jobs at risk and has already sent Kropz's London shares down 39%, cutting its market value to about £9.1 million ($12 million) from a 2022 peak of £120 million.
