Morocco's Football-Backed PAM Wins Parliamentary Election
A liberal, centrist party founded by an adviser to Morocco's king topped the parliamentary vote, boosted by the late recruitment of football federation chief Fouzi Lekjaa, credited with driving Morocco's rise as a global soccer power. The Authenticity and Modernity Party won 97 of 395 seats, positioning Lekjaa as a strong contender for prime minister as the new parliament takes on Morocco's final push to co-host the 2030 World Cup and address youth discontent that fueled last year's deadly protests.
Sudan's RSF Escalates Drone Attacks on Government-Held Towns
Residents in Sudan's North Kordofan state say the Rapid Support Forces have ramped up deadly drone strikes on government-held towns this month, after weeks of apparent restraint under international pressure. A September 8 drone strike on a crowded courtroom in Um Ruwaba killed about 10 people, and a separate strike hit a college in al-Obeid the next day, part of a pattern the UN says has killed more than 1,000 civilians from drone attacks by both sides in Sudan's war so far this year.
U.S. Pledges $267 Million More to Fight DR Congo's Ebola Outbreak
The U.S. State Department announced an additional $267 million to fight the Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the Trump administration's total commitment to $886 million. The pledge comes as officials push for other countries to help reach a $2 billion global target, with Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka calling the outbreak, already the second-deadliest on record, a "major test" for the country.
Ghana Says Western Support Growing for Slavery Reparations Push
Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says support is building among Western nations for a reparations campaign tied to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, with its first phase focused on returning looted artifacts. France, Germany, and the Netherlands have pledged willingness to return items, while the UK, Portugal, and even the U.S. have expressed openness to working with the Ghana-led effort, months after a UN resolution recognized the slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity."
Nigeria, U.S. Sign Mining Investment Deal
Nigeria and the United States signed a framework agreement to boost American investment in Nigeria's mining sector, covering everything from mineral exploration to technical training, Nigeria's solid minerals minister Dele Alake said. Nigeria estimates its mineral wealth at about $700 billion and hopes the deal will help it capture more value locally, including in its emerging lithium sector, where Chinese firms have so far led investment.
