Succès Masra, a former prime minister and opposition politician from Chad, was fined 1 billion CFA francs and sentenced to 20 years in jail for his role in spreading racist and hateful propaganda and for his complicity in the May massacre in Mandakao. Masra’s lawyers condemned the case as “humiliation” and accused the legal system of being manipulated to settle political scores. The massacre trials also involved 74 other people, 64 of whom were sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Mali’s transitional government arrested a group of marginal Malian armed and security forces for criminal activity aimed at destabilizing the Republic. As reported, the conspiracy began on August 1, and images of the 11 people involved were aired on national television, with two Malian generals named as part of the conspiracy. Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, has long faced an insurgency by armed militants, some of whom are affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Following two military coups, the reigning junta looked to Russia for security support.
South Africa is set to organize a national dialogue to address the country’s urgent concerns, such as poverty, inequality, crime, corruption, and unemployment. President Cyril Ramaphosa initiated the talks, which are anticipated to engage political parties, civic groups, and the general public. However, concerns have been expressed by oppositions about the probable $40 million cost and the possibility of considerable revisions. The country has a history of national talks, including peaceful efforts to eliminate apartheid in the early 1990s.
A 10-day cholera vaccination campaign has commenced in Khartoum, Sudan, targeting residents aged one and up, in an effort to curb Sudan’s quickly increasing outbreak. The initiative aims to protect both adults and around 155,000 youngsters. Since July 2024, the outbreak has been driven by violence, mass displacement, and severe rains, resulting in nearly 83,000 illnesses and 2,100 deaths. The vaccine provides a ray of hope for many inhabitants, but relief organizations warn that the disease is spreading in other areas, particularly Darfur, where crumbling infrastructure and flooding create ideal circumstances for cholera to thrive.
The United States has approved the sale of $346 million worth of ammunition, explosives, and precision rockets to Nigeria in order to combat an increase in terrorist activity. The agreement will aid US foreign policy objectives by strengthening the security of a critical ally in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Nigerian government sought a large number of weapons, including over a thousand MK-82 500-pound bombs, 5000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS), laser-guided bomb kits, high-explosive rockets, and technical experts. The sale intends to strengthen Nigeria’s capabilities to face existing and future challenges by conducting operations against terrorist organizations and combating illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
Uganda’s National Unity Platform (NUP) has filed a constitutional court petition to overturn a new law that allows military tribunals to try civilians. The NUP contends that the law breached public consultation procedures and was not enacted in a fair and impartial manner. In January, the Supreme Court prohibited the prosecution of civilians in tribunals, but, in May, the parliament passed a measure restoring military courts’ ability to try civilians. Local and international human rights activists have accused Uganda’s government of employing military courts to prosecute political opponents of President Yoweri Museveni. According to officials, only civilians who use guns for political violence are tried in these tribunals, although many NUP sympathizers and leaders, notably singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, have previously faced charges or prosecution before military tribunals.
Gabon’s Council of Ministers has authorized an amnesty order for those involved in the 2023 coup and a failed 2019 rebellion in an effort to encourage national unity. The ruling enables the release of incarcerated rebels, including high-profile people, and outlines economic changes to promote growth, reduce deficits, and protect jobs. The decision, announced on August 12, is presented as a move toward “appeasement and national reconciliation,” signaling an end to years of political unrest. The move is consistent with previous commitments made by Transitional President Brice Clothaire Oligui Nguema.
Egypt’s urban inflation rate declined to 13.9% in July, signaling a minor improvement in economic conditions. The monthly inflation rate also fell to -0.6%, indicating a broader price fall. The national Consumer Price Index hit 256.5 points, down 0.6% from June. The dip was mostly caused by declining food prices, including significant drops in meat, poultry, fruits, and vegetables. Annual inflation has slowed to 13.1%. Egypt’s Central Bank predicts inflation to stabilize in 2025 before progressively falling through 2026. Core inflation was -0.3% monthly in July 2025.
According to a United Nations report, conflict-related sexual violence incidents increased by 25% in 2024, with the highest numbers reported in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, and South Sudan. The report names 63 state and non-state actors suspected of perpetrating or being responsible for rape and other types of sexual violence in armed conflicts. Last year, health professionals treated more than 17,000 casualties in Congo’s Kivu.
This week, the African Development Bank (AfDB) agreed to donate $500 million to the development of a new mega airport in Ethiopia. The bank will spearhead efforts to raise up to $8 billion for the airport’s construction. Ethiopian Airlines will provide 20% of the total funding, which is expected to reach $10 billion. The airport will treble Ethiopia’s tourist arrivals and compete with Dubai, Casablanca, and Johannesburg. The airport will be developed in two parts, beginning with 60 million passengers per year and expanding to 110 million at full capacity. Construction is projected to be completed by 2029.
