Malawi went to the polls on Teusday to elect a new president, with the election taking place during a period of significant economic hardship for the country. Seventeen candidates are vying for the presidency, though the race is seen as a close contest between incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera and his predecessor, Peter Mutharika. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) stated that it has received approximately 98% of the results so far but will not announce official numbers until all votes have been thoroughly verified. A runoff election will be held if no candidate secures more than half of the vote.
The Zambian government announced a partnership with Airtel and IHS Zambia to roll out 152 new telecom towers across the country. The initiative aims to expand 4G and 5G connectivity in rural areas to support crucial services such as e-learning, telehealth, and digital finance. Forty of the new towers are already operational, with the remaining 112 expected to be in service by November 2025. This project represents a significant step toward achieving a more digitally inclusive economy in Zambia, providing its citizens with access to reliable and modern communication services.
South African trade officials held “cordial and constructive” talks with their US counterparts in Washington as the country seeks to repair strained relations and negotiate the lifting of heavy tariffs. The meetings, which included South Africa’s Trade Minister Parks Tau and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, followed three days of intense discussions between senior officials from both nations. While no immediate outcome was announced, South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition stated that the talks established a “roadmap” for future negotiations. The discussions come amid a deterioration in relations since the US imposed tariffs and froze key development aid earlier this year.
France has suspended its counterterrorism cooperation with Mali, citing a breakdown in relations. The move follows a series of reciprocal expulsions of diplomatic staff. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs declared two Malian consulate staff members in Paris persona non grata, leading to Mali’s retaliatory expulsion of five French embassy staff members. The diplomatic rift escalated after Mali’s government arrested a French national, Yann Vezilier, on charges of plotting a coup. The Malian army has accused foreign states of complicity in the alleged plot. This latest development underscores the growing tension between the two nations, as Mali’s military leadership under President Assimi Goita has increasingly turned to Russia for security support.
Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has announced he will not endorse any candidate in the upcoming presidential election, according to his party’s spokesperson, Me Habiba Touré, stating that the candidates approved by the Constitutional Council lack the necessary consensus and legitimacy. The decision comes amidst escalating political tensions, as Gbagbo and another prominent opposition leader, Tidjane Thiam, are both barred from the race. Gbagbo has consistently opposed President Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term, arguing it violates the constitution’s two-term limit, a position contested by the government, which claims a new constitution reset the term counter.
Nigeria’s Dangote refinery has successfully exported its first gasoline shipment to the United States. The cargo of approximately 320,000 barrels was delivered to a Sunoco terminal in New Jersey via the tanker Gemini Pearl. This marks a new milestone for Africa’s role as a fuel exporter. The shipment, traded through Mocoh Oil, originated from the Dangote facility, one of the world’s largest refineries with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. The delivery confirms that the refinery’s output meets the stringent U.S. fuel quality standards, a crucial factor for international trade.
Tanzania’s electoral commission has once again disqualified presidential candidate Luhaga Mpina, leader of the opposition party Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo). The decision comes just days after a court ruled in favor of Mpina, forcing the commission to approve his nomination. The ACT-Wazalendo party has condemned the move as “baseless” and politically motivated. Mpina’s exclusion follows the disqualification of the main opposition party, CHADEMA, which was barred in April for refusing to sign the electoral code of conduct. With Mpina’s removal, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appears set for a clear path to victory in next month’s election, facing only candidates from minor parties.
An armed attack in western Niger’s Tillabéri region on Wednesday has left 22 people dead, according to media reports and witnesses. Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on villagers attending a baptism ceremony, killing 15 people at the scene. They then killed seven more civilians nearby. Niger’s authorities confirmed the attack but have not released an official casualty count. The Tillabéri region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, has seen an increase in armed violence, particularly from jihadist groups. The incident follows a separate attack on September 10 in the same region that is estimated to have killed around 20 Nigerien soldiers.
More than 70 people were killed in a drone strike on a mosque in el-Fasher, Sudan, on Friday, according to Sudan’s army and local rescuers. The attack, carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeted worshippers during morning prayers at Al-Safiya Mosque. The Sudanese army’s Sixth Infantry Division condemned the “horrific crime” by the RSF, which has been besieging the city since the start of the conflict. The victims included citizens and displaced people seeking refuge in the area. However, the RSF has not yet commented on the strike.
Brenda Biya, daughter of Cameroonian President Paul Biya, has publicly urged voters to oppose her father in the upcoming October presidential election. In a viral video filmed in Switzerland, the 27-year-old stated that she would not vote for Paul Biya and expressed her hope for a different president. The video has been widely circulated and welcomed by the political opposition in Cameroon. There has been no official reaction from the presidency or the government regarding the matter.
