Ghana Opposition Raises Voter Roll Concerns
Thousands of National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in Ghana are protesting nationwide, demanding an independent forensic audit of the country’s voter register ahead of the December 2024 election. According to NDC officials, the electoral roll contains significant errors, including illegal name transfers, missing voters, and over 50,000 deceased individuals listed. While the Election Commission states […]
How Can the International Community Protect Civilians Caught in Sudan’s Civil War?
Sudan’s civil war, ongoing for almost 18 months, has left nearly 25 million people in need of humanitarian aid. The United Nations fact-finding mission to Sudan has called for an independent force to protect civilians amid the ongoing violence. Sudan had a peacekeeping presence until early 2024, but efforts to deploy a new mission faced […]
Botswana’s Diamond Dependence Faces Uncertain Future
Botswana, Africa’s leading diamond producer, is facing economic uncertainty as the global diamond market struggles. The country’s economy relies heavily on its diamond mining industry, which is responsible for 80% of its exports, approximately a quarter of its GDP, and a third of its tax revenues. Diamond sales have funded the construction of schools, hospitals, […]
Botswana Approves First Manganese Mine in Push for Diversification
Botswana has granted Giyani Metals a 15-year mining license, making it the country’s first battery-grade manganese producer. The company’s Kgwakwe Hill (K. Hill) project will process manganese oxide to produce high-purity manganese sulfate, a critical component for electric vehicle batteries and other clean energy technologies. With an expected annual output of 80,000 metric tons over […]
Calls for Slavery Reparations Intensify Ahead of Commonwealth Summit
Britain faces mounting pressure to address reparations for the transatlantic slave trade as the Commonwealth heads of government meeting approaches in October. Calls for reparations have always existed but never without the current traction. In fact, all three candidates for Commonwealth secretary-general—Shirley Botchwey of Ghana, Joshua Setipa of Lesotho, and Gambia’s Mamadou Tangara—support reparative justice. […]
Zimbabwe’s New Currency Struggles After Five Months
Five months after its launch, Zimbabwe’s gold-backed currency, the ZiG, is facing significant challenges. Introduced in April at 13.6 ZiG per US dollar, it has since lost nearly 80% of its value on the black market and currently trades at between 20 and 26 ZiG per dollar. The new currency was part of a government […]
Is the Decision of Guinea-Bissau’s President to Not Seek Reelection a Ruse?
Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Cissoko Embalo recently announced he would not seek a second term in the November elections, even though he’s eligible. However, he criticized his political opponents, including Domingos Simoes Pereira, Braima Camara, and Nuno Nabiam, and stated that Guinea-Bissau deserves better leaders. Embalo’s tenure has been marked by conflicts with the PAIGC, his […]
Tunisian Court Sentences Presidential Candidate to Prison
Tunisian presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel has been sentenced to 20 months in prison, a move that has heightened opposition concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election. Zammel, leader of the opposition Azimoun Party, was charged with falsifying voter signatures, which he denies. He alleges that the charges are politically motivated by the incumbent President […]
