The World Trade Organization’s General Council this week reappointed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for a second term as Director-General, starting September 1, 2025. Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and African to lead the WTO, expressed gratitude to its 166 member nations for their trust. Reflecting on her first term, she highlighted the WTO’s role in addressing challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. She pledged to champion trade as a driver of economic growth and resilience while fostering an inclusive, equitable multilateral trading system. Okonjo-Iweala remains committed to delivering results that improve lives globally, reinforcing the WTO’s collaborative mission.
South Africa’s opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and African Transformation Movement (ATM), petitioned the Constitutional Court on Tuesday to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the 2020 theft of $580,000 in cash from a couch at his game farm. Although the African National Congress (ANC) blocked impeachment in 2022 using its parliamentary majority, the opposition argues Parliament failed its constitutional duty following preliminary findings of potential misconduct. While financial authorities and police cleared Ramaphosa of wrongdoing, questions about why the money was hidden in a couch persist. The court’s ruling could impact Ramaphosa’s leadership amid coalition dynamics.
Namibians queued on Wednesday to vote in a highly anticipated election for president and parliament. The ruling SWAPO party, which has been in power since Namibia’s independence in 1990, faces a tough challenge, with growing discontent among the youth over unemployment, inequality, and corruption. SWAPO’s presidential candidate, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, could become the country’s first female leader if victorious. However, her party’s support has dwindled, and opposition candidates, particularly Panduleni Itula, who came second in 2019, are gaining traction. Results are expected in a few days.
Mozambique’s security forces reportedly killed at least 10 children and injured dozens while suppressing protests over a disputed presidential election, according to Human Rights Watch in a statement on Tuesday. Since the October 9 election, which declared ruling Frelimo party candidate Daniel Chapo the winner amidst allegations of fraud, unrest has surged, with at least 30-50 protesters killed and thousands detained, including minors. Protests intensified after the assassination of two senior opposition figures on October 18, which opposition groups labeled political killings. Calls for protests by independent candidate Venancio Mondlane, who fled abroad citing safety concerns, continue to challenge Frelimo’s 50-year rule, prompting international criticism.
Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, the WHO regional director-elect for Africa, passed away at 55 while receiving medical treatment in India. Tanzania’s Speaker of Parliament, Tulia Ackson, announced the news on Wednesday, with repatriation plans for his body underway. Ndugulile, a former Tanzanian MP and minister, was elected as WHO’s African director in August and was set to assume office in February 2025. President Samia Suluhu Hassan and WHO’s Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus expressed condolences, highlighting his contributions to public health. Tanzanian legislators also remembered him as a humble and principled figure committed to advancing Africa’s health and well-being.
Malagasy and Ivorian security forces, supported by American and French intelligence, dismantled an Islamic State network facilitating jihadist travel from the Middle East to Europe, At the end of July 2024 according french news outlet, Le Monde. Eight Syrians and Iraqis were arrested in Madagascar and Côte d’Ivoire, accused of providing fake documents and visas. Central to this network were three former Islamic State fighters, reportedly a Syrian family, who established operations in Madagascar after release from a Sudanese prison. The Ivorian cell is also suspected of plotting an attack during the Paris Olympics, reflecting ongoing IS efforts to gain footholds in Africa and Europe.
Niger’s government this week asked the European Union to replace its ambassador, Salvador Pinto da Franca, citing tensions over the disbursement of emergency flood aid. This follows the EU’s recall of da Franca after Niger accused him of distributing €1.3 million in relief funds to NGOs without government approval—a claim the EU denies. Niger’s foreign ministry alleged the ambassador ignored warnings about “unauthorized operations” and deemed further collaboration impossible. The government also stated it did not request EU aid and would manage flood damage, which has displaced over 1.1 million people, independently. Relations have strained further since Niger’s July 2023 coup.
Mauritius’ new Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, called for an independent review of a proposed deal with the UK over the Chagos Islands on Friday. The agreement, yet to be finalized, would see the UK relinquish sovereignty but retain a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, home to a UK-US military base. Ramgoolam criticized the deal as a “sell-out” during his campaign, with concerns over lease terms, the exclusion of Chagossians, and geopolitical implications. While the UK defends the agreement as fair, Ramgoolam’s move could delay the treaty, expected to be reviewed by the UK Parliament next year.
Chad announced it is ending its defense cooperation pact with France, signaling a potential withdrawal of French troops stationed there. The government cited a desire to assert full sovereignty and redefine strategic partnerships, as Chad has recently strengthened ties with Russia. France, which has about 1,000 troops in Chad, faces diminishing influence in the region, following similar ousters from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso after coups. Chad emphasized the move would not harm bilateral relations. The decision aligns with broader regional shifts as Western alliances wane. Senegal’s president also questioned the appropriateness of French troops in his country.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday formally recognized the killing of West African soldiers by French troops in 1944 as a massacre, marking the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye tragedy in Senegal. The victims, Tirailleurs Senegalais who fought for France in World War II, were killed after disputes over unpaid wages escalated. Macron’s letter to Senegal’s authorities emphasized the need to uncover the full truth about the events, supporting Senegal’s newly formed Committee for the Restoration of the Facts. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the gesture, signaling a push for historical justice and increased economic independence from France.