Politics & Governance

*April 17, 2026 — Pretoria, South Africa* South African police have arrested French-born Beninese activist Kemi Seba, a prominent pan-African figure with pro-Russian leanings, in a dramatic sting operation as he allegedly attempted to flee to Europe via Zimbabwe. Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was arrested alongside his 18-year-old son […]

*April 17, 2026 — Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso* Burkina Faso’s military junta has dissolved dozens of civil society organizations in a sweeping crackdown that human rights groups warn could further isolate the West African nation and undermine its fight against jihadist insurgency. The decree, signed by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, targets organizations working on human

A Finance Minister’s Path to Power Romuald Wadagni, Benin’s outgoing finance minister, has won the country’s presidential election according to projections by national observers and early vote counts reported by the Independent Electoral Authority (CENA). His main challenger, former Prime Minister Paul Le Hyaric, conceded defeat on Sunday evening — a rare occurrence in a

The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s largest opposition party, elected Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis as its new federal leader on Sunday, consolidating control of the party’s leadership under a younger generation of politicians who are positioning the party as the country’s primary alternative to the ruling African National Congress ahead of the 2029 national elections.

Turkey’s deep-sea drilling vessel Cagri Bey arrived off the coast of Mogadishu on Friday, marking the launch of Turkey’s first overseas deep-sea oil exploration project — a landmark moment for both Ankara’s expanding energy ambitions and Somalia’s long-stalled efforts to develop its own hydrocarbon resources. The vessel, operated by Turkish energy company TPAO (Türkiye Petrolleri

Benin Votes for a New President — And a New Era Polls opened in Benin on Sunday morning in a presidential election that will determine who succeeds outgoing President Patrice Talon — and, many observers argue, the future direction of democracy in the West African nation. With nearly eight million eligible voters called to the