Mali Junta Chief Approves Law Giving Him Unlimited Mandate
Mali’s junta chief has granted himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable “as many times as necessary” and without election, in a law made public Thursday. General Assimi Goita’s approval of the measure had been widely expected for several days, and comes after the country’s military-appointed legislative body passed the bill last week. The law, which was leaked to the public after being signed by Goita Tuesday, allows him to lead the west African country until at least 2030, despite the military government’s initial pledge to return to civilian rule in March 2024. It is the latest in a series of restrictions on freedoms by Mali’s military leadership to consolidate its power in the jihadist-hit Sahelian nation…[T]he junta announced in May the dissolution of all political parties and organisations, as well as a ban on meetings. The ongoing squeeze on Mali’s civic space comes against a backdrop of clamour by authorities for the country to unite behind the military. AFP
Mali Military Helicopter Airlifts Gold from Barrick-owned Loulo-Gounkoto
A Malian military helicopter airlifted gold from the Barrick-owned Loulo-Gounkoto complex on Thursday, three sources said, days after Reuters reported that a court-appointed administrator planned to sell the site’s bullion to finance operations. A Bamako court last month appointed a provisional administrator to restart operations at the West African country’s largest gold mining site, nearly six months after Barrick Mining suspended them amid tense negotiations over the implementation of a new mining code. Barrick said it was forced to suspend operations in mid-January after Mali’s military-led government blocked its exports for two months, detained some of its executives and seized three tons of bullion. It also launched arbitration at the World Bank to try to resolve the dispute…Barrick and Mali’s government have been in negotiations since 2023 over the implementation of a new mining code that raises taxes and gives the government a greater share in the gold mines. Reuters
Burkina Faso’s Only Eye Doctor for Children Sees the Trauma of Both Play and Conflict
Isaka Diallo was playing with friends when a stone struck his left eye. For two weeks, his parents searched hospitals in western Burkina Faso for an eye doctor…When they eventually found Dr. Claudette Yaméogo, Burkina Faso’s only pediatric ophthalmologist, the injury had become too difficult to treat. In Burkina Faso, an estimated 70% of the population lives in rural areas. And yet ophthalmologists are concentrated in the capital, Ouagadougou, and other main cities, making them unreachable for many…Not many people are aware of Yaméogo’s work. Even when they are, traveling to reach her often requires days of planning and financial saving. In a further challenge to accessing care, Diallo’s family is among the 2 million people displaced by violence as extremist groups seize parts of the country. To visit Yaméogo’s hospital from the village where they are sheltering, they had to travel about 40 kilometers on a motorcycle to Bobo-Dioulasso, spending 7,500 francs ($13) on transport, a high price for a small-scale farming family. At least 70% of the trauma cases in children treated at the hospital come from rural areas where the risk of exposure — from conflict or from play — is higher, Yaméogo said…On paper, Burkina Faso’s government covers the cost of medications and care for children under 5, but often no drugs are available in hospitals, meaning families must buy them elsewhere. AP
Sudan: War Crimes, Systematic Sexual Violence Ongoing in Darfur – ICC
Systematic rape and sexual violence are being used as weapons of war in Darfur, the International Criminal Court (ICC) warned on Thursday, as part of a widening investigation into what its Deputy Prosecutor said are escalating atrocities against civilians in the conflict-ridden region. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told ambassadors in the UN Security Council that the ICC has “reasonable grounds to believe” that both war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in region, where a deepening conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the region into a humanitarian disaster. Among the most disturbing patterns, she said, is the targeted use of sexual violence, including rape, abduction, and gender-based assaults – a campaign often directed at women and girls from specific ethnic communities…Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation worsens. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), aid convoys are being targeted, hospitals bombed, and food and water deliberately withheld. UN News
South Sudan ‘Facing Geographically Expanding Cholera Emergency’
South Sudan is facing a prolonged and geographically expanding cholera emergency, with over 79,000 cases and more than 1,400 deaths reported to date, officials have said. A July 8 joint press release by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, said the situation was not merely a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services…The proposals include the rapid deployment of medical, WASH, and nutrition supplies in high-risk counties ahead of peak flooding, and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential health and nutrition services in affected and at-risk areas. Also proposed was the expansion of surveillance coverage and surge capacity for early detection and response, and the immediate scale-up of chlorinated water access, latrine desludging, hygiene promotion, and community engagement. Another proposal was the sustaining and expansion of both reactive and preventive OCV interventions and the facilitation of unimpeded humanitarian access and strengthen logistics to accelerate response efforts. Radio Tamazuj
Fearing Explosives, Farmers in War-Torn DRC Burn Their Own Land
In Lubero territory, large swaths of farmland have been reduced to ashes in the wake of clashes between government troops and M23, a Rwanda-backed armed group. A peace deal signed last week between DRC and Rwanda aims to end the fighting, but behind the destruction lies a dilemma farmers face when the conflict stops: how to deal with the terror of unexploded roadside bombs and other remnants of war lurking in their fields. Without effective demining programs in this region, many have resorted to burning their own land in hopes of detonating hidden ordnance and regaining a semblance of control. But this “solution” carries disastrous environmental consequences. It accelerates erosion and water loss by destroying ground cover, impoverishes nourishing top soils, hurts biodiversity, and pollutes the air. Maîtrise Matungulu, an environmentalist and lecturer at Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural in Kanyabayonga, says attempting to clear mines with fire only replaces one problem with another. “Fires make the situation even worse,” he says. “The soil loses its qualities. Nature is polluted too. Fauna, flora and all biodiversity are affected. To burn crops is to plunge the area further into a serious economic and food crisis.” …[Bahati Zaria Jean], head of operations at Synergie de Lutte Antimines, an organization in Goma with branches in Ituri, Tanganyika, Kasai and South Kivu, says the practice risks causing dangerous explosions of small-caliber devices like grenades, while leaving other explosives intact. “The mere temperature of bushfire cannot detonate a large-caliber device such as mortars, rockets, bombs, shells, artillery bombs.” Global Press Journal
Prospects for Peace and World Cup Lift Mood in DR Congo
These are busy times for football in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The women’s team played in the African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2012 while the men are currently top of their qualification group for the 2026 World Cup, putting them on course for a first appearance on the global stage since 1974. Off the pitch, there is also encouraging news. If a peace deal that was signed in June between the country and neighboring Rwanda holds, enduring violence could recede and citizens could have a fresh chance to play or watch sport…”A peace deal needs to be sorted because a number of the clubs that are based in the east of the country have not been able to play as a result of the recent conflict and invasion,” Guy Burton, an international research analyst on conflict and peace, told DW…”Provided it is followed by concrete and sustainable implementation, the state and investors can better finance the rehabilitation of stadiums, community fields, and training centers,” Francisco Mulonga, president of football club Sporting Club de Kinshasa, told DW…”Football can really help young men turn away from violence and adopt a healthier lifestyle through sport, especially in contexts marked by poverty, idleness, or social tensions,” Mulonga added. “Playing football fosters the creation of strong social bonds between young people from different backgrounds. Football is a model of hope and ambition.” DW
Somalia Sees Sharp Rise in Media Freedom Attacks Over Past Six Months, Says NUSOJ
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is raising urgent concern over a sharp rise in targeted actions against journalists in Somalia. In the first half of 2025 alone, NUSOJ documented 41 violations of media freedom, each clearly tied to journalistic work…This is the highest number of such incidents recorded by the union at mid-year in the past three years…Journalists are being penalised for asking hard questions, uncovering uncomfortable truths and scrutinising those in power…Of the 41 documented violations, 27 occurred in Mogadishu, making it by far the most dangerous location for journalists during this period. In March, April and May, journalists in Mogadishu were specifically targeted by both the Somali Federal Police and agents of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Their actions formed part of a broader and ongoing crackdown on the media by state security forces. In many cases, officers appeared to be acting on their own initiative, eager to prove loyalty to political leaders by flexing their authority on journalists, even when no direct orders had been given…“This is not just a crisis for the media. It is a crisis for Somalia,” said Osman. “You cannot build peace, justice or democracy while silencing the people who bring the truth to the public. We are not asking for favours. We are demanding the rights that are already protected by law. Journalism is not a crime. It is a public duty that serves the entire society.” Garowe Online
Kenyan President Approves New Officials to Head Elections Body
Kenya’s President William Ruto has approved a new chairperson and commissioners to head the elections commission, a legal notice showed, filling positions of critical influence in a country with a long history of contentious polls. The East African nation’s next general election will be held in 2027, but Ruto is already under pressure from street protests led by young Kenyans dissatisfied with high living costs, corruption and police brutality. The new chairman and six commissioners appointed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will serve for the next four years, according to the notice issued late on Thursday. They were due to be sworn in on Friday. Ruto suspended four election commissioners in December 2022 after they rejected his victory in elections held earlier that year. The dispute proceeded to the Supreme Court, which upheld Ruto’s win and rejected the commissioners’ arguments that the vote tallying process had been opaque. The commission had been operating without a chairperson or commissioners since 2023, when the terms of the former chairman and the two remaining commissioners expired. The appointment of new election commissioners, who are chosen by an interview panel and then submitted to the president for approval, had been delayed in part due to several legal petitions, which a high court dismissed on Thursday. Reuters
Morocco to Build Data Centre Powered by Renewable Energy
Morocco plans to build a 500 megawatt state-owned data centre powered by renewable energy to strengthen security of data storage, its digital transition minister said. The centre will be located in Dakhla, in Western Sahara, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni told Reuters, without giving details on the timeline or cost. Several countries are building state-owned data centres to ensure that sensitive data can be stored and processed within national borders. Morocco launched its first soveriegn centre in January at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. It has been offering cloud hosting services to local public and private organisations. “Through this network of data centres, the kingdom not only asserts its digital sovereignty, but also its ambition to become a regional digital hub serving Africa,” Seghrouchni said. Morocco plans to invest 11 billion dirhams ($1.22 billion) on its digital modernisation strategy over 2024-2026, which includes artificial intelligence and expanding fibre optic deployment. Reuters
Why Big Tech Is Threatened by a Global Push for Data Sovereignty
Developing nations are challenging Big Tech’s decades-long hold on global data by demanding that their citizens’ information be stored locally. The move is driven by the realization that countries have been giving away their most valuable resource for tech giants to build a trillion-dollar market capitalization. In April, Nigeria asked Google, Microsoft, and Amazon to set concrete deadlines for opening data centers in the country. Nigeria has been making this demand for about four years, but the companies have so far failed to fulfill their promises. Now, Nigeria has set up a working group with the companies to ensure that data is stored within its shores…Experts believe the pushback from governments underscores a broader awareness about the economics of data extraction. Countries that once welcomed foreign tech investment without conditions are now seeking concrete benefits for their nationals…Most of the data gleaned from African internet users reportedly sits in data centers in Europe and the Middle East. Several African countries are now spending millions to build new data centers, using government money and international loans…While many African governments push for local data storage, this doesn’t necessarily lead to better protection because foreign companies often remain the primary beneficiaries, creating a contradiction in digital sovereignty efforts. “The prevalence of foreign technology firms in Africa, with their access to valuable user data, exposes African governments and citizens to data and national security vulnerabilities,” [Folashadé Soulé, a senior research associate at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government] said. Rest of World
Senegalese Navy Has Intercepted 201 Migrants from West Africa
The Senegalese navy intercepted 201 West African migrants in the western part of the country, authorities said Wednesday, as the Atlantic Ocean crossing continues to be the most popular — and deadliest — migration route from Africa to Europe. The operation was carried out by Senegalese marines based in Foundiougne, in the Fatick region in western Senegal, the army said in a statement Wednesday. Sixty-nine people were stopped on land, the statement said, while 132 others were intercepted aboard a small wooden boat, or pirogue, in the Saloum delta on Tuesday evening. While migration to Europe has been falling steadily, the Atlantic Ocean crossing from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands has reemerged since 2020. Nearly 47,000 people disembarked in the Canaries in 2024, an increase from the nearly 40,000 in 2023, according to Spanish Interior Ministry figures. The crossing is one of the deadliest in the world. While there is no accurate death toll because of the lack of information on departures from West Africa, the Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims are in the thousands this year alone. Those arrested on Wednesday are of various West African nationalities, including several women and children, according to DIRPA…Until recently, the route was mostly used by migrants from West African nations fleeing poverty or violence. But since last year, migrants from far-flung countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan have increasingly embarked on the fishing boats used to reach the European archipelago. AP
Everything You Need to Know about Wafcon 2024 Finals
The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) is under way, with Morocco staging the finals for the second time in a row. After being pushed back a year because of scheduling issues, the hosts drew 2-2 against Zambia in the opening game at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Saturday. Record nine-time champions Nigeria and holders South Africa have both made a winning start to their campaigns…After the opening match, two games will be played each day during a group stage that runs until Monday, 14 July. Games are being held at 16:00 and 19:00 (all times GMT) during the group stage and the knockout stages, which begin on Friday, 18 July. The final on Saturday, 26 July will start at 20:00 GMT. The Confederation of African Football has doubled the prize money for the winners, who will now receive $1m, while the total prize fund has increased by 45% to $3.475m. Morocco hosted the Wafcon finals three years ago, but none of the three venues used then will stage games this time around. The North African nation is carrying out several redevelopment projects as it prepares to stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup…Of the 12 nations competing in Morocco, only Nigeria and South Africa have previously lifted the Wafcon trophy. BBC