South Sudan: NEC Gives Parties No Definitive Timeline Ahead of Elections
South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) on Thursday held a high-level consultative meeting with registered political parties and other stakeholders in Juba to discuss preparations for the December 22 general elections, but participants questioned whether the polls could be held on schedule amid uncertainty over outstanding electoral activities. The meeting, convened by NEC Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng, was intended to brief political parties on the electoral roadmap, key milestones and preparations for the country’s general elections. However, party representatives and observers who attended the meeting told Radio Tamazuj that the commission did not provide specific dates for completing outstanding electoral activities or explain how it intended to meet the December deadline. … NEC reportedly told participants that it was 80% ready for the elections and had secured funding for preparations, including voter registration. But when political parties sought details of the remaining activities and deadlines for completing them, the commission did not provide definitive answers, one participant said. Radio Tamazuj
Cape Verde President Eyes New Term as Party Builds on Legislative Win
Cape Verde President José Maria Neves is expected to win a second term on Sunday, an outcome that would cement full control of government by the island nation’s oldest political party after its victory in legislative elections earlier this year. … Neves’ main challenger is Joana Rosa, a former justice minister and Cape Verde’s first woman presidential candidate. Analysts put Neves as the clear favourite to win another five years in office, after a race that has highlighted issues like employment and stemming outward migration. … Neves is backed by the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which won 37 out of 72 seats in legislative elections in May, allowing Francisco Carvalho to become prime minister. His opponent Rosa is from the Movement for Democracy party, which had governed for 10 years prior to the legislative vote. Reuters
Five Candidates Confirmed for Gambia’s Presidential Election
The Gambia’s electoral commission on Thursday announced five official candidates for the December presidential election, including incumbent Adama Barrow who is running for a third term despite initial promises not to do so. The tiny west African country heads to the polls on December 5, with two weeks of campaigning set to start next Monday. Beyond Barrow, the list includes the country’s main opposition leader Ousainou Darboe and the popular youth candidate Talib Ahmed Bensouda, who until last week was mayor of a major Banjul suburb. The government late last month accused Bensouda of financial impropriety, creating speculation he would be disqualified and mass protests would ensue. Thursday’s announcement, which formalises the nomination process, comes after the country’s Independent Electoral Commission received 18 presidential nomination requests. Africanews
ECOWAS Trains 500 Journalists to Tackle Election Disinformation
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has trained more than 500 journalists across 12 member states to tackle electoral disinformation and strengthen information integrity ahead of elections across West Africa. The Commission disclosed this during a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists and Wikipedia editors themed “Strengthening Electoral Information Integrity through Responsible Journalism, Fact-Checking and Open Knowledge.” Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS Director of Communication, Joel Ahofodji, Chukuemeka Ezekiel said the growing spread of misinformation, hate speech and manipulated digital content posed serious threats to democracy, public trust, peace and security. … According to him, ECOWAS considers information integrity a critical component of its mandate to promote democracy, good governance, peace and security across West Africa. He said the Commission had established the ECOWAS Disinformation Working Group to strengthen regional coordination and develop a collective response to information disorder. Guardian Nigeria
Nigerian Court Orders Journalist Kept in Custody over Report, Renewing Concerns over Media Freedom
A decision by a court in Nigeria to keep an investigative journalist in custody has sparked widespread outrage, renewing concerns about media freedom in the country. Daniel Ojukwu, with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, or FIJ, a local investigative media house, was jailed on a 12-count charge for allegedly violating the country’s cybercrime act, pending a bail hearing. The court’s decision was issued on Tuesday. The law has long been seen as a tool to censor journalists in Nigeria, where journalists are exposed to political persecution over reports. … At least 29 journalists have faced prosecution under Nigeria’s cybercrimes law since it was enacted in 2015, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a report in October 2024. … Ojukwu was arrested for a report on the alleged financial mismanagement of more than 147 million naira ($109,000) involving a senior government official, according to the charge sheet seen by The Associated Press. AP
Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon Pilot Digital Customs System to Eliminate Border Delays
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced a pilot joint digital customs system with Benin Republic and Cameroon to simplify cross-border trade by allowing traders to submit customs declarations once instead of repeating the process at multiple border points. … [The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi,] explained that the initiative would enable customs declarations processed by Nigeria to automatically serve as the receiving country’s manifest, allowing the destination country’s customs administration to apply its regulatory controls without requiring traders to repeat the documentation process. … According to him, the platform also incorporates artificial intelligence-powered translation to convert customs declarations between English and French, enabling Nigerian and French-speaking customs officials to process transactions in their respective languages. PR Nigeria
UN Experts Urge Somalia to Reinstate Ousted Chief Justice
United Nations experts have urged Somalia to reinstate its chief justice and accused the government of intimidating judges in a dispute over whether the president and parliament can remain in office. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dismissed Bashe Yusuf Ahmed on 4 November, the night before the Supreme Court ruled that both mandates had expired. The court also declared Ahmed’s dismissal invalid. Two days later, on 7 November, Mohamud attended the swearing-in of Ahmed’s predecessor, Ibrahim Idle Suleiman. “We strongly condemn this blatant interference with the independence of the judiciary,” said Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism. … They stressed that judges may be suspended or removed only for incapacity or behaviour rendering them unfit for duty, and only following fair hearings and independent review. Somalia Today
Sudan Participates in Turkey’s Blue Whale Naval Exercise
Sudan has joined the Mavi Balina-2026 international naval exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean as an official observer. The advanced anti-submarine warfare drills, hosted by the Turkish naval forces, launched earlier this week and will run until November 20. … According to the [Turkish Defence Ministry], Sudan is attending the exercises in an observer capacity alongside Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Morocco, Mauritania, Indonesia, and Mozambique. These observer nations are monitoring active field manoeuvres conducted by forces from Turkey, the United States, Pakistan, and NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2. The maritime operations are currently being directed from the Aksaz Naval Base in Turkey’s southwestern Mugla province. The biennial Blue Whale exercises are designed to improve joint maritime security coordination and enhance anti-submarine warfare readiness among participating militaries. Sudan’s presence at the NATO-backed drills reflects its ongoing efforts to diversify its defence partnerships and strengthen military cooperation with Ankara. Sudan Tribune
UN Security Council Extends Central African Republic Peacekeeping Mission until 2027
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously voted to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) until 15 November 2027, as the country continues efforts to consolidate security and strengthen state institutions. … Speaking before the vote, France’s Ambassador to the UN, Jérôme Bonnafont, said the resolution provides a framework for MINUSCA to consolidate its achievements, adjust its troop levels and continue supporting the Central African government, particularly in border areas. The mission will also support the deployment of national security forces, including a pilot project for a garrison army, alongside efforts to promote disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, combat impunity and uphold human rights. Africanews
ECOWAS Court Awards Guinea-Bissau Detainees 30m CFA Francs
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Guinea-Bissau government to pay 30 million CFA francs in compensation to five political figures over violations of their fundamental human rights. … The applicants are former Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau and leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Domingos Simões Pereira; senior lawyer and PAIGC leader, Octávio Lopes; politician and Social Renewal Party (PRS) leader, Roberto Mbes’ba; PAIGC elected lawmaker, Marciano Indi and party lawyer and political commentator, Augusto Nansambe. The suit challenged their alleged arbitrary detention by Guinea-Bissau authorities, with the applicants seeking redress for violations of their fundamental rights. Nansambe was reportedly assaulted and abducted from his residence by armed men on December 28, 2025, amid political tensions in the West African country. Guardian Nigeria
UN Hails Progress in Ebola Response, Cites Insecurity as Biggest Challenge
UN health officials on Friday hailed progress in the Ebola response six months after the outbreak first prompted global concerns, but cautioned that the disease continues to spread to more remote and dangerous parts of Congo. With the number of confirmed cases now surpassing 11,000, the outbreak is the second-worst for Ebola on record and has spread to parts of east, central and west Africa. … “We do see encouraging signs,” said Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme, citing falling cases in former hotspots like Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. “But what we have seen now is the emergence of cases in more rural and more difficult-to-reach areas … The biggest challenge the response faces right now is the rising insecurity,” he said, citing WHO data showing 80 attacks on health sites and workers so far. Reuters
When Deaths Go Uncounted: WHO Flags Dangerous Blind Spots in Africa’s Health Data
Quality health data can help authorities to identify emerging threats and take lifesaving action, but a new report reveals critical gaps in Africa’s health information systems. The study by the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that many countries on the continent are facing challenges, including in recording deaths and collecting and interpreting health information. “When we do not know why people are dying, which children are missing essential services or where communities face the greatest health risks, we may overlook the very people who need our attention most,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa. The report was launched at the First African Health Data Forum which opened in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday, bringing together health ministers, senior officials and other stakeholders. … Major challenges include governance and finance, with only 18 per cent of countries reporting having a dedicated budget for health information systems. Other weaknesses centre around coordination, routine data-quality checks and availability of trained professionals. UN News
Kenyans Brace for Heavy El Niño Rains as Flood Survivors Recall Their Losses
Kenya’s Meteorological Service Authority has warned that a super El Niño is expected to bring heavier rain from October to December, with November projected to be the peak of the season. The Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre urged people living in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground, saying 1.5 million people are at risk of being affected. Scientists have predicted that this year’s El Niño, a temporary and natural warming of the Pacific Ocean near the equator that affects weather patterns across the globe, could be the most intense one recorded. … A 2026 report by the World Resources Institute suggested that Nairobi is increasingly vulnerable to flooding because of longstanding failures in urban planning, continued wetland loss and inadequate enforcement of land use regulations, rather than rainfall intensity alone. … [Nairobi County’s disaster management officer, Bramwell Simiyu,] said the county plans to work with mobile service provider Safaricom to send timely alerts and other emergency information to residents ahead of disasters, he added. AP