South Africa’s ANC Is Humbled by Its Worst Election Results as It Continues Its Decline
South Africa’s African National Congress party was handed its worst election results ever Sunday in a new low point on its gradual decline in popularity as voters rebuked it for a failure to deliver basic services like water and electricity in towns and cities. The once-dominant ANC — the party of Nelson Mandela — received 31% of the vote in Wednesday’s local government elections, according to official results Sunday. The ANC remained the largest party by total share in an election involving hundreds of parties, but the Democratic Alliance that is its main opposition won 25% of votes. That brought closer to reality the once-unthinkable notion that the ANC that led South Africa out of the white minority rule of apartheid and delivered freedom in 1994 under Mandela might one day not be its biggest party. It used to command 70% of the vote. … The ANC lost its place as the largest party to the DA in the economic hub of Johannesburg, the capital of Pretoria, and the large Ekurhuleni municipality east of Johannesburg. The DA also retained its control of the second biggest city of Cape Town. AP
Somali Opposition Calls Chief Justice’s Dismissal a ‘Coup’
Somalia’s opposition accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday of staging a “coup” against the Supreme Court after he dismissed its chief justice. The Somali Future Council backed the court’s order for elections within 90 days, a week before political talks that Mohamud has called in Mogadishu. … Mohamud dismissed Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed on 4 November and appointed his predecessor, Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, citing complaints from judges and legal professionals about the administration of justice. The court declared Ahmed’s dismissal void the following day, saying Mohamud could not remove him unilaterally. It said the constitutional procedure required a recommendation backed by two-thirds of the Supreme Judicial Council, followed by approval from each house of parliament. … In its ruling on federal terms of office on 5 November, the Supreme Court said Mohamud’s mandate had ended on 15 May, while those of parliament and the federal cabinet had expired on 14 April. Somalia Today
Egypt, Somalia, Djibouti Hold Talks on Red Sea Security, Horn of Africa Stability
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Somalia and Djibouti discussed Red Sea security, regional stability and economic cooperation during separate meetings on the sidelines of a regional summit in Libya. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali and Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar in Tripoli during the 22nd session of the Executive Council of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, Egypt’s State Information Service said. Talks between Abdelatty and his Somali counterpart focused on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding economic and development cooperation, and coordinating positions on political and security developments in the Horn of Africa. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, opposing unilateral measures that could undermine the country’s internationally recognized borders. Garowe Online
Kenya Seizes 454kg of Meth in Drug Crackdown
Kenyan police have seized 454kg (1,000lb) of methamphetamine worth an estimated $27m in an operation targeting international drug trafficking networks. Three suspects, two Tanzanians and a Ugandan, were arrested at the Kenyan coast following an intelligence-led operation involving Kenyan anti-narcotics officers and their Tanzanian counterparts. Police said the investigations began after a key suspect was arrested in Tanzania last week and handed over to Kenyan authorities at the border. …The suspect, who was allegedly linked to a separate seizure of 250 kg of suspected methamphetamine and cocaine in Tanzania, led officers to a location in Msambweni on the Kenyan coast, where the drug haul was discovered. Police made further arrests at the site and seized two motor vehicles and a motorcycle. … In a separate operation last month, authorities destroyed more than a tonne of methamphetamine from a consignment intercepted last year by the Kenyan navy about 630km off the Mombasa coast. BBC
Kenya Engages Ethiopia to End Ongoing Moyale Conflict
Kenya’s Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the government is engaging Ethiopia’s federal authorities to help end ongoing conflict in Moyale, as escalating clashes between Oromia and Somali regional forces have displaced tens of thousands of Ethiopians and forced Kenyan families living near the border to flee their homes. Douglas made the remarks on Thursday, 5 November, during a high-level security visit to Moyale. … He said protecting Kenyan communities along the border remains the government’s priority, adding that authorities were working to strengthen security through additional personnel and resources. … The fighting, which has continued for approximately two weeks, has driven more than 36,000 Ethiopians across the border into Kenya. The figure was subsequently reported to have exceeded 50,000 by Malik Adan, head of the Kenya Red Cross Upper Eastern region. Addis Standard
Nigeria: Army Rescues 119 Abducted Civilians, Recovers Eight Vehicles in Borno
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 119 civilians, including women and children, and recovered eight vehicles following an encounter with Boko Haram militants along a major road in Borno State. The rescue operation was conducted on Friday by troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, 27 Task Force Brigade, Sector 2, during a surveillance mission along the Dutsen Kura–Bulazarma–Kamuya road. … The rescued victims were subsequently reunited with their respective families. The source added that troops discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) around the Bam Buratai Junction–Bula Zarma general area while withdrawing from the operation. The discovery underscores the persistent threat posed by explosive devices along major routes in the North-East, where insurgents continue to target civilian movements and security operations. PR Nigeria
Nigeria: Air Force, Army Deepen Collaboration to Boost Civil-Military Relations, Public Trust
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian Army have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening inter-service collaboration, strategic communication and community engagement to enhance public trust and improve the effectiveness of military operations. The commitment was reinforced on November 4, 2026, when the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, NAF, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Nigerian Army, Major General Musa Awwal Estu-Ndagi, at the Army Headquarters Annex A in Abuja. … [Gabkwet] noted that effective strategic communication and continuous engagement with host communities were essential to building public confidence, securing community support and creating a favourable environment for military operations. The Air Force chief also emphasised the need for both services to share experiences, expertise and best practices to strengthen their capacity to address contemporary security challenges through effective non-kinetic operations. PR Nigeria
Sudan, South Sudan Differ at UN over Abyei Election Plan
Sudan and South Sudan have clashed diplomatically at the United Nations Security Council over plans by Juba to include the disputed Abyei region in its December 2026 general elections, with Khartoum warning that the move violates agreements between the two countries. The disagreement has exposed continuing tensions over Abyei’s unresolved political status, with the United Nations warning that South Sudan’s electoral plans could further strain relations between the neighbouring countries as the elections approach. … South Sudan plans to hold its first general elections since gaining independence in 2011 in December 2026. However, the inclusion of Abyei in its electoral constituencies has raised questions about holding elections in a territory whose final status remains contested by both countries. In a report covering developments between April 16 and October 1, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that South Sudan’s intention to include Abyei in its electoral districts could significantly increase political tensions. … Abyei has remained disputed since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, with the two countries unable to agree on arrangements for determining its final status. Radio Tamazuj
Sudanese Army Arrests Former Ruling Party Chief Ahmed Haroun after Podcast Appearance
The Sudanese army has arrested Ahmed Haroun, the former head of the dissolved National Congress Party, just two days after his first public appearance since the fall of Omar al-Bashir’s regime in 2019. Haroun is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed in Darfur. Initial reports indicated he was detained in Khartoum State, but conflicting details have emerged regarding the exact location of his capture. … The dissolved National Congress Party officially confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Sunday, condemning the move as an “arbitrary use of power.” … During the expansive four-hour interview, Haroun publicly discussed the 2019 collapse of the Beshir regime and the origins of the Rapid Support Forces. He also detailed his detention in Kober prison and the circumstances of his exit following the outbreak of the current war. Haroun was initially detained in April 2019 when a popular uprising forced the military ouster of al-Bashir and his government. Sudan Tribune
Armed Men Kill at Least 33 in Village in Ebola-hit Eastern DRC
Armed men have raided villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing dozens of people, according to authorities and civil society groups. The attackers also set fire to a health post during their overnight assault on Cantine, about 50km west of Beni in North Kivu province, forcing patients with confirmed and suspected Ebola infections to flee. Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group set fire to several houses and killed civilians, Beni territorial administrator Colonel Charles Omeonga told the Reuters news agency on Friday. … The violence forced many villagers to flee to other parts of the province, where the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history is raging. Among those who fled were 180 patients from the local hospital, including suspected Ebola cases and one confirmed Ebola case, said Christian Kakule, medical director of the Kelekele Hospital Centre in Cantine. Al Jazeera, AP, Reuters
Death Toll Rises to 39 after Migrant Boat Capsizes off Senegal
The death toll from the capsize off Senegal of a boat carrying migrants has risen to 39 following the discovery of new bodies on Monday, the country’s emergency services said. The boat, which left Saint-Louis in northern Senegal and was headed to the Spanish coast, overturned on Sunday, offshore from the town of Kébémer, north of the capital Dakar. The Ministry of Interior said Sunday at least 21 people had died and rescuers were looking for possible survivors. It did not say how many people were on the boat, but several passengers are still believed to be missing. Only one passenger was rescued alive. The boat was following a well-traveled migration route for thousands of young Senegalese seeking better economic conditions. AP
Egypt’s Last Surviving Free Press Being ‘Silenced’: Leading Journalist Facing Jail
Egypt’s latest prosecution of journalists attempts to “silence” the last surviving vestiges of the free press, Lina Attalah, head of preeminent outlet Mada Masr, told AFP days before she faces jail time in court. In recent weeks, Egypt has detained the entire staff of fact-checking platform Matsadaash, ordered the closure of Mada Masr and informed its chief of a one-year prison sentence handed down in absentia. … As Egypt grapples with economic and political struggles amid regional upheaval, Attalah said there seemed to be a belief that “silencing the media is the solution to Egypt’s problems”. Cairo has long been criticised for its rights record, and has for over a decade shuttered nearly all space for dissent. Attalah is one of Egypt’s most prominent journalists, 26 of whom are currently behind bars. … “The space has become deserted, as independent media. Nobody was there to report about what was really happening.” As a result, it is widely regarded as a crucial source of reporting and analysis on the Arab world’s most populous country. It is a role Attalah sees as even more vital given Cairo’s strategic importance. “Egypt is celebrated for being a haven of stability in the midst of a lot of instability in the region,” with armed conflict across each of its borders and beyond the Red Sea in the Gulf. “There is a lot of investment in its stability,” she explained, but “a margin of political space for civil and political rights is part of the stability calculus.” A belief that “stability can happen by just investing in power and the status quo”, she said, “is the wrong bet”. AFP