AFRICA

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Tensions are boiling over in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray as a splinter faction of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has taken control of key government offices and a radio station in the regional capital, Mekelle. With gunfire ringing out in nearby towns and fears of renewed violence gripping the region, residents are bracing for the worst.

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The movie “Nawi,” meaning “a daughter,”  set in the arid landscapes of Turkana, Kenya, where child marriage is rampant, is the story of a 13-year-old girl who has been forced into marriage. At the helm of this film project is Michelle Lemuya Ikeny, 15 years old and playing the title role.

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Nigerians are expressing outrage after major phone networks, including MTN and Airtel, significantly increased mobile data prices. The increases, which saw MTN triple the cost of one of its popular weekly offers, come despite the telecoms regulator capping price hikes at 50% three weeks ago. The phone companies cite rising costs as the reason for seeking higher revenue.

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In recent months, Kenya has witnessed a disturbing resurgence of enforced disappearances, particularly targeting government critics and activists. Since June 2024, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has documented at least 82 abductions, with 24 individuals still unaccounted for.

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In a politically charged exchange, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held discussions with billionaire Elon Musk regarding what he described as "misinformation and distortions" about South Africa's land reform policies. This conversation, announced by the South African presidency, came just a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off aid to the nation, citing alleged human rights violations and unfair treatment of White farmers.

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In a shocking turn of events, hundreds of illegal miners, locally known as “zama zamas,” spent months trapped in the abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, in a situation that has since turned into a humanitarian crisis. The ordeal began in August 2024 when police initiated Operation Vala Umgodi-an operation meaning “Close the Hole”-to combat illegal mining activities. The police sealed the entry points and cut off food and water supplies, hoping the miners would surface. This strategy precipitated the most disastrous outcomes imaginable.

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The High Court of Kenya has ordered the National Transport and Safety Authority and the Traffic Police to release all impounded matatus and return their confiscated registration plates. Justice Bahati Mwamuye delivered a ruling that has evoked much attention, an indication of increasing tension between regulatory enforcement and the rights of public service vehicle operators.