Category: African News

The election observation missions to Guinea-Bissau set up by the African Union and Economic Community of West African States, and the West African Elders Forum, have condemned the halt of the announcement of presidential and legislative elections and subsequent military takeover in the West African country.

This is also as Observer Missions, Former Heads Of Gov’t Trapped in Guinea‑Bissau. Former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and ex-President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, were among top dignitaries held up in Guinea-Bissau yesterday after the military in the West African country announced that they had taken over power.

According to ThisDay, they can confirm that the African leaders were safe in their hotel rooms as of last night, flights in and out of the country had been suspended, while there was no authority in Guinea Bissau to discuss exit plans with.

Besides, many of the election observers who were supposed to leave the country either last night or today (Thursday) were stranded as a result of the flight cancellations. The African leaders were in the country on an election observer mission.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the election missions deplored what they described as “a blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” in Guinea-Bissau.

The statement was signed by Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, Filipe Nyusi; Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, Issifu Kamara; and Head of the West African Elders Forum, Goodluck Jonathan.

The missions called on the AU and ECOWAS to take necessary steps to restore constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.

The statement read, “We express deep concern with the announcement of coup d’etat by the armed forces, while the nation was waiting for the announcement of the results.

“It is regrettable that this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people.

“We deplore this blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process and the gains that we have achieved thus far. We request the African Union and the ECOWAS to take the necessary steps to restore constitutional order.”

The people of Guinea-Bissau had gone to the polls on Saturday with both current president, Umaro Embalo and opposition candidate, Fernando Dias, who are frontrunners in the election, declaring victory.

However, while the people of the country awaited the final declaration of results, on Thursday, military officers announced on Wednesday that they were taking “total control of the country, suspending its electoral process and closing its borders.”

Their announcement followed heavy gunfire that rang out near the presidential palace earlier in the day, with men in military uniform taking over the main road leading to the building.

In the early afternoon, General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, told members of the press that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces, was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice”.

He read the announcement seated at a table and surrounded by armed soldiers.

N’Canha, in his declaration, claimed to have uncovered a plan to destabilise the country “involving national drug lords” that had included “the introduction of weapons into the country to alter the constitutional order”.

In addition to halting “the entire electoral process”, he said military forces had suspended “all media programming” and imposed a mandatory curfew.

In its statement following the military takeover, the AU and ECOWAS missions bemoaned that the military announcement came not long after meeting the two leading presidential candidates and extracting their assurances to abide by the will of the people.

They further demanded that the Armed Forces immediately release the detained officials of the electoral commission for them to conclude the electoral process.

The statement read, “We express concern about the arrests of top officials, including those who are in charge of the electoral process. In this regard, we urge the armed forces to immediately release the detained officials to allow the country’s electoral process to proceed to its conclusion.

“We call on the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, and we affirm our commitment to supporting the country on its democratic path, and in this respect, we underscore the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau Guinean people during this sensitive period.”

The West African country has experienced four coups since independence, as well as multiple attempted coups.

At least eight people have been killed and 400 injured as thousands took to the streets in a day of protests across Kenya against President William Ruto’s government.

Police clashed with protesters in the capital Nairobi and other cities exactly a year on from the wave of deadly anti-government demonstrations that hit the nation in 2024.

Many of those demonstrating chanted “Ruto must go” and waved branches as a symbol of peaceful opposition to his rule.

The government banned live TV and radio coverage of the protests, but its decree was overturned by the High Court in the capital, Nairobi.

Ruto urged protesters not to threaten peace and stability, as crowds tried to reach his official residence but were pushed back by police.

“Protests should not be to destroy peace in Kenya. We do not have another country to go to when things go wrong. It is our responsibility to keep our country safe,” he said.

The president was speaking at a burial ceremony in the coastal county of Kilifi.

His absence from State House, his official residence, was notable as young protesters threatened to storm it.

Police used barricades and razor wire to seal off major roads – especially those leading to State House and parliament.

The authorities have not yet given any casualty figures from Wednesday’s protests, but the Kenya Medical Association, Law Society of Kenya and the Police Reforms Working Group said in a joint statement that at least eight protesters were killed.

Of the 400 injured, 83 required “specialised treatment” and eight had suffered gunshot wounds. The injured included three police officers, the statement added.

A human rights group – Amnesty Kenya – put the death toll as high as 16.

One demonstrator, Amina Mude, told the BBC she joined the protests “to fight for the future of my kids”.

“I feel like as a country we’re not going in the right direction, especially in education and everything happening.

“I feel like it’s high time that the country and the leadership listens to us.”

In Nairobi, video footage showed plumes of white tear gas drifting between buildings, sending protesters scrambling for cover, coughing, and shielding their eyes.

In the heart of the city, protesters marched past shuttered shops and empty streets.

The fence around parliament was lined with wreaths and handwritten notes from grieving families and defiant youths – a reminder of last year’s unrest at the site.

A young woman draped in a Kenyan flag clutched a poster bearing the names of those killed a year ago by the security forces as they tried to end the protests. BBC

This decision was outlined in a new charter released on March 31, which declares that while Hausa will be the national language, English and French will remain the working languages.

Hausa, already the most widely spoken language in Niger, is used by around 26 million people, particularly in regions such as Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua.

In contrast, French is spoken by only about 13 percent of the population, approximately three million people. The adoption of Hausa aims to reflect the linguistic reality of the country and strengthen national identity.

The change follows a national conference held in February 2025, where the ruling military junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, gained additional support.

In addition to adopting Hausa, the conference also led to the recognition of nine other local languages as “the spoken languages of Niger,” including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic.

This move is seen as part of the junta’s broader efforts to promote local culture and heritage, further distancing the country from its colonial influences.

The development comes as they seek to fund a new three-state union after leaving the larger regional economic bloc, they said in a statement.

According to an official statement by the trio, the levy was agreed on Friday and will take effect immediately.

It will affect all goods imported from outside the three countries but will not include humanitarian aid, the statement said.

It will “finance the activities” of the bloc, it said, without giving details.

The move ends free trade across West Africa, whose states have for decades fallen under the umbrella of the ECOWAS, and highlights the rift between the three states that border the Sahara Desert and influential democracies like Nigeria and Ghana to the south.

The three countries, each ruled by military juntas that came to power through recent coups in 2023, had established the Alliance of Sahel States as a security agreement following their exit from ECOWAS bloc.

Over time, this alliance evolved into an aspiring economic union with plans to promote deeper military and financial integration, including introducing biometric passports.

Last year, the three nations left ECOWAS, citing claims that the bloc had not sufficiently supported them in fighting Islamist insurgencies and addressing insecurity in their countries.

In retaliation, ECOWAS had imposed economic, political and financial sanctions on the three in a bid to force them to return to constitutional order, to little effect. Channels TV

The endorsement came at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which concluded on Sunday in Addis Ababa.

Nigeria’s proactive role in advancing the digital trade protocol, adopted in February 2024, was a key factor in the decision.

The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol encompasses eight annexes covering crucial areas such as rules of origin, digital identities, cross-border data transfers, online safety, and financial technology.

The protocol is expected to provide a robust framework for Africa’s digital economy.

According to a statement issued on Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, former President of Niger Republic and AU AfCFTA Champion, Mahamadou Issoufou, praised Nigeria’s leadership, particularly for convening the Digital Economy Roundtable in January.

“No organisation, region, or continent has negotiated or adopted such a comprehensive legal instrument on digital trade, positioning the African continent to benefit from the digital economy for innovation and job creation,” Issoufou said in his progress report to the AU Assembly.

He also highlighted Africa’s growing influence in digital innovation, particularly in mobile banking and financial technology, and noted that the protocol would create an enabling environment for young African entrepreneurs.

“The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade will establish a conducive environment for these young people to fully participate in Africa’s digital economy,” Issoufou added.

Reflecting on the roundtable in Abuja, he commended President Bola Tinubu and his administration for facilitating discussions with key stakeholders.

“The Roundtable was attended by young pioneers in Fintech, mobile banking and other areas of the digital economy. It was evident from the discussions that young people are eager to take advantage of Africa’s digital economy through the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade”, he said.

Speaking at the AU summit, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described the AU’s endorsement as a milestone in Africa’s economic development.

“Africa has demonstrated global leadership by pioneering the first-of-its-kind AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade—establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework,” Dr. Oduwole stated.

She emphasized that the protocol is a “game changer” for the continent, predicting that it would generate millions of jobs, contribute billions to Africa’s GDP, and attract significant investments in digital infrastructure. Nation