🇿🇦 Canal+ Completes MultiChoice Takeover French media giant Canal+ has finalised a $2 billion acquisition of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, consolidating its presence in African broadcasting markets.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia Appoints New Central Bank Governor Eyob Tekalign, a key figure in Ethiopia’s economic reforms since 2018, has been appointed governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia.
🇰🇪 Kenya Blocks Cement Stake Sale Kenya’s parliament has asked East African Portland Cement to buy back a 29% stake held by Holcim, to prevent a potential sale to a Tanzanian investor.
🇲🇺 Mauritius Central Bank Governor Resigns Rama Sithanen has stepped down from his role amid a power struggle within the Bank of Mauritius, following a request from the prime minister.
🌍 Geopolitics & Policy
🇲🇼 Malawi Detains Electoral Staff Eight poll officials were arrested amid accusations of vote manipulation, after President Lazarus Chakwera’s party raised concerns over electoral integrity.
🇸🇸 Machar Trial Begins in South Sudan Riek Machar, suspended First Vice President, appeared in court facing treason and terrorism charges. His legal team challenged the court’s jurisdiction. ↳ Meanwhile, independent media were barred from covering the trial. Only state broadcaster SSBC was allowed access.
🇸🇩 Sudan Civilian Bloc Calls for AU Talks Delay Sudan’s Somoud coalition urged the African Union to postpone October political consultations, citing humanitarian crises and lack of inclusivity.
🇲🇼 Mutharika Leads Malawi Election Former president Peter Mutharika has taken an early lead in the presidential polls, with 51% of votes counted in 25% of constituencies.
🇹🇿 Tanzania Court Upholds Treason Charge The High Court dismissed Tundu Lissu’s objection against a treason charge, allowing the controversial case to proceed.
🇬🇳 Guinea Referendum Underway Guineans voted on a new constitution that could enable junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president. Critics call it a power grab.
🇹🇩 Chad Drops Presidential Term Limits Chad’s National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment removing term limits, sparking concerns about the “burial of democracy.”
🇹🇬 Togo Rapper Arrested Again Outspoken rapper Aamron, known for criticizing President Faure Gnassingbé, was re-arrested amid a broader crackdown on dissent.
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau Opposition Leader Returns Domingos Simões Pereira returned from exile to submit his presidential candidacy, months after fleeing due to security threats.
🇩🇯 Djibouti Presidential Spokesman Resigns Presidential adviser Alexis Mohamed resigned, citing democratic backsliding and nepotism under President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh.
🇳🇬 Nigeria-Cuba Ties Strengthen Nigerian Speaker Abbas Tajudeen called for deeper parliamentary diplomacy with Cuba to enhance cooperation in health, education, and research.
🇰🇪 Ruto Demands African UN Representation Kenyan President William Ruto urged African unity to secure permanent seats on the UN Security Council, calling Africa’s exclusion “indefensible.”
🧬 Tech & Innovation
🇨🇮 Djamo Licensed to Operate as Microfinance Bank Côte d’Ivoire’s fintech startup Djamo secured a microfinance license, enabling it to offer credit, savings, and current accounts.
🇿🇦 Sygnia Warns Against Bitcoin Overexposure Asset manager Sygnia advised clients to limit investments in its Bitcoin ETF, citing risk concerns despite managing $20 billion in assets.
💥 Security & Human Rights
🇲🇿 Beheadings Reported in Mozambique Port Attack Militants attacked Mocímboa da Praia, a strategic gas port in Cabo Delgado, beheading civilians in the second such incident this month. ↳ Conflict deaths in the region have surpassed 6,200 since 2017 (ACLED).
🇸🇩 El Fashir Crisis: Civilians Trapped, Aid Blocked In Sudan’s besieged El Fashir, over 250,000 civilians face starvation, disease, and shelling, with only one clinic partially functioning. ↳ Doctors Without Borders warned of an impending bloodbath if fighting escalates.
🌱 Climate & Energy
🇳🇦 Canada’s Oregen Expands in Namibia’s Oil Frontier Canadian firm Oregen Energy increased its stake in WestOil, targeting exploration in Namibia’s Orange Basin, a budding oil hotspot.
💊 Health & Development
🌍 Africa CDC to Invest $3.2 Billion in Local Pharma The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced a $3.2 billion fund to support local drug and vaccine manufacturing, reducing import dependency.
