Africa Today: A Brief on Key Developments Across the Continent
Security & Human Rights: Turmoil in Tanzania — Protests Blocked and Rights Under Pressure
On 9 December 2025, authorities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital, deployed police and army forces in strength to block planned Independence Day protests. The demonstrations had been called by activists aiming to denounce what they describe as the violent suppression of dissent since the 29 October elections. The government declared that any protest would amount to an attempted coup and urged citizens to stay home. (Reuters)
The elections — in which Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared winner with nearly 98% of the vote — were marked by the exclusion of key opposition candidates and followed by widespread unrest. Opposition parties and rights groups claim that hundreds of protesters were killed during a post-election crackdown, with some citing as many as 700 deaths. (Al Jazeera)
International human rights organisations have condemned the heavy-handed response. Amnesty International has urged Tanzanian authorities to conduct independent investigations into the use of lethal force, and has warned against Internet shutdowns and restrictions on media — measures that risk undermining freedoms of expression, assembly, and access to information. (Amnesty International)
As the country marks Independence Day under heavy security surveillance, many cities reportedly stand nearly empty under curfews or travel restrictions. The situation is being closely monitored by the United Nations and various civil society groups, who warn against further escalation. (AP News)
Security & Human Rights: Nigeria’s School Kidnapping Crisis — Partial Rescue Amid Uncertainty
In Nigeria, the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State continues to draw regional condemnation. On 21 November 2025, armed gunmen stormed the boarding school in Papiri, seizing over 300 students — ranging in age from 10 to 18 — along with a number of staff. (Al Jazeera)
On 8 December, authorities announced the release of 100 of those children, who were reunited with their families after medical checks. The official statement did not clarify whether their release was the result of negotiation, ransom, or a security operation. (Reuters)
Still, a substantial number remain unaccounted for — reports vary, citing between 115 and 165 individuals (children and staff) still in captivity. Human-rights bodies on the continent, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union (AU), have condemned the kidnappings, calling them grave violations of children’s rights, security and safety norms across the region. (achpr.au.int)
These incidents add to a worrying trend of mass school abductions and attacks targeting children throughout Nigeria’s north-western and central states, fuelling growing national outrage and demands for comprehensive reform of school security, law enforcement and anti-kidnapping strategies. (Vanguard News)
Geopolitics & Regional Stability: West African Coup Wave — Benin’s Failed Putsch and Growing Unrest
West Africa continues to face heightened instability as military and paramilitary actors challenge constitutional order. On 7–8 December 2025, Benin experienced an attempted military coup led by a group calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation. Mutinous soldiers briefly seized strategic locations including the national television station before being repelled by government forces supported by allied West African troops. (The Guardian)
According to statements from the government, allied states including Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mobilised standby forces, while airstrikes neutralised mutinous armoured vehicles. The coup attempt underscores the fragility of democratic institutions across the region. (The Guardian)
In response to the growing tide of coups and security threats, ECOWAS has declared a regional “state of emergency.” Its leadership emphasises the urgency of restoring democratic norms, security cooperation, and collective action to prevent further military takeovers. (AP News)
The ripple effects of this instability are significant: from undermining investor confidence and economic growth, to disrupting trade corridors and aggravating humanitarian crises. The region’s democratic future is being called into question as mutinies and unrest spread.
Business & Infrastructure: Private-Sector Push for Africa’s Development Gains Momentum
Despite security headwinds, there are encouraging developments on the economic front, with investment funds and infrastructure projects signalling long-term optimism for growth across the continent.
For instance, a major new initiative — Pan‑African Infrastructure Fund — is set to launch through a partnership between FSDEA (Angola’s sovereign wealth fund) and London-based asset manager Gemcorp Capital. The fund aims to mobilise US$500 million for continent-wide infrastructure investment targeting critical sectors such as energy transition, water supply, food security, and critical mineral development. (Financial Times)
In another example of long-term planning, some North African states are accelerating port expansion and trade-infrastructure development, aiming to position themselves as regional logistics and transit hubs. These moves reflect a growing appetite for private-sector driven growth and continental economic integration, even as political instability lingers in certain regions.
Such investments, if managed well, hold promise to strengthen economic resilience, create jobs, and encourage intra-African trade — especially critical in a period where global economic uncertainties and security risks remain high.
Where Things Stand: A Continent at the Crossroads
The latest developments — from security crackdowns in East Africa, mass kidnappings in West Africa, regional coups, to ambitious investment drives — paint a picture of a continent grappling with contrasting realities:
- On one hand, democratic fragility, human-rights abuses, and emergent threats challenge stability and safety for millions.
- On the other, long-term investment initiatives and infrastructure development reflect hopes for growth, economic independence, and integration.
The coming weeks and months will likely test whether African nations can navigate these tensions, strengthen institutions, and uphold both security and human dignity — even as external and internal pressures mount.
