🌍 Tech: AI and Connectivity Drive Transformation
Africa’s digital landscape is accelerating with major investments in infrastructure and innovation:
- MTN South Sudan has partnered with Starlink to expand satellite internet nationwide, aiming to bridge rural connectivity gaps.
- Sierra Leone launched a groundbreaking AI readiness assessment with World Bank support, marking a regional first in evaluating civil service integration of artificial intelligence.
- Raxio and Laser Light announced a joint initiative to boost internet access across seven African markets, focusing on underserved regions.
- In Nigeria, Cubbes, an AI-powered edtech startup, is gaining traction by digitizing academic resources and peer mentorship for university students.
⚖️ Human Rights: Galamsey Crisis Declared Emergency
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has declared Ghana’s illegal mining crisis, known as galamsey, a human rights emergency.
- The Commission cited political complicity, environmental degradation, and child exploitation in mining zones.
- Recommendations include declaring key regions as security zones, launching independent investigations, and establishing emergency support funds for affected farmers.
- The upcoming African Business and Human Rights Forum in Lusaka (7–9 October) will focus on remedy, reparations, and responsible business conduct across the continent.
🏛️ Politics: Kabila Sentenced, COP30 Unity Call
Political tensions are rising across several regions:
- In the Democratic Republic of Congo, former President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes, treason, and conspiracy. The verdict has sparked controversy and may complicate peace efforts in eastern Congo.
- Madagascar’s president dissolved his government following deadly youth-led protests over deteriorating living conditions.
- Ahead of COP30, East African activists are urging leaders to adopt a Pan-African ecological agenda, prioritizing indigenous knowledge and sustainable development over profit-driven policies.
🔐 Security: AU Condemns Foreign Military Presence
The African Union Peace and Security Council has condemned the growing presence of uninvited foreign military forces and mercenaries on the continent.
- The AU is pushing for the deployment of the African Standby Force to counter destabilization and illegal resource exploitation.
- Concerns were raised over the externalization of African conflicts, with calls to harmonize peace initiatives under AU leadership.
- The Council also emphasized the need to revamp early warning systems and strengthen natural resource governance frameworks.
Sources:
Ghana Business News
OHCHR
ACI Africa
TechAfrica News
Connecting Africa
GhanaWeb
Al Jazeera
The Reporter Ethiopia
