Security

A devastating crowd crush at Accra’s El-Wak Sports Stadium claimed the lives of six people and injured dozens more on Wednesday, exposing the desperate lengths young Ghanaians are willing to go for a stable job. The tragedy unfolded during a nationwide recruitment exercise for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), which had drawn a massive and ultimately fatal turnout.

The stampede erupted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, well before the screening process was set to begin. According to a press release issued by the GAF on their official X (formerly Twitter) platform, the chaotic surge was triggered by an unexpected rush of applicants who overwhelmed the limited security protocols and forced their way through the stadium gates. The statement confirmed that six potential recruits died in the crush, while preliminary reports indicated that as many as 28 others were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital, with a number of them in critical condition.

As the Afreximbank Compliance Forum 2025 is currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda, the continent’s plan to combat illicit financial flows became clear. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now Africa’s best defense against dirty money.

The forum brought together experts to tackle financial crime, a severe problem that’s far more damaging than just complex schemes.

Mahmoud Mhiri, an Executive Partner at Vneuron, explained that financial crime, particularly Anti-Money Laundering (AML), harms the entire economy. AML is the process where criminals hide funds generated from illegal acts like corruption or fraud by cycling them through the legal financial system.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says 17 South Africans who joined mercenary groups fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war are now trapped in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

According to government spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, the men, aged between 20 and 39, contacted South African authorities asking for help to return home.

President Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how these men were recruited into what he called “mercenary activities.” Officials have not confirmed which side of the conflict they were fighting for.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been re-elected with 97.6% of the vote, the Tanzanian Electoral Commission announced on Saturday. The landslide victory follows a tense election marked by the exclusion of major opposition figures, low voter turnout, and violent protests.

The final results, released three days after polls closed, confirmed what many observers had already expected. Most of Hassan’s main challengers were barred from running or detained months before the vote, leaving her with minimal competition.

For the second consecutive day, residents of Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala, have taken to the streets in protest following the announcement that President Paul Biya has secured a controversial eighth term in office.

Security forces have been heavily deployed across multiple neighborhoods, as demonstrations turned violent amid growing anger over the 92-year-old leader’s re-election.

Reports from the city describe barricades, burning tires, and live gunfire, as clashes broke out between protesters and police. Public transport has been halted, and many businesses remain closed as residents fear further escalation.

Polling stations are set to open this Saturday in Ivory Coast, but the excitement of a democratic exercise is being eclipsed by mounting political tension. The nation, West Africa’s economic anchor, is bracing for a presidential election widely expected to hand 83-year-old incumbent Alassane Ouattara a controversial fourth term.

The final days of campaigning have seen President Ouattara, in power since 2011, appeal directly to the country’s massive youth demographic. He touts his administration’s strong economic growth and massive infrastructure development, urging young citizens to vote for the candidate committed to their future.

For years, the home of Bizimana Damascene and Tuyishimire Valerie in Cyahinda Sector, Nyaruguru District, was filled with pain and conflict. Constant family fights, often caused by alcohol abuse, created fear and sadness in their household.

Today, that same home is a story of peace, love, and progress, all thanks to training and support from the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE).

Valerie Tuyishimire, 38 years old, recalls those dark days with emotion.

At a roundtable held on the sidelines of the Africa HealthTech Summit 2025 in Kigali, innovators, policymakers and development leaders came together to discuss one urgent question. How can technology secure Africa’s food and nutrition Future. The session, organized by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development, brought practical solutions, bold ideas and a call for stronger integration across sectors.

Jean Claude Akarikumutima, CEO and founder of Faminga Ltd, emphasized that Africa does not lack innovation it lacks integration.

President of the Republic of Rwanda  Paul Kagame on Friday commissioned more than one thousand new officers at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, officially welcoming them into the Rwanda Defence Force. The graduates completed different military training programmes and were all awarded the rank of Second Lieutenant during the ceremony attended by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, military officials and families of the cadets.

In his address, President Kagame reminded the new officers that their achievement comes with responsibility. “No one should think that just because we are making progress, there is room for complacency. We are not where we want to be yet, the journey is still long. There is still a lot of work to do, and it still requires your service and resilience.” He emphasised that Rwanda expects full commitment from its young generation of officers.

At least 22 people were killed in Niger’s Tillabéri region on Wednesday when armed men riding motorbikes attacked villages, according to local reports. Most of the victims were attending a baptism ceremony.

Witnesses say the gunmen first opened fire during the baptism, killing 15 people on the spot. As they fled, they shot dead another seven people nearby. Authorities in Niamey confirmed the attack but did not share official numbers.