A fresh report has revealed that the United States may have relied partly on information provided by Emeka Umeagbalasi, a screwdriver trader based in Onitsha, Anambra State, before launching recent airstrikes in Nigeria. According to a New York Times investigation, Umeagbalasi, founder of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has been cited by US Republican lawmakers in pushing claims that Christians are being systematically targeted and killed in Nigeria. On December 26, the United States carried out airstrikes on ISIS terrorists in northwestern Sokoto State, an operation the US said was conducted at the request…
Author: Montage Africa
Senegal have defeated Morocco 1-0 in a dramatic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday night. It was a tight affair between the top-two ranked countries on the continent in Rabat. And there were no goals in the first half. The second half was tilting towards a 0-0, until the ref disallowed Ismaila Sarr’s header for a foul on Achraf Hakimi. In the 97th minute, the Atlas Lions were awarded a controversial penalty. After a lot of tension, which saw the Senegalese players walk off the pitch, Brahim Diaz saw his weak panenka saved by Eduoard Mendy. Pape Gueye…
The prize money for the top three teams at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been confirmed. Senegal have won the trophy after beating hosts Morocco 1-0, thanks to an extra-time goal. Pape Gueye lashed in a stunning effort with only three minutes played and it proved to be decisive. The match had ended 0-0 after 120 minutes. CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, announced a record $10m prize for the champions, an increase from $7m in 2023. The runner-ups Morocco received $4m, while Nigeria got $2.5m and fourth-placed Egypt earned $1.3m. Quarter-finalists were awarded $800,000 each, teams finishing
Across South Africa, a growing number of studios and facilitators are inviting adults to trade adrenaline-fueled trips for hands-on creative adventures. Designed to be relaxed and welcoming, these experiences range from pottery and ceramics workshops to wine-infused paint sessions that emphasize enjoyment over perfection. Ceramics workshops, in particular, have become a favorite for their calming, tactile appeal, while sip-and-paint events offer an easy, social entry into creativity. Beyond studio walls, guided sketching walks and outdoor art sessions blend creativity with exploration, encouraging participants to see familiar places differently. With no experience required, these art adventures reward curiosity, connection, and the simple…
By Rédaction Africanews and AP Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday, as part of his weekly message to the faithful in Saint Peter’s Square. Eastern Congo is facing renewed violence after decades of fighting between government forces and dozens of armed groups vying for control of the mineral-rich area. “Today I would like to recall in particular the great difficulties faced by the population of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, forced to flee their country, especially towards Burundi, because of the violence, facing a serious humanitarian crisis,”…
By AP Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told the nation on Sunday that his landslide election victory showed the dominance of his party, which has governed the east African country for four decades. Museveni said a day after he was declared the winner that the result gave “a good taste of the strength” of his party. “The opposition was lucky,” he said about his victory despite low voter turnout in Thursday’s election. “10 million of my people did not turn up. They (the opposition) would have been embarrassed badly,” said Museveni. Voter turnout stood at 52 percent, the lowest since Uganda’s…
The Nigerian government has finally set the stage for the trial of a foremost legal luminary, Professor Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over alleged forgery and use of false documents in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom. An indication to this effect emerged with the filing of a criminal charge against the human rights crusader and constitutional legal practitioner. A three-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 was filed against him at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head of the High-Profile Prosecution Department at the Independent Corrupt Practices and…
The World Bank approved $100 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Benin promote access to finance and growth for women entrepreneurs in both the formal and informal sectors. The Women Entrepreneurship Development and Access to Finance Program (WEDAF) is a results-based program (PforR). It will support the government in setting up a Women’s Business Center and provide more than 10,000 women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with access to loans, training, mentoring, and career advice. This results-based program will competitively select a cohort of promising enterprises led or owned by women-Les Agodjié, who are the champions of…
Nigeria has taken a major step toward becoming a regional minerals-processing powerhouse with the launch of a high-purity gold refinery in Lagos and the near-commissioning of a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State. Announced by Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake, the projects signal a clear shift away from exporting raw minerals toward value-added production. Three additional gold refineries are also in development, a move expected to curb illegal exports, improve traceability, and boost investor confidence. The lithium plant is set to feed global battery and renewable energy supply chains, aligning Nigeria with the green energy transition. By prioritizing value…
By Agencies Residents of Makoko, one of Lagos’ oldest fishing communities, are struggling to survive after the Lagos State government demolished parts of the densely populated waterfront settlement, leaving thousands without shelter and livelihoods. Bulldozers moved into sections of Makoko in late December, pulling down wooden homes and shops built on stilts above the lagoon. State authorities say the demolitions were carried out for safety and urban planning reasons, citing environmental risks and the presence of buildings near high-voltage power lines. But displaced residents say they received little or no warning and were left with nowhere to go. “On January…