By AP Myanmar heard accusations that it is responsible for genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority at the top court of the United Nations, as long-awaited hearings began on Monday. The West African country of The Gambia first filed the case at the International Court of Justice in 2019, arguing a so-called “clearance operation” by Myanmar’s military in 2017 violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. The Southeast Asian country, which has since been taken over by the military, has denied the allegations. In his opening statements, Gambian Justice Minister Dawda Jallow said his country brought the case after its own experience…
Author: Montage Africa
By Rédaction Africanews and Agencies Somalia says it has cancelled all agreements with the United Arab Emirates due to evidence the Gulf state is engaged in undermining Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence. The rift is reportedly due to the UAE’s tacit support for Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state. Abu Dhabi built and controls a deep-water port and military base in the Somaliland city of Berbera. Saudi Arabia has also accused the UAE of helping a Yemeni separatist flee to Abu Dhabi through the port in Berbera, something Mogadishu described as an…
A major overhaul of Africa’s football calendar is poised to ignite a fierce battle for broadcasting rights. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to shift its premier tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to a four-year cycle starting in 2028, while introducing a new annual African Nations League. This strategic move, which aligns AFCON with European schedules, aims to shore up CAF’s finances by creating scarcity and increasing the value of its media packages. Analysts predict a lucrative scramble when current rights deals expire, likely attracting streaming giants such as Netflix. While the changes address long-standing pressure from…
By Agencies with AP Beneath a sprawling eight-lane expressway, men stand waist-deep in the Lagos Lagoon, scooping sand from the murky water to fuel Africa’s fastest-growing megacity. Dredging has become a booming business as demand for sand, essential for concrete and land reclamation, rises with Lagos’ rapid development. “Dredging is an easy process,” says dredging operator Joshua Alex. “We extract sand from under the water… this barge is the transporter, and when we load it, we take it to the destination.” But for fishing communities like Makoko, one of Lagos’ oldest waterfront settlements, the cost is steep. Barges now operate…
By Ayomide Bode-Asa Artificial intelligence is no longer something used only by large technology companies. A small shop owner can use AI to write an advert for Instagram. A family-run restaurant can use it to create a menu or respond to customer enquiries. Someone running an online fashion business from home can use it to improve product descriptions, prepare invoices or plan marketing campaigns. For many small businesses across Africa, this is attractive because there may be no marketing department, IT team or dedicated administrator. Sometimes the business team is one person. Sometimes it is a husband and wife,…
Guinea has officially entered a new era as the Supreme Court upheld General Mamadi Doumbouya’s landslide victory, confirming the junta leader as the nation’s president-elect four years after he seized power. Doumbouya secured 86.7% of the vote in the country’s first post-coup election, a result long anticipated by analysts and upheld despite a legal challenge from the runner-up, who later withdrew his petition. Doumbouya now calls for national unity, promising a future of peace and sovereignty. Critics, however, note that the election took place amid a weakened opposition and significant public dissent. The vote was held under a new constitution that lifted restrictions on…
Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama has reached the pinnacle of the global art world, topping ArtReview’s influential Power 100 list and becoming the first African to do so. Mahama rose to prominence after his 2015 Venice Biennale installation, which transformed stitched burlap sacks—once used in Ghana’s cocoa trade—into a powerful meditation on labor, colonialism, and global exchange. Since then, his collaborative, material-driven practice has earned international acclaim and financial success, which he reinvests into building public art institutions in northern Ghana. Rooted in ideas of collectivity and redistribution shaped by his upbringing, Mahama sees his recognition not as personal triumph, but as part of…
The UN Security Council has welcomed five new non-permanent members—Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia, and Liberia—for the 2026–2027 term, reshaping the global body’s diplomatic mix. For the DRC, the seat marks a return after 35 years and comes with renewed emphasis on peacekeeping reform, drawing on its long experience hosting the MONUSCO mission. Liberia, meanwhile, joins the Council for the first time since 1961, pledging bridge-building and consensus-driven diplomacy. Alongside Somalia, both African nations will represent the continent during a pivotal period. For Kinshasa, the role also raises hopes of advancing international efforts to resolve the conflict in…
A new Abu Dhabi- and Microsoft-backed initiative, Map Africa, aims to transform how the continent is planned, governed, and protected by building a live, continuously updated digital map of all 54 African countries. The initiative combines satellite imagery from Abu Dhabi’s Space42, software from Esri, and cloud infrastructure from Microsoft. With these tools, Map Africa will track everything from roads and ports to floods, farms, and informal settlements, aiming to provide high-resolution data of the continent. Unlike past fragmented efforts, Map Africa focuses on continental harmonization while giving national governments ownership of their data. The initiative also promises commercial opportunities for startups…
Cameroon booked their place in the AFCON quarterfinals with a hard-fought 2–1 win over South Africa, setting up a blockbuster clash with hosts Morocco. Goals from Junior Tchamadeu before halftime and teenage striker Christian Kofane just after the break proved decisive, despite a late rally that saw Evidence Makgopa pull one back for Bafana Bafana. The victory caps a remarkable turnaround for the five-time champions after a turbulent pre-tournament coaching change. The Atlas Lions secured their own spot after a magic moment from Brahim Diaz sank a resilient Tanzania. With the pressure mounting on the home favorites, can Cameroon pull off the ultimate upset?