Guinea’s main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo has said that “direct resistance” to the country’s coup leader–turned–president is now the only remaining path to change, after the authorities dissolved 40 political parties. The authorities accused the parties of not complying with the law – a charge they have rejected. The move comes two months after former junta head Mamady Doumbouya was sworn-in as president, following an election that saw some key challengers barred from running. Doumbouya, who came to power in 2021 after overthrowing Condé, has been accused of cracking down on democratic freedoms. Among the parties dissolved were the…
Author: Montage Africa
40,000 voices, 500 Accents. 24 New Languages. Intron Sahara-v2 Sets the Standard for African Voice AI Built on 14 million+ audio clips, 50,000 hours, from 40,000+ African speakers, the new release outperforms leading global models on several benchmarks, and introduces the inaugural 2026 Africa Voice AI Report “Sorry I didn’t catch that” – a familiar frustration for millions of Africans using voice technology like Siri and Alexa, where common phrases and names like “No worry, e go better” becomes “No war eagle butter”, “Wanjiru” becomes “One zero” and “Chukwuebuka” becomes “Check wheelchair baker”. These repeated failures aren’t just technical gaffes, they…
By Rédaction Africanews U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the war against Iran could be short-lived, but he left open the possibility of an escalation in fighting if global oil supplies are disrupted by the Islamic Republic, which chose a new hard-line supreme leader. Oil prices briefly shot to their highest level since 2022 a day after Iran selected Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as Iran’s supreme leader. Investors saw it as a signal that Iran was digging in 10 days into the war launched by the United States and Israel. But prices later fell and…
Internationally acclaimed artist and Afrobeats pioneer Tiwa Savage today officially launches the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a new philanthropic initiative dedicated to discovering, developing, and empowering the next generation of African music creatives. The Foundation is rooted in a simple belief that the music industry is far bigger than just the artist alone. Behind every global hit are producers, songwriters, sound engineers, music executives, and creative professionals whose work shapes culture. Yet across Africa, access to structured, world-class training for these careers remains limited. The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation was created to expand that access, building pathways not only for performers, but for the…
Ghana has called on the Commonwealth to condemn Friday’s missile attack on its United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon which injured four of its soldiers. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa did not say who was responsible when speaking at a Commonwealth meeting on Sunday but said the bombing was “an attack on every principle that the UN Charter exists to defend”. Israel has been striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, after the Iranian-backed Shia group said it launched rockets and drones at the Israeli city of Haifa last week to avenge the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. All…
By Africanews The United Nations opened the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women Monday, with Secretary-General António Guterres declaring that “gender equality is, and always has been, a question of power,” as senior officials called for stronger access to justice for women and girls worldwide and warned that equality remains an unfulfilled promise. The main theme for this year’s session is ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers. Guterres told delegates that progress on…
The 2026 State of the Nation (SONA) address reaffirmed the commitments made by the Government of National Unity (GNU) to inclusive economic growth, job creation, and reducing poverty and the cost of living. These pillars are foundational to any credible national growth strategy. But they cannot become abstract economic ambitions disconnected from the everyday realities of the millions of South Africans who earn a living through small and independent businesses. Across South Africa, small and medium enterprise (SME) retailers form a critical layer of the national economy. They include township spaza shops, informal grocers and stokvel-linked merchants, but also independent…
Madagascar’s military ruler Col Michael Randrianirina has dissolved the government unexpectedly, dismissing the prime minister and the entire cabinet, according to a statement from his spokesperson. “The government has ceased its functions” it said, adding that Randrianirina will appoint a new prime minister “in line with the provisions stipulated by the constitution”. No reason was given for the move. Randrianirina seized power last October from Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of youth-led protests on the Indian Ocean island. Rajoelina had been elected president for a third term in a disputed poll in 2023. From prison to presidential palace: Who is Madagascar’s…
By Michael Oduor with AFP Oil prices have surged past the $100 mark, as conflict in the Middle East intensifies. Brent crude jumped 17 percent today to trade at $107 a barrel. That’s the highest level since 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine roiled global energy markets. The spike comes as Iran names the late Supreme Leader’s son as the new head of the Islamic Republic, deepening political uncertainty in the region. At sea, around 10 vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have been attacked since Iran moved to block the strategic waterway in response to US–Israeli airstrikes,…
South Africa’s latest budget has sparked cautious optimism, with officials suggesting the country’s strained public finances may finally be stabilizing. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana pointed to easing debt pressures and declining bond yields as early signs of recovery, helped by a stronger rand and steady inflation expectations. Yet economists warn that the country has not reached a true economic turning point. Growth remains sluggish—at just 1.4% in 2025 and projected to reach 1.6% in 2026—while unemployment stays above 30% and investment levels remain far below what the economy needs. Structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela, including changes to electricity, logistics, and…