Morocco has increased its 2026 budget for the health and education sectors by 16%, allocating 140 billion dirhams ($15 billion) to improve service delivery and address long-standing social demands across the country. According to a statement from the royal palace, the increased funding reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening social welfare and reducing inequalities, following recent youth-led protests calling for better healthcare and education. The allocation represents about 10% of Morocco’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The royal palace also projected that “the country’s economy would grow by 4.8% in 2026, up from 3.8% in 2024, driven by domestic demand and…
Author: Montage Africa
Madagascar’s coup leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina has named businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as the nation’s new prime minister. Randrianirina who was sworn in as President on Friday seized power a few days before, in the wake of massive youth-led protests that forced out his predecessor. The new leader said he appointed Rajaonarivelo as head of government due to his experience and “connection with international organisations that work with us.” He replaces Ruphin Zafisambo, who was appointed by former president Andrey Rajoelina just two weeks ago. Rajaonarivelo is a well-known figure in the Malagasy economic and financial ecosystem. Prior to his appointment, he led…
His location remains unknown following an apparent coup attempt led by an elite army unit that joined mass youth-led anti-government protests demanding his resignation. The country has been gripped by weeks of demonstrations that began over electricity and water shortages and have since grown into a broader movement against poverty, corruption, and rising living costs. Thousands of mostly young protesters again filled the streets of Antananarivo on Tuesday, calling for Rajoelina to step down amid mounting frustration over his leadership. A turning point came on Saturday when the powerful CAPSAT military unit defected and declared control of Madagascar’s armed forces.…
Vote counting is currently underway in Cameroon after Sunday’s presidential election, where longtime leader Paul Biya is seeking to prolong his 43-year rule. Biya, 92, is the world’s oldest current head of state. He faces competition from nine other candidates. Should he prevail, it would mark his eighth consecutive term in office, with the next election expected in 2032. According to Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji, voting across the country proceeded “without incident.” However, calls for a boycott were reported in the English-speaking western regions, alongside reports of clashes in the north. Official results are expected to be announced within 15…
A significant diplomatic rift has emerged between Burkina Faso and the United States over immigration policy. The conflict began when the West African nation’s military government refused a US proposal to accept deportees who are not even Burkinabè citizens. In a swift response, the US Embassy in Ouagadougou suspended all visa services, forcing residents to apply through neighboring Togo. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré publicly condemned the American request as “indecent” and questioned whether the subsequent visa pause was a form of blackmail. This stance aligns with the ruling junta’s platform of resisting Western pressure. The dispute highlights the…
The march, held just hours before kick-off, was kept away from the Stadio Friuli, which has been designated a high-risk venue despite a recently brokered ceasefire in Gaza. Shops and restaurants in central Udine remained closed, while those that opened were ordered to remove outdoor furniture and objects that could be used as weapons. Police erected roadblocks around the stadium, declared a “red zone,” allowing only ticketed fans to enter. The Israeli team bus was given maximum security escort as it left its hotel, as authorities worked to avoid confrontations between demonstrators and match-goers. Many protesters voiced scepticism over the…
By Rédaction Africanews South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the recent US-brokered Gaza ceasefire will not affect his country’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Speaking in parliament on Tuesday in Cape Town, Ramaphosa said South Africa remains committed to its 2023 legal action. “The peace deal… will have no bearing on the case that is before the International Court of Justice,” he said, adding that Israel must respond to South Africa’s pleadings by January 2026. South Africa filed the case in December 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocidal acts in Gaza. The…
By Rédaction Africanews with AP Young women and girls in Zimbabwe are using an ancient tradition to fight child marriages and campaign for gender equality. Inside a white tent in rural northeastern Zimbabwe, girls discuss sexuality, child marriage, teen pregnancy, gender bias, education, economic empowerment and the law. Nothing is off limits. “This is a safe space, every girl feels free,” said 18-year-old Anita Razo, who joined at 14 and now mentors younger girls. In the past, adolescent girls would be taken to a private place where they would be prepared for marriage, in a custom called Nhanga. Now they are flipping…
Nigerian collector Kayode Adegbola has turned his fascination with Yorùbá ère ìbejì—intricate wooden twin carvings—into the Ìbejì Project, a global effort to revive and celebrate this unique cultural tradition. The Yorùbá, who have one of the world’s highest twin birth rates, view twins as bearers of spiritual blessing. And if one passes away, a figure is lovingly carved to house its spirit, ensuring protection and continuity for the family. Statuettes were also often carved for living twins. These carvings were traditionally cared for as living children, but the practice has sadly faded, with many figures now residing in foreign museums. Adegbola’s project…
Thousands of soldiers and emergency workers have been deployed to clear roads and restore access to areas cut off by torrents of mud and debris. Officials warned that dozens remain missing and that the scale of the disaster in remote mountain towns is still unclear. The heavy rains were caused by the convergence of two tropical storms off Mexico’s western coast, striking at the end of an unusually intense rainy season. Overflowing rivers and weakened hillsides triggered widespread destruction, submerging villages and washing away infrastructure. Authorities said that helicopters and boats were being used to reach communities where road access…