By Dominic Wabwireh with AP Thousands of demonstrators marched in Rabat on Sunday, denouncing a new Israeli law that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, while reaffirming support for the Palestinian cause. An estimated 5,000 people gathered along Mohammed V Avenue in central Rabat, waving Palestinian and Moroccan flags and chanting slogans against the death penalty and Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The march was organized by the National Action Group for Palestine, a coalition bringing together Islamist and left-wing groups, including members linked to the Justice and Development Party. Voices of solidarity Participants framed the…
Author: Montage Africa
By Rédaction Africanews and Agencies A dozen Muslim-majority nations have condemned Israel’s appointment of a diplomatic envoy to the breakaway region of Somaliland. In a statement posted on social media by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministers from 12 governments, including Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Kuwait, called the move a “flagrant violation” of Somalia’s territorial integrity. The African Union has also denounced the decision, saying any unilateral recognition of the territory is “null and void.” It also warned that such actions risk undermining regional stability. There are rumours of Israel planning to build a military base in Somalialand, which…
By Sarah Miansoni with AP Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly criticised the members of the United Nations Security Council during the Meeting in Defence of Democracy in Spain on Saturday. Progressive leaders from around the globe gathered in Spain to galvanize their forces and defend the multilateral rules-based order in a world turning to the right and violently torn by superpowers. Lula singled out permanent members of the UN Security Council, accusing them of imposing their decisions on the rest of the world. “We cannot wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with a…
At the age of 13, Ovey Friday was accused of witchcraft by his stepmother and taken to a traditional shrine in the central Nigerian state of Nasarawa, where he was tortured. By the time a neighbour alerted police and he was taken to hospital, the damage was irreversible. “The herbalist brought charcoal, put something on my hands, tied my hands [along] with my leg, put pepper there inside the charcoal, then cover[ed] me with a bedsheet,” recalls Friday, now aged 19. Doctors were forced to sedate him and operate on him. Friday woke up to find his left hand amputated, while…
In northern Nigeria, where Shariah law governs public morality and books have been burned for indecency, a new generation of women writers has found an ingenious workaround: WhatsApp. Serializing explicit Hausa-language erotica in women-only groups, authors like Fauziyya Tasiu Umar—known online as Oum Hairan—have built thriving audiences on WhatsApp. While critics argue the content challenges cultural and religious norms, writers insist their stories spark important conversations about relationships and society. Part social commentary, part savvy entrepreneurship, this underground literary movement is quietly reshaping what’s possible for women’s voices in one of Nigeria’s most conservative regions.
By Dominic Wabwireh with AP Pope Leo XIV on Sunday delivered a message of peace and reconciliation at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a revered Catholic site that once served as a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Set along the Kwanza River, the sanctuary became a pilgrimage destination after reported Marian apparitions in the 19th century. Yet the Church of Our Lady of Muxima was originally built by Portuguese colonizers in the late 16th century as part of a fortress linked to slavery. Enslaved Africans were gathered there, baptized by priests, and forced to march more than…
In a country where criticising the authorities has often landed people in trouble, the latest song from Ethiopia’s biggest musician – which appears to condemn the government – is attracting attention. Teddy Afro’s track Das Tal, meaning “put up the tent” in English, has been viewed more than seven million times on YouTube since its release on Thursday. Referencing a traditional mourning tent, Teddy Afro – whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun – sings that he is grieving a country he says has been lost. The build-up to the song’s release had already drawn controversy after a preview event for…
Edmonia Lewis, the first Black and Indigenous American sculptor to achieve international acclaim, is finally receiving long-overdue recognition more than a century after her death. Born in 1844 to a free Black father and an Ojibwe mother, Lewis built a groundbreaking career creating neoclassical sculptures that championed emancipation and Indigenous identity. After facing racism in the US, she relocated to Rome, where her work gained global attention and attracted prominent visitors, including President Ulysses S. Grant. Despite her success, she died in obscurity in 1907. Now, a major retrospective is piecing together her legacy, highlighting her artistic brilliance and restoring her place…
Senegal’s former president Macky Sall is one of four candidates auditioning this week for the United Nations’ top job. Sall is the only African among those vying to replace outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres, who leaves office at the end of the year. Four candidates to be the next secretary-general of the United Nations will audition for the job this week, far fewer than there were 10 years ago when António Guterres was selected as UN chief. Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet — one of two women and one of three from Latin America — will be the first to face…
By Dominic Wabwireh with Other agencies Daniel Chapo is turning to China’s manufacturing strength to accelerate infrastructure development and sustainable growth, as he tours key industrial hubs during his first state visit since taking office in 2025. During a stop in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, Chapo visited advanced factories spanning electricity, heavy machinery and agricultural processing. The Mozambican leader explored smart power systems, observed automated production lines and tested modern logistics equipment, showcasing China’s industrial capabilities. He emphasized his country’s interest in replicating such facilities at home, pointing to Mozambique’s urgent need for technology transfer and infrastructure investment.…