By Kwabena Adu Gyamfi Few days to Ugandas presidential polls on 15 January 2026, the usual buzz of campaigning and civic debate is being overshadowed , not only by the internet shutdown which is making waves , but by the suspension of key human rights and civil society organisations that normally monitor the vote. According to the Human Rights Watch, Ugandas National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations on January 12 orderedat least 10 nongovernmental organizations to immediately cease their operations indefinitely. The suspended organizations include human rights, media, and election monitoring organizations. The suspension has sparked concern among opposition leaders, international…
Author: Montage Africa
Stablecoins are rapidly gaining traction across Africa, promising faster payments, cheaper remittances, and broader financial inclusion in countries grappling with inflation and currency volatility. Yet beneath the excitement lies a growing concern: most stablecoins are pegged to the US dollar, raising the risk of deepening dollarization and eroding the monetary sovereignty of African nations. By turning smartphones into gateways for “digital dollars,” stablecoins can bypass banks, regulatory capital controls, and central bank oversight. As US regulation strengthens trust in dollar-backed tokens, African economies such as Nigeria and Kenya could become even more dependent on foreign-controlled financial systems. Experts argue that African…
After Sudan’s national museum in Khartoum was looted during the early months of the country’s civil war, a digital reconstruction is now giving its lost treasures a second life online. With nearly all 100,000 artifacts stolen or destroyed, researchers turned to technology as the only way to preserve the country’s cultural memory. Drawing on old inventories, academic studies, and excavation photos, experts painstakingly rebuilt the collection in a virtual space that mirrors the museum’s original design. Launched on January 1, the online museum now showcases more than 1,000 artifacts from the ancient Kingdom of Kush, with more to come. Beyond public access,…
By Rédaction Africanews Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has called on Algerian youth living abroad “in vulnerable and illegal situations” to come home. During Sunday’s cabinet meeting, the president said he would regularise the status of these young citizens, including those who have committed minor infractions in their host country. Some of these young people were “misled and exploited to act against their own country,” the government said in a statement. These young people now find themselves “separated from their families and friends, suffering in poverty and exploited in degrading work,” the statement read. The measure could affect tens of thousands of young Algerians who…
In a clear geopolitical move, Russia is set to grant visa-free travel to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini. This initiative aims to strengthen Moscow’s diplomatic and economic influence across southern Africa while boosting tourism and business ties. The plan, announced by a senior Russian official, reflects Moscow’s broader effort to strengthen partnerships beyond Europe as Russian travelers look past traditional Western destinations. It also comes as the US tightens entry rules for some African visitors, creating new barriers that Russia appears eager to exploit. If finalized, the move would add to Russia’s existing visa-free agreements with 11 African countries, signaling a steady…
Family businesses are the backbone of African economies, sustaining livelihoods, preserving heritage, and anchoring local communities across the continent. Yet despite their scale and significance, these enterprises remain under-researched and under-supported. In this article, The Education Collaborative shares insights from a landmark, multi-country study conducted in partnership with the Musizi Sustainable Business Institute, exploring what enables African family businesses to survive, adapt, and thrive across generations—and how research, education, and practice can work together to strengthen their future. Contributed by The Education Collaborative: Conversations on entrepreneurship often focus on start-ups – the disruptors bringing fresh, innovative ideas to the marketplace. Yet, beneath the surface lies a quieter, often…
By Rédaction Africanews with AFP The Louvre museum in the French capital, Paris, is hiking its ticket prices for most non-European visitors by 45 per cent. The famous institution was the scene last year of a daring heist which saw robbers get away with jewels worth over a $100 million dollars, blamed in part on its deteriorating state. “I want visitors from outside the EU to pay more … and for that surcharge to go towards funding the renovation of our national heritage,” Culture Minister Rachida Dati said announcing the hikes in 2024. But France’s decision to increase entry costs…
Ugandans are heading into Thursday, January 15’s presidential election under tight security and an Internet blackout, after authorities ordered mobile providers to shut down public Internet access less than two days before voting. The Uganda Communications Commission states that the move, which commenced at 6 p.m. today, Tuesday, January 13, aims to curb misinformation, electoral fraud, and incitement. Soldiers and armored trucks have also been deployed across Kampala, a show of force that opposition figures say signals rising authoritarianism. President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is running for a seventh term, which would extend his rule past four decades. His main challenger…
By Chris Takudzwa Muronzi Caledonia Mining Corporation (CALq.L), opens new tab, plans to spend $132 million this year to launch development of what, once operational, will be Zimbabwe’s largest gold mine, the company announced on Wednesday. Miners are riding a wave of record bullion prices to expand output. Spot gold prices hit another record high of $4,639.48 an ounce early on Wednesday, fuelled by escalating tensions in Iran, concern over the Federal Reserve’s autonomy and softer inflation readings that boosted rate cut bets. Caledonia said in a production update that the planned spending, part of a $162.5 million total capital expenditure programme for…
A Tunisian appeal court on Wednesday ordered the release of journalist Chatha Belhaj Mubarak, jailed since 2023 in a conspiracy case, after reducing her prison sentence, her family said. The court cut her sentence from five years to two, making her eligible for immediate release, her brother told Reuters. She was convicted in the so-called “Instalingo” case, which involved politicians, media figures and other defendants accused of conspiracy and financial crimes. Belhaj Mubarak denied the charges. “Chatha is free and leaving prison,” her brother, Amen Belhaj Mubarak, said. He said her health had severely deteriorated during her time in prison.…