African political news summarised in English: elections, governments, diplomacy, justice and security across the 54 countries, from the local press. 1,061 articles published.
Updated around the clock from 400+ African and international news outlets in 54 countries. Every article names its source. Our method
King Mswati III has returned to Eswatini after a nine-day visit to Taiwan, from 9 to 17 October, focused in particular on bilateral relations. The King met the Eswatini community there and discussed education, healthcare, agriculture, technology and investment, reports the Times of Eswatini.
Source: Times of Eswatini
Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, leader of the Party for Sovereignty and Development (PSD Njariñ), criticised the conduct of some hearings by Senegalese parliamentary commissions of inquiry, saying they must not replace oversight bodies or the police. The former interior minister discussed several current affairs issues in an interview broadcast by Senegal7, Seneweb reports.
Source: Seneweb
Zambian security forces seized 23.3 million kwacha worth of smuggled goods, wildlife products and stolen vehicles in Lusaka. The regional operation USALAMA-12, conducted from 5 to 9 October, also led to the detention of 72 foreign nationals, reports Lusaka Times.
Source: Lusaka Times
Hassan Ayariga, leader of Ghana’s All People’s Congress, is asking Parliament to examine Ghana’s proposed membership of BRICS. He is calling on the government to provide information on the partnership’s benefits, risks, costs and legal obligations, as well as for a public debate, according to MyJoyOnline.
Source: MyJoyOnline
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s office said European diplomats should have coordinated their movement with the Israeli army after a settler attack in the West Bank. It also commented on the violence targeting 78-year-old French mayor Bernard Baudoux, according to Le Monde.
Source: Le Monde
The Malian Armed Forces say they struck two bases belonging to armed groups, one near Ménaka and the other near Diafarabé, on 17 October 2026. The General Staff has yet to provide casualty or material figures and says surveillance operations are continuing, according to its statement cited by La Nouvelle Tribune.
Source: La Nouvelle Tribune
Juan Branco welcomed Macky Sall’s withdrawal from his candidacy for UN secretary-general, announced on 17 October 2026. The French-Spanish lawyer posted the reaction on Facebook, also sending a message to the Senegalese people.
Source: Senego
The European Union plans €20 million in defence aid to support the Nigerian army in tackling insecurity, Defence Minister Christopher Musa announced. A European technical team is due in Abuja in November to prepare the implementation of the assistance, which is part of EU-Nigeria security cooperation.
Source: Pmnewsnigeria
Masked Israeli settlers beat Bernard Baudoux, the French mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, during a visit to Taybeh in the occupied West Bank. The attackers also targeted European diplomats and Catholic representatives; Israeli police have opened an investigation, AP reports.
Source: La Nouvelle Tribune
Congolese opposition figure Bernadette Tokwaulu Aena is proposing a pre-dialogue between the opposition and civil society to prevent clashes between Félix Tshisekedi and Joseph Kabila. She wants CENCO and the Church of Christ in Congo to facilitate the process before a formal political dialogue, Mediacongo reports.
Source: Mediacongo
Belgian MEPs Elio Di Rupo and Hilde Vautmans are calling on the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on Joseph Kabila and Rwandan officials accused of contributing to the destabilisation of DR Congo. Their statement refers to 18.5 million people needing humanitarian aid and up to 6.4 million displaced people, according to figures cited by the lawmakers.
Source: Beto
Burkina Faso has launched the NEKRE Pact, an initiative to reform the education system covering access to education, learning conditions, curricula and teacher training. The scheme sets seven priorities, including promoting national languages, digital technology and data-based governance, according to the head of state's message delivered by the Prime Minister.
Source: Lefaso
Burkina Faso suspended beauty pageants from 8 June 2026 and banned their resumption before new regulations are adopted. The presidency meanwhile organised HAKILI Mousso, a science competition involving 84 female high-school graduates, 15 of whom were recognised on 19 September, La Nouvelle Tribune reports.
Source: La Nouvelle Tribune
Mamour Diop, a senior member of the KIIRAAY les patriotes républicains party, has announced his support for Serigne Cheikh Ibrahima Diallo’s candidacy for the municipality of Kaolack. He supports a project to turn the city into an economic, industrial and commercial metropolis, according to Senego.
Source: Senego
Helen Zille has concluded her campaign to become mayor of Johannesburg by promising to work tirelessly to restore the city. The Democratic Alliance candidate defended a digital strategy highlighting infrastructure problems and presenting solutions, according to TimesLIVE.
Source: TimesLIVE
A poll puts the Democratic Alliance ahead in voting intentions in Johannesburg, with 35%, ahead of the African National Congress, on 21.8%. On an unspecified date for the full publication of the results, the survey of 1,000 voters per metropolitan area also indicates that the Democratic Alliance has 52.6% in Cape Town, according to eNCA and MarkData.
Source: Businessday
Protests against the high cost of living in France drew 550,000 people, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, and led to more than 400 arrests and looting in several cities. Sixty police officers and gendarmes were injured, two of whom were taken to hospital, reports La Nouvelle Tribune.
Source: La Nouvelle Tribune
The Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States will create joint working groups to prepare a framework cooperation agreement. The first ministerial meeting took place on 17 October in Dakar, led by Cheikh Niang and Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, according to the joint communiqué.
Source: Seneweb
Looking for older stories? The archive, day by day →