AllAfrica
Africa: Financial Inclusion - Policy Fragmentation, Dollar Dependence Stall Cross-Border Payments in Africa
[Premium Times] Many cross-border transactions still rely on the US dollar as an intermediary currency. At the same time, African currencies are often difficult to exchange directly, and few mechanisms exist for countries to settle payments with one another in local currencies.
7/29/2026, 11:18:57 PM
Africanews
United Nations extends sanctions against armed groups in Central African Republic
The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on supplying weapons and military equipment to them.
7/29/2026, 8:03:37 PM
AllAfrica
Africa: 'Africa Must Benefit From Its Minerals'
[Ghanaian Times] President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments to place the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the centre of their development strategies to accelerate the continent's growth.
7/29/2026, 7:47:02 PM
Africanews
DR Congo: Some Kinshasa residents support controversial referendum law
The opposition has denounced the ruling saying it gives President Félix Tshisekedi the green light to seek a third term in office.
7/29/2026, 5:42:17 PM
Africanews
Kinshasa: 'The night has its own realities' group helps impoverished children
For the past three years, Sarah Ndele and her friends have been traveling through the working-class neighborhoods of Kinshasa as part of their project “Butu nde Makambu” (“The Night Has Its Own Realities”), aiming to introduce children to art.
7/29/2026, 4:17:15 PM
Africanews
DR Congo says militia linked to Rwanda's genocide agree to surrender
The disarmament of the FDLR is a key step towards implementing a United States-brokered peace deal between Kinshasa and Kigali.
7/29/2026, 3:38:35 PM
Africanews
Iran war paralyses neighbouring Iraq's crucial Umm Qasr port
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has prevented commercial vessels from reaching the port, one of Iraq's main trade terminals and its only deep-water gateway.
7/29/2026, 2:45:30 PM
SierraLoaded Politics
MP Mohamed Bangura Defends PR System, Calls for Lower Electoral Threshold in Parliament
Parliamentarian Mohamed Bangura has called on fellow lawmakers to lower the proposed electoral threshold under the Proportional Representation (PR) system, warning that the current 11.9 to 12 per cent benchmark is too high and risks excluding smaller political parties from meaningful participation. Speaking during deliberations on the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025, the Karene District MP strongly defended the adoption of the PR system while advocating for adjustments that would make it more inclusive and representative. Bangura stressed that the PR framework is not the product of a single political force but rather the outcome of broad-based political consensus. He noted that both the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) contributed to shaping the legal and institutional foundations of the system. He also referenced earlier reviews conducted by a presidential committee that included cabinet ministers from previous administrations, alongside nationwide public consultations in which citizens expressed support for proportional representation. A central pillar of Bangura’s argument focused on the economic and social costs associated with by-elections under the constituency-based model. He highlighted that whenever a parliamentary seat becomes vacant, the country is compelled to organise by-elections that can cost over Le2 billion , while also triggering political tension and logistical challenges within affected communities. By contrast, he noted that the PR system allows for smoother transitions without the need for fresh elections, significantly reducing costs and disruptions. He echoed previous remarks by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, who indicated that the adoption of PR has already saved the country an estimated NLe20 million by eliminating parliamentary by-elections. Despite his support for the system, Bangura maintained that the proposed threshold must be reconsidered. He argued that lowering it would create a more level playing field, enabling broader political participation and strengthening democratic inclusivity. His position aligns with concerns raised by smaller political parties, including the Peoples Liberation Party, whose leader Nabieu Musa Kamara has advocated for a threshold between 4 and 5 per cent, describing the current proposal as prohibitive. The ongoing debate forms part of wider discussions on the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025, which introduces significant reforms to Sierra Leone’s electoral framework. Among the proposals are a transition from the First-Past-The-Post system to Proportional Representation, a reduction in the presidential victory threshold from 55 per cent to a simple majority, and the introduction of a 30 per cent quota for women nominees. The bill also seeks to eliminate parliamentary by-elections entirely, a provision Bangura firmly supports as part of broader efforts to reduce costs and improve efficiency in governance. Parliament is expected to resume debate on Friday, July 31, at 10:00 a.m., with the final outcome set to play a decisive role in shaping the country’s electoral and democratic trajectory. The post MP Mohamed Bangura Defends PR System, Calls for Lower Electoral Threshold in Parliament appeared first on Sierraloaded .
7/29/2026, 2:29:30 PM
Africanews
First person vaccinated during trial of new Ebola jab
A volunteer was injected on Friday with the first dose of a rapidly developed vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola driving a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Oxford University said.
7/29/2026, 2:19:27 PM
AllAfrica
Africa: New Monthly HIV Pill Brings Hope but Africa Must Pay Its Own Way
[Scrolla] Funda ngesiZuluBy Palesa Matlala
7/29/2026, 1:58:11 PM
Africanews
UNICEF says conflict in Sudan's north Kordofan kills 23 children in two months
The conflict in Sudan, now in its fourth year, continues to fuel one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions of children facing displacement, hunger and limited access to basic services.
7/29/2026, 1:53:55 PM
Africanews
Kenyan security officers killed in suspected Al-Shabaab border ambush
Kenyan Security Officers Killed in Suspected Al-Shabaab Border Ambush
7/29/2026, 1:31:32 PM
Africanews
Equatorial Guinea man warns of Russian recruitment trap
Ukraine estimates that nearly 1,800 Africans have been enlisted by Russian forces to fight on the frontline of the war.
7/29/2026, 1:06:53 PM
AllAfrica
Africa: Wafcon 2026 - Dominant Displays That Shape the Tournament's Legend
[CAF] High-scoring attacking displays have long been a hallmark of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, and the Morocco 2026 edition has so far been no exception.
7/29/2026, 1:04:14 PM
Africanews
An Israeli group eyeing southern Syria for settlement
Formed early last year, the Pioneers of Bashan are a group of right-wing Israeli activists aiming to establish Jewish settlements inside Syria.
7/29/2026, 12:50:24 PM
AllAfrica
Africa: Biovac's Cholera Vaccine Test for Africa's Self-Reliance
[Independent (Kampala)] The continental bid to make more of its own vaccines is moving from ambition to production
7/29/2026, 12:41:02 PM
AllAfrica
Africa: Onafriq Partners With Privy to Build Regulated Stablecoin Infrastructure for B2bs Across Africa
[Capital FM] Onafriq, Africa's largest payments network, has partnered with leading stablecoin infrastructure provider, Privy, to strengthen its digital asset infrastructure and drive the development of stablecoin-enabled payment services for businesses across its network.
7/29/2026, 12:06:48 PM
AllAfrica
Africa: Council Announces Tourism Summits, Seeks Visa-Free Travel Across Africa
[This Day] · Continent welcomes nearly 100m international visitors in one year
7/29/2026, 11:49:40 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: HIV Science Races Ahead As Funding Crisis Threatens to Widen Access Gap
[Independent (Kampala)] Kampala -- For more than two decades, scientific innovation and international financing have worked together to transform HIV from a deadly disease into a manageable chronic condition for millions of people.
7/29/2026, 11:24:14 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: The Bolle Jos Connection - How Sierra Leone's Alleged Protection of Europe's Most Wanted Drug Kingpin Threatens Liberia and West Africa
[New Dawn] The recent wave of unprecedented cocaine seizures across West Africa is no longer a series of isolated criminal incidents. Instead, the arrests, investigations, and intelligence emerging from multiple jurisdictions increasingly point to a sophisticated transnational narcotics network stretching from Latin America through West Africa into Europe.
7/29/2026, 11:17:01 AM
Africanews
DR Congo court approves referendum law, fueling third-term debate
The opposition has strongly criticized the reform, arguing that it could undermine constitutional safeguards. The debate comes as the country faces mounting security challenges, including renewed fighting with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group in the east and a growing Ebola outbreak.
7/29/2026, 11:07:42 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: History of the CAF Women's Champions League | Cosafa Qualifiers
[Cosafa] The CAF Women's Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier for 2026 will kick off in Gaborone, Botswana, on August 20, with the final scheduled for nine days later.
7/29/2026, 10:41:37 AM
Africanews
Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme sprints to 100m gold at Commonwealth Games
Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme shattered the Commonwealth Games 100m record on Tuesday sprinting to gold through the Glasgow rain in 9.83 seconds.
7/29/2026, 10:25:24 AM