 "Earthquake of magnitude 5.9 jolts Assam, tremors felt in Bhutan and north Bengal")
 "5 US F-35 jets land in Puerto Rico amid tensions with Venezuela")
Africa navigates a complex day of governance shifts, security reforms, energy innovation and social justice efforts. From Nigeria’s healthcare funding and political developments to Rwanda’s new weapons laws and DRC’s solar breakthrough, follow key updates shaping the continent’s future today:
Africa News Live Updates: Solar minigrid brings electricity and economic hope to Goma, DRC
FP News Desk
• July 2, 2025, 05:30:05 IST
Africa News Live Updates: Welcome to our live blog covering the latest developments from across Africa. Follow real-time updates on political transitions, security and peacekeeping efforts, regional integration, economic innovation, climate impacts, migration trends and grassroots activism. Track the continent’s evolving role in global affairs and its efforts to address both internal and external challenges
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Following Africa as it happens. Image courtesy Google Gemini
Africa navigates a complex day of governance shifts, security reforms, energy innovation and social justice efforts. From Nigeria’s healthcare funding and political developments to Rwanda’s new weapons laws and DRC’s solar breakthrough, follow key updates shaping the continent's future today:
Shifts in policy, power and progress across Africa today
Africa News Live Updates: Welcome to our live blog covering the latest developments from across Africa. Follow real-time updates on political transitions, security and peacekeeping efforts, regional integration, economic innovation, climate impacts, migration trends and grassroots activism. Track the continent’s evolving role in global affairs and its efforts to address both internal and external challenges
July 2, 2025, 05:30:05 (IST)
Potent cancer-fighting compound discovered in South African marine worm
A potent cancer-fighting compound has been discovered within a marine worm in South Africa, a finding that highlights the country’s marine biodiversity, as per a report in Mail & Guardian. The discovery comes as South Africa’s environment department continues its focus on protecting the health and biodiversity of its marine and other natural resources.
July 2, 2025, 05:30:05 (IST)
Anne Merriman, pioneer of palliative care in Uganda, dies at 90
Dr. Anne Merriman, a medical doctor and former nun widely known as the ‘Mother of Palliative Care’ in Uganda, has died at age 90, The New York Times said in a report. She was recognized for developing an affordable and effective model to expand palliative care across the developing world, bringing pain relief to poor and terminally ill patients. Through her organization, Hospice Africa Uganda, Merriman championed the use of orally administered liquid morphine, providing a low-cost solution for pain management in resource-constrained environments and significantly improving the quality of life for countless individuals at the end of their lives.
July 2, 2025, 04:15:10 (IST)
Judge blocks Trump effort to dismantle African development agency
A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s appointment of a new leader for the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), indefinitely stopping directives to significantly reduce the agency’s staff and grant funding, according to a report in The Hill. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon found that the appointment of Peter Marocco as the agency’s acting board chair was likely unconstitutional. The ruling effectively halts the administration’s attempt to reshape the foundation, which provides development support in Africa.
July 2, 2025, 03:15:09 (IST)
Ons Jabeur withdraws from Wimbledon opener citing breathing issues
Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur withdrew from her first-round match at Wimbledon on July 1 after experiencing breathing difficulties, according to a report in Africanews. The retirement marks another significant setback for the prominent African athlete in an injury-plagued 2024 season, during which she has also contended with shoulder and leg issues. Jabeur, a finalist at the 2022 U.S. Open, now faces a period of recovery.
July 2, 2025, 02:45:06 (IST)
Rwanda raises fuel prices with inclusion of value-added tax
The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) has announced revised fuel prices, citing shifts in global market trends and the inclusion of a Value Added Tax (VAT), The New Times says in a report. This policy aligns with the government’s fiscal strategy to enhance domestic revenue. The price hike is expected to increase operational costs for businesses, particularly in the transport and agriculture sectors, and contribute to inflationary pressures on the cost of living for consumers.
July 2, 2025, 02:00:06 (IST)
Former Kenyan cabinet secretary Fred Matiang'i declares political independence
Former Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has declared he is ‘politically independent for now,’ distancing himself from his influential role in the previous government of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, according to a report in Standard Media. Matiang’i, once one of the most powerful figures in Kenyatta’s administration, addressed the narrative that he was a political ‘project,’ a term used in Kenyan politics for individuals perceived as being sponsored by the ruling elite. His statement is viewed as a strategic move to redefine his political identity following the 2022 general election amid ongoing political realignments in the country.
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July 2, 2025, 01:15:07 (IST)
Lagos Assembly challenges Governor Sanwo-Olu over local government law
The Lagos State House of Assembly is in a dispute with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu regarding a law pertaining to local government leadership, Premium Times says in a report. The legislation at the center of the disagreement applies to the roles of chairpersons and vice chairpersons across Lagos’s 20 Local Government Areas and its 37 Local Council Development Areas.
July 2, 2025, 01:01:15 (IST)
Conoil and Julius Berger removed from NGX 30 index after H1 review
Nigerian oil marketer Conoil Plc and construction firm Julius Berger Nigeria Plc have been removed from the NGX 30 index, which tracks the 30 largest and most liquid companies on the Nigerian stock market, according to a report in Premium Times. The change is the result of the Nigerian Exchange Group’s routine semi-annual rebalancing for the first half of 2025. The review, which ensures the index accurately reflects market performance based on criteria like market capitalization and liquidity, also led to adjustments in other sectoral indices, including those for banking, insurance, industrial, consumer goods, and oil & gas.
July 2, 2025, 01:00:10 (IST)
Four children and teenagers drown in Gombe flash flood
Four people, identified as children and teenagers, have drowned in a flash flood in Gombe, Nigeria, according to a report in Premium Times. Police authorities confirmed the fatalities, stating that the victims were swept into rivers, erosion sites, and unprotected water channels following severe weather. The incident highlights the dangers posed by flash flooding in the region.
July 2, 2025, 00:48:22 (IST)
Reckless bank licensing has damaged trust amid sector-wide crisis, says banking association head
The head of a major banking association has stated that reckless bank licensing has caused a sector-wide crisis and damaged public trust in South Africa’s financial system, according to a report in the Daily Sun. The comments highlight growing concerns over financial stability, linked to issues of weak corporate governance, non-performing loans, and insufficient regulatory supervision. These problems are compounded by wider economic pressures such as high inflation and currency depreciation. The statement increases scrutiny on financial regulators and has significant implications for investor confidence, as it points to systemic risks within the country’s banking industry.
July 2, 2025, 00:47:16 (IST)
Nigeria and Saudi Arabia sign customs cooperation agreement
Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to establish a formal framework for customs cooperation, according to a report in Premium Times. The deal is designed to facilitate mutual administrative assistance between the two countries in several key areas. These include customs enforcement, proper classification and valuation of goods, protection of government revenue, and the implementation of coordinated border management strategies.
July 2, 2025, 00:47:16 (IST)
Gunmen kill 10 people in attack on community in Anambra, Nigeria
Gunmen have killed 10 people in an attack on a community in Nigeria’s Anambra State, according to a report in Premium Times. The incident is the latest in a series of violent acts in the region, occurring less than a week after police confirmed that gunmen had killed one person and abducted another in separate attacks across two other communities in Anambra.
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July 2, 2025, 00:46:11 (IST)
Nigerian troops kill eight insurgents in Borno state
Nigerian troops killed eight insurgents during a battle on June 30 in the Manawaji area of Borno State’s Gamboru Ngala local government area, according to a report in Premium Times. The incident is part of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations by the Nigerian military against groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the country’s northeast region.
July 2, 2025, 00:45:06 (IST)
Police in Nigeria arrest suspected vandals with stolen electricity cables
Police in Nigeria have arrested suspected vandals found in possession of stolen electricity infrastructure, Premium Times said in a report. Authorities recovered various items from the suspects, including assorted offcuts of aluminum profiles along with copper and aluminum electric cables of various sizes.
July 2, 2025, 00:31:11 (IST)
Madagascar's president in Paris for talks on disputed Indian Ocean islands
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina is in Paris for high-level talks with French officials regarding the long-standing sovereignty dispute over the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, Africanews says in a report. The discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron are a continuation of a joint commission agreed upon in 2019 to address the future of the islands, known as Îles Éparses. France retained administrative control over the strategically important islands, which possess a vast Exclusive Economic Zone, after separating them from Madagascar just prior to the nation’s independence in 1960, a move that Madagascar has consistently contested.
July 2, 2025, 00:31:11 (IST)
Nigeria's oil production increases to 1.745 million barrels per day
Nigeria’s oil production has reached 1.745 million barrels per day, a figure that surpasses the country’s recent OPEC+ quota of 1.5 million barrels per day, according to a report in Premium Times. The announcement was made by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who also highlighted that Nigeria possesses proven gas reserves exceeding 200 trillion cubic feet.
July 2, 2025, 00:30:07 (IST)
Uncertainty looms over Nissan South Africa amid global restructuring
Nissan South Africa is facing a period of uncertainty amid its parent company’s ongoing global restructuring, largely driven by the worldwide shift to electric vehicles, according to a report in Africanews. The situation presents a significant challenge to South Africa’s automotive sector, which contributes approximately 4.3% to the nation’s GDP and is a major employer. This uncertainty is exacerbated by domestic issues such as the country’s energy crisis, but experts suggest it could also open opportunities for investment in cleaner technologies like EV production if stakeholders adapt to the changing industrial landscape.
July 2, 2025, 00:30:07 (IST)
Inaugural Alliance of Sahel States Games conclude in Mali
The first-ever Alliance of Sahel States (AES) Games concluded in Bamako, Mali, running from June 21 to June 28, 2025, according to a report in Africanews. The event brought together more than 500 athletes from the three member nations—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—who competed in various sports including football and wrestling. The games were organized as a public demonstration of unity and solidarity among the three countries, which have all experienced recent political changes and face ongoing regional conflict.
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July 1, 2025, 23:33:25 (IST)
Nigerian aviation authority grounds Rano Air aircraft after engine incident
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) Directorate of Airworthiness has ordered a Rano Air aircraft to be grounded following an engine incident in Sokoto, as per a report in Premium Times. The aircraft, identified as 5N-BZY, is mandated to remain on the ground until a full investigation into the matter is completed by the regulatory body.
July 1, 2025, 23:32:18 (IST)
Kenya mandates health warning labels for 90% of packaged food under new regulations
New regulations in Kenya will mandate that 90% of packaged food products display a front-of-pack health warning label, Africa News said in a report. The move is a public health measure aimed at tackling the country’s rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the growing obesity problem in Africa as a “ticking time bomb.” Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, warned that without such checks, millions of people on the continent risk living shorter lives due to poor health.
July 1, 2025, 23:31:12 (IST)
New Lions Club chartered in Kigali to promote community development
A new community service organization, the Lions Club Kigali Impact, was officially chartered in Kigali, Rwanda, on June 30, according to a report in The New Times. The establishment marks the city’s second Lions Club in 67 years. The new chapter has stated its commitment to focusing on and promoting community development projects within the area.
July 1, 2025, 23:30:09 (IST)
Rwandan president Paul Kagame meets with Niger's prime minister
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda met with the Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, at Village Urugwiro on Tuesday, July 1, The New Times said in a report. The discussion between the two leaders centered on key continental priorities.
July 1, 2025, 23:30:09 (IST)
Nigerian President Tinubu calls for deeper West African economic integration
At the West African Economic Summit (WAES) 2025, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called for deeper regional integration to unlock the region’s economic potential, according to a report in Premium Times. He described West Africa as one of the last great frontiers for economic growth but cautioned that this opportunity alone does not guarantee transformation.
July 1, 2025, 23:30:09 (IST)
Nigeria's House of Representatives to investigate €1.2 million debt to OACPS
Nigeria’s House of Representatives is set to launch a probe into the country’s outstanding €1.2 million debt to the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), Premium Times says in a report. The investigation follows reports that Nigeria has consistently struggled to meet its financial commitments to the organization. This failure to pay has raised concerns that it could be hindering the OACPS’s operations and the implementation of its various projects.
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July 1, 2025, 22:00:05 (IST)
Ethiopia's central bank cancels mandatory T-bond purchase for commercial banks
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has eliminated a directive that mandated commercial banks invest a portion of their loans into government Treasury Bonds, a significant policy shift for the nation’s financial sector, according to a report in Capital Ethiopia. This move is expected to free up capital for commercial banks, increasing their liquidity and autonomy over lending portfolios, which could stimulate more credit access for the private sector. The cancellation of the mandatory T-bond purchases, a policy previously used to secure government financing, is seen as a key step towards financial liberalization and aligns with market-oriented reforms.
July 1, 2025, 22:00:05 (IST)
Ethiopia's central bank mandates dematerialization of all government securities
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has mandated the full dematerialization of all government and NBE securities, transitioning from paper certificates to an electronic book-entry system, as per a report in Capital Ethiopia. Under the new directive, MFAD/001/2025, the move to a digital format is intended to improve market efficiency, transparency, and investor confidence while reducing systemic risks associated with physical certificates. This initiative is part of Ethiopia’s broader economic reform and digitalization agendas, aiming to modernize the financial sector and enhance public debt management.
July 1, 2025, 21:15:09 (IST)
Algerian court upholds 5-year sentence for writer Boualem Sansal, escalating tensions with France
An Algerian court has upheld a five-year prison sentence for writer Boualem Sansal, who holds both French and Algerian citizenship, according to a report in The New York Times. The conviction of the author has reportedly worsened already strained relations between Algeria and France. This incident follows a period of heightened bilateral tensions stemming from historical disagreements and previous French actions, such as visa restrictions on Algerian citizens.
July 1, 2025, 21:06:39 (IST)
Mohammed Janabi assumes office as WHO Africa regional director
Mohammed Janabi has formally assumed his position as the new regional director for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa region, Premium Times says in a report. His assumption of office follows his election in May 2025, which took place during a special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Geneva.
July 1, 2025, 21:05:34 (IST)
Nigerian athletes Ofili and Ezekiel to make Diamond League debuts in Eugene
Nigerian athletes Favour Ofili and Nathaniel Ezekiel are scheduled to make their debuts in the Diamond League series at the upcoming Eugene Meet, according to a report in Premium Times. In addition to Ofili and Ezekiel competing in their first Diamond League events, a number of other Nigerian athletes will also be participating in non-Diamond League competitions at the same meet.
July 1, 2025, 21:05:34 (IST)
Algerian court upholds five-year prison sentence for writer Boualem Sansal
An Algerian court on Tuesday upheld a five-year prison sentence for French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal for undermining national unity, prompting a call for clemency from the French government, France 24 said in a report. The writer, who resides in France, was detained during a visit to Algeria in November and originally sentenced in March. The charges stem from statements made to a French media outlet in which he endorsed Morocco’s position on territory he claimed was seized under French colonialism and annexed to Algeria.
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July 1, 2025, 21:04:29 (IST)
Ahmadu Bello University wins Nigerian collegiate 3x3 basketball championship
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has been crowned the champion of the collegiate 3×3 basketball tournament in Nigeria, as per a report in Premium Times. Ibrahim Abdulkadir of ABU was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for his significant contributions to his team’s victory. Additionally, Godwin Ogbani-Daniel from the University of Osun was recognized as the tournament’s highest scorer.
July 1, 2025, 21:03:23 (IST)
Lagos governor commends Kings College alumni for 20th anniversary legacy projects
Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the Kings College Class of 2005 for their contributions to the school as the alumni group marked its 20th anniversary, Premium Times says in a report. The governor highlighted several legacy projects undertaken by the group, including the renovation of the Victoria Island Annex dining hall, the installation of a 10,000-litre potable water system, and the provision of scholarships for students. Sanwo-Olu described these initiatives as outstanding examples of responsible citizenship.
July 1, 2025, 21:03:23 (IST)
Coordinated attacks target Malian army positions, military says
Seven Malian army positions in western Mali, including some near the Senegalese border, were hit by coordinated attacks early Tuesday, France 24 said in a report. The Malian military confirmed the attacks in a statement but did not provide a death toll. As of now, no jihadist group operating in the Sahel region has claimed responsibility for what is the latest in a new series of attacks.
July 1, 2025, 21:02:18 (IST)
Former Nigerian military governor dedicates presidential award to June 12 patriots
A former Nigerian military governor, retired Colonel Abubakar Umar, has dedicated a national honor he received from President Bola Tinubu to fellow patriots who defended democracy following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, Premium Times said in a report. Umar was recognized for the personal risks he took in support of Nigeria’s democratic aspirations and dedicated the award to fellow military officers and citizens who also stood for the pro-democracy cause during that historical period.
July 1, 2025, 21:01:11 (IST)
Dispute arises over burial site of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu
A dispute over the burial site for former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has become the latest point of conflict in the country’s ongoing political rivalry, according to a report in The New York Times. The disagreement highlights the deep-seated hostility between supporters of Lungu’s Patriotic Front party and the current government led by President Hakainde Hichilema. This political tension has been a feature since the 2021 general election, where Hichilema defeated Lungu. The current conflict specifically centers on the arrangements and location for the burial of Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021.
July 1, 2025, 21:00:05 (IST)
Bandit group in Nigeria reportedly uses false claims as propaganda after leader's cousin killed
A notorious bandit group in Nigeria, led by Turji Bello, is reportedly resorting to propaganda by forcing captives to make false claims on video, specifically that they are siblings of the Zamfara state governor, according to a report in Premium Times. This tactic is said to be a response to a significant setback for the group following the recent killing of the leader’s cousin, Danbokolo, and other fighters during security operations. The circulation of these false claims is being framed as an act of desperation by the bandits to undermine state authorities.
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July 1, 2025, 21:00:05 (IST)
Dangote Refinery reduces petrol price in Nigeria
The Dangote Refinery in Nigeria has reduced its price for petrol, a development linked to recent fluctuations in global crude oil prices, according to a report in Premium Times. This price adjustment occurs in the market context following the removal of a long-standing fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in May 2023. The refinery, which recently commenced operations, is Africa’s largest and its pricing decisions are expected to significantly influence Nigeria’s domestic fuel market, which previously relied on imports.
July 1, 2025, 20:48:24 (IST)
Gambia's Kanifing Municipal Council wins over D3M in Bloomberg award
The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) in The Gambia has won an award valued at over 3 million Gambian Dalasi (D3M) from a Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative, according to a report in The Point. KMC, which is the most populous local government area in the country, was recognized for developing solutions to address pressing urban issues. The award provides a financial injection intended to fund specific projects that will drive local development and improve services for residents within the municipality.
July 1, 2025, 20:48:24 (IST)
Lesotho activist arrested after video on unemployment angers prime minister
An activist in Lesotho, Tšolo Thakeli, was arrested by armed police at his home after he posted a video online questioning Prime Minister Sam Maketane’s promises to address the country’s high unemployment rate, according to a report in The Guardian. The 31-year-old activist, who has a history of campaigning on the issue of youth joblessness under previous administrations, was reportedly taken into custody a day after posting the video.
July 1, 2025, 20:47:19 (IST)
South African actor Embeth Davidtz to direct drama set in former Rhodesia
South African actor Embeth Davidtz is set to make her directorial debut with a film based on Alexandra Fuller’s 2001 memoir, “Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight”, Africa News says in a report. The drama is set in Rhodesia, the unrecognized state that preceded modern-day Zimbabwe, during the civil war of the 1970s. The source material is a personal account of a white child’s upbringing during the conflict that ultimately led to the establishment of Zimbabwe.
End of Liveblog