More than 3,000 people marched through Cape Town on Saturday, calling on South Africa’s government to sever diplomatic and trade relations with Israel over its war in Gaza, in one of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in months.

The rally, organised by civil society and faith-based groups, brought together political parties as well as Muslim and Christian organisations. Protesters carried Palestinian flags and placards with slogans such as “Don’t just feel bad, do something,” before handing over a petition to parliament.

The petition demanded the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria, an end to South Africa’s coal exports to Israel, and the prosecution of South Africans who enlist in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

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“The government has to take action on the kicking out of Israel’s ambassador and embassy from South Africa now,” said Usuf Chikte, coordinator of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. He also urged that Israel be excluded from international sporting bodies such as FIFA.

Pretoria has been a leading critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza. In December 2023, it filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide, which Israel has denied.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s military response has since killed at least 65,926 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the United Nations considers credible.

Saturday’s march reflected growing grassroots pressure on South Africa’s government to escalate its stance. “Boycott, divest and sanction Israel, the same way as the world did for us,” Chikte told the crowd, referring to the anti-apartheid movement.

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AFP

Abuja, Nigeria – Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, representing Kwara North Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committees on Trade & Investment and Rules & Business, has urged young Africans to take the lead in driving the continent’s trade and investment future under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Africa and Middle East Senate Association (AMESA) Summit hosted by Junior Chamber International (JCI) in Abuja, Senator Umar commended JCI’s global role in raising leaders and promoting active citizenship.

He emphasized Africa’s demographic advantage, stating:

“With 1.4 billion people and 60% under the age of 25, Africa holds the key to the future of global trade and innovation.”

Referencing World Bank statistics, Umar highlighted that AfCFTA could lift 30 million Africans out of poverty and increase incomes by $450 billion by 2035, provided countries commit to cross-border collaboration, trade missions, and youth-driven entrepreneurship.

On Nigeria’s role, he described the nation as a “gateway for investment and innovation”, citing its 220 million population, dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, and recent policy reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He further noted that Nigeria’s fintech sector has attracted over $2 billion in foreign investment within the last five years.

The Senator urged African governments and businesses to prioritize agriculture, renewable energy, digital trade, and infrastructure, stressing that trade must be viewed beyond goods and services.

“Trade is not just about goods and services; it is about the movement of ideas, opportunities, and hope,” he declared.

Senator Umar closed by reaffirming the Nigerian Legislature’s commitment to policies that unlock Africa’s untapped potential, challenging young Africans to lead with integrity, innovation, and service.

THE JCI AMESA SUMMIT – WAZOBIA 2025

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Africa and Middle East Senate Association (AMESA) Summit 2025 officially opened in Abuja, bringing together leaders and changemakers from across the continent and beyond.

The four-day summit, themed “Rediscovering Africa’s Untapped Potential Through Regional Collaboration & Partnerships,” runs from September 18 to 21, 2025.

Organizers say AMESA 2025 promises to be a transformative event, serving as a platform for influential figures to drive progress, explore opportunities, and shape the future of Africa and the Middle East through united efforts and strategic cooperation.

Throughout the summit, participants will engage in dynamic discussions, exchange best practices, and build actionable frameworks aimed at fostering sustainable development, regional integration, and stronger partnerships.

PHOTOS FROM THR OPENING CEREMONY

A senior government official in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, popularly known as “Bello”, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement in a scandal that shook the nation with both financial crimes and viral sex tapes.

The Bioko provincial court found Engonga guilty of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars through fake travel claims for personal gain, according to Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo.

Engonga, a married former head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, first hit global headlines last November when explicit sex tapes leaked online. The videos, some allegedly filmed in his Finance Ministry office, featured him with wives of fellow senior officials.

The scandal triggered a storm of online ridicule, sparking parody songs, skits, and viral dance challenges, with even a cheeky reference appearing in Burna Boy’s hit track “Tatata.”

Alongside five other senior officials, Engonga was ordered to pay a $220,000 fine in addition to serving his prison sentence.

The case has fueled fresh debates about corruption and abuse of office within Equatorial Guinea’s ruling elite, in a country long criticized for lack of transparency despite its vast oil wealth.

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A tragic helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti Region has claimed the lives of eight people, including two prominent government officials. The Ghana Air Force helicopter went down in the Adansi Akrofuom district on Tuesday, August 6, 2025, during a flight from Accra to Obuasi.

Among the victims were Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Several other government officials and crew members also perished in the crash.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has expressed profound sorrow over the loss and has directed that flags be flown at half-mast nationwide for a week in honour of the deceased. The government has also launched an urgent investigation into the cause of the crash, with initial reports indicating bad weather may have played a role.

This incident marks one of the deadliest air disasters involving government officials in Ghana’s recent history, prompting an outpouring of condolences from across the country and beyond.

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Malabo, Equatorial Guinea – The high-profile corruption trial of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, former director-general of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), began on June 30.

Engonga, known for his leaked sextapes, faces charges of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office.

The prosecution alleges Engonga orchestrated an elaborate scheme to siphon off public funds during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) from 2015 to 2020.

The national prosecutor has requested an exceptionally heavy sentence: 8 years for embezzlement, 4 years and 5 months for illicit enrichment, and 6 years and 1 day for abuse of office.

The charges also carry a proposed fine exceeding 910 million CFA francs (approximately $1.5 million) and a ban on holding public office.

Engonga’s defense team has condemned the charges as politically motivated and challenged the credibility of the evidence.

The trial is ongoing, with proceedings scheduled to continue this week. Six other former senior civil servants are also accused of misappropriating funds in a widespread network of financial malpractice.
A verdict is expected in the coming days.

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