Over the past week, there were many important stories from around the African continent, and we served you some of the most topical ones.

Here is a rundown of the backstories to some of the biggest news in Africa that we covered during the week:

1. ‘My hard decisions are for a better Nigeria’, Tinubu tells Nigerians

In what many Nigerians have come to describe as one of his regular rhetoric, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the week in review, insisted that the decisions he has taken since he became the Nigerian leader last year, are aimed at making the country as developed as the first world countries.

Tinubu, while addressing Nigerians resident in China on Friday on the sideline of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), said despite the hardship being faced by citizens, his reforms were in the best interest of the country.

The President who used the opportunity the speak on the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), said the petrol price hike and other reforms by his administration are part of an overall strategy to set Nigeria on the path of economic growth.

“Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices.

He added that though Nigerian citizens are crying out over his policies which have plunged majority into poverty, the hard decisions are crucial to economic prosperity.

“What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?

“The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development.

‘But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?” He added.

But in all of these, Nigerians are not convinced that the president really has the interest of the citizens at heart as most of his policies are seen as anti- people. Many argue that instead of the policies being in favour of the masses, they have turned them into wretched and hopeless beings wallowing in abject poverty, hunger and unbearable hardship.

In contrast to the masses, the ruling class have not slowed down in living ostentatious lifestyles which many see as not resonating with the promise made by Tinubu on cutting down the cost of governance.

2. ‘You tricked us into accepting N70k minimum wage,’ Nigerian labour union accuse President Tinubu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, accused President Bola Tinubu of pulling a fast one on its leadership during negotiations for a new national minimum wage and by extension, Nigerians, following a fresh hike in petrol price amid the lingering fuel scarcity across the country.

According to the NLC in a statement by its President, Joe Ajaero, Tinubu betrayed and tricked the labour unions during negotiations by promising not to increase the pump price of petrol only to do the opposite barely one month after labour unions had settled for a N70,000 wage.

In the statement, Ajaero, who described the situation as not only traumatic but nightmarish for Nigerian citizens, took a swipe at the President for not keeping to his promise not to increase fuel price during the meetings between the NLC and government.

Ajaero recalled that Tinubu had told both NLC and TUC leadership during the negotiation of minimum wage to pick between N250,000 and increase in price of fuel or accept N70,000 and allow the price of fuel remain the same.

Ajaero also lampooned the government for the the situation, saying instead of ensuring the promised reversal, the rate has since been jacked up further, adding that it is already putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.

“We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000) and N70,000 (at old pms rates), we opted for the latter because we could not bring ourselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians,” Ajaero said.

“But here we are, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain. It is both traumatic and nightmarish.

Though the Presidency has debunked the NLC President’s claims saying there was no such promise by Tinubu, Nigerians have continued to ask why the President’s media team had not kicked against it before now.

Nigerians recall that Ajaero had declared that the unions decided to accept the N70,000 proposed by government when Tinubu gave them the option. But at the time, the Presidency had remained mute as they played with the emotions of the citizens.

But as it has turned out, it’s now clear that the present government will not stop taking Nigerians for a ride and has turned a once prosperous nation into a poverty capital where the masses undergo severe hardship and hunger as a result of its draconian policies.

3. ECOWAS set to clamp down on terrorism with $4 million purse

During the week in review, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), resolved to step up the fight against terrorism in the subregion with a $4 million allocation during a two-day workshop on strategic engagement in Abuja, Nigeria.

The fund, according to ECOWAS Commission’s Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, will assist Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and other bordering nations that are “suffering from the knock-on consequences of terrorism.”

Tarfa-Ugbe emphasized the continued difficulties that West African nations confront, such as terrorism, food hunger, climate change, and violence, and she reiterated ECOWAS’s commitment to supporting member states’ attempts to recover and become more resilient.

“This year, the ECOWAS Commission has committed $2.6 million to support persons of concern within our region—those displaced, refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Additionally, you know that our region, especially the Sahel, continues to battle terrorist attacks, resulting in many victims.

“As part of our humanitarian response to victims of terrorism, $4 million has been committed to providing support for the frontline states of Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, as well as the neighbouring countries that are bearing the spillover effects of terrorism, such as Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire,” Tarfa-Ugbe stated.

She mentioned instances of effective interventions, such as in Togo where ECOWAS collaborated with the World Food Programme and the Civil Protection Agency to improve agricultural output and give small-scale companies financial support.

“We have seen firsthand the positive impact of our support in countries like Togo, Gambia, and Liberia. Our assistance has enabled communities to recover and strengthen their livelihoods, which is crucial for building long-term resilience,” Tarfa-Ugbe said.

The huge allocation is not only a welcome development but has come at a time most West African countries continue to face several challenges, including conflict, terrorism, climate change, and food insecurity, but our organisation, the ECOWAS Commission, continues to support our member states in strengthening their resilience and recovery from some of these challenges.

But whether the funds would be meticulously utilized and monitored for the purpose it is meant for is another thing owing to the penchant of people in authority to tamper with such funds.

4. Dictatorship prevails as Tunisian presidential candidate Zammel is put in detention

We also brought you the report of the travails of one of Tunisia’s presidential candidates, Ayachi Zammel, who was arrested and detained by the authorities on Monday despite a court ordering for his release.

Zammel’s campaign team had raised the alarm on Friday after he still remained in custody after his release was ordered by a judge on Thursday.

“Zammel was arrested minutes after his release last night. He remained in prison Friday,” one of his campaign staff, Mahadi Abdel Jawed, told journalists.

Zammel who also spoke of his ordeals, said he is restricted and intimidated since he is a serious Saied competitor but has promises democracy, liberties, and economic recovery for Tunisia.

The arrest and detention of Zammel who is one of three candidates approved by Tunisia’s electoral commission for the October 6th presidential election, has been one of the major headache for President Kais Saied, who, like most African presidents, has been doing everything possible to stiffle the opposition.

Zammel has been accused by the Tunisian authorities of electoral irregularities and has had regular trouble with the Saied government as he tries to wrest power from the incumbent president.

Saied who was elected in 2019, has forced the country’s parliament to change the constitution and in 2021, he took power by fiat which the opposition called a coup and has continued to hold on like a dictator reminiscent of African sit-tight leaders even as human rights groups and opposition parties have accused the government of employing arbitrary limitations to re-elect Saied.

5. Africa mourns as boyfriend murders Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei

It was a sad end of the week following the untimely demise of Ugandan marathon runner, Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set on fire by her boyfriend on Sunday following a disagreement.

Cheptegei, who lived in the western Trans-Nzoia County in Kenya, and competed for Uganda in the Discovery 10km Road Race and finished in the 44th position in the 2024 Paris Olympics, died on Thursday at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the Kenyan city of Eldoret while receiving treatment from burns which had affected over 75 per cent of her body.

According to police report, her estranged boyfriend identified as Dickson Ndiema who doused her with fuel and set her on fire following a disagreement that had to do with sharing her property.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, said that Cheptegei’s boyfriend bought a jerry can of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze.

“Ndiema also sustained burn wounds, although they are less severe, and is receiving treatment at the same hospital,” the police Commander said.

“Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the many athletic training centres in the county,” he added.

The death of the 33-year-old mother of three has drawn worldwide condemnation including that of the Ugandan and Kenyan governments who have vowed to bring the suspect to book while also vowing to put a stop to domestic violence targeted against women.

On Friday, Mayor of Paris, Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has announced that a sports venue in the French capital city will be named after her to honour her memory.

Hidalgo who made the announcement on Friday, said dedicating a sports venue after Cheptegei would help “her memory and her story remain among us” after Cheptegei had competed in the Olympic marathon in Paris, coming 44th in a time of two hours 32 minutes and 14 seconds.

“We’ll dedicate a sports venue to her so that her memory and her story remains among us and helps carry the message of equality, which is a message carried by the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” she said.

Over the past week, there have been many important stories from around the African continent, and we have served you some of the most topical ones.

Here is a rundown of the backstories to some of the biggest news in Africa that we covered during the week:

World at the rescue as mpox virus hits Africa

During the week, Africa became the largest recipient of Monkeypox vaccine donations amid the recent surge of the virus ravaging the continent. On Monday, Germany pledged 100,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine from its military stockpile to aid in the short-term containment of the outbreak on the African continent and to aid the affected countries. And plans to support its partners in Africa through the GAVI vaccination alliance and will supply the World Health Organisation with flexible funding resources through a variety of tools to fight Mpox.

In addition, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided Nigeria with 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine as the week continued. The country has recorded a total of forty cases of the vaccine, although there have been no fatalities. Muyi Aina, who is the head of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), stated that the donation was a “critical step” for the country of Nigeria.

Mpox is endemic to West and Central Africa, with the first human case discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970. Nigeria had a major outbreak in 2017 and 2018. Before 2022, only occasional instances occurred outside of endemic areas. The virus can be passed from person to person through close contact, but it can also be passed from place to person through things and surfaces that a person with mpox has touched.

Failures in the implementation of rigorous surveillance, contact tracing, and containment techniques have allowed the virus to spread across at least 120 nations, even though early warnings were sent. A reminiscence of the Covid-19 dramatic experience with loud calls for equitable vaccine distribution remains. Whether or not Africa has done enough to prevent the outbreak and whether or not the continent is doing everything in its power to limit it, beyond pinning our expectations on the still rare doses of vaccine, are two fundamental concerns that ought to be asked.

Love Turns Sour: Nigeria’s Osimhen trapped in transfer saga

The summer transfer window of the European football season ended with a Nigerian, Victor of Osimen at the heart of the biggest controversy in the window. Osimhen’s proposed transfer to English side Chelsea and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli fell apart as he was caught in the middle of a transfer saga. Reports had emerged earlier in the week that Napoli reached a big money agreement with the Arabian club, Al Ahli, worth a whopping €80m while Chelsea also remained keen on getting him.

At the beginning of the drama, Osimhen was holding out for a possible transfer to Chelsea, but the negotiations broke down due to disagreements over personal issues. At the same time, a significant offer from Saudi Arabia was being considered, but the limited amount of time available to reach an agreement on the conditions of the contract led to the failure of that arrangement as well.

The 25-year-old Nigerian player was the driving force behind Napoli’s Scudetto-winning season in Serie A in 2022-23. Osimhen accomplished the feat of finishing as the highest goalscorer in the division, and the team had just won the championship for the first time in more than three decades. Throughout the 2023–24 season, the Nigerian player was plagued by injuries, frequent managerial shifts, and absences owing to his participation in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Despite these challenges, he managed to score 15 goals in 25 Serie A matches.

With the transfer failures, Napoli and its new coach Antonio Conte have both revealed that Osimhen will not be included in Napoli’s Serie A team for the 2024/2025 summer season. There have been reports that his connection with the club has deteriorated, which has resulted in his exclusion from the team’s preparations under the direction of the new coach Antonio Conte. This decision will keep the striker who is the current African footballer of the year in a state of uncertainty until at least January 2025.

Despite his heroics on the Italian side, Osimhen and Napoli have a history of toxicity. Last season, the club posted a video on social media which made a joke of Osimhen missing a penalty in a draw against Bologna, with an odd, sped-up voice dubbed over the top forcing a testament from the player’s agent Roberto Calenda threatening legal action. It seems love is lost again, and Osimhen might have to live with being ostracized in the city once “ruled.”

Musings on Al Shabaab and the Horn of Africa

Taye Atske Selassie, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, on Friday, suggested that countries in the Horn of Africa collaborate to combat the terrorist organisation Al Shabaab in the eastern part of Africa, particularly in Somalia. This recommendation was made to combat the terrorist organisation. which has been the most deadly in the last decade in the region.

Selassie warned that Al Shabaab is “well-equipped” to carry out assaults that are lethal in the Horn of Africa region. Ethiopia is giving Somalia unrestricted military aid and other assistance until the Somali National Army (SNA) can manage the nation’s security issues independently.
Since 2016, Al-Shabaab has also carried out large-scale, intricate, and deadly attacks outside of Somalia, one of which occurred in Kenya. Concerns about recruiting and radicalization-related activities are ongoing.

Having pledged loyalty to Al-Qaida in 2012, Al-Shabaab remains the most active terrorist organisation in East Africa. Although they also happen in neighbouring states, the majority of its attacks take place in Somalia. There was an increase in the number of indirect fire strikes on aircraft and airfields in 2021. It is still incredibly adaptable.

Somalia continues to be one of the most violent countries in the world. According to the ACLED Conflict Index, which evaluates the level of violence based on four core indicators—deadliness, threat to civilians, geographic spread of conflict, and the number of active non-state groups—it is ranked the 21st highest in the world. In addition to being active in Somalia, Al-Shabaab has also been expanding its presence and activities in eastern Kenya.

Al-Shabaab has demonstrated that it is a capable insurgency and a growing threat to security in the Horn of Africa, although it has been banished to the countryside ever since it lost control of Mogadishu in 2011. This threat does not appear to be losing pace any time soon. Meanwhile, sub-regional forces of the East African Community have continuously been deployed in troubling countries but not much success has been recorded.

Xenophobia, Identity theft now behind her as Adetshina wins Miss Universe Nigeria

Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, the South African model whose qualification for a spot as a Miss South Africa finalist drew controversy because of her Nigerian descent, has won Miss Universe Nigeria 2024. Ms Adetshina’s origins in South Africa were established by the South African contest organisers, confirming that she grew up in Cape Town and was born in Soweto, which is a township that is located close to Johannesburg.

However, critics on the internet, on the other hand, investigated every aspect of her life and asserted that her mother was not from South Africa but rather from Mozambique and that her father was from Namibia. Adetshina, who was in a strong position in the contest was compelled to withdraw from the pageant won by Mia Le Roux following allegations of her mother’s alleged identity theft and backlash from South Africans owing to the xenophobic response and rejection of her nationality.

Beyond her recent victory at the Nigerian contest, Adetshina’s saga brings the spotlight on matters of identity theft and continued Xenophobic slurs in Africa, particularly between South Africa and Nigeria. Businesses in Africa lose millions of dollars due to identity fraud, which is a growing problem across the continent. It is of the utmost importance to verify the identity of individuals to decrease instances of fraud and illegal activities as more and more financial transactions and commercial activities move online.

The xenophobic attitude that exists in South Africa harms the mission of the African Renaissance, ultimately affecting its relations within the continent against the need for improved intra-African relations. Matters have transcended into “e-wars” between nationals of the two countries which are arguably the largest economies in the continent. Africa definitely can’t afford a strain in their ties.