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.

Over the past week, there were lots of 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. Audacity of pride as APC boasts Nigerians will still re-elect Tinubu despite hunger, hardship

Despite the hues and cries of ordinary Nigerians over the unbearable hardship, hunger, insecurity, and pervasive poverty as a result of the now infamous “bold reforms” and unfavourable economic policies of President Bola Tinubu since coming into office over a year ago, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has boasted that Nigerians will still re-elect him as president come 2027.

The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru, who made the boast in an interaction with journalists in Lagos, said he was convinced beyond doubt that come 2027, Tinubu would be re-elected despite the economic hardship and planned alliance between mega opposition parties.

Duru, who was reacting to insinuations that the current hardship and economic woes arising from Tinubu’s policies could lead to Nigerians voting against him, said the ruling party was not losing sleep because he was sure Nigerians would still vote for the president.

“Our party has always recognised the fact that the current challenging economic environment has not in any way got better.

“When Mr President took over, he asked Nigerians not to pity him. It is an office that he craved and worked hard for before offering himself to provide leadership to Nigeria.

“What gives confidence is that Mr President is very much aware of the expectations of the person on the street.

“Concerning whether we will be re-elected, as a democrat and my personal view, we have always canvassed that unless His Excellency President Bola Tinubu will not contest, the APC government is bound to be represented by our candidate in 2027 to fly the flag for the simple reason that I want to bring up. And, of course, there is the incumbency factor,” Duru boasted.

Beyond the cockiness and confidence of the APC spokesman, who is invariably speaking the minds of the ruling class, what this means is that no matter how they have emasculated Nigerians and throw them under the bus, they will still be re-elected come the next election cycle in 2027.

They have the power of incumbency, the chairman of the Electoral Commission is appointed by the ruling party, they have the machinery and the funds to buy voters and in the case of an election dispute going to court, they have their appointed judges to give verdicts in their favour.

Little wonder Duru, like others before him, has the effrontery to boast that Nigerians will still re-elect Tinubu despite what they are being made to go through.

And he is not far from the truth because most of the suffering Nigerians will still sell their consciences for pittance in future elections.

2. ‘You are killing Zambian democracy,’ Lungu attacks Hichilema again

The war of words and verbal attacks between former Zambian President Edgar Lungu and incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has continued unabated following a new allegation from the Lungu camp that Hichilema is attacking the country’s democratic norms by using the parliament to strangle the opposition.

Lungu made the allegations after nine members of his party, the Patriotic Front (PF), were sacked from the parliament.

In a press conference in Lusaka, Lungu said his party would vigorously contest the expulsions of the MPs through legal and political means.

He also accused the current government of misusing the Speaker’s office to target perceived opponents of the ruling party, calling it an abuse of power.

“During my tenure, we never interfered with the workings of the National Assembly. My government respected national principles and the separation of powers,” Lungu said.

He also warned that if Zambia fails to oppose the unconstitutional expulsion of lawmakers, it would signal a dangerous attack on democracy, adding that the Hichilema administration is displaying dictatorial powers, contrast with his administration’s practices since 2015 when he took office.

“Sadly, the respect for power and democratic principles that we upheld has been undermined under the current government. Since Mr. Hakainde Hichilema assumed power, we have witnessed a decline in governance integrity,” Lungu lamented.

The political fight between Lungu and Hichilema is not new especially in Africa where politicians see themselves as sworn enemies.

Those who are not in office see all the mistakes made by those in power while those on the inside will do everything possible to stop their opponents from upsetting them in future elections.

Since Hichilema took over from Lungu, the former president has been on the warpath, picking on him and attacking the President at every point, oblivious of the fact that he was duly voted out by the citizens who felt he had not performed to their expectations.

But then, this is the way of a typical African politician and the roulette dance of shame goes on!

3. End of an era as US completes troops withdrawal from Niger’s Air Base

After several years of having its troops stationed in Niger Republic and other West African countries, the United States announced that it would finally withdraw its troops from the Nigerien Air Base on Sunday.

The Nigerien military junta had given the United States until September 15th to withdraw its forces.

In a statement on Friday, US officials said the military will finish removing its soldiers from Niger’s Air Base 101 in the capital on Sunday and will next concentrate on leaving a significant drone base in the upcoming weeks.

The withdrawal of the US troops also comes with a withdrawal from a $100 million drone base close to Agadez in central Niger, which had supplied vital intelligence regarding organizations associated with the Islamic State and al Qaeda.

US Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, who was in Niger to oversee the withdrawal, had announced that a ceremony will take place on Sunday night to officially close Air Base 101 for the United States.

“We will do a joint ceremony on that occasion that marks the departure of the last U.S. C-17 (aircraft). The government of Niger will assume control of former U.S. areas and facilities,” Ekman said.

The idea behind the withdrawal of the US troops from the West African country came following a spate of coups that rocked the region in the past five years, the latest being that of Niger last year which saw the junta leaders ordering the United States to remove its almost 1,000 soldiers from the country in April.

The order and the subsequent protest by citizens caused the US serious embarrassment leading to the decision to withdraw its troops.

The withdrawal of US troops is also coming on the heels of similar withdrawals by Russia troops from Mali and Burkina Faso following military coups in the countries.

4. 82 million Nigerians face bleak times as food crisis escalates

An estimated 82 million Nigerians, about 64% of the nation’s population, face a bleak future and may go hungry by the year 2030 as a result of acute food crisis which is likely to hit the country in the next few years.

This damning prediction was given by the United Nations which also urged the Nigerian government to immediately address climate change, pest infestations, and other risks to agricultural productivity.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s resident humanitarian coordinator, Taofiq Braimoh, a UN representative, who made the prediction at the CropWatch Abuja launch during the week had stated:

“The government of Nigeria, in collaboration with others, conducts an annual food security survey.

“The results this year are concerning: over 80–82 million Nigerians are at risk of severe food crisis by 2030, and about 22 million may experience food insecurity in 2023.

“Nigeria, like many countries, grapples with food insecurity, climate change, unreliable water patterns, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity.”

Realities on ground shows that this bleak forecast by the UN is as a result of sustained increase in the nation’s food costs where the cost of living has gone beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.

Food inflation rate surpassed the 40.53% mark, an increasing from the previous month to a new high of 40.66% in May 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

This is the highest of such inflation rate witnessed in over 20 years, with increasing insecurity where farmers have not been able to produce foods, and with the unfavourable economic policies of the present administration, the UN prediction may well come to reality if the ugly trend is not reversed on time.

5. New UK PM delights African migrants as he declares Rwanda migration deal ‘dead and buried’

The newly elected British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has got into the good books of African migrants quite early after he declared that the plans to repatriate asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda is “dead and buried.”

In what turned out to be Starmer’s first significant foreign policy statement,
Starmer said he would abandon the audacious plan to transport thousands of illegal to the East African country by the previous administration of Rishi Sunak.

The new PM stated categorically that the Rwanda policy would be abandoned since it would not have served as a deterrence and that just 1% of asylum applicants would have been expelled.

“The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started. It’s never been a deterrent,” Starmer said in the speech.

In the agreement which was estimated at around £120 million ($148 million), the British government, had disclosed last year that it intended to send thousands of migrants to the nation in East Africa to discourage asylum seekers from using tiny boats to cross the English Channel from France.

The plan was to return undocumented migrants to the Rwanda and was first announced by the Conservative government in 2022, with the stated goal of ending the influx of asylum seekers in small boats.

The deal had suffered significant setbacks with some members of parliament kicking against it and court cases delaying its smooth take off but Sunak had insisted on going through with it.

With the stance of the most powerful man in the UK, endangered African migrants who seek asylum in the country can be rest assured of some level of protection.