Kenya Insights

Author: Agencies

  • Tanzanian Activist Blocked From Instagram After Mobilising Election Protests

    Tanzanian Activist Blocked From Instagram After Mobilising Election Protests

    Prominent Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi has accused the government of instigating the removal of her social media accounts that she has been using to mobilise Tanzanians against the government.

    The former fashion model-turned-activist, who is based in the US, is an outspoken critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and had nearly three million followers on Instagram.

    She has been accused of inciting the recent deadly election protests, sparking calls for her arrest.

    A Meta spokesperson told the BBC that her Instagram accounts had been “removed for violating our recidivism policy”. Tanzania government spokesman Gerson Msigwa told the BBC that she should “provide proof of her claims”.

    “We don’t allow people to create new accounts that are similar to those we’ve previously removed for violating our Community Standards,” said Meta, the parent parent company of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.

    In what is believed to be a reference to Kimambi last month, Tanzania’s Attorney-General Hamza Johari said it was “impossible” how “one person outside the country” was directing people through social media.

    “[She is] just telling people to do such things [protest] and they actually go and do it and she starts boasting… We must arrest her,” he said.

    Widespread protests followed the disputed 29 October elections, which Samia won with about 98% after her key opponents were unable to contest the poll – Tundu Lissu is detained on treason charges, while Luhaga Mpina was barred on technical grounds

    The opposition and rights groups believe hundreds of people were killed in the crackdown by security officers in the aftermath. The government has not released any casualty figures.

    Despite widespread international condemnation, Samia has since defended the use of force as “necessary” against protesters who “were ready to overthrow the government”.

    On Monday, Samia said her government was ready to confront protesters in the fresh protests planned for Tuesday next week.

    Kimambi noted that on the same day her accounts were removed, those of another prominent Tanzanian activist, Maria Sarungi, were restricted.

    “I believe this provides further evidence that Meta may have been pressured by the Tanzanian government to silence voices speaking out for the people,” she wrote on her X account, which is still available.

    She also asked US President Donald Trump to urge Meta to reinstate her pages.

    “For months, I used my platforms to highlight these issues and consistently encouraged PEACEFUL protests, as many Tanzanians feel there is no safe alternative for expressing dissent,” she said.

    Popularly known as dada wa taifa (sister of the nation), Kimambi built her influence primarily through her social media platforms and began her campaign against the Tanzanian government during the presidency of the late John Magufuli in 2016.

    Two years later, she unsuccessfully attempted to mobilise nationwide protests against his government.

    In 2021, she publicly switched her stance and backed Samia when she took office after Magufuli’s death, even though they are both from the CCM party that has governed Tanzania since independence. Kimambi even attended Samia’s first official visit to the US, where the two were photographed together.

    However, that relationship later deteriorated, and Kimambi now uses the same platform to sharply criticise President Samia and her administration.

    Her critics dismiss her political activism and accuse her of using offensive language when criticising the president and other top government officials.

    Kimambi already faces charges of economic sabotage, which came up in court in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. The case was postponed to 28 January, with state prosecutors saying the matter was still under investigation.

    She faces one count of money laundering in the case involving over $56,000 (£42,000) alleged to be proceeds of crime obtained about three years ago.

    It is alleged that she acquired the money by working as a journalist without accreditation, and obtained payment through intimidation. The case was initially filed on 28 August, alleging that she had obtained the money in 2022.

    In a post on her Instagram page before it became unavailable, she dismissed the case as “cooked”, adding that it “won’t change her views about the president”.

    She said the case was linked to her account with a Tanzanian bank that held $40,000. She claimed her last transaction in the account was in 2023 and that it was frozen last year.

    The government has not responded to the accusations that the charges are politically motivated and previously told the BBC to refer to the court case.

    In many of her recent posts on Instagram, Kimambi has called on Tanzanians to resist the administration and turn up for protests, including the one planned for 9 December. She also shared images of the aftermath of the election protests.

    The removal of Kimambi’s accounts come as the US says it is reviewing its relationship with Tanzania, citing growing concerns over democratic backsliding and human rights.

    In a statement issued on Thursday by the Department of State, Washington accuses the Tanzanian government of repressing religious freedom and free speech, blocking US investment, and failing to prevent violence before and after the 29 October elections.

    It says these actions have put American citizens, tourists, and US interests at risk and threaten decades of security and development cooperation.

    “The future of our bilateral relationship will be based on the government’s actions,” says the statement.

    The Tanzanian authorities have not yet responded.

    (BBC)

  • Outspoken Samia Critic Mange Kimambi Hit With Money-Laundering Charges In Tanzania

    Outspoken Samia Critic Mange Kimambi Hit With Money-Laundering Charges In Tanzania

    Prominent Tanzanian social media activist Mange Kimambi, a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration who resides in the United States, has been charged in her home country with economic sabotage.

    She faces one count of money laundering involving Tsh138.5 million.

    The case is scheduled for mention on December 4 this year before Senior Resident Magistrate Hassan Makube at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam. The matter was filed by the prosecution on August 28 this year.

    On the morning of December 2, 2025, Mange appeared in a widely circulated video on social media, confirming that she had been informed of the charges, claiming that the Tanzanian Government intends to bring her back to the country.

    In Criminal Case No. 000021172 of 2025, the alleged offence falls under Sections 12(1)(d) and 13(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Cap 423 of 2019, read together with the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act.

    According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that between March 1 and March 31, 2022, at various locations in Dar es Salaam, she obtained Tsh138.5 million knowing that the money was proceeds of crime.

    The Tanzanian prosecutors further alleged that Mange acquired the money by working as a journalist without accreditation and by demanding the money through intimidation.

  • Kenyan MPs Accuse British Soldiers Of Decades Of Sexual Abuse

    Kenyan MPs Accuse British Soldiers Of Decades Of Sexual Abuse

    Kenya’s parliament has accused British soldiers of decades of sexual abuse, killings, human rights violations and environmental destruction while training in the country.

    The report detailed harrowing testimony from communities in Laikipia and Samburu counties, near the military training bases.

    The British soldiers are accused of evading accountability by refusing to cooperate with the parliamentary investigation.

    The UK High Commission in Kenya said it regretted that its submission was not reflected in the report’s conclusions and affirmed its readiness to investigate the allegations “under our jurisdiction fully, once evidence is provided”.

    For decades, troops from the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) have been training in central Kenya but their presence has long attracted controversy, with soldiers accused of misconduct and rights abuses.

    More than 1,000 Kenyan soldiers receive British training each year, while thousands of UK troops are sent to Kenya for training exercises.

    In a 94-page report following a two-year inquiry, Kenya’s parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations accused Batuk of continued ethical breaches, rights violations and environmental negligence, as well as employment and labour concerns.

    The panel cited oral and written submissions from affected civilians, victims, community leaders, civil society organisations and public agencies.

    The report said that during the inquiry, host communities had complained of killings, assaults and maimings, including public fights and fatal traffic incidents, involving Batuk soldiers.

    The report said that Batuk was “increasingly seen as an occupying presence rather than a development partner, with affected residents drawing parallels to colonial injustices”.

    Among the worst cases was the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a hotel septic tank in the central garrison town of Nanyuki, nearly three months after she was alleged to have spent an evening with British soldiers.

    The panel said the “pursuit of justice has been slow and fraught with frustration”.

    “It was submitted that the process of investigation has faced undue interference and obstruction, allegedly by Batuk personnel, which continues to hinder the delivery of justice,” it added.

    A former British soldier accused of Wanjiru’s murder was arrested last month after a warrant was issued in the UK and he now faces extradition to Kenya. He has denied the charge, and his lawyers said he intended to contest the extradition.

    Another case was the “unlawful killing” of herder Tilam Leresh allegedly by a Batuk sergeant in 2012, “yet no arrest or prosecution has taken place in either Kenya or the UK”.

    The UK has previously expressed regret over Leresh’s shooting by an on-duty British soldier, but in a statement to the parliamentary committee in October, the Ministry of Defence noted that British prosecutors had concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. The UK said it remained open to considering any new evidence that might emerge.

    The report also noted “disturbing trends of sexual misconduct by Batuk personnel” and claimed that survivors of sexual violence reported cases being dropped or mishandled by local authorities, with “many victims denied access to justice”.

    It cited “compelling evidence” of widespread sexual violence perpetrated by Batuk soldiers particularly against women from the Samburu and Maasai communities.

    “Cases of rape and sexual violence by Batuk soldiers remain unresolved, and justice has not been served to the victims.”

    Agnes Wanjiru was killed near the British forces' training camp in 2012
    Agnes Wanjiru was killed near the British forces’ training camp in 2012

    The report documented testimony from victims, detailing how British soldiers had allegedly preyed on local women, attacking them while they were fetching firewood, water, or grazing livestock.

    It recounted a horrific 1997 incident in Archer’s Post where “30 women were gang-raped at knife-point”, some inside their own homes.

    Batuk said it had “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse” and took any such allegations very seriously.

    Witnesses also described instances of public indecency by soldiers, including exposing themselves in social venues and town centres, often involving intoxication, disorderly behaviour, and in some cases, violent or sexually aggressive conduct.

    Besides rape and assault, the inquiry also documented cases of abandoned “fatherless” children.

    “Dozens of children have been fathered by British soldiers who returned home, leaving behind single mothers facing stigma and financial hardship,” it stated.

    The MPs also alleged that Batuk has never carried out the legally required environmental and social impact assessments for its field exercises, and raised concerns over the possible use of white phosphorus, which they described as “notorious for the severity of the injuries it causes”.

    Residents reported respiratory issues, miscarriages, and livestock deaths due to toxic fumes and leftover military waste.

    In one case, a ranger reportedly died after taking home unexploded ordnance from a Batuk range, while a child is said to have lost both arms and an eye after encountering another.

    In its defence, Batuk said that independent environmental audits showed high levels of compliance with Kenyan regulations.

    The investigating panel said Batuk had “persistently” declined to appear before the committee and instead “invoked claims of diplomatic immunity”.

    The British defence ministry said it had responded to the issues highlighted during the inquiry and “outlined the actions taken to address the concerns raised”.

    In a statement, the UK High Commission said it was prepared to investigate “where new allegations have come to light in the committee’s report”.

    “We deeply regret the challenges which have arisen in relation to our defence presence in Kenya,” it said.

    But the parliamentary panel found the existing defence cooperation agreement between Kenya and the UK was “structurally flawed”, saying the legal instrument has huge gaps.

    It noted that “the offence of murder, despite its gravity, is not explicitly listed… as an offence deemed outside the course of official duty”.

    This, it argued, created a “significant obstacle to justice,” adding that the existing oversight mechanism was largely ineffective.

    The committee recommended the military agreement be amended to introduce a visiting forces code of conduct, zero-tolerance rules for gender-based violence, environmental obligations, and civilian oversight.

    It also called on the Kenyan defence ministry to negotiate with the UK government on mechanisms to hold Batuk soldiers accountable for child support.

  • Conor McGregor Sexual Assault Lawsuit Withdrawn

    Conor McGregor Sexual Assault Lawsuit Withdrawn

    A US woman who had accused Conor McGregor of sexually assaulting her at an NBA game has voluntarily dropped her lawsuit against the Irish MMA star.

    The 37-year-old UFC fighter, one of the organisation’s most high-profile competitors, had denied the allegations of sexual battery following the 2023 Miami Heat match. Lawyers for the woman, identified in the initial complaint as a 49-year-old Wall Street executive, filed a notice of voluntary dismissal in a Florida court on Tuesday. Prosecutors had previously declined to pursue criminal charges related to the incident.

    McGregor attended the Miami Heat’s NBA Finals Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets in June 2023 as part of a sponsorship deal for a pain relief spray brand.

    Conor McGregor Sexual Assault Lawsuit Withdrawn. Credit: Fox News.
    Conor McGregor Sexual Assault Lawsuit Withdrawn. Credit: Fox News.

    The original complaint alleged that McGregor met the woman in the venue’s VIP section before she was allegedly led to a men’s restroom, where the assault was said to have occurred.

    This case follows a separate sexual assault lawsuit in Ireland last year, in which McGregor was found liable and ordered to pay approximately $250,000 in damages to a woman who accused him of rape.

    Last month, McGregor received an 18-month suspension after missing three drug tests within a 12-month period. Because the suspension was backdated to September 2024, he will be eligible to fight again by March 2026, potentially allowing him to compete at a UFC event planned for 14 June at the White House, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s birthday.

  • German Researchers Find Highly Effective HIV Antibody

    German Researchers Find Highly Effective HIV Antibody

    Worldwide, 44 million deaths — that is the sad toll of HIV/AIDS since it was first detected in 1981; it was officially discovered in 1983. AIDS is considered one of the worst epidemics in human history.

    The number of AIDS-related deaths has steadily decreased over the years, thanks to awareness campaigns, education and prevention, but people are still dying.

    In 2024, UNAIDS reported the number of AIDS-related deaths a year was about 630,000 people worldwide.

    The new discovery of an antibody against HIV by the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, has raised hopes that another weapon in the fight against the virus may be on the horizon.

    More than 800 antibodies tested against HIV

    The research team, led by Florian Klein, Director of the Institute of Virology in Cologne, examined blood samples from 32 people. They were all infected with HIV, but had developed a particularly strong and broadly effective antibody response against the virus, on their own — without any medical intervention.

    The researchers tested more than 800 different antibodies from these blood samples for their ability to neutralize HIV.

    One of them, named 04_A06, stood out. The antibody blocks a site where the virus binds to cells when it infects a person. It therefore prevents HIV from entering the body’s cells. When the virus enters a cell, it reprograms the cell to reproduce the virus, and that weakens the immune system in the long-term.

    Antibodies in the human immune system are produced by B lymphocytes, or B cells.

    When B cells detect pathogens, they become plasma cells that release antibodies, such as the 04_A06 antibody discovered by the Cologne researchers.

    The researchers decoded this process, or “blueprint,” for the 04_A06 antibody in the hope that they could reproduced it.

    “You use the genetic blueprint of the antibody, transfer it to a cell line in the laboratory and use another cell and tell it: Please produce this antibody,” Klein told DW.

    Antibody 04_A06: HIV treatment and prevention

    In experiments with mice that had been infected with HIV, the 04_A06 antibody was seen to neutralize most HIV infections.

    In total, the researchers ran experiments with almost 340 variants of HIV, including those that were resistant to other antibodies.

    “HIV has a high genetic diversity, the viruses are all quite different,” said Klein. “That’s what makes HIV so difficult to treat.”

    But the 04_A06 antibody neutralized 98% of the HIV variants they tested.

    The researchers said the 04_A06 antibody may be able to help people who are already infected with HIV — because it blocks the virus’ access to cells.

    “It attaches itself to the envelope protein of the virus, so the virus can no longer infect the target cell,” said Klein. In addition, viruses blocked by 04_A06 were better recognized and actively eliminated by the body’s immune system.

    The researchers hope that 04_A06 could also prevent HIV infections.

    “The antibody intercepts viruses before they can infect cells and multiply in the body,” said Klein.

    So, the newly discovered antibody could act as a passive immunization. An active immunization would be a vaccine that enables the body to produce antibodies itself. But there is no HIV vaccine as yet.

    The state of HIV vaccine development and medication

    Studies into an HIV vaccine based on mRNA technology are ongoing. Researchers aim to stimulate an immune response with a protein taken from the HIV envelope. That is the virus’ outer coat, which, like the one of the virus that causes COVID-19, has protein spikes embedded in it that enable the virus to attach itself to cells and infect them. However, this method has so far only been tested for one HIV variant.

    Klein said it will be a challenge to induce the body’s own production of potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies with an active vaccine.

    HIV prevention with "depot" function: Lenacapavir is now also approved in the EUImage: Nardus Engelbrecht/AP/picture alliance
    HIV prevention with “depot” function: Lenacapavir is now also approved in the EUImage: Nardus Engelbrecht/AP/picture alliance

    Various medicines are offered as pills or injections as a prophylactic measure against HIV infection. And they are very successful. However, the tablets usually have to be taken daily.

    There are long-acting, injectable prophylaxis drugs, such as lenacapavir or cabotegravir, that create a “depot” function in the body. The depot allows the body to release the active ingredient slowly. And that means you only need two injections per year.

    Klein said the idea behind antibody prophylaxis with 04_A06 was, “that you [could] do without tablets, because you would have a more than 90% chance of preventing an infection.” An antibody prophylaxis using 04_A06 would have to be taken approximately every six months, much like lenacapavir.

    Alternatives to the 04_A06 antibody

    Researchers have found other broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.

    However, Alexandra Trkola, Director of the Institute of Medical Virology at the University of Zurich said, “04_A06 is definitely an extraordinarily potent representative of this group.”

    The antibody’s potency determines how many — or how few — of the antibodies are needed to create a strong effect. This is important if the Cologne discovery is to become a drug that is administered by injection, for example.

    Potency also determines how often you would need an injection.

    “Theoretically, 04_A06 alone achieves an efficacy that is otherwise only achieved in antibody combinations,” said Trkola, who was not part of the research in Cologne.

    But it will probably be a while before 04_A06 becomes a drug, said Christoph Spinner, Head of Infectiology at the Klinikum rechts der Isar at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

    The Cologne study has so far only involved laboratory data, said Spinner, who was also not involved in the research. “So, the effectiveness cannot be directly transferred to real life.”

    Further studies on the dosage, people’s tolerance to it and its efficacy would need to follow, he said.

    Trkola agreed it was not yet possible to predict whether the antibody would prove its efficacy in clinical use but added that the signs were “definitely promising.”

    (DW)

  • What Latest Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin’s State Of Mind

    What Latest Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin’s State Of Mind

    What does the latest round of diplomacy on Ukraine tell us about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mood and intentions?

    For starters, that he’s not ready to sign a peace deal. At least, not right now.

    And certainly not the deal (or deals) on the table.

    “No compromise version has yet been found,” commented Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov after five hours of talks in Moscow involving Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Donald Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

    No compromise is no real surprise, considering the Kremlin leader’s uncompromising comments in recent days.

    In various statements he has condemned the Ukrainian leadership as a “thieving junta”, accused European leaders of trying to sabotage peace efforts, and insisted that Russia holds the initiative on the battlefield.

    On a couple of recent occasions Russian TV showed Putin in military fatigues, studying maps of the front line and trumpeting military gains, many of which Ukraine and international observers have denied.

    After nearly four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, despite the heavy losses Russia has suffered on the battlefield and the damage to the Russian economy, President Putin seems convinced that he is winning this war and that now is not the moment to stop.

    At least, that is what he would like the West to believe: that nothing can stop him now from achieving his goals.

    I’ve said before that, in many ways, Vladimir Putin reminds me of a car with no brakes, no steering wheel and no reverse gear; a vehicle careering full speed down the motorway.

    Nearly four years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine there is still no sign of the “Putinmobile” turning off, turning back, or coming to a halt.

    He certainly wants his opponents to think that nothing or no one can force him to change direction: neither European leaders, nor the Trump administration, nor President Zelensky.

    But cars need fuel (a constant supply).

    And, to fight a war, countries need money (a constant supply).

    For now, despite international sanctions, Russia’s government is still able to finance the “special military operation” – its war on Ukraine. But economic pressures are building: revenues from oil and gas have been falling, the budget deficit growing.

    Even Putin admits there are problems, referring to “imbalances” in the economy.

    “In several sectors, production output not only failed to increase this year but actually decreased,” Putin said this week. “Are we satisfied with such trends? No.”

    The big unknown: at what point, if at all, will economic concerns start to influence the Kremlin’s calculations on the battlefield?

    (BBC)

  • Was It Coup Or Was It A ‘Sham’? Behind Guinea-Bissau’s Military Takeover

    Was It Coup Or Was It A ‘Sham’? Behind Guinea-Bissau’s Military Takeover

    Military takeovers are nothing new in Guinea-Bissau.

    The West African country has experienced at least nine attempted and successful coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.

    But when military officers announced they had seized control of the country last Wednesday, some analysts and political figures were sceptical.

    All the typical ingredients for a coup were there: gunfire was heard near the presidential palace, the President – Umaro Sissoco Embaló – was arrested and soldiers gave an address on state television.

    Still, other circumstances of the incident have been called into question, with Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan joining a chorus of voices who believe the takeover was masterminded by Embaló.

    And to complicate matters further, the military insisted to the BBC that it had taken over the country, but condemned the use of the word “coup”.

    The junta leaders said they were acting to thwart a plot by unnamed politicians who had “the support of a well-known drug baron” to destabilise the country, which has become known as a drug-trafficking hub.

    What happened in the lead-up to the coup?

     

    Just three days before the military takeover, Bissau-Guineans voted in a presidential election.

    Embaló, 53, was running for a second term and his closest challenger was Fernando Dias da Costa.

    Dias had been backed by former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, who was initially supposed to run for president on behalf of the main opposition party, PAIGC.

    However, Pereira had been disqualified from the contest after the authorities said he filed his papers late.

    The election results were supposed to have been released on Thursday, the day after the coup took place.

    What happened on the day of the coup?

     

    After gunfire was heard in capital, Bissau, Embaló told French news site Jeune Afrique that he had been arrested by men in uniform in the presidential palace.

    Military officers then appeared on state television, announcing they had deposed the president in order to thwart a plot to destabilise the country.

    The military suspended the electoral process and blocked the release of the poll results.

    In a brief phone call, Embaló told France 24: “I have been deposed.”

    Others were also detained, including Pereira, Interior Minister Botché Candé and army chief Gen Biague Na N’tan.

    The headquarters of the electoral commission came under attack and an official has since revealed that armed men wearing balaclavas destroyed paperwork and the main computer server that stored the results – meaning the election results cannot be published.

    Why is there scepticism surrounding the coup?

     

    The opposition, civil society organisations and politicians from fellow West African nations have cast doubt on the military’s announcement.

    Embaló flew to neighbouring Senegal on a Senegalese military flight after being released from custody on Thursday – a detail that PAIGC official Flávio Baticã Ferreira finds suspicious.

    “The way he left Guinea-Bissau, escorted like a tourist with his family and luggage, without any obstacle or resistance… all of this shows that it was not a coup, because we all know how a coup works,” Ferreira, who was formerly a member of parliament, told the BBC.

    In the series of coups that have occurred in Africa over the last five years, no deposed leaders have been allowed to leave the country as quickly as Embaló did.

    However, a couple of analysts told the BBC that Guinea-Bissau’s military may have felt that letting Embaló fly out as soon as possible would make for a smooth transition.

    Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former president, also questioned the coup, saying a head of state would not normally be allowed to talk to foreign media on the phone during a military takeover.

    “What happened in Guinea-Bissau was not a coup… for want of a better word, I would say it was a ceremonial coup,” the ex-president, who was part of a team observing the elections in Guinea-Bissau, told reporters.

    Jonathan is right, deposed leaders are not usually known to make contact with the outside world while under arrest.

    But there are exceptions – Gabon’s former president filmed a video urging his “friends all over the world” for support after being ousted in 2023.

    The appointment of Gen Horta N’Tam as Guinea-Bissau’s new military leader has also raised suspicions, as the general was considered to be a close ally of Embaló’s.

    Embaló has not responded to allegations that he orchestrated the coup.

    Why would someone fake a coup?

     

    Critics have long-accused Embaló of fabricating coup attempts in order to crack down on dissent – charges the former leader denies.

    He said he has survived three attempted takeovers overall.

    In December 2023, after one such coup plot, Embaló dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament. Since then, Guinea-Bissau has not had a sitting legislature.

    Some civil society organisations have accused Embaló of orchestrating last week’s coup in order to prevent any unfavourable election results from being published.

    Political analyst Ryan Cummings said the president’s previous actions – such as postponing the elections for a year – had fuelled such suspicions.

    However, it is also “highly plausible” that the armed forces acted independently to prevent a political stalemate, as both Embaló and Dias were claiming they had won this election, Mr Cummings told the BBC.

    Beverly Ochieng, West Africa analyst at the intelligence firm Control Risks, also acknowledged the scepticism surrounding the coup.

    However, she said that tensions within the political elite, combined with the decision to ban Pereira from the presidential race, “likely contributed to a military intervention”.

    Who is in charge of Guinea-Bissau now?

    Gen N’Tam, formerly the army’s chief of staff, has been sworn in as president and is due to stay in power for a transition period of one year.

    The general has appointed a new cabinet, comprising 23 ministers and five secretaries of state.

    Embaló, on the other hand, has left Senegal for Congo-Brazzaville. According to sources in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, he departed as he was upset that Senegal’s prime minister had called the coup a “sham”.

    Dias, who said he evaded arrest on the day of the coup, has been granted asylum by Nigeria.

    How have Bissau-Guineans reacted?

     

    On Saturday, hundreds of protesters took to the streets, demanding that Pereira be released.

    They also called on the authorities to publish the election results.

    Additionally, three civil society groups have called for a general strike and a civil disobedience campaign in order to restore “electoral truth”.

    But reactions have been mixed, with some residents praising the army and hoping for an orderly transition.

    “I am not against the military regime as long as they improve the living conditions in the country,” Suncar Gassama told the BBC.

    Ex-MP Ferreira described the atmosphere in the country as “tense”.

    “Nobody knows what the future of Guinea-Bissau holds,” he said.

  • Trump Says He Doesn’t Want Somalis In US As ICE Plans Minnesota Operation

    Trump Says He Doesn’t Want Somalis In US As ICE Plans Minnesota Operation

    US President Donald Trump has said he does not want Somali immigrants in the US, telling reporters they should “go back to where they came from” and “their country is no good for a reason”.

    “I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you,” he said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

    Trump said the US would “go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country”.

    His disparaging comments came as immigration authorities were reported to be planning an enforcement operation in Minnesota’s large Somali community.

    Officials in the state have condemned the plan, arguing it could unfairly sweep up American citizens who may appear to be from the East African nation.

    Minneapolis and St Paul, which together are known as the Twin Cities, are home to one of the largest Somali communities in the world and the largest in the US.

    In his comments on Tuesday, which came at the end of an hours-long televised cabinet meeting, Trump said:

    “I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest with you, OK. Somebody will say, ‘Oh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care. I don’t want them in our country.”

    “With Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no, they have no anything. They just run around killing each other. There’s no structure,” Trump said.

    He then turned to criticising Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat and the first Somali-American to be elected to Congress who he has clashed with repeatedly.

    “I always watch her,” Trump said, adding that Omar “hates everybody. And I think she’s an incompetent person”.

    “His obsession with me is creepy,” Omar said in a social media post. “I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.”

    US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been directed by the Trump administration to target undocumented Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities, a person familiar with the planning told the BBC’s US partner CBS News on Tuesday.

    Hundreds of people are expected to be targeted when the operation begins this week, the official said.

    The New York Times first reported the operation.

    A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, declined to comment on planned operations and denied that any people would be targeted based on race.

    “Every day, ICE enforces the laws of the nation across the country,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

    “What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally,” she said.

    In a news conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said that an operation by ICE “means due process will be violated”.

    According to local leaders, there are about 80,000 people living there who are originally from Somalia, and the vast majority are American citizens.

    The Trump administration has intensified its immigration crackdown in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week, which killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and seriously injured Andrew Wolfe, 24.

    The suspect, who has been arrested and charged with murder, is originally from Afghanistan.

    Last week, Trump said on social media that he was planning on ending the Temporary Protected Status – a programme for immigrants from countries in crisis – for Somali residents living in Minnesota. A few hundred immigrants would be affected by that order.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also suggested on Tuesday her agency would target visa fraud in Minnesota.

    Somalia is one of the poorest nations in the world, and many of the migrants who moved to the US left in the 1990s during the country’s decades-long civil war.

    Local leaders in Minnesota have condemned the Trump administration’s reported plan.

    Minnesota state Senator Zaynab Mohamed said on X that “when ICE agents interact with Somalis here, they will find what we’ve been saying for years: Almost all of us are US citizens”.

    Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election and who has been sparring with the president in recent days, said:

    “We welcome support in investigating and prosecuting crime. But pulling a PR stunt and indiscriminately targeting immigrants is not a real solution to a problem.”

    (BBC)

  • Imran Khan Healthy But Cut Off In Jail, Sister Says As Family Seeks Access

    Imran Khan Healthy But Cut Off In Jail, Sister Says As Family Seeks Access

    LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Imran Khan, Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister, is in good physical health but facing isolation and psychological strain, his sister said on Tuesday, after a rare supervised visit following weeks in which his family said access had been blocked.

    Uzma Khanum, one of Khan’s three sisters, was the only family member permitted to meet him in Adiala Jail, where supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had gathered outside to protest against conditions of his detention.

    She told reporters her brother “looked healthy” but had been confined indoors for long periods with no communication with relatives or aides.

    “He is physically well,” said Khanum, who is a doctor. “But he is kept inside all the time and only goes out for a short while. There is no contact with anybody.”

    The meeting took place under strict supervision and without mobile devices, she said, declining to provide further details.

    Khan, 73, who served as prime minister from 2018-2022, has been in jail since his August 2023 arrest on corruption charges and is serving sentences in several cases he says are politically motivated.

    PTI says routine visits have been blocked for weeks despite court orders, fuelling rumours about his condition and possible prison transfers.

    Authorities deny any mistreatment and say Khan is receiving all entitlements available to prisoners. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said decisions about prison visits were up to jail officials and not under control of the government.

    Last week, one of Khan’s sons told Reuters the family had no direct or verifiable contact with him for more than three weeks and “no verifiable information at all” about his condition, saying they feared “something irreversible” might be concealed.

    They have also sought renewed access for his personal physician, who has not examined him for over a year.

    Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission, an independent rights monitor, said in a post on X it was “seriously concerned” by reports that Khan had been subjected to restrictive detention conditions and limits on family meetings.

    It called for regular access to relatives and legal counsel, which it described as a “fundamental safeguard against isolation and misuse of detention powers”, and urged authorities to comply with constitutional and international standards of humane treatment.

  • Zambian-American Influencer Sentenced To 18 Months For Hate Speech

    Zambian-American Influencer Sentenced To 18 Months For Hate Speech

    A Zambian-American influencer and political vlogger has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for hate speech for making insulting remarks about Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema.

    Zambian-born Ethel Chisono Edwards, who also holds US citizenship and works as an estate agent in New York, has a large following across various social media accounts. Known as “One Boss Lady”, she has become renowned for her rants about the president over the last two years.

    The 42-year-old was arrested at Zambia’s main airport three months ago after arriving to attend her grandmother’s funeral.

    She pleaded guilty in a magistrate’s court in the capital, Lusaka, and apologised to the president for her comments.

    But Magistrate Webster Milumbe said the court had a duty to send a strong warning, noting that hate speech had become increasingly common.

    Edwards, who has been in police custody since her arrest, was convicted under the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act – new legislation that came into effect this year.

    She admitted to using a computer system to publish the offensive statements, acknowledged having no lawful excuse and conceded that her words were motivated by hatred.

    Her lawyer, Joseph Katati, described Edwards as a remorseful first offender with potential.

    He went on to detail how she was a breadwinner and philanthropist who sponsored a Zambian girls’ football team that would suffer from her imprisonment.

    He also delivered a detailed public apology on her behalf.

    “I want to unreservedly apologise to the president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, his family, and the nation of Zambia for the words that I uttered against the president and for the negative effects that those words may have caused to the president, his family, and the nation at large,” it said.

    Throughout her court appearances, Edwards appeared subdued – a stark contrast to her online persona.

    The magistrate acknowledged Mr Katati’s plea for mitigation and said Edwards’s sentence would be effective from the time of her arrest.

    Mr Katati said he had not yet received instructions from his client on whether to appeal against the sentence.

    The jailing of the influencer has divided opinion in Zambia, with some saying it was necessary while others arguing that it violates freedom of speech.

    Hichilema, who came to office in 2021, has abolished criminal defamation laws against the president, but Zambians still face prosecution under other laws.

    In September, two men were sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill President Hichilema.

  • Netanyahu Submits Pardon Request In Israel Corruption Cases

    Netanyahu Submits Pardon Request In Israel Corruption Cases

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on trial facing corruption charges, announced Sunday he had submitted a pardon request, saying the long-running cases were tearing the country apart.

    US President Donald Trump wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier this month, asking him to pardon Netanyahu, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the ongoing court cases.

    “The trial in my case has been ongoing for nearly six years, and is expected to continue for many more years,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.

    He said he wanted to see through the process until acquittal, “but the security and political reality — the national interest — dictate otherwise. The State of Israel is facing enormous challenges”.

    “The continuation of the trial is tearing us apart from within, arousing fierce divisions, intensifying rifts,” he added.

    The cases against Netanyahu have exposed divisions in Israeli society between his supporters and opponents.

    Netanyahu’s backers have dismissed the trials as politically motivated.

    The premier and his wife Sara are accused in one case of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours.

    He is also accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage from two Israeli media outlets in two other cases.

    – ‘Extraordinary request’ –

    Netanyahu said the demand for him to testify on a thrice-weekly basis had “tipped the scales”.

    “Three times a week is an impossible requirement,” he said.

    “I am certain, like many others in the nation, that an immediate end to the trial will greatly help to lower the flames and promote the broad reconciliation that our country so desperately needs.”

    Herzog’s office confirmed it had received Netanyahu’s pardon request.

    “This is an extraordinary request which carries with it significant implications. After receiving all of the relevant opinions, the president will responsibly and sincerely consider the request,” the head of state’s office said in a statement.

    In September, Herzog indicated that he could grant Netanyahu a pardon, saying in an interview that the prime minister’s case “weighs heavily on Israeli society”.

    Netanyahu, 76, is Israel’s longest-serving premier, having spent more than 18 years in the post across three spells since 1996.

    During his current term, which started in late 2022, Netanyahu proposed far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say sought to weaken the courts.

    Those prompted massive protests that were only curtailed after the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023.

    Likud leader Netanyahu has said he will stand in the next elections, due to be held before the end of 2026.

    – ‘Only the guilty seek pardon’ –

    Opposition leaders lambasted Netanyahu for requesting a pardon without admitting guilt in the graft trials, and urged him to step down from political life in return for a pardon.

    “I call on President Herzog: You cannot grant Netanyahu a pardon without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse and an immediate withdrawal from political life,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a video on X.

    Yair Golan, head of the left-wing opposition party The Democrats, echoed the allegation. “Only the guilty seek pardon,” he wrote on X.

    “The only exchange deal on the table is that Netanyahu will take responsibility, admit guilt, leave politics and free the people and the state — only then will unity be achieved in the nation.”

    Conversely, several members of the governing coalition backed Netanyahu’s request.

    Defence Minister Israel Katz urged Herzog to grant the pardon to end the “deep rift that has accompanied Israeli society for nearly a decade, and to allow the country to reunite”.

    Following media speculation that Netanyahu may walk back some controversial judicial reforms in exchange for an end to his trials, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, wrote on X: “The commitment of Religious Zionism to reform in the judicial system will continue in a substantive manner, regardless of Netanyahu’s pardon.”

    “It is clear to every reasonable person that Netanyahu has been persecuted for years by a corrupt judicial system that fabricated political cases against him,” Smotrich added.

  • ‪China-US Rivalry Turns Kenya’s Mrima Hills Into Battle Ground For Global Powers‬

    ‪China-US Rivalry Turns Kenya’s Mrima Hills Into Battle Ground For Global Powers‬

    In Summary

    • Kenya’s Mrima Hill, rich in rare earth minerals and valued at over $62 billion, has attracted global attention from governments and investors.
    • Foreign interest, including from the US, China, and Australian firms, is becoming prominent, showcasing the strategic importance of these resources.
    • Local communities express concerns about mining disrupting cultural heritage and causing displacement, highlighting the need for careful governance.
    • Africa is becoming central in the competition for critical minerals essential to clean energy and advanced technologies.

    African nations are increasingly at the centre of a new mineral Cold War. Kenya’s Mrima Hill, with rare earth deposits valued at over $62 billion, has become a key focus of US and China competition for critical minerals.

    Kenya has become the latest focal point in the global contest for critical minerals, with Mrima Hill on the country’s southern coast identified as one of Africa’s richest sources of rare earth elements used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced electronics.

    The 157-hectare forest in Kwale County is estimated to contain mineral deposits worth more than US$62 billion, according to earlier studies by Cortec Mining Kenya, a subsidiary of UK- and Canada-based Pacific Wildcat Resources.

    The site holds niobium and other valuable minerals used in steelmaking, aerospace engineering, and clean-tech production.

    The discovery has drawn the attention of global powers seeking to diversify their critical mineral supply chains. In June, Marc Dillard, then interim U.S. ambassador to Kenya, visited Mrima Hill as part of Washington’s diplomatic effort to secure sustainable access to Africa’s rare earths.

    South China Morning Post reported that Chinese nationals have also attempted to visit the area in recent months but were turned away by local guards.

    Adding to the contest, an Australian consortium of mining firms, RareX and Iluka Resources, has announced plans to explore the site, while land speculators and investors are reportedly flocking to nearby coastal villages.

    The renewed global interest has stirred unease among residents, mainly from the Digo ethnic group, who fear displacement and exclusion from any future mining benefits.

    For the people of Mrima Hill, the attention from foreign investors brings both anticipation and apprehension. The forested hill is more than a potential mining site; it holds sacred shrines, medicinal plants, and ancestral graves that represent the spiritual centre of the Digo community.

    Many locals rely on its fertile land for small-scale farming, even as more than half of the area’s population lives below the poverty line, according to recent data.

    “People come here with big cars, but we turn them away,” said Juma Koja, a local forest guard, in an interview with Agence France-Presse. “I do not want my people to be exploited again.”

    Residents fear that large-scale mining could trigger evictions, environmental degradation, and the erosion of cultural heritage, echoing Kenya’s past challenges with resource extraction.

    However, while some fear the loss of heritage, others see opportunity in mining. “Why should we die poor while we have minerals?” said Domitilla Mueni, a farmer who has begun developing her land to increase its value ahead of possible projects.

    Kenya’s mining sector has long been marked by disputes between investors and the government.

    In 2013, authorities revoked the licence of Cortec Mining to operate in Mrima Hill, citing environmental concerns and irregularities in the licensing process.

    The company claimed it lost the permit after refusing to pay a bribe to then Mining Minister Najib Balala, an allegation Balala denied.

    Following years of legal challenges, Kenya imposed a temporary moratorium on new mining licences in 2019 to curb corruption and reassess its regulatory framework.

    However, with global demand for rare earths rising and China limiting exports, Nairobi has reopened its doors to investors.

    The Ministry of Mining this year announced “bold reforms”, including new tax incentives, improved licensing transparency, and a digital registry aimed at expanding the sector’s contribution from 0.8 per cent to 10 per cent of GDP by 2030.

    Across the continent, governments are repositioning their mineral policies as competition for critical resources accelerates.

    From Zambia’s copper and cobalt to Namibia’s lithium and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s rare earths, Africa is now central to the global clean-energy transition.

    “There’s a romantic view that mining is an easy way to get rich,” Professor Daniel Weru Ichang’i, a retired economic geologist at the University of Nairobi, told reporters. “But corruption and weak governance make it risky. If Kenya wants to benefit, it must strengthen institutions and ensure national interests come first.”

    He added that competition between the West and China is pushing prices higher, but Kenya’s long-term gains will depend on adherence to the law and the prioritisation of collective national interests over personal gain.

    As competition for critical minerals intensifies, governments across the continent are rethinking how to manage and profit from their vast mineral wealth.

    The African Union has introduced the Green Minerals Strategy, a continental blueprint designed to move Africa beyond the export of raw materials toward local refining, manufacturing, and industrialisation.

    Within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), policymakers are exploring ways to link national economies through regional value chains and promote trade in mineral-based products within Africa itself.

    In several countries, new restrictions on the export of unprocessed minerals have already been introduced to encourage investment in processing and value addition.

    These efforts are part of a broader recognition that the old model; where Africa supplied the world with raw resources but reaped little benefits, is no longer sustainable.

    (Business Insider)

  • 4 South Africans Arrested En Route To Russia For Alleged Military Work

    4 South Africans Arrested En Route To Russia For Alleged Military Work

    Police in South Africa have arrested four men who were travelling to Russia via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on suspicion that they were heading to join a foreign military.

    South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) said in a statement on Saturday that the men were arrested on Friday at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg following a tip-off.

    The Hawks said the suspects are expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday on charges of contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, 15 of 1998.

    South African law prohibits citizens and residents from participating in unauthorized foreign military activities or mercenary work.

    “A preliminary investigation revealed that a South African female had allegedly been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation military,’’ the statement said without naming the suspect.

    The Hawks said they had seized gadgets and two backpacks from the suspects for further investigation, as they work with local and international intelligence partners to determine the full scope of the network.

    According to reports, dozens of Africans who were lured to Russia for jobs have ended up on the front lines of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

    South African police launched an investigation this month into allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, former President Jacob Zuma’s daughter, lured 17 South Africans into fighting alongside Russia in its ongoing war.

    Sambudla, a member of the opposition uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), resigned from parliament on Friday following the allegations.

  • Airspace Above, Surrounding Venezuela To Be Closed ‘In Its Entirety’: Trump

    Airspace Above, Surrounding Venezuela To Be Closed ‘In Its Entirety’: Trump

    US President Donald Trump declared Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety” in the latest escalation of tensions between Washington and the South American country.

    “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” Trump said via his social media company, Truth Social.

    The move comes after months of expanding US military operations across Latin America, deploying Marines, warships, fighter and bomber jets, submarines, and drones amid speculation that Washington could launch an attack on Venezuela.

    So far, the US military has carried out 21 attacks on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, resulting in the deaths of at least 83 people whom the administration has described as “narco-terrorists.”

    On Thursday, Trump said the US will “very soon” start taking action to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers on land.

    It also follows Washington’s formal designation of the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, which it accuses the country’s President Nicolas Maduro and other senior officials of leading.

    The Venezuelan government rejected the move as a “ridiculous” plan to designate a “nonexistent” cartel as a terror group.

  • US Freezes All Asylum Decisions As Trump Hardens Anti-Migrant Stance After Troop Killing

    US Freezes All Asylum Decisions As Trump Hardens Anti-Migrant Stance After Troop Killing

    The United States is freezing all asylum decisions, officials said Friday, as President Donald Trump hardens his anti-migrant stance after an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard members this week in Washington.

    Wednesday’s attack on the soldiers — one of whom died from her injuries — has ignited a fresh crackdown on foreigners in the United States, with Trump also pledging to suspend migration from “third world countries.”

    Joseph Edlow, director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said his agency has “halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”

    That followed Trump’s announcement late Thursday of plans to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the US system to fully recover.”

    Asked which nationalities would be affected, the Department of Homeland Security pointed AFP to a list of 19 countries — including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran and Myanmar — already facing US travel restrictions since June.

    Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the US had temporarily stopped issuing visas to all individuals traveling on Afghan passports.

    “The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people,” he said.

    – ‘Monster’ –

    The shooting has brought together three politically explosive issues: Trump’s controversial use of the military on American soil, immigration, and the lingering legacy of the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan.

    Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who allegedly opened fire on the guardsmen just a few blocks from the White House, had been part of a CIA-backed “partner force” fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

    He entered the United States as part of a resettlement program following the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

    Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member deployed in the US capital as part of what Trump called a crackdown on crime, died from her wounds / AFP
    Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member deployed in the US capital as part of what Trump called a crackdown on crime, died from her wounds / AFP

    Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington DC, said Friday that Lakanwal would be charged with murder over the attack.

    Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member deployed in the US capital as part of what Trump called a crackdown on crime, died from her wounds.

    The second injured soldier, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, was “fighting for his life,” Pirro told the Fox News program Fox & Friends.

    Attorney General Pam Bondi has pledged to seek the death penalty against Lakanwal, describing him as a “monster.”

    – ‘Long planned’ –

    In his social media post Thursday, Trump also threatened to reverse “millions” of admissions granted under his predecessor Joe Biden, in a new escalation of his anti-immigration stance.

    Separately, the USCIS said it would reexamine the green cards — permanent residency cards — issued to individuals who had migrated to the US from the same 19 countries also cited by the Department of Homeland Security.

    More than 1.6 million green card holders, roughly 12 percent of the total permanent resident population, were born in the countries listed, according to US immigration data analyzed by AFP.

    Afghanistan has over 116,000 green card holders.

    Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, a group that helped resettle Afghans in the country after the military withdrawal, blasted Rubio’s move to halt all visa issuances.

    “They are using a single violent individual as cover for a policy they have long planned,” he said in a statement.

    Lakanwal had been living in the western state of Washington with his family and drove across the country to the capital before Wednesday’s shooting, officials said.

    Trump has insisted that Lakanwal had been granted unvetted access to the United States because of lax asylum policies after the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan under former president Biden.

    However, AfghanEvac said the Afghans had undergone “some of the most extensive security vetting” of any migrants. It added that Lakanwal applied for asylum under Biden but received it later, under Trump.

  • Zelensky Removes Top Aide After Anti-Graft Raids

    Zelensky Removes Top Aide After Anti-Graft Raids

    Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday removed his powerful chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, after detectives raided his house as part of a sweeping corruption probe.

    Yermak’s removal deals a serious blow to Zelensky, who is facing a mounting Russian offensive in the east just as the United States, a crucial ally, tabled a surprise plan to end the war that heavily favoured Moscow.

    Just last week, Zelensky had named Yermak, 54, as Ukraine’s top negotiator in high-stakes talks to refine the US plan. That was a vote of confidence amid growing pressure from opposition figures to remove his divisive chief of staff.

    Then on Friday Zelensky announced in a video address: “The Office of the President of Ukraine will be reorganised. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, has submitted his resignation.”

    Minutes later, Zelensky signed a decree “to dismiss” Yermak.

    On Friday morning, investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) said it and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office had raided Yermak’s apartment as part of an investigation.

    They did not say what it was about, and Yermak said he was fully cooperating.

    He has been accused of involvement in a $100-million kickback scheme in the strategic energy sector, uncovered by investigators earlier this month.

    The case triggered widespread public anger at a time when Russia is hammering Ukraine’s power grid, causing blackouts and threatening winter heating outages.

    In the face of the scandal, Zelensky sought to rally the population on Friday.

    “If we lose our unity, we risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, our future,” he said in the address.

    Yermak’s influence

    Zelensky said he would hold consultations on Saturday over a replacement.

    In the meantime, talks with the United States will be led by military, diplomats and intelligence services.

    US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is due in Kyiv in the coming days to discuss the latest plan to end the war, while President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is travelling to Moscow next week for talks with Vladimir Putin.

    Yermak was Zelensky’s most important ally, but a divisive figure in Kyiv, where his opponents say he has accumulated power, gate-keeps access to the president and ruthlessly sidelines critical voices.

    A former film producer and copyright lawyer, he came into politics with Zelensky in 2019, previously working with him during the now-president’s time as a popular comedian.

    Yermak was widely considered the second-most influential man in the country and even sometimes nicknamed “vice-president”.

    “Yermak doesn’t allow anyone to get to Zelensky except loyal people,” a former senior official who worked with Zelensky and Yermak told AFP, describing him as “super paranoid”.

    “He definitely tries to influence almost every decision,” they added.

    A senior source in Zelensky’s party said Yermak’s influence over the president was akin to “hypnosis”.

    Speaking after the raid on Yermak, the European Union backed the work of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies.

    “We have a lot of respect for those investigations which show that the anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine are doing their work,” said European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho.

    Zelensky had in the summer tried to strip the independence of NABU and SPO, triggering rare wartime protests and forcing him to walk back the decision after criticism from the EU.

    Pressure on Zelensky

    Yermak had been a stalwart by Zelensky’s side throughout the war.

    The two men are seen together on official photos of almost all presidential events. According to media reports, their beds stand side by side in the presidential office’s underground bunker, and in their free time, they play table tennis, watch movies or work out.

    But he is widely unpopular in society — distrusted by two-thirds of the population according to a March 2025 poll by the Razumkov Centre, an NGO.

    Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told AFP before Yermak’s removal that he needed to go to shore up Kyiv’s position in talks with the United States.

    Alluding to the vulnerability of the moment, Zelensky also stressed that he could not afford to make political missteps at this moment.

    “Russia really wants Ukraine to make mistakes,” he said.

    “There will be no mistakes on our part.”

  • Guinea-Bissau President Flees To Senegal After Coup

    Guinea-Bissau President Flees To Senegal After Coup

    Guinea-Bissau’s deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has arrived in neighbouring Senegal following his release by military forces that toppled his government this week, Senegal’s authorities have announced.

    It follows negotiations by the regional West African bloc Ecowas to secure his transfer amid rising tensions in Guinea-Bissau.

    Senegal’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Embaló had landed in the country “safe and sound” on a chartered military flight late on Thursday.

    The military in Guinea-Bissau has already sworn in a new transitional leader, Gen Horta N’Tam, who will rule the coup-prone country for a year.

    Wednesday’s coup came a day before authorities were due to announce the provisional results of a presidential and parliamentary election.

    The military has suspended the electoral process and blocked the release of the results.

    It said it was acting to thwart a plot by unnamed politicians who had “the support of a well-known drug baron” to destabilise the country, and imposed a night-time curfew.

    Sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, the coup-prone country is known as a drug-trafficking hub where the military has been influential since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974.

    Both Embaló and his closest rival Fernando Dias had claimed victory in Sunday’s presidential poll.

    Dias was supported by former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, who had been disqualified from running.

    Government sources earlier told the BBC that Dias, Pereira and Interior Minister Botché Candé had also been detained.

    The military junta has banned public protests and “all disturbing actions of peace and stability in the country”.

    Tension remained high in the capital, Bissau, on Thursday, with most shops and markets closed as soldiers patrolled the streets, news agency AFP reported.

    Earlier that day, Gen N’Tam, the Guinea-Bissau army’s chief of staff, was named the country’s new leader for a period of one year.

    Gen N’Tam said in a speech that the military had acted “to block operations that aimed to threaten our democracy”.

    Shortly after the swearing-in, the military reopened land, air and sea borders that were shut when it announced the coup.

    Some civil society groups in Guinea-Bissau have accused Embaló of masterminding a “simulated coup” against himself with the help of the military, saying it was a ruse to block election results from coming out in case he lost.

    Dias, who was Embaló’s main challenger, made similar claims, saying it was an “organised coup”.

    He told the AFP that he considered himself the president-elect of Guinea-Bissau and believed he won roughly 52% of the vote.

    Embaló has not responded to the allegations.

    The 53-year leader said he has survived multiple coup attempts during his time in office. However, his critics have previously accused him of fabricating crises in order to crack down on dissent.

    Ecowas leaders have suspended Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making organs until constitutional order is restored. In a statement, the bloc ordered the military to return to the barracks, calling its actions a “grave violation of Guinea-Bissau’s constitutional order”.

    The African Union (AU) has also condemned the coup and called for respect for the constitutional order.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he was “deeply concerned” about the situation in Guinea Bissau, calling for an “immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order”.

    Guinea-Bissau has witnessed at least nine coups or attempted coups over the last five decades.

  • Tanzania To The EU: We Will Not Starve

    Tanzania To The EU: We Will Not Starve

    Dar es Salaam. A day after the European Union (EU) adopted a resolution on 27 November 2025 to suspend 156 million Euros (about Sh400 billion aid funds intended for Tanzania in 2026, the government said it is closely monitoring the matter.

    Tanzania’s ambassador attending the EU debate will submit a report, after which the government will issue an official statement.

    The minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, said Tanzania’s ambassador to Belgium, Jestas Nyamanga, was participating in the talks.

    “Once the discussions conclude and a decision is reached, Ambassador Nyamanga will submit his report and the government will then issue a statement on what was decided in the EU Parliament,” he said.

    No crisis

    Asked about the potential loss of EU funding, Ambassador Kombo said Tanzania would not face a crisis, noting the country has its own budget and other revenue sources.

    “Follow the discussions online to see how much funding we might lose. Tanzanians will not go hungry because of this. Compare the EU allocation with our annual budget and see what proportion it represents,” he said.

    Tanzania’s national budget for 2025/26 stands at Sh56.49 trillion, of which Sh40.47 trillion is expected from domestic revenue and Sh1.07 trillion from foreign grants, while Sh14.95 trillion will come from domestic and external loans.

    Analysts warn that the cost of loans could rise significantly if the country turns to commercial borrowing due to stricter conditions from traditional development partners.

    The EU’s decision follows international concern over unrest and violence during and after the 29 October 2025 general election, which left several people dead in clashes with police and caused widespread property damage, including motorcycles, cars, petrol stations, private homes, government offices, rapid transit (BRT) stations and other infrastructure.

    In its debate, the EU Parliament expressed regret over the killings and said the election was not fully democratic due to limited political competition.

    Opposition leader and Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu remains in detention on treason charges, which carry the death penalty if he is convicted.

    The EU criticised the Tanzanian government for alleged human rights violations, including abductions, killings of government critics, and restrictions on media freedom.

    “All funds directed to public institutions should be suspended immediately. The EU should not use its funds to support repression.

    Political prisoners must be released unconditionally, and an independent investigation into killings, abductions, and disappearances must be conducted,” the EU statement said.

    President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned on November 18 that the October 29 unrest could undermine confidence among development partners, signalling a likely shift to increased domestic resource mobilisation.

    “Previously, financing was readily available because there was trust. What happened in our country has tainted our image, and this is likely to reduce our resource base. We must therefore use the resources we have to attract more funding so that promised projects are delivered with speed,” she said.

    Speaking to editors on 25 November, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba did not disclose the number of fatalities but detailed the economic damage, describing it as economic sabotage.

    He said 756 government offices, 27 BRT stations, six buses, 273 private homes, 159 police posts, and 672 private fuel stations were damaged. Additionally, 1,642 private vehicles, 2,268 private motorcycles, and 979 government vehicles were set ablaze.

    On Thursday, the EU Parliament adopted resolutions on human rights situations in Tanzania, Iran and Tunisia.

    Regarding Tanzania, it condemned the use of violence by authorities after the October elections and called for dialogue with opposition parties, civil society and victims’ representatives to enable credible and transparent elections.

    MEPs denounced the arbitrary detention of Tundu Lissu and urged his immediate release, along with the abolition of the death penalty.

    They also demanded investigations into killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other violations, emphasising the need for an African-led inquiry.

    The EU resolution calls for halting direct support to Tanzanian authorities, prioritising civil society, human rights defenders and journalists, and considering sanctions against those responsible.

    The resolution was adopted by 539 votes in favour, none against, with 27 abstentions.

    MEPs also requested the Commission withdraw its draft decision on financing Tanzania under the EU’s Annual Action Plan for 2025, citing the country’s democratic and human rights deficiencies since the October elections.

  • Trump Says He’ll “Permanently Pause Migration From All Third World Countries”

    Trump Says He’ll “Permanently Pause Migration From All Third World Countries”

    WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump vowed on Thanksgiving night to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations in a blistering anti-immigrant screed posted to social media.

    The extended rant came in the wake of the Wednesday shooting of two National Guard members who were deployed to patrol Washington, D.C. under Trump’s orders, one of whom died shortly before the president spoke to U.S. troops by video on Thursday evening.

    A 29-year-old Afghan national who worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War is facing charges for the shooting.

    The president said on his Truth Social platform that “most” foreign-born U.S. residents “are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels” as he blamed them for crime across the country that is predominantly committed by U.S. citizens.

  • Putin Says Russia Will Fight On Unless Ukraine Cedes Land

    Putin Says Russia Will Fight On Unless Ukraine Cedes Land

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he would end his Ukraine offensive if Kyiv withdrew from territory Moscow claims at its own — otherwise his army would take it by force.

    The Russian army has been slowly but steadily grinding through eastern Ukraine in costly battles against outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces.

    Washington has meanwhile renewed its push to end the nearly four-year war, putting forward a surprise plan that it hopes to finalise through upcoming talks with Moscow and Kyiv.

    “If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations,” Putin said during a visit to Kyrgyzstan. “If they don’t, then we will achieve it by military means.”

    Russia controls around one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. The issue of occupied land, which Kyiv has said it will never cede, is among the biggest stumbling blocks in the peace process.

    Another important issue in the talks are Western security guarantees for Ukraine, which Kyiv says are needed to prevent Moscow from invading again in the future.

    Ukraine has consistently rejected proposals that would see it cede territory to Russia / AFP
    Ukraine has consistently rejected proposals that would see it cede territory to Russia / AFP

    Washington’s original plan — drafted without input from Ukraine’s European allies — would have seen Kyiv withdraw from its eastern Donetsk region and the United States de facto recognise the Donetsk, Crimea and Lugansk regions as Russian.

    The US pared back the original plan over the weekend following criticism from Kyiv and Europe, but has not yet released the new version.

    Putin, who has seen the new plan, said it could be a negotiation starter.

    “Overall, we agree that it could form the basis for future agreements,” he said of the latest draft, which the United States is thought to have shortened to about 20 points. But Russia was still seeking international recognition of the occupied territories, Putin added.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, strongly denied that in an interview with US outlet The Atlantic published on Thursday.

    “As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory,” Yermak said.

    “All we can realistically talk about right now is really to define the line of contact,” he said, referring to the sprawling 1,100 kilometre (700 mile) front line.

    US negotiator Steve Witkoff was expected in Moscow next week to discuss the revised document, Putin said.

    US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is meanwhile due to visit Kyiv later this week, according to Yermak.

    – ‘Little can be done’ –

    In his remarks Thursday, Putin repeated the claim that Russia had encircled the Ukrainian army in Pokrovsk and Myrnograd in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region — the most fiercely embattled area and a key target for Moscow’s forces.

    “Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov are completely surrounded,” he said, using the Russian names for the cities.

    Moscow was also advancing in Vovchansk and Siversk, as well as approaching the important logistic hub of Guliaipole, he added.

    Russia's invasion has resulted in widespread destruction / AFP
    Russia’s invasion has resulted in widespread destruction / AFP

    The Russian offensive “is practically impossible to hold back, so there is little that can be done about it”, Putin said.

    Ukraine has denied that Pokrovsk and Myrnograd are encircled, insisting its forces continue to hold the enemy along the front line.

    Putin, in power for 25 years, also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy and said signing any agreement with him would be legally “almost impossible” at the moment, a suggestion that has drawn groans from Kyiv and its allies.

    According to data analysed by AFP from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces have conquered an average of 467 square kilometres (180 square miles) each month in 2025 — a step up from 2024.

    Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the worst armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

    The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.