Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has been sworn in for a second five-year term following the election held on August 13, 2026. Hichilema was declared the winner with 60% of the vote, while his main rival, Brian Mundubile, received 38%. Mundubile has alleged that the election results were manipulated, and he was arrested on treason charges. Concerns were raised regarding the sealing off of courts on the final day available for legal challenges. European Union observers noted weaknesses in the vote tallying and verification process. Despite the political tensions surrounding the election, Hichilema called for unity during his inauguration and urged the opposition to collaborate with his government. His second term follows a focus on stabilizing Zambia’s economy and restructuring its debt, and he has now pledged to prioritize economic growth and prosperity.
In Tunisia, there is growing concern over what activists and human rights organizations describe as an intensifying crackdown on civil society and political dissent under President Kais Saied. Human Rights Watch reported that authorities have increasingly employed arbitrary prosecutions, detentions, financial investigations, and the suspension of organizations to silence independent voices and restrict the activities of civil society groups. Activists have indicated that the uncertainty surrounding potential arrests or prosecutions is fostering a climate of fear, making individuals hesitant to speak publicly or engage in sensitive issues. Saied has rejected accusations of authoritarianism, defending his actions as necessary to combat corruption and protect Tunisia’s national interests. This crackdown coincides with renewed protests over deteriorating living conditions, including water and electricity shortages, as well as concerns about democratic backsliding. Surveys indicate a growing divide between younger Tunisians, who are more skeptical of state institutions, and older citizens, who tend to be more supportive of the government.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, millions of students have returned to school for the new academic year despite facing significant challenges due to an Ebola outbreak, ongoing conflict in the eastern regions, and a dispute between the government and teachers. The Ebola epidemic has impacted six provinces, leading authorities to implement a three-tier system where schools in high-risk areas will transition to limited remote learning, while those in lower-risk zones will remain open under various health and safety measures. In territories controlled by the AFC/M23 armed group, schools are reopening under local authority, although teachers continue to receive salaries from the government in Kinshasa. Meanwhile, teachers are divided on whether to return to classrooms, with one major union maintaining a strike call and demanding higher salaries, payment for unpaid staff, and improvements to pensions and health insurance. The new school year will test the government’s ability to ensure that children continue their education amid overlapping health, security, and labor challenges.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the subject of a criminal investigation into drug-trafficking crimes in the early 1990s. This disclosure is part of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act case seeking the release of FBI records related to a Chicago heroin-trafficking operation. While the FBI’s acknowledgment does not imply that Tinubu committed a drug-trafficking offense or was convicted of any crime, portions of the records remain withheld under privacy and law enforcement exemptions. Tinubu’s government has dismissed the renewed claims surrounding these records as politically motivated, accusing opposition figures and a Washington-based lobbying firm linked to former vice-president Atiku Abubakar of using old documents to create controversy ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
UNICEF has warned that over 162 million children across Eastern and Southern Africa may face severe risks due to the strengthening 2026/2027 El Niño, which threatens droughts, extreme heat, and flooding in the region. The agency indicated that these climate shocks could exacerbate food and water insecurity, disrupt healthcare and education, and leave already vulnerable children exposed to malnutrition, disease, and displacement across 13 priority countries, including Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Existing humanitarian and food crises are likely to be worsened by extreme weather. UNICEF has called for increased investment in anticipatory action, including strengthening nutrition, health, and water services, protecting education, and expanding social protection before the worst impacts are felt. The agency is seeking US$173 million to provide life-saving assistance and emphasized that early action could save lives and significantly reduce the costs of responding to a humanitarian crisis once it escalates.
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed over 40 employees for alleged corruption and financial misconduct in the past three years. Several former staff members are facing prosecution, and case files are being prepared against others. EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede stated that these dismissals are part of efforts to enhance accountability within the agency, which investigates corruption, fraud, and money laundering. The commission has also introduced reforms, including renaming its Department of Internal Affairs to the Department of Ethics and Integrity and implementing a policy requiring officers to declare certain gifts and hospitality to prevent conflicts of interest. Olukoyede noted that the agency has achieved significant results since he took office in October 2023, recovering 1.23 trillion naira and securing over 10,000 convictions. However, the data also indicate that the EFCC is increasingly addressing cybercrime and fraud cases rather than focusing solely on corruption involving high-profile public officials.
Source: allafrica.com
