A phone used by prominent Angolan journalist Teixeira Candido was infected with surveillance software from spyware vendor Intellexa for a brief period in May 2024, Amnesty International said in a report published on Tuesday. Candido was the head of the Syndicate of Angolan Journalists when his phone was targeted with a series of WhatsApp messages…
The African Union held its 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2026. The two-day assembly produced the usual number of decisions and declarations across African peace and security, trade, governance and development. Such gatherings, however, can feel distant from the everyday realities of African citizens. They are…
Last week’s Munich Security Conference clearly signalled that Africa needs security alliances beyond its traditional partners. The peripheralisation of Africa was again evident at last week’s Munich Security Conference – the world’s premier forum on global security issues. Conflicts dominating world news, such as Ukraine, Venezuela, the Indo-Pacific, and Greenland, monopolised the debate. Africa struggled…
European leaders distance themselves from Trump’s hardline immigration tactics, but how different are their approaches? Since the 2015 ‘migration crisis’, Europe has pressured African countries into tightening their border security and accepting returned migrants, irrespective of whether these policies are in Africa’s best interest. And although many European leaders distance themselves from President Donald Trump’s…
From Political Elevation to Continental Action under the 2026 AU Theme of the Year Water and sanitation have moved decisively to the centre of Africa’s political agenda. At the High-Level Side Event on “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”, held on the margins of the 39th…
H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, received H.E. @APRM_MarieRose, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism (@APRMorg) at the AU Headquarters this morning. The Chairperson commended APRM’s mandate in promoting democratic governance, transparency, & peer accountability across Member States, & applauded Amb. Rose & her team for the successful convening of the…
A South African entrepreneur is bridging the gap between Africa and China, helping African businesses access Chinese markets while promoting African products abroad. Thandi China, based in China, is the founder of Wins International, a company that assists African entrepreneurs with sourcing products from China, verifying suppliers, conducting quality inspections, and managing shipping logistics. Her…
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has joined leaders across the world in mourning the passing of the Hon. Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, who died at the age of 84. He described him as a towering figure whose life’s work resonated profoundly with Africa’s historic and ongoing struggles for justice,…
SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, has significantly intensified its lobbying efforts to enter the South African market. The company recently published a dedicated advocacy page on its website, titled Starlink’s Efforts in South Africa, which directly addresses consumers and counters persistent criticisms regarding its licensing bid. This move follows an aggressive January campaign where Starlink…
South African chief information security officers are operating in a perfect storm. Machine-driven attacks, chronically limited budgets and a critical lack of cybersecurity professionals are combining to create an environment where burnout is fast becoming the rule, not the exception. One of the most immediate stressors is the sheer volume of threats. Teams can spend…
