By Rédaction Africanews and Agencies Sierra Leone marked its first National Day of Remembrance on Sunday in honour of the victims of the country’s ten year civil war. The conflict killed some 120,000 people and left thousands more injured or mutilated before officially ending on January 18th, 2002. “For the first time in our history, we gather on a single day to remember our civil war and the heavy price our country paid for peace,” President Julius Maada Bio said in an address to the nation. “From this day forward, January 18th belongs to every Sierra Leonean. To every victim…
Author: Montage Africa
By Rédaction Africanews and AP Severe flooding has forced the evacuation of around 600 tourists and staff from South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park, after torrential rains submerged roads and camps across the vast wildlife reserve. The park, which spans roughly 22,000 square kilometers, was temporarily closed as authorities moved people to safety amid rising waters and infrastructure damage. With floodwaters now receding, officials are beginning to assess the full scale of the destruction. South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, said aerial inspections revealed significant damage, particularly to key infrastructure. He noted that a high-water…
South African designer Oageng Manana is reimagining modern interiors by fusing cultural heritage with material science. As a co-founder of Meetlo, meaning “customs,” he creates bold furniture that transforms functional pieces into storytelling artifacts. Drawing deep inspiration from his Batswana and Sotho upbringing, Oageng embeds purpose and history into every design, even naming his pieces in indigenous languages to cement African identity. His unique process, guided by a physics background, treats material selection as an art form that must evoke specific emotions and narratives. From a spiritually inspired bench to a luxury executive table, each Meetlo piece is a collectible bridge between…
By Rédaction Africanews and AP UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is touring Sudan, meeting families displaced by the country’s ongoing conflict in his first official visit since November 2022. The visit comes as fighting between rival military forces continues to devastate large areas of the country, particularly the western regions of Darfur and Kordofan, forcing millions from their homes. Speaking during his tour, Türk said he was deeply shaken by the testimonies of survivors he met, especially women and girls who have endured sexual violence. He described meeting nine survivors who shared what he called “horrific stories,”…
By Vincent Sugira Rwandan exporters have welcomed the United States House of Representatives’ decision to approve a three-year extension of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), describing it as a boost to market access and medium long-term planning. The House passed the extension on January 12, following the programme’s expiration on September 1, 2025, after a 10-year renewal. If approved by the US Senate, the extension will keep AGOA in force until December 31, 2028, preserving duty-free access to the US market for eligible Sub-Saharan African countries. For more than two decades, AGOA has enabled African exporters from 32 sub-Saharan countries…
A fresh report has revealed that the United States may have relied partly on information provided by Emeka Umeagbalasi, a screwdriver trader based in Onitsha, Anambra State, before launching recent airstrikes in Nigeria. According to a New York Times investigation, Umeagbalasi, founder of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has been cited by US Republican lawmakers in pushing claims that Christians are being systematically targeted and killed in Nigeria. On December 26, the United States carried out airstrikes on ISIS terrorists in northwestern Sokoto State, an operation the US said was conducted at the request…
Senegal have defeated Morocco 1-0 in a dramatic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday night. It was a tight affair between the top-two ranked countries on the continent in Rabat. And there were no goals in the first half. The second half was tilting towards a 0-0, until the ref disallowed Ismaila Sarr’s header for a foul on Achraf Hakimi. In the 97th minute, the Atlas Lions were awarded a controversial penalty. After a lot of tension, which saw the Senegalese players walk off the pitch, Brahim Diaz saw his weak panenka saved by Eduoard Mendy. Pape Gueye…
The prize money for the top three teams at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been confirmed. Senegal have won the trophy after beating hosts Morocco 1-0, thanks to an extra-time goal. Pape Gueye lashed in a stunning effort with only three minutes played and it proved to be decisive. The match had ended 0-0 after 120 minutes. CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, announced a record $10m prize for the champions, an increase from $7m in 2023. The runner-ups Morocco received $4m, while Nigeria got $2.5m and fourth-placed Egypt earned $1.3m. Quarter-finalists were awarded $800,000 each, teams finishing
Across South Africa, a growing number of studios and facilitators are inviting adults to trade adrenaline-fueled trips for hands-on creative adventures. Designed to be relaxed and welcoming, these experiences range from pottery and ceramics workshops to wine-infused paint sessions that emphasize enjoyment over perfection. Ceramics workshops, in particular, have become a favorite for their calming, tactile appeal, while sip-and-paint events offer an easy, social entry into creativity. Beyond studio walls, guided sketching walks and outdoor art sessions blend creativity with exploration, encouraging participants to see familiar places differently. With no experience required, these art adventures reward curiosity, connection, and the simple…
By Rédaction Africanews and AP Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday, as part of his weekly message to the faithful in Saint Peter’s Square. Eastern Congo is facing renewed violence after decades of fighting between government forces and dozens of armed groups vying for control of the mineral-rich area. “Today I would like to recall in particular the great difficulties faced by the population of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, forced to flee their country, especially towards Burundi, because of the violence, facing a serious humanitarian crisis,”…