By Rédaction Africanews U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the war against Iran could be short-lived, but he left open the possibility of an escalation in fighting if global oil supplies are disrupted by the Islamic Republic, which chose a new hard-line supreme leader. Oil prices briefly shot to their highest level since 2022 a day after Iran selected Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as Iran’s supreme leader. Investors saw it as a signal that Iran was digging in 10 days into the war launched by the United States and Israel. But prices later fell and…
Author: Montage Africa
Internationally acclaimed artist and Afrobeats pioneer Tiwa Savage today officially launches the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a new philanthropic initiative dedicated to discovering, developing, and empowering the next generation of African music creatives. The Foundation is rooted in a simple belief that the music industry is far bigger than just the artist alone. Behind every global hit are producers, songwriters, sound engineers, music executives, and creative professionals whose work shapes culture. Yet across Africa, access to structured, world-class training for these careers remains limited. The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation was created to expand that access, building pathways not only for performers, but for the…
Ghana has called on the Commonwealth to condemn Friday’s missile attack on its United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon which injured four of its soldiers. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa did not say who was responsible when speaking at a Commonwealth meeting on Sunday but said the bombing was “an attack on every principle that the UN Charter exists to defend”. Israel has been striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, after the Iranian-backed Shia group said it launched rockets and drones at the Israeli city of Haifa last week to avenge the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. All…
By Africanews The United Nations opened the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women Monday, with Secretary-General António Guterres declaring that “gender equality is, and always has been, a question of power,” as senior officials called for stronger access to justice for women and girls worldwide and warned that equality remains an unfulfilled promise. The main theme for this year’s session is ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers. Guterres told delegates that progress on…
The 2026 State of the Nation (SONA) address reaffirmed the commitments made by the Government of National Unity (GNU) to inclusive economic growth, job creation, and reducing poverty and the cost of living. These pillars are foundational to any credible national growth strategy. But they cannot become abstract economic ambitions disconnected from the everyday realities of the millions of South Africans who earn a living through small and independent businesses. Across South Africa, small and medium enterprise (SME) retailers form a critical layer of the national economy. They include township spaza shops, informal grocers and stokvel-linked merchants, but also independent…
Madagascar’s military ruler Col Michael Randrianirina has dissolved the government unexpectedly, dismissing the prime minister and the entire cabinet, according to a statement from his spokesperson. “The government has ceased its functions” it said, adding that Randrianirina will appoint a new prime minister “in line with the provisions stipulated by the constitution”. No reason was given for the move. Randrianirina seized power last October from Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of youth-led protests on the Indian Ocean island. Rajoelina had been elected president for a third term in a disputed poll in 2023. From prison to presidential palace: Who is Madagascar’s…
By Michael Oduor with AFP Oil prices have surged past the $100 mark, as conflict in the Middle East intensifies. Brent crude jumped 17 percent today to trade at $107 a barrel. That’s the highest level since 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine roiled global energy markets. The spike comes as Iran names the late Supreme Leader’s son as the new head of the Islamic Republic, deepening political uncertainty in the region. At sea, around 10 vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have been attacked since Iran moved to block the strategic waterway in response to US–Israeli airstrikes,…
South Africa’s latest budget has sparked cautious optimism, with officials suggesting the country’s strained public finances may finally be stabilizing. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana pointed to easing debt pressures and declining bond yields as early signs of recovery, helped by a stronger rand and steady inflation expectations. Yet economists warn that the country has not reached a true economic turning point. Growth remains sluggish—at just 1.4% in 2025 and projected to reach 1.6% in 2026—while unemployment stays above 30% and investment levels remain far below what the economy needs. Structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela, including changes to electricity, logistics, and…
More than USD 29 million has been mobilised to support Madagascar’s response and recovery following tropical cyclones Fytia and Gezani through a combination of pre-arranged financing solutions facilitated by the African Risk Capacity (ARC) and partner institutions. This financing was activated through three complementary instruments established in advance: Madagascar’s sovereign parametric insurance coverage, replica insurance supporting humanitarian partners and additional resources mobilised through the Regional Emergency Preparedness and Access to Inclusive Recovery (REPAIR) programme. Together, these mechanisms have enabled a coordinated financial response to the cyclones’ impact. The two cyclones affected more than half a million people and displaced at…
By Rédaction Africanews with AFP Thousands took part in one of Zanzibar’s largest communal Iftar meals at the island’s Amani Stadium, where Muslims and non-Muslims gathered to break the fast at sunset during Ramadan. “We have just managed to showcase to the whole world that Zanzibar is a destination of peace, unity and love,” said Arif Abbas Manji, the head of the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism. That the event drew so many people was also an intentional goal for the organisers. “We aim to break a few records in terms of the number Iftar. The record, apart from Mecca and…