France Returns Slain King’s Skull to Madagascar

More than a century after his death, the skull of King Toera of the Sakalava people — killed and decapitated by French troops in 1897 — has been formally returned to Madagascar.

The ceremony took place at the French Culture Ministry in Paris, where the remains of Toera and two members of his…

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Armed Attack in Northeastern Ivory Coast

Unidentified gunmen killed four villagers and left another missing in the village of Difita, two kilometers from the Burkina Faso border, the Ivorian army confirmed. A woman was seriously burned, huts were set ablaze, and livestock taken.

Context:
• This is Ivory Coast’s first deadly cross-border style…

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Uganda Deal With US Sparks Outrage

Ugandans are questioning a deal with Washington to receive US deportees, including high-profile detainee Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Concerns:
• No parliamentary approval — opposition MP Mathias Mpuuga says “the whole scheme stinks”
• Uganda already hosts large numbers of refugees from DRC, South Sudan, Sudan
•…

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Botswana Declares Health Emergency

President Duma Boko has declared a public health emergency after the country’s medical supply chain collapsed.

Causes:
• Depleted government coffers, hit by falling diamond revenues
• US aid cuts, including a third of Botswana’s HIV response
• Medicine prices inflated up to 10× normal costs

Shortages:
•…

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Mozambique: Food, Jobs, Hope

At the 60th Maputo International Trade Fair (FACIM), President Daniel Chapo launched a $40m Mutual Guarantee Fund — backed by the World Bank — to support 15,000 small businesses, especially women and youth.

Agriculture remains central: Gaza province showcased bananas, rice, cashews, and macadamias, while Tete…

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