After serious riots broke out in Madagascar, the president apparently fled

After serious riots broke out in Madagascar, the president apparently fled. Madagascar has announced that it will punish those responsible for threats against the president, according to the presidential office. "Threats to the physical integrity of the head of state cross an unacceptable line in any democratic society that respects institutions," the presidential office said in a statement. Such behavior no longer falls under freedom of expression but constitutes "serious acts that undermine national security and the stability of the country," the statement read. The presidential office condemns the threats from "mutineers within the army" and reiterates its call on protesters to prioritize dialogue and respect the institution of the president. Malagasy President Reportedly Pardons Two Former French Officers Involved in 2021 Coup Attempt: Document A copy of a document circulating online contains the names of two agents, Paul Maillot Rafanoharana and Philippe Marc François, who were sentenced to 20 and 10 years in prison, respectively. Previously, French media reported that Andry Rajoelina had been evacuated by French military aircraft amid unprecedented protests.

Pakistan and Afghanistan close borders, 70 dead.

Pakistan and Afghanistan close borders, 70 dead.

Afghanistan said it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and 20 Afghan soldiers were killed or wounded. Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan on Sunday, October 12, 2025. The two countries' armed forces exchanged fire overnight. The country's Defense Ministry said this was in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan earlier in the week. Pakistan responded with gunfire and artillery fire. There was no immediate response from Pakistan. Pakistani security officials said they had inflicted casualties on the Afghan army but did not provide an exact number.

Ultimatum from the Malagasy opposition

Ultimatum from the Malagasy opposition: 48 hours until the president is removed. Gen Z in Kenya can still learn a thing or two from this. The protesters are threatening to dissolve the National Assembly. This ultimatum was issued by Alban Rakotoarisoa, known as Bàba, an opposition city councilor. Alban Rakotoarisoa is a politician known for his active opposition role and his participation in protests against power outages and water shortages in Madagascar. He is a local councilor and has organized and called for demonstrations on these public issues. Recently, he was arrested along with Clémence Raharinirina during a protest movement in the capital, Antananarivo, that attracted considerable attention and sparked public outrage. This was part of a broader political tension involving opposition figures who criticized the government for its handling of the basic services crisis. He is also the leader of the political party "Antoko Politika Madio" (APM) and has been vocal in his criticism of the government, particularly the administration of President Andry Rajoelina. Videos and media featuring him frequently discuss Madagascar's political landscape and current social problems. Youth in Madagascar are more active than in Kenya. Generation Z is reportedly intensifying its mobilization: - Starting Monday, protesters will demand the closure of all offices and schools to increase pressure. Their goal: to force the president's resignation and implement comprehensive reforms. - Protesters plan to visit all government ministries to urge employees to join the movement in May 13 Square. Mauritian diplomacy joined the call for calm and urged all Malagasy parties to continue the mediation process. It supported the AU's offer to accompany Madagascar in its efforts to restore institutional normalcy. The AU also denied any interference in Madagascar's internal affairs in connection with the recent landing of a private plane carrying former Malagasy Prime Minister Christian Louis Ntsay and businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga.

Earthquake in Ethiopia

Earthquake in Ethiopia On October 11, 2025, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck northern Ethiopia, approximately 45 km east-northeast of Mek'ele in the Tigray region. The quake occurred at 4:18 p.m. UTC (7:18 p.m. local time) at a shallow depth of 10 km. The quake was preceded by a magnitude 5.3 foreshock in the same area, approximately 58 km northeast of Mek'ele, about 16 minutes earlier. A smaller magnitude 4.5 aftershock followed later that evening at around 11:57 p.m. UTC, approximately 17 km northeast of Shaguby in the Tigray province, also at a depth of 10 km. There are no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties, but ongoing seismic activity in the region requires monitoring, especially given its proximity to populated areas such as Mek'ele (population approximately 215,000). Ethiopia experienced increased seismic activity in 2024–2025. Since the end of September 2024, over 330 earthquakes have been recorded, primarily in central regions such as Awash Fentale in Oromia and Afar. The October 11 event is part of this trend: 229 magnitude 4+ earthquakes have been reported in Ethiopia so far in 2025. In early January 2025, several earthquakes occurred in the Afar and Oromia districts, requiring humanitarian action.

The World Bank warns Uganda

The World Bank warns that Uganda's generous tax exemptions and weak income tax enforcement for the wealthy are undermining the country's revenue base and making the government increasingly dependent on taxes that hit ordinary consumers hardest. In its latest Uganda Economic Update, the World Bank paints a clear picture of the imbalance: A handful of individuals and businesses enjoy comprehensive tax exemptions, while the bulk of the tax burden falls on citizens through consumption taxes such as value-added tax and excise duties. There is: A ten-year income tax holiday for developers and operators of industrial parks or free trade zones, with minimum investment limits for foreigners ($50 million) and citizens ($10 million). Tax relief and exemptions for agricultural machinery, inputs, raw materials, and cooperatives to support the agricultural sector. Zero-rated or VAT-free taxation for industries such as energy, aviation, insurance, and pharmaceutical production, as well as exemptions for imports from these sectors. Specific sector incentives in manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, IT, and technical training, some of which require minimum investment thresholds. Exemptions for income from export activities, cooperatives, and certain non-profit or professional organizations. While these incentives aim to boost domestic investment and economic activity, results in attracting significant foreign direct investment (FDI) have been demonstrably mixed, with challenges in the administration and effectiveness of some exemptions. Uganda also plans to streamline tax exemptions to eliminate inefficient exemptions that do not promote business growth. In summary, Uganda's tax exemptions are extensive and designed to support key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and exports, with a focus on attracting investment, although their effectiveness in attracting FDI remains controversial. Uganda's tax system is broad on paper; It includes corporate and personal income taxes, value-added tax, consumption taxes, and a common external tariff, but in practice, it is narrowly defined. The tax-to-GDP ratio is between 12 and 14 percent and remains one of the lowest in East Africa, well below the regional average of nearly 18 percent. According to the Ministry of Finance's 2024 Tax Expenditure Report, the government lost over 1.6 trillion shillings in tax exemptions in just one year. Members of Parliament alone accounted for 638.6 billion shillings, while the security agencies received 965.65 billion shillings and the judiciary another 30.34 billion shillings. For a country struggling to meet its social and infrastructure obligations, these losses are devastating. In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) collected 27.7 trillion shillings, missing its target by almost 1.9 trillion shillings. @https://observer.ug/business/world-bank-sounds-alarm-on-ugandas-costly-tax-exemptions/

Ukraine's Engagement in Africa, with a Focus on Sudan

"Ukraine could not interfere in African conflicts without Western consent": Expert "Whatever Ukraine does in Sudan has been bypassed by the West," said Sizo Nkala, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Johannesburg. Ukraine's Engagement in Africa, with a Focus on Sudan Ukraine has increased its engagement in Africa since the large-scale Russian invasion in 2022, primarily as a strategy to counter Moscow's influence on the continent. This includes diplomatic expansion, humanitarian aid, and targeted military operations aimed at destroying Russia's economic and military position, for example, by extracting raw materials (e.g., gold) that finance Russia's war effort. Kyiv views Africa as a key arena for diplomatically isolating Russia—for example, through UN votes condemning the invasion—and for securing food security partnerships, as Ukraine, a major grain exporter, has been impacted by the war. However, these efforts face challenges, including limited resources and backlash from pro-Russian African governments. Specific Ukraine Activities in Africa Sudan has become a hotbed of conflict due to the civil war raging there since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti), as well as Russian support for the RSF through the Wagner Group (now renamed Afrika Korps). Ukraine's involvement is multifaceted and combines support for the SAF with anti-Russian operations. Military support for the SAF. Ukrainian special forces have been conducting operations in Sudan since at least 2023, attacking RSF positions and Russian mercenaries to weaken Moscow's allies. This includes drone strikes and ground operations near Khartoum, as well as training SAF troops in anti-Russian tactics, particularly drone warfare. In February 2025, Ukraine facilitated the delivery of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones to Sudan, enabling precision strikes that supported the SAF's advance. Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov described these as part of a "full-fledged war" with Russia, expanding the conflict globally to increase Putin's costs. Ukraine plans to open a full-fledged embassy in Sudan in 2025—its first permanent mission there—to promote bilateral trade, cultural relations, and direct contact with SAF representatives. This follows Sudan's covert arms transfers to Ukraine in 2022 and al-Burhan's request for assistance. The embassy is intended to challenge Russia's naval ambitions (e.g., a planned base in the Red Sea) and its economic dominance in Sudanese gold mining. In early October 2025, the SAF claimed to have killed "a large number" of Ukrainian and Colombian mercenaries fighting for the RSF in El Fasher (North Darfur). They claimed that the RSF used Ukrainian drones for reconnaissance and attacks. Sudanese government officials accused Kyiv of supplying the RSF with weapons and destabilizing the Sahel region. These unconfirmed claims, mainly reported in pro-Russian media outlets such as Sputnik, reflect broader accusations by junta-led states (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) that Ukraine supports "terrorist" groups. However, independent Western sources consistently describe Ukraine's role as supporting the SAF against the RSF and Russian proxies. This suggests that the SAF's claims may be based on misinformation, misidentification, or internal propaganda in the wake of the escalation of the war. Ukraine has not publicly commented on these specific allegations. Recent reports of Ukrainian mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF undermine Ukraine's efforts to gain African diplomatic support. By supporting the rebels, Ukraine risks fueling a humanitarian crisis, disrupting AU-led peace efforts, and disregarding African interests. Ukraine's "other counter-offensive" in Africa emphasizes soft power and targeted disruptions: Since 2022, Ukraine has nearly doubled its embassies to 18, including new ones in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and plans for others in the Sahel. This includes high-level visits, such as Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's 2023 Africa tour, to build alliances. The "Grains from Ukraine" program has delivered over 250,000 tons of grain to 25 African countries by mid-2025, addressing food insecurity exacerbated by the Black Sea blockade. Ukraine also offers military training (e.g., to Mauritanian forces) and refugee aid in camps like Mbera. Beyond Sudan, Ukrainian forces have operated in Mali and the Central African Republic against Wagner, including assassinations and sabotage of Russian mining sites. These aim to cut Russia's gold revenue, estimated at $2-3 billion annually from Africa. However, such actions have strained ties with Russian-backed juntas, leading to severe diplomatic relations in the Sahel. Many African nations abstained from UN resolutions against Russia, but Ukraine has gained support from moderate states like Kenya and South Africa. In Sudan, escalation risks deepening the humanitarian crisis (over 12 million displaced, famine threats), but Kyiv prioritizes weakening Russia. The silence of the Western media regarding Ukraine's known involvement with mercenaries in Africa is not surprising, as it serves Western interests by reducing pressure to finance Ukraine, he noted. The Western agenda is to promote a narrative that denigrates the West's geopolitical rivals in Africa, such as China and Russia. This smacks of double standards. Ukraine's actions in Sudan should be condemned with the same vehemence. It rejects any foreign interference in Sudan and calls on African nations to pressure Ukraine to withdraw its mercenaries. Without a unified African stance, the continent will find it difficult to prevent foreign powers from perpetuating conflicts within its borders. Ukraine's actions in Sudan reflect the same pattern as in Libya.

President Biya's Daughter Urges Cameroonians Not to Vote for Her Father

President Biya's Daughter Urges Cameroonians Not to Vote for Her Father

The daughter of the Cameroonian president, Brenda Biya, has urged the country's citizens not to vote for her father, President Paul Biya, in the October 2025 parliamentary elections. Brenda Biya is the daughter of Paul Biya and his First Lady Chantal Biya. She was born in 1997 at the Etoudi Unity Palace in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and studied in Switzerland and the United States. Brenda Biya is known as an activist, rapper, and entrepreneur. She has publicly criticized her father's regime, including in a recently viral TikTok video in which she urged Cameroonians not to vote for him in the 2025 presidential elections. Brenda is considered a symbol of resistance to Paul Biya's long-standing presidency, which faced allegations of corruption and authoritarianism. She expressed her disappointment with the living conditions in the country and her father's failure to make progress after more than 43 years in power. She also spoke openly about her identity as a queer woman, highlighting the challenges faced by LGBTQI+ people in Cameroon under her father's rule. Brenda's lifestyle and public actions sparked controversy and brought significant media attention to Cameroon and its ruling family. She also called on Father Paul Biya to apologize for the mistakes made under his leadership and to promote change in Cameroon. @https://www.mwananchi.co.tz/mw/habari/siasa/binti-wa-rais-biya-awataka-wananchi-cameroon-wasimpigie-kura-baba-yake-5200426 @https://swahili.kbc.co.ke/binti-ya-paul-biya-ashauri-wananchi-wasimpigie-kura/