Sarah Johnson

A survey of nearly 5,000 young people in 16 African countries found that about a quarter believe US aid cuts could ultimately benefit their countries by forcing governments to address domestic problems and reduce dependence on foreign powers. Optimism was highest in Ghana and Nigeria, while 46% overall expected the closure of USAID to cause harm, particularly to healthcare and disease prevention. Humanitarian and development organizations warned that the cuts have already closed services and worsened shortages, but some African civil-society leaders said they could prompt greater accountability, self-reliance and diversification of funding.

The UK government has cancelled the SHEFE programme, a major higher education initiative intended to support 1 million girls across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, following broader aid budget cuts. Critics, including MPs, international education advocates and NGOs, warn that the decision undermines the UK’s stated commitment to women and girls and compounds the impact of other recently cancelled education programmes. Visa restrictions and reduced funding are expected to further limit opportunities for women from crisis-affected countries. International organisations estimate that global education funding will fall sharply, risking millions more children being out of school. The cuts mark a break from previous UK commitments to global education, prompting criticism of the Labour government’s decision to further reduce the aid budget to fund increased defence spending.

Niger’s military government has launched a crackdown on LGBTQ+ people following the introduction of a new penal code that criminalises same-sex relations for the first time, leading to at least 40 arrests and widespread fear within affected communities. HIV service providers have halted operations, raising concerns about increased infections due to loss of access to condoms, testing, and PrEP. The legislation forms part of a broader regional shift toward harsher anti-LGBTQ+ laws in several African states. International human rights groups condemned the measures and urged Niger to repeal the new provisions.

A Nigerian woman with albinism faces deportation from the US to Uganda after her asylum claim was denied under tightened Trump-era immigration rules, despite her siblings receiving protection based on similar threats in Nigeria. Her lawyer criticizes the decision and broader asylum restrictions, while advocates warn of rising denials for people with albinism amid global anti-immigrant sentiment. Evidence presented in her case indicates ongoing dangers in Uganda, and appeals are planned as she fears returning to regions where people with albinism face violence linked to superstition.

A Somali rickshaw driver and nursing graduate, Sadia Moalim Ali, received a three‑year prison sentence for online criticism of the Somali government, prompting condemnation from former leaders and human rights groups. Ali, in custody since April, alleges torture and threats by police, while her legal team plans an appeal. Rights organisations describe the case as part of a broader crackdown on dissent and systemic discrimination against female activists in Somalia.

Countries including the US, Cuba, Iran and several European nations committed rescue teams, medical personnel and logistical support to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes caused significant casualties and destruction. International organizations warned that the disaster worsens an already severe humanitarian crisis marked by weakened infrastructure and underfunded aid programs. UN officials and humanitarian leaders urged sustained global support to meet critical needs and prevent further deterioration.

Fatima Maada Bio declined to condemn FGM without what she considers reliable evidence of its harm, prompting backlash from health professionals, activists and politicians who wrote to the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development expressing concern. Critics argue her public remarks appear supportive of practitioners and undermine anti-FGM efforts. Bio said her statements were taken out of context and denied supporting forced circumcision, while continuing to challenge aspects of global anti-FGM campaigns on social media. Sierra Leone, which lacks laws banning FGM, faces increasing international pressure following an Ecowas court ruling requiring legislation criminalising the practice.

A study by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack reports a 40% global rise in assaults on schools and education staff across 2024–25, documenting more than 8,500 incidents and over 10,600 casualties. Attacks were concentrated in conflict-affected countries including Ukraine, Palestine, Myanmar and Nigeria, with kidnappings, drone strikes and occupation of schools increasing sharply. Experts warn of systematic targeting of education, gender‑based violence and widespread violations of international law amid weakening global accountability. The findings coincide with a surge in global conflicts and a steep rise in deaths from organised violence.

Jamaica is weighing potential offshore oil exploration after seabed tests indicated hydrocarbons, prompting debate over whether economic benefits outweigh environmental risks. Government officials express cautious optimism, while environmental groups warn that drilling would contradict climate commitments and threaten sensitive coastal ecosystems. Experts note that even a successful discovery would not yield production until the mid-2030s. Jamaica’s dependence on imported fuel, slow renewable energy growth, and economic pressures continue to drive interest in potential oil revenue despite obligations under international environmental treaties.

Activists, politicians and lawyers are calling for the release of Sierra Leonean singer and opposition figure Zainab Sheriff, who was sentenced to more than four years in prison for incitement and threatening language following a political speech. Critics argue the case reflects a wider crackdown on free expression under President Julius Maada Bio, noting inconsistencies in prosecutions and the use of the law to intimidate dissenters. Sheriff’s imprisonment follows earlier arrests of women critics, drawing concern from civil society groups, international observers and UN experts about an increasingly repressive climate, particularly for women engaging in politics.

Somali authorities detained and beat three journalists, including Guardian reporter Mohamed Bulbul, after his reporting on alleged torture of activist Sadia Moalim Ali. Media groups and opposition politicians condemned the arrests as politically motivated amid rising tensions before the presidency’s term ends. The journalists reported threats from Mogadishu’s police chief, while press‑freedom organisations noted a broader crackdown that included multiple arrests earlier in the week. Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries in Africa for journalists.

A Somali activist, Sadia Moalim Ali, reports being tortured after her arrest for criticizing the government on social media and participating in peaceful protests. Held without formal charges and denied legal access, she describes severe physical abuse, solitary confinement and overcrowded prison conditions. Human rights groups, political figures and former officials condemn her detention as unlawful and call for her release, highlighting broader concerns about escalating repression and intimidation by Somali authorities since 2022.

Global news coverage of violence against women has sharply declined despite rising levels of abuse and digital harassment. A large-scale analysis shows that mentions of misogyny-related terms have fallen to their lowest levels since 2017, even in regions experiencing severe gender-based violence. Researchers found that reporting on high-profile cases, such as those involving Jeffrey Epstein, often omits the gender-inequality context essential to understanding systemic abuse. Experts highlight male-dominated narratives, increasing use of anti-gender terminology, and failures to address structural misogyny. Recommendations call for more women in editorial roles, survivor-centered reporting, and deeper examination of root causes to drive meaningful change in media coverage.

Across multiple African countries, a growing network of misogynistic influencers is using social media platforms to promote hostility toward women under the guise of self‑help and masculinity advice. Experts warn that these figures fuel real‑world gender‑based violence, reinforce harmful stereotypes, and exploit monetization systems on platforms such as X. Prominent personalities from Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, Zimbabwe and South Africa use podcasts, TikTok streams and online communities to shame women, attack feminists, and advocate restrictive gender roles. Researchers say inadequate moderation, rising financial incentives, and the blending of extreme and mainstream content are intensifying the spread of digital misogyny and its offline consequences.

A Guardian live blog reports escalating regional consequences of the US-Israeli war with Iran. US forces struck a bridge near Tehran, with Iranian media reporting eight deaths and about 100 injuries, while Iran continued missile and drone attacks on Israel and Kuwait activated air defenses. Donald Trump said the US was close to completing its campaign and urged Tehran to negotiate, while Iran’s foreign minister condemned the strikes. Diplomatic efforts focused on a Bahrain-backed UN Security Council resolution to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, alongside an Iranian-Omani proposal for postwar navigation. António Guterres called for an end to the conflict, and Emmanuel Macron criticized reopening the strait by force. Oil prices surged amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions, while senior personnel changes at the Pentagon added to uncertainty over US military policy.

Rights groups warn that Iran has intensified executions during the US-Israel war, using the crisis to obscure a sharp rise in death sentences and alleged torture of detainees from the January protests. With internet shutdowns limiting verification, hundreds of suspected executions remain unconfirmed, while families report forced confessions, mock hangings and threats against relatives. Human rights organisations say the government is weaponising capital punishment to suppress dissent, as political prisoners and minors face charges such as moharebeh. Reports also describe overcrowded prisons, denial of basic necessities and enforced disappearances as authorities proceed with verdicts tied to the protests, amid minimal international scrutiny.

A sharp rise in young internet users across Africa is driving increased technology‑facilitated gender‑based violence, with activists warning of severe offline consequences including physical attacks and femicide. Research shows widespread misogynistic abuse, particularly targeting women in politics, activists and journalists, while data gaps and limited legal protections leave most women without recourse. Although several African countries have introduced cybercrime legislation, experts argue that laws often fail to address the gendered nature of the abuse and can be misused. Digital literacy, public awareness of rights, and platform accountability remain low, prompting calls for stronger protections, clearer legislation and greater responsibility from tech companies.

A Tanzanian court overturned the conviction and death sentence of Lemi Limbu, a woman with severe intellectual disabilities who spent more than a decade on death row, but ordered a retrial that could prolong her imprisonment. Lawyers and human rights advocates argue she should never have been held criminally liable and criticize procedural failures, including the exclusion of medical evidence and her vulnerability to abuse. International and regional human rights bodies have raised concerns as more than 500 people remain on death row in Tanzania despite no executions since 1995.

A UN agreement adopted at the Commission on the Status of Women explicitly recognises the needs of women in detention for the first time, addressing links between discriminatory laws, violence and rising female incarceration. Advocates and experts welcome the move as a long overdue step toward supporting nearly one million women in prison worldwide. The conclusions call for reforms to ensure equal access to justice and to tackle root causes driving women into detention, including poverty, discrimination and violence. Campaigners emphasise that the recognition must lead to concrete global action and investment in community-based alternatives.

Two attackers received 15‑year sentences for robbing and assaulting two gay men in Nairobi, a rare instance of accountability that LGBTQ+ advocates say offers hope amid rising violence, blackmail and extortion targeting queer people in Kenya. Rights groups report worsening conditions driven by hostile legislation, reduced funding and growing anti‑rights sentiment, while victims often fear reporting crimes due to criminalization of same‑sex relations and police discrimination. Advocacy organizations cite organized gangs preying on queer men with impunity, sometimes allegedly involving police. Despite the ruling bringing relief to the victims, concerns remain over escalating hostility and the uncertain future of restrictive legislation such as the family protection bill.

The death sentence and rapid execution of Hodan Mohamud Diiriye for the murder of 14‑year‑old Saabirin Saylaan ignited national debate in Somalia over judicial fairness, women’s rights, and the influence of clan dynamics. Public outrage surged after leaked videos allegedly showing abuse, leading to intense pressure on the courts, which broadcast proceedings and delivered a swift conviction. Diiriye’s lawyer argued that she lacked legal representation during questioning, received no mental‑health evaluation, and could not appeal due to family pressure. Human rights advocates questioned why her execution proceeded quickly while a similar case involving a man from an influential clan remains unresolved. The controversy underscored persistent weaknesses in Somalia’s justice system, including decentralisation, gender inequality, and political influence.