Here are the top stories from Africa: Tanzania has officially declared the Marburg virus outbreak, after confirming a case and identifying 25 possible cases.
Nigeria has joined BRICS as a partner country, strengthening its global economic ties. In entertainment, Nigerian star Tems is set to perform in Rwanda this March as part of her “Born In The Wild” tour. Zimbabwe’s ruling party has announced plans to rename the country’s provinces, aiming to restore indigenous heritage.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his congratulations to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Ghana’s President Mahama has unveiled new appointments to the Office of the President, signaling efforts to enhance governance.
Check out all the top stories below:
TANZANIA OFFICIALLY DECLARES MARBURG VIRUS OUTBREAK
Tanzania has officially announced an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) after confirming a case and identifying 25 possible cases in the Kagera Region of northwestern Tanzania.
Marburg virus is a highly infectious and often fatal disease, similar to Ebola, transmitted to humans by fruit bats and monkeys.
This outbreak is Tanzania’s second encounter with the lethal virus, following the March 2023 incident in Bukoba District, Kagera Region, which saw nine cases and six deaths.
In response to the urgent threat, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is mobilizing a team of twelve public health experts, including epidemiologists, risk communication specialists, IPC professionals, and laboratory technicians, to assist Tanzania in containing the outbreak within the next 24 hours.
NIGERIA JOINS BRICS AS A PARTNER COUNTRY
The Brazilian government, under its temporary BRICS presidency, confirmed Nigeria’s admission as a partner country on January 17, 2025.
Nigeria is now the ninth partner country of BRICS, joining other nations such as Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
The partner-country category was established during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, October 2024.
Nigeria’s strong economic standing and its role as Africa’s most populous country provide it with the leverage to actively contribute to BRICS’ goals.
The country remains committed to promoting South-South cooperation and supporting global governance reforms, both of which are crucial to Brazil’s leadership of the bloc.
TEMS TO PERFORM IN RWANDA – MARCH 2025
As part of her ongoing Born In The Wild World Tour, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Tems will be making a stop in Rwanda, this coming March 2025.
The concert will take place on Saturday, 22 March 2025, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
In addition, Tems shared that her Born In The Wild Tour will include more shows across Africa, with upcoming performances in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
Dates for these performances are yet to be announced in the coming months.
ZIMBABWE RULING PARTY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RENAME PROVINCES
ZANU-PF, Zimbabwe’s governing party, has unveiled intentions to rename the country’s provinces in a bid to eliminate colonial legacies and encourage national unity.
The decision, made at the party’s 21st annual National People’s Conference, aims to replace colonial-era names with indigenous ones that better represent Zimbabwe’s heritage and identity.
ZANU-PF believes that colonial names continue to foster division and promote a sense of superiority, undermining African pride. While the initiative has support from historians and cultural figures as a necessary step toward healing, some critics argue the government should prioritize more urgent issues like healthcare and education.
Despite the criticism, ZANU-PF plans to move forward with the renaming process, assigning government bodies to oversee its implementation.
NIGERIA U-19 WOMEN’S CRICKET SECURES FIRST-EVER WORLD CUP WIN
For the first time in history, Nigeria’s under-19 women’s cricket team has secured a win at the ICC Women’s T-20 World Cup in Malaysia. They defeated New Zealand in their first complete World Cup match, following a rain-affected game against Samoa earlier in the weekend.
The game was cut to 13 overs due to weather, but Nigeria won in a thrilling contest. They set a target of 65-6 and held New Zealand to 63-6 with solid fielding.
In a nail-biting finish, New Zealand fell two runs short in their chase, giving Nigeria its first-ever World Cup victory. To advance to the next stage, Nigeria needs to win against South Africa, following a draw with Samoa.
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA CONGRATULATES U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP
On Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his inauguration for a second term as the US president.
In his statement, Ramaphosa shared his anticipation for the ongoing collaboration between the two nations, which has been both close and beneficial.
“Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on the occasion of your inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America. I look forward to continuing the close and mutually beneficial partnership between our two nations across all areas of our cooperation,” Ramaphosa wrote on X, marking him as the first African leader to send congratulations via the platform.
GUNNA RETURNS TO SOUTH AFRICA THIS WEEKEND
Gunna, the acclaimed American rapper and singer, is heading back to South Africa this weekend for a Heineken-hosted event.
Gunna is set to perform this Saturday, 25 January 2025, in Johannesburg at a Heineken House event featuring four stages, performances by Young Stunna, Maglera Doe Boy, Dee Koala, and DBN Gogo, along with a showcase of local fashion and emerging talent.
He previously visited the country on May 1, 2024, for a standout performance at Konka in Soweto.
Continuing to tour Africa, Gunna also made his Nigerian debut at Flytime Fest on December 22, 2024.
OPPOSITION’S MONDLANE CONSIDERS JOINING GOVERNMENT TO END UNREST
Mozambique’s main opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, has expressed willingness to join the government if President Daniel Chapo fulfills his conditions to resolve the political crisis caused by disputed elections, BBC reports.
Chapo revealed he had formed a team to decide whether his opponent should be invited to join a new “inclusive” government.
While both leaders spoke separately to the BBC, hinting at a possible reconciliation, Mondlane rejected the October election results as rigged, a claim Chapo denied.
NIGERIAN REGULATOR APPROVES 50% TARIFF INCREASE FOR MTN AND TELECOM OPERATORS
Nigeria’s telecom regulator has greenlighted a 50% price hike for service providers.
MTN and other telecom operators had called for a 100% tariff boost, but the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) factored in ongoing reforms in the industry to determine the final decision.
In a statement, MTN Nigeria confirmed that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50% tariff adjustment for telecom operations, describing it as a crucial step for sustaining the industry, maintaining essential infrastructure, empowering millions, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Commenting on the development, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said: “We deeply appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the NCC and our industry bodies for their continued support in ensuring the telecoms sector remains sustainable. This tariff adjustment represents an important step towards addressing the impacts of the prevailing economic challenges on our business and industry. It will enable us to maintain the critical investments required to deliver reliable, high-quality services to Nigerians. We remain committed to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and driving inclusive growth for all stakeholders.”
GOVERNOR ENO APPROVES N80,000 MINIMUM WAGE FOR VERIFIED WORKERS
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno has ordered the Accountant General to start paying a minimum wage of ₦80,000 to 45,984 verified civil servants starting January 2025.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday by Mr. Ekerete Udoh, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in Uyo.
Udoh explained that the payment approval followed the submission of the Minimum Wage and Personnel Verification report by the Head of Service, Mr. Effiong Essien, to the governor on Monday.
He added, “Governor Umo Eno has authorised the commencement of the payment of the new minimum wage of N80,000 to 45,000 duly verified public service workers, beginning at the end of this month but backdated to November, 2024.”
EKWEREMADU’S WIFE FREED FROM UK PRISON, RETURNS TO NIGERIA
The wife of ex-Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, has been released from a UK prison, this is according PUNCH.
PUNCH further reports that Beatrice, sentenced to five years in a UK prison, arrived in the country on Tuesday.
She is reportedly now in Abuja.
A UK court convicted Senator Ekweremadu, his wife, and Dr. Obinna Obeta on charges related to organ harvesting. The former Deputy Senate President was handed a 10-year prison sentence, while Mrs. Ekweremadu was sentenced to six years.
SERAP DEMANDS TINUBU REVERSE 50% TARIFF HIKE IN 48 HOURS
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Bola Tinubu 48 hours to reverse the recent 50% increase in telcos tariffs.
The organization warned that if the hike is not reversed, the Tinubu administration and the telecom companies will face legal action, stating, “The Tinubu administration and telcos must immediately reverse the unlawful increase in calls and data costs. We’ll see in court if the 50% tariff hike is not reversed within 48 hours.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50% increase in telecom tariffs on January 20, with shareholders viewing the decision as a step towards enhancing telecom services.
NIGERIA LAUNCHES EXPORTS TO KENYA IN KEY AFRICAN TRADE AGREEMENT
In a major step toward regional trade integration, Nigeria has made its first export shipment to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), marking a key achievement in Africa’s trade integration goals, Business Insider Africa reports.
The cargo, made up of synthetic filaments from Lucky Fibres Limited (Lush), was handled by Nigeria’s AfCFTA Coordination Office in accordance with the African Union’s guidelines.
Olusegun Olutayo, Senior Trade Expert at the Nigeria AfCFTA Office, emphasized that this initiative reflects Africa’s strategic effort to expand market access amid global economic challenges.
He also praised Kenya’s collaboration, highlighting the roles of the AfCFTA Secretariat and Kenya Revenue Authority, while noting that AfCFTA aims to create the world’s largest free trade area to boost economic progress for Africa’s 1.3 billion people.
PRES. MAHAMA NAMES NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
President John Dramani Mahama has made several key appointments to strengthen governance and improve operational effectiveness at the Office of the President.
In a statement on January 21, the Presidency emphasized that these appointments reflect Mahama’s commitment to strong leadership and a responsive government. He expressed confidence that the new appointees would bring their skills and dedication to contribute to the country’s growth and progress.
Check out below the full list of the Appointments:
1. Mrs. Joyce Bawah Mogtari-Presidential Adviser & Special Aide to the President.
2. Stanislav Xoese Dogbe – Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations)
3. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo -Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration)
4. Seth Emmanuel Terkper – Presidential Adviser on the Economy
5. Professor Francis Dodoo- National Anti-Corruption Programme.
6. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey – Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States Presidential Staffer
7. Nana Yaa Jantuah – Presidential Staffer
8. Beatrice Annangfio – Presidential Staffer
9. Shamima Muslim- Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
10. Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo- Cabinet Secretary
DR CONGO MILITARY ASKS CITIZENS TO STAY CALM AMID REBEL ADVANCES
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) army urged citizens to stay calm on Tuesday amid the recent advances by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in North Kivu, an eastern province.
In a statement, General Sylvain Ekenge, the army’s spokesperson, confirmed that military operations against the M23 rebels are continuing in key areas like Lubero, the Sake hills, and Nyiragongo in North Kivu.
“All measures are being taken to block the aggressor and restore peace in the eastern part of our country,” said the statement.
In eastern DRC, the situation has rapidly deteriorated, with rising violence from various armed factions, especially the M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces. This has led to a dire humanitarian crisis, displacing over 7 million individuals, and since 2025, nearly 237,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, the United Nations reports.
PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA HAS REVEALED HIS LATEST LIST OF CABINET APPOINTMENTS
Muntaka Mubarak has been appointed as the Interior Minister-designate, while Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is set to head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Samuel Nartey George will take over the Ministry of Communications, and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah is slated for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Edward Omane Boamah has been nominated for the Ministry of Defence, and Kofi Adams for the Sports Ministry. Should Parliament approve, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh will become the new Health Minister.
Third Batch
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, President Mahama unveiled the third batch of his ministerial nominees, which included:
- Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Defence
- Samuel Nartey George (MP) – Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations
- Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP) – Lands and Natural Resources
- Kofi Iddie Adams (MP) – Sports and Recreation
- Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo (MP) – Labour, Jobs and Employment
- Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (MP) – Health
- Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (MP) – Environment, Science and Technology
- Joseph Bukari Nikpe (MP) – Transport
- Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak (MP) – Interior
- Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) – Foreign Affairs
- Adjei Kenneth Gilbert – Works, Housing, and Water Resources
- Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum (MP) – Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives
- Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP) – Government Communications
- Issifu Seidu (MP) – Minister of State, Climate Change, and Sustainability
Second Batch
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, President Mahama submitted the names of nine additional nominees for various portfolios to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin. The second batch included:
- Kwame Governs Agbodza (MP) – Roads and Highways
- Eric Opoku (MP) – Food and Agriculture
- Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (MP) – Gender, Children and Social Protection
- Abla Dzifa Gomashie (MP) – Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts
- Emelia Arthur (MP) – Fisheries and Aquaculture
- George Opare-Addo – Youth and Empowerment
- Haruna Iddrisu (MP) – Education
- Ahmed Ibrahim (MP) – Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs
- Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare (MP) – Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry
Regional Ministers
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, President Mahama announced his first 10 regional ministers-designate. He added three more on Thursday, January 16, 2025, and the final three on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, bringing the total number of regional ministers to 16. They are:
- Puozuing Charles Lwanga – Upper West
- Joseph Addae Akwaboa – Bono
- Francis Owusu Antwi – Bono East
- Wilbert Petty Brentum – Western North
- Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere – Central
- Joseph Nelson – Western
- Ali Adolf John – Northern
- John Kwadwo Gyapong – Oti
- James Gunu – Volta
- Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey – Eastern
- Ibrahim Tia – North East
- Dr. Frank Amoakohene – Ashanti
- Akamugri Donatus Atanga – Upper East
- Charity Gardiner – Ahafo
- Salisu Be-Awuribe – Savannah
- Linda Ocloo (MP) – Greater Accra
First Batch
On Thursday, January 9, 2025, President Mahama announced his first set of ministerial nominees, which included:
- Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (MP) – Finance
- John Abdulai Jinapor (MP) – Energy and Green Transition
- Dominic Akuritinga Ayine (MP) – Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
GHANA PRESIDENT APPOINTS RETIRED OFFICER AS ENVOY TO SAHEL NATIONS
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has selected Lieutenant Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, a retired national security officer, as his special envoy to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signaling efforts to rebuild communication with junta-led neighbors, Reuters reported.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), made up of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, was established last July following military coups in these nations, prompting them to break ties with ECOWAS and several Western allies.
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