The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) announced the restoration of a regional parliament, the election of which was one of the triggers for the Tigray war, alarming observers fearing a resumption of the deadly conflict between the Ethiopian government and regional forces.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby announced his country will send 1,500 troops to Haiti as part of the UN-backed security force aiming to tackle gangs.

UN Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo James Swan began his first field visit to eastern DRC since taking office.

One year after the death of Pope Francis, thousands of faithful still line up every day to pass by his tomb.

The world faces a “perilous new era” driven by states’ “predatory” behaviour leading to an “anti-rights” international order, rights group Amnesty International warned on Tuesday.

Three civil society groups filed a case before the African Union’s human rights court Monday over alleged abuses in Mali involving its armed forces and the Russian mercenary Wagner Group.

Indigenous representatives from around the world convened in New York this week for the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, calling for stronger protections of their rights and greater inclusion in global decision-making.

Kemi Seba, a controversial figure known for his anti-Western stance, has been arrested in South Africa and authorities in Benin are now preparing an extradition request. Prosecutors accuse him of inciting rebellion after he publicly supported a failed coup attempt in December.

Sudan’s military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, who chairs the ruling sovereign council, arrived in Jeddah on Monday for talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz to discuss the latest developments in his country and the wider region.

Kemi Seba, a controversial figure known for his anti-Western stance, has been arrested in South Africa and authorities in Benin are now preparing an extradition request. Prosecutors accuse him of inciting rebellion after he publicly supported a failed coup attempt in December.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi met in Cairo with US envoy Massad Boulos to discuss developments in Sudan and Lebanon. During the meeting, el-Sissi praised US President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Sudan’s brutal conflict has entered its fourth year, and a major shift on the battlefield may signal new cracks in the fighting.

On April 20, 2026,we celebrate a decade of news, engagement and African voices with Africanews, the pan-African channel that for the past 10 years has told Africa’s story to the world and given a voice to a continent in the midst of transformation.

Malabo prepares for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Monday that US President Donald Trump had no right to bar South African President Cyril Ramaphosa from attending the G20 summit.

Bending low in the baking sun and sheathed in heavy protective gear, Hussein Idris sweeps a metal detector across a vast minefield in central Khartoum that was once a park beloved by local families.

Africa has experienced an acceleration of its economic and digital transformations over the last decade. This evolution is driven by strong population growth and rapid urbanisation, as well as an increasingly connected youth.

Donald Trump has had to put aside his hostility with South Africa, to get rare earth minerals which can be easily accessed from waste on the site of a former chemical plant in northern Limpopo Province. The US has invested $50 million in the project, despite worsening ties with Pretoria.

How has political Africa behaved over the past decade? Across the continent, some countries have maintained institutional stability, while others have faced political tensions and shifting international alliances.

Prominent Pan-African and pro-Russian activist Kemi Seba has applied for political asylum in South Africa, where he is being detained for breaching immigration laws, his lawyer told AFP Monday.

Over the past decade, Africa’s security landscape has come under growing strain. Political violence has nearly doubled, driven by civil wars, jihadist attacks, local conflicts, and government crackdowns that have made life more dangerous for millions.

Nigeria and Turkey have struck a defence agreement to help Africa’s most populous nation fight its 17-year-long jihadist insurgency, the Nigerian defence minister said on Saturday.

Pix of the Day, 20 April 2026

More than a dozen nations have condemned Israel’s appointment of a diplomatic envoy to the breakaway region of Somaliland, warning the move could destabilise the Horn of Africa region.

Mozambique looks to China for industrial boost President Daniel Chapo is turning to China’s manufacturing strength to accelerate infrastructure development and sustainable growth, as he tours key industrial hubs during his first state visit since taking office in 2025.

Senegal’s former president Macky Sall is one of four candidates auditioning this week for the United Nations’ top job. The 64-year-old was nominated by Burundi, Neither Dakar nor the African Union have endorsed him.

Algeria on Sunday launched a fresh call for international bids for hydrocarbon concessions, seeking to boost energy investment as global markets reel from the war in the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Monday as tensions escalate between Washington and Tehran. Washington said talks were due to resume on Monday but Tehran says it has “no plans” to participate.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday delivered a message of peace and reconciliation at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, a revered Catholic site that once served as a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Thousands of demonstrators marched in Rabat on Sunday, denouncing a new Israeli law that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, while reaffirming support for the Palestinian cause.

Angolan opposition leader Adalberto Costa Júnior praised Pope Leo XIV for his speech in support of Angolan people on Saturday.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congo River Alliance rebel coalition made progress on a protocol on humanitarian access, judicial protection, ceasefire oversight and the release of prisoners.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called on Angolans to “build hope for the future” and fight corruption, as he celebrated Mass before an estimated 100,000 people outside the capital.

The largest performing arts market on the African continent is back in Abidjan. The 2026 edition of MASA took over the capital’s Culture Palace with hundreds of diverse shows.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly criticised the members of the United Nations Security Council during the Meeting in Defence of Democracy in Spain on Saturday.

Three Senegalese football fans who were detained in Morocco have been released on Saturday.

Argentina marked one year since Pope Francis’s death on Friday 18 April 2026 with a large open air tribute in Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires. A DJ priest led the tribute, mixing electronic music with messages of peace. The gathering drew large crowds.

Togo presented its new geopolitical and security strategy for the Sahel during a high-level meeting in Lomé on Saturday.

China has tested humanoid robots in a real race setting in Beijing. The event highlights advances in endurance, balance and AI behaviour. Engineers see it as a step towards wider use.

Pope Leo XIV challenged Angola’s leaders to break the “extractivism” that has plundered and exploited Africa for centuries, as he arrived in the southern African country on Saturday with a message of encouragement for its long-suffering people.