Ịdekọ News Africa

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Launch Tafouk TV to Push Their Own Narrative

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have launched Tafouk TV, a joint television channel created by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to strengthen regional media cooperation and promote the bloc’s own account of events.

The channel, which began official programming in September, broadcasts from Bamako, Mali, with news bulletins focused on the three member states. Its programmes are planned in French, English and regional languages, including Bambara and Hausa. The name Tafouk means “sun” in Tamasheq.

The AES governments say the channel is intended to strengthen “information sovereignty,” promote their cultures and counter what they describe as misinformation and manipulated reporting about the region. Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the bloc needed platforms capable of spreading its own narrative.

Tafouk TV will feature programmes on news, fact-checking, geopolitics, culture and developments on the front lines. The project forms part of a wider media network being developed by the three countries, which also includes the Daandè Liptako confederal radio and plans for a joint news agency.

The channel has also established cooperation with Russia's state-funded RT, including arrangements for content exchanges, expertise and joint coverage of events in Russia and the Sahel.

However, the initiative has prompted concerns among some media observers and former officials about media pluralism and the risk of state-controlled narratives. Supporters of the project argue that it gives the three Sahel countries greater control over how their affairs are reported internationally.

#burkinafaso #mali #niger #tafouktv #idekoafrica

4 hours ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

Russia Challenges US Authority Over South Africa’s G20 Exclusion

Russia has challenged the United States’ handling of South Africa’s exclusion from the 2026 G20 summit, turning Pretoria’s dispute with Washington into a wider question over how membership and participation in the group are determined.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov raised the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Moscow argues that the United States, as the current G20 host, does not have the authority to prevent an existing member from attending the group’s meetings.

South Africa remains a full and founding member of the G20, but the United States has excluded it from this year’s meetings and has not invited it to the leaders’ summit scheduled for Miami in December. Pretoria has said it will not attend without an invitation and will not encourage other members to boycott the summit.

The dispute has gained further attention because US President Donald Trump has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Miami summit. Putin remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, although the United States is not a member of the court.

For South Africa, the controversy centres on its status as a permanent member of the G20, while Russia has framed it as a question of the powers of the rotating presidency. The disagreement could therefore add another layer of diplomatic tension ahead of the December summit and raise broader questions about how decisions affecting the group’s members are made.

#russia #unitedstates #southafrica #g20 #idekoafrica

3 days ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

Brazil Bans Sports Betting Days Before Presidential Election

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a provisional measure banning fixed-odds sports betting and online gambling, days before the country’s presidential election.

The measure, signed on Friday, September 25, prohibits the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of fixed-odds betting platforms, commonly known as “bets”. It also applies to state and district-authorised operations.

The government said new deposits on betting platforms were immediately prohibited. Existing advertising and sponsorship material must be removed by October 5, while betting websites and applications are scheduled to go offline from October 6.

The move has major implications for Brazilian football, where betting companies have become a major source of sponsorship. AFP reported that 13 of Brazil’s 20 top-flight clubs had betting companies as their main shirt sponsors.

Brazil’s football clubs have opposed the ban, warning that it could significantly affect their revenues and other areas of the sport, including youth and women’s football. Flamengo described the measure as a “heavy blow” to Brazilian sport.

The government has defended the measure as a public-health and consumer-protection response, saying the rapid expansion of betting has contributed to household debt. The government said 85 betting licences had been granted, with companies paying a combined 2.55 billion reais in licensing fees.

The ban comes just over a week before Brazil’s October 4 presidential election, in which Lula is seeking a fourth term. The measure is provisional and must be approved by Congress to become permanent.

The betting industry has criticised the prohibition, arguing that stronger regulation rather than a ban would better protect consumers while preserving jobs and tax revenues.

#brazil #sportsbetting #gamble #election #idekoafrica

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

“I’m Correcting the Mistakes of Past Administrations. Allow Me to Finish the Work” — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying his administration is working to correct what he described as the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of previous governments.

Speaking through House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas at a special prayer session in Abuja, Tinubu said Nigeria was on the right path and that peace and development were gradually returning to the country.

He appealed for more opportunity to continue his administration’s work, saying, “We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work.”

#tinubu #nigeria #politics #governance #idekoafrica

5 days ago | [YT] | 1

Ịdekọ News Africa

Nigeria Come From Behind to Beat Madagascar 2-1 in AFCON Qualifier

Nigeria’s Super Eagles began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo on Friday.

Madagascar took an early lead in the 16th minute when Clément Couturier headed in from a Ryan Ponti cross, putting the visitors ahead at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Nigeria responded just before half-time, with George Ilenikhena scoring his first senior international goal after being set up by Alex Iwobi to make it 1-1.

The Super Eagles completed the comeback in the 65th minute when Moses Usor produced a solo effort to put Nigeria 2-1 ahead. Semi Ajayi provided the assist.

The victory gives Eric Chelle’s side three points from their opening Group L fixture. Because co-hosts Tanzania are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 tournament, Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are competing for the group’s remaining qualification place.

Nigeria will next travel to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29, while Madagascar will host Tanzania.

The 2027 AFCON finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17.

#nigeria #madagascar #afcon #football #idekoafrica

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

Africa CDC Says $2.9 Billion Mobilised for Ebola Response

About $2.9 billion has been mobilised for the Ebola response across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said, as the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to expand.

The funding was announced following a G20+ Foreign Ministers’ meeting convened by the United States on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Africa CDC said about $700 million was announced in connection with the meeting.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said the funding would support diagnostics, medical countermeasures, treatment, humanitarian assistance, surveillance and other emergency-response activities.

The United States is the largest contributor, with about $887 million mobilised, followed by the European Union with $568 million and the World Bank with more than $433 million, according to Africa CDC.

Kaseya welcomed the international support but stressed that financial pledges must be converted quickly into actual spending on the ground. He also called for transparent tracking of the funds from commitments through disbursement and implementation.

The funding comes as the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola continues to spread in the DRC. As of September 21, the country had recorded 7,773 confirmed cases and 3,759 related deaths, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Africa CDC said the outbreak is slowing in Ituri province but accelerating in North Kivu, where insecurity is complicating efforts to reach affected communities.

The current outbreak was declared in May and is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization has warned that continued transmission and geographical expansion pose a risk of further regional spread.

#africa #drcongo #ebola #health #idekoafrica

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

Joshua-Fury Heavyweight Clash Confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will finally meet in the ring on December 11, with their long-awaited heavyweight clash confirmed for Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The all-British showdown, which has been in the making for more than a decade, will be broadcast globally on Netflix. The two former heavyweight world champions have never previously fought professionally.

The announcement ends months of uncertainty over the date and venue, after negotiations had considered locations including London and New York. Cardiff emerged as the final choice, with the stadium’s retractable roof and capacity of up to 80,000 making it suitable for the event.

Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh confirmed the fight, saying the time for negotiations was over. Joshua also acknowledged the announcement on social media, while Fury has yet to make a detailed public comment.

The fighters are scheduled to appear together at a press conference in London on September 30. The exact start time for the main event has not yet been confirmed, although organisers are considering a late-night or early-morning UK start to accommodate viewers in the United States.

Joshua, 36, and Fury, 38, have both held multiple heavyweight world titles and have been linked to a professional meeting since 2020. Previous attempts to make the fight fell through over contractual, venue and scheduling issues.

The December 11 bout will be the first professional meeting between the two British heavyweights.

#anthonyjoshua #fury #heavyweight #boxing #idekoafrica

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

US Commits Additional $267m to Contain Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo

The United States is committing an additional $267 million to strengthen efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bringing its total support for the emergency response to nearly $887 million.

The new funding will be used to expand treatment capacity and strengthen measures aimed at stopping further transmission. Planned interventions include additional treatment centres, disease surveillance, contact tracing, protective equipment and other emergency response activities.

The commitment comes as health authorities continue to battle the outbreak while early signs suggest that containment measures are beginning to have an effect. However, Congolese officials say the disease remains a serious public health challenge requiring sustained resources.

The latest US funding was announced on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly as international partners seek to maintain the response and address shortages in available financing.

Beyond treating people already infected, much of the funding will support the systems needed to detect new cases quickly and trace people who may have been exposed. Health workers will also require protective equipment to reduce the risk of transmission while caring for patients.

The continued need for international financing highlights the cost of controlling Ebola, particularly in communities where health systems and emergency response capacity face significant pressure. International partners are expected to continue mobilising resources as the response moves from containing the current outbreak to preventing wider transmission.

#unitedstates #ebola #drcongo #health #idekoafrica

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

Uganda’s Public Debt Rises 14.8% to $37.1 Billion

Uganda’s total public debt rose by 14.8% in the 12 months to June 2026, reaching $37.1 billion as the government increased domestic borrowing to finance its budget deficit, the Finance Ministry said.

The debt stock rose from $32.3 billion in June 2025, while public debt as a share of gross domestic product increased to 54.3%, from 51.3% a year earlier. External debt accounted for 43.9% of the total.

The ministry said the increase was driven mainly by higher domestic debt issuance during the financial year that ended in June, including increased sales of Treasury bonds.

Uganda has increasingly turned to longer-term domestic borrowing to finance development needs and reduce refinancing and rollover risks. The government introduced a 25-year Treasury bond last year, the longest maturity in its domestic debt portfolio.

The rise in debt comes amid concerns over Uganda’s growing interest burden. Fitch affirmed the country’s sovereign rating at “B” with a stable outlook in August, saying rising public debt and high interest costs remained constraints.

Uganda’s government has said its borrowing is supporting investments in infrastructure, energy, water, agriculture, education and health, while seeking to strengthen domestic revenue collection.

#uganda #dept #publicdept #deptstock #idekoafrica

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Ịdekọ News Africa

US Judge Blocks Trump’s Media Ban, Orders White House to Restore Access

A US federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, ordering the administration to immediately restore the journalists’ access.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the temporary restraining order early Thursday, allowing reporters from the three outlets to return to the White House while their legal challenge continues. The order will remain in place for 14 days as the judge considers whether to grant longer-term relief.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico had sued the administration, arguing that their exclusion violated First Amendment protections for the press and denied them due process. The outlets said their credentials were revoked without prior notice or an opportunity to challenge the decision.

Kelly said the news organisations appeared likely to succeed in arguing that the administration had failed to follow legal precedents requiring journalists to be given notice and an opportunity to respond before their access is withdrawn. He also expressed skepticism about the administration’s claim that national security concerns motivated the ban.

Trump announced the ban last Friday, accusing the three outlets of publishing what he described as false reporting. The Justice Department defended the decision, arguing that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a right and citing national security and professional-conduct concerns.

The dispute had also disrupted the White House television press pool. CNN had been scheduled to accompany Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, but its exclusion led ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News to suspend the shared television coverage system.

The Justice Department is expected to appeal the judge’s ruling, leaving the broader dispute over White House press access unresolved.

#unitedstates #judge #mediaban #trump #idekoafrica

1 week ago | [YT] | 0