Madagascar is set to swear in Colonel Michael Randrianirina as its transitional president, following a military coup that ousted President Andry Rajoelina. The new leadership announced that Randrianirina would assume office during a formal hearing of the High Constitutional Court on October 17. This development comes after Rajoelina, who fled abroad after being impeached by lawmakers, refused to resign despite growing protests led by youth movements, labor unions, and civic groups demanding better governance and economic opportunities.
In other news, Kenya has declared a public holiday on October 17, 2025, to honor the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, who passed away while receiving treatment in India. The holiday coincides with Odinga’s state funeral, allowing the nation to collectively mourn and reflect on his decades-long fight for democracy, reform, and unity.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 have agreed to create a joint body to monitor a future permanent ceasefire, a step seen as crucial to ending years of violence in the country’s east. This move is expected to build trust before peace talks, with representatives from Congo, M23, and the 12-country International Conference on the Great Lakes Region participating.
Meanwhile, accounts linked to the military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been found spreading false information to destabilize Côte d’Ivoire ahead of its October 25 presidential election. The campaigns falsely announced President Alassane Ouattara’s death and reported a fictitious coup to incite unrest during opposition protests in Abidjan.
In Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, of incitement and treason in response to a corruption dossier Chiwenga reportedly presented to the Zanu PF politburo. The exchange comes ahead of Zanu PF’s National People’s Conference in Mutare, where tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are expected to dominate discussions, signaling an intensifying succession battle within the ruling party.
The World Food Programme has warned that nearly 14 million people could face severe hunger by the end of the year as humanitarian funding cuts threaten six of its most critical operations. Programs in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan are already experiencing major disruptions, with reduced rations meaning children go hungry, mothers skip meals, and families lose essential support. The number of people experiencing acute food insecurity has reached record levels, with 319 million people living in acute food insecurity, including 44 million at emergency levels.