Nigerian President Bola Tinubu will undertake a state visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. King Charles III and Queen Camilla extended the invitation, which President Tinubu has accepted. The visit, scheduled for 18 and 19 March, will include full royal protocol and a stay at Windsor Castle. It aims to deepen the longstanding bilateral partnership between Nigeria and the UK. The previous state visit occurred in 1989 when military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida met Queen Elizabeth II. President Tinubu, who took office in 2023, is expected to be accompanied by his wife, Remi Tinubu.
In East Africa, heightened diplomatic tensions have emerged as Ethiopia issued a formal demand for Eritrea to withdraw its troops “immediately” from Ethiopian territory. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, in a letter, described recent Eritrean actions, including alleged border incursions and joint operations with rebel groups, as acts of aggression. He stated diplomacy remains possible if Eritrea respects Ethiopia’s sovereignty. The two nations share a history of open warfare from 1998 to 2000 and experienced renewed friction following the Tigray conflict, where they initially cooperated before diverging over a 2022 peace deal. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of preparing for war, while Eritrea counters that Ethiopia seeks to seize the strategic port of Assab.
Separately, South Africa has announced its withdrawal from the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). President Cyril Ramaphosa informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres that South Africa, a top troop contributor with over 700 soldiers, will complete its pullout by the end of 2026. The decision follows 27 years of involvement in UN operations in the DRC and reflects a strategic realignment of South Africa’s defence resources. The presidency clarified that bilateral ties with the DRC will remain strong and that South Africa will continue supporting peace efforts through regional bodies like SADC and the African Union. MONUSCO, established in 1999, has a mandate to protect civilians and assist in stabilisation.
In cultural news, Ghanaian highlife pioneer Ebo Taylor died at the age of 90. Taylor, a guitarist, composer, and bandleader, was a foundational figure in Ghanaian music whose six-decade career blended traditional rhythms with jazz, funk, soul, and early Afrobeat. His work influenced generations of African musicians and later gained global traction, with his tracks frequently sampled by international hip-hop and R&B artists. Born in 1936, he studied in London in the early 1960s and collaborated with Fela Kuti, contributing to the development of Afrobeat. Tributes highlighted his role as a mentor and a cultural bridge-builder, cementing his legacy as a central architect of African popular music.
In Zimbabwe, Blessed Runesu “Bombshell” Geza, a prominent war veteran and vocal critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has died in Johannesburg at 73. Geza, a former Zanu-PF Central Committee member, became an opposition figure after rejecting proposals to extend Mnangagwa’s term. He held press conferences in early 2025 calling for the president’s removal before fleeing to South Africa, where he faced charges in Zimbabwe for inciting violence and terrorism related to calls for mass protests. His death removes a contentious voice from Zimbabwe’s political landscape amid ongoing economic and political challenges.
