Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance has rejected recent claims that federation revenue is being hidden or diverted, calling them a misinterpretation of the World Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update. Minister of State for Finance Taiwo Oyedele said media reports suggesting a large portion of federation earnings was being siphoned off were inaccurate and misleading. He emphasized that such interpretations reflect a poor understanding of Nigeria’s fiscal system and do not align with the World Bank’s conclusions. The World Bank, he noted, recognized ongoing fiscal reforms, including a 2026 Executive Order aimed at improving petroleum‑revenue remittances and enhancing transparency. The government reaffirmed its commitment to greater fiscal transparency, better revenue mobilisation, and efficient public spending.
In Kenya, President William Ruto defended the country’s fuel prices, attributing them to Kenya’s status as a middle‑income economy and its infrastructure needs. Speaking at a church service, he argued that Kenya cannot be compared to regional neighbours that are classified as least‑developed countries. Ruto explained that fuel levies help fund road infrastructure, noting that Kenya already maintains over 20,000 km of tarmac roads and is constructing an additional 6,000 km. He urged citizens to view development as a long‑term investment, acknowledging that higher standards come with higher costs.
The Government of the Republic of Somaliland reiterated its sovereignty in response to a joint statement from several foreign ministers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the statement was noted but stressed that Somaliland’s statehood rests on “facts and international law,” citing its independence on 26 June 1960 and its withdrawal from an “unratified union” with Somalia in 1991. The government highlighted more than three decades of relative stability, democratic governance, and regional cooperation as evidence of its legitimacy, while noting that increased diplomatic engagement does not infringe on any other state’s sovereignty. Although Somaliland has maintained democratic institutions since 1991, it remains outside formal international recognition frameworks despite growing diplomatic and economic ties worldwide.
Zambia has introduced a major legal reform after Princess Kasune Zulu, a former child bride and HIV activist, became central to the change. The new Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act No. 4 of 2026 makes all sexual‑offence cases non‑bailable, requiring suspects in serious crimes such as child sexual abuse, rape and incest to remain in custody until their cases are concluded. The Young Women’s Christian Association welcomed the law as progressive, while some men expressed concern that it could be misused for false complaints and that suspects might spend years in prison before being proven innocent, given Zambia’s history of court delays.
Fifteen people deported from the United States, reportedly from South America, have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the first group of an unknown number of deportees that the U.S. has sent to the DR Congo, which had agreed to host them temporarily. Kinshasa said Washington is funding their reception, support and care. The United States has also deported individuals to other African nations, including Ghana, South Sudan and Eswatini, as part of its broader crackdown on immigration. Since President Donald Trump took office in January of the previous year, the U.S. has deported dozens of people to third countries under its hard‑line immigration policy.
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