[Vanguard] Living costs differ significantly across Africa, shaped by factors such as import dependence, currency strength, urbanisation and consumer demand. While some countries remain relatively affordable, others stand out for their high day-to-day expenses--particularly for food, dining, transport and utilities.

[UN News] From deploying peacekeepers to conducting quiet - but at times heated - diplomacy, the UN Security Council sits at the heart of global decision-making on war and peace. As of January, five new countries will have a seat around the iconic horseshoe table.

[CAF] The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage in Morocco has been an electrifying showcase of talent, with key players like Mohamed El Shenawy, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mané, and Amad Diallo standing out as match-winners for their respective teams. From El Shenawy's commanding presence in goal to Mahrez's leadership in attack, these players have proven their worth on the continental stage. The following Best XI celebrates the most consistent, impactful, and influential performers of the group stage -

[Maka] Luanda -- Angola's prosecutors allege a Russian-backed plot to overthrow the government. What the indictment offers instead is a case study in how dissent can be rebranded as subversion.

[RFI] The Democratic Republic of Congo returns to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for the 2026-2027 term for the first time in more than three decades, hoping to keep the armed crisis in its eastern provinces high on the council's agenda.

[Leadership] The Gabonese government has suspended its senior national football team, dissolved its coaching staff, and expelled star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele from the squad following what officials described as a «disgraceful» performance at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a public alert warning of falsified SIMULECT (basiliximab), a medication primarily used to prevent organ rejection following kidney transplants, after receiving an alert from the World Health Organization (WHO).

[CAF] · Guélor Kanga 11', Denis Bouanga 21'/ Côte d'Ivoire: Jeanâ€'Philippe Krasso 44', Evann Guessand 84', Bazoumana Touré 90+1' · Côte D'Ivoire came from two goals down to beat Gabon and win group F · The defending champions will face Burkina Faso in the Round of 16

[New Times] Rwanda is exploring large-scale conversion of fuel-powered motorcycles into electric models to reduce air and noise pollution.

[New Times] Knowing one's country, its history and its issues is the first act of patriotism, according to Tito Rutaremara.

[CAF] Tunisia qualify as Tanzania keep knockout hopes alive DR Congo face Botswana, Benin meet Senegal All the action from the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025

[UN News] Sexual violence against children has become entrenched, systemic and increasingly widespread across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with new data showing a sharp rise in cases since 2022, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

[Premium Times] Morocco's emphatic win in Rabat ensured they ended the group phase unbeaten, while Mali progressed despite playing most of their final match with ten men

[Maka] Luanda -- Angola's continued placement under enhanced monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has once again exposed deep structural weaknesses in the country's banking system.

[Dabanga] Cassablanca -- Sudanese national soccer team, the 'Falcons of Jediane', have revived their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, currently being held in Morocco, with an important 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on Sunday evening at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, as part of the second round of Group E.

[Daba Finance] Nawah Scientific, an Egypt-based deeptech company, has raised $23 million in a Series A round made up of equity and debt, as it marks ten years since it was founded.

[CAF] Algeria defeat Burkina Faso to reach the knockout stages Sudan secure a vital win over Equatorial Guinea Mozambique edge Gabon 3-2, claiming their first-ever AFCON win Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire play to exciting draw in Marrakech

[This Day] Amad Diallo scored his second goal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as holders Ivory Coast drew with Cameroon in an enthralling clash between the tournament heavyweights in Marrakech, Morocco.

[Leadership] Gabon is facing the prospect of an early exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a 3-2 defeat to Mozambique in their Group F clash in Agadir. This match marked a significant milestone for Mozambique, ending a 40-year wait for their first victory in the continental finals.

[New Times] Starting in the first quarter of 2026, Rwanda is set to become a producer of radionuclides, a key chemical for nuclear medicine.

[New Times] Trade and industry minister Prudence Sebahizi has praised the completion of Gisenyi market, saying it «adds great value to the district's ongoing development as a tourism and business town.»

[New Times] Discriminatory remarks made by the spokesperson of the DR Congo's armed forces during a televised interview have sparked condemnation from political leaders, civil society organisations, and international observers, who warn that the anti-Tutsi rhetoric could fuel ethnic violence.

[Nile Post] The UK is to impose visa restrictions against people arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo after its government failed to agree to measures allowing the return of illegal migrants and foreign national offenders.

[New Times] Citizens of the Central African Republic (CAR) are going to the polls on Sunday, December 28, to elect their president for a term of office of seven years. More than 2.39 million registered voters - including over 1.14 million women - are expected to cast their ballots, according to the United Nations.

[RFI] Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra is seeking a controversial third term this Sunday, following a decade in office, a change in constitution and the forging of closer ties to Russia.

[RFI] Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra is seeking a controversial third term this Sunday, following a decade in office, a change in constitution and the forging of closer ties to Russia.

[Leadership] In a tightly contested match at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Friday, Angola and Zimbabwe played to a 1-1 draw in their Group B second fixture, both sides earlier looking to bounce back after disappointing defeats in their first fixtures.

[Monusco] Twenty-eight civilians, including nine children and seven women, found refuge on Thursday, December 25 in the MONUSCO military base in Bayoo, approximately 95 kilometers from Bunia, in Ituri. These people were fleeing violence following clashes between the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and militiamen from the Convention for Popular Revolution (CRP), led by former warlord Thomas Lubanga, on the Bayoo-Bule axis.

[Premium Times] Across six host cities and nine stadiums, players have stepped up in crucial moments earning Men of the Match honours, shaping results and giving fans early markers of who could matter most as the tournament develops

[Premium Times] In Casablanca, Burkina Faso produced the most dramatic moment of the day, scoring twice deep into stoppage time to overturn Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in Group E.

[UN News] With Central Africans set to vote in presidential, legislative, regional and long-delayed municipal elections this weekend, the United Nations has appealed for calm and restraint, warning that the credibility of the process will be critical to consolidating peace after years of conflict and instability.

[RFI] The Rwandan government has reportedly closed about 10,000 churches for failing to comply with a 2018 law regulating places of worship, which introduced new requirements on health and safety, financial disclosures, and mandatory theological training for preachers.

[UN News] An estimated 500,000 people have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), at the beginning of December.

[Agenzia Fides] Kinshasa -- A city suspended in limbo. This is the situation in Uvira, a city in South Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border with Burundi, which was captured on December 10 by M23/AFC (Congo River Alliance) guerrillas (see Fides, 15/12/2025).

[MSF] Bujumbura - According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 88,000 refugees have fled to Burundi since the recent escalation of violence in South Kivu province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. People face dire living conditions in the camps, with limited access to clean water, food, hygiene and basic needs, as people kept arriving during the last days. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is expanding its emergency response and warns about the risk of the spread of epidemic diseases