Category: Africa

LAGOS, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 12, 2026 — Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has condemned what he described as ongoing political repression by the Ugandan Government and security agencies, particularly targeting his security team.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Wine alleged that during the 2021 election, police officers attached to his campaign were violently attacked and subjected to brutality. He further claimed that after the polls, several of them, including their head Afande Kato, were arrested and detained for an extended period.

He said the officers were interrogated about his party’s sources of funding, his meetings, and election strategies, as well as why they sought to shield him from violent attacks by other sections of the police and military. Wine added that similar harassment has continued into 2026, with campaign officers again being arrested and questioned.

The opposition leader stressed that these officers were targeted simply for performing their duties with professionalism and patriotism. He urged Ugandans to stand in solidarity with them and work toward securing their freedom.

The statement reads in part: “In the 2021 election, the police officers who were attached to our campaign were attacked violently and subjected to all manner of brutality. After the election, several of them including their head, Afande Kato were arrested and detained for a long period.”

“Now, in 2026, we have learnt that the officers who were attached to our campaign have also been arrested and are being interrogated. These officers are usually targeted for doing their job with professionalism and patriotism. May we all stand in solidarity with them, and work for their freedom.”

Wine, who has endured political harassment since 2017, now faces arrest and challenges to his party’s legitimacy—underscoring the broader struggle between Uganda’s opposition and President Museveni’s entrenched administration.

Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 11, 2026 — Nigerian politician and 2027 presidential aspirant under the All Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Peter Obi, has called for greater inclusion of women and youth in national development strategies. He made the appeal on Tuesday while addressing participants at the REFELA National Conference in Banjul, The Gambia, themed “Accelerating Representation, Safeguarding, and Strengthening Women’s Rights.”

Serving as both Guest Speaker and Chief Guest of the occasion, Obi aligned his remarks with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain.” 

He stressed that the prosperity of nations is directly linked to how seriously they invest in their people, particularly women. “When women are given equal access to education, finance, and leadership opportunities, they become not just participants but critical drivers of national development,” he said.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Obi emphasised that for countries like Nigeria, The Gambia, and other African nations, sustainable prosperity requires deliberate investment in human capital. He highlighted education, healthcare, skills development, and economic inclusion for women and youth as the foundation for growth.

Obi, widely recognised as the leader of the Obidient Movement with strong youth support, noted that empowering women, fostering accountability, and prioritising education would enable Africa to transform potential into tangible progress. “This is development as freedom,” he declared, urging governments to embrace inclusive policies that build shared opportunities for all.

Abuja, Nigeria (NPA) — March 10, 2026 — The Nigerian Army has pledged to strengthen military cooperation with the South African Army, following a visit by the Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, to the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, said Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasised that closer collaboration among African militaries is critical to addressing terrorism and insurgency. He noted that shared training and operational knowledge would enhance regional security and professional capacity.

Shaibu highlighted Nigeria’s counter‑terrorism efforts in the North‑East under Operation HADIN KAI, stressing the importance of specialised training in detecting and neutralising Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). He said cooperation with South Africa would strengthen these programs and improve battlefield survivability.

The army chief also pointed to ongoing collaboration in military education. Nigerian officers attend courses at the South African Defence College, while South African officers serve as instructors in Nigerian institutions such as the Army War College and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. These exchanges, he said, build institutional ties and leadership capacity.

Mbatha, for his part, praised Nigeria’s extensive battlefield experience and expressed interest in learning from its operational strategies against asymmetric threats. He noted that South Africa’s expertise in aviation maintenance and pilot training could support Nigeria’s efforts to expand its air capabilities.

Both leaders concluded with a commitment to sustain joint training, operational exchanges, and technical cooperation. They agreed that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa would enhance the effectiveness of their forces and contribute to stability and collective defense across Africa.