28 January 2025

1. DR Congo – South Kivu- Kinshasha

Thousands of residents, young people from civil society organizations, grassroots movements, and other pressure groups flooded the main street of Bukavu yesterday morning to denounce the complicity and silence of the international community, despite the worsening situation faced by the populations in the east of the country.

On the other hand, the DRC government spokesman confirms the presence of Rwandan army in Goma and says Kinshasha is working to avoid carnage.

1. Niger – Burkina Faso, Mali- ECOWAS

Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are due to withdraw officially from the grouping of West African states on Tuesday 28 January, 2025.

At the gathering in Ouagadougou, they agreed to favour a “global approach’ to negotiations and relations with ECOWAS within the framework of the alliance.

1. Liberia- Monrovia

Former President George Weah has reportedly declined an invitation from the Government of Liberia to attend the State of the Nation Address, which took place yesterday at the Capitol Building.

President Joseph Boakai is expected to deliver his second State of the Nation Address, but Weah, the former head of state, has cited concerns that his attendance would inadvertently lend legitimacy to the executive and Senate-endorsed Speaker, Richard Koon.

1. Mozambique - Maputo

Attorney General’s Office opens case against Mondlane’s ‘presidential decree’

Mozambique’s Attorney General’s Office announced on Monday that it has opened proceedings to investigate whether the self-styled “presidential decree” of former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane “subverts” the principles of the democratic state.

1. In our historical archives, it was on this day 28 January 2013 and 28 January 2021 when South Afrika lost two of its legendary jazz musicians Victor Mhleli Ntoni and  Sibongile Ma’Mngoma  Khumalo

Victor Ntoni, whose musical career spanned 40 years, grew up in the rough, poor and unforgiving Cape Town township of Langa and was drawn to music from as far back as he could remember. As a child he spent hours in the company of migrant workers, who lived in camps near his home, and was entranced by their rich, harmonious voices and wonderful musicality.

 Known for her love of traditional South African music, jazz, and opera, Sibongile thrilled audiences from Roodepoort to the Royal Albert Hall in London. Khumalo began her career in singing at the Kippies Jazz International in 1992. She went on to win the Standard Bank Young Artist Award at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown the following year.