THE MORNING BRIEFAfrica Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa
22 April 2025
1. Italy-Ethiopia
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mourns the Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis Pope (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025)
2. South Sudan- Upper Nile
South Sudan's state military recaptures key town from White Army militia
South Sudan's army said it had recaptured a key town in Upper Nile state that it lost to an ethnic Nuer militia in March in clashes which led to the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and a spiralling political crisis.
3. Zimbabwe- Harare
'Don't Heed Call for National Shutdown'- - Says Information Minister, Labels Geza Enemy of Progress and a Terrorist
Information Minister Jenfan Muswere has laid down the gauntlet, branding his former Zanu PF party colleague, Blessed Geza, a terrorist and an enemy of progress.
4. In our historical archives, it was on this day 22 April 1935 when Sathyandranath Ragunanan (Mac) Maharaj, political activist and first SA Minister of Transport in the democratically elected government in 1994, was born in Newcastle, Natal.
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An open letter addressed to UN Women at the 2026 Commission on the Status of Women raises urgent concerns about the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG). While intended as a landmark treaty, the letter argues that the Convention in its current form weakens existing protections and fails to deliver on its promise of rights, justice, and action for African women and girls.
08:33
At the inaugural National Transport Conference held in Midrand, urgent concerns about violence and instability in South Africa’s taxi industry took centre stage. Following a deadly shooting at a Delft taxi rank in Cape Town, Dr. Siyabulela Fobosi of the University of Fort Hare called for decisive, “tough medicine” to address what he argues is not just disorder—but organised crime embedded within the sector.
07:17
The African National Congress calls on all peace-loving and patriotic South Africans to unite for The People’s March in Defence of Our Sovereignty and Democratic Gains on Saturday, 21 March 2026, commemorating Human Rights Day.
05:59