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🇺🇬 MUHOOZI DECLARES 2031 PRESIDENTIAL BID

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced that he will run for president in the 2031 elections.

Muhoozi, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, says he is confident of a landslide victory — predicting that he could secure 90% of the vote with his father’s support.

His declaration puts Uganda’s political succession firmly in the spotlight, with questions now growing over who will eventually succeed President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.

Do you think Muhoozi can win 90% of the vote in 2031? 🇺🇬

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SIFUNA SPEAKS TO YOUNG ASPIRANTS

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Ghana’s Gold Board (GoldBod) has ordered Self-Financing Aggregators (SFAs) to ensure that all gold doré purchased under arrangements with approved offtakers is refined locally before it can be exported.

The directive takes effect on September 1, 2026, effectively ending the export of unrefined doré under these arrangements. Gold must first be processed at a refinery approved or designated by GoldBod before an export application can be considered.

GoldBod has also directed SFAs to amend existing offtake agreements by August 31 to include the mandatory local-refining requirement. The cost of refining will be borne by either the SFA or the approved offtaker, depending on their commercial agreement.

Export approvals will only be granted after GoldBod confirms that the gold has been refined in Ghana, refining charges have been settled, and all assay, regulatory and export requirements have been met.

Failure to comply could result in the refusal or suspension of export approvals, suspension or revocation of licences, administrative sanctions and other enforcement measures under Ghana’s gold laws.

The move is part of Ghana’s broader push to increase local value addition, strengthen oversight of the gold trade and retain more economic value from the country’s gold resources. Ghana is Africa’s leading gold producer, with GoldBod reporting that it exported 104 tonnes of artisanal gold in 2025.

Nearly one in four paternity tests conducted by Smart DNA Nigeria in 2025/26 found that the man tested was not the biological father.

The Lagos-based company reported a 23.6% negative rate, slightly lower than 24% recorded the previous year and 26.1% in 2023.

Smart DNA, however, cautioned against interpreting the figures to mean that one in four Nigerian children has a different biological father, noting that people seeking DNA tests are not a random representation of the population.

The company said 87% of tests were private “peace of mind” tests, while men accounted for nearly 79% of inquiries. Almost half of male clients were aged 41 and above.

Lagos accounted for about three-quarters of the recorded cases, although demand for DNA testing is growing across other parts of Nigeria.

President Cyril Ramaphosa Hosts Mnangagwa as Migration and Border Management Top Pretoria Talks

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has hosted Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Pretoria, with migration, border management and the repatriation of undocumented migrants featuring prominently in discussions between the two leaders.

The meeting took place ahead of the Fourth Session of the Zimbabwe–South Africa Bi-National Commission, as the neighbouring countries seek to strengthen cooperation on issues affecting their shared border and movement of people.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said migration management and the repatriation of undocumented migrants will form part of the engagement. A temporary processing centre has also been established in Musina to support the repatriation process.

President Ramaphosa said there is a growing need for dialogue, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution in addressing migration and border-management challenges facing Southern Africa and the wider continent.

The talks come amid heightened tensions over migration in South Africa, where anti-migrant campaigns, undocumented migration and deportations have continued to draw public and political attention.

President Paul Biya Returns to Cameroon After 73-Day Absence

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has returned to Yaoundé after spending 73 days abroad, ending his prolonged stay in Geneva, Switzerland.

Biya arrived in the capital at around 4:00 p.m. GMT on Thursday, August 20, after leaving Cameroon on June 7. His office had described the trip as a “short private stay.”

His extended absence had sparked speculation about his health and raised questions about the functioning of government during his time abroad. Authorities maintained that the presidency remained operational and that Biya continued to exercise his duties.

At 93 years old, President Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and is one of the world’s longest-serving heads of state. His return is expected to bring renewed attention to his health, governance and the country’s political succession.

South Africa’s annual inflation rate slowed sharply to 4.3% in July 2026, down from 5% in June, marking the first decline in five months.

The latest figures from Statistics South Africa show that lower fuel and food prices were among the main factors behind the moderation.

Fuel prices fell by 7.8% between June and July, helping to push transport inflation lower. However, fuel remained 20.6% more expensive than it was a year earlier, highlighting the continued pressure on household and business costs.

Food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation also provided relief to consumers, falling to 0.9%, its lowest level in more than 16 years. Prices of several staple food products, including cereals, also recorded annual declines.

Despite the positive July figures, economists are warning that the improvement could prove temporary. Global oil prices have risen again amid renewed hostilities involving the United States and Iran, with Brent crude closing above $90 a barrel on August 19.

Higher international oil prices could translate into increased transport, distribution and household costs in South Africa, particularly because the country relies on imported crude oil and petroleum products.

The inflation slowdown could also influence expectations around interest rates. South Africa’s central bank has been targeting a return of inflation toward its 3% target, but renewed energy-price pressures could complicate that outlook.

For South African consumers, July offered some welcome relief—but rising global oil prices could determine whether that relief continues in the months ahead.