18 July 2025
1. Togo- Lome
Low turnout in Togo municipal polls after deadly protests
Heavy security presence in Lome amid public anger over leader Gnassingbe’s alleged power grab. Togo has voted in municipal elections amid reports of voter apathy, after the country was rocked by deadly protests last month.
2. France - Senegal
France shuts down last military base in Senegal after 65 years
France returned its last two military bases to Senegalese forces Thursday morning amid a wave of anti-French sentiment in West Africa.
3. Lesotho- South Afrika
A Lesotho MP is facing criminal charges after he accused the country's monarch and government of signing over control of Lesotho to its much larger neighbour, South Africa.
Dr Tshepo Lipholo also faces charges of "violating the dignity and reputation" of the royal family by declaring himself the chief ruler of the landlocked country.
4. Eswatini- USA
Eswatini announced on this week that it would repatriate the five immigrants deported there by the United States.
The kingdom's involvement drew some criticism from the opposition.
5. In our historical archives, it was on this day 18 July 1998 when shortly after his release from prison, Mandela met Graça Machel, the widow of former Mozambican president, Samora Machel. The couple decided to tie the knot on Nelson Mandela's 80th birthday. Their marriage was announced at his birthday celebration, which was attended by 2,000 international guests.
5.1 It was also on this day 18 July 2022 when the towering Azanian Poet, Activist and Humanitarian Monnapula Donato Francesco Mattera passed away at the age of 86 in Protea Glen, Soweto.