Zambian footballer Barbra Banda has officially joined South African club Orlando Pride from Chinese club FC Shanghai Shengli, marking the second-largest transfer in women's football history at approximately 446 million Fcfa. At 23, Banda, the captain of Zambia's national team, the Copper Queens, has signed a four-year contract. Orlando Pride has also secured a future sale clause for Banda, who scored 41 goals in 52 appearances for Shanghai Shengli and is known for scoring consecutive hat-tricks at the Olympics against the Netherlands and China in 2021.

In Kenya, there has been a disturbing rise in violent and sometimes fatal attacks against women, with nearly 60 women killed since the beginning of 2024. Njeri Migwi, co-founder of Usikimye, has become a prominent advocate for justice, supporting victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Despite organized protests in major cities, the femicide rate continues to rise. Recent cases include a 19-year-old girl allegedly pushed to death from a building in Nairobi and a woman killed by her husband in Nakuru. Migwi criticizes social norms, legal structures, and government inaction for perpetuating violence against women. Usikimye has established shelters for victims and provides food programs for children to prevent exploitation. Migwi's efforts have seen successes, such as helping a woman escape genital mutilation who now works in a supermarket and expressed her gratitude.

Francis Ngannou is set to face Anthony Joshua in a boxing match on Friday night at 23:00 UTC at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou expressed his dedication to boxing, a sport he has loved all his life, and his eagerness to gain experience. Anthony Joshua, a former world heavyweight champion, acknowledged Ngannou's skills but emphasized his own readiness and determination to win what he believes is already destined.

Health ministers from the 12 African countries most affected by malaria convened in Yaoundé on March 6, 2024, to advocate for a united front against the disease. Despite various measures proving unproductive, ineffective, and unsuitable for the continent, Mali's Minister of Health and Social Development, Colonel Assa Badiallo, called for civil society, the private sector, and the community to mobilize funds and improve social protection mechanisms like RAMED and AMO to ensure all Malian populations receive malaria care. The conference highlighted the need for collective action, communication, political will, increased resources, and improved national health systems for research and innovation. This comes in the wake of a vaccination campaign that has not reduced the annual death toll of 600,000 from malaria in Africa.

The Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Robert Mardini, visited the Lushangala displaced persons camp in Goma to call for adherence to the rules of war and international humanitarian law amidst ongoing conflict between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army. Displaced individuals, such as Julienne Beetsa from Saké, have been arriving at the camp since February 15 without receiving basic necessities. Local hospitals, supported by the ICRC, are overwhelmed with the increasing number of wounded. The Southern African Development Community's military chiefs met in Goma last week to devise new strategies to support the Congolese army against the M23 rebels.

The Liberian Lower House has voted in favor of establishing a special court to judge war crimes committed during the country's two civil wars, which resulted in over 250,000 deaths between 1989 and 2003. The resolution, proposed by President Joseph Boakai, was supported by 42 out of 72 parliamentarians and is now awaiting a second vote in the Senate. The court will also address economic crimes and will operate in Liberia according to international standards, with support from international institutions including the United Nations. Dempster Brown, head of Liberia's National Independent Commission on Human Rights, expressed that it is high time for such a court.

Islamist insurgents, presumed to be from Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa, abducted at least 50 people, mainly women, in Northeast Nigeria's Borno State, near the Gamboru region bordering Chad and Cameroon. The incident occurred on Monday and was reported by local officials and a resident. The United Nations' humanitarian coordinator, Mohamed Malick Fall, expressed concern for the victims, particularly women and girls, and called for increased support for displaced persons to mitigate their risks.

Kenyan opposition leader Ekuru Aukot is challenging the deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti, following an agreement between Kenyan President William Ruto and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Aukot plans to launch a new judicial challenge, claiming the agreement is invalid as it has not addressed a judge's objections that previously halted the deployment in January. The deployment is intended to support an international mission to assist with security in Haiti, where armed gangs have been causing terror and are beyond the control of local authorities.

Pope Francis, experiencing persistent respiratory and mobility issues, had an assistant read his catechism lesson during the weekly general audience held outdoors at St. Peter's Square. He was unable to climb into his popemobile and used a wheelchair instead. The 87-year-old pontiff has been suffering intermittently from colds, bronchitis, and flu this winter, and had previously canceled a trip due to acute infectious bronchitis. He also suffers from a knee fracture and ligament inflammation, which has required the use of a wheelchair since 2022. Despite these challenges, he has generally managed to move with the aid of a cane or walker. The Pope had part of a lung removed in his youth due to a respiratory infection and underwent surgery in 2021 for part of his colon and in 2022 for an abdominal hernia and scar tissue removal.

Russian and Nigerian foreign ministers met in Moscow to discuss future relations between the two countries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergueï Lavrov promised Russia's constructive contribution to stabilizing the Sahara-Sahel region and supporting the combat capability of national armed forces. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar spoke in favor of a multipolar system and strengthening multilateralism, expressing Nigeria's readiness for a strong strategic relationship with Russia. A meeting of Russian and African foreign ministers is scheduled in Sochi this fall.

In Gambia, a legislative proposal to decriminalize female genital mutilation (FGM) has been introduced by independent parliamentarian Almameh Gibba, despite the practice being banned in 2015 during Yahya Jammeh's presidency. Influential Muslim religious leaders are pressuring for the ban to be lifted, while women's rights activists are campaigning to maintain it. Anna Njie, director of the Association of Gambian Female Lawyers, expressed that repealing the ban would be regressive. The majority party leader in Parliament, Billay Tunkara, is undecided on the bill, citing the sensitivity of the issue involving religion, culture, human rights, and health. According to the UN, over three-quarters of Gambian women aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM.

Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency, continues to inform Libyan authorities about migrant boats in distress within Libyan waters, as stated by Frontex chief Hans Leijtens. This follows accusations from the German charity SOS Humanity that Libyan coast guards fired live bullets and displayed violence during a rescue operation. Frontex uses various surveillance methods to monitor EU external borders, including international waters. The EU has funded the Libyan coast guard since 2015 to prevent migrants from reaching Italy, leading to interceptions and returns to Libya. Libya has faced chaos since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, with reports of abuses by coast guards and detention center staff. Frontex lacks the mandate, funds, and equipment for rescue operations, and at least 962 migrants have died with 1,563 missing off the Libyan coast in 2023, while about 17,200 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya last year.

Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló visited Ramallah in the West Bank and met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Upon arrival, Embaló laid a wreath at the tomb of former Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. Abbas briefed Embaló on the situation between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and expressed gratitude for Guinea-Bissau's support of the Palestinian people in international forums.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo is considering not signing the anti-LGBTQ bill passed by the Ghanaian Parliament last week, pending a Supreme Court ruling on its legal framework. The Finance Ministry warned that Ghana could lose billions in World Bank funding if the bill is enacted, jeopardizing IMF support crucial for the country's budget amidst a severe economic crisis with inflation nearing 25%. The bill, which has bipartisan support but requires presidential approval, has been widely condemned internationally and by human rights groups. Akufo-Addo previously stated he would sign it if the Ghanaian majority wished, but is now assuring the diplomatic community of Ghana's commitment to human rights.

Nigeria is experiencing a severe food crisis, with attacks on grain reserves increasing. Inflation has reduced purchasing power, leading to the population storming state warehouses for food. Following a recent looting incident, Nigerian authorities have heightened security measures around the country's food stocks. In late February, the Nigerian Senate called for the temporary implementation of food vouchers to combat food insecurity, potentially affecting over 26 million people by 2024.