Togo's lawmakers have adopted a new constitution transitioning the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system, with the president now to be elected by parliament for a single 6-year term. The constitution introduces a 'president of the council of ministers' with significant governmental authority, elected from the majority party or coalition in legislative elections. The changes' effective date is not specified, but the next parliamentary and regional elections are scheduled for April 20, with 4.2 million Togolese registered to vote. The Gnassingbe family has been a dominant force in Togo's political landscape since 1967.

Senegal's President Macky Sall has dismissed criticisms regarding his involvement in the postponement of the country's presidential election, which was originally scheduled for last month but delayed due to concerns of potential chaos after some candidates were excluded. The parliament extended Sall's mandate until December, but the Constitutional Council deemed this unconstitutional since Sall's term expires on April 2. The election is now set for Sunday, with 18 candidates running, including Amadou Ba from the ruling coalition. This marks the first delayed presidential election in Senegal since its independence in 1960.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has rejected paying ransom for over 280 schoolchildren kidnapped in Kaduna state, following a 2022 law making ransom payments illegal. The kidnappers demand over $620,000, 11 Toyota Hilux vehicles, and 150 motorcycles. The abductions are part of a surge in kidnappings challenging the government, with close to 400 people taken in 10 days. Security expert Ryan Cummings and media analyst Aliyu Othman provide insights into the motivations of Islamist militants and bandits behind the kidnappings. Efforts to negotiate with the criminal gangs have been met with skepticism, and the Nigerian public calls for more effective government action. Corruption and inadequate resources within security services are hindering anti-kidnapping operations.

The 2024 ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, utilizing data from Henley & Partners and the International Air Transport Association, shows Japan and Singapore at the top globally. In Africa, Seychelles ranks highest at 26th globally, followed by Mauritius at 30th. The list for Africa includes South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, eSwatini, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Somalia, which has the weakest African passport at 99th globally.

Kenya and the European Union have finalized an Economic Partnership Agreement providing Kenya with duty-free and unlimited access to the EU market for its exports. The agreement, which was initially drafted in June and approved by the EU Council, awaits ratification by the parliaments of both parties. The EU is Kenya's top export destination, with trade totaling €3.3 billion in 2022. The deal requires Kenya to gradually open its market to EU products. Kenya exports commodities like tea, coffee, and flowers to the EU and imports machinery and pharmaceuticals. Kenyan President William Ruto and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the signing in Nairobi. The EPA was originally intended for all East African Community members, but only Kenya proceeded after others abandoned the pact in 2014.

Chad's new constitution has been approved by the Supreme Court, with 85.9% approval in a referendum, paving the way for civilian rule. Despite calls for a federal state to address development issues, the constitution maintains a centralized government. Critics argue that the centralized system has failed to develop Chad and that the referendum was a means to legitimize General Mahamat Idriss Deby's transitional leadership. Presidential and other elections are scheduled for 2024, with Deby eligible to run. Experts warn against military dominance in government, suggesting it could be detrimental to the country's stability.

Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has declined to sign bills related to witchcraft, the death penalty, and attempted suicide, despite supporting their content. He cited constitutional issues, specifically the manner in which the bills were prepared, violating Article 108 of the 1992 Ghana Constitution. The bills aimed to abolish the death penalty, criminalize witchcraft accusations and abuse, and decriminalize attempted suicide. Akufo-Addo plans to reintroduce the bills properly to align with constitutional provisions.

Oscar Pistorius, the South African Paralympic star known as the 'Blade Runner', has been granted parole after serving nine years for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Initially jailed for culpable homicide, his sentence was later increased to 13 years and five months for murder. The parole, effective January 5, comes with conditions including anger management therapy. The Steenkamp family has reacted, with June Steenkamp expressing doubts about his rehabilitation. The parole decision follows a ruling by the Constitutional Court that Pistorius had served half his sentence by March 2021.

The presidential election campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo commenced on November 19, with President Félix Tshisekedi seeking re-election amidst community conflicts in various provinces. Tshisekedi launched his campaign in Kinshasa, praised his government's achievements, and formed a new coalition, the Sacred Union of the Nation. Key opponents include Martin Fayulu, Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege, and businessman Moïse Katumbi. Opposition parties are considering a united front to challenge Tshisekedi, with concerns over election security due to ongoing conflicts, particularly in the eastern part of the country.

Mouloukou Sanoh has stepped down as CEO of Cassava Network to launch Mansa, a new fintech aimed at addressing the credit issues faced by SMEs in Africa. Cassava Network, a progressive Web3 platform, experienced accelerated growth under Mouloukou's leadership, which saw the integration of various Web2 and Web3 brands. Mansa will offer a protocol that allows venture-backed businesses to use a variety of assets as collateral, thus democratizing access to financing and bridging the gap between traditional financial systems and decentralized finance.

Workers at the Gold One mine near Johannesburg, South Africa, were held underground for three days in a hostage situation involving over 500 miners. The incident was part of a dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). More than 100 employees eventually emerged from the mine. Police are investigating, and a police spokesperson reported that miners were held against their will by approximately 15 individuals, though their union affiliation is unclear.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) conflict, involving Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan, has persisted for over a decade. Ethiopia's completion of the dam's reservoir filling has raised concerns among downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, about potential water supply disruptions. Despite resumed negotiations, experts emphasize the urgency of resolving the dispute to prevent regional escalation. Ethiopia plans to continue dam activities, while Egypt has sought international intervention. The dam, initiated in 2010, aims to generate electricity for the region.

The Liberian presidential election is heading to a run-off between incumbent President George Weah and his main rival Joseph Boakai, with Weah leading by a slim margin of 43.8% to Boakai's 43.5% after nearly all votes have been counted. A repeat of the 2017 run-off, which Weah won, is set after the closest presidential race since the civil war ended. The run-off is scheduled for November 7, following the official results announcement and a repeat vote in parts of Sinoe, Nimba, and Montserrado counties due to ballot tampering.

French military convoys have begun their withdrawal from bases in southwest Niger following demands from the ruling military junta. The departure involves around 1,500 French soldiers, with some traveling by road to Chad and others flying out. This move comes after France's refusal to recognize the junta leaders as legitimate and the subsequent tension between the two nations. France's withdrawal from Niger follows similar exits from Mali and Burkina Faso, signaling a decrease in French influence in the Sahel region. The United Nations has also ended its peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Heavy rains in Yaoundé, Cameroon, have triggered landslides that killed at least 30 people, with many still missing. The Mefou River overflowed and a dam burst, leading to submerged neighborhoods and destroyed homes and infrastructure. Children's bodies were found scattered at the incident sites. Efforts to demolish houses in high-risk areas have been ongoing, and some buildings that collapsed had been marked for demolition.

Ghana has one of the highest taxes on menstrual hygiene products globally, making them unaffordable for many and causing girls to miss school days each month. Social activists in Ghana are advocating for change to address this issue.

The article discusses the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on various sectors in Ghana. Benjamin Nortey, a Ghanaian roboticist, has developed a robot named Cello designed to provide social services. AI's potential contribution to Africa's GDP is significant, with an estimated $1.5 billion by 2030. The University of Ghana uses drones and AI to improve agriculture, while the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has adopted an AI platform by Mino-Health for better diagnosis in radiology. Despite the shortage of health workers in Ghana, AI tools like Mino-Health aim to fill the gap. However, there are concerns about job displacement due to AI, and the need for workers to upskill. The article also touches on the necessity for regulation in the AI industry to prevent misuse and encourage innovation without stifling it.

Since the Year of Return initiative in 2019, Ghana has been encouraging the African diaspora to resettle in the country. Hundreds of African Americans have moved to Ghana, and Isaac Kaledzi has spoken to some of the returnees in Accra.

Since Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's rise to power in 2018 and the peace agreement with neighboring Eritrea, there has been a long-standing tension between the two countries. The peace efforts led to Abiy Ahmed receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. However, there are fears that the progress made over the past five years may unravel. Political analyst Abdurehman Seid expresses concern over the potential for renewed conflict, particularly over the Assab port, which Eritrea controls but is of strategic importance to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government has been accused of neglecting its allies, the Amhara and Eritrea, who assisted in the conflict against the TPLF. The situation is further complicated by Ethiopia's reliance on Djibouti for port access since losing direct access to the sea over two decades ago due to the Eritrean-Ethiopian War.

Nigeria narrowly avoided a government shutdown when the country's major labor unions, NLC and TUC, suspended a planned nationwide strike for 30 days following last-minute negotiations with the government. The strike was in response to the removal of a fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu, which led to increased fuel costs and a 25% inflation rate. The government's compromise includes a temporary wage increase for public sector workers, a suspension of VAT on diesel, social security cash transfers, and the introduction of gas-powered buses to reduce transport costs. A new minimum wage is also expected to be negotiated soon. Labor union leaders have high expectations for the government to fulfill its promises, and analysts agree that the workers' concerns are justified given the country's economic hardships. Despite the challenges, there is some praise for the willingness of both parties to negotiate a resolution.

UN peacekeeping missions, particularly in Africa, face challenges in protecting civilians and bringing stability to countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic. Analysts criticize the missions' limited operational mandates and the UN's inability to address violence effectively. The Mali mission (MINUSMA) is set to withdraw by the end of the year after a decade, following the military junta's demand. The Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, is now preferred by Mali's military rulers. Experts argue that despite the shortcomings, UN missions are still necessary in Africa, and reforms are needed to enhance their effectiveness.

In the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, 'ghost town' days every Monday have led to economic stagnation and social isolation due to a separatist crisis. However, residents have adapted by forming social networks, economic groups, and engaging in community activities. Pubs have also adapted by serving only community members. Despite these coping mechanisms, the local economy is suffering, with job losses and investor pullout. The situation remains dire with ongoing conflict and a worsening humanitarian crisis.