Guinea’s President Mamadi Doumbouya has dismissed 173 military personnel for alleged desertion, including Colonel Michel Lamah, a member of the elite Special Forces who helped stage the 2021 coup. The move underscores ongoing efforts to tighten presidential control following Doumbouya’s reversal of his earlier commitment to restore civilian governance. He secured 87% of the vote in December’s presidential election. His administration continues to face criticism over curbs on civil liberties, including media restrictions, protest bans, and the targeting of opposition figures. Over the past five years, Doumbouya has focused on transforming Guinea—a mineral-rich nation—from a supplier of raw materials into a hub for industrial processing.
Algeria Wildfires Kill 12 as Heatwave Intensifies
At least 12 people have died and 54 others were injured as wildfires raged across multiple provinces in northern Algeria during a severe heatwave. Interior Minister Said Sayoud reported five fatalities in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, with six of the injured remaining in intensive care. Residents were evacuated from affected areas in Bejaia and Jijel as firefighters combated 69 separate blazes nationwide. Algeria has experienced increasingly intense wildfires in recent years, linked to rising temperatures driven by climate change. The World Meteorological Organization noted that extreme heat is becoming more common in North Africa, which has warmed at a rate of 0.43°C per decade—the fastest among Africa’s six subregions—between 1991 and 2025.
Official Arrested Over Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster
Ignatius Chiome, 49, a district coordinator at the Kariba Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide in connection with the deadly Lake Kariba ferry tragedy that claimed 97 lives. Chiome appeared in court and was remanded in custody while investigations proceed into Zimbabwe’s worst maritime incident on record. The RIDA-operated Mbuya Nehanda ferry capsized on August 11 while en route from Kariba to Chalala, prompting a large-scale search-and-rescue operation involving police, local boat operators, and emergency response teams. Authorities later admitted the vessel was significantly overloaded beyond its authorized capacity of 90 passengers.
Zambia Court Closure Sparks Election Challenge Concerns
Zambian authorities sealed off courts on August 24, the same day opposition candidates were set to file legal challenges against President Hakainde Hichilema’s re-election, according to Human Rights Watch. Police described the shutdown as an intelligence-based preventive measure, while the judiciary cited unspecified security concerns. Opposition leader Brian Mundubile had announced plans to contest the election results over claims of irregularities. Legal experts and civil society organizations have expressed alarm over the court closures, warning that they effectively prevented access to justice. Human Rights Watch has urged immediate judicial reopening, highlighting potential threats to due process, judicial independence, and constitutional rights to challenge electoral outcomes.
