East Africa

The economy shows activity in major project resumption and foreign investment, but faces significant domestic controversy over a flagship privatization. The Mozambique mega gas project has resumed after a five-year pause, and Chinese tech brand Xiaomi launched a smartphone line in Kenya. However, a petition has been filed to block the state's Sh204b Safaricom shares sale to Vodacom, and Safaricom's CEO appeared before Parliament regarding the sale.

• 3Safaricom share sale: CEO Peter Ndegwa appears before Parliament
• 2Mozambique mega gas project resumes after five-year pause
• 2Uganda imposes internet shutdown during election
• 1Victoria is flipping 'the big switch' on its Metro Tunnel. Here's what is changing
• 1Chinese tech brand Xiaomi launch smartphone line in Kenya

Politics is dominated by Uganda's contested election and its violent aftermath, alongside significant international diplomatic friction. President Yoweri Museveni won another term as opposition leader Bobi Wine rejected the results, a process marred by an internet blackout. Concurrently, Rwanda is taking the UK to court over a scrapped migrant deal, and Trump criticized the UK's decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

• 19Uganda's President Museveni wins another term as opposition rejects results
• 11Uganda holds tense election under internet blackout and heavy security
• 3Rwanda takes UK to court over contentious migrant deal
• 3Museveni’s son calls for Bobi Wine’s death after Uganda vote row
• 2Kenya's President nominates Ida Odinga as UNEP envoy

Security is characterized by intense state repression in Uganda and escalating communal violence in South Sudan. Uganda's military chief gave hiding opposition leader Bobi Wine 48 hours to surrender, and the military is actively pursuing him. In South Sudan, the UN chief is deeply concerned by an escalation of violence, with barrel bomb attacks driving mass displacement and the army ordering evacuations from opposition areas.

• 2Al-Shabaab’s changing tactics in Northern Kenya attacks
• 2South Sudan: UN and rights experts warn against risk of mass violence in Jonglei
• 2Uganda's military chief gives hiding opposition leader Bobi Wine 48 hours to surrender
• 2Uganda opposition MP : 10 killed by security forces in his home
• 1Putin expands 'Patriotic War' without achieving 1945 victory

Society is grappling with a severe and persistent environmental disaster in Victoria, Australia, which is dominating the regional news cycle. Major fires have destroyed hundreds of structures with stock losses exceeding 15,000, leading to a state of disaster declaration, and bushfires are still raging across the state with a flood watch also issued for the Upper Victoria River.

• 3Major fires in Victoria destroy hundreds of structures, stock losses exceed 15,000
• 3Australia: State of disaster declared amid Victoria fires
• 2Riverine Flood | Flood Watch for Upper Victoria River
• 2UN says 53 DRC refugees have died in Burundi - reports
• 1Kenya’s education funding illusion: The truth in numbers