Political tensions are escalating in South Sudan as First Vice-President Riek Machar faces serious charges including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. These charges stem from an attack in March by the White Army militia, which is linked to Machar and primarily composed of fighters from his Nuer ethnic group. The militia reportedly overran an army base in Nasir, resulting in the deaths of 250 soldiers and a general, and also caused the death of a UN helicopter pilot. Seven of Machar's close allies, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Gabriel Duop Lam, have also been charged and remain in detention alongside Machar, whose house arrest has significantly widened the rift between him and President Salva Kiir. Authorities indicate that an additional 13 suspects remain at large.

In a landmark decision, South Africa's Constitutional Court has struck down a colonial-era law, ruling that husbands now have the right to adopt their wives' surnames. This discriminatory law, a relic of white-minority rule, was challenged by two couples, Henry van der Merwe and Jana Jordaan, and Andreas Nicolas Bornman and Jess Donnelly-Bornman, who were previously denied the ability to assume or hyphenate their wives' surnames. The couples argued that the law was patriarchal and violated the equality rights enshrined in South Africa's post-apartheid constitution. The court highlighted that many traditional African cultures historically allowed women to retain their birth names and children to take maternal clan names, practices suppressed by colonial legislation. Parliament has been instructed to amend the Births and Deaths Registration Act to reflect this judgment.

Ethiopians worldwide recently marked the 2018 Ethiopian New Year, an occasion celebrated at various events hosted by Ethiopian missions. Ethiopia follows its own distinct calendar, which places it seven years behind the Western calendar. This discrepancy originates from a differing calculation of the birth year of Jesus Christ; unlike the Catholic Church, which amended its calculation in 500 AD, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church did not. Celebrations saw the diaspora expressing profound joy over the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and reiterating their commitment to supporting Ethiopia's ongoing development and growth. Events were held in numerous countries, spanning from the United States and Europe to the Middle East, Asia, and other African nations.

Kenya's Judiciary is once again under intense scrutiny following explosive bribery allegations made by Captain (Rtd.) Kung'u Muigai, a cousin of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Muigai claims that senior judges accepted millions in bribes to rule against him in a protracted 33-year loan dispute with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). His allegations paint a dramatic picture, citing corrupt deals, including lost court files, questionable consent judgments, and judges purportedly receiving cash in hotel basements and supermarket parking lots. These claims, which implicate both former and sitting judges, resonate with persistent criticisms from legal figures such as Ahmednasir Abdullahi, who has frequently accused the Supreme Court of deep corruption. While the Judiciary has dismissed Muigai's allegations as malicious and unfounded, the controversy has reignited widespread public concerns regarding the susceptibility of justice in Kenya to monetary and political influence.

African leaders concluded their second continental climate summit in Addis Ababa with a united call for enhanced climate funding, a more equitable financial system, and a stronger continental voice in global climate negotiations. The summit culminated in the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration, a strategic framework designed to reposition Africa not merely as a victim of climate change, but as a crucial source of solutions. This common position aims to strengthen Africa's stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil. The declaration is built on three core pillars: accelerating renewable energy development to establish Africa as a green industrial powerhouse, forming a robust coalition on critical minerals, and protecting the continent's invaluable natural heritage. Leaders specifically demanded $50 billion annually in climate finance reform dedicated to adaptation and innovation, advocating for initiatives such as the Africa Climate Innovation Compact.