The United States and Rwanda have reached a landmark agreement for the East African nation to accept up to 250 migrants deported from the U.S., as part of President Donald Trump's intensified immigration crackdown. The deal, first confirmed by Reuters, was signed in June in Kigali by officials from both countries. A Rwandan government spokesperson revealed that the initial list of 10 individuals had already been submitted by Washington for vetting. “Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,” said Yolande Makolo, the spokesperson for the Rwandan government. Under the agreement, Rwanda retains the right to approve or reject each proposed deportee. Those who are accepted will receive workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support, allowing them to restart their lives in one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. The White House and State Department have not issued a statement on the deal. The Department of Homeland Security referred all questions to the State Department. President Trump, known for his hardline stance on immigration, has emphasized plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, including those with criminal records. His administration has previously pursued third-country deportations, targeting nations like South Sudan and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). In May, Rwanda's Foreign Minister acknowledged that discussions with the U.S. over deportations were underway. Despite human rights concerns raised by watchdogs regarding Rwanda's domestic policies, Kigali continues to present itself as a resettlement partner for Western governments. Trump administration officials argue that relocating migrants to third countries is an effective method to remove individuals who cannot be repatriated easily, especially those who pose potential public safety risks.

Tragedy struck Ghana on Wednesday when a military Z‑9 helicopter en route from Accra to Obuasi crashed in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region. All eight individuals on board lost their lives, including: Minister of Defence Edward Omane Boamah Minister of Environment, Science & Technology Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed NDC Vice-Chair Samuel SarpongFormer parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye Three Air Force crew members In response to the tragedy, President John Mahama declared three days of national mourning, suspended all official activities, and ordered that flags fly at half-mast. A government-led investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Kaduna, Nigeria — A total of 260 middle-cadre officers of the Nigerian Army are currently sitting for the Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination (SSCQE) 2025, a pivotal milestone in their military careers. The week-long exam began on Sunday at the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Centre, located within the Jaji Military Cantonment.  The examination, administered by the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), serves as a crucial step toward selection for the Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) and other international staff colleges.  Addressing both candidates and directing staff, the President of the Examination Board, Major General Kelvin Aligbe, underscored the exam’s stringent curriculum,which spans eight subjects, including tactics, low-intensity conflict, geopolitics, and military law,and reiterated the importance of discipline and fairness in the process.  Major General Aligbe emphasized that only candidates scoring at least 50% in all subjects will qualify for selection, and the assessment is designed to identify the next generation of leaders within the Nigerian Army. He also reminded officers that Army Headquarters allows a maximum of three attempts for passing the SSCQE. 

Dodoma, Tanzania — The nation is in mourning following the death of Job Ndugai, a veteran politician and former Speaker of Parliament, who passed away in Dodoma on Wednesday at the age of 62. President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences in a statement, saying she received the news “with sorrow” and extended sympathy to the deceased’s family and friends. Ndugai had served as a Member of Parliament for 25 years and was preparing to defend his Kongwa seat in the upcoming general elections after recently securing the ruling party’s nomination.  Ndugai rose through the political ranks to become Deputy Speaker in 2010, later ascending to the role of Speaker in 2015. He made history as the first Speaker in Tanzanian history to resign from office he stepped down in January 2022 following a public dispute with President Hassan over the country’s rising external debt. His remarks warning that Tanzania risked being “auctioned” due to excessive borrowing ignited national debate.  In his resignation, which he framed as a personal decision taken in the interest of the nation, Ndugai apologized for his controversial comments and expressed gratitude to his colleagues and constituents.  The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), described him as a courageous leader, patriot, and dedicated public servant who strengthened the institution of Parliament. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced shortly

Chowdeck, the Lagos-based on-demand delivery startup, has raised $9 million in its Series A funding round. The investment, led by Novastar Ventures with participation from Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, and HoaQ, is set to fuel the company's aggressive quick-commerce expansion across Nigeria and Ghana.  The funding will support a new delivery model powered by dark stores and hyperlocal logistics designed to speed up access to essentials like groceries, food, and medicine, while improving reliability and tapping underserved urban areas.  Chowdeck launched in 2021 and now serves 1.5 million customers across 11 cities via a fleet of over 20,000 riders, achieving an impressive 30-minute average delivery time. Since 2024, the value of transactions on the platform has surged more than sixfold.  The startup’s CEO and Co-founder, Femi Aluko, stated:  “We’re thrilled… this funding will supercharge our expansion into more cities, cut delivery times, scale our grocery footprint, and attract top talent in innovation and customer service.”  In a strategic move to enhance its technological edge, Chowdeck acquired Mira, a point-of-sale (POS) provider catering to food and hospitality businesses. This acquisition is part of the startup's push to evolve into a hybrid logistics and software platform for merchants.  Looking ahead, Chowdeck plans a major rollout of quick-commerce infrastructure 40 dark stores by year-end, scaling to 500 by the end of 2026, launching two to three stores weekly, underpinning its hyperlocal expansion strategy.