Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of the African Trends newsletter. However, unlike previous editions, where I would normally begin with a short essay analysing recent events across Africa, I want to use this edition to explain the reason for the long break and outline how things will work going forward with both the blog and the newsletter.
The past few weeks and months have been a period of major change and transition in my life. Having completed my postgraduate studies, I recently moved away from Namibia. For those who may not know, I lived in Namibia for around 12 years, where I completed high school as well as both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Namibia.
Now that I have completed my studies, I have left home for the first time, moving back to my home country of Nigeria for the first time since leaving when I was only three years old.
The transition has not been an easy one. The last few months have involved constant travel, moving from place to place, and adjusting to an entirely new chapter of life. There have been both positive and difficult experiences, along with the general uncertainty that comes with major life changes. As a result, I have not been able to publish content on the blog as consistently as I would have liked.
We are only halfway through 2026, yet I can already say that this has been one of the most transformative years of my life. I have completed my studies, left home for the first time, begun the process of building an independent life for myself, and recently turned 24.
I also want to further expand on my goals for this blog, both in the short term and in the long term. In the short term, as I begin my professional journey, my goal is for this blog to remain a part-time project while also serving as a professional portfolio as I seek full-time employment and work towards becoming fully independent.
In the long term, however, I want to recommit myself to the original mission of this blog: creating engaging political, historical, and cultural content about Africa. So much of global media remains dominated by Western voices and perspectives. At the same time, many African media institutions are too often constrained by political or business interests, leaving a significant gap in truly independent African perspectives and analysis.
My ultimate goal with the Sahel Post is to help build a genuinely independent African media platform that becomes bigger than myself; one that features voices, stories, and analysis from Africans across the continent. The media is a powerful tool for holding governments accountable, and across a continent where corruption continues to thrive in many places, independent journalism can play a critical role in exposing wrongdoing and strengthening democratic accountability.
Moreover, at a time when the world appears to be drifting towards greater authoritarianism, with some Africans increasingly embracing authoritarian ideas as solutions to our challenges; platforms like the Sahel Post can serve as an important reminder of why democracy, freedom, and open debate remain values worth defending.
Thank you to everyone who has continued reading and supporting this project despite the long silence. African Trends is back, and there is much more to come.
Across the Continent
- South Africa’s President Cyrill Ramaphos faces calls to resign after South Africa’ Constitutional Court reinstated impeachment proceedings against the South African President over allegations of misconduct by Rampahos for hiding the theft of cash worther more than half a million dollars at his game ranch.
- Africa forward summit was hosted in Nairobi, during the summit French President Emmanuel Macron announced around 23 Billion Euros worth of investment across Africa.
- Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for his seventh consecutive term as President.Â
- Presidential elections in Madagrascar have been scheduled for October 2027. Ths comes nearly a year after a military coup that ousted longtime President Andry Rajoelina.
Country to watch: Nigeria
This week’s country to watch is Nigeria. Things are heating up in the build-up to Nigeria’s presidential election next year in 2027.
Repeat of 2023?
Over the past year, It appeared as though many of Nigeria’s opposition parties were set to present a unified front against the ruling APC party by getting behind a single candidate. Back in July last year, when Peter Obi and Atiku Abbakar both defected from the Labour Party and People’s Democratic party (PDP) respectively, it seemed certain that this talk of a united front was all but confirmed.
However, disagreements over who would emerge as the coalition’s presidential candidate reportedly strained relations between both camps. Obi eventually left the ADC and joined the NDC alongside Rabiu Kwankwaso, with speculation suggesting that Kwankwaso could emerge as Obi’s running mate.
It seems all but guaranteed that the 2027 Nigerian Presidential election will be another three way tie between President Bola Tinubu, fromer Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.Â
President Bola Tinubu and his ruling All progressives Congress (APC) party have long made public their desire to see the President serve a second term in office.
Elections amidst rising insecurity
The upcoming elections will take place against the backdrop of worsening insecurity across many parts of Nigeria. In recent years, the country has witnessed growing incidents of terrorism, banditry, communal violence, and abductions for ransom.
Large areas of northern Nigeria continue to face instability linked to insurgent activity, while kidnapping for ransom has increasingly spread into other regions of the country. These security concerns are expected to remain a major issue shaping public opinion ahead of the elections.
Economic woes
Tinubu’s first term has also been characterised by major economic reforms and austerity measures. The most dramatic of these was the removal of the fuel subsidy during his first year in office, a move the government argued was necessary to stabilise public finances, but one which also contributed to a sharp rise in living costs for ordinary Nigerians.
Nigeria’s economic difficulties have continued to deepen, with inflation and poverty rising significantly across the country. The situation has been further worsened by reductions in international humanitarian assistance, partly linked to changing foreign aid priorities under the administration of Donald Trump in the United States.
Humanitarian organisations such as the World Food Programme have repeatedly warned about growing food insecurity in northern Nigeria, where millions remain at risk of severe hunger amid conflict, displacement, and economic hardship.
Why Nigeria matter
As Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, Nigeria remains one of the most politically and strategically important states on the continent. What happens in Nigeria rarely stays confined within its borders. Political instability, economic decline, or major democratic breakthroughs in Nigeria often have ripple effects across West Africa and beyond.
Nigeria also occupies a unique cultural position within Africa. Through its music, film industry, media, and diaspora, the country exerts enormous soft power across the continent and throughout the wider Black world. At the same time, its struggles with corruption, insecurity, unemployment, and governance reflect many of the broader challenges facing post-colonial African states.
The 2027 elections will therefore not simply be a contest over who governs Nigeria for the next four years. They will also serve as an important test of the country’s democratic institutions at a time when democratic backsliding and authoritarian tendencies are becoming increasingly visible across both Africa and the wider world.
Whether Nigeria can navigate its economic crisis, improve security, and maintain public faith in democracy will likely shape not only its own future, but also broader perceptions about the future of democracy and governance across Africa itself.
Thank you for reading this weeks edition of African Trends, see you in the next edition.
