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Africa: Nuclear War Threat – Why Africa's Pushing for a Complete Ban

Published

10 months ago

April 2, 2025

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At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, intensified by strategic dynamics involving the US, Nato and Russia over Europe’s security, nuclear weapons are back on the agenda.
In recent times, Russia has openly threatened to use nuclear weapons. The UK and France are considering ways to rapidly increase their nuclear weapons stockpiles.
Germany, Poland, Sweden, Finland, South Korea and Japan are now seeking nuclear weapons capabilities.
Even a limited nuclear war in Europe would lead to catastrophic global climatic effects. Huge amounts of debris thrown high into the atmosphere would block sunlight, causing global temperatures to drop sharply. It would be much harder to grow food around the world.
This would severely threaten Africa’s food security, exacerbating mass migration, disrupting supply chains and potentially collapsing public order systems.
How should African countries respond to this growing threat?
Based on my experience in nuclear non-proliferation and politics, I argue that African leaders need to proactively confront the risks, while there is still time.
All African states, except for South Sudan, abide by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This is an international agreement which limits the spread of nuclear weapons. And 43 African states have gone further to join the African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). This was negotiated in the belief that it would “protect African states against possible nuclear attacks on their territories”.
As conflict and uncertainty pushes many western leaders to support the madness of nuclear weapons proliferation, African leaders are in a unique position to push back against this.
Africa’s strength in numbers in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the Nuclear Ban Treaty, is a vehicle the continent can use to address nuclear weapons risks, head-on.
Global divide
On one side, nuclear-armed states cling to deterrence for their national security. They insist that possessing nuclear arsenals keeps them safe.
At present, there are nine nuclear-armed states: the US, Russia, the UK, China, France, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. These countries possess around 12,331 nuclear warheads (as of 2025).
The use of only 10% of these weapons could disrupt the global climate and threaten the lives of up to 2 billion people.
On the other side, African countries and other non-nuclear-weapon states such as Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and Mexico highlight how deterrence creates unacceptable risks for the entire international community.
This global majority – the 93 countries that have signed the Nuclear Ban Treaty and 73 that are party to it – argue that real safety comes from eliminating nuclear threats.
The Nuclear Ban Treaty became international law on 22 January 2021. It is the first instance of international law challenging the legality and morality of nuclear deterrence.
Since 2022, states parties to the Nuclear Ban Treaty have held formal meetings to address current nuclear risks. In March 2025, at their third meeting, 17 African states officially recognised nuclear deterrence as a critical security concern. They called on nuclear armed states to end deterrence.
The deterioration of the international security environment is so palpable that there has been a noticeable shift in nuclear ban states’ perception of nuclear threats. Nuclear disarmament is no longer just a humanitarian or moral concern to these states, it is now a national security concern.
South Africa warned that
any use of nuclear weapons would result in catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would have a global impact.
Ghana likewise stressed that Africa is not immune to nuclear war’s fallout:
Africa, despite its geographic distance from the immediate hotspots of nuclear conflict, is not immune to the repercussions of nuclear weapons.
Africa bears a unique historical connection to nuclear issues. Nuclear testing in the Sahara Desert in the 1960s, when France detonated nuclear bombs in Algeria, had devastating consequences. Widespread radioactive contamination harmed local communities, caused long-lasting health problems, displaced populations, and left large areas environmentally damaged and unsafe for generations.
For its part, Nigeria recalled that Africa had “long acknowledged the existential threat nuclear weapons posed to human existence.”
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The meeting determined that it is unacceptable that states parties are exposed to nuclear risks, “created without their control and without accountability”. It stressed that eliminating nuclear risks “is a prime and legitimate concern and national responsibility” of states.
Next steps
Delegates effectively asked whether their own national security concerns had less value than those of nuclear-armed states. I think this is a valid question.
Africa’s leaders and their allies in the Nuclear Ban Treaty are reframing what “national security” means in the nuclear age.
Rather than accepting a world perpetually held hostage by the madness of nuclear deterrence, they are asserting that the security of nations – and of peoples – is best served by dismantling this threat to humanity.
They are prioritising human life, development and international law over the threat of overwhelming force.
The outcome of this contest will have profound implications, not just for Africa but for the entire globe.
Olamide Samuel, Track II Diplomat and Expert in Nuclear Politics, University of Leicester
This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Africa: Updated WHO Manuals Released to Help Countries Strengthen Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response

Published

36 minutes ago

January 17, 2026

An24 Africa

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Timely detection and effective response to foodborne diseases are essential to protect public health and prevent local events from escalating into wider emergencies. To support countries in strengthening these capacities, the World Health Organization has released updated editions of its full set of manuals on strengthening surveillance of and response to foodborne diseases.
The updated manuals provide practical, structured guidance for building, assessing, and strengthening national foodborne disease surveillance and response systems. Together, they form a coherent package that supports countries at different stages of development, from establishing foundational surveillance functions to advancing integrated surveillance across the food chain.
A coherent framework for strengthening national systems
The manuals introduce a three-stage framework that guides countries in developing surveillance and response systems that are fit for purpose, sustainable, and aligned with international expectations. The framework supports progressive system strengthening, starting with core detection and response capacities and advancing toward the integration of data across public health, food safety, laboratory, animal health, and environmental sectors.
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Across all stages, the manuals emphasize clear roles and responsibilities, multisectoral collaboration, and the use of surveillance data to inform timely risk assessment, response, and prevention activities.
Practical guidance for action
Each manual includes practical tools that national authorities can use to assess current capacities, identify gaps, and plan priority actions. These include self-assessment instruments, decision trees, templates, field investigation tools, and case studies drawn from real-world experience.
The updated editions place greater emphasis on equity, data use, and the linkage between foodborne disease surveillance and food contamination monitoring. They also reflect emerging priorities, including the growing influence of climate and environmental factors on foodborne risks and the need for adaptable surveillance systems that can respond to changing contexts.
Supporting data-driven decision-making
Stronger surveillance and response systems improve the quality, timeliness, and use of data for public health decision making, supporting earlier detection of events, more reliable risk assessments, effective outbreak investigations, and the translation of evidence into prevention and control measures.
The updated manuals are designed to work alongside existing World Health Organization guidance on specific tools and approaches for foodborne disease surveillance and response, including whole genome sequencing as a tool to strengthen foodborne disease surveillance and response. Such tools can add value at different points along the surveillance pathway, particularly as systems mature. The manuals emphasize that advanced methods are most effective when built on strong foundational capacities, and provide the system-level framework within which countries can consider, adopt, and sustainably integrate approaches such as genomic sequencing in line with their context, priorities, and readiness.
For countries working to strengthen their foodborne disease surveillance systems, the updated manuals provide tools to develop a practical roadmap for action, supporting national efforts to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases and protect population health.
“These updated manuals reflect the strong collaboration, collective work, and shared expertise of members of the WHO Alliance for Food Safety and partners across sectors. They provide countries with practical guidance to strengthen foodborne disease surveillance and response, support integrated approaches across the food chain, and translate data into timely action to better protect public health.”
Dr Intisar Salim Al-Gharibi, Director, Risk Assessment and Food Crisis Management
Food Safety and Quality Centre, Oman
Co-Chair, Working Group on Foodborne Disease Surveillance Integration, WHO Alliance for Food Safety
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“Addressing foodborne diseases is critical for protecting public health, and these updated manuals provide guidance to countries to strengthen core capacities for foodborne disease surveillance and response required under the International Health Regulations and aligned with the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety.”
Mr Yahya Kandeh, Technical Officer, Food Safety
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia
Co-Chair, Working Group on Foodborne Disease Surveillance Integration, WHO Alliance for Food Safety
Read all the manuals on strengthening surveillance of and response to foodborne diseases here:
Read the original article on WHO.
AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 120 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: Morocco Beat Nigeria On Penalties to Set Up Senegal Final At Cup of Nations

Published

4 hours ago

January 17, 2026

An24 Africa

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Morocco beat Nigeria in a penalty shootout on Wednesday night in Rabat to advance to the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
A game dominated by the hosts from the outset ended 0-0 after the regulation 90 minutes and 30 minutes of extra-time.
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved shootout strikes from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi to furnish Youssef En-Nesyri with the chance to send a national team into a Cup of Nations final for the first time since 2004.
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The 28-year-old Fenerbahce striker swept home confidently past the Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and wheeled away before he was submerged by a pile of gleeful teammates.
The Moroccans entered the game on the back of a 23-match unbeaten streak which had taken them to the top of the African rankings.
Nigeria, containing two former African footballers of the year in the shapes of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, had been the most prolific team of the competition notching up 14 goals in their five games en route to the semi-final in Rabat.
But from the moment referee Dan Laryea blew the whistle, that dynamic duo and the rest of their accomplices were second best.
The passing that had scythed through the likes of Tunisia, Mozambique and Algeria was absent or wayward.
Akor Adams, so vibrant in previous games down the right wing was unable to link up consistently with the roving Lookman or Osimhen’s darts into space.
Starved of possession and angles reduced, the Nigerians sunk into listlessness or clumsiness on the ball.
Egypt dethrone Côte d’Ivoire to reach semis at the Africa Cup of Nations
On a rare sortie forward after 14 minutes, Lookman forced Bounou to beat away a shot.
But it was brief interlude in the Nigerian drama of pain.
The Moroccans kept them under the cosh but failed to inflict the killer blow.
Ayoub El Kaabi could not wrap his foot around a knockdown into the penalty area after 28 minutes to get his shot away.
Brahim Diaz’s curler skimmed past the post and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli twice tested Nwabali.
The pattern remained the same throughout the second-half: Moroccan domination without incision.
In the last four minutes of extra-time, Nigeria slowed the game down seemingly happy to be still alive after so much time spent chasing shadows.
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Following the two fluffed shots, their campaign ended to the delight of the mostly Moroccan fans in the 66,000 crowd at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah.
On Sunday night at the same venue, Achraf Hakimi will attempt to become the first Morocco skipper to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy since 1976.
His side will face Senegal who beat Egypt 1-0 in the first semi-final in Tangier.
Sadio Mané scored the only goal of the game in the 78th minute to terminate Egypt’s attempt to brandish a record-extending eighth continental crown.
Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.
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Africa: Kenya Begin Preps for First-Ever Africa Futsal Cup Qualification

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2026

An24 Africa

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NAIROBI — The national futsal team have commenced training for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier tie against Namibia.
The 14-member squad reported to camp at the Kasarani Indoor Arena under the keen eye of head coach James Omondi.
Kenya play the southern Africans in the opening round of the qualifiers, with the first leg set for February 3-4, before the return tie, three days later.
Should they edge past Namibia, the home boys face Libya in the next round, with the chance to become among seven countries to join hosts Morocco at the continental competition.
Kenya have never qualified for the continental showpiece before but will be buoyed by their five-star performance at last year’s Asian Futsal Cup in Sri Lanka.
Final Squad
Mike Ochieng, Samwel Owiti, Anas Hamad, Shaban Mark, Kevin Omondi, Gift Mumo, Kelvin Odongo, Patrick Kaiser, Mohammed Hassan, Tony Kegode, Salim Abdullahi, Muthoni Newton, Lewis Ng’ang’a, Isaac Omweri,
Technical Bench
James Omondi (Head Coach), Joseph Mbugi (Assistant Coach), Patrick Nyale (Goalkeeper Trainer), Alfonce Onyango (Kit Manager), Evanson Ngugi ( Team Physio), Bruce Juma (Team Doctor), Suleiman Ngotho (Strength and Conditioning Coach),
Read the original article on Capital FM.
AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 120 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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