New York — Statement by UNICEF as countries move to introduce social media bans for children
“Across the globe, governments are debating how young is “too young” to use social media, with some introducing age-related restrictions across platforms.
“These restrictions reflect genuine concern: children are facing bullying, exploitation, and exposure to harmful content online with negative impacts on their mental health and well-being. The status quo is failing children and overwhelming families.
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“While UNICEF welcomes the growing commitment to children’s online safety, social media bans come with their own risks, and they may even backfire.
“Social media is not a luxury – for many children, especially those who are isolated or marginalised, it is a lifeline providing access to learning, connection, play, and self-expression. What’s more, many children and young people will still access social media, whether through workarounds, shared devices, or turning to less regulated platforms, ultimately making it harder to protect them.
“Age restrictions must be part of a broader approach that protects children from harm, respects their rights to privacy and participation, and avoids pushing them into unregulated, less safe spaces. Regulation should not be a substitute for platforms investing in child safety. Laws introducing age restrictions are not an alternative to companies improving platform design and content moderation.
“UNICEF calls on governments, regulators, and companies to work with children and families to build digital environments that are safe, inclusive, and respect children’s rights. This includes:
Governments must ensure that age-related laws and regulations do not replace companies’ obligations to invest in safer platform design, as well as effective content moderation, and should mandate companies to take responsibility by proactively identifying and addressing adverse impacts on children’s rights.
Social media and tech companies must redesign products with child safety and well-being at the centre, invest in safer platform design and effective content moderation, and develop rights-respecting age-assurance tools and differentiated experiences that offer younger users safer, developmentally appropriate environments. These protections must apply in all contexts, including fragile or conflict-affected countries where institutional capacity to regulate and enforce protections may be low.
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Regulators must have systemic measures to effectively prevent and mitigate online harm experienced by children.
Civil society and partners must amplify the voices and lived experiences of children, young people, parents, and caregivers in debates on social media age limits. Decisions around how to best protect children in a digital age must be informed by quality evidence, including evidence coming directly from children.
Parents and caregivers should be supported with improved digital literacy – they have a crucial role but currently are being asked to do the impossible to protect their children online: monitor platforms they didn’t design, police algorithms they can’t see, and manage dozens of apps around the clock.
“UNICEF is committed to continuing our work for and with children, young people and families to ensure legislation, regulations and technology design reflects children’s views, needs and rights. We stand ready to work with governments, business and communities to ensure every child can safely learn, connect, and thrive in the digital age.”
Read the original article on Unicef.
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Sudan’s Militia Chief Gets 20-Year Sentence for Darfur Atrocities
The International Criminal Court (ICC) sentenced Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, known as Ali Kushayb, to 20 years in prison for atrocities committed during the Darfur civil war more than two decades ago. Kushayb had been convicted in October on 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. He had been a leader of the Janjaweed, a government-backed militia responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of people and terrorising non-Arab communities in Darfur between 2003 and 2004. During his trial, survivors recounted villages being burned, men and boys being slaughtered, and women being forced into sexual slavery. Judge Joanna Korner said Kushayb not only ordered these crimes but personally carried out some, describing his actions as aimed at “wiping out and sweeping away” non-Arab tribes. The ICC said that the sentence served both retribution and deterrence, particularly given the ongoing violence in Darfur, where many former Janjaweed fighters now operate within the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Despite the conviction, most victims remain displaced, and outstanding warrants still target other Sudanese officials, including former President Omar al-Bashir.
President Calls for Unity as Criticism of Crackdown on Activists Mounts
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Tanzanian President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan urged citizens to uphold peace, unity, and solidarity as the nation marks 64 years of independence, granting clemency to more than a thousand prisoners. In a message on social media, she said that the benefits of freedom are still evident and reminded Tanzanians of their responsibility to protect national values. The government cancelled traditional Independence Day celebrations as officials sought to prevent protests called in response to alleged killings and disappearances after October’s disputed presidential election. The United Nations estimates hundreds were killed, while opposition groups claim more than 1,000 deaths. The government imposed a five-day internet shutdown and has not released an official death toll. The tension stems from the October 29 presidential election, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote – a result opposition parties immediately rejected as fraud after the disqualification of their key candidates.
Burkina Faso Says Nigerian Jet Violated Airspace

Eleven Nigerian military officers were briefly detained in Burkina Faso after their Air Force C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso due to a technical problem. The plane had entered Burkinabè airspace without prior authorisation, according to Burkina Faso’s Territorial Administration Minister. In a joint statement, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger said their prompt investigation confirmed the “violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states”. The Nigerian Air Force said the landing followed safety procedures, and all crew and passengers received cordial treatment and were later allowed to return to Nigeria. Analysts linked the incident to Nigeria’s deployment of troops and aircraft to Benin after a failed coup, noting that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger had withdrawn from ECOWAS earlier this year and distanced themselves from Western allies while forging closer ties with Russia.
South African Clinic Staff Accused of Exploiting Immigrants for Medication
The Gauteng High Court ordered the government and police to act against “xenophobic vigilantes” blocking immigrants from accessing healthcare at Johannesburg clinics. Despite the ruling, immigrants report being extorted by clinic staff, sometimes working with members of Operation Dudula, who demand payment for access to ARVs, chronic medications, prenatal care, and immunisations. At Spartan, Jeppe, and Yeoville clinics, immigrants have paid hundreds of rand to secure their medicines, while others are turned away or left without treatment. Advocates warn that many have defaulted on HIV and chronic treatments, putting lives at risk. While the national health department said it was unaware of extortion and requested evidence for investigation, affected immigrants and civil society groups are calling for urgent intervention to stop the exploitation.
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Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Founder of Save the Elephants, Dies
Dr. Iain  Douglas-Hamilton, the celebrated Scottish zoologist and pioneering elephant researcher who founded Save the Elephants, has died in Nairobi at the age of 83.  Douglas-Hamilton spent decades studying African elephants, exposing the devastating effects of poaching, and campaigning for the international ban on the ivory trade. Prince William praised the zoologist as “a man who dedicated his life to conservation and whose life’s work leaves a lasting impact on our appreciation for, and understanding of, elephants”.  Founder of Save the Elephants in 1993, he became a world-leading expert on elephant behaviour, documenting herds so closely that he could identify individuals by their ears and wrinkles. Despite facing life-threatening challenges from wildlife, poachers, and natural disasters, he remained committed to raising awareness of the ivory crisis and promoting human-elephant coexistence. He is survived by his wife Oria, children Saba and Dudu, and six grandchildren.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 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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Rebels Reportedly Enter Key DR Congo City Despite US-Brokered Peace 
Rebel forces entered Uvira, the last government-held city in eastern DR Congo, triggering panic and forcing thousands to flee into Burundi as heavy artillery and gunfire erupted. Residents said M23 rebels marched in unopposed and claimed to have “liberated” the city, despite officials insisting government troops remained in control. The advance came days after a US-brokered peace deal between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, which the rebels’ move appeared to undermine. Burundi closed its borders due to fears of a massacre. Residents reported explosions, lockdown conditions, and chaos. Regional tensions escalated as the US, EU and several European nations accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim Rwanda denied while accusing DR Congo and Burundi of violating the ceasefire. UN officials reported intense shelling, at least 74 deaths, and 200,000 people displaced since fighting reignited, with more than 30,000 fleeing into Burundi alone. The offensive followed earlier rebel takeovers of Goma and Bukavu, and President Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of waging a proxy war over mineral-rich territory in the long-troubled region.
Ex-President Zuma’s Daughter Sworn in as MP Following Half-Sister’s Resignation
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Brumelda Zuma, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, was sworn in as an MP for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, replacing her half-sister, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla. Zuma-Sambudla resigned after allegations that she had lured 17 South African men into fighting as mercenaries in Ukraine, claims she denies. Brumelda, who holds a degree in public administration and previously had no national profile, joined three other newly appointed MK MPs. She plans to focus on improving public services.  Brumelda Zuma’s appointment suggests the former president intends to ensure his family is represented in parliament. Meanwhile, Zuma-Sambudla remains under investigation for the alleged recruitment scheme. The MK party, formed by Jacob Zuma in 2023 after a fallout with President Cyril Ramaphosa, rose to become the official opposition in last year’s general election.
At Least 22 Dead as Two Buildings Collapse in Morocco
Two four-storey residential buildings collapsed in Fez, Morocco, killing 22 people and injuring 16. Eight families lived in the buildings, which had reportedly shown signs of deterioration for a number of years. Authorities launched an investigation into its cause. Rescue operations continued through the night as emergency teams searched for survivors, while nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution. The public prosecutor’s office in Fez said one of the buildings had been empty but that the other had been hosting a celebration for the birth of a child when the incident occurred. Residents blamed poor construction and overcrowding, saying the structures came down within minutes. The tragedy comes amid longstanding concerns over unsafe buildings in Morocco, where officials warned earlier this year that nearly 14,000 structures nationwide were at risk of collapse, and where Fez has suffered several fatal building failures in recent months.
Liberia Faces FGM Crisis as Lawmakers Clash Over Ban
Liberia has seen a troubling resurgence of female genital mutilation (FGM). New footage revealed that 502 girls and young women were recently initiated during a combined Sande ceremony across Lofa, Maryland, and Sinoe counties. FGM affects half of Liberia’s rural women ages 15 to 49, according to UN Women. Health advocates warn that the latest mass initiation signals a worsening trend at a time when the country is grappling with legislative resistance and cultural pushback. Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai recently proposed a measure to criminalize FGM entirely, one of the strongest efforts to establish legal protections nationwide. However, the bill is already facing turbulence in the Legislature, echoing past political failures. Activists describe the mass initiation as a national emergency, warning that without political will, Liberia will continue to lag behind neighbouring countries in strengthening anti-FGM laws.
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Kenya Drought Pushes Nearly Two Million Toward Food Crisis
The Kenya Red Cross warned that nearly two million people were facing acute food insecurity as worsening drought conditions deepened water shortages, malnutrition, and long journeys to the few remaining water points in hard-hit counties. The agency said its needs continued to grow and called for more resources to sustain relief efforts. Its alarm echoed a September IGAD food-crisis report showing Kenya among five countries where acute food insecurity had tripled since 2016, rising from 13.9 million to 41.7 million people in 2025 across the region due to conflict, economic pressures, and climate extremes. IGAD climate forecasts predicted even drier conditions for parts of eastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and Somalia, where repeated poor rainy seasons had already entrenched drought. The number of acutely malnourished children in the seven member states remains alarmingly high. The majority of them need urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition. However, significant funding cuts could result in an estimated 1 million people being unable to access this treatment.
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