Senegal and Chad End Military Cooperation with France

Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has called for the removal of French troops from the West African nation, citing national sovereignty.

In an interview with international media ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre—when hundreds of African riflemen were killed by French forces on December 1, 1944, for demanding their pay—Faye emphasized the incompatibility of military bases with Senegal’s independence.

“Senegal is an independent and sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of military bases,” Faye asserted.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye assumed office in April.

Faye also revealed that French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the Thiaroye incident as a massacre in an official letter.

"It is not enough to recognize it as a massacre; this acknowledgement must pave the way for full collaboration to uncover the complete truth about Thiaroye’s tragic events," he stated.

Faye’s remarks coincided with Chad’s announcement on Thursday that it would terminate its security and defence cooperation agreement with France. This move aligns with a regional shift, as nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have recently expelled French forces to redefine their security partnerships.

Australia Bans Social Media for Children Under 16

Australia has enacted one of the world’s strictest regulations targeting Big Tech by banning social media access for children under 16.

Passed on Thursday, November 28, 2024, the law requires platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok, to block minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

A trial phase for enforcing the law begins in January 2025, with the full ban taking effect in a year.

Passed on Thursday, November 28, 2024, the law requires platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok, to block minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

Unlike similar legislation in France or U.S. states, which allow parental consent for access, Australia’s law is absolute. The move is aimed at addressing social media’s mental health impact on young people and could set a precedent for other governments globally.

Kenyan Deputy President’s Motorcade Attacked During Burial Ceremony

Recently impeached Kenya Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was on Thursday forced to scamper for safety after goons invaded a burial ceremony he was attending in Limuru within Kiambu County.

The attackers indiscriminately assaulted mourners, and Gachagua’s motorcade sustained damage.

A collage of images showing a vehicle belonging to Rigathi Gachagua, damaged during the ugly incident.

In a statement shared on X, the former Deputy president condemned the attack, claiming that the State had intentionally withdrawn his security detail to facilitate such an attack.

"Earlier this week the government withdrew the final aspects of my security that was in place after the impeachment process we are contesting. We did not raise issue with this decision although expectations were that any Kenyan who has served at the level of government that I was privileged to serve at, would be secured by government even after leaving office," he alleged.

Gachagua, impeached in October for allegedly undermining President William Ruto and other officials, has contested his removal in court.

President Kagame Discusses DRC Security Crisis with Angola’s Lourenço

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, held a phone discussion on Thursday about the security situation in eastern DRC.

Eastern DRC remains plagued by conflict between government forces and the M23 rebel group, which controls much of North Kivu Province.

The talks came after a November 27 discussion between Lourenço and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and a roadmap agreement between Rwanda, DRC, and Angola to dismantle the FDLR, a terrorist group in the region.

The office of President Lourenço, who serves as the African Union-appointed mediator between Rwanda and the DRC, stated that the conversation between the two leaders took place via phone.

Photos from the call showed Lourenço accompanied by his foreign affairs and security teams, who had recently participated in Rwanda-DRC talks in Luanda.

Rwanda Unveils National FinTech Strategy to Spur Financial Growth

Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT launched a five-year FinTech Strategy (2024–2029) on Thursday, aiming to foster a robust FinTech ecosystem and position the country as a regional financial hub.

The strategy prioritizes improving financial literacy, expanding access to investment, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and developing digital infrastructure.

"Today marks a significant milestone in Rwanda’s digital transformation journey as we launch our national fintech strategy. This strategy represents not just a policy document but our country’s commitment to positioning Rwanda as a leading fintech hub in Africa," Rwandan Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire said during the launch in Kigali.

Rwandan Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire speaks during the launch of the National Fintech Strategy in Kigali on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

Rwanda aims to attract 300 FinTech players, generate 7,500 jobs, and raise $200 million in investments by 2029.