The World Trade Organization warned Thursday that prolonged high oil and gas prices in 2026 would “shave off” growth from an already grim trade forecast.

Burkina Faso’s decision to ban the export of fresh tomatoes is drawing attention across West Africa, with traders and consumers watching closely for possible effects on supply and prices.

Iran’s capital Tehran showed signs of cautious activity on 19 March 2026 as residents prepared for Nowruz, despite ongoing US-Israeli strikes that have disrupted daily life since 28 February.

Members of the Iranian diaspora in north London gathered on 20 March to mark Nowruz, the Persian New Year, despite concern over the ongoing war in Iran.

Madagascar’s military leader, President Michael Randrianirina, announced Thursday that anyone applying to become a minister in the new government will undergo lie detector tests to screen for corruption—a rare and unprecedented vetting measure.

Egyptians attended prayers at a mosque in Cairo on Friday to mark the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, and bid farewell to the to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a new agreement aimed at accelerating the return of Nigerians without legal status in Britain, including failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers and convicted offenders.

A Tunisian court on Thursday sentenced anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah to eight years in prison on financial misconduct charges, a ruling her lawyer condemned as “shocking” and politically motivated, marking the latest crackdown on civil society in the North African country.

Several thousand children are estimated to live on the streets in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.

Anti-apartheid activist, human rights campaigner, and constitutional lawyer, Nicholas “Fink” Haysom, died on Wednesday aged 73.

Torrential rain that began on 18 March triggered severe flooding in Facatativá, a town 40 km west of Bogotá, affecting more than 1,000 families, according to local authorities.

For the first time in decades, Al Aqsa is closed during Eid al Fitr, forcing Jerusalem worshippers to pray outside amid security tensions and tear gas.

Donald Trump joked about Pearl Harbor while urging Sanae Takaichi to expand Japan’s role in securing the Strait of Hormuz, drawing a muted response.

They were part of a group of about 50 people dropped off by smugglers in the sea, with many unable to swim.

The proposed amendments would extend the presidential term from five to seven years and replace direct presidential elections with a vote by lawmakers.

Red Crescent teams rescue survivors in South Khorasan after reported US-Israeli strikes, as Iran counts rising civilian toll and mounting destruction.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said Thursday that the Africa Cup title cannot be taken away from Senegal, following a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip the country of its title earlier this week.

Several Congolese citizens welcomed a Belgian court’s decision to put 93-year-old former diplomat Etienne Davignon on trial over the killing of independence hero Patrice Lumumba in 1961. Africanews correspondent Chris Ocamringa reports from Kinshasa.

Madagascar’s traditional New Year, Alahamady Be, a pre-colonial custom abandoned for decades, has now been revived with rituals honouring ancestors, sacred fire and purification ceremonies.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at 10 Downing Street in London during the first state visit by the leader of Africa’s most populous nation in nearly four decades.

Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has ruled the strategically located Horn of Africa nation for nearly three decades, will face just one little-known challenger in next month’s presidential election, according to an official decree published Wednesday.

Morocco fans in Rabat expressed mixed emotions Wednesday after CAF awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to the Atlas Lions following a controversial defeat to Senegal in January’s final—a decision the Senegalese federation says it will appeal.

In Morocco, the gold business is booming. The precious metal is seen as a safe investment to hold wealth.

Thousands of high-end cars being shipped from Japan and destined for Dubai have been dropped off on the Kenyan island of Lamu, port authorities said, as the Mideast war provides a boost to African shipping hubs.

Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report 2026 published Thursday, which also highlights the stark decline in well-being among young people linked to heavy social media use.

The Sahel region of Africa, which has become the “global epicentre of terrorism,” accounted for nearly half of all terrorism-related deaths for the third consecutive year in 2025, the Global Terrorism Report said Thursday.

Unlike crude from the middle east, a lot of African oil does not have to transit vulnerable corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz, where events like war can put a stop to shipping. But years of constrained investment meant African producers cannot pump more and fast enough to cover supply gaps

Pix of the Day, 19 March 2026

The rising cost of fuel is beginning to be felt in Morocco due to the ongoing fighting in the Middle East that has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Staff at Nyíregyháza Zoo carried out a wellness programme for resident tortoises on Wednesday 18 March, providing cleaning, grooming and veterinary checks.

They say mines kill and maim a disproportionate number of children and that people cannot return to safety without addressing explosive hazards.

An orphaned grey titi monkey was released back into the wild after rehabilitation at a wildlife centre in Antioquia, authorities said on 18 March.

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima flew to Maiduguri on Wednesday, pledging to restore “full peace” after a triple suicide bombing killed 23 people in one of the deadliest attacks on the Borno state capital in years.

Patrice Motsepe said the different conclusions reached by CAF’s internal bodies reflects the independence of its judicial processes.

Hundreds of thousands gathered at Enghelab Square in Tehran on 18 March for the funeral procession of national security chief Ali Larijani, Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani and dozens of sailors killed in recent strikes.

A thunderstorm with strong winds hit Karachi overnight on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people, according to local rescue services.

Iranian missile fire damaged a Tel Aviv residential block and hit multiple sites nearby, as soaring violence across the region has killed over 2,000 people.

The military has blamed militant group Boko Haram for the attacks in which at least 23 people died and 108 were injured.

Security cooperation with Moscow has already begun and other targeted sectors include agriculture and mining.

Two months after the Africa Cup of Nations final, the Confederation of African Football has annulled Senegal’s victory. The appeals committee of African football’s governing body has declared Morocco the winner by default. And the decision has outraged the Senegalese.