President Mnangagwa Extends Zimbabwe Term as Senegal Political Rift Deepens and Ghana Petitions Council Over Gold Fields Lease

2 days ago•3 min read•28 sources

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe has signed controversial constitutional amendments extending his term until 2030, a move critics have labeled a "constitutional coup." By eliminating direct presidential elections and prolonging terms from five to seven years, the legislation strengthens Zanu-PF's decades-long grip on power. This development coincides with significant political shifts across West Africa, notably in Senegal, where President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is preparing to launch a new political party. This move marks a definitive split from his former ally, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, ahead of crucial local elections. Similarly, in Guinea-Bissau, a military-backed junta has scheduled a referendum to expand presidential powers, signaling a broader trend of executive consolidation in the region.

In Ghana, the Council of State has been petitioned by public financial management expert Derrick Opare Asamoah regarding the proposed non-renewal of Gold Fields Ghana Limited's Tarkwa mining lease. Following calls from the Institute of Economic Affairs for a transition to local ownership, Asamoah warned that denying the lease could devastate local businesses and deter foreign investment. He argued that the state currently lacks the technical and financial capacity to manage a mine producing 500,000 ounces of gold annually. This debate over resource management is occurring alongside calls for greater domestic accountability, as the Africa Centre for Security and Counter-Terrorism urges an independent probe into allegations of extrajudicial killings by the Ghana Police Service's 'Black Maria' unit in the Upper East Region.

Technological and corporate governance issues have also surfaced as major political battlegrounds. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate global tech giants, including Meta and Alphabet, over anti-competitive practices and the unauthorized use of news content. This regulatory pressure is mirrored in the United States, where Meta Platforms faces potential penalties of up to $1.4 trillion in a trial involving claims that Facebook and Instagram were designed to be addictive for young users. In India, the government has further ordered Meta to immediately remove content promoting child sexual abuse, following an investigation into the platform's advertising algorithms.

On the international diplomatic stage, French President Emmanuel Macron faced a security crisis during a visit to Damascus when two explosive devices detonated near his meeting location, injuring 18 people. Despite the violence, Macron continued his diplomatic engagements with the Syrian government. Meanwhile, in France, the political future of Marine Le Pen remains uncertain after an appeals court upheld her conviction for misusing EU funds; however, the ruling modified her penalties to still allow a potential presidential run in 2027. These events, ranging from border reopenings between Sierra Leone and Guinea to high-stakes legal battles in Europe and the US, reflect a period of intense institutional transition and heightened scrutiny of leadership across the globe.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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President Mnangagwa Extends Zimbabwe Term as Senegal Political Rift Deepens and Ghana Petitions Council Over Gold Fields Lease

More from politics

National Justice Conference 2026: Survivor Godson Glawu and IJM Lead Calls for Urgent Funding for Child Protection and Judicial Reform

Council of State Rejects Dual Citizenship Bill as Ghana Navigates Major Democratic and Economic Reforms

Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s Legacy Under Scrutiny: Legal Disputes Erupt Over Kristo Asafo Succession as Political Figures Weigh In on Faith and Leadership

Ghana Intensifies Urban Regulation and Infrastructure Projects Amidst Governance Controversies