Mali makes law granting president unlimited terms

Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goïta, has enacted a new law granting himself a five-year term in office that can be extended indefinitely, sparking growing concerns over the country’s future direction and the possibility of prolonged military rule.

The legislation, which was officially signed into law by Goïta, allows him to remain in power until at least 2030. According to the law, the transitional president will serve “for a term of five (05) years, renewable as many times as necessary, until the country is pacified.”

The measure was approved last week by Mali’s transitional legislative body, the National Transitional Council, with overwhelming support — 131 of 147 members voted in favour.

Observers say the move solidifies Goïta’s hold on power and marks a further retreat from democratic governance. The military leadership had earlier committed to transferring authority to a civilian government by March 2024 — a deadline that now appears to have been discarded.

General Goïta, aged 41, rose to power through two coups. In August 2020, he ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and less than a year later, in May 2021, he removed the interim civilian leadership. Following the second takeover, Goïta pledged to hold elections in 2022, but that promise has been repeatedly delayed.

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“The adoption of this text is in accordance with the popular will,” said Malick Diaw, head of the transitional parliament. He described the legislation as “a major step forward in the rebuilding of Mali.”

Still, opponents warn the new law consolidates military dominance and suppresses dissent. In May, the junta dissolved all political parties, prompting alarm among rights groups and international observers. Experts caution that indefinitely extending Goïta’s rule may derail efforts to restore democratic governance and could heighten political instability.

The legislation also permits officials currently serving in the transitional government — including the president, cabinet members, and parliamentarians — to run in future elections.

Meanwhile, Mali’s security situation remains volatile. On Tuesday, militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State carried out coordinated attacks against military positions in multiple towns — the third large-scale assault on security forces in less than a month.

Since taking control, Goïta has shifted Mali’s foreign policy, ending military ties with France, deepening relations with Russia, and pulling out of the regional bloc ECOWAS, which had urged a swift return to civilian rule.

Mali has since joined forces with fellow military-led neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger to establish a new alliance designed to push back against external influence.

Mali makes law granting president unlimited terms

Teenager trying to sell human foetus as beef arrested

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Harare’s Central Business District, Zimbabwe, for allegedly attempting to sell a human foetus while claiming it was beef. The suspect, identified as Stelly Marecha, was taken into custody on Friday, 4 July 2025, following a tip-off about his suspicious behaviour.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) via their official X account, Marecha allegedly retrieved the foetus from a rubbish bin near the intersection of Mbuya Nehanda and Albion Streets. It was reportedly wrapped in a black plastic bag. The police say he then attempted to sell the remains to a 27-year-old man, insisting it was beef.

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“Police in Harare arrested Stelly Marecha (19) in connection with a case of violating a corpse. The suspect allegedly picked a human foetus, which was wrapped in a black plastic bag in a bin at the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Albion Streets, Harare CBD. He attempted to sell the remains to a 27-year-old man, claiming that it was beef,” the police statement read.

Authorities have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the foetus and are urging the public to come forward with any relevant information. “Meanwhile, the ZRP is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect responsible for disposing of the foetus,” the statement added.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and shock on social media, where Zimbabweans expressed horror over the gruesome discovery. Some questioned the safety of buying meat from informal vendors, while others reacted with dark humour, calling the act “boiled witchcraft.”

Teenager trying to sell human foetus as beef arrested

Baltasar Engonga, former E’Guinea anti-corruption chief with over 400 sextapes faces 18-year jail term

Mr Baltasar Engonga, the infamous former Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, faces 18 years in prison after appearing in Malabo court for his corruption trial.

Engonga has been jailed at Black Beach Prison since September 2024 as part of a corruption investigation unrelated to the over 400 sex tapes involving high-profile women discovered in his workplace and home.

He faces embezzlement allegations alongside numerous other former senior officials.

During Monday’s court sessions, prosecutors presented a complex plot to divert public cash for personal benefit.

Engonga allegedly orchestrated the plan while serving as Director General of Insurance and Reinsurance from 2015 to 2020.

According to Le Bled Parle, the national prosecutor has proposed a particularly harsh punishment: eight years in prison for embezzling public funds, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of power.

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In addition to the prison terms, the accusations include a suggested fine of more than 910 million CFA francs (about $1.5 million) and a ban on holding public office during the punishment time.

The 54-year-old economist isn’t the only high-ranking figure under trial.

Six additional former top government officials are on trial.

Several individuals, including Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong, Ireneo Mangue Monsuy Afana, and Florentina Iganga Iñandji, are facing prosecution for allegedly misappropriating public monies in a widespread financial corruption scheme.

The trial is scheduled to last three days, with procedures continuing this week as defence attorneys submit their case.

Recall that during the fraud inquiry, Engonga was caught with over 400 sex tapes of the wives of prominent figures in the country.

ANIF authorities conducted an unplanned search of his home and office, discovering multiple CDs that later exposed his sex exploits with various married ladies.

The tapes apparently show contacts with high-profile people such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of Equatorial Guinea’s president, the wife of the director general of police, and the wives of around 20 of the country’s ministries, among others.

The videos, discovered in his personal office, were said to have been recorded with consent and have since been leaked online, causing a media uproar, with many describing him as the “King Solomon of our times”.

Baltasar Engonga, former E’Guinea anti-corruption chief with over 400 sextapes faces 18-year jail term