Our Summer 2026 Roundup series focuses on recent events and news articles highlighting the contributions of African elites across political, aesthetic, ritual, coercive, and economic domains of power. We also feature a special spotlight on gender representation.

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Political domain

As Sudan’s war entersits fourth year, doctors Jamal Eltaeb and Osman Ismail are among the healthcare workers in Sudan who continue toprovide critical care despite the collapse of the healthcare system.

The “hate-watching” of some African nationals against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana national team is attributed to the rising cases of xenophobia in South Africa in the recent past. With anti-immigrant protests taking place on 30th June, elite contestation and mobilization of anti-immigrant groups is on full display. As Dr. Landau and Dr. Misago suggest, vigilante groups and the state are co-producing the violence through immigration policies and police racketeering.

During the openingkeynote address at the 2026 Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS)Conference, Dr. Nakanyike Musisi emphasized that Africa’s historical contribution to worldmaking should challenge us to rethink how Africa is understood and theorized in contemporary global politics.

Dr. Kariuki Kirigia examines ongoing tensions and negotiations over land, conservation, and livelihoods between wildlife conservancies and African communities which have traditionally coexisted with wildlife.

Aesthetic domain

In memory of Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman appointed as the main curator of the Venice Biennale, 111 exhibiting artists have prepared works in multiple forms to fulfil her vision of using art to engage with different conditions in society. Themed “In Minor Keys”, Kouoh envisioned the exhibition as a space for visitors to slow down to a lower frequency and to focus on the marginalized voices in the context of contemporary world events. However, the Biennale has not been without its fair share of controversies.

At the 2026 London Marathon, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe became the first person to complete a marathon in under 2 hours (1:59:30), with Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha following close behind at 1:59:41. Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa also set a new women’s marathon record at 2:15:41. Crawley & Burns show how Ethiopians’ training philosophy embodies training as a collective responsibility.

The 2026 World Cup has showcased African excellence in football, creativity in fashion, and broader debates about identity and belonging. A record 10 African countries (Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco,Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia) are represented at this year’s tournament for the first time in history. On the pitch, the paradox of multiple identities has been evident with several national teams incorporating sportsmen of African descent, yet African fans and some professionals, like FIFA’s Omar Artan of Somalia, have decried their exclusion from the World Cup due to racist immigration restrictions. Off the pitch, fashion designers from the DR Congo (Alvin Mak), Senegal (Khadim Kébé of Xakeb Maison de Couture), and Côte d’Ivoire (Ibrahim Fernandez) stole the show with bespoke fashion pieces inspired by their respective national cultures. Football fans for African teams have also played an important role of celebrating Pan-Africanism at the global stage and paying homage to anti-colonial nationalists like Patrice Lumumba.

Ritual domain

Traditional chiefs in Zimbabwe have endorsed the controversial constitutional Amendment to Bill 3. The bill proposes an extension of the presidential term limits and authorizes chiefs to engage in party politics.

Coercive domain

Recent elections in Djibouti, Benin, and Ethiopia continue to cast doubt on the potential for democratic participation in the electoral process. In Djibouti, President Ismail Omar Guelleh started his 6th term in office after a 97% win in the elections. This comes after a constitutional amendment on the age limit of presidential candidates. In Benin, the Finance Minister, Romuald Wadagni, won the elections with a 94% victory against his main opponent, Paul Hounkpe. Critics argue that his presidency may represent a continuation of Patrice Talon’s regime. Lastly, inEthiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party retained majority of the seats in parliament amidst closures on polling stations in Amhara and Oromia due to security concerns and suppression of opposition parties.

Economic domain

Earlier in May, Rwanda hosted the 4th edition of the Africa-CEO Forum, where discussions focused on fostering Africa's economic transformation through scaling private-sector growth and embracing shared ownership across the continent. Elsewhere, Kenya hosted the Africa-France Summit, where France sought to rebrand itself from a colonial power to an international partner for Africa.  

Honouring the Late Muzan Alneel, a Sudanese writer and industrial policy researcher, Africa Is a Country revisits an article she co-authored with Gussai Sheikheldn examining Nyerere’s vision for industrial development through the Ujamaa Villagization project, regional cooperation, and African-led development.

Gender Representation

Justice Elizabeth Gwauza took her oath as Zimbabwe’s first female Chief Justice. Her promotion marks an important milestone in the rise of female leaders in Africa's legal systems. This appointment also comes at a time when there are growing concerns about the independence of the judiciary in decision-making across the globe. In the UN system, for example, former ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, recently sat with Al Jazeera to discuss the threats she faced when the ICC was pursuing investigations on the genocide in Palestine.

A new wave of anti-LGBTQ+ laws is sweeping across some African countries such as Ghana, Niger, Senegal, and Burkina Faso. Lawmakers are popularizing these laws under the guise of Western interference and fighting for sovereignty. This op-ed piece in Africa is a Country challenges this perception by spotlighting some African historical figures who were unapologetic about their sexuality. Further, despite this growing list of countries, other countries like Mauritius, Seychelles, and South Africa have upheld inclusion and protection of queer persons through their legal apparatus. Later in July, the city of Cotonou in Benin will host the first Pride Social Forum.

Willis Chimano, one of the founding members of one of Africa’s greatest bands, Sauti Sol, describes his experienceas a creative in the music industry and his first EP - "Heavy is the crown".

For the first time since independence, women’s votes in Somalia will be counted individually rather than through clan-based representation, following the enactment of a provisional constitution. As Dr. Antonetta Hamandishe cautions, however, this institutional change is only one step towards more gender inclusion in political processes.

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