South Africa is officially under a state of national disaster after devastating floods swept through the Eastern Cape, claiming at least 92 lives and displacing thousands more. The scale of the destruction has sent shockwaves across the country, with many calling it one of the worst climate-related tragedies in recent memory.

In Mthatha, one of the hardest-hit towns, grief was heavy in the air as government officials, religious leaders, and residents gathered for a provincial Day of Mourning at King Sabatha Dalindyebo TVET College one of the few public institutions that escaped the worst of the storm’s damage.

“We Have Not Been the Same Since June 9”
Speaking at the public memorial, Zolile Williams, a member of the provincial executive council, described the moment the disaster struck:

“Since June 9, this province has been hit hard by unprecedented, catastrophic and unimaginable disasters… the Eastern Cape has not been the same.”
The floods were caused by an intense weather system that brought torrential rain, snow, and strong winds across large parts of the country — hitting particularly hard in one of South Africa’s poorest provinces. In its aftermath, roads were washed away, homes destroyed, schools damaged, and hundreds of families left with nothing.

Among the dead are at least two schoolchildren who were swept away while riding in a school bus. The true number of missing is still unknown, and local authorities have urged families to come forward and report any missing persons to help guide ongoing search and rescue operations.

In a formal announcement, Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre, confirmed that the damage and disruption which also affected parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and the Free State had prompted the national disaster declaration.

This move allows the government to fast-track funding and emergency resources for relief, cleanup, and long-term rebuilding. The declaration will remain in place until conditions improve or are formally reviewed.

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Mthatha earlier in the week, offering condolences to victims and pledging government support for recovery efforts. But while his presence was welcomed, there’s been growing criticism over the state’s slow response time and long-standing infrastructure issues in vulnerable communities.

Many of the affected families lived in informal settlements on flood-prone land near rivers areas that have long lacked proper drainage, road access, and safe housing. Activists and residents alike are now calling for not just emergency relief, but real investment in disaster-proof infrastructure going forward.

At the memorial, hundreds of mourners lit candles in honour of those lost. Religious leaders from across the Christian community offered prayers, while volunteers provided counselling and support to grieving families.

But behind the tears and tributes, a deeper truth remains: climate disasters are growing more frequent and more intense, and South Africa’s most vulnerable communities continue to bear the brunt.

As the floodwaters recede, the challenge now turns to rebuilding lives, homes, and hope. For many in the Eastern Cape, the question is no longer if another disaster will come but whether the next time, the system will be ready.

After years of violence, displacement, and political tension, Congo and Rwanda are set to sign a peace agreement in Washington on June 27, offering a potential breakthrough in the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo.

The agreement, backed by the U.S. State Department, comes after months of diplomatic pressure and worsening security in the region. At the heart of the conflict is the M23 rebel group, widely believed to be supported by Rwanda, despite repeated denials from Kigali.

The Conflict Behind the Headlines
Eastern Congo has long been the epicenter of armed violence, with more than 100 militias fighting for control of territory, mineral wealth, and influence. Among them, the M23 rebels stand out mostly made up of ethnic Tutsis who say they are defending their communities from discrimination.

But Congolese officials and international observers see another story. U.N. experts have reported that M23 operates with support from about 4,000 Rwandan troops, raising fears that Rwanda’s interest in Congo is less about protection and more about control over the region’s vast resources, including gold, coltan, and rare earth minerals.

The crisis deepened in early 2025 when M23 forces seized the strategic city of Goma in January and Bukavu in February moves that embarrassed Kinshasa and raised alarm among global powers.

What the Peace Agreement Promises
According to a joint statement from Congo, Rwanda, and the U.S., the proposed peace deal includes:

Respect for territorial integrity
A ban on future hostilities
Disarmament and disengagement of non-state armed groups
Conditional integration of some rebel factions into state security forces
It’s a familiar formula similar language has been used in previous peace deals, many of which fell apart within months. The real test, analysts say, lies in implementation, trust, and accountability.

Will It Hold?
Christian Moleka, a respected political analyst at the Congolese think tank Dypol, warns that the success of this agreement hinges on deeper changes.

“It depends on Kinshasa’s willingness to undertake structural reforms of the security apparatus, and on the international community’s commitment to see the process through,” he said.
Without these reforms, he cautions, the agreement could become just another document collecting dust well-intentioned, but ultimately ineffective.

The Shadow of Distrust
Tensions between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have worsened in recent years. Kagame accuses Tshisekedi of ignoring the concerns of ethnic Tutsis in eastern Congo, and of failing to honour earlier peace talks. Meanwhile, Congo sees Rwanda’s support of M23 as a direct violation of its sovereignty.

In April, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, a rebel coalition, expressed doubt that peace would last, saying proposed U.S. mineral deals and sanctions were “not enough to stop the fighting.”

A Turning Point or Another False Dawn?
As the world watches the June 27 signing in Washington, the people of eastern Congo who have lived through decades of displacement, death, and instability are hoping this agreement brings more than just promises.

For them, peace isn’t political it’s deeply personal. And while the road ahead is uncertain, a signed deal may offer a glimmer of hope in a region that has known too little of it.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has been appointed as the new Chairman of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), taking over leadership of the regional bloc at a time of unprecedented security threats, political instability, and regional fragmentation.

Bio, who is serving his second term as president of Sierra Leone, steps into the role as ECOWAS struggles to maintain its influence amid the departure of member states, a rise in military coups, and the ongoing threat of terrorism in the Sahel region.

In a statement following Sunday’s announcement, Bio laid out his vision for his tenure, promising to focus on strengthening democratic governance, boosting economic integration, and rebuilding institutional trust across the 15-nation bloc.

“We are still confronting insecurity in the Sahel and coastal states, terrorism, political instability, illicit arms flow, and transnational organised crimes continue to test the resilience of our nations and the effectiveness of our institutions,” he said.

The challenges awaiting Bio are steep. Over the last few years, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—all led by military juntas—withdrew from ECOWAS following sanctions imposed in response to coups. The three countries have since formed their own alliance, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, and have cut military ties with Western allies, including France and the U.S., in favour of new security partnerships with Russia.

Bio’s appointment comes with political baggage of its own. His 2023 re-election was marred by controversy, and at home, he is currently dealing with a worsening synthetic drug epidemic and a sluggish economy, both of which have sparked unrest and criticism within Sierra Leone.

Notably, Bio was president when ECOWAS imposed tough sanctions on Niger following its military coup. Sierra Leone also supported the proposed regional military intervention in 2023—a stance that deepened tensions with the junta regimes.

As ECOWAS chair, Bio now leads a bloc at a crossroads. Once a symbol of West African cooperation and unity, the organisation has seen its influence eroded by coups, extremist violence, and internal disunity. With jihadist groups expanding control in parts of the Sahel and democratic governance under threat, the pressure is now on Bio to restore ECOWAS’s credibility, keep remaining member states engaged, and offer a new path toward regional peace and economic growth.

Whether he can unify a divided region and reestablish ECOWAS as a force for stability in West Africa remains to be seen—but the stakes for the region could not be higher.