Washington, D.C. – The United States has issued a strong travel advisory urging its citizens to reconsider all travel to Nigeria, citing persistent threats of terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest, and armed attacks across large parts of the country.

In an update released last Wednesday, the US State Department placed several Nigerian states under its highest-level “Do Not Travel” warning due to the deteriorating security situation.

The advisory also authorised the voluntary departure of non-emergency US embassy staff and their families from Abuja, describing the overall environment as increasingly challenging for American citizens and diplomats.

Despite deepening security cooperation between Washington and Abuja — including counter-terrorism support, intelligence sharing, maritime security, and military training with US-supplied aircraft and helicopters — the move underscores the gap between strategic partnership and the daily reality of insecurity faced by civilians and foreigners in many regions.

The advisory warns that violent attacks could occur with little or no warning in public places such as markets, hotels, places of worship, schools, and transportation hubs.

Nigerian authorities have yet to issue a formal response to the latest warning. In the past, officials have criticised such advisories for unfairly tarnishing the country’s image and potentially harming diaspora travel, international conferences, and foreign investment at a time when Nigeria is seeking economic recovery.

The development comes amid a fresh surge in deadly attacks in parts of the country, raising renewed concerns about the effectiveness of ongoing counter-insurgency operations against groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as banditry and communal violence in other regions.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Ghana Embassy in Ethiopia and Permanent Mission to the African Union and UNECA has officially launched “Ghana Month,” a major cultural and diplomatic initiative aimed at deepening ties between Ghana and Ethiopia while showcasing Ghana’s rich heritage across Africa.

The celebration, running throughout May 2026 at Kuriftu Village in partnership with Kuriftu Resorts, will feature cultural performances, creative exhibitions, music, fashion, culinary experiences, and entrepreneurial showcases. It is expected to attract diplomats, business leaders, tourists, and the Ethiopian public.

Counsellor Ms Grace Maakinyi Mbiba, in her opening remarks, described the initiative as “an opportunity to showcase the diversity of Ghana’s heritage and the dynamism of its creative and entrepreneurial sectors.”

Ambassador Dr Robert Afriyie commended Kuriftu Resorts for the collaboration, calling it a true embodiment of Pan-Africanism. He noted that the event aligns with Ghana’s broader vision of using tourism, culture, music, fashion, and history to promote continental unity and economic cooperation.

The Ambassador highlighted the growing bilateral relationship between Ghana and Ethiopia and positioned the month-long celebration as a practical platform to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through cultural exchange and people-to-people connections.

The initiative is expected to boost tourism, trade, and mutual understanding between the two nations.

Botswana is set to take up to a 30% stake in Angola’s $6 billion Lobito refinery, marking a significant intra-African investment.

The move reflects a growing push by African nations to retain more value from their resources on the continent.

The Lobito refinery, with a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, is expected to generate around $700 million annually for Botswana under current assumptions. Instead of building new infrastructure from scratch, Botswana is buying into an existing facility to secure reliable fuel supply for Southern Africa, including itself, Zambia, and Namibia.

This deal reflects a broader strategic shift across Africa. For decades, many African countries have exported raw materials only to import refined products at much higher costs.

Investments like Botswana’s stake in Lobito signal a move toward greater regional refining capacity and supply chain control.

While the Lobito refinery will primarily serve Southern Africa, analysts note it could eventually compete with Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, which currently dominates West Africa and exports to international markets.

The development is being watched closely as a potential model for deeper intra-African industrial cooperation and reduced dependence on external fuel imports.

Angola has signed a contract with China National Chemical Engineering Co. on Friday to build the $6 billion plant in Lobito.

“The processing capacities of the Lobito refinery remain at 200,000 barrels per day and the estimated cost of the investment is around $6 billion,” Diamantino Azevedo, the minister of Minerals and Petroleum, said in Luanda after a meeting between President Joao Lourenço and the company’s Chairman Wen Gang.

Sonangol, the southwest African nation’s state oil and gas group, partnered with an “American company” to conduct studies that led to decreased investment costs and improved refinery quality, Azevedo said, without naming the firm.

In 2022, Sonangol said it was working with Houston-based KBR Inc. on “engineering works” for the facility.