Today in Africa — June 27, 2026: Togo Protests Demand President’s Resignation, Top South African Cop Arrested in Corruption Probe, Africa’s CWC Woes Spark Football Reform Calls

Protesters Clash with Security Forces in Lomé as Togo’s Leader Faces Growing Calls to Step Down

Clashes erupted in Togo’s capital yesterday as protesters demanded the resignation of President Faure Gnassingbé following recent constitutional changes critics say could keep him in power for life. Security forces fired tear gas and used batons to break up the crowds blocking roads and burning barricades in Lomé. At least 10 people were arrested, and many businesses shut their doors as tensions escalated.

The protests, organized by activists and a coalition called “Hands Off My Constitution,” are set to continue until tomorrow. Demonstrators are angry over the president’s new role as head of the Council of Ministers, a powerful position with no term limits. Faure, who has ruled since 2005 after succeeding his father, has been accused by opposition leaders of staging a “constitutional coup” to stay in power indefinitely.

South Africa’s Top Police Spy Chief Arrested in Expanding Corruption Probe

Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, head of South Africa’s Crime Intelligence unit, was arrested last night and appeared in court today alongside six other senior officers on charges linked to corruption and misuse of police funds. The group is accused of irregular appointments and looting intelligence slush funds, allegations they all deny. The arrests follow a separate round of corruption charges against other SAPS generals just weeks ago, further shaking confidence in the country’s policing leadership.

Khumalo, who took over the intelligence division in 2022, has over two decades of service. But his arrest has deepened public and political criticism of the South African Police Service’s top ranks. Opposition parties, including the DA and EFF, say the system is broken and in desperate need of structural reform. Lawmakers are now calling for a full skills and integrity audit of SAPS management.

After Club World Cup Exit, Africa’s Player Union Calls for Overhaul of Local Leagues

Following the early elimination of all four African teams at the FIFA Club World Cup, FIFPro Africa’s general secretary, Kgosana Masaseng, says the continent must urgently raise the standard of its domestic leagues. He pointed to overworked players, poor infrastructure, and the continued exodus of top talent as major challenges. While clubs like Sundowns and Espérance showed flashes of potential, Masaseng says the lack of coordination, legal reform, and professional management across leagues is holding African football back.

He’s urging national leagues, not CAF, to lead the push for better governance, player protection, and investment in facilities. Masaseng criticized the failure of clubs to consistently pay players or even keep stadiums open on match days, warning that these issues hurt media coverage and fan interest. But he also believes in the game’s future, citing AFCON’s massive 2023 digital audience as proof that global attention is there, if African football can deliver a reliable product.

South Africa’s Flood Death Toll Passes 100 as Search for Missing Children Continues

At least 101 people, including 38 children and a 12-month-old baby, have died after floods swept through South Africa’s Eastern Cape province earlier this month. Two children are still missing, and over 4,000 people have been displaced. The government has declared a national disaster and says it will need nearly $300 million to rebuild damaged infrastructure in one of the country’s poorest regions. Officials blame climate change for the increasingly destructive weather, with a second cold front bringing more rain to the Western Cape this week.

South Sudan Opens Military Court to Try Serious Crimes Committed by Soldiers

South Sudan’s army has launched a military court in Wau to prosecute 28 soldiers accused of serious crimes — including 15 cases of rape and murder — in a rare move to enforce accountability in the ranks. Civil society groups have welcomed the court martial as a step toward justice for victims in remote areas with limited legal access. The proceedings are part of broader efforts to reform the military and rebuild public trust, with support from the UN and a civilian dialogue set for July 6.

AU Court Rejects Appeals by Gbagbo and Soro to Run in Côte d’Ivoire Election

The African Union’s top human rights court has dismissed appeals by former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo and former prime minister Guillaume Soro challenging bans on their presidential bids. The court said Gbagbo failed to prove discrimination and ruled Soro hadn’t exhausted legal options in Côte d’Ivoire. Both men were previously barred from contesting the October vote, Gbagbo due to a domestic conviction, and Soro over a coup plot conviction in absentia. Despite a 2020 order allowing their candidacies, Côte d’Ivoire no longer recognizes the court’s authority.