AU - Africanews

1. Tunisia frees NGO worker Sherifa Riahi after 20 months

   After more than 20 months in detention, Sherifa Riahi has been reunited with her family following her release from prison in Tunisia. The former director of the French NGO Terre d’Asile, along with two colleagues, was freed on Tuesday.

2. Ramaphosa urges UN action after US capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro

   South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep concern over recent US military action in Venezuela, calling for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

3. Somalia condemns Israeli Foreign Minister’s visit to Hargeisa as “serious violation”

   The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Monday condemned, “in the strongest terms,” the unauthorized incursion of the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs into Hargeisa, describing the visit as a “serious violation” of Somalia’s territorial sovereignty.

4. Israeli foreign minister visits Somaliland after contentious recognition of breakaway territory

   The Israeli foreign minister said Tuesday that Israel would soon open an embassy in Somaliland as he made the first visit there since his government's contentious move to formally recognize the breakaway Somali territory as a sovereign state.

5. Egypt declares paid public holiday for Christmas on January 7

   Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly issues an official decree declaring Wednesday, January 7, 2026, a paid public holiday in observance of Christmas.