**Summary:** Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially launched his own political party, 'Kiiraay', sealing a public break with his former mentor and ex-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

**Key points:**
- The new party 'Kiiraay', meaning 'protection' or 'shield' in Wolof, was unveiled in Dakar with the slogan 'Republican Patriots'.
- Faye and Ousmane Sonko previously belonged to the PASTEF (African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity) party, which brought Faye to power in 2024.
- Relations between the two leaders deteriorated following Faye's ascension, leading to Sonko's removal as prime minister in May.
- Analysts warn that the political split could trigger national instability, heighten tensions, or lead to a dissolution of the National Assembly.

**Why it matters:** The formation of President Faye's new party creates a major political rift with the ruling PASTEF majority, threatening potential institutional instability and shifting the country's political landscape ahead of local elections.

allAfrica.com - Sénégal: Création du parti de Diomaye Faye - Privilégier à tout prix les intérêts des sénégalais

Magazine Actualites Cameroun - Sénégal : le président crée son parti et marque sa rupture

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye Launches New Party 'Kiiraay'

**Summary:** Hundreds of Togolese citizens gathered in Vogan to protest the 2024 Constitution, which they argue allows President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his rule indefinitely.

**Key points:**
- Organized by the Cadre national de concertation pour le changement and civil society, the meeting is part of an ongoing regional mobilization effort.
- Protesters carried signs denouncing the constitutional changes as an illegal coup d'état.
- The Economic Community of West African States Court of Justice previously ruled the reform constitutes an unconstitutional change of government, a finding rejected by the Togolese government.

**Why it matters:** The protests highlight ongoing domestic and legal disputes over governance and executive power in Togo following major constitutional transitions.

jeuneafrique.com - Togo : l’opposition manifeste à nouveau contre la nouvelle Constitution

icilome.com - Togo- A Vogan, l’opposition réussit son pari de mobilisation contre la nouvelle Constitution

Togolese opposition rallies against 2024 constitutional reforms

**Summary:** Romania's Parliament has interrupted its recess to begin a five-day special session focused on pending Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență (PNRR) reforms and the SAFE loan agreement.

**Key points:**
- Lawmakers are reviewing legislative initiatives to extend the 9% reduced VAT rate for real estate transactions until October 1, 2026.
- The agenda includes mechanisms for rewarding ANAF and Customs Authority personnel based on revenue collection performance.
- Deputies are tasked with approving the SAFE loan agreement, which allocates around 16.68 billion euros to Romania for defense and dual-use infrastructure.
- Political parties remain divided on several fiscal and administrative measures, including public sector wage reform.

**Why it matters:** Timely adoption of these legislative packages is critical for Romania to meet European Union milestones, avoid the loss of hundreds of millions or billions in European funds, and secure defense financing.

jurnalul.ro - Parlamentarii, chemați din vacanță pentru PNRR și SAFE

stiripesurse.ro - Parlamentul revine din vacanță pentru reformele din PNRR și SAFE : Primul pas pentru prelungirea TVA de 9 % la locuințe

dailybusiness.ro - Parlamentul se reunește în sesiune extraordinară pentru adoptarea unor proiecte din PNRR , inclusiv acordul SAFE

Romania's Parliament convenes for special session on PNRR reforms and SAFE agreement

**Summary:** Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Ukraine of conducting a deadly long-range strike on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea at Israel's behest, warning that the action will not go unanswered.

**Key points:**
- Tehran formally summoned Ukraine's chargé d'affaires to protest the strike, which killed one sailor and injured another.
- Iranian officials framed the incident as a violation of the United Nations Charter and Article 2(4).
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv's forces targeted vessels used to transport military cargo between Iran and Russia.
- Abbas Araghchi discussed the escalation in separate phone calls with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

**Why it matters:** The strike and subsequent threats introduce a volatile new flashpoint, connecting the conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe and risking further international escalation.

Iran claims Ukraine attacked vessel at Israel behest , warns retaliation

Irán : Ucrania atacó nuestro buque a pedido de Israel para arrastrar a Europa a la guerra

Cannot Go Unanswered : Iran Threatens Action Against Ukraine , Claims Caspian Sea Strike Was Done At Israel Behest

Iran Accuses Ukraine of Caspian Sea Attack and Threatens Retaliation

**Summary:** National Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi stated that President Bola Tinubu should retire in 2027 due to his failure to effectively address Nigeria's worsening insecurity.

**Key points:**
- Obi made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunday Politics program.
- He pointed to recent mass abductions, including 40 people in Zamfara and 50 in Sokoto, as evidence of a severe security emergency.
- Obi argued that Tinubu lacks the necessary energy, capacity, and commitment to improve the country's fortunes.

**Why it matters:** This statement highlights intensifying political opposition and security concerns ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

tribuneonlineng.com - Tinubu should retire in 2027 if…

dailypost.ng - 2027: Tinubu lacks capacity to lead Nigeria, should step aside

Peter Obi Urges President Tinubu to Retire in 2027 Over Insecurity

**Summary:** Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Argentina following remarks by Argentine President Javier Milei in São Paulo, where he criticized Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Supreme Federal Tribunal judge Alexandre de Moraes.

**Key points:**
- During a Liberal Party convention, Argentine President Javier Milei referred to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a thief, prisoner, and socialist garbage.
- Argentine President Javier Milei also criticized Supreme Federal Tribunal judge Alexandre de Moraes as a bald trash for preventing a visit to jailed former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
- Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira ordered the diplomatic recall, with officials citing an unprecedented offense to Brazilian executive and judicial powers.
- Leaders from Brazil's Workers' Party and the country's Supreme Federal Tribunal strongly condemned the remarks.

**Why it matters:** The diplomatic recall marks a severe deterioration in bilateral relations between neighboring South American partners, elevating regional political tensions.

notimerica.com - Brasil llama a consultas a su embajador en Argentina por los insultos de Milei a Lula y al juez De Moraes

rosario3.com - Brasil llamó a consulta a su embajador en Argentina tras los insultos de Milei a Lula

diariolaopinion.com.ar - El viaje de Milei a Brasil desató una dura reacción del gobierno de Lula y elevó la tensión bilateral

notimerica.com - Brasil .- AMP .- Brasil llama a consultas a su embajador en Argentina por los insultos de Milei al presidente Lula

Brazil Recalls Ambassador to Argentina Following Insults by Javier Milei

**Summary:** Morocco has placed authorities on high alert ahead of an approaching heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 47°C, driven by severe wildfires affecting the Mediterranean region.

**Key points:**
- Temperatures are forecasted to reach up to 47°C across Morocco from Sunday to Tuesday.
- Firefighting teams in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region successfully contained a five-hectare forest fire in Ketane using Canadair planes and a Royal Gendarmerie helicopter.
- Regional forestry director Said Ben Jira urged residents and vacationers to exercise extreme caution and promptly report any signs of fire.

**Why it matters:** The convergence of extreme temperatures and regional Mediterranean wildfires highlights growing climate-related vulnerabilities and the critical need for proactive emergency response in North Africa.

yabiladi.com - Vague de chaleur : Jusqu'à 47°C de dimanche à mardi au Maroc

hespress.com - حرائق المتوسط تدفع المغرب إلى رفع مستوى التأهب والاستعداد

Morocco raises emergency preparedness as heatwave and Mediterranean wildfires loom

**Summary:** UNESCO has inscribed several new locations onto the World Heritage List during a committee meeting in South Korea, including the Normandy D-Day landing beaches and Greece's Mount Olympus.

**Key points:**
- The French designation for the D-Day beaches spans over 80 kilometers across the Calvados and Manche departments, encompassing Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches along with the Pointe du Hoc site.
- Greece's inclusion of Mount Olympus follows a 12-year effort to gain mixed cultural and natural heritage recognition for the country's highest peak.
- Other additions to the heritage list include the ancient Japanese capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara and the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape in South Sudan.
- The UNESCO committee meeting is taking place in Busan until Wednesday to review dozens of global nominations.

**Why it matters:** The recognition of these sites by UNESCO provides formal international protection and acknowledges their profound historical, cultural, and ecological significance.

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