By KPD News Online | September 30, 2026

Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, following the September 23 parliamentary elections in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged with the largest number of seats.

King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri on September 29 and tasked her with forming a new government, according to Morocco’s Royal Palace. The appointment makes her the first woman to head Morocco’s government.

Morocco’s first female prime minister appointed

Who is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri?

El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer who has held several prominent political positions. She previously served as Morocco’s minister responsible for national planning, urban development, housing and urban policy, and has also served as mayor of Marrakech.

Her appointment also makes her the second woman to serve as a prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who served from 2021 to 2023.

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri makes history in Morocco

El Mansouri said her appointment was historic and described it as a source of pride for Moroccan women. Her immediate task will be to negotiate the formation of a new administration and submit the government for royal approval.

Morocco marks historic moment with first woman at the head of government

Challenges ahead

The incoming government will face several major economic and social issues, including employment, inflation and wages. It will also oversee major investment and infrastructure preparations connected to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain.

Morocco’s constitutional system gives the king the authority to appoint the head of government, but the choice must come from the political party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections.

The September election recorded turnout of about 38%, according to Reuters, down from roughly 50% in the previous parliamentary election.

The formation of El Mansouri’s coalition government will now determine the composition of Morocco’s next administration and its policy priorities.

By KPD News Online | September 30, 2026

Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first national gold refinery in the capital, Ouagadougou, as the military-led government moves to process more of the country’s mineral wealth domestically rather than exporting gold in a less-processed form.

Captain Ibrahim Traoré inaugurated the Raffinerie Nationale d’Or du Burkina Faso (RAFFINOR-BF) on September 28. The facility is intended to refine, analyse, certify and securely store gold within Burkina Faso.

Ibrahim Traoré inaugurates Burkina Faso’s first national gold refinery

$19 million investment

The refinery was built at a cost of more than 11 billion CFA francs, roughly $19 million, with financing involving the Burkinabè state through the National Precious Substances Company (SONASP) and private-sector investors.

The first phase has a theoretical refining capacity of 164 tonnes of gold per year. Authorities say a second phase could raise the capacity to 515 tonnes annually. The five-hectare facility includes a foundry, gold-analysis laboratory, secure storage area, jewellery unit and administrative facilities.

New gold refinery aims to retain more mining value inside Burkina Faso

Government wants more value retained locally

Traoré said the government wants Burkina Faso to move beyond simply extracting minerals and exporting them. According to the country’s government information service, he said the objective is to refine metals locally and develop the entire value chain inside the country.

The government also says domestic processing could increase the value retained from gold production, strengthen oversight of the sector and develop technical skills within Burkina Faso.

Gold is particularly important to the country’s economy. Burkina Faso produced about 94 tonnes of gold in 2025, according to figures cited by the Associated Press. The refinery’s initial capacity therefore exceeds the country’s reported previous-year production, leaving room for future output growth and potentially other sources of gold.

New refinery brings gold refining and certification closer to home

Part of a wider regional shift

Burkina Faso’s move comes amid a broader push across West Africa to increase domestic control over mineral resources.

Countries including Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Ivory Coast have also taken steps toward greater local processing, government participation or restrictions on the export of unprocessed minerals.

For Burkina Faso, the refinery is also being presented by the authorities as part of a wider effort to strengthen economic self-reliance. The country has been led by a military government since Traoré came to power following a 2022 coup. The government has sought to reduce dependence on traditional Western partners while asserting greater control over natural resources.

The refinery’s success will ultimately depend on how effectively it is integrated with industrial and artisanal mining, how much gold is processed through the facility and whether the additional value generated translates into increased public revenue, employment and investment inside Burkina Faso.

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 30, 2026

Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed his seven-day dance marathon in Lagos, ending an endurance challenge aimed at securing a new Guinness World Records title.

Daniel began the challenge at Freedom Park in Lagos and set an initial target of 168 hours. He reached the seven-day mark at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, before continuing for several more hours. His team said the final timer recorded 7 days, 8 hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds, equivalent to more than 176 hours.

The 33-year-old dancer was attempting to surpass the existing Guinness World Records mark for the longest dance marathon by an individual, which is listed at 127 hours, achieved by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.

Guinness verdict still pending

Despite completing the marathon, Daniel has not yet been officially declared a Guinness World Records holder.

Guinness World Records has confirmed that his application is active and that evidence from the attempt must go through its review and verification process before a record can be officially recognised.

This means the completion of the physical challenge and the official recognition of a new record are separate stages.

A celebration of Nigerian dance and culture

Throughout the marathon, Daniel incorporated different Nigerian dance styles and musical genres, including Afrobeats, Fuji, jazz and zouk.

He also wore traditional Nigerian clothing during portions of the performance as part of an effort to highlight the country’s cultural diversity. Supporters gathered at Freedom Park to watch the marathon, while videos of the challenge circulated widely online.

Daniel has reportedly spent about 18 years working professionally in dance and has worked as a dancer, choreographer, creative director, dance consultant and fitness instructor. He is also associated with Bendancer Academy International, which focuses on developing dancers.

Medical check-up after the challenge

Following the demanding performance, Daniel was taken to hospital for a medical check-up, according to reports. His team had incorporated rest periods, hydration, food and medical support into the challenge as he attempted to sustain the prolonged performance.

For now, the record remains subject to Guinness World Records’ verification process. If the evidence satisfies the organisation’s requirements, Daniel’s attempt could result in a new official record.

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 30, 2026

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has expressed strong solidarity with Saudi Arabia following what the Moroccan Royal Office described as repeated attacks by Houthi forces, declaring that “any attack on Saudi Arabia is an attack on Morocco.”

The Moroccan monarch conveyed the position in separate messages to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He said Morocco regarded the security and stability of Saudi Arabia, as well as other Gulf Cooperation Council states, as closely linked to Morocco’s own security.

King Mohammed VI at a formal royal meeting, with Morocco’s national flag visible in the background. A recent image published alongside coverage of his Saudi statement is available from Saudi Gazette.

According to the Royal Office statement, the attacks targeted civilian and economic facilities, vital infrastructure, cities and residential areas in Saudi Arabia. King Mohammed VI also condemned what the Moroccan side described as attempts to target the Islamic holy sites in Makkah and Madinah.

The king said Morocco stood with Saudi Arabia in defending its sovereignty, security and stability. He also described the relationship between the two countries as being rooted in shared religious, historical and strategic ties.

Morocco reaffirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia following Houthi strikes

Concern over regional security

King Mohammed VI further warned that attacks affecting Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf could have consequences for regional stability and vital maritime routes.

He referred to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, adopted in 2015, and Resolution 2722, adopted in 2024, in discussing the need to halt violence and attacks affecting maritime navigation.

Moroccan and Saudi flags symbolise close bilateral relations

The Moroccan king said attacks against civilian areas, economic infrastructure and holy sites should be addressed under international law. He also called for those responsible, including those who support, finance or arm the groups carrying out the attacks, to face accountability.

The latest statement reinforces the close diplomatic relationship between Rabat and Riyadh at a time of heightened security tensions involving Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

Saudi Arabia has been facing renewed attacks attributed to the Houthis amid the continuing conflict connected to Yemen and wider regional tensions.

The Ghana Police Service has rescheduled the full implementation of its automated traffic law enforcement programme, TRAFFITECH-GH, from October 1 to November 1, 2026.

The Police Service, through the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), announced the change in a press release dated September 29, 2026, signed on behalf of the Director-General of Public Affairs by Deputy Superintendent of Police Richmond Mensah, Staff Officer at the Public Affairs Directorate.

According to the Police, the decision to postpone the full rollout is intended to allow for more extensive public awareness and education on the TRAFFITECH-GH programme before its implementation.

The additional period will be used to educate motorists and other road users on how the system operates, the types of traffic offences it is designed to detect, and the Electronic Notices of Violation (ENV) that will be issued to motorists who are found to have committed offences.

TRAFFITECH-GH forms part of the Ghana Police Service’s broader efforts to address indiscipline on the country’s roads and improve compliance with road traffic laws and regulations.

The automated enforcement system is expected to support the Police in detecting traffic violations and enforcing road safety regulations through technology.

The Police Service has therefore urged motorists, drivers and vehicle owners to use the additional period before the November 1 rollout to familiarise themselves with the programme and understand its operations.

The Service said the extension would provide road users with more time to understand the offences that could be detected under the system and the procedures surrounding the issuance of Electronic Notices of Violation.

The Ghana Police Service also expressed appreciation to the media for what it described as its unflinching support throughout the introduction of the TRAFFITECH-GH project.

It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the media and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the programme as part of efforts to improve road safety in Ghana.

The Police Service said the full implementation of TRAFFITECH-GH will now commence on November 1, 2026, rather than the previously announced October 1 date.