Femi Aderibigbe

Heavy police deployments and blocked roads turned this year’s Saba Saba commemorations in Kenya and Tanzania into another reminder that peaceful assembly is becoming increasingly difficult across East Africa. Development Diaries reports that authorities in Kenya and Tanzania deployed security personnel, blocked major roads and disrupted planned gatherings during the 07 July, 2026, Saba Saba commemorations.

The Gambia’s Supreme Court is preparing to decide whether the law protecting girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) should remain in force, placing the future safety of thousands of children at the centre of a constitutional battle. Development Diaries reports that the court is hearing a challenge to the country’s 2015 ban on FGM, following parliament’s 2024 rejection of an attempt to repeal the law.

Nigeria cannot claim to be fighting its out-of-school children crisis while diverting money meant to educate some of its most vulnerable children to build roads. Development Diaries reports that the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education recently denied approving the N8.4 billion road projects captured in its 2026 budget, insisting that the projects were inserted by the National Assembly during the appropriation process.