Jamilah Conteh Speaks — Wednesday, October 28, 2026. From Freetown, Sierra Leone: Africa walks into the third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow, and the question is whose terms; the Confederation of Sahel States arrives with its own agenda; security forces raid a suspected international cybercrime network in Freetown and Kenema; a music industry week opens in Johannesburg while Freetown’s live-music scene gets new backing; and two Write About It posts on Sahel craftspeople and the Dakar Youth Olympic Games — ten minutes of SJOL News.
Today’s rundown
0:00 — News lead: Africa walks into Moscow. Per Al Jazeera, the third Russia–Africa Summit runs on October 28 and 29 in Moscow, co-chaired by President Vladimir Putin and the African Union chair, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye; representatives of 48 African countries and 22 heads of state are taking part, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, against heads of state from 17 countries at the 2023 summit. Per the same report, trade between African countries and Russia has exceeded $28bn, up from about $16.8bn in 2019, but it is mainly concentrated in a few countries and overshadowed by that of China and the European Union. Sahel desk: Per L’Essor, carried by Maliweb, President of the Transition General Assimi Goïta was received in Moscow with military honours and, according to the summit programme, will speak at the plenary session on October 29 “to carry the voice of Mali and the Confederation of Sahel States”, followed by a bilateral meeting with President Putin (translated from French). Per Capmad, Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo represents Captain Ibrahim Traoré, carrying the national priorities of “local transformation of resources, strengthening of technological capacities and youth training”. Home desk: Per Sierra Leone Monitor, citing a press release from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, security forces working with the National Telecommunications Authority raided a suspected international cybercrime network in Freetown and Kenema, arresting 18 people and detaining approximately 400 others; the press release stressed: “Sierra Leone will not be used as a base for cybercrime.” Sierraloaded reported the same figures.
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2:00 — Channel sparks (attributed, fair use — watch the originals).
- Africa Here and Now Podcast — “Could Mmusi Maimane Become South Africa’s First Non ANC President in 2029?” (title as published). Per the video’s description, Maimane predicts that South Africa will have its first non-ANC president in 2029 and believes it could be him — his forecast, not a fact. Per Polity, his party, Build One South Africa, plans to field over 800 candidates in the November local government elections who are “not long-term politicians, but rather professionals drawn from business and local communities”, chosen directly by their communities.
- The Latest — “FRANCE DUMPED! ALGERIA MOVE TROOPS TO DEFEND NIGER IN STUNNING POWER SHIFT” (title as published; the “power shift” is the channel’s framing). Per Anadolu, Algeria’s parliament approved on Sunday a presidential decision to deploy an army unit to Niger; according to information from within the upper house, the mission is an army “detachment” to secure oil projects of the state energy company Sonatrach, at Niamey’s request. Per the BBC, it would be Algeria’s first foreign deployment since 1973, the timing and number of soldiers have not been announced, and senator Belkacem Boulghiti said: “We are not sending our soldiers to wage war in Niger, but for a mission to secure economic infrastructure.”
- Make Afrika Great — “PUTIN SENDS POWERFUL MESSAGE: AFRICA’S TIME HAS FINALLY COME” (title as published; the headline is the channel’s framing). Per TASS, speaking in Moscow on October 27, President Putin said: “We see Africa as the continent of the future, with a very young population striving for education and a higher standard of living,” and said Africa should be among the top priorities of a new BRICS investment platform.
4:00 — Culture, tech & spirit. Per Music In Africa, the ninth Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES) runs in Johannesburg from October 28 to 31, with more than 700 delegates from over 45 countries expected and more than 80 musicians on its Industry Nights; sessions will cover how rights translate into revenue and how touring and digital innovation can connect African markets, and African cities can bid to host the 2027 and 2028 editions until November 15. Per Redsalt, which describes itself as Sierra Leone’s first active angel investor, it has invested in SoundWave Creative, a Freetown live-music platform that matches venues with artists and lets fans buy tickets; chief executive Kate Krontiris Sengeh said: “Our focus is simple: artists paid on time, venues with full calendars, and every event leaving money in local hands. That is how creativity becomes an industry.” Per Disrupt Africa, African startups can apply until October 31 to Yamaha’s TRANSPOSE Innovation Challenge for music and entertainment technology, with a Grand Prix of up to JPY5 million (about US$32,000) in proof-of-concept funding. Spirit note (opinion): the drum is older than the stage; when we build the stage ourselves, the drum keeps its voice.
5:30 — Marketplace & learning. Makers and teachers who serve our people: sell cloth, food, books, beauty and art, and teach language, farming or craft. Spend with your own, and let your money come home. Visit The Shoppes on Soul Journey of Life.
6:00 — Write About It + SJOL take. New on Write About It: Made by Hand (per the post, citing C’Finance, the 18th International Crafts Fair of Ouagadougou, SIAO, runs from October 30 to November 8, with organisers projecting more than 6,000 exhibitors and about 800,000 visitors; Ghana is the guest of honour, and Mali and Niger take part as special guest countries; citing Bird Story Agency, the post reports that weaver Denise Kafando delivered a Faso Dan Fani order worth 4 million CFA francs to a local bank, that imports of weaving thread and woven cloth have been banned in Burkina Faso since September 24, 2024, and that the cloth is now part of dress codes for courts, schools, universities and the military). Also new: Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates: The First Olympic Flame on African Soil (per the post, a cauldron will be lit in Diamniadio on October 31 for the first Olympic sporting event held on African soil, with about 2,700 athletes in 25 sports from October 31 to November 13; it is the first Youth Olympic Games with a Refugee Olympic Team; the mascot, Ayo, is a young lion whose name means “joy” in Yoruba; the Games coincide with Africa Youth Day on November 1; and the post recalls that Dakar hosted the First World Festival of Negro Arts in 1966, with Duke Ellington and Langston Hughes among the guests). Jamilah’s take (opinion): hands and youth are our real wealth — read both posts, then tell your own story on Write About It.
8:00 — Closing opinion. From Freetown: on our own terms. To our leaders in Moscow: per Al Jazeera, a final declaration and a Russia–Africa Partnership Forum plan for 2027–2029 should be adopted by the end of the summit — read every line before you sign. To the Confederation of Sahel States: process at home first, then sell. To every African family: per Al Jazeera, Amnesty International’s African directors urged leaders at the summit to demand that Moscow end what the group describes as deceptive and coercive recruitment of Africans to fight in its war in Ukraine; our sons are not spare parts for anybody’s war, East or West. To Algeria and Niger: neighbours guarding each other’s roads is what African security should look like. To Salone: let the courts work fast and fair, and let the innocent go home. To Black America: the crafts fair opens in Ouagadougou on Friday and the flame is lit in Dakar on Saturday — come home and see it. To the young: your hands and your talent are the real natural resources. (Opinion.)
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Jamilah Conteh Speaks is SJOL News’ daily noon brief from Freetown, Sierra Leone. Every quote and factual claim is attributed on air; opinion segments are labelled. Full source list available on request.
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