October 2025 African News Archive: Politics, Sports, and Legal Shifts

October 2025 was a month of African news that moved beyond headlines and into real change. From presidential pardons to courtroom battles and stadium upsets, the continent didn’t just report events—it shaped them. This archive collects the stories that mattered: decisions that affected millions, athletes who broke records, and legal fights that could redefine rights across the region. Whether you’re tracking how power shifts in Nairobi or how a single match in Harare changed a team’s season, this is where the facts live.

One of the biggest moments came from Nigeria, a West African nation where political decisions ripple through its economy and justice system, when President Bola Tinubu pardoned 175 people, including historic figures like Herbert Macaulay and Mamman Vatsa. The move wasn’t just symbolic—it reignited debates about justice, memory, and who gets to be remembered. Around the same time, South Africa, a country with strict data and speech laws that influence how news is reported, saw the Economic Freedom Fighters vow to appeal Julius Malema’s hate speech conviction, a case that could set a new standard for political speech under POPIA. Meanwhile, SASSA’s August grant dates—still being talked about in October—left millions waiting on delayed payments, highlighting how policy delays hit everyday lives.

On the sports front, Kenya, a nation where politics and sport often intertwine, saw President Ruto make a quiet but powerful gesture at Kabarak, laying a wreath at the tomb of former president Daniel arap Moi. It wasn’t just respect—it was a political reset with Gideon Moi’s KANU party, signaling a shift ahead of the 2027 elections. Cricket fans watched India crush Pakistan by 88 runs in Colombo, continuing a decades-long rivalry that now plays out on global stages. And in Europe, African players like Cesc Fabregas, now managing Como, led Italian clubs to historic wins, showing how African talent continues to shape the game far beyond the continent’s borders.

October 2025 didn’t just bring news—it brought turning points. You’ll find stories here about arrests tied to personal tragedies, lottery wins that ended in hospital beds, and football matches decided by VAR calls that left coaches furious. These aren’t just events. They’re threads in a larger fabric of how Africa moves—through law, sport, leadership, and human struggle. Below, you’ll see each of these moments in full. No summaries. No fluff. Just what happened, when, and why it stuck.