Category: The Citizen

Iran’s clerical establishment is under mounting pressure from a new bout of unrest over economic privations caused by inflation that has rocketed since a war last June when Israeli and U.S.

forces launched airstrikes, mainly targeting its nuclear sites. Despite repeated outbreaks of nationwide protests stretching back decades, Iran’s opposition has remained fragmented among rival groups and ideological factions and appears to have little organised presence inside the Islamic Republic.

Here are some opposition groups or blocs: Monarchists Iran’s last shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, fled in 1979 as the Islamic Revolution took hold. He died in Egypt in 1980. His son, Reza Pahlavi, was heir to the Peacock Throne when the dynasty was ousted and, now based in the U.

S., has called for regime change through non-violent civil disobedience, continued protests and a referendum on a new government.

However while Pahlavi has plenty of admirers in the Iranian diaspora who support a return to the monarchy, it is uncertain how popular that idea might be inside the country. Most Iranians are not old enough to remember life before the revolution and the country looks very different to the one Pahlavi’s father fled 47 years ago.

While many Iranians look back with nostalgia on that pre-revolutionary era, many others also recall its inequalities and oppression. Meanwhile there are splits even among pro-monarchist groups.

People’s Mujahideen Organisation The Mujahideen were a powerful leftist group that staged bombing campaigns against the Shah’s government and U.S.

targets in the 1970s, but ultimately fell out with the other factions. The group is often known by its Persian name, the Mujahideen-e Khalq Organisation, or by the acronyms MEK or MKO.

Many Iranians, including sworn enemies of the Islamic Republic, cannot forgive it for siding with Iraq against Iran during the war of 1980-88. The group was the first to publicly reveal in 2002 that Iran had a secret uranium-enrichment programme, but it has shown little sign of any active presence inside Iran for years. In exile, its leader Massoud Rajavi has not been seen for more than 20 years and his wife, Maryam Rajavi, has taken control.

Rights groups have criticised it for what they call cult-like behaviour and abuses of its followers, which the group denies. The group is the main force behind the National Council of Resistance of Iran, led by Maryam Rajavi, which has an active presence in many Western countries.

Ethnic minority groups Iran’s mostly Sunni Muslim Kurdish and Baluch minorities have often chafed against rule from the Persian-speaking, Shi’ite Muslim government in Tehran. Several Kurdish groups have long organised opposition to the Islamic Republic in the western parts of the country where they form a majority, and there have been periods of active insurgency against government forces.

In Baluchistan, along Iran’s eastern border with Pakistan, opposition to Tehran ranges from supporters of Sunni clerics seeking to carve out more space for their followers within the Islamic Republic to armed jihadists linked to al Qaeda. When major rounds of protest have spread across Iran, they have often been fiercest in Kurdish and Baluchi areas, but in neither region is there a single, unified opposition movement that poses a clear threat to Tehran’s rule.

Protest movements Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in mass protests at successive points for decades. After the 2009 presidential election, demonstrators filled Tehran and other cities accusing the authorities of rigging the vote for the incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against rival candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Mousavi’s “Green Movement” was crushed and he was put under house arrest, along with political ally and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karoubi. The movement, which sought democratic reform within the existing system of the Islamic Republic, is now widely seen as defunct.

In 2022 major protests again gripped Iran centred on women’s rights. The Woman, Life, Freedom demonstrations continued for months but without resulting in an organisation or leadership and many of the protesters were ultimately arrested and jailed.

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Marrakech. Strikers Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams grabbed second-half goals as Nigeria powered to a deserved 2-0 victory over Algeria in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final to set up a meeting with hosts Morocco in the last four.

Osimhen steered home a long cross from the left by Bruno Onyemaechi two minutes into the second half as Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane made a bizarre jump to try and stop the effort but ended up getting his angles wrong and conceding an easy goal. Adams increased Nigeria’s lead 10 minutes later as Osimhen unselfishly fed him the ball and he took it round Zidane before placing it into an empty net.

It was an impressive performance by Nigeria, who two months ago missed out on World Cup qualification, as they overwhelmed their opponents from the start at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, looking more determined, quicker around the field and stronger in the challenges, and denying their opponents a single scoring chance. “The victory was deserved.

The match was fantastic, and I am very happy with the win,” said Nigeria coach Eric Chelle. Algeria were already hanging on grimly in the first half with Nigeria having good chances to be ahead at the break.

Algeria centre back Ramy Bensebaini cleared off the line in the 29th minute from Calvin Bassey after the depth of Ademola Lookman’s free kick was misjudged by Zidane and the Nigeria full back was able to steer an effort goalward from a tight angle. Nigeria miss chances to secure bigger victory Bensebaini hooked it clear, although television replays looked to show the whole circumference of the ball had crossed the line.

A VAR check in the absence of goalline technology, however, did not award a goal. In the 37th minute, a poor clearance from Zidane to full back Aissa Mandi was intercepted by Alex Iwobi who quickly fed the ball to Adams, but the Sevilla striker’s left-footed effort missed the target with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Adams also headed against the upright in the 82nd minute as Osimhen’s enterprise and persistence again set him up with a clear chance. Algeria had been forced to play extra time before winning their last-16 clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday and the exertion could have been the reason many of their key players turned in listless performances.

In contrast, Nigeria had a comfortable 4-0 win over Mozambique on Monday. “I don’t want to go into too many details, but Nigeria were better.

The Nigerian team showed the individual skills they possess, and physically we were behind. We tried to come back in the second half, but we couldn’t reach the level we needed in attack,” said Algeria coach Victor Petkovic.

Nigeria, who have reached the last four 17 times in the last 20 tournaments they have qualified for, will take on Morocco in Rabat in the semi-finals on Wednesday. .

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan met Chinese Foreign Minister Mr Wang Yi at Magogoni State House in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, January 10, 2026, for official talks to further strengthen the countries’ long-standing bilateral relations.

Mr Wang is in Tanzania on an official visit from Friday, January 9 to 10, 2025, aimed at deepening strategic cooperation between the two nations. During the meeting, President Hassan reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to sustaining and expanding its long-term strategic partnership with China, while thanking the Chinese government for its continued support and enduring friendship.

She stressed the need to expand market access for Tanzanian products in China, improve the trade balance, strengthen the business and investment environment, and enhance people-to-people relations between the two countries. The President also reiterated Tanzania’s commitment to reviving and strengthening the operations of the TanzaniaZambia Railway Authority (Tazara) and promoting economic activities linked to the railway to boost regional development.

Mr Wang said China remains committed to strengthening cooperation with Tanzania and supports the country’s development efforts. He described Tazara as a historic symbol of ChinaTanzania friendship and said China is ready to support improvements to enhance the railway’s efficiency and stimulate economic growth.

He added that China will continue to be a key development partner, backing priority projects in infrastructure, water, clean cooking energy, concessional financing, and development assistance. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening bilateral relations and strengthening multilateral and international cooperation for mutual benefit.

According to the Tanzania Directorate of Presidential Communications, China’s foreign direct investment in the country rose to around $1.7 billion last year, while trade between the two nations continued to grow. Exports from Tanzania to China increased by around 85 percent between 2020 and 2025, while imports from China rose by about 120 percent, partly driven by China’s market-opening policies for African countries.

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Dar es Salaam. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has granted relief to students who failed their Form Two examinations, allowing them to proceed to Form Three in 2026 instead of repeating the class, while undergoing a special remedial programme.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr Lyabwene Mtahabwa, announced the directive in a public statement on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The decision comes just hours after the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) released the 2025 Form Two examination results, showing that 705,091 candidates, equivalent to 86.93 percent, qualified to proceed to Form Three after attaining grades one to four, an increase of 1.52 percent compared with 2024. In 2025, the Form Two examination was conducted in two streams for the first time, including a practical education stream.

Results show a 100 percent pass rate in engineering-related practical subjects such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive studies, and information and communication technology. In non-engineering practical subjects, including agriculture and food processing, hospitality and tourism, fashion and tailoring, sports and creative arts, eight out of 14 subjects recorded a 100 percent pass rate.

However, performance was poor in leather goods and footwear, where only three out of 20 candidates, equivalent to 15 percent, passed. What the commissioner said In a statement, Dr Mtahabwa directed that students who failed to attain the minimum pass marks in the 2025 Form Two examinations should proceed to Form Three in 2026 instead of repeating Form Two.

“These students will be provided with a special remedial programme while continuing with their Form Three studies,” he said. He explained that the decision takes into account the phased implementation of the improved curriculum.

Students who sat the 2025 Form Two assessment were taught under the old curriculum and will complete Form Four using the same syllabus. “Students entering Form Two in 2026 will be using the improved curriculum which they started in Form One.

If students who failed in 2025 were required to repeat Form Two in 2026, they would be forced to switch to a curriculum they did not begin with, creating serious teaching and learning challenges,” explained Dr Mtahabwa. However, he clarified that the directive applies only to students assessed under the old curriculum in 2025. Students in the practical education stream who failed to meet the pass mark will continue to repeat Form Two in 2026, as they have been studying under the improved curriculum since Form One.

“We expect that heads of schools with affected students will fully implement these directives and ensure that all learners are properly taught and supported to achieve the intended competencies,” reads part of the statement. .

Dar es Salaam. Political and legal analysts have outlined a heavy workload awaiting the newly appointed Home Affairs Minister, Mr Patrobas Katambi, including resolving delays in the issuance of national identity cards, curbing abductions, and rebuilding trust between the Police Force and the public.

Mr Katambi, who previously served as Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, was appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday, January 8, 2026, replacing Mr George Simbachawene, whose appointment was revoked. The appointment of the Shinyanga Urban MP comes at a time when institutions under the ministry, particularly the Police Force, have faced sustained public criticism over their performance, even as his predecessor had announced plans to reform the force.

As he awaits his swearing-in on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, analysts say Mr Katambi faces an uphill task in overseeing the police and other agencies under the ministry. The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Acting Executive Director, Mr Fulgence Massawe, said the ministry directly affects citizens’ safety and has long faced challenges, including unlawful arrests.

“Even the President formed a criminal justice committee which made recommendations to improve the Police Force,” he said. “His biggest challenge will be implementing reforms, which is not easy because they require approval from the President and other leaders,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr Massawe said that rebuilding public trust in the police and strengthening integrity within the force should be among Mr Katambi’s top priorities. He also noted that the Prisons Service continues to face multiple challenges that require urgent attention.

In addition, Mr Massawe said Mr Katambi must address persistent public complaints over delays in the issuance of national identity cards by the National Identification Authority (Nida). A lawyer, Dr Onesmo Kyauke, said the minister’s immediate priority should be ensuring that arrests, detention, and investigations strictly comply with the law.

“Arrests must be based on lawful suspicion, follow legal procedures, respect human dignity and avoid abuse of power,” he said. Dr Kyauke added that the Police Force must be reminded that arrest is not punishment but a legal step aimed at facilitating investigations.

He stressed the need to protect suspects’ rights, including being informed of reasons for arrest, being presented in court on time, and being granted bail where applicable. He further urged the introduction of continuous training for police officers on criminal justice, evidence handling, and lawful arrest procedures to reduce errors that often lead to cases collapsing in court.

Dr Kyauke also said restoring good relations between police and citizens, improving officers’ welfare, including better pay and housing, would enhance performance. Independent advocate Mr Faraji Mangula said another pressing challenge is ensuring public safety, particularly addressing reported cases of abductions, an issue his predecessor had openly acknowledged while calling for reforms in police systems.

He said Mr Katambi should build on the reforms initiated by Mr Simbachawene by strengthening citizen safety and ending arbitrary arrests. “Arrests must be lawful, officers should identify themselves to local authorities before making arrests, and suspects should not be blindfolded.

Police should also use officially registered vehicles when on duty to avoid causing public panic,” he said. Past stance while in opposition Shortly after Mr Katambi’s appointment, several videos resurfaced online highlighting his previous remarks while in opposition, where he criticised the Police Force for arresting opposition leaders and other citizens without following legal procedures.

In the clips, Mr Katambi emphasised professionalism and respect for the rule of law, criticising what he described as “orders from above” allegedly used to justify the arrest of opposition leaders. He challenged officers to demand written authorisation for such instructions, warning that illegal actions tarnish the image of government and the President, and that the law does not recognise collective responsibility.

In other widely shared remarks, Mr Katambi condemned the arrest of opposition leaders, arguing that being in opposition is not a crime and that the Police Force should be a trusted investigative institution rather than an instrument of repression. At the time, he also openly criticised the then Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Mwigulu Nchemba, now Prime Minister, accusing him of failing to effectively supervise the ministry and the Police Force.

Mixed views from analysts Despite those strong statements, analysts are divided on whether Mr Katambi will be able to implement the reforms he once advocated, now that he is part of the government. A lawyer, Mr Aloyce Komba, said Mr Katambi faces a tough test in meeting public expectations, noting that he had previously criticised the same problems while in the opposition.

“No Home Affairs minister has served for more than two years since 2000. Why? He must defend the justice he advocated for while in Chadema. The question is whether he will succeed and how he will distinguish himself from Mr Simbachawene,” he said.

Veteran journalist Mr Absolom Kibanda said Mr Katambi’s first test will be whether he maintains his principles and vision, warning that his views appear similar to those of his predecessor, who was removed from office. “If Mr Simbachawene was removed because of his stance, then Mr Katambi must be cautious,” he said.

University of Dodoma lecturer Dr Conrad Masabo said Mr Katambi’s other challenge will be balancing party interests and government priorities, which could influence his independence and reform agenda. However, political analyst Mr Hamduny Marcel described Mr Katambi as a suitable choice for the role, citing his legal background and leadership experience.

“Besides the Police Force, the ministry oversees Immigration and many other departments that require legal expertise. With his experience, he can address bottlenecks and deliver meaningful reforms,” he said.

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Israel is on high alert for the possibility of any U.S.

intervention in Iran as authorities there confront the biggest anti-government protests in years, according to three Israeli sources with knowledge of the matter. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in recent days and warned Iran’s rulers against using force against demonstrators.

On Saturday, Trump said the U.S.

stands “ready to help”. The sources, who were present for Israeli security consultations over the weekend, did not elaborate on what Israel’s high-alert footing meant in practice.

Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June, in which the U.S.

joined Israel in launching airstrikes. In a phone call on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.

S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of U.

S. intervention in Iran, according to an Israeli source who was present for the conversation.

A U.S.

official confirmed the two men spoke but did not say what topics they discussed. Israel has not signalled a desire to intervene in Iran as protests grip the country, with tensions between the two arch-foes high over Israeli concerns about Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

In an interview with the Economist published on Friday, Netanyahu said there would be horrible consequences for Iran if it were to attack Israel. Alluding to the protests, he said: “Everything else, I think we should see what is happening inside Iran.

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In a nation where opposition to almost half a century of clerical rule has long been fragmented, the son of the last shah of Iran has become a prominent voice spurring on protesters staging the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years. Reza Pahlavi, 65, has sought to speak as a national leader despite living outside Iran since before his father was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In messages sent from his home in the United States, he has repeatedly praised Iranians demanding change and, like those who ended his father’s rule, calling for an end to repression. “We will completely bring the Islamic Republic and its worn-out, fragile apparatus of repression to its knees,” he said in one of his most recent messages, in a video posted on X.

How much support does Pahlavi have in Iran? How much public support Pahlavi now commands in Iran, where he has not set foot for decades, is difficult to gauge. Some protesters have voiced support for him in verified videos circulating on social media, with some chants of “Long live the shah”, suggesting his messages may be galvanising some people.

Many others simply call for sweeping political change, with slogans such as “Down with the dictator”, a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who under Iran’s system of clerical rule has the final say in all state matters. Others shout slogans demanding action to fix an economy hammered by years of international sanctions and pummelled by a 12-day war in June, when Israel and then the U.

S. launched airstrikes on Iran.

The dire economy was the catalyst for the latest protests. “Everything Reza Pahlavi learned about ruling a country came from his own father who failed for a reason.

We had Pahlavis, now it is time for a democratic country,” said Azadeh, 27, in a message from northern Iran. Pahlavi has frequently called for change, particularly during bouts of unrest, including mass demonstrations in 2009 over a contested election and nationwide protests in 2022 over the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died while in detention for allegedly violating Islamic dress codes.

In those protests, there were few obvious signs of momentum in support for a man who the exiled royal court in 1980 declared shah after his father’s death from cancer in a Cairo hospital. Pahlavi says he is ready to lead a transition Unlike in the 1979 revolution, there is no single voice driving the opposition.

Five decades ago, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became the voice of revolutionary fervour, spurring on demonstrators – even those who wanted a secular system to prevail in Iran. Khomeini’s recorded speeches smuggled in on cassette tapes from his exile abroad stoked opposition to Pahlavi’s father.

In his messages over the past two weeks, which have been blocked as the government has shut down the internet, Pahlavi has told Iranians he is ready to lead a transition. He has long said he would let the people decide on who should rule them, but he has been clear that he wants an end to theocratic rule.

“There is only one way to achieve peace: a secular, democratic Iran. I am here today to submit myself to my compatriots to lead them down this road to peace and a democratic transition,” he said in a speech posted on X on June 23, shortly before the end of last year’s 12-day war.

Support among diaspora Born in 1960, Pahlavi was declared crown prince in 1967 at his father’s coronation in Tehran. Images show him sitting beside his father’s jewel-encrusted throne in a child’s version of the shah’s uniform, peaked cap on his lap and gold brocades on his small shoulders.

The monarchy’s lavish style at that time helped fuel discontent when Iranians compared it to their own hardships, with surging inflation and a big wealth divide as the shah’s bid to modernise the oil-powered economy left many people behind. Iranians also sought an end to repression by the shah and his feared security apparatus, SAVAK.

Pahlavi left Iran before his father was forced out, heading to the United States to train as a fighter pilot. He later wrote that he offered to serve in the war with Iraq in the 1980s when the young theocratic Iranian state came under attack, but that his offer was turned down.

He studied political science at university. From exile, Pahlavi, who is married with three children, has garnered support in the diaspora, including Iranians in the U.

S., with his criticism of Iran’s rulers and calls for change.

In 2023, he visited Israel, a close ally of Iran in his father’s day and an implacable foe of the Islamic Republic now, and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. He supported the Israeli and U.

S. strikes in June that mainly hit Iran’s nuclear facilities, but said more action was needed to support Iran’s people.

Israel and Western states accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, which Iran denies. But he has gained little traction in winning personal support from Western governments abroad – neither in Washington, a close ally of Iran in the shah’s time, nor in European capitals, which have long been critical of the Islamic Republic and its nuclear programme.

As the latest protests have unfolded, U.S.

President Donald Trump has said he would support Iranians if security forces fire on them, but also said on Friday he was “not sure that it would be appropriate” to meet Pahlavi. .

Dubai. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned on Saturday that safeguarding security was a “red line” and the military vowed to protect public property, as the clerical establishment stepped up efforts to quell the most widespread protests in years.

The statements came after U.S.

President Donald Trump issued a new warning to Iran’s leaders on Friday, and after Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday declared: “The United States supports the brave people of Iran.” Unrest continued overnight.

State media said a municipal building was set on fire in Karaj, west of Tehran, and blamed “rioters”. State TV broadcast footage of funerals of members of the security forces it said were killed in protests in the cities of Shiraz, Qom and Hamedan.

Protests have spread across much of Iran over the last two weeks, beginning in response to soaring inflation, but quickly turned political with protesters demanding an end to clerical rule. Authorities accuse the U.

S. and Israel of fomenting “the riots”.

Rights groups have documented dozens of deaths of protesters. Army says ‘Terrorist groups’ seek to undermine security Authorities continued to impose an internet blackout.

A witness in western Iran reached by phone said the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) were deployed and opening fire in the area from which they were speaking, declining to be identified for their safety. In a statement broadcast by state TV, the IRGC – an elite force which has suppressed previous bouts of unrest – accused terrorists of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights, killing several citizens and security personnel and saying property had been set on fire.

Safeguarding the achievements of the 1979 Islamic revolution and maintaining security was “a red line”, it added, saying the continuation of the situation was unacceptable. The military, which operates separately to the IRGC but is also commanded by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced it would “protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property”.

Palestinians search for their belongings after another deadly Israeli strike, one of several across the Gaza Strip on Thursday. In a country with a history of fragmented opposition to clerical rule, the son of the last shah of Iran who was toppled in the 1979 Islamic revolution has emerged as a prominent voice abroad spurring on the protests.

Pahlavi says goal is to prepare to ‘seize city centres’ In his latest appeal on the X social media platform, U.S.

-based Reza Pahlavi said: “Our goal is no longer merely to come into the streets; the goal is to prepare to seize city centres and hold them.” He also called on “workers and employees in key sectors of the economy, especially transportation, and oil, and gas and energy”, to begin a nationwide strike.

Trump said on Thursday he was not inclined to meet Pahlavi, a sign that he was waiting to see how the crisis plays out before backing an opposition leader. Trump, who bombed Iran last summer and warned Tehran last week the U.

S. could come to the protesters’ aid, issued another warning on Friday, saying: “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too.

” “I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” he added. Some protesters on the streets have shouted slogans in support of Pahlavi, such as “Long live the shah”, although most chants have called for an end to rule by the clerics or demanded action to fix an economy hammered by years of U.

S. and other international sanctions and pummelled by the 12-day war in June, when Israel and the U.

S. launched air strikes on Iran.

A doctor in northwestern Iran said that since Friday, large numbers of injured protesters had been brought to hospitals. Some were badly beaten, suffering head injuries and broken legs and arms, as well as deep cuts.

At least 20 people in one hospital had been shot with live ammunition, five of whom later died. On Friday, Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of Trump, saying rioters were attacking public properties and warning that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners”.

The Revolutionary Guards’ public relations office said three members of the Basij security force were killed and five wounded during clashes with what it described as “armed rioters” in Gachsaran, in the southwest. Another security officer was stabbed to death in Hamedan, in western Iran.

The son of a senior officer, Brigadier General Martyr Nourali Shoushtari, was killed in the Ahmadabad area of Mashhad, in the northeast. Two other security personnel were killed over the past two nights in Shushtar, in Khuzestan province.

The protests pose the biggest internal challenge in at least three years to Iran’s clerical rulers, who look more vulnerable than during past bouts of unrest amid a dire economic situation and after last year’s war. The leaders of France, Britain and Germany issued a joint statement on Friday condemning the killing of protesters and urged the Iranian authorities to refrain from violence.

Authorities have described protests over the economy as legitimate while condemning what they call violent rioters and cracking down with security forces. Iran’s clerical establishment has weathered repeated past bouts of unrest, including student protests in 1999, over a disputed election in 2009, against economic hardships in 2019, and the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests.

Iranian rights group HRANA said it had documented 65 deaths including 50 protesters and 15 security personnel as of January 9. The Norway-based human rights group Hengaw said more than 2,500 people had been arrested over the past two weeks.

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Dar es Salaam. We are not talking football today, but art and the extraordinary talent of Michel Kuka Mboladinga, popularly known as Lumumba or Lumumba Vea.

Mboladinga is one of Africa’s most unique football fans, who has captured attention with his remarkable way of supporting his national team, DR Congo, at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Morocco. Unlike other fans, he cheers while standing completely still, his right hand raised throughout the entire match, almost like a living statue.

Early life and passion for football Born on September 26, 1976, Mboladinga displayed a special passion for football from childhood, alongside a love for his country’s culture and history. His journey as an unusual, devoted fan began in 2013 when he chose to support his national team in a way unlike any other–by standing still and raising his right hand throughout matches, never moving for the full duration of play.

A tribute to history This distinctive style won him fame, as he never showed emotion even when his team scored. His calm, statue-like demeanor is a tribute to the historical and political memory of Patrice Lumumba, DR Congo’s first Prime Minister after independence in 1960, who is revered for his dedication to his nation and struggle for freedom.

Patrice Lumumba was assassinated in 1961. AFCON 202526 performances During several AFCON 202526 matches, Mboladinga continued to draw attention, wearing the DR Congo flag colors–blue, yellow, and red–while standing motionless for the entire match, in homage to the famous Lumumba statue in Kinshasa. His behavior contrasted sharply with the cheers and songs of other fans in the stadium.

In recognition of his dedication, Mboladinga was given a special honor: he traveled alongside a small group of fans whose trips to Morocco were sponsored by the Congolese government, showing the value placed on him by his nation. What has impressed many is his remarkable endurance.

He remains motionless, without lowering his hand, even during extra time, often gazing upwards, seemingly lost in thought. Legacy at AFCON 2025 Although DR Congo was eliminated from the AFCON tournament, Mboladinga made history, becoming a fan attraction.

He managed to stand a total of 390 minutes across four matches, including the Round of 16 game where DR Congo played 120 minutes before losing to Algeria’s Boulbina with a late goal. At the moment the decisive goal was scored, Mboladinga was reportedly seen shedding tears while standing.

Through his unique dedication, Michel Kuka Mboladinga has turned football fandom into art, leaving a lasting impression at AFCON 2025. .

Dar es Salaam. The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Necta) has announced the results of the Standard Four National Assessment and the Form Two National Assessment.

The results were officially announced today, January 10, 2026, by the council’s Executive Secretary, Dr Said Mohamed, during a press briefing in Dar es Salaam. .