Africa: Criminal Law

The Sudanese civil war is fueled by an illicit gold trade that exposes global supply chains to significant compliance and reputational risks. As Western governments impose increasingly stringent sanctions on Sudan's gold exports, sophisticated smuggling networks continue to operate, potentially contaminating legitimate refiners and manufacturers across telecommunications, aerospace, and medical device industries. Despite escalating international pressure and upcoming summits on illicit finance, strategic li

South Africa's Information Regulator issued an enforcement notice against the Gauteng Department of Health for failing to disclose records requested under PAIA, linked to investigations...

The Gulf of Guinea has witnessed a significant transformation in maritime security threats, with illegal fishing emerging as a critical challenge following the decline in piracy incidents. This analysis examines how Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has evolved into a major economic and security concern for Nigeria and neighboring West African states, exploring the legal frameworks, enforcement gaps, and systemic weaknesses that enable this lucrative criminal activity to persist despite inte

The Supreme Court's decision in Maryam Sanda v C.O.P has sparked renewed debate over a critical constitutional question: can the executive exercise its prerogative of mercy while a convict's appeal remains pending before the courts? This ancient power, preserved in Nigeria's Constitution as a humane corrective to the criminal justice system, now stands at the intersection of executive authority and judicial process. The case raises fundamental questions about the separation of powers and the proper timing o

Banks are rapidly deploying artificial intelligence across critical functions like credit decisioning, fraud detection, and customer engagement, but beneath the efficiency gains lies a growing risk: AI debt.

On 18 April 2026, the Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 (Act No. 3 of 2026) came into force.