In the past, kidnapping victims in Nigeria tended to be the wealthy and the prominent. But a new report from SB Morgen, a Nigerian consulting firm, shows that, over time, the pool of potential victims has greatly expanded. Now, victims are often poor.

Cyril Ramaphosa established an anti-virus regime: social distancing and a lockdown. And the virus "curve" indeed appeared to flatten. He gets good international press, but must deal with a restive and poor population.

The German minister of culture has announced plans to return hundreds of art objects to Nigeria. Their provenance is the Benin Royal Palace—located in Benin City, which is situated in southern Nigeria—looted and destroyed by the British in 1897. Apparently, the objects will be deposited at the Edo Museum of West African Art, under construction in Benin City.

As the coup in Mali shows, military seizures of power have not disappeared entirely. Nevertheless, the old style of coups has become rare in Africa. More common now are incumbent chiefs of state using different, more subtle methods to stay in power.

Cyclone Idai devastated parts of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe this month and dissipated last week. Recovery in the affected countries is starting, but there is still a long way to go. The UN is involved. The death toll continues to mount. As of March 24, according to media, it was 446 in Mozambique, 259 in Zimbabwe and at least 56 in Malawi. Local authorities caution that it is likely to go much higher.