President of Madagascar, Michael Randrianirina, appointed Mamitiana Rajaonarison, the former head of the country's anti-corruption agency, as prime minister following the dismissal of the entire government last week.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, from Cape Town, called for an immediate halt to escalating armed conflicts, describing the ongoing war as 'madness' that is costing innocent lives unnecessarily.

Ramaphosa told journalists on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Indaba. 

The European Union aims to adopt a new, 20th, package of sanctions against Russia next Monday, EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said at a press conference earlier today.
The sanctions are aimed at causing serious damage to the Russian economy, limiting its ability to wage war.