All of Africa Today: September 7, 2026

An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other people to death by hanging after convicting them on drug charges. State-owned media reported that the group operated a criminal gang that imported ingredients for manufacturing narcotics for sale.

Authorities also said the group possessed illegal firearms and ammunition. More than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials were reportedly seized during the investigation. Prosecutors relied on testimony from 20 witnesses and electronic evidence, including conversations and video clips.

Khalifa, 39, is known for hosting the crime-focused programme Mission Impossible. She has denied the charges and maintained her innocence. Nine other defendants received life sentences, while seven were acquitted. The death sentences followed the legally required opinion from Egypt's grand mufti, and Khalifa's lawyer said she would appeal.

In a separate development, the UN General Assembly voted for a non-binding resolution supporting a replacement for the widely used Mercator world map. Sponsored by Togo and backed by African Union member states, the Correct the Map resolution received support from 164 countries, including France and the United Kingdom. The United States voted against it, while six countries abstained.

Supporters say the Mercator projection, developed in the 16th century for navigation, makes areas near the poles appear larger and areas near the equator smaller. They argue that this can distort perceptions of Africa's size, resources, population and development potential. The African Union adopted the Equal Earth projection earlier this year, describing it as a more accurate representation of the relative size of the continents.

In Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions urged the government to focus on jobs and economic recovery rather than a crackdown on informal street vendors. The call followed an ultimatum from Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe ordering vendors and informal traders to leave undesignated sites by September 9. Authorities said law enforcement and municipal police would then dismantle and demolish irregular stalls and informal vending sites, initially targeting central Harare and nearby metropolitan areas.