Gabon: Junta Navigating Glide Path to Consolidate Power
The Gabon presidential election is shaping up to be a highly orchestrated exercise aimed at conferring a degree of legitimacy on the military regime of Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema who seized power in a coup on August 30, 2023. Oligui has followed a carefully choreographed sequence of actions to pave an unobstructed pathway to claim the presidency in this resource-rich country of 2.5 million people within the vital Congo Basin region. This includes declaring himself Transition President on September 4, 2023, appointing loyalists to two-thirds of the Senate and National Assembly, naming all 9 members of the Constitutional Court, and hosting a tightly scripted national dialogue in mid-2024, from which 200 political parties were banned and in which the military played a prominent role. An outcome of the proceedings was the rewriting of the constitution to allow members of the military to contest political office, remove the role of the prime minister, extend presidential terms to seven years, and abolish the two round electoral system (thus lowering the threshold of popular support needed), transfer of responsibility for overseeing the elections from the electoral commission to the Ministry of Interior, and adopt a strict electoral code to limit potential presidential candidates. Each of these changes further consolidates authority within Gabon’s already highly centralized executive branch while also providing Oligui a glide path to extend his hold on power. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Congo Government, M23 Rebel Delegations in Doha for Talks, Sources Say
Congolese officials and negotiators for the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have arrived in Doha for talks to hammer out a ceasefire and end months of fighting that have raised fears of a wider regional conflict, four sources told Reuters on Thursday. M23’s rapid advance this year has left thousands of civilians dead, displaced hundreds of thousands more and given the rebels control over much of Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern borderlands, an area rich in tin, gold and coltan. Members of both delegations confirmed their presence in the Qatari capital and said there was a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, but they were still discussing the framework for talks. All of the sources – two government officials and two rebel representatives – requested anonymity as the Qatari mediators had requested they not speak to journalists. Qatar convened a meeting last month between Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame. It was the two leaders’ first encounter since M23 launched its current offensive in January. The subsequent push for peace talks is the latest effort to end the years-long conflict, which has its roots in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. A source with knowledge of Qatar’s mediation told Reuters that the two sides held a discreet meeting in Doha earlier this month to prepare the peace talks. But the negotiations, originally meant to start on Wednesday, continue to hit roadblocks. Reuters
Sudan: Scores Killed, Injured in North Darfur Market Shelling
Heavy artillery shelling by paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a crowded market in Sudan’s North Darfur state killed and injured at least 15 people on Thursday…The shelling occurred amid escalating violence in the state capital, El Fasher, where the RSF has repeatedly targeted parts of the city, including camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs). Health Minister Ibrahim Khatir told the Sudan Tribune that the casualties occurred when the RSF shelled the Abu Shouk IDP camp north of El Fasher…The Abu Shouk Emergency Room, a local response group…stated more than 15 people were killed and over 25 injured in what it called “the most violent” shelling by the RSF on the camp, according statement extended to Sudan Tribune. The group said the RSF used 120mm and 82mm artillery and that shells hit homes, destroying dozens and causing casualties. Sudan Tribune
Sudan Asks ICJ to Order UAE to Halt Alleged Support for Genocide
Sudan asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday to order the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to halt alleged support for groups committing genocide in Darfur, while the UAE countered by asking the court to throw out the case. Sudan accused the UAE of complicity in an ongoing genocide against the non-Arab Masalit ethnic group in its Darfur region. It requested emergency measures from the court, arguing the UAE’s alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group is fueling atrocities against the Masalit. Acting Minister of Justice Muawia Osman Mohamed Khair, representing Sudan, told the court the RSF campaign targets the Masalit population. Sudan’s lawyers detailed alleged arms shipments funneled through Chad, citing UN reports and other sources claiming cargo flights from the UAE supplied the RSF with weapons, including heavy artillery like Howitzers, and logistical support. They also referenced the U.S. State Department’s determination in January that genocide was being committed in Sudan by the RSF and allied militias…A key part of Sudan’s argument focused on the UAE’s 2005 reservation to Article IX of the Genocide Convention, which the UAE stated means it does not consider itself bound by the article allowing states to bring disputes before the ICJ, also known as the World Court. Sudan argued this reservation should not prevent the court from exercising jurisdiction. Sudan Tribune
South Sudan: Gov’t Denies EU Special Representative’s Request to Visit Dr. Machar
The EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa, Dr Annette Weber, visited Juba on 10 April 2025 at the request and on behalf of EU High Representative/Vice President H.E. Kaja Kallas but was denied access to First Vice President Dr Riek Machar, who is under house arrest. A press statement extended to Radio Tamazuj said that during her visit, Dr Weber met Vice President Dr Benjamin Bol Mel, Information Minister Michael Makuei, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Dr Wek Mamer and Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr Martin Elia Lomuro…According to the EU, Dr. Weber conveyed the grave concern of the European Union about the acts of violence in several regions of South Sudan and the multiple violations of the peace agreement…South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 agreement ended a five-year conflict between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Machar, which killed nearly 400,000 people. However, relations between the two leaders, who have dominated South Sudan’s politics for decades, remain strained. The house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar is widely seen as jeopardizing the peace agreement. Radio Tamazuj
Turkey Signs Onshore Oil Exploration Deal with Somalia Amid Security Concerns
Turkey and Somalia have signed a new onshore oil and gas exploration agreement, granting Turkey’s state-run energy firm rights to conduct seismic surveys across three land blocks in Somalia, officials said on Thursday. The deal, signed in Ankara, allows Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to begin seismic studies over an area of approximately 16,000 square kilometers, part of a broader effort by both countries to expand cooperation in the energy sector…The onshore agreement builds on a March 2024 deal between the two countries for offshore exploration. Turkey’s Oruc Reis seismic research vessel has completed 78% of planned surveys in Somali waters, with the remainder expected to finish by May…The agreement marks the latest development in Somalia-Turkey ties, which have deepened since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Mogadishu in 2011. Since then, Turkey has invested in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, particularly in southern Somalia. Garowe Online
Somalia: Puntland Forces Deal Crushing Blow to ISIS in Cal-Miskaad Mountains
The Puntland counterterrorism unit continues to inflict severe losses on the ISIS militants, with the operation entering the fourth month — notably with undeniable victories throughout the operations. The forces confirmed the killing of several ISIS militants in Guryasamo in the Cal-Miskaad mountains, subsequently destroying what appeared like a base for the militants. The fighters have lost on several frontlines. The operation, based on actionable intelligence, targeted a known ISIS hideout used for planning and launching attacks in the region. The military recorded several casualties as well but were not as severe as those of ISIS militants…For years, the ISIS militants have used the Cal-Miskaad mountains as their operational center given that it is in the remote parts of the northern state. Several caves had been destroyed with hundreds of the militants getting killed. The raid marks the latest in a series of joint efforts by Puntland and Somali federal authorities to dismantle ISIS networks operating in northern Somalia. The US Africa Command and the United Arab Emirates forces have been assisting local troops. Elsewhere in southern regions, the Somali National Army with assistance from the US Africa Command, managed to kill dozens of Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia with several dead bodies discovered in Hiiraan. Garowe Online
Uganda: Besigye, Lutale Denied Bail
The High Court in Kampala has denied bail to veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale, citing the grave nature of the charges against them and concerns that their influence could interfere with ongoing investigations. Today marks 147 days since the duo was incarcerated following their arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in November last year. While the court found the sureties presented by Dr. Besigye and Hajj Lutale to be substantial and acknowledged that they had met the necessary bail requirements, presiding judge Rosette Comfort Kania declined to grant their release. Daily Monitor
Tanzania: Chadema’s Tundu Lissu Charged with Treason, Publishing False Information
The drama surrounding the arrest of Chadema’s national chairman, Mr Tundu Lissu, in Ruvuma Region culminated yesterday at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court, where he faced several charges, including treason. According to the charge sheet presented in court, Mr Lissu is accused of one count of inciting the public to obstruct the 2025 General Election, allegedly made during a speech in Dar es Salaam on April 3…Chadema’s Deputy Secretary General (Mainland), Mr Aman Golugwa, confirmed the charges against Mr Lissu in a phone interview with Mwananchi Digital yesterday. Mr Golugwa, who had just met with Mr Lissu at the Central Police Station after arriving from Ruvuma, revealed that Mr Lissu was being accused of treason and disseminating false information, and was expected to appear in court soon. In a related development, Mr Golugwa condemned what he described as political interference designed to weaken Chadema, calling for political disputes to be settled through debate and not by police action. Over 200 lawyers have been assembled to defend Mr Lissu, including prominent international lawyers such as Robert Amsterdam. The legal team will be led by Dr Rugemeleza Nshala, Chadema’s legal director, to ensure that justice is served. The Citizen
Italian Police Say They Disrupted Migrant Smuggling Ring, 15 Egyptians Arrested
Italian police said on Tuesday that they had dismantled a migrant smuggling network, leading to the arrests in several countries of 15 Egyptians involved in using sailing boats for dangerous illegal sea crossings from Turkiye to Greece and Italy, Reuters has reported. According to an Italian police statement, the network facilitated the illegal entry into Italy of at least 3,000 migrants since 2021, earning more than $30 million by charging them $10,000 each. The Italian police said that the arrests were made simultaneously in multiple countries with the cooperation of Albanian, German, Turkish and Omani police, coordinated by Italian anti-mafia prosecutors in Sicily and relying on Interpol and Europol. The smuggling network had been led by an Egyptian who ran operations from Istanbul, said the Italians…The sea route from Turkiye to Italy has been particularly notorious since February 2023, when at least 94 people died off Cutro in southern Italy in one of the worst disasters of the crisis. Middle East Monitor
Lead Poisoning: Nigerian Government Orders Illegal Miners out of Zamfara
The Nigerian government has ordered illegal miners to immediately vacate all mining sites in Zamfara State following the confirmation of an outbreak of lead poisoning in Bungudu Local Government Area. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the warning in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Tuesday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zamfara, known for its rich gold deposits, first recorded a major lead poisoning epidemic in 2010. The outbreak was traced to artisanal gold mining activities, which led to environmental contamination and the poisoning of hundreds of residents, particularly children. Mr Alake said all mining activities were still on hold until the release of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) which would guide the resumption of exploration in the state. News Agency of Nigeria
Can Nigeria Help Save the Pangolins Amid a Global Wildlife Crime Crisis?
Nigeria has become a hub for pangolin trafficking and other illegal trading of wildlife. But authorities have been cracking down, recently arresting a Chinese national suspected of being a high-level pangolin trafficker and targeting a supply network in a market in Lagos this month. The latter investigation led to five more arrests and the seizure of 8,300 pounds of pangolin scales — prized in Asia for their perceived medicinal value — from an estimated 1,900 slain animals. Nigeria’s Customs Service made the arrests with intelligence from the Wildlife Justice Commission, a Netherlands-based organization that supplies global law enforcement with evidence on criminal wildlife trafficking rings. The Chinese national detained in Lagos in February was connected to nearly 16,000 pounds of pangolin scales seized in August after a six-month investigation. “The operation shows the value of long-term intelligence gathering and international cooperation — and it reflects a calculated effort to go beyond low-level busts,” said Dr. Meganne Natali, a lawyer and legal consultant specializing in wildlife crime. To disrupt global pangolin trafficking, investigators must focus on catching top operatives and not just lone poachers, who are often poor and low on the trafficking totem pole, she said…Since 2021, Nigerian officials have also joined forces with the Wildlife Justice Commission, conducting 18 operations with its support, leading to the seizure of more than 55,000 pounds of pangolin scales and 2,200 pounds of ivory, as well as 12 convictions, including that of a Vietnamese trafficking kingpin, according to Olivia Swaak-Goldman, executive director of W.J.C. The New York Times
Hackers Breach Morocco’s Social Security Database in an Unprecedented Cyberattack
Morocco’s social security agency said troves of data were stolen from its systems in a cyberattack this week that resulted in personal information being leaked on the messaging app Telegram. The North African kingdom’s social security fund administers pensions and insurance benefits to millions of private sector workers, from assembly line laborers to corporate executives. It said in a statement Wednesday that preliminary investigations suggest the leak resulted from hackers bypassing its security systems. The agency did not say who was thought to be responsible for the leak while also claiming that many of the documents posted were “misleading, inaccurate, or incomplete.” The hackers who posted the documents on Telegram said the attack was in response to alleged Moroccan “harassment” of Algeria on social media platforms, pledging additional cyberattacks if Algerian sites were targeted. Moroccan media have attributed the attack to Algerian hackers, describing it as an episode in a larger cyberwar between the two countries. AP