“Three Years On: Sudan War Enters Fourth Year as Calls Grow for Civilian-Led Peace
Today marks three years since war broke out in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, plunging the country into a devastating conflict that is now entering its fourth year amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and fading international attention. On the anniversary, the Sudan Quintet, comprising the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, League of Arab States, European Union, and the United Nations, reaffirmed its commitment to “an inclusive Sudanese owned inter Sudanese political dialogue” aimed at ending the war and laying the foundations for a peaceful transition. In a joint statement ahead of the Third International Conference on Sudan opening today in Berlin, the Quintet voiced grave concern over the deteriorating situation. … Sudanese civil society groups, including the Declaration of Principles Alliance, the Democratic Civil Society Platform, the Sudan Civic Convergence Tracks and the Sudan Peace Call, presented a joint position ahead of the conference, describing themselves as “a coherent, independent civic bloc.” They said peace “cannot be achieved without the full participation of its people” and demanded genuine inclusion grounded in local realities. Dabanga
The Charts That Show Sudan’s War Is the World’s Deadliest – and Getting Worse
Marked by massacres visible from space, forced displacement, famine and attacks on healthcare, the war has been described by the UN as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis”. … The Telegraph has analysed data from three years of war in Sudan which show that not only is it by far the deadliest and most destructive conflict in the world, but it is getting worse. … more people have died in every year of Sudan’s war than in any other conflict in recent years… Much of the confusion over the death toll in Sudan is the result of how difficult it is to get information out of the country – both sides in the conflict have introduced strict blackouts on communication in the areas they control, and have sought to cover up evidence of mass killings. But it also comes from the complex nature of the conflict. As well as violence, hunger and disease are killing the Sudanese in large numbers. … Drones are used extensively in Sudan with increasingly deadly consequences for civilians. … Unlike many conflicts that begin in rural peripheries, the war in Sudan began in the country’s densely populated capital – once home to nine million people – forcing entire neighbourhoods to empty overnight. … Sudan’s last civil war only came to an end in 2011 after raging for 30 years. Experts warn the current fighting has not yet seen even a fraction of the sustained diplomatic engagement it took to end that conflict. Telegraph
Cameroon Hopes the Pope’s Visit Brings Healing After Nearly a Decade of Conflict
Caro Bih says she was once kidnapped, chained and held for ransom by the separatist fighters who have clashed for years with government soldiers in parts of Cameroon. Several relatives have been killed, jailed or abducted. Her family home was razed. Now she says her hopes for peace rest with Pope Leo XIV. She is among millions in Cameroon anticipating his arrival on Wednesday as part of his four-nation Africa tour. It comes as the Central African nation is still reeling from a disputed presidential election that left dozens dead as the world’s oldest president, 93-year-old Paul Biya, extended his long rule. The papal visit with its call for peace is expected to highlight the separatist conflict in Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions. Thousands of people have been killed in what humanitarian groups call one of the world’s most neglected conflicts. AP
DRC Peace Talks Open as Violence Shifts to Remote Highlands
Fighting is currently centred around the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where the M23 armed group has seized territory and the Congolese army and its allies are trying to push it back. The ninth round of talks, which began on Monday, is taking place near the Swiss city of Montreux, with the location kept secret until late in the day for security reasons, sources told RFI. A Qatari delegate and United States envoy Massad Boulos are co-moderating the session, while a representative from the United Nations mission Monusco is attending as an observer. Early discussions were reportedly difficult, with delegates disagreeing on the agenda and the composition of delegations, while the M23 side, which arrived with six delegates and six experts, struggled to have its full team accepted. In South Kivu, clashes have spread from towns into highland areas, which are harder to reach and control. This followed M23’s withdrawal from the city of Uvira. Rather than calming the conflict, this pushed the fighting into more isolated and strategic areas. Clashes are now concentrated in the high plateaus of Fizi, Mwenga, Uvira and Kalehe territories, particularly around a triangle formed by Point Zero, Mikenge and Minembwe. RFI
How a Russian Ship Under Sanctions Delivered Armoured Vehicles to Mali
A satellite image posted on March 6 on the X account of an open-source investigator shows dozens of military vehicles being loaded onto the Sabetta, a Russian cargo ship, in Baltiysk Port in Kaliningrad, a strategic Russian enclave located in northern Poland. The Russian military equipment being loaded onto the Sabetta was destined for Mali. It followed a route previously identified by RFI for transporting Russian military equipment: first by sea from Russia to Conakry, Guinea and then by land from Conakry to Bamako, the capital of Mali. The Sabetta is one of a fleet of Russian transport vessels – under international sanctions – that was mobilised to transport arms to the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) and a Mali-based contingent of the Africa Corps, a paramilitary group that has taken the place of the late Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group and is controlled directly by the Russian government. … According to route details published by RFI, the convoys transporting military equipment need about 17 hours to travel the 995 kilometres over land from the port of Conakry to Bamako, Mali. France24
Central African Republic: Opposition Leader Martin Ziguele’s Critical View of the Country’s Political Situation
In the Central African Republic, more than two weeks after the inauguration of President Faustin Archange Touadéra, marking the country’s entry into the Seventh Republic, former Prime Minister Martin Ziguélé has broken his silence. In a political climate still marked by persistent tensions between the government and the opposition, the president of the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) is raising the alarm about the deteriorating living conditions of Central Africans after ten years of governance by the current regime. Anxious to improve the situation, he reiterates that inclusive dialogue between political actors and the nation’s vital forces is essential for better governance of the country. RFI
Nigeria: The Opposition Coalition ADC Holds Its National Convention
Hundreds of delegates from across Nigeria converged on Abuja. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) held its national convention on Tuesday, April 14, despite a suspension for legal reasons imposed by the Independent Electoral Commission. The main opposition coalition, this platform brings together the principal challengers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. These opposition figures presented a united front to their supporters. RFI
Nigeria: Katsina Cracks Down on ‘Kauraye’ Gangs 10 Days After Brutal Attack on Journalist, BudgIT Officer
Ten days after a journalist and civic accountability officer was brutally attacked in Katsina, Governor Dikko Radda has announced a sweeping crackdown on gangs blamed for rising urban violence in the state. The governor on Tuesday signed an executive order banning the activities of “Kauraye”, “Sarasuka” and other miscreant groups, while also constituting a multi-agency task force and approving special mobile courts to fast-track prosecutions under the Miscreant Activities (Suppression) Order, 2026. The move follows a wave of violent incidents across Katsina metropolis, including the April 4 attack on Mustapha Sadiq, publisher of Katsina Post and BudgIT’s state budget-tracking officer, raising questions about whether authorities are responding quickly enough to escalating insecurity. … The crackdown comes against a backdrop of persistent urban violence in Katsina. Premium Times
South Africa, Nigeria Enter Cybercrime Global Ranking
South Africa and Nigeria ranked among the top 20 countries worldwide where cybercrime complaints were filed last year, research by the US FBI found. Global cybercrime losses surged to a record $20.8 billion in 2025, a 26% increase from 2024, with more than 1 million complaints filed. While sub-Saharan Africa’s two biggest economies reported a lower number of complaints than other countries — Canada, India, and Japan topped the list — “their inclusion points to a growing exposure tied to expanding digital and financial ecosystems,” noted Business Insider Africa. Nigeria and South Africa were both removed from a global financial crime watch list in October, indicating some progress in tackling illicit money flows. Semafor
Morocco Emerges as Africa’s Drone Hub as France’s Manufacturer Expands Operations
French drone manufacturer Delair has announced plans to establish its African headquarters in Rabat and to launch a new subsidiary, Delair Africa, as it deepens its footprint across the continent’s rapidly evolving security and technology landscape. The company, which specialises in the design and operation of unmanned aerial vehicles, said the move is intended to improve responsiveness to African clients and strengthen operational proximity in key markets. The expansion reflects a broader strategy pursued since the early 2010s, during which Delair has secured contracts and deployments in countries such as Nigeria, Niger, and Côte d’Ivoire. Morocco’s selection as the continental base underscores its growing appeal as a strategic hub for defence and security industries. The North African nation has steadily invested in drone capabilities, with its Royal Gendarmerie acquiring around 15 DT-26 drones in 2021 for border surveillance operations. Africa Business Insider