South Sudan Government Retakes Flashpoint Nasir Town
South Sudanese government forces have retaken the town of Nasir which had been a flashpoint in a deepening political crisis, an army spokesman said on Sunday. Clashes around Nasir in the northeastern Upper Nile State have helped unravel a power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, Vice-President Riek Machar. The violence has threatened to plunge South Sudan, which became the world’s youngest country after gaining independence in 2011, back into civil war. Kiir’s allies accuse Machar’s forces of fomenting unrest in Nasir in league with the so-called White Army, a loose band of armed youths from Machar’s Nuer ethnic community. An estimated 6,000 White Army combatants overran a military encampment in Nasir in early March, killing a senior general and many others…The army said [last] week it had also taken the nearby town of Ulang, long controlled by Machar’s forces. AFP
“No Peace through War,” South Sudan Church Says
South Sudan’s Catholic Church on Friday called for reconciliation among the country’s leaders ahead of Easter, urging dialogue to end ongoing political and security tensions. Escalating political tensions in South Sudan have raised fears of a return to civil war after President Salva Kiir detained First Vice President Riek Machar on March 26 Kiir, who is Catholic, and Machar, a Presbyterian, signed a peace deal in 2018…Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, Archbishop of Juba, expressed frustration over the lack of progress in achieving lasting peace and warned against attempts to eliminate rival factions. “No peace can be founded on war or trying to eliminate the other party,” Ameyu told a press conference. “Peace can only be established through dialogue.” South Sudan’s political leaders signed a revitalized peace agreement in 2018 and formed a transitional unity government. However, political disputes and sporadic violence persist…The Church has repeatedly mediated in South Sudan’s peace efforts, but political rivalries continue to hinder stability. Radio Tamazuj
Sudan Tries RSF Hemetti in Absentia for West Darfur Governor Assassination
A Sudanese terrorism court on Sunday began the in absentia trial of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemetti, his brother Abdel Rahim and others over the 2023 assassination of West Darfur’s governor. Sudan’s Public Prosecution had previously summoned Hemetti, his brothers, former Deputy Governor Tijani Al-Tahir Karshom, and others, declaring them fugitives when they failed to appear, before referring the case to the Port Sudan court. Judge Al-Mamoun Al-Khawad scheduled the trial to continue on Monday with testimony from the investigator and complainant, while witnesses will appear in later sessions…Governor Khamis Abkar was killed on June 14, 2023, after RSF forces detained him in West Darfur. Videos later surfaced showing his killing and the mutilation of his body…The attorney general told the court the RSF arrested Abkar and his guards, took them to an RSF base where Abkar was “liquidated” – allegedly with the participation of local RSF commander Abdel Rahman Juma Barak Allah and Karshom – and his body was dragged through the streets. Sudan Tribune
Sudanese, Russian Companies Sign Oil Services MoU
A Sudanese company and two Russian firms signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday to cooperate on petroleum services, days before a Joint Ministerial Committee meeting between the two countries. Sudan seeks to attract Russian investments, especially in the gold mining and oil sectors, but insecurity and instability hinder these efforts despite repeated visits by Russian businesspeople to the country. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum stated that the director of Sudan’s Bashayer Pipeline Company (BAPCO) signed the MoU on oil services with the Chairman of Russia’s Al-Rossi Global Services and the state-owned Russian company Zarubezhneft. The signing ceremony was attended by a delegation from the Russian Embassy in Sudan and a Zarubezhneft representative, the ministry added. The Sudan-Russia Joint Ministerial Committee meeting is scheduled for late April. It will be co-chaired by Sudan’s Minister of Minerals and Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. The committee has previously reached cooperation agreements in the energy, mining, and transport sectors. Sudan Tribune
DR Congo Bans Ex-president’s Party over Alleged Rebel Links
The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned the party of former President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of links to the M23 rebel group which has seized large parts of the east of the country this year. The ban comes amid reports that Kabila has returned to the country after spending two years in South Africa. He is said to have returned to the town of Goma, which was seized by the Rwandan-backed M23 in January. Kabila led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Joseph Kabila was just 29 at the time. An interior ministry statement said all activities of Kabila’s PPRD party had been banned because of its “ambiguous attitude” to the occupation of Congolese territory by the M23. It also noted that Kabila had chosen to return to Goma, where he was being protected by the “enemy”…On Friday, the government accused Kabila, 53, of high treason and ordered the seizure of all his property. Kabila has previously denied having links to the M23. He has not commented on the latest moves by the Congolese government, or confirmed that he has returned to DR Congo. However, he did say earlier this month that he would be going back to the country. Senior PPRD officials have denied that Kabila is currently in Goma. BBC
Tunisian Court Hands Prison Sentences of up to 66 Years in Mass Trial of Regime Opponents
A Tunisian court has handed down prison sentences of 13 to 66 years to politicians, businessmen and lawyers in a mass trial that opponents say is fabricated and a symbol of president Kais Saied’s authoritarian rule. Businessman Kamel Ltaif received the longest sentence of 66 years on Saturday, while opposition politician Khayam Turki was given a 48-year jail term, a lawyer for the defendants said. The court also sentenced prominent opposition figures, including Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawahar Ben Mbarek and Ridha Belhaj, to 18 years in prison. They have been in custody since 2023. Forty people were being prosecuted in the trial that started in March. More than 20 have fled abroad since being charged. Saied secured a second five-year term in 2024 with 90.7% of the vote after coming to power in 2019. Rights groups say he has had full control over the judiciary since he dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree…The opposition leaders involved in the case accuse Saied of staging a coup in 2021 and say the case is fabricated to stifle the opposition and establish a one-man, repressive rule. They say they were preparing an initiative aimed at uniting the fragmented opposition to face the democratic setback in the cradle of the Arab spring uprisings. The Guardian with Reuters
Boko Haram Resurgence Threatens Resettled Communities in Nigeria’s Borno State
As Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to escalate their violent campaigns across the Lake Chad region, resettled communities are facing fresh security threats, placing them at serious risk of renewed displacement and an impending humanitarian crisis. The insurgents recently launched deadly attacks on several communities whose residents had only just returned to their ancestral homes in some parts of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. On Thursday, April 17, they stormed the community of Yamtake in Gwoza Local Government Area of the state, killing two soldiers and an unconfirmed number of civilians in what residents say was a coordinated nighttime assault. The attack has heightened fears for the safety of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) resettled in the region under government-led reconstruction initiatives…Kidnappings have also become common in under-resourced resettlement sites, with victims often forced to sell everything they own, or go into debt, to pay ransoms for their loved ones. HumAngle
Somali Army Chief to Resign after Setback in Al-Shabaab War
General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, the Chief of Defence Forces of the Somali National Army (SNA), who made a return recently after dismissal, has since written to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, asking for exit from the SNA leadership. Credible reports indicate that the Chief of Defence Forces is said to have written to President Hassan, expressing his intention to leave the forces, at a time the Somali National Army is facing setbacks from the battle against Al-Shabaab militants. The Somali National Army lost strategic Adan Yabaal town in Middle Shabelle, highlighting a serious gap in the operations, with the US Africa Command forced to intervene by activating an airstrike while assisting the local forces in the fight against the group. For this, President Mohamud is also expected to reshuffle senior military leadership to boost operations against al Shabaab, as the group has recently intensified attacks and regained control of previously lost territories. General Odawaa Yusuf Rage rejoined the military in November 2024 after two years of absence, having been replaced by General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyiddin. Odowaa was brought back to spearhead the operations by the military against al-Shabaab. Garowe Online
Chad Junta Signs Peace Accord with Gold Region Militias
Chad’s military junta on Sunday signed a peace accord with armed groups in the north of the country who launched an uprising over gold deposits in the region. Government mediator Saleh Kebzabo signed the accord with two groups that had been fighting in the Miski region of Tibesti province bordering Libya. Fighters from the Chadian Defence and Security Forces and the Miski Self-Defence Committee had battled the national army in 2019-2020 over the exploitation of gold mines reputed to have major deposits. Under the deal, all mining permits for the Miski region have been cancelled and all mining activity suspended for a new survey to be carried out. Miski Self-Defence Committee forces have prevented government officials from entering the region for several years. Other accords in 2019 and 2023 have broken down or not been applied. AFP
More Than 100 Inmates Make Deadly Prison Break in Chad
More than 100 inmates escaped a Chad prison during a shoot-out that left three people dead, and wounded a state governor visiting the facility, officials told AFP on Saturday. The break-out occurred late Friday when an uprising happened in the high-security penitentiary five kilometres (three miles) from the town of Mongo, in the centre of the country. “There are around 100 who escaped, three dead and three wounded,” Hassan Souleymane Adam, secretary general of the Guera province in which Mongo is located, said. A local Mongo official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said prisoners broke into a manager’s office to steal guns. “A shootout with guards ensued, at the same time the governor arrived. He was wounded,” he said. The Mongo official confirmed there were three dead, and put the total number of escaped prisoners at 132. He said the prisoners revolted after complaining about a lack of food. AFP
Mali Banks Suspend Strike After Agreement with Junta
Banks and gas stations that had gone on strike in Mali called off their action on Friday after reaching an agreement with the junta, the union and the government said. The National Union of Banks, Insurance Companies, Financial Institutions, Retailers, and Gas Stations (Synabef) had stopped work on Thursday to demand the release of three union members arrested a month ago and to advocate better working conditions…A joint statement from Synabef and an office attached to the prime minister’s announced “the suspension of the strike order” late Friday, following a meeting between the union and a government delegation led by Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga…A union source told AFP on Friday that the three arrested members would be released “on Tuesday (or) Wednesday at the latest”. AFP
Turkish Embassy in Cairo Hosts Event to Highlight Egypt-NATO Partnership Support
The Turkish Embassy in Cairo organised an informative event on Thursday to highlight Egypt’s relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the role of both Turkiye and Italy in serving as the NATO Contact Point in Cairo…Among the attendees were Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni, former Egyptian Foreign Minister and head of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Mohamed El Orabi, in addition to several former ambassadors, diplomats, academics, and journalists. Representatives from NATO Headquarters in Brussels also joined the event via video conference. In his speech, [Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Sen] addressed NATO’s history, the current partnership with Egypt, and how the Turkish Embassy in Cairo could play a vital role in facilitating communication, cooperation, and coordination between NATO and Egypt. A representative from NATO’s headquarters in Brussels also spoke during the event, focusing on the Southern Neighbourhood working plan adopted during NATO’s Washington Summit in July 2024. The plan outlines NATO’s approach to individual partnerships with neighbouring countries and its intent to enhance relations in response to the region’s challenges and threats. Middle East Monitor
Algeria, Mauritania Ink Bilateral Defence Cooperation Deal
Algeria and Mauritania [last week] discussed security developments in Africa and signed a defence cooperation agreement, Anadolu reported. This came during a visit by Mauritanian Defence Minister Hanena Ould Sidi Ould Hane to Algeria, according to a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Defence…The two parties exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest and explored ways to strengthen their bilateral military cooperation. At the end of the meeting, a defence cooperation agreement was signed, its contents were not revealed…Cooperation between Algeria and Mauritania has significantly intensified over the past five years, driven by regular exchanges between Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, which have led to structural projects, such as the construction of a road linking the two countries, the development of a border post and the creation of a free trade zone. Middle East Monitor
Inside South Africa’s Wildlife CSI School Helping to Catch Poachers
[South Africa’s Wildlife Forensic Academy is a training centre aiming to fight poaching by teaching investigation skills to rangers, conservation officers and law enforcement. It is set inside a warehouse in a private game reserve an hour north of Cape Town.] …”The first people who arrive at the crime scene are absolutely crucial,” said Phil Snijman, a former prosecutor and trainer at the academy. “They are the ones who will secure the crime scene. In the absence of the necessary training… that might lead to losing a lot of your available evidence,” he said…Improving the way evidence is gathered, especially forensic material that can stand up in court, will lead to more convictions and serve as a deterrent to future crimes, said Snijman. AFP
‘Kush Destroys Them’: The Guinean Rehab Clinic Tackling a Drug Epidemic
At Guinea’s only private drug rehabilitation clinic, Dr Marie Koumbassa and her 15-person team are so convinced that drug use is a national emergency that they work for no pay. Every week, SAJED-Guinée (Service for Helping Young People in Difficult Situations due to Drugs) receives dozens of distress calls from relatives of addicts who are then taken to the facility in the working-class Conakry neighbourhood of Dabompa. In richer areas of the city, cocaine is the drug of choice. Elsewhere, the prevalent substances are tramadol, crack and – in a recent trend – kush, a deadly mix of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, formaldehyde and reportedly human bones…Unlike its neighbours Guinea Bissau – seen as a “narco-state” – and Sierra Leone, which is the regional hub for kush, drug abuse and trafficking are not readily associated with the more culturally conservative Guinea. But experts say a crisis is under way, fuelled by a growing market operated by cross-border trafficking syndicates…The scale of the problem has overwhelmed Guinea’s meagre capacity for treating addicts. The country only has two known state-run centres catering to substance abuse. During the Covid-19 pandemic, one was closed for a time, overcrowding the other. The Guardian