Malian Defense Chief Is Killed as Jihadis and Rebels Seize Towns and Military Bases
Mali’s defense minister was killed in a sweeping attack by jihadis and rebels who seized several towns and military bases, authorities said Sunday, the latest violence in the junta-run country that has long battled [militant Islamist groups] as well as a separatist rebellion in the north. … Mali was struck on Saturday by one of the biggest coordinated attacks on its army in the capital, Bamako, and several other cities and towns in an assault that also challenged Mali’s security partner, Russia, which has forces on the ground in the West African country. … According to the government statement, Camara’s residence was targeted by a suicide car bomber and other attackers on Saturday. … A spokesperson for the separatist Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, said the Russian Africa Corps troops and the Malian military withdrew from the city of Kidal following the attack on Saturday. … Saturday’s wave of attacks was the first time the separatists joined forces with the [militant] group JNIM, which said it was also part of the attack on Kidal and had also targeted a town outside of the capital of Bamako and three other cities on Saturday. AP
Mali Junta in Crisis After Minister Killed, Key City ‘Captured’
Mali’s military rulers faced a security crisis Sunday after coordinated nationwide attacks by jihadist fighters and separatist rebels this weekend killed the defence minister and reportedly left a key northern town in rebel hands. There was no word from the junta leader General Assimi Goita, who has not been seen since the attacks began at dawn on Saturday. The offensive, synchronised by Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), targeted several areas in the vast arid country. Analysts said the coordinated attacks were the most serious challenge to the country’s rulers since the March 2012 offensive that was repelled by the intervention of French forces, who have since left. Government troops were still fighting in some parts of the country, but the loss of Defence Minister Sadio Camara Saturday represented a serious blow to the administration. … The opposition Coalition of Forces for the Republic (CFR), said in a statement that Mali was “in danger”. The junta had “promised Malians security, stability and the return of the State” it said. After the weekend offensive, nobody could seriously claim that Mali was either pacified or secure, it added. AFP
Rising Sahel Terror Threat Sparks Fears of Spillover into Nigeria
The emerging collaboration between jihadist groups and separatist factions is seen as a dangerous evolution in the Sahel conflict, with implications for neighbouring states. … There has been increased infiltration of Sahel‑based fighters into Niger, Kwara, and Kogi states, with Kainji National Park reportedly serving as a potential logistics hub for armed groups. … Beyond direct attacks, analysts flagged broader risks such as the expansion of terrorist safe havens in forested border regions, increased recruitment driven by high‑profile assaults, erosion of public confidence in security institutions, and potential influxes of refugees and internally displaced persons. To mitigate the threat, a Research Fellow with the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi recommended enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance along border corridors; stronger regional cooperation through platforms such as the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Accra Initiative; targeted air and ground operations against identified enclaves; and reinforcement of border security through forward operating bases. The Researcher also urged improved intelligence sharing among Sahel states, expanded counter‑radicalisation and strategic communication efforts, stronger civil‑military engagement to boost early‑warning systems, and diplomatic leadership to unify regional counterterrorism strategies. PR Nigeria
Nigeria: Journalists Barred from Covering Coup Trial in Abuja
Journalists were on Monday ejected from the courtroom at the Federal High Court in Abuja as it prepared to hear bail applications for six defendants accused of plotting against President Bola Tinubu. A court official and a State Security Service (SSS) operative directed reporters to vacate the courtroom shortly before the trial judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, took her seat, signalling what appears to be the authorities’ preference for a secret trial. … The federal government on Wednesday, 22 April, arraigned a retired army general and five others on charges of planning failed coup against Mr Tinubu. … The Federal High Court in Abuja has 13 courtrooms handling criminal and civil matters. However, journalists say access restrictions vary from courtroom to courtroom. Premium Times
Why Supporters of Burkina Faso’s Junta Leader Are Campaigning against a Sky News Journalist
Supporters of Burkina Faso’s junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré have unleashed a tidal wave of hate against a Sky News journalist after she published a news report critical of his policies. … During her interview with Traoré, Elbagir raised questions about both the failures of the military strategy put into place by the Burkina Faso army and the curtailing of the freedom of expression. … Upset by the report criticising their leader, many Traoré supporters started attacking Elbagir online, calling her everything from a “mercenary of the pen” to a “bat”, with AI-generated images to illustrate their insults. Other Traoré supporters tried to harass the journalist on WhatsApp by circulating a phone number they claimed was hers. They also claimed that Elbagir’s number had been made public by a pro-Traoré group called the “BIR-C” (or Battalion for Rapid Communications Interventions) which appears to operate as a sort of online militia for the regime. … [T]here is a push to attack any narrative that doesn’t align with the propaganda from Burkina’s authorities, such as the worsening of the security situation. … [T]he supporters’ infuriated reaction to Elbagir’s report might also be because it runs counter to the way the government has tried to portray itself to English-speaking countries. … For example, in May 2025, hundreds of fake, AI-generated music videos singing Traoré’s praises were produced in Nigeria. They were meant to reach people living in English-speaking African nations as well as those in the United States. … In reponse to Elbagir’s report, Traoré’s supporters said that they were ready to attack any criticism from abroad. France 24
Sudan: Clashes Intensify in Sudan’s Blue Nile as Army and RSF Alliance Trade Blows
Military operations escalated on Saturday in Sudan’s Blue Nile region between the army and an alliance of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the SPLM-N led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, amid conflicting reports over territorial control. The RSF and its allies launched a major offensive in the southeastern region last March, seizing the strategic town of Kurmuk and several surrounding areas. … The intensified fighting and drone activity in the western and southern parts of the region have created a dire humanitarian situation. Thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes toward the regional capital, Ed Damazin. Sudan Tribune
South Sudan: Court Rejects Live Broadcast Request in Machar Trial
The special court trying suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Monday rejected a defense request to broadcast proceedings live on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC). Defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur had last week requested a one-week adjournment to prepare the accused for questioning by judges and asked that the trial be televised live. During the 72nd session at Freedom Hall in Juba, Judge Stephen Simon Isaac said the court would not revisit its earlier decision barring live broadcasts. … Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the trial until Monday, May 4, 2026, for the questioning of the accused. Radio Tamazuj
Algeria and Chad Cement Strategic Partnership with Raft of Bilateral Deals
President Mahamat Idriss Déby and Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune oversaw the signing of 34 bilateral agreements on Thursday, on the second day of Déby’s official visit to Algiers, the Chadian presidency said. The agreements cover a wide range of sectors, including communications, public works, animal health, air transport and higher education. The two countries also signed an interministerial convention to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. … The most significant measures concern hydrocarbons. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Algeria’s state energy firm Sonatrach and Chad’s hydrocarbons company (SHT) to build a refinery capable of producing up to 20,000 barrels of oil per day. … Chad also signed a framework agreement with the Algerian Petroleum Institute aimed at strengthening its oil sector – crucial given the global energy crisis surrounding oil and the Strait of Hormuz, Mendekor noted. RFI
At Least 42 People Killed in Eastern Chad during Clashes over Water Resources
At least 42 people were killed in eastern Chad after a clash between two families over a water point escalated into a cycle of reprisals, the country’s deputy prime minister said late Sunday. … [Limane Mahamat] said the cycle of reprisals had spread over a fairly large area, prompting an intervention by the army. He said the “swift response” by the military helped contain the clashes and that the situation is now “under control.” The deputy prime minister announced the launch of a ‘customary mediation’ process in the village and of judicial proceedings to determine criminal responsibility. Intercommunal clashes over resources are common in the Central African country. Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned. Chad’s eastern provinces have for several months been hosting refugees fleeing the war in Sudan and are facing increasing pressure on resources and security. Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees have poured across the border into Chad since the conflict began. AP
Suspected Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Vessel Headed to the Capital
Suspected Somali pirates hijacked a fuel tanker off the northeastern coast of Somalia, according to a local official and the British military. The vessel was seized on Wednesday in waters between the coastal towns of Hafun and Bandarbeyla in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland along the Indian Ocean. The tanker had departed from the port of Berbera and was heading to the Somali capital of Mogadishu when it was intercepted, a colonel with the Puntland Maritime Police Force told The Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to a journalist. That official said six armed men from the Bandarbeyla district carried out the hijacking. … The ship, owned by Pakistani interests and chartered by local businessmen, was carrying a large shipment of fuel, according to the Puntland official. It was not possible to verify how many people were on board. AP
New Head of UN Peacekeeping Force in DR Congo Visits Rebel-held Goma
The newly appointed head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO, arrived in the rebel-held city of Goma on Friday. In his first tour of the east of the country, James Swan will meet with leaders of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 rebellion which holds large swathes of the region. … Coming at a time when the ceasefire monitoring mechanism is struggling to gain traction, his visit carries significant symbolic weight. Swan said monitoring the ceasefire required that a number of essential conditions be met to enable the Joint Verification Mechanism Plus to operate in a credible, safe, and effective manner. His visit follows the extension of MONUSCO’s mandate which will see it provide technical support to the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, including in South Kivu. Africanews with AFP
Burundi President Ndayishmiye Named Ruling Party Candidate for 2027 Election
Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has been named as the candidate of his ruling party for the presidential election due to be held next year, the party said on Sunday. Ndayishimiye, 57, has been head of state of the poor east African country since 2020, taking over following the death of longtime leader Pierre Nkurunziza. … No firm date for the election has been given. … He was first elected president in May 2020, in polls marked by accusations of fraud and the disqualification of his main opponent. … Since taking power, Ndayishimiye has vacillated between opening up the government to lessen the influence of powerful generals and maintaining a firm grip on the country. The United Nations and NGOs have condemned rights violations in the landlocked country of 15 million people, which ranks among the world’s poorest. Africanews with AFP
Tunisia Suspends One of Africa’s Oldest Rights Groups as Crackdown Widens
Authorities in Tunisia have ordered a one-month suspension of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, one of the oldest rights groups in Africa and the Arab world and part of the National Dialogue Quartet awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, in the latest move raising concerns over a widening crackdown on civil society. The league confirmed the suspension in a statement late Friday, warning that the decision amounted to “a serious and arbitrary violation of freedom of association” and “a direct assault” on one of Tunisia’s key democratic gains. President Kais Saied has often cited foreign funding, which rights groups sometimes rely on, as a threat to Tunisia, using it to fuel a populist narrative and accuse his political opponents and social justice activists of being foreign agents and stirring unrest at home. “This measure cannot be seen in isolation from a broader context in the country marked by increasing systematic pressure on civil society and independent voices,” the group said, adding that it would challenge what it called an unjust decision in court while continuing to defend victims of rights violations without discrimination. AP
Dozens Demonstrate in Tunisian Capital in Defense of Press Freedom
Dozens of people demonstrated outside the headquarters of the Tunisian journalists union in the capital, Tunis, on Friday demanding press freedom. They were supporting the Franco-Tunisian columnist, Mourad Zeghidi, and his colleague Borhen Bsaies, who have been in detention since 2024. They waved “Free independent press” signs while chanting “innocent people are in prison.” Media freedom has declined sharply in the country in recent years. After initially being convicted for “spreading false news,” Zeghidi and Bsaies were then charged with money laundering and tax evasion. In January, they were sentenced to three and a half years in prison and their appeal trial is due to resume on Tuesday. The president of the Tunisian journalists’ union, Zied Dabbar, said journalism in Tunisia is in danger, adding that Zeghidi had now spent more than 700 days in prison. … National and international NGOs regularly denounce a “regression” of rights and freedoms in Tunisia since President Kais Saied suspended parliament in July 2021 and seized executive power. Africanews with AFP
Taiwan Will Not ‘Bow Its Head’: FM Hits Out At China During Visit To Eswatini
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung on a visit to Eswatini slammed China’s recent move to pressure several African countries into revoking overflight permits for the island’s leader, saying it will not “bow its head.” Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te postponed an official trip to Eswatini — the island’s only diplomatic ally — last week after “Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unexpectedly and without prior notice revoked the charter’s overflight permits”. … Lin attended the 40th anniversary of Eswatini King Mswati III’s accession, representing Lai after arriving in the African kingdom on Saturday. “No matter how China uses political power to interfere with normal international civil aviation operations, politicising and weaponising flight information … it will not make Taiwan bow its head, nor will it stop our progress,” Lin posted on Facebook on Sunday. “No unreasonable blockade or pressure can shake our resolve and will to safeguard our dignity and connect with the international community,” he added. AFP
Kenya: Sawe Makes History with First Official Sub-two-hour Marathon in London
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya has become the first person to break the fabled 2-hour barrier in an official marathon. In a huge, once-inconceivable moment in sports history, Sawe smashed the men’s world record by 65 seconds in winning the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday. Remarkably, the second-place finisher, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, also dipped under 2 hours by crossing the line in 1:59:41 in his first-ever marathon, while Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda broke the previous world-record time — set by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023 — by seven seconds, finishing in 2:00:28. … Breaking two hours in a marathon has been a long time coming — and has been done before. However, when Eliud Kipchoge — the Kenyan long-distance great — achieved the feat in Vienna in 2019, it was in a specially tailored race called the 1.59 Challenge that was arranged by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe in favourable conditions, on a 6-mile (9.6-kilometer) circuit, and using rotating pacemakers. That meant it wasn’t classed as an official race setting, so Kipchoge’s time of 1:59:40 didn’t go in the record book. In any case, Sawe surpassed that time by 10 seconds on a mostly flat course across London in dry, sunny conditions. Africanews with AP