The Widening Scope of Africa’s Militant Islamist Threat
Increasingly capable and organized militant Islamist groups in the Sahel, Somalia, and the Lake Chad Basin continue to expand their reach and lethality. Fatalities linked to militant Islamist groups in Africa continue to occur at near record levels. The 23,968 fatalities, an increase of 24 percent from 2024, reflect increased violence in nearly every theater. The reported 8,375 violent events linked to these groups were the highest ever reported on the continent. The Sahel continues to experience the greatest number of militant Islamist group-linked fatalities of any region on the continent—a position the Sahel has maintained for the past 5 years. The elevated number of reported fatalities in the Sahel persists despite growing restrictions on reporting from the region that are likely undercounting the severity of this violence. … Collectively the Sahel, Somalia, and Lake Chad Basin account for 98 percent of all militant Islamist group-linked fatalities in Africa. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Sudan Marks April 6 Anniversary with Renewed Calls to End War and Restore Civilian Rule
Sudanese political parties and civil forces have marked the seventh anniversary of the April 6 sit-in outside the General Command in Khartoum with renewed calls for an immediate end to the war and a return to civilian rule. The anniversary commemorates the mass protest that culminated in the overthrow of former president Omar al Bashir five days later in 2019. The date also echoes the April 6, 1985 uprising that toppled Jaafar Nimeiri, and is widely seen as a defining moment in Sudan’s modern political history and a continuing source of inspiration for pro-democracy movements. … Political reactions reflected deep divisions over the current conflict and the role of the military. The National Umma Party described April 6 as a pivotal milestone and called for an escalation of peaceful mass mobilisation. It stressed that no authority derived from military force could claim legitimacy. The Alliance of Forces of Radical Change issued stronger demands, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and full accountability for those responsible for the violent dispersal of the Khartoum sit-in on June 3, 2019. The alliance described the crackdown as one of the most serious violations in Sudan’s recent history. Dabanga
Zambia: Government Declares Fuel Supply Situation an Emergency
As the war in the Middle East continues to drive up fuel prices, the Zambian government has called the current fuel supply situation an emergency. Although they are thousands of kilometres away from the front line, residents in the country say they’re feeling the impact of supply disruptions linked to Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Fredrick Nabuzoka, a local resident, said, “you have to spend some time on looking for fuel. The war should come to an end, and then fuel supply will flow.” Fridah Mbiza, another local resident, said, “my business is down. I cannot move regularly like I used to because of the fuel problem.” And Zambia is not the only country impacted on the African continent. Johnstone Chikwanda, a Zambian energy expert, said, “the energy insecurity is huge. It’s not just for Zambia, it’s about 75 percent of other African countries. And for Zambia, the price definitely is also going to swing up, just like other countries. And also, there is another fear, apart from just the price going up. The other fear is the availability factor.” Late March, the cabinet approved zero-rating of value-added tax and the halting of excise duty on petrol and diesel imports for a period of three months. AfricaNews
How the Middle East War is Impacting Humanitarian Aid to Africa
The Strait of Hormuz, which links Dubai to Port Sudan on the eastern coast of Africa, is a vital transit point for the delivery of medicines to the continent. But this key waterway has been effectively blocked by Iran in retaliation to US-Israeli strikes which began on 28 February, with only a limited number of ships allowed through. In recent weeks, goods have had to be diverted via the Cape of Good Hope and once they reach the West African coast, they are transported by road. “For the few ships that are still sailing, this detour comes at a very high cost,” explains Rodrigue Alitanou, a doctor and director of operations at the Dakar-based NGO Alima which provides emergency care in 13 countries in Africa. “It adds more than €2,000 to the cost of each container. So this has an impact not only on our delivery delays, but also on the number of beneficiaries we can treat,” he told RFI. Another source of pressure on the NGO’s financial resources is the rise in fuel prices due to worldwide shortages. … “Today, the cost has almost tripled for every lorry that reaches us,” laments Haruna Tarfa, the NGO’s medical coordinator in Tawila, North Darfur, where more than 630,000 displaced people live. “In the coming days, we risk running out of maternal kits and general medicines. This also affects the malnourished children we are treating who need medication.” RFI
Dangote Refinery Exports Surge amid Disruptions Linked to the Iran War
Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, Africa’s largest, is stepping into a critical role as fuel and fertiliser shortages ripple across the continent amid disruptions linked to the Iran war. Speaking during a visit to the massive Lagos-based facility, billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote struck a confident tone. He said the refinery is now running at full capacity, 650,000 barrels per day, and is actively supplying not just Nigeria, but much of West, Central, and even East Africa. In fact, the refinery has already shipped around 17 cargoes of gasoline to other African countries. At the same time, exports of urea fertiliser are climbing fast, as nations scramble to secure alternative supplies. Dangote noted a clear shift: more shipments are now heading to African markets, something the company wasn’t prioritizing before. The plant itself can produce up to 3 million metric tons of urea annually, though most of it has traditionally gone to the United States and South America. But despite this surge in output, there’s a catch. Fuel prices in Nigeria are still hitting record highs because rising global crude prices are offsetting the benefits of local refining. AfricaNews/AP
Dozens Missing after Migrant Boat Capsizes in Mediterranean
At least two people have died and dozens more are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, advocacy groups said on Sunday. A total of 32 survivors were rescued out of more than 100 people who were believed to be on board the small boat when it capsized. “Tragic Easter shipwreck. 32 survivors, two bodies recovered and more than 70 people missing,” Italian rescue coordinator Mediterranea Saving Humans wrote on X. It said the tragedy was “the consequence of policies by European governments that refuse to open safe and legal pathways” for migrants. The small boat departed Libya on Saturday and capsized in a search-and-rescue zone that is supposed to be handled by Libyan authorities. … German NGO Sea-Watch said two passing merchant ships rescued the survivors and took them to the Italian island of Lampedusa — a key entry point into Europe for migrants crossing the Mediterranean. … At least 683 migrants have drowned or gone missing in their attempts to cross the Mediterranean in 2026 so far, according to data from the UN’s International Organization for Migration. DW
Nigeria Christian Group Disputes Army Rescue Claim in Kaduna Church Attack
Tensions are rising in Nigeria after a disputed military claim about a deadly church attack in Kaduna state. The Nigerian Army says it rescued 31 people after gunmen stormed a church in Ariko village, killing several worshippers. But local leaders and Christian groups are pushing back. The Christian Association of Nigeria, through northern chairman Reverend John Joseph Hayab, says no such rescue happened. According to him, the victims are still in captivity. He warned that spreading misinformation could actually make things worse, giving armed groups more room to operate while authorities and communities argue over what’s true. Local residents are also contradicting the army’s version. A former village head says the death toll is higher than reported and confirms that burials have already taken place. So far, the military hasn’t responded to these claims. AfricaNews/AP
Burkina Faso: Govt. Denies Report Alleging More than 1,800 Killed since Junta Took Power
Burkina Faso has denied a report that more than 1800 civilians have been killed in acts constituting ‘crimes against humanity’ since Ibrahim Traoré forcibly took power three years ago. Human Rights Watch, which released the report, blamed the majority of the killings on the military and allied militias, and the remainder on Islamist militants. It is based on analysis of open source information including videos and satellite imagery, as well as discussions with witnesses and survivors. One of the deadliest incidents described in the report dates back to December 2023, when the military and allied militias are said to have killed more than 400 civilians in the town of Djibo. Survivors referred to the killings as brutal, and say they have suffered psychological trauma as a result. AfricaNews
Cameroon Says Russia has Confirmed 16 Cameroonian Soldiers Died in Ukraine
Cameroon said on Monday that Russia has confirmed the deaths of 16 soldiers in Ukraine, according to a memo addressed to the Russian Embassy in the central African country. In the memo addressed to the embassy, the country’s foreign affairs ministry acknowledged the death of 16 Cameroonian soldiers serving in the special military operations zone in Ukraine. The ministry said “necessary arrangements” had been made to contact the families of the deceased soldiers. … Ukraine has said it believes more than 1,700 Africans have been recruited to fight for Russia, and several African nations have said some of their citizens have been tricked into fighting for Russia by offers of lucrative jobs or skills training. An intelligence report presented to parliament in Kenya earlier this year said that 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia after being misled with false promises of jobs in the country before being sent to the front lines. … Another AP investigation in 2024 found that African women were also duped into being part of the Russian war effort and sent to work in a factory assembling attack drones to be used against Ukraine. They were lured by social media adverts offering work-study programs. AP
South Sudan’s Kiir Sacks Parliament Speaker and Deputy
South Sudan President Salva Kiir has sacked the East African nation’s speaker and deputy speaker of parliament, according to a decree read out in the parliament on Tuesday. Tulio Odongi Ayahu, chief whip of Kiir’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), announced the decree removing Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba and her deputy, Permena Awerial Aluong, from their posts in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly. The move follows a petition last week by SPLM caucus members accusing Kumba. … The sackings come after Kiir in late February abruptly fired the then Finance Minister Bak Barnaba Chol, who had been in office for just three months, without giving a reason. Analysts say Kiir frequently reshuffles senior political and military posts to maintain his grip on power amid persistent instability and speculation over his eventual succession. Reuters
AI is Fuelling the ‘Digital Colonisation’ of Africa, Warns UN Scientist
The United Nations has launched its first global panel on artificial intelligence, as concerns grow that the technology could deepen global inequalities – particularly in Africa, where systems are largely imported after being shaped elsewhere. The panel, bringing together around 40 experts from 37 countries, was approved by the UN General Assembly in February and held its first meeting in March. … Among its members is Senegalese researcher Adji Bousso Dieng, who tells RFI that Africa needs to develop its own AI or risk being left dependent on others. … “Today’s most powerful AI systems are trained mainly on Western data, which does not reflect the diversity of populations. We need local AI systems built with local context, so they can solve local problems. … [C]ompanies go to countries like Kenya to label data, which is needed to train AI systems. The working conditions are often not fair, people are not well paid and they can be exposed to traumatic content. There is no proper legal framework. That is a form of digital colonisation. There is also the issue of data sovereignty. Data can be used without compensation, and large companies benefit without paying Africans for their work.” RFI
Seven Eritrean Players Abscond in South Africa after AFCON Qualifier
Seven players from the Eritrea national football team have failed to return home after their side secured a historic victory over Eswatini national football team. A source close to the squad told the BCC on Monday that while part of the team travelled back via South Africa after the match, the seven players are believed to have absconded. The development comes shortly after Eritrea’s 2–1 win in Eswatini, which secured a 4–1 aggregate victory and a return to the qualifying group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years. Sources said only 10 members of the 24-man squad were based in Eritrea, and just three of those players—including team captain Ablelom Teklezghi—have returned to the country. … The incident has cast a shadow over what had been a celebrated achievement for the team, with Eritrea’s state-owned media remaining largely silent on their return. … The situation reflects a broader pattern involving Eritrean athletes, with several previous cases of players failing to return home after international competitions. Punch
‘Entire Families Brutally Erased’: Remembering the Victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Thirty-two years ago, a genocidal campaign was unleashed against Rwanda’s Tutsi people, resulting in more than million deaths. On Tuesday, the UN is holding commemorations to ensure that the genocide is never forgotten and never repeated. … Ahead of the International Day, commemorated on 7 April, UN Secretary-General António Guterres mourned the victims, including “entire families brutally erased”, and honoured “their stolen dignity.” In his message, Mr. Guterres paid tribute to survivors like Mr. Gasore, whose resilience, he said, “shows the strength of the human spirit.” Recalling the international community’s failure to heed warnings and take immediate life-saving action, Mr. Guterres said we must learn from past failures and protect the living “by rejecting hatred, inflammatory rhetoric and incitement to violence.” The 7 April event, along with other commemorations held at UN offices around the world, are coordinated by the Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the United Nations, established by the General Assembly in 2005 to “mobilise civil society for Rwanda genocide victim remembrance and education in order to help prevent future acts of genocide.” UN News