Mounting Fatalities Linked to Militant Islamist Violence in Africa amid Shifting Tactics
The record 23,872 fatalities linked to African militant Islamist groups over the past year sustain a pace of more than 20,000 such deaths observed since 2023. The rising level of annual fatalities (for the 12 months ending in mid-2026) was propelled by a 60-percent spike in deaths in the Lake Chad Basin and Mozambique. The Sahel accounts for 42 percent of total reported fatalities in Africa, followed by 28 percent each from Somalia and the Lake Chad Basin. These regional patterns mirror the trajectory of militant Islamist violence in Africa in recent years. Of roughly 166,000 people killed by extremist violence in Africa over the past decade, 92 percent were in the Sahel, Somalia, and the Lake Chad Basin. Although 15 African countries experienced some degree of militant Islamist violence over the past year, 94 percent of these fatalities have occurred in 5 countries: Somalia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The pace of this violence has accelerated. The 23,872 fatalities over the past year reflect a 77-percent increase from the 13,507 deaths in 2021 and a nearly 150-percent spike from the 10,002 deaths reported in 2017. Four out of the five theaters have seen an increase in fatalities over this decade. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Sudan: RSF, Allies Seize Parts of Geisan in Sudan’s Blue Nile State
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of large parts of Geisan town in Sudan’s Blue Nile region on Tuesday, though the Sudanese army retained control of its primary military base amid heavy ongoing clashes, sources said. Supported by fighters from the SPLM-N, the RSF launched a violent early morning assault on Geisan using heavy artillery and drones. Battles were concentrated around the 13th Infantry Brigade headquarters, which remains under military control. Pro-RSF platforms published video clips showing their fighters inside the town, including the main market. Local sources reported that the market was subjected to widespread looting and vandalism during the advance. The Sudanese army intensified drone strikes targeting RSF concentrations in the town, forcing paramilitary forces to withdraw from several newly captured positions. The local government in Geisan confirmed the joint RSF and SPLM-N attack, stating that the army and allied forces were fighting across multiple fronts. … Geisan is strategically important because of its proximity to the Ethiopian border. The International Organization for Migration reported that the renewed fighting has displaced approximately 2,500 people. Sudan Tribune
South Sudan: UN Mission Decries Deadly Attacks, Works to Calm Tensions after ‘Nothing but Devastation’
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned recent armed group attacks in Warrap state which reportedly left more than 60 civilians dead and 50 others injured. The near simultaneous attacks – which occurred on Sunday in two communities in Tonj North county – caused widespread displacement as well as the destruction and looting of property, including theft of large numbers of cattle. The acting head UNMISS Graham Maitland said intercommunal violence is causing immense harm to communities that are already vulnerable, and he warned of the risk of further revenge attacks. The mission is sending a long-duration peacekeeping patrol to the impacted area. … Meanwhile, peacekeepers have also increased patrols in parts of eastern Upper Nile state, where people are returning to their villages following intense clashes between government and opposition armed groups. Civilians are bearing the brunt of the fighting. The violence forced families to flee. Many lost their homes, livelihoods and much-loved relatives along the way, the mission said. UN News
Somalia: MPs Elect New Speaker amid Growing Political Uncertainty
Somali lawmakers on Monday elected Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jaamac as speaker of the House of the People, giving him 142 votes in a contentious contest for Lower House speaker held in the capital. Acting Speaker Sadia Yasin Haji Samatar announced the results. Nur defeated fellow candidate Abdulkadir Omar Maalim, who received 30 votes out of 171 lawmakers who cast ballots. The election was held by a parliament whose 4-year term expired in April 2026. The legislature has continued to operate in a caretaker capacity amid a broader political dispute over Somalia’s electoral process. The vote was also accompanied by allegations from opposition figures over how Nur obtained his parliamentary seat. They accused him of taking the seat from the previous lawmaker through force and outside the legal process, allegations that raised questions about the conduct and independence of the political process. Nur’s candidacy also drew allegations that he was backed by Villa Somalia, the state house, and Turkey. He succeeds Sheikh Adan Madobe, who left the speakership after becoming leader of Southwest State at gunpoint in early June of this year. Nur has served as minister of ports and maritime transport, a position he held since March 2025 before becoming the house speaker today. Garowe Online
Detained Malian Journalist Ras Bath Rejects Charges as Trial Opens
The trial of Malian commentator Youssouf Bathily, known as Ras Bath, and activist Rose opened on August 10 before the Bamako Court of Appeal, with both denying accusations of criminal association and undermining state institutions. The first hearing focused largely on audio recordings presented by prosecutors as evidence. Ras Bath, who has been in provisional detention for nearly three years, rejected the charges against him. When asked in court whether he admitted to the accusations, he answered “No” and remained composed throughout the hearing. Meanwhile, Rose told the court that her social media posts and public remarks were meant to alert the authorities to rising prices and the cost of basic goods, not to destabilize the institutions. Prosecutors say the two were linked through repeated media appearances, including two interviews in which Ras Bath invited Rose onto his shows. The defense disputes that interpretation and has asked for the audio recordings to be removed from the case. Supporters gathered outside the court and chanted “Free Ras Bath” as the hearing ended. The trial is due to resume on August 12. Africanews
Civil Society Groups Warn against Congo Referendum
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 65 civil society organisations are urging President Félix Tshisekedi to abandon plans for a constitutional referendum. In a memorandum sent Monday to the president and the country’s main institutions, the groups say the security, humanitarian and economic crises make a referendum a poor use of resources. They point to the war in the east, the suffering of millions of displaced people, and worsening living conditions, warning that the proposed law could be seen as a first step toward changing the Constitution and could deepen political tensions. The organisations, including No to Constitutional Change, Civil Bridge, Génération Z RDC, LUCHA-RDC and Filimbi, are calling on Tshisekedi to focus instead on stability and the country’s urgent needs. But the president’s party, the UDPS, says a legal framework for a referendum is needed to fill a legal gap and set out the rules for exercising popular sovereignty. The debate has become another flashpoint in a country already facing war in the east and severe social and economic hardship. Africanews
Nigeria, UK Deepen Military Partnership on Intelligence, Technology, Training
The Nigerian Army and the United Kingdom have moved to deepen strategic defence cooperation, with a focus on strengthening operational capabilities, intelligence, specialised training and technology to address evolving security threats in Nigeria and the wider region. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, when he received the British Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Brigadier Tom Harper, MBE, on a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters in Abuja. Shaibu said sustained engagement with trusted international partners was critical to the Nigerian Army’s ongoing transformation efforts and the development of a more adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force. He identified capability development, professional military education, technology integration, intelligence gathering and contemporary approaches to asymmetric warfare as key areas requiring strengthened cooperation between Nigeria and the UK. … Responding, Brigadier Harper reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria under the Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), particularly in strengthening the operational and institutional capacity of the Nigerian Army. … The British Defence Adviser also outlined proposed UK support for the establishment of a reference Forward Operating Base within a cantonment environment, as well as the provision of counter-unmanned aerial systems and the expansion of tactical ISR capabilities to brigade level. PR Nigeria
Navy, NIMASA Renew Five-Year Pact to Strengthen Maritime Security
The Nigerian Navy (NN) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have renewed their strategic partnership through a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening maritime safety and security across Nigeria’s maritime domain. The agreement was signed at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja in the presence of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola; Principal Staff Officers and senior officials of both organisations. According to a statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho for the Chief of the Naval Staff, the renewed MoU consolidates a partnership that began in 2007 and has been sustained through successive renewals. … Under the renewed framework, the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA will deepen cooperation in maritime safety and security, marine pollution control, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, intelligence and information sharing, hydrography, training and professional capacity development. … The MoU also establishes a stronger institutional framework for timely intelligence and information exchange, appropriate utilisation of relevant facilities and capabilities, as well as cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. PR Nigeria
Fridge-free Vaccines Could Prompt Africa Immunization Breakthrough
Vaccines that can be stored without refrigeration have been successfully trialed in patients for the first time, marking a potential breakthrough for immunization in Africa. Around half of all vaccines are wasted each year, partly due to breaks in the “cold chain,” meaning that between production, transport, and the eventual injection, they become too hot or too cold and are therefore unusable. Most vaccines, including the tetanus-diphtheria jab used in the trial, must be refrigerated or frozen. The new technology, which was developed by British pharmaceutical company Stablepharma, uses a sugar called trehalose to turn vaccines into a powder that can be stored at room temperature, and later mixed with water before injection. A larger trial is due to begin in the coming months, marking the final research hurdle before potential rollout. Semafor
Tanzania, Uganda Agree Plans for East African Energy Hub
Tanzania and Uganda signed an agreement with Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil trader, to develop Tanga Port into a regional energy hub as the continent works to capture more value from its natural resources. The partnership comes as Africa’s energy ecosystem is on the cusp of major change: Uganda is preparing to begin commercial oil production, with supplies due to flow through the still-under-construction East African Crude Oil Pipeline to Tanzania’s Tanga Port, ready for shipment to global markets. Uganda currently imports most of its petroleum products through Kenya, via the Port of Mombasa. It’s unclear what the planned energy hub will entail, but Tanzania’s government said potential investments in new infrastructure, such as storage facilities, could exceed $20 billion, Reuters reported. The Iran war has exposed how much many East African countries depend on fuel imports. The proposed Tanga Port development could radically alter regional dynamics by creating a refining and trading platform that connects upstream Ugandan crude, downstream refining, and new fuel logistics. Semafor
Chinese Automaker Chery Buys Nissan Plant in Africa as EV Production Shifts to New Markets
Chinese automakers are increasingly shifting from exporting vehicles to building them in Africa, betting that rapid urbanization, a growing middle class and supportive government policies will make the continent one of the industry’s last major growth markets. It’s part of a strategy for coping with slowing demand at home and rising trade barriers in Europe and North America. Analysts say the shift could reshape Africa’s automotive industry by creating jobs, developing local supply chains and accelerating adoption of electric vehicles, although weak infrastructure and policy uncertainty remain significant obstacles. In July, Chery, China’s largest auto exporter, acquired Nissan’s former Rosslyn plant near Pretoria, South Africa, where it plans to make plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles and models under its Jetour brand. The move reflects a broader strategy by Chinese automakers to manufacture closer to African consumers rather than rely solely on imports, though the trend is just getting started. … Analysts say South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana are among the countries best positioned to attract Chinese EV investment because of their industrial capacity, supportive policies or growing electricity infrastructure. Morocco also benefits from proximity to European export markets, while Zimbabwe’s large lithium reserves could support battery supply chains. AP